Category: English

I kidnapped a trust fund kid. But this rich boy was severely depressed. Every day, he was either trying to get himself killed or actively seeking out ways to die. To keep him from kicking the bucket on my watch, I glued my eyes to him 24/7. Then one day, he looked at me with deep, passionate sincerity and said, “Before, I wanted to die. I really did. But now that I’ve met you, I look forward to tomorrow more than anything.” Wait, hold up! I’m the kidnapper here! How did I end up getting zero ransom money and losing my heart in the process?! 1 My name is Maya, and I’m a kidnapper. A broke, desperate kidnapper. I needed money. Like, really needed it. So, I took a massive risk and kidnapped Oliver Vance, the youngest son of the CEO of Vance Enterprises, planning to demand a $500,000 ransom. I never expected this trust fund baby to have severe depression. Before I could even send the ransom note, this idiot tried to off himself every other day. I was getting sick and tired of saving his life. Finally, one day, he said, “I’m done trying to kill myself. Why don’t you just kill me instead?” I’m a kidnapper with professional standards. I absolutely do not kill the hostage without a very good reason. But I really, really needed the money. I thought about it long and hard, and finally decided to grant his wish: “Then you’re going to have to pay extra!” But as a rookie kidnapper, I just didn’t have the heart to actually gut him. Oliver was a textbook rich kid. Clean-cut features, perfect teeth, and unfairly handsome. In all my years, I’d never seen a guy this good-looking. As a girl who hadn’t seen much of the world, I couldn’t help but want to poke his cheek every now and then. Oliver was usually gloomy and withdrawn, and sometimes he would just inexplicably start crying. I felt like I was the one making him cry. I felt guilty. I tried my absolute best to comfort him: “Don’t be scared, I only kidnapped you for the ransom. I’m not going to kill you.” “How much are you asking for?” His voice sounded so pure. I held up five fingers: “$500,000.” Hearing that, he lowered his eyes, seemingly unsatisfied with the price. I said, “Should I offer a discount?” He shook his head. “Then should you try haggling?” He said melancholically, “I really am a worthless person…” Me: ??? He asked me back, “Do you really think I’m only worth $500,000?” I felt like something was wrong with his brain, and said hesitantly, “Then five million?” He sighed, seemingly feeling it was still too cheap. After discussing the price with him, I sat nearby and started writing the thirteenth ransom note to his dad. Why the thirteenth? Because I had already written twelve! As I wrote, I asked Oliver, “Why hasn’t your dad sent the money yet? Does he also think my asking price is too low?” The world of the rich—I don’t understand it, but I am deeply shocked by it. “I don’t know. How did you write the letter? Read it to me.” I said “Okay” and started reading: “Dear Mr. Vance, Hello. How is your health lately? I have kidnapped your youngest son, Oliver. Please wire $500,000 to the following account: 62167xxxxxxxx. Thank you! Please do not call the police, otherwise I will kill the hostage before they arrive.” “…” “How is it? Is there a problem?” “It’s not aggressive enough.” “Then how should I write it?” I handed him the pen and paper. “Why don’t you write it for me?” Oliver reluctantly agreed: “Fine.” I was just about to untie his ropes, but then I had a second thought: What if he runs away? “I won’t run,” he said. I hesitated, still too afraid to untie him. “I really won’t run,” he added. “I swear on my honor as a student.” Fine. Because of that sentence, I trusted him and untied the ropes. He rubbed his sore arms, then picked up the pen and paper. I have to say, not only was he good-looking, but his handwriting was also incredibly neat. How could someone this perfect exist in the world? It’s just… The letter he wrote went like this: Hey, old man Vance, your son is in my hands right now! Wire $500,000 to the account below, and make it snappy! Don’t you dare short me a single cent! Don’t call the cops, or I’ll kill him! “Oliver, is it really okay to write it like this?” I stared at the ransom note he wrote, lost in thought. “It only sounds aggressive if you write it like this.” I thought about it and felt his reasoning was sound. Just as I was about to put the letter in the envelope, he suddenly said, “Maybe we should ask for five million. I feel like I’m worth more than this.” I shook my head firmly: “No, I only want $500,000.” I decided to send the letter the next day. But that night, I had a dream. I dreamed I was caught by the police, and Mr. Vance was screaming at the top of his lungs nearby: “I wired you $500,000 thirteen times! Couldn’t you just ask for it all at once, damn it! If you wanted it in installments, you should have at least said something!” I was crying uncontrollably: “I’m sorry, I forgot to turn on my bank text alerts!” I woke up with a start, my forehead covered in sweat, and shook Oliver awake: “Oliver, Oliver, wake up!” He opened his sleepy eyes and asked what was wrong. “I think I forgot to turn on my bank text alerts.” “…” 2 Guys, the perfect Oliver is not perfect. Ever since I tied him up and brought him to this mountain warehouse half a month ago, I never realized he was such a neat freak! This morning, I was planning to mail the ransom note, but Oliver absolutely refused to go without taking a shower first. I had no choice but to take him to the mountain spring to rinse off. He dawdled and washed for over half an hour. When we finally got back, I had just tied him up when he insisted I tie his shoelaces. “Your shoelaces are tied perfectly fine!” “The butterfly wings are uneven. It’s bothering me.” “…” After adjusting his shoelaces, I went out to mail the letter and turned on my bank text alerts while I was at it. I checked my balance. No $500,000. But right as I walked out of the bank, I spotted two police officers not far away. I shuddered. Were they here to catch me?! I scurried back into the bank, peeked half my head out from behind the door, and observed. I saw a police officer holding a photo and asking a passerby, “Have you seen this person?” The passerby glanced at the photo and shook his head: “Never seen him.” “If you see this person, please call the police immediately.” The passerby’s sense of justice flared up: “What did this guy do? I’ve trained in MMA for a few years, maybe I can help you catch him.” He even rolled up his sleeves to show off his muscles. The police officer sternly refused: “No! This man is a ruthless, bloodthirsty kidnapper. Do not engage him directly. You must call the police!” Hearing this, I was scared out of my wits. What should I do? What should I do? The police are here to catch me! I’m going to jail! I waited until the police were far away before I dared to sneak out. I was so scared I practically wet my pants. I didn’t even dare to mail the ransom note, and hurried back to the abandoned warehouse as fast as I could. “Oliver! Oliver! What are we going to do? Waaaaah…” As soon as I got back, I ran straight to Oliver, hugged him tightly, and cried uncontrollably. I felt like if he wasn’t tied up, he probably would have pushed me away long ago. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “The police are here to catch me. What do we do?” I said while wiping away tears. “I saw with my own eyes the police asking people around with my photo! I’m done for! Waaaaah!” Oliver pondered for a moment, then said, “Maybe my dad called the police.” When he said that, I cried even louder. “My dad called the police, so you should just kill me.” Right! I should kill him! I… I’ll do it! I’ll kill him right now! I pulled a dagger out of my backpack and waved it around Oliver’s neck. He closed his eyes, waiting for me to slit his throat. But my hands kept shaking, shaking, shaking like a leaf. I couldn’t stop them! Clang! I dropped the dagger. I… I couldn’t do it! Oliver seemed very disappointed. Just as I was crying, snot bubbles popping one after another, Oliver suddenly asked me how the police questioned the passerby. I recounted the incident while sobbing. Oliver’s face darkened: “Relax, the person they’re looking for isn’t you.” “How is that possible? I’m the kidnapper!” “Ruthless, bloodthirsty. Does that sound like you?” “…No… it doesn’t.” But hearing Oliver say that put my mind at ease. I went to the mountain spring pool and splashed water on my tear-stained face. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was my little brother, Leo. “Sister, the nurse taught me how to fold paper boats today. When are you coming back? I want to fold paper boats with you.” “Sister will be back very soon. Leo has to be a good boy and listen to the doctor, okay?” “Okay.” I put my phone back in my pocket and gathered some firewood nearby, planning to boil some water for instant noodles when I got back. But when I returned with an armful of dry wood, I caught Oliver rummaging through my backpack! “How did you untie the ropes?!” He didn’t even look up, pulling a wafer cookie out of my bag. “My arms were falling asleep, so I untied them to stretch. Why are you back so early? I haven’t had time to tie myself back up yet.” No wonder the snacks in my bag kept disappearing. I had assumed I ate them and forgot. “Since you have this skill, why didn’t you sneak away when I wasn’t looking?” He took a bite of the wafer cookie and said, “Why do you overestimate yourself so much? I could run away even when you are looking.” “…” I dropped my head, feeling a deep sense of defeat. After Oliver finished the cookie, he ripped open a bag of chips. Seemingly bored, he suddenly asked me my name. “Maya.” “Like ‘Maya the Maya’?” “Like ‘Maya’ as in the illusion.” “Oh, Little Sprout, you should wash your hands of this business early. You’re not cut out for this line of work.” “I’m only doing this one job.” I asked the question that had been buried in my heart for a long time. “Why are you always so unhappy?” “Because I have depression.” I suddenly understood: “Ah? No wonder you’re always looking for death.” He corrected my wording: “Seeking death.” I’d heard that people with depression suffer a lot. It’s a mental illness with a very high suicide rate. I comforted him: “I heard that once people have money, they lose their worries. You should be glad you have it all. Don’t be sad, Oliver.” “…Thank you for your ineffective counseling.” Since Oliver had excellent rope-untying skills, I stopped tying him up. It was all based on the honor system. That night, I tossed and turned. Thinking of Leo saying he missed me, I wanted to sprint straight to the hospital to see him. I guess I’ll go back and check on him tomorrow. Thinking this, I gradually drifted off to sleep. But it felt like as soon as I fell asleep, I was woken up by an itch. It was incredibly itchy, like claws scratching at my heart and liver. I tossed and turned, unable to fall back asleep. Why was it so itchy? While scratching, I picked up my phone to Google the symptoms. Hives? Doesn’t seem like it. Psoriasis? No. Kidney failure? Yes, yes, this must be it. These past few days, I’ve been so worried about Oliver running away that I’ve been guarding him 24/7. Sometimes I didn’t even have time to go to the bathroom and just held it in. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I instantly felt sick to my stomach, my mind going completely blank. Oliver seemed to have been woken up by me. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you sleeping?” “I feel prickly all over, incredibly uncomfortable. I just Googled my symptoms, and it says it’s kidney failure.” I was so anxious I was almost crying. “What do I do, Oliver? Am I going to die? I don’t want to die yet!” “…How long has it been since you took a shower?” “I haven’t washed since I kidnapped you! I was afraid you’d run away!” “Go take a shower. You won’t itch after you wash.” “Oh.” After I showered, I felt completely refreshed, and my body wasn’t prickly anymore. The next day, I woke up bright and early. But seeing Oliver still sleeping soundly, I didn’t dare brush my tongue when I brushed my teeth, afraid I’d gag and wake him up. I didn’t even dare chew my chips until they were soft and soggy in my mouth. My phone rang. It was my best friend, Harper. As soon as I answered, she politely greeted my entire ancestry: “Maya, you absolute disaster! Where the hell have you been these past few days? Do you have any idea how much Leo misses you?!” “I haven’t… ah, recently, I’ve actually had some things to deal with. I’ll be right back at the hospital.” I hung up the phone right after saying that, grabbed my bag, and rushed to the hospital like my tail was on fire. When I arrived at the hospital, Harper was watching cartoons with Leo. When Leo saw me, he threw his arms around me: “Sister, I missed you so much! Are you really back? I’m not dreaming, am I?” I crouched down to his eye level and pinched his soft little cheek: “You’re not dreaming. Have you been listening to the doctors lately? Are you still scared of getting shots?” “I’m not scared anymore. I’ve grown up. I’m a man now. I can protect you, sister.” While Leo and I were having our touching sibling moment, Harper angrily dragged me out of the room and demanded to know where I had been for the past half month, abandoning my own brother. “I went to get money.” “What kind of money makes you disappear completely?” “I just… lightly tested the penal code…” I lowered my voice. “I kidnapped the CEO of Vance Enterprises’ son.” She was dumbfounded: “How could you even dare?! Holy shit! You… turn back before it’s too late.” At that moment, Leo suddenly ran out and invited me to fold paper boats. So the three of us sat on the hospital bed folding paper boats together. But I was clumsy, so I had to ask Harper: “Is this how you fold this part?” “Fold it over like this… Please, turn back before it’s too late.” “…” A little while later. I asked Harper again: “How do you fold the boat’s canopy in the middle?” “That part should be folded back, then you just pull it and it’s done… Please, turn back before it’s too late.” “…” After folding the paper boats, Leo watched cartoons for a bit, then got tired and fell asleep. It was time for me to head back to the abandoned warehouse. I said goodbye to Harper outside the hospital. Harper was in tears. I just thought she was sad to see me go, but I didn’t expect her to say: “Does this make me an accessory to a crime?” “Don’t worry, I’ll cut ties with you right before I get caught. I won’t drag you down with me.” She looked grave, pointing at an Audi logo, and said: “Don’t those four rings look like two pairs of silver bracelets (handcuffs)? One pair for you, one pair for me… Please, turn back before it’s too late.” “…No, they don’t.” After parting ways with Harper, I headed back to the warehouse. But when I got back, I realized Oliver wasn’t there! I searched the surrounding area several times but still couldn’t find him. He couldn’t have run away, could he?! Was he going to the police?! Just as I was hopping mad and wiping away tears, I saw Oliver dragging a large 24-inch suitcase back from a distance! I was both shocked and delighted: “Where did you go?! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” “I went home for a bit.” “…” “Grabbed some clean clothes.” “…” I wiped away tears and said: “Then why did you come back?” “We have a kidnapping with integrity going on here. If you don’t let me go, I won’t leave. Stop crying, you’re losing all your kidnapper street cred.” Thank goodness Oliver came back, otherwise I would have been so anxious I would have turned myself in. 3 I felt like Oliver had the aura of a perfect househusband. Ever since he brought that massive suitcase back from home, he went into full warehouse-makeover mode. He cleaned the area where he slept, put up some wallpaper, used discarded wood to make a shoe rack, and even strung up a clothesline outside the warehouse. A little later, he was patching up the broken windows and putting up curtains. I watched his flurry of activity, completely dumbfounded. “Oliver, are you planning on living here long-term?” “I’ll leave once you extort the $500,000.” I felt a bit touched. “Thank you for helping me extort your dad.” After he finished putting up the curtains, he was sweating profusely and grabbed his body wash to go take a shower at the spring. My phone buzzed. A quick glance showed it was a text from the bank. Had the $500,000 arrived?! My heart was racing, my hands trembling! I held my breath, anticipating opening the text… Damn it! It was a notification that my Spotify premium subscription had renewed… Just as I was looking up at the sky and sighing, wanting to cry but having no tears left, another ringtone sounded. It wasn’t mine. I followed the sound in confusion and finally located it in Oliver’s suitcase. My heart leapt into my throat. When did he bring a phone?! Had he secretly called the police?! I picked up his phone. The caller ID was a missed call from someone named “Pain Patch.” A moment later, this “Pain Patch” sent a WeChat message: Why aren’t you answering the phone? Immediately followed by another: I sent the medicine over. Remember to pick it up. What medicine? Curious, I scrolled through their chat history… Oh wow, it turns out Oliver had his phone on him this whole time! My fault! I had no experience; I forgot to check if he had a phone! I was so annoyed I wanted to slap myself. His most recent contact with Pain Patch was yesterday: “Oliver, what’s going on with you? You were already home, why did you go back?” “I felt like it.” “Is that guy a kidnapper? Or a kidnapper with a heart of gold? Whatever, suit yourself. By the way, you forgot your medicine. Send me your location, and I’ll mail it to you tomorrow.” Then Oliver sent a location—the nearest Amazon Locker at the foot of the warehouse’s mountain. “Use this address. It’s close, I can make it quick.” “Why don’t you just use your home address?” “No, my house is too far. If she realizes I’m gone, she’ll think I went to the police. She’ll probably cry her eyes out.” “…ojbk [doge emoji]” Suddenly, the phone rang again. I jumped and accidentally answered the call. On the other end, Pain Patch said: “Hey, Oliver, you finally picked up.” I swallowed hard, not knowing what to do. “Oliver, why aren’t you saying anything? Damn it, did something happen?! I’m calling the police right now!” I hurriedly replied: “Ah no, nothing happened.” “??? Are you the kidnapper with a heart of gold?” “Hello, Mr. Pain.” “…My last name is Zhao. You can just call me Dr. Zhao.” I pleaded: “Dr. Pain, please don’t call the police. Oliver said he’d help me extort his dad, and I promise I won’t hurt him.” “I won’t call the police. Put Oliver on the phone.” “He just finished working up a sweat and went to take a shower.” On the other end, Pain Patch coughed awkwardly. “Then I won’t interrupt. You two have fun.” He hung up the phone after saying that. At that moment, Oliver returned. He was holding a dripping pair of boxers and hung them on the clothesline. I ran out clutching his phone. “Oliver, I’m sorry, I snooped through your phone. But why didn’t you tell me you had it hidden? Didn’t we agree to an honest kidnapping?” “I just didn’t want you to misunderstand and think I was going to call the police.” “Oh, well what if you used the GPS to run away?” “Then why don’t we add each other on WeChat? If I run away, I’ll send you a message.” Hmm, he truly had the qualities of a model hostage. It saved me a lot of worry as a kidnapper. Since he had cleaned his sleeping area that day, when night fell, I shamelessly scooted closer to him. “Oliver, you smell so good.” It was true, a very fresh and clean scent. “Your greasy hair smells very unique too.” Ah, that… I awkwardly got up and moved back to my spot. In the dark, he suddenly grabbed my hand. “Come back. Talk to me for a bit.” So I obediently lay back down. “Why did you want to kidnap me?” he asked. “I really need money.” Whenever money was mentioned, I was wide awake. “Oliver, are you your dad’s biological son? Why hasn’t he sent the money yet?” “Him? He’s… he’s probably running around begging everyone he knows to scrape the money together.” The Vance Enterprise is so huge, $500,000 should be pocket change! “Listen to yourself, do you even believe what you’re saying?” “I do.” I believe you… not! I suddenly thought of a question and asked: “Do you think maybe the ransom note I wrote never even reached your dad?” He was resolute: “Impossible.” “Are you lying to me again?” He laughed: “I’m not lying.” “Then you said students don’t lie to students!” “…I can’t say it.” I was a bit angry, but I was so tired that I eventually fell asleep while fuming. But in the middle of the night, I was woken up by the sound of sobbing. I groggily opened my eyes. By the faint moonlight, I saw Oliver hugging his knees, crying. I sat up facing him. I didn’t understand depression, but I could tell he was in a lot of pain. “Oliver, Oliver.” I called out to him, but he seemed to have lost all interest in life, not even batting an eyelid. I didn’t know what to do, so I just sat with him silently. In a flash of inspiration, I remembered Pain Patch. Based on Oliver’s situation, he was probably Oliver’s doctor. I quietly picked up Oliver’s phone, stepped outside the warehouse, and dialed Pain Patch’s number. It connected quickly. “Finally decided to call me? What, did your kidnapper with a heart of gold untie your ropes? Speak, what’s up?” “Hey, Dr. Pain, Oliver is crying, and I don’t know what to do. Please help him!” The more I spoke, the more I wanted to cry, and by the end, my voice was cracking. He was clearly surprised. “It’s you. Don’t panic. Depression patients %#&%!^#. You need to &#• %^!# watch his mood %#& something might happen.” The signal suddenly got very bad, and his voice was breaking up. This led to a miscommunication between us— “What, something might happen?” My heart skipped a beat. “Is Oliver going to commit suicide? I’ve heard some depression patients commit suicide.” “Suicide?! You said %#&#%^ … he wants to commit suicide!” “No, I mean…” “The signal is bad, you’re saying %#& I can’t hear you clearly. You %^#&*… send me the location, I’m coming over right now!” He hung up after saying that. I hesitated. If he knew where we were, would he call the police to catch me? But if something happened to Oliver, I’d really be a sinner! So I steeled myself and sent him the location. I went back into the warehouse. Oliver had changed positions and was still crying. I sat down next to him and held his hand. “Oliver, don’t be scared. Pain Patch is already on his way.” He finally lifted his eyelids to look at me, calling me with a hoarse voice: “Little Sprout…” I didn’t dare leave his side for a second, terrified his mood would dip too low and he’d do something drastic. I don’t know how much time passed, but Oliver finally stopped crying and fell asleep shortly after. Not long after, I faintly heard noise outside the warehouse. I peeked outside and saw a young man with a flashlight. When he got closer, I finally saw his face. He wore wire-rimmed glasses and looked refined and intellectual, about the same age as me. He was cursing under his breath: “What the hell is this dump? You can’t even drive a car up here!” Turns out intellectual guys curse too. He was probably Dr. Pain. He cut straight to the chase: “Where’s Oliver?” “Asleep.” Afraid of waking Oliver up, he tiptoed into the warehouse. Seeing him sleeping soundly, he let out a sigh of relief. I lowered my voice and asked him: “Doctor, is Oliver’s condition very dangerous?” “Moderate depression, but there’s a very good chance he can overcome it.” I’ve heard that people with depression suffer from long periods of low mood. I remembered that when I’m in a bad mood, I can’t eat, don’t want to do anything, feel annoyed and helpless—it’s agonizing. I can’t imagine how Oliver managed to get through it. “Why did you want to kidnap him?” “For money.” “What do you need so much money for? Are you very poor?” I shook my head: “No, it’s my little brother. He’s sick and needs a kidney transplant.” He fell silent for a moment, expressing sympathy for my situation, and then asked which hospital my brother was in. When I told him the hospital’s name, he was a bit surprised. It turned out he worked in the psychiatric department at that very hospital. He warmly told me to contact him anytime if I ran into difficulties in the future. I was so touched that my eyes instantly welled up with tears. He pulled out his phone and opened his WeChat QR code: “Let’s add each other as friends. Contact me anytime if you have a problem.” I wiped my wet eyes, opened WeChat to scan the code, and then heard a loud DING~ I jolted, quickly turned down the volume, and looked back at the sleeping Oliver. Thank goodness I didn’t wake him up. “My last name is Zhao,” he emphasized, afraid I would save his contact as “Pain Patch.” But right after I added Dr. Zhao, Oliver’s ghostly voice came from behind me: “Why are you two adding each other as friends behind my back?” “…” Listen to what he was saying. He made it sound like we were doing something shady. Oliver was mad that Dr. Zhao and I added each other as friends, and he ignored me all night. The next morning, I woke up early. Pain Patch was still sleeping, but Oliver was nowhere to be seen. My heart instantly jumped into my throat. He had a terrible night last night; did he do something drastic? I didn’t have time to think and ran out immediately to look for him. Thank goodness, he was just sitting on a large rock outside the warehouse. I let out a huge sigh of relief. I walked up behind him and saw him playing on his phone… That was my freaking phone! I saw him open WeChat, pin “Oliver” to the top, then find “Dr. Zhao” and hit delete without hesitation. I swear to God… I clenched my fists. My knuckles were turning white. I was just about to lose it when I saw him pull out another phone—Dr. Zhao’s—and expertly delete me from it. I gritted my teeth: “Oli-ver!” He jumped in shock, then grabbed the phones and started running. His legs were so long, how could I possibly catch him? Just as I was about to give up and head back, I bumped into someone. I looked up and saw a middle-aged man, looking to be in his fifties, with an ordinary face. Seeing this, Oliver quickly ran over and shielded me behind him. At that moment, Dr. Zhao’s voice came from the warehouse: “Well, well. It was too dark to see clearly yesterday, but look at this! Pots, pans, the whole nine yards! You two setting up house here?!” He stretched as he walked out, but froze when he saw the unfamiliar middle-aged man. That was when I noticed, to my shock, that the stranger had a hunting rifle slung over his shoulder! He immediately aimed the gun at us: “Nobody move! No cops!” Oliver pulled me further behind him, and I was so scared I barely dared to breathe. The man forced us into the warehouse with the gun, confiscated our phones, turned them off, and removed the SIM cards to prevent police tracking. Dr. Zhao swallowed hard, mustered up his courage, and said: “Sir, please let us go. Don’t worry, we absolutely won’t call the police. Besides, we don’t even know you, so we couldn’t give the police any leads anyway.” The man snorted: “Funny. The police have a city-wide APB out on me. Everyone knows who I am, and you expect me to believe you don’t?” He was the ruthless, bloodthirsty killer?! I wanted to cry but had no tears left. Unlucky, incredibly unlucky! Dr. Zhao was silent for a long moment: “I’m a bit of a shut-in. I really don’t recognize you.” “Cut the crap!” The man pointed at me, then at the ropes on the floor. “You, tie them up.” I didn’t dare disobey. I picked up the ropes and tied Dr. Zhao and Oliver back-to-back. Then the man picked up another rope and tied me up like a trussed turkey. While tying me up, he felt the unmailed ransom note Oliver had helped me write in my pocket. He stared at me in disbelief: “You’re in the business too?” I nodded. He put the letter away: “I was just worrying about having no money for the getaway. I’ll take this $500,000!” Now I really wanted to cry. I had worked so hard, and now my payday was flying away. “Give me the card.” I stammered: “It’s in the pink backpack in the corner.” He walked over, roughly dumped out the contents of the bag, and found the bank card. “PIN.” I told the truth: “My birthday.” “…How the hell am I supposed to know what day your birthday is!” At that moment, Oliver suddenly spoke up: “There’s no money on the card. Taking it is useless.” The man spat: “No money? Are you little punks messing with me?!” “But I can help you call my dad and extort him.” The man was suspicious: “You’re trying to pull a fast one, aren’t you?” “Aren’t you trying to get money for your getaway? I’m paying for my safety. Once you get the money, you have to let us go.” The man still didn’t believe him. “You took our phones, so we can’t call the police. If we really wanted to call the police, we’d have to go to the station ourselves. By the time we file a report, you’ll be long gone.” The man seemed swayed. He weighed his options and finally said: “Fine. But no phone calls. God knows what tricks you’ll play on the phone. Send a text. I’ll send it from your phone myself.” Oliver agreed without hesitation. After the man sent the text from Oliver’s phone, he immediately turned it off and removed the SIM card.

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At the dinner table, there she was—the female “bro” I had never met, sitting right next to my husband. When she hugged his arm for the fourth time, I threw up all over the floor. My husband was frantic, patting my back and trying to help me catch my breath. But his “bro” just raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and scoffed: “Well, Arthur, you certainly know how to pick a wife. What a buzzkill.” Oh, I see. A classic “Pick Me” girl. But what she didn’t know was… When it comes to playing the innocent victim, I wrote the damn book. 01 The atmosphere in the private dining room plunged into a bizarre, suffocating awkwardness. Arthur frowned. “Chloe, stop talking nonsense.” His hand kept gently patting my back. Chloe lowered her voice a fraction. “I’m just saying, back when you and I would drink all night, and wake up in the same bed, I never threw up like this.” Immediately, people in the room tried to smooth things over: “Come on, Chloe, that’s ancient history. Don’t listen to her, Evelyn, she’s just got no filter.” Chloe froze for a second. Then, someone slapped a hand over her mouth. She peeled the hand away, pouting. “Can’t a girl even tell the truth? Women are so much drama.” Another wave of nausea hit me, and I started choking, tears welling up in my eyes. When I looked up, my eyes were already red. “Arthur, I’m not trying to ruin everyone’s fun… I’m so sorry…” Arthur looked entirely heartbroken. “Honey, if you’re not feeling well, let’s just go.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe’s expression instantly shift. She grabbed the hem of Arthur’s shirt. “I just got back into the country! You have a wife now, so you can’t hang out with your bros?!” Arthur’s face darkened. “Chloe, my wife is sick.” She craned her neck to look at me. “Evelyn, are you just upset because Arthur and I are so close?” I collapsed weakly into Arthur’s arms. “I really don’t feel well… Excuse me, sister, if you absolutely must keep Arthur here, could you at least let me go home first?” He furrowed his brow. Supporting my waist, he said, “I’m taking you home.” Arthur led me toward the door. “You guys keep drinking. My wife is sick. Next round is on me.” Behind us, the female “bro” sounded genuinely annoyed. “Do people who get married just lose all their freedom? Arthur, you are such a buzzkill!” Arthur didn’t even break his stride. He pulled me into the car and called a designated driver in one smooth motion. Once in the car, he rubbed my back soothingly. “Evelyn, are you still feeling sick? Should we go to the hospital?” The cool night air had significantly quelled my nausea. I pulled slightly away from him. “When exactly did you and Chloe roll into the same bed?” Arthur froze. He looked away unnaturally. “That was way before I even met you. And I swear, I had no idea she was going to be at the dinner tonight…” He reached for my hand again, his tone pleading. “Besides, we were both blackout drunk that time. Nothing happened, I swear to God!” Just then, the designated driver tapped on the window. Arthur pulled my hand against his chest, looking deeply worried. “Please drive carefully, sir. My wife isn’t feeling well.” 02 The next morning, I was woken up by another wave of nausea. I leaned over the toilet, dry heaving. Arthur immediately came running from the bedroom. “Still feeling sick, honey? I’m going to go buy you some medicine right now!” He scrambled around, frantic. He even forgot his phone on the bed. Right then, his phone started blowing up with notifications. After wiping my mouth, I picked it up. I saw a group chat on iMessage with four people. The girl, whose contact name was “Foam,” was rapid-firing messages into the group: [Wake up, bros! The sun’s shining on your lazy asses!] [I’m going to come around to all your houses to wish you a Happy New Year! Have you guys got my red envelopes ready?] [@Arthur, how’s your precious little wife? Let’s hang out today, just us. And don’t you dare run off again! Your family is such a buzzkill! Or better yet, just leave the wife at home!] [I don’t care, you have to give me a massive red envelope this year! Bigger than your wife’s! Otherwise, your bros will never forgive you!] Arthur came bursting back into the room, beaming. “Honey, I asked the pharmacist, and they said you might be pregnant! Let’s take a test first, and then I’ll take you to the hospital!” His eyes landed on the phone in my hand. His expression turned incredibly stiff. I handed the phone out to him. “Your ‘bro’. She’s asking for a red envelope. Bigger than mine.” I paused for a second. Then added, “She said she wants to hang out tonight. And told you not to bring your wife.” Arthur took the phone awkwardly. “Chloe… she’s just clueless. She’s a tomboy, she speaks before she thinks. Don’t be mad, honey.” I just stared at him quietly. Arthur hesitated for a moment, then held down the voice memo button right in front of me: “Stop talking nonsense. If my wife isn’t going, I’m not going.” 03 I went to the bathroom and took the test with my morning urine. Two pink lines appeared on all of them. Arthur was ecstatic. He picked me up and spun me around, making promises: “Honey, I promise, I’ll never do anything to make you upset again.” “Just focus on being happy and having this baby. From now on, you’re the queen of this house.” He hurriedly drove me to the hospital for a blood test. Once the pregnancy was officially confirmed, he immediately called his mom. “Mom! We’re coming over, I’ve got a huge surprise for you!” The car sped all the way to his parents’ massive house. Arthur grabbed the gift boxes from my hands, his face glowing with joy. Before we even walked through the door, he started shouting: “Mom! I’ve got amazing news!” He had barely stepped into the foyer. A flash of red hurled itself at him, throwing an arm around his neck. “Arthur, what took you so long?! We’ve been waiting forever!” She hung off his neck, one hand sliding inappropriately far down his chest. Then, she locked eyes with me. As if startled, she quickly let go, looking deeply annoyed with herself. “Oh, damn. Force of habit. I forgot you’re a married man now.” Arthur’s clothes were wrinkled from her grabbing him. He subconsciously smoothed his shirt, looking nervously at me. “Evelyn…” Before he could finish his sentence. I walked over and gently flattened his collar. As I did, my eyes welled up with tears. “Sister… do you really hate it when I iron his shirts so perfectly flat?” Chloe was stunned. Her eyes went wide with shock. Arthur had told me before that watching me iron his collar every night was the thing that made him feel the luckiest. Hearing my words, his brow furrowed deeply. “Chloe, you’re an adult now. Stop being so erratic.” At that moment, my mother-in-law came down the stairs. Seeing me, she smiled elegantly. “Evelyn, you’re here.” Arthur picked up the gift boxes that had dropped to the floor. He took my hand and walked toward her. “Mom, you don’t even miss your own son, you just miss Evelyn.” The scene was picture-perfect. A happy, harmonious family. I turned my head. Chloe was staring daggers at me. Her lips were pressed into a thin, tight line. I addressed her directly by name: “Sister Chloe, why do you look so unhappy?” Panic visibly washed over her face. Every eye in the room turned toward her. Chloe stammered, “I… I… Evelyn, you must be seeing things…” 04 At the dinner table. Arthur couldn’t wait to announce the news of my pregnancy. My mother-in-law was overjoyed. On top of the red envelopes she had already prepared, she immediately transferred a massive sum of money to my account right in front of everyone. Chloe’s chopsticks clattered loudly onto the floor. My mother-in-law paused. She frowned slightly. “Chloe, you aren’t getting any younger. You should start thinking about getting married and having kids of your own.” Chloe’s face soured. “Aunt Mary, I’m not in a rush.” My mother-in-law replied casually, “I just heard your mother saying the other day how anxious she is. She’s waiting for us to hold our granddaughters together.” Chloe forced a strained smile. “Aunt Mary, I really don’t mind.” Then, she suddenly looked right at me. “Besides, even if I never have kids, Arthur’s kid can always take care of me when I’m old, right?” My face dropped. But before I could speak, my mother-in-law slammed her juice glass down onto the table. Her face was deadly serious. “Even if you were educated abroad, you shouldn’t make jokes like that.” “Has the culture abroad deteriorated so much that people think it’s acceptable to joke about taking other people’s children?” The more she spoke, the angrier she got. She picked up her phone from the table. “I need to call your mother. She needs to have a serious talk with you about how you speak to people.” This time, Chloe’s face went completely white. She desperately kicked Arthur under the table. “Say something for your bro!” I picked up the toughest, chewiest fried meatball on the table and shoved it directly into Arthur’s mouth. “Hubby, taste this for me~” 05 “Pick Me” girls have one major advantage. They can use their “tomboy,” “carefree,” “one of the guys” label to pretend they don’t understand when people are disgusted by them, and just keep doing whatever they want. Outside the window, fireworks exploded in the sky. A knock came at the door, and Chloe immediately bounced over to open it. Two of Arthur’s childhood friends pushed the door open, greeting everyone with a barrage of New Year’s blessings. Chloe linked arms with one of them. She dragged him over to Arthur and held out her hand. “Arthur, the boys are here to wish you a Happy New Year!” “Wishing you prosperity, now hand over the red envelopes!” Arthur sneaked a nervous glance at me. I linked my arm through Arthur’s and smiled sweetly. “Sister Chloe, is the economy abroad really that bad right now?” The two friends who just walked in froze. I squeezed Arthur’s arm and gently swayed it. “Was it America? I heard they have a huge homelessness problem over there…” Before I finished the sentence, I covered my mouth in feigned shock. “I didn’t mean anything by it, sister! I just heard you just got back from America, and I was just curious…” Chloe’s face turned beet red with rage. She violently shoved away the hand of the friend she had been holding and pointed a trembling finger at me, screaming. “I came here to celebrate the New Year! I am Arthur’s BRO! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!” She kicked over one of the gift boxes the friends had brought. “Arthur, your wife is insulting me and you’re not going to do a damn thing about it?!” I recoiled in terror. Both my hands instinctively flew to cover my still-flat stomach. “Please… please don’t be mad…” Arthur gasped, quickly wrapping his arms around me to steady me as I stepped back. He glared at Chloe, his eyes flashing with genuine anger. “Chloe! She’s pregnant!” Chloe’s eyes were red with fury. One of the friends, Liam, tried to play peacemaker. “Chloe, it’s the New Year, let’s not get angry.” Her lips were trembling. She took a step back, right into Liam’s arms. “Arthur, everyone else gets married and stays the same! But the second you get married, you let your bros get treated like garbage?!” Arthur looked miserable. He looked at her, then looked at me. He was trapped. I bit my lip. “Sister Chloe, you just really hate the sight of me, don’t you…” I tugged gently on Arthur’s wrist. “Sister Chloe seems to have misunderstood me… Arthur, could you please explain it to her…” As I spoke. I let go of his hand and subtly wiped away a completely non-existent tear. My nose was perfectly pink. I looked at her, hesitant. “Is it because I’m not good at expressing myself? Did I say something to upset you…?” After I said that. The living room fell into a bizarre, heavy silence. Arthur wrapped his arm tightly around my waist. “It’s fine, honey. They’re just overreacting.” 06 Liam was the ultimate compromiser. He dragged Chloe outside, and within a few minutes, he had calmed her down. The two of them hauled several cases of liquor out of the trunk of his car. Chloe slapped the top of one of the boxes, looking incredibly smug. “I specifically told Liam to bring these for you! See? Only your bros actually care about what you want.” I slowly descended the stairs from the second floor. My tone was soft and delicate. “Hubby, the bedroom is so cold…” Every single person on the couch turned to look at me. Arthur hurried over and soothingly stroked my cheek. “Honey, go turn the heater on in the room first. Once they’ve had enough, I’ll come right upstairs to be with you.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe aggressively opening bottles of alcohol on the couch, frantically shooting pointed looks at the two friends. She said loudly, dripping with sarcasm: “If you’re pregnant, you should stay upstairs and rest! Why do you have to come down and interfere with the men?” “Arthur, your wife is seriously high maintenance!” Liam quickly covered her mouth. Arthur looked deeply conflicted. “Evelyn, it’s so late… why don’t you… go back upstairs for a bit?” He lowered his voice, pleading: “I’ll get rid of them as fast as I can.” My heart stopped for a second. Something heavy settled in my chest, slowly sinking. 07 The noise coming from the living room downstairs was loud. Four people—three guys and one girl. They drank and hollered well past midnight. Chloe’s cheeks were flushed pink as she suggested playing a game. Truth or Dare, of course. She “lost” the very first round. Liam laughed mischievously: “Then you have to choose someone to kiss! We never got to see you guys when you used to sleep in the same bed! We gotta get a front-row seat this time!” The atmosphere was rowdy. Chloe, her eyes blurry with alcohol, grabbed Arthur by the collar and pulled him toward her. Arthur looked hesitant, his eyes darting around. “Chloe, you’ve had too much to drink…” Before he could finish his sentence, she crashed her lips fiercely against his. The security camera footage I was watching on the second floor was high definition. I could clearly see a pink tongue sliding back and forth where their mouths met. One full minute. They finally broke apart, looking reluctant. Chloe giggled, her words slurring slightly: “I bit your lip and made it bleed. Let your wife see that. You were always mine first.” I saw it with absolute clarity. Arthur’s hands, which had been hanging limply by his sides the whole time, seemed to suddenly regain sensation. He reached up and cupped the back of Chloe’s head. He scolded her, but his tone was affectionate: “You never behave.” I silently closed the live feed on my phone. The bitter ache in my heart completely vanished. I suddenly realized something. Arthur. He wasn’t the man I thought he was. I used to think he was just a bit oblivious when it came to boundaries, but at least he shared fifty percent of my mother-in-law’s DNA. I didn’t expect him to be as ruthless or decisive as her. I just needed him to not be a philandering scumbag like his father. I never imagined. I really, truly never imagined. 08 Early morning. The sky was just beginning to lighten. They finally called it a night. The mattress beside me dipped. The man next to me, reeking of alcohol, wrapped his arms around my waist. “Honey, don’t be mad. They just wouldn’t let me leave…” “I love you…” Before he could even finish the sentence. He was snoring heavily. I peeled his arms off me and moved as far away as possible. I opened the security camera app and watched the playback. After that first kiss, Chloe proceeded to “lose” almost every single round. She went down the line, exchanging saliva with every single one of her “bros.” Including Arthur. She lost two more times. The penalty for the dare was for the guys to reach under her shirt and unhook her bra. The scene was completely debauched. Even on fast-forward, you could tell everyone involved was having the time of their lives. I was suddenly incredibly thankful. Ever since my mother-in-law had a minor stroke a while back, I immediately had security cameras installed all over the first floor. However, I had never mentioned it to Arthur. 09 They finally woke up in the afternoon. There were a lot of elderly people in the neighborhood where they grew up. According to the local tradition, they had to go door-to-door to wish the elders a Happy New Year. Chloe was incredibly enthusiastic about organizing it. When she looked at me, her eyes carried a faint, unmistakable glint of contempt. I understood that look perfectly. See? The man you treat like a treasure is still easily caught in my trap. I pretended to be completely oblivious. I smiled back at her. Arthur suddenly hugged me from behind. “Honey, we drank a little too late last night. Please don’t be mad. I love you the most.” I frowned. I instinctively pried his hands off me. Arthur froze. But he recovered quickly and started coaxing me: “Honey, don’t be mad. It was just once for the New Year. I promise I won’t drink with them like that again, okay?” He hugged me again. From the other side of the room, Chloe yelled, “Hey! Arthur! Stop being so gross and get over here for the picture!” “Coming!” Arthur yelled back. He reached out to pull me along. “Please, honey, just give me some face right now. When we get home, I’ll buy you that bag you wanted.” He dragged me into the middle of the group. I suddenly suggested, “Let me take the picture! I’m not very photogenic anyway.” Arthur looked slightly taken aback. But Chloe immediately ran over and squeezed right next to Arthur. “Fine, you take it! But make sure you turn the beauty filter on! Make us look good!” She was loud and boisterous. Grinning from ear to ear, she threw her arm around Arthur’s shoulder and threw up a peace sign at me. I snapped five photos in a row. I told the childhood friends that I would create a group chat via airdrop right then and there to share the photos. Seeing the group chat immediately swell to 30+ people—because the wives and girlfriends of the other guys had also joined—I instantly sent the photos I had just taken. However. Sent alongside them were the video clips from last night’s security footage. To make it perfectly clear for everyone. I had selected the most exciting scenes and spent quite a bit of time editing them together. Very quickly. A scream erupted from the couch area: “Evelyn! What the hell is this?!” “Recall it! Recall the message right now!” In the crowd, the sharp sound of a slap echoed. Arthur’s face turned ashen. He sprinted toward me. “Honey! Honey, we were just drunk…” “I swear to God, there is absolutely nothing going on between me and Chloe! We didn’t do anything! I swear!” He was spinning in circles, frantic with panic. But he still grabbed my arm and begged: “Please, just recall the video first, okay? It’s not just me in there, it’s Liam, and Chloe, and the others!” “Evelyn, this isn’t the time or place to make a scene.” Chloe also came jogging over to me. “Evelyn! You did this on purpose! You did this on purpose, didn’t you?!” “How can a woman be so vicious and calculating?! We were just playing a game between bros, and you actually kept evidence?! Recall it! Recall it right now!” The living room. Was in absolute chaos. But I looked even more panicked than they did. “I didn’t do it on purpose! What do I do?! The time limit passed, I can’t recall it…!”

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It all started with something incredibly small. After Mia finished introducing herself to the class, our homeroom teacher was looking around, trying to figure out where to seat her. Oliver raised his hand and said, “Mr. Davis, she can sit next to me.” A collective “Ooooh” went up from the class. Then, eyes started darting toward me, some subtle, some blatant, curious to see my reaction. Everyone knew Oliver and I had practically grown up together. Everyone also knew that every time seats were reassigned after exams and I asked if we could sit together, he always made some excuse about preferring to sit alone and turned me down. I looked up at Oliver. He didn’t notice my gaze; he was too busy exchanging a knowing smile with Mia as she looked out from the front of the classroom. Watching that scene unfold, for some reason, I suddenly felt deeply, bone-tired. 01 The teacher left after Mia took her seat. It was a passing period, so the classroom quickly grew loud again. I could hear the whispers. I could feel the glances shifting from Mia to Oliver, and finally, inevitably, landing on me. I kept my head down, focusing on my work, completely ignoring the stares. It wasn’t until Mia finished unpacking her bag, turned around, and smiled at me brightly that I finally looked up. “Serena! It’s been so long,” she said, her voice warm and familiar, acting as if the ugly fallout between us two years ago had never happened. I didn’t look at Oliver sitting next to her. I kept my eyes fixed entirely on Mia. Polite, distant, and perfectly composed, I gave her a small nod. “It has.” Before she could react, I looked back down at my Physics homework. My complete lack of interest in catching up was glaringly obvious. Mia, who was always excellent at reading a room, knew when to back off. She turned back around, abandoning her usual act of pretending everything was perfectly fine. Chloe, who sat next to me, was practically vibrating out of her seat. She looked like she was dying to know what was going on, but the bell rang. Plus, the people involved were sitting right in front of us; even a whisper would be heard. So, she passed me a note. It read: WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!?!?! I could practically feel her desperation through the sheer number of exclamation marks. I crumpled the note in my hand and glanced at the row in front of me. Oliver and Mia had their heads close together. Oliver was pointing at something in the textbook for our next class, talking to her in a low voice, probably explaining where we were in the syllabus. The angle of his profile looked so incredibly gentle. Oliver rarely showed that kind of patience. Most of the time, he was aloof and easily annoyed with people. I remembered a time when I missed a few days of school because of a bad fever. When I came back, he was helping me catch up on Physics. After barely explaining two concepts, he got frustrated, frowning as he said, “Serena, how can you be this slow?” I wasn’t slow; he just didn’t have any patience. I used to think that was just how he was—impatient with everyone. But looking at him now, I realized he wasn’t impatient. He just wasn’t patient with me. 02 The next class was AP Calculus. As the period was winding down, Mr. Harris called my name. “Serena, could you go to my office and grab those two stacks of practice tests? Pass them out; they’re homework for tonight. We’ll go over the examples tomorrow morning.” I nodded and stood up to leave. Chloe immediately jumped up too. “Mr. Harris, I’ll go help Serena.” It wasn’t until we were out in the hallway that she finally lowered her voice and asked, “Serena, what is the deal with you, Oliver, and the new transfer student?” I paused. I knew Chloe was just worried about me. After all, my crush on Oliver was the worst-kept secret in school. Oliver and I lived next door to each other. In the eyes of our parents, we were childhood sweethearts. I had liked him for as long as I could remember. Oliver was popular. He was handsome, got great grades, and had a good reputation. He also had this laid-back, effortlessly cool vibe that made him incredibly well-liked. A teenage crush is a funny thing. No matter how hard you try to hide it or act careful, your feelings always manage to leak out through your eyes. Everyone could see it. They teased us, shipped us, linked our names together constantly. Oliver definitely knew, too. Sometimes, he’d even lean into the teasing, making harmless little jokes that only fueled the rumors. It felt like this unspoken, mutual understanding. A quiet kind of intimacy. But we never actually talked about it. Aside from focusing on getting into a good college, I honestly didn’t fully understand Oliver. There was a time when he was so gentle with me it was confusing. But the moment I gathered the courage to ask him what it meant, he’d turn cold and smoothly change the subject, making it seem like I had just misunderstood everything. I’m not the type to force things or chase after someone who doesn’t want me. When he pulled away, I naturally pulled back too. But the second I created distance, he’d start paying attention to me again. Chloe once told me that Oliver just liked the attention I gave him. He liked knowing I liked him. He didn’t want to date me, but he didn’t want to lose me, either. I never really understood that. In my world, you either like someone or you don’t. If you like them, you date them; if you don’t, you make it clear. But I have to admit, Oliver’s hot-and-cold routine made it impossible for me to fully categorize him as ‘just a friend.’ What really gave me hope happened recently, right after our midterms. My grades were strong across the board, but my Chemistry score was a little low. We were about to choose our tracks for senior year—STEM or Humanities. My counselor had even pulled me aside to suggest I lean towards STEM, but I personally preferred Humanities because I wanted to go into international relations. But Oliver said to me, “Serena, choose the STEM track.” His tone was casual, but it felt like a promise. “Let’s go to the same college.” I froze at the time. My ears turned red, and I tried to play it cool as I asked, “Is that a promise?” He just looked at me with a smile, not saying a word, and my hope was instantly reignited. I was like a fish. Every time I felt like I was suffocating and about to give up, he’d splash a little water on me, just enough to keep me alive. But now that Mia was back, I guess he didn’t feel like sparing me even a few drops of water anymore. I sighed, and Chloe looked at me with concern. I didn’t want to hide anything from her. I knew she cared. But honestly, the history between me, Mia, and Oliver wasn’t as complicated as she probably thought. 03 Mia and I went to the same middle school. She transferred into our class in the middle of 8th grade because her dad got a new job in the city. By that time, friend groups were pretty solidified. Plus, Mia was really pretty, so it was hard for her to fit in at first. I was generally well-liked, easy to talk to, and got good grades, so Mia gravitated towards me. She sat diagonally behind me, separated by an aisle. One morning, I didn’t have time for breakfast, and by the time homeroom was over, my stomach was growling loudly. I asked my desk mate if she had any snacks. Somehow, Mia heard me. She handed over her muffin, her eyes curving into a sweet smile. “I happened to buy an extra one this morning. You can have it.” I felt a bit awkward, but later on, she’d come up to me with this completely innocent vibe, asking questions about assignments. I always patiently helped her. Eventually, whenever there was a group project or an event, I’d bring her along, and that’s how she became part of my friend group. And that’s how she met Oliver. Back then, Oliver and I were truly just “childhood friends.” Although we hadn’t defined anything, just like now, he wasn’t hot and cold back then. If he skipped class to play video games, he’d bring back my favorite fries. He’d cover for me so I could sneak out to concerts. Once, during P.E., I sprained my ankle. Our classroom was on the top floor, and he piggybacked me up and down the stairs every single day. He stayed by my side through all my physical therapy. In those countless moments where I felt like I couldn’t handle the emotional whiplash of liking him anymore, I’d pick up one or two of those memories. Those hazy, beautiful moments became my motivation to keep going, making me believe that my obvious crush might actually lead somewhere. The turning point in our relationship probably started when Mia transferred to our school. Mia had moved around a lot as a kid because of her dad’s job, so she was much more socially adept and smooth than the rest of us. She was incredibly good at reading people. So, very quickly, I considered her a real friend. At that time, I hung out with Oliver a lot, and naturally, she got to know him through me. But when the three of us were together, she rarely spoke. She usually just sat quietly and listened. She seemed so harmless. It took me a long time to realize that whenever she and I were alone, the conversation would somehow always veer towards Oliver. His likes, his dislikes, embarrassing stories from his childhood, what made him happy or angry… Through me, Mia learned everything there was to know about Oliver, without ever having to spend much time with him one-on-one. She even teased me about my obvious crush on him, acting just like any other supportive best friend. There isn’t much to say about what happened next. A new movie starring an actor Oliver liked came out. I asked him to go see it, but he said he was busy. Later, my friends dragged me to the mall. By coincidence, we ended up near the movie theater, just in time to see Oliver and Mia walking out. Unlike the usual quiet dynamic when it was the three of us, Mia was laughing beautifully, and Oliver, looking unusually gentle, was gesturing animatedly as they talked, probably discussing the movie plot. I had never known that the usually quiet Mia had such an energetic side. I also never realized that the two of them were that close behind my back. I froze. It was too late to hide. When Mia and Oliver looked up and saw me, Mia’s face stiffened. She looked briefly embarrassed, but quickly recovered, flashing her usual smile and saying hi. Oliver, on the other hand, immediately started making excuses: “Mia likes this actor too. Since you don’t really like him, I just came with her.” Mia. Such an intimate way to say her name. My gaze shifted from his face to Mia standing behind him. I noted her unnatural expression, but I didn’t call her out. Because I clearly remembered that when I first told her about Oliver’s favorite actor, she looked confused and asked me who he was and if he had been in anything famous. There isn’t much else to the story. Even though she knew I liked Oliver, and even though she used me to get close to him and gather information, they weren’t actually dating at the time. She had the right to do whatever she wanted. I was just disgusted by her manipulation. I’m not a pushover. After that, I naturally distanced myself. I stopped hanging out with her, and my attitude grew cold. I didn’t say anything publicly, but I actively avoided any gathering she was at. The friends who used to invite her only did so because of me. After I bailed a few times, my friends—though they didn’t know what happened—stopped inviting her too. “She’s nice, gentle, and always says the right thing, but for some reason, she just feels… off. Like she’s not genuine.” “Serena, weren’t you guys super close? You brought her breakfast, let her copy your homework, tutored her… why are you shutting her out now?” I shook my head and avoided the topic. I feel like I was raised well enough to know that no matter what, I don’t like talking behind people’s backs. It’s petty. I never expected that one day, Oliver would be the one to confront me about her. He looked at me with an icy, disappointed expression, asking through gritted teeth, “Serena, are you the one leading the charge to isolate Mia?” Even though it was phrased as a question, the certainty in his tone told me he had already found me guilty. I felt like I was being accused out of nowhere. But my temper is usually pretty even, so I patiently asked, “What makes you think that?” He asked back, “Then why has everyone around you stopped talking to her?” That was probably his version of being diplomatic. I don’t know what Mia said to him, but my pent-up anger exploded. I looked at Oliver and said coldly, “I don’t respect her character.” What followed was an argument I’ve mostly forgotten. It was probably Oliver desperately trying to convince me that Mia was a great girl and that I shouldn’t be prejudiced against her. That was the beginning of the end. Later, Mia even came to apologize to me. But her apology felt more like a thinly veiled taunt, a way to show off. I looked at the smugness hidden beneath her apologetic smile, clutched my books, shoved her lightly, and said coldly, “Get out of my way.” I really didn’t use much force, but she stumbled backward as if she lost her balance, hitting the wall hard. Her eyes went red as she asked, “Serena, do you really hate me that much?” Before I could answer, someone yanked me hard from behind. Caught off guard, I almost fell. I turned around to see Oliver. He looked at me coldly, acting like a white knight defending Mia. “She sincerely apologized. What more do you want?” He paused, then added, “Besides, she didn’t do anything wrong in the first place.” My wrist throbbed from his grip. The books I was holding scattered across the floor, bruising my foot. Mia nervously tugged at the hem of Oliver’s shirt, telling him not to fight with me because of her. Such hypocrisy. I was young and hot-headed then. Even though angry tears welled in my eyes, I stubbornly refused to let them fall. I looked coldly at Mia and said bluntly, “Mia, you are truly disgusting.” Then I turned to Oliver and said, “Oliver, you’re an idiot.” I don’t know how Mia acted around Oliver in private, but I can imagine. From me, she knew Oliver inside and out. So she always knew exactly how to appeal to his tastes, possessing an uncanny, “perfectly timed” alignment with all his preferences. Oliver took those coincidences as fate, and his feelings for her grew. Even if he later realized that everything she knew was just information she gleaned from me, Oliver probably just chalked it up to her being jealous. Mia, the beautiful, perfect girl in his mind. After that, Oliver and I basically stopped talking. He and Mia grew closer, and the bond that used to be ours was replaced by hers. He studied with her, went to museums with her, and took her to our secret spot. One day, I pushed open the door to the school roof and saw them sitting side-by-side, looking at the sky and eating ice cream. They looked so comfortable together. After that, we just ignored each other. I remember for a very long time, Oliver and I didn’t exchange a single word. Until the beginning of freshman year of high school, when Mia moved back to her home state. I forget who gave who the out. Time has a way of blurring things, and distance does too. Oliver and I slowly went back to normal, even though the cracks were still there. We tacitly agreed never to bring up Mia, to the point where it felt deliberate. Until today, when Mia suddenly reappeared in our world.

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The day I announced my retirement from Hollywood, paparazzi caught Arthur Sterling entering and leaving a luxury hotel with his “One That Got Away”—the legendary muse, Seraphina Rose. The internet was ruthless. “No matter how beautiful the trophy bird is,” one viral comment read, “she’ll always have to fly away when the original muse returns.” Later, as I was leaving New York, Arthur attended the premiere of Seraphina’s comeback film. A reporter asked him, “Word is Melody St. Claire dropped out of her latest role to enter an arranged marriage back home. Is it true?” Arthur let out a sharp, mocking scoff, his face full of arrogant certainty. “She wouldn’t dare.” At twenty, Melody St. Claire wouldn’t have dared. But Melody is twenty-seven now. In this short life, I’ve decided to run toward someone who loves me, rather than the man I used to chase. 1 “Give the lead role in this movie to Seraphina.” “I’m not going to ask you a second time. Are we clear?” Arthur’s voice was cold, like a New York winter. He was clearly agitated; his silver fork clattered against the fine china, a harsh, grating sound in the private dining room. My throat felt tight. I forced myself to swallow the tears. My phone was buzzing incessantly on the table. I stood up to take the call outside, and as I opened the door, I ran straight into Seraphina. She smiled at me, radiant and ethereal. “I heard it’s your birthday, Melody. Arthur invited me to celebrate with you.” Around her neck hung a sapphire pendant—the one Arthur had bought at a high-stakes auction just two days ago for a record price. It was stunning. And it stung. I nodded and brushed past her to find a quiet corner. The caller was my older brother, Nathan. His voice was warm, tinged with his usual lazy charm. “Happy birthday, superstar.” “Grandfather is back in the States. Brace yourself; that family arrangement we talked about… it’s back on the table.” The arrangement had been set years ago between our grandfather and his old business partner. Since Grandfather went abroad for his health, it hadn’t been mentioned—until now. I looked down, my voice quiet but firm. “Nathan, I’ll do it. I agree to the marriage.” “I know the Vance family has a lot of rules. I’ll settle my affairs here quickly.” “And then… I’m leaving the industry.” 2 When I returned to the room, Seraphina was already sitting intimately close to Arthur. A perfectly cut piece of steak sat on her plate, placed there by his hand. “Melody, Arthur said you’re willing to give me the lead in The Last Song.” “I know the role might not mean much to an established star like you, but for my comeback, it’s the crucial first step.” “Melody, thank you.” Her tone was airy. I didn’t hear a shred of gratitude; I only heard the triumph. I bit my lip to speak, but Arthur cut me off. “Why are you thanking her?” “It’s just one role. Besides, you were always the better fit for the character.” The indulgence in his eyes was blatant. Shameless. My brother’s words echoed in my ear: “Melody, Arthur Sterling isn’t a good man. If he won’t go public, if he won’t commit, he doesn’t love you enough.” It wasn’t that he didn’t love me enough. He didn’t love me at all. Nathan was just trying to save my pride. I forced a smile. “Director Miller invited me personally for this film.” “I don’t have the right to ‘give’ it away. Mr. Sterling should know that no one interferes with Miller’s casting.” Arthur shot me a look, his expression turning frigid. “Then you resign from the project.” 3 I had been in the industry for seven years. I went from indie films to the silver screen. Arthur had watched me grow every step of the way. He knew better than anyone that this film was supposed to be my masterpiece, my legacy. But now… It suddenly didn’t seem that important. Not because the role didn’t matter, but because Arthur didn’t matter. I stayed silent for a long time until Arthur’s impatient voice cut through again. “Is there a problem?” I let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “No problem.” Before re-entering the room, I had already called Director Miller to apologize. He tried to talk me out of it. I had spent three years in a local theater troupe honing my craft just for this role. Arthur frowned slightly when I didn’t fight back. He seemed surprised I had given in so easily. “Melody, don’t be dramatic.” “I’ve already looked at a few other scripts for you. You can pick one in a couple of days.” A slap, then a piece of candy. Ever since Seraphina came back, Arthur had been using this tactic to strip away almost all my resources. If she wanted it, I had to give it up. Once, during a heated argument, I asked him, “What if one day she wants you? Would I have to give you up to her, too?” Arthur had said, “She wouldn’t.” Only now did I realize what he meant. She wouldn’t have to ask. He was already hers. 4 As we left the restaurant, the first snow of the season began to fall over Manhattan. Arthur naturally took off his coat and draped it over Seraphina’s shoulders. I looked away instantly. Arthur cleared his throat, sounding slightly uncomfortable as he tried to explain. “Seraphina’s health is—” “It doesn’t matter, Arthur.” “My car is here. I’ll head out first.” My black SUV pulled up, followed by a familiar sports car. I cut him off with a smile; I felt strangely more peaceful than I had moments ago. As the door opened, Seraphina called out to me. “Melody, come with us.” “Let Arthur drop you off. You’ve helped me so much; I really should thank you properly.” She playfully nudged Arthur. “Is this how you treat your girlfriend? You don’t even know how to walk her to her door.” “You’re just as immature as when we were dating.” Arthur looked at Seraphina, his eyes filled with a tenderness I had never seen. “No need.” “I’ll drop you off first.” He took the keys from the valet, never once glancing at me. Seraphina kept teasing him, the perfect picture of a bickering couple. “I’ve told you so many times, girls need to be pampered.” “Arthur, do you ever listen to a word I say?” As the door closed, I let out a light laugh. It wasn’t just her words. She was the only one he ever listened to. 5 Seraphina was Arthur’s first love. In our third year together, he had whispered her name in a drunken stupor. She was the “Golden Girl” of Hollywood who had hit her peak and then suddenly retired and moved to Europe, vanishing from the map. That night, I didn’t sleep at all. When Arthur sobered up the next morning, he held me and confessed everything. “I didn’t know what love was back then.” “Even if I saw her again, I’d only feel a sense of debt toward her.” So they met. I don’t know what happened between them, but after that, Arthur became even more generous with me. He threw money at my career, securing every luxury brand deal and high-profile role. He said he loved watching me act, loved seeing me full of confidence in front of the camera. Just like when I was twenty, on the day of my first audition. Arthur, the lead investor, had ignored everyone’s objections to give me the lead role. The movie became a sleeper hit. My agent took me to a high-stakes industry mixer, telling me to thank the investors. I didn’t know my drink was spiked. In my panic, Arthur had suddenly burst through the door. That night. Arthur and I did everything we should and shouldn’t have done. The “love at first sight” from the audition flooded my heart, and I was completely lost. Back then, he built me up. Just like he was building up Seraphina now. 6 I went back to the penthouse Arthur had bought for me. Since Seraphina’s return, he barely came over. Once or twice, it was only because he had taken another contract or role from me. He’d tell me to wait for him at the apartment. Once he heard me say “it’s fine” in person, he’d leave in a hurry. But today. He probably wouldn’t come. Before going upstairs, I had the building manager bring up several large packing boxes. I turned on some music and began to slowly pack my things. I took down the photos from the display case one by one. Arthur never took photos of me. The ones I had were mostly official press shots from events we attended together, but I had cherished them like treasure. By the time the boxes were taped shut, Arthur had already sent several scripts to my email. He sent a follow-up text: “I’m going to be out of town for the next two weeks. I might not be able to reply to messages promptly.” “Once you’ve picked a script, contact my assistant directly.” “Happy birthday. Goodnight.” I curled my lip and didn’t reply. Before leaving the apartment, I deleted my fingerprints from the smart lock. I left the keys and the keycard in the tray on the foyer table. The night security guard looked at me uncertainly. “Are you leaving all of this behind?” “Yeah, I don’t need it anymore.” “I’ll have to trouble you to help me dispose of the rest. Thanks.” 7 On the day the cast for The Last Song was officially announced, Arthur, who was still out of town, actually called me. “Are none of those scripts to your liking?” “My assistant says you haven’t contacted him.” His voice was neutral, devoid of emotion. My brother, Nathan, was leaning back in the passenger seat of my car. Hearing Arthur’s voice, his brow twitched with annoyance. “I’m taking a break from acting for a while. I have other plans.” “I’m driving, I have to go.” Arthur didn’t say much. But before the call ended, a faint woman’s voice drifted through the car’s speakers. “Is Melody still upset about the movie?” “Arthur, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” I took a deep breath, meeting my brother’s probing gaze. “Nathan, I can handle the contract terminations myself.” “Don’t worry.” Because of Arthur’s ego, the business clauses in my contracts were mostly in my favor. Even if I breached them, the fallout wouldn’t be too bad. “If you need anything, call your brother.” “Drop me at the next corner. I’m meeting Silas…” Nathan nodded, but his voice trailed off. He looked out the window with a bit of awkwardness. “Silas Vance just happened to be in the city for business.” “Once you’ve finished up here, we’ll head back to Charleston together.” 8 By the time I finished all the paperwork to terminate my contracts, Arthur still hadn’t heard the news. In the past, he’d know the second anything happened to me, fearing I’d suffer or get hurt. The day I decided to retire, I was worried Arthur might try to block me. But as I drafted the official announcement for social media, I laughed. I was overthinking it. I felt a sense of relief; this was for the best. An ambiguous beginning, a clean ending. The post was scheduled. When I got out of the shower, there were several missed calls. From my parents. From industry friends. From producers and directors I had worked with. My brother’s call came through too, his voice urgent. “Are you home?” “Is it a good time? I’m coming over now.” It wasn’t until Nathan showed up at my door, drenched in sweat, that I realized the internet had exploded. Photos of Arthur and Seraphina entering and leaving hotels and tourist spots in Europe had been leaked at the exact moment I announced my retirement. The internet was having a field day. “No matter how beautiful the trophy bird is, she has to make room for the original muse.” I stared at the screen, at that top-voted comment. My heart felt surprisingly still. “Melody, are you okay?” “I’ve already called people to take the posts down. Don’t let it get to you.” I wanted to say it wasn’t necessary. But the Vance family was old money, deeply involved in the community. I might not care, but they would. And I truly didn’t want anything to do with Arthur Sterling ever again.

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I decided to go all out and hide my pregnancy to join a reality dating show. I thought I could just openly flirt with some cute, younger guys on the show. But I never expected a certain someone to follow me there, corner me, and look at me with red eyes: “Whose child is it?” 1 Ethan and I got together because of an arranged marriage between our families. He was a famous, A-list actor in the entertainment industry, while I was just a D-list “flower vase” – someone with a pretty face but no acting skills, constantly plagued by scandals. Because of my looks, many actresses in the industry were jealous of me and secretly (and sometimes not-so-secretly) boycotted me. As a result, my reputation in the industry was never great. Ethan and I had a secret marriage. We kept things polite and respectful after tying the knot, but an unexpected accident led to us sleeping together once. And it was that very accident that somehow got me pregnant. Staring at the ultrasound report in my hand, I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. Was this guy’s aim really that good?! My hand rested on my stomach. Even though it was only a month along, knowing there was a baby inside me triggered a strange, wonderful shift in my mindset. I pulled out my phone, ready to share the news with Ethan, only to be bombarded by a massive wave of entertainment news notifications. #A-List Actress Audrey Hayes Returns, A-List Actor Ethan Carter Personally Picks Her Up From the Airport# #What a Perfect Match! Actor Ethan Carter and Actress Audrey Hayes Look So Good Together!# I clicked on the article and saw a photo of my husband, Ethan, walking side-by-side with a young woman. The woman was beautiful, with long hair cascading down her back and a gentle smile on her fair, delicate face. Countless netizens were commenting on how perfectly they matched and begging them to get together! I knew about Audrey Hayes. She and Ethan went to the same acting school, and many fans shipped them as a couple. Seeing this photo and the comments seriously pissed me off. I remembered Ethan’s public schedule. A business trip? So his so-called business trip was actually going to pick up another woman? Even though our relationship was mostly formal, that didn’t give him a free pass to betray me. Anger flared up inside me. Suddenly, my phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Hey? Sierra, there’s a small reality dating show, do you want to do it? I know it’s not a major production, but given our current situation, we can’t really afford to be picky…” My manager, Valerie, sounded like she was preparing for a long, arduous persuasion, afraid I’d refuse. But before she could finish, I cut in: “I’ll do it.” “Huh?” Valerie was stunned for a second. I repeated, “I’ll take it. A dating show sounds great, why wouldn’t I do it?” A smile crept onto my face, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I swiped away the tabloid news about Ethan on my screen and shoved the ultrasound report into my bag. 2 Valerie told me the dating show was scheduled to film for two weeks. I packed a few things and flew out to the production set with her. I heard there were going to be six cast members in total: three men and three women, and the whole thing would be live-streamed. To build hype, the production team hadn’t released the official cast list beforehand, meaning we wouldn’t know who else was on the show until we arrived on set. To make a good first impression, I arrived super early, thinking I’d be the first one there. Who knew that as soon as I showed up, a camera would be pointed right at me, followed by the director’s voice: “Let’s welcome our final cast member, Sierra!” Me: “…” I was inwardly sweating dropping, but outwardly, I raised my hand and gave a fake, overly-sweet wave to everyone. “Sierra’s face is literally everything! I love her!” “Ugh, so gross. She’s just a flower vase. What does she have besides a pretty face? Why did the show invite someone like her!” I have excellent eyesight, and I caught the live comments flying across the screen instantly. But my expression didn’t change. I was in the entertainment industry to build character, anyway. I walked into the small house the production team had prepared. There were six chairs, and five were already occupied. B-list heartthrob Liam Davis, whom I had acted with in a drama once, had that classic “golden retriever” boy-next-door look and two cute dimples when he smiled. Sweetheart idol Chloe Miller, who debuted from a survival show, was wearing a pink dress and a messy bun, looking incredibly sweet and approachable. Seeing these two, my expression remained neutral. But when I saw the three people sitting behind them, my eyes widened in shock. Top idol Noah Sterling was winking at me. Beside him was A-list actor Ethan Carter, and A-list actress Audrey Hayes. Wasn’t this supposed to be a small, B-tier dating show? What were these three doing here?! The moment I looked toward Ethan, I met a pair of dark, deep eyes filled with an unreadable emotion. Before I could examine his expression, a figure in white blocked my view. “Since everyone is here, let’s get started.” Audrey casually positioned herself right between Ethan and me. A gentle smile played on her lips. “Audrey is so beautiful! Her smile just melts my heart!” “If we’re talking about looks, I still think Sierra is a level above.” “Sierra is just a flower vase. Please don’t compare her to our Audrey, OK?!” I pulled my gaze away from Ethan and suppressed my shock. I still couldn’t understand why a top-tier actor like him would come on a small show like this. But then it hit me: Ethan was a married man, and he was on a dating show! With Audrey, no less! Were these two trying to date in plain sight?! My face darkened. 3 The grouping began, using a random draw. Noah ended up next to me. I heard him lower his voice and ask, “How have things been lately?” Although his voice wasn’t picked up by his mic, his actions were caught on camera. “Ahhh! What is Noah doing! Why is he talking to Sierra!” “That little bitch! I knew she was a master manipulator!” “Noah, stay away from that woman!” As a top idol, Noah had a massive fanbase of obsessive fangirls. The moment he approached me, the live chat exploded. “Why are you on this show?” I whispered back. “I saw you were doing it, so I tagged along. Sis, your husband sure knows how to play the game. Trying to get paid to date on national TV?” Noah winked at me exaggeratedly. I forgot to mention, my real name is Sierra Sterling, and Sierra is just my stage name. I rolled my eyes at Noah. That was obviously impossible. Ethan might have come on the show to date, but the person he wanted to date definitely wasn’t me. The draw started, and I prayed inwardly that I wouldn’t be paired with Ethan. But they say the more you try to avoid something, the more likely it is to happen. Liam and Chloe were paired up. Noah and Audrey were paired up. And Ethan and I… were paired together. “WTF! How is Ethan not paired with Audrey! I refuse to accept this draw!” “Oh my god, Ethan got paired with that flower vase Sierra? She must be thrilled to death!” I was standing closest to the monitor and saw the comments instantly. I already had this inexplicable anger pent up inside me, probably made worse by the pregnancy hormones. I couldn’t hold it back and snapped directly at the camera: “What do you mean I’d be thrilled to death to be paired with Ethan? Why don’t you say he would be thrilled to death to be paired with me?” As soon as I said that, not only the set but the entire live chat went dead silent. But a second later, an even more intense wave of comments flooded the screen. “Oh my god, is this woman telling a joke? Is she possessed?” “Sierra, do you even know the meaning of the word ‘shameless’?” “Being paired with you, Ethan is probably thinking he has the worst luck in the world. How could he possibly be thrilled?” “…” Just a quick glance at the screen showed a massive wave of insults directed at me. In the past, worried about my reputation, I would act carefully on camera, swallowing a lot of grievances. But now, after clapping back, I felt so much better. Whatever! I don’t rely on the entertainment industry to eat anyway. I’m just here for fun. If I can’t handle it anymore, I’ll just go home and inherit the family fortune! Besides, I’m pregnant now. Holding onto anger is terrible for pregnant women! Once I figured that out, I stopped caring entirely. But to my utter shock, a deep voice echoed my words: “Yes, I’m thrilled to death.” Not only was I stunned, but even the smile on Audrey’s face stiffened. I saw Ethan’s dark, deep eyes staring intently at me, a flicker of an unidentifiable emotion dancing within them. What the hell is this man doing! Before I could recover, I heard a soft, gentle whisper near my ear: “Ethan is still the same as always, stepping in to help people out of awkward situations.” I frowned. Audrey’s overly familiar use of his first name grated on my nerves. Who needs Ethan’s help! 4 After the draw, the directors started assigning tasks. To help the pairs build chemistry and bond, our housing and food would depend on completing tasks. The directors brought us to the edge of a wooded area. The first task was to collect firewood in the woods. The pair that collected the most firewood would get first pick of the houses. The time limit was one hour. When the timer started, I rushed into the woods. Ethan followed behind me at a leisurely pace. I didn’t want to talk to him, so I bent down and started gathering wood. However, mindful of my pregnancy, I didn’t dare move too vigorously or carry too much at once. “You go sit and rest. I’ll get it. It’s dirty out here.” As I was focusing on gathering wood, Ethan’s voice sounded right next to my ear. I straightened up and looked around. Liam and Chloe were working hard nearby. Noah’s team was just Noah working alone. Audrey was sitting on a rock admiring the scenery, showing no intention of getting her hands dirty. “Why isn’t Audrey helping? Why is she just sitting there?” “Gathering firewood is dirty work. Why should our Audrey have to do it?” “Didn’t our Audrey already say she wasn’t feeling well? What’s wrong with resting for a bit?” “The other two actresses are doing it, why can’t Audrey? Just watching Noah do all the work? So high-maintenance.” “If you’re going to participate, then participate. If you can’t, then leave.” I glanced at the live chat. Noah’s fans and Audrey’s fans were tearing each other apart. I glanced at Ethan and scoffed: “What? Want me to draw the fire away from Audrey?” This man was unbelievable! I never realized he was this awful before! Ethan: “?” I turned around, refusing to look at him, and went back to gathering wood. The outer edges of the woods were pretty picked over, so I gradually went deeper in. A rustling sound came from a bush ahead, and I instantly went on high alert. They say there are often wild animals in the woods… could it be a wolf or a bear or something? I looked around. I was the only one in this area. Ugh, I’m scared… Just as I was about to turn and run, a figure burst out of the bushes. “Sis!” Hearing that familiar voice, I jumped, then immediately let out a sigh of relief. I was about to speak when I saw Noah point at the microphone clipped to my shirt. I understood and turned it off. “Sis, here, take all of this.” Noah walked over and shoved all the firewood he had collected into my arms. “Huh? If you give it all to me, what are you going to do?” He was the only one working on his team. “I’ll be fine, sis. I can sleep anywhere. But my sister can’t rough it.” As Noah spoke, he winked at me and blew a kiss. His exaggerated expressions made him look incredibly campy. Knowing that the persona he maintained for his fans was that of a cool, aloof guy, seeing him act like this in front of me was too much. I couldn’t take it and just punched him in the arm: “Talk normally.” Noah howled and dropped the act. But he still insisted on giving me the firewood. Thinking about my brother working so hard while Audrey just sat there watching, I felt a surge of resentment. I didn’t try to give it back and accepted it. Time was almost up, so I headed back to base camp. The massive pile of wood in my arms drew everyone’s attention. The director gave me a close-up shot, and I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve. “Wow, I didn’t expect Sierra to be such a hard worker! With all that wood, she’s definitely getting first place!” “I thought Sierra was just a delicate flower vase, but it turns out… the real delicate flower is someone else.” “Hey, the commenter above me, we already said Audrey isn’t feeling well.” “I didn’t even mention your Audrey. Why are you getting so defensive?” “…” Noah also collected some wood on his way back, but not much. Audrey looked at me, then at him, her face looking a little displeased. She subconsciously asked, “Why did you only get this much?” That complaining tone instantly set off Noah’s fans in the live chat. “Does Audrey have no shame?! Complaining that our Noah didn’t get enough?” “Hahaha! She did absolutely nothing, and she has the nerve to complain about our Noah? Is Audrey a bitch or what?” The moment Audrey said it, she realized her mistake. She quickly tried to backpedal: “Noah, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t mind what kind of house we stay in…” I rolled my eyes as I listened from the side. I looked around for Ethan and realized that at some point, he had also gathered a massive pile. I had what Noah gave me, but his was all gathered by himself, and it was more than Noah and mine combined. Unsurprisingly, our team took first place. Liam and Chloe took second, and Noah and Audrey took third. There were three types of houses. A nice little two-story house, a single-story ranch, and a small, rustic cabin. Since I was first, I got to choose the best one, so I picked the two-story house. Liam and Chloe chose the ranch. Noah and Audrey had no choice but to take the rustic cabin. That cabin had absolutely nothing inside except a single bed. In contrast, my two-story house had two beds. I naturally wasn’t going to let my brother sleep in the same bed as that woman. Just as I was about to tell Noah to come over tonight, I saw Audrey walk over to Ethan, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ethan, could you guys share a room with me tonight? I haven’t been feeling well lately, and that house is drafty. I’m afraid I’ll catch a cold.” Audrey coughed a few times as she spoke. My expression instantly turned icy when I heard Audrey’s words. If Ethan dared to agree today, I’d pack him up and throw him out! 5 “Sorry, I don’t have the authority to decide.” I was slightly surprised. Ethan actually refused? When I looked over at him, Ethan was already looking at me. I heard him say: “You can ask my partner.” Ethan actually told Audrey to ask me? I was stunned. Audrey’s hands, hanging by her sides, involuntarily clenched into fists. Her face went from pale to green. The public always said she and Ethan had a great relationship, and there were even rumors they were dating. Only Audrey knew that she and Ethan had no special relationship at all. Those rumors were just PR stunts she orchestrated herself. But she and Ethan went to the same acting school, and he had never publicly rejected her or embarrassed her. Now, he was blatantly slapping her in the face. Audrey adjusted her emotions, and I saw her walking toward me. Before she could speak, I quickly called out to Noah: “Noah, do you want to come stay in the two-story house with us tonight?” “Sure thing,” Noah agreed immediately. Audrey froze in her tracks. “Does Sierra have no shame! What is she trying to pull!” “Wow, what a move! Is she trying to keep Audrey from staying there?” “What’s wrong with Sierra? I think she’s great. This is a reward they earned. She can invite whoever she wants.” “Exactly, exactly. Inviting our Noah shows she has great taste. Some people do absolutely nothing and just want a free ride.” In the live chat, Audrey’s fans tried to attack me, but Noah’s fans completely shut them down. “I admit I was a little harsh on Sierra earlier, but looking at it now, she has great taste and knows how to choose.” Audrey’s manager had been monitoring the live chat the whole time. Seeing so many people attacking Audrey, he glared at her, shooting her a warning look. The situation was set. Audrey had no choice but to sleep in the rustic cabin by herself tonight. The next task was to obtain food. Having learned her lesson, Audrey knew she couldn’t just sit around anymore. Otherwise, she’d get roasted even worse. She had originally wanted to portray a delicate, untouchable, pampered persona, but she failed miserably, and her persona completely collapsed. Now, a lot of Noah’s fans were starting to hate Audrey. Noah was a top-tier idol at the peak of his career; he had a massive fanbase. 6 The production team was somewhat generous. The food-gathering task wasn’t too difficult, and we finished it quickly. Maybe it was because of the pregnancy and the exercise, but I was starving. After getting my food, I sat in a corner and started eating. A strong wave of perfume hit me, and Audrey sat down next to me. “Sierra,” she called my name. I couldn’t help it; I sneezed loudly. Audrey: “…” “What’s up?” I moved over a bit, putting some distance between me and Audrey. The smell was too strong; I couldn’t handle it. Audrey glanced at the microphone clipped to my shirt. Seeing it was turned off, she felt safe to speak: “Sierra, do you know what kind of family background Noah comes from?” Me: “?” “He’s the second son of the Sterling Group in New York,” Audrey said, her expression flat. “You should know the Sterling Group. Top-tier conglomerate in the city.” “Oh.” I didn’t understand what Audrey was getting at, but I nodded cluelessly. “Noah and Ethan. Neither of them is someone you can ever match. Be smart and stay far away from them from now on.” Me: “…???” I found Audrey’s words hilarious. This girl was really something else! “I hope you look out for yourself,” Audrey said, then stood up and walked away. Idiot. I rolled my eyes, ignored her, and went back to gnawing on my chicken drumstick. Night quietly fell. Noah got one room, which meant I’d be sleeping in the same room as Ethan tonight. The production team confiscated our phones, but they gave us one hour of phone time every day. After washing up, I lay in bed and started googling “precautions for pregnant women.” “What are you looking at?” Just as I was deeply engrossed in reading, a voice suddenly sounded from above my head. I jumped, frantically locking my phone screen. “You scared the crap out of me! Don’t you make any noise when you walk?” I patted my chest to calm my racing heart. I didn’t want to tell Ethan about the pregnancy just yet. Ethan produced a glass of milk from who knows where and handed it to me: “Drink this.” “Where did you get this?” Even though I ate quite a bit at dinner, I was starting to feel hungry again. Thinking about the baby in my stomach, I took the milk. After I finished it, Ethan handed me a tissue. “A villager gave it to us.” I nodded and went to brush my teeth before bed. Lying in bed, the camera in the room was covered by Ethan. I was originally feeling sleepy, but with Ethan lying next to me, my sleepiness suddenly vanished. My mind replayed the events of the day. Audrey had tried to get close to Ethan multiple times, but I saw Ethan completely ignore her every time. What was going on? Wasn’t Audrey Ethan’s “first love”? He literally lied about going on a business trip just to pick her up from the airport! Could it be that because I was here, Ethan felt awkward? That made sense. I suddenly let out a cold chuckle. Even if Ethan didn’t care about my feelings, he had to consider the reputation of our two families. “What are you laughing about in the middle of the night?” I heard Ethan’s voice suddenly cut through the darkness. “Mind your own business.” I rolled over, turning my back to Ethan, closed my eyes, and went to sleep. 7 Early the next morning. I slowly woke up, and as soon as I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at a smooth, fair chin. My eyes widened, and I let out a scream, accidentally headbutting Ethan right under his jaw. A muffled groan followed. I sat up and saw a look of pain on Ethan’s face. “Y-you shameless creep!” I pointed a finger at Ethan. “You’re taking advantage of me! Who told you to hold me while sleeping!” Ethan sat up too. I have to admit, to become a top-tier star, his looks really were undeniable. His messy bangs fell over his brow, and his dark, deep eyes stared at me. He rubbed his chin and said: “Are you sure I was holding you?” I frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then a look of sheer embarrassment spread across my face. Earlier… it seemed I was the one pinning Ethan down. I’ve always been a restless sleeper. Normally, Ethan was busy, and sometimes he wasn’t home. But even when he was home, we slept in separate beds. I scratched my head and replied: “We’re an old married couple anyway. So what if I squished you a little?” I’ve never been one to lose an argument. After saying that, I didn’t dare look at Ethan’s expression and quickly scrambled out of bed. The production team had prepared breakfast. After we finished eating, they announced the task. Helping the villagers clean fish. Hearing the words “clean fish,” a vivid image flashed in my mind. Normally, I probably wouldn’t have thought much of it. But now that I was pregnant, just thinking about that scene made me want to gag. Ethan was the first to notice my reaction. He walked behind me and patted my back. “What’s wrong?” I was about to answer when I saw the director’s crew bring out the fish. The smell of raw fish hit my nostrils, cutting my words short as I doubled over, dry heaving again. The viewers in the live chat saw this and immediately started speculating. “What’s wrong with Sierra? That looks exactly like morning sickness.” “Is Sierra pregnant? Why else would the smell of fish make her throw up?” I saw Ethan narrowing his eyes at me. My heart skipped a beat. Just as I was trying to figure out how to explain, Audrey also started dry heaving nearby. “Ethan, ugh…” Audrey’s reaction was clearly much more dramatic than mine, the actually pregnant person. “Ethan, this smell is awful. I caught a chill last night, and the smell today is making my stomach turn.” Audrey, eyes red and brimming with tears, looked at Ethan, clearly waiting for him to come over and comfort her. But Ethan didn’t even spare her a glance. However, Audrey’s words gave me the perfect excuse. “I think I caught a chill last night too. My stomach is feeling really upset today.” “I’ll ask the production team for an extra blanket tonight.” Ethan suddenly reached out and felt my forehead. “Good thing you don’t have a fever.” I was startled by Ethan’s sudden touch. The live chat also went silent for a moment, and then the screen was flooded with comments. “Ahhhh! What did I just see! The Ice King just touched Sierra’s forehead!” “Isn’t this a dating show? Touching a forehead is normal interaction, right?” “Why didn’t Ethan touch Audrey’s forehead? Audrey said she wasn’t feeling well and he didn’t care, but he cared about Sierra.” “Commenter above, what’s your logic? The Ice King’s current partner is Sierra. Isn’t it completely normal for him to care about his own partner? Why should he care about Audrey?” “Aren’t the Ice King and Audrey universally acknowledged as a couple?” “??? When did the Ice King ever say he and Audrey were a couple? Please stop trying to force them together, thanks!” The live chat was going crazy, and it took me a moment to snap out of it. I saw Audrey looking at me like she wanted to eat me alive. I frowned, feeling annoyed. Ethan is clearly my husband. What the hell does that look mean? I let out a soft scoff, purposely putting on a delicate, whiny voice for Ethan: “Ethan, my stomach hurts so much. I don’t think I can clean fish later.” I threw Ethan a “you-know-what-I-mean” look. Honestly, I was a little nervous. I wasn’t sure if Ethan would reject me. But if he actually dared to reject me, he was dead meat. I heard Ethan give a soft “Mhm”: “I’ll do it. You rest on the side.” I let out a “hehe” and smiled. For Liam and Chloe’s team, Chloe also didn’t want to clean fish, and Liam told her to go rest on the side. When it came to Noah and Audrey, right before Audrey could speak, Noah’s voice carried over: “Audrey, the smell of this fish is making me feel sick too. You clean them.” With that, Noah shoved a large knife into Audrey’s hands and walked over to the side, crossing his legs casually. This move left not only Audrey dumbfounded, but the entire live chat as well. “Hahahaha! Oh my god! Noah’s move has me dying! Audrey is frozen.” “Is Noah being ungentlemanly? Why make Audrey clean the fish?” “What do you mean ungentlemanly? During the first task, your Audrey wasn’t feeling well and rested on the side while our Noah gathered all the firewood himself. Now our Noah isn’t feeling well and wants to rest. Why can’t your Audrey clean the fish?” “Audrey needs to stop being so high-maintenance.” Audrey’s fans were definitely no match for Noah’s obsessive fanbase. In no time, the entire live chat was spammed with “Audrey needs to stop being so high-maintenance,” making Audrey’s manager’s face turn darker than coal. Audrey was screaming internally, but Noah clearly wasn’t going to help. If Audrey didn’t do it, they probably really wouldn’t have any lunch. She had no choice but to resign herself to her fate, pick up the knife, and start cleaning fish. Audrey was wearing a white dress today, and in no time, it was stained with bright red blood. I have to say, I was reveling in her misery. I didn’t like her to begin with, so of course, I was going to enjoy this. I looked over at Ethan. He was wearing black clothes and had thrown a leather apron over himself. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, displaying his muscular arms as he expertly chopped the fish without a hint of hesitation. As I watched, I let out a light cough. I was almost blinded by how hot this man looked.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “411842”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Five years ago, I stayed in Europe to study medicine just for him. He said he would wait for me, that he wouldn’t marry anyone else in this lifetime. Five years later, when I returned home with a treatment plan I had painstakingly researched, he was eating a rich cheese pastry fed to him by another woman. 1 Rowan Hayes had always been a quiet, aloof person. Partly because he was naturally introverted, and partly because he had suffered from a chronic illness since childhood, meaning intense emotional fluctuations were dangerous for him. Having grown up with him, I knew this better than anyone. So, when I saw the smile reaching his eyes as he looked at Lily Evans, a deep sense of unease settled in my chest. I hadn’t changed my flight to come home early just to watch this scene unfold. Rowan and Lily were sitting on a bench in the courtyard of his villa. Lily was holding a piece of cheese pastry right up to Rowan’s lips, looking eager. Though Rowan was frowning slightly, his body language showed no sign of pulling away. In fact, a faint smile was creeping onto his lips as he watched her playful, impulsive behavior. “Rowan.” I called out softly. One second he was opening his mouth to take a bite, and the next, he whipped his head around, staring at me in disbelief. His eyes overflowed with confusion, joy, shock, and a sliver of panic. “Harper!” Before I could even react, Rowan had crossed the distance and pulled me into a tight embrace. He leaned down, holding me tighter and tighter. I could feel his emotions rushing toward me like a flood. For five years, his embrace was what I had missed the most. The joy of our reunion momentarily took over, making me briefly forget the uncomfortable scene I had just witnessed. “Harper, it’s been five years. You’re finally back…” “I missed you so much I thought I’d go crazy!” Rowan’s voice was hoarse. Though his face rarely showed much emotion, the burning intensity in his eyes made me blush. He rarely got this worked up, but right now, the hands gripping my shoulders were trembling violently. “Yeah, I’m back.” Afraid he might lose control, I reached out and stroked the back of his hand to soothe him. I had to admit, I loved it when Rowan showed emotion because of me. Whenever he did, his love for me spilled over without reservation. But mild emotional fluctuations were fine; anything too intense, and I worried it would trigger his illness. As Rowan and I gazed deeply at each other, lost in the moment, I finally noticed Lily. She had stood up from the bench and walked over to stand beside him. I was instantly reminded of their intimate interaction just moments ago. “Rowan, who is this?” It was only when I asked the question that I realized the woman standing in front of me looked incredibly similar to me. So similar, in fact, that even I might have mistaken her for my own sister at first glance. It clicked instantly. During the five years I was gone, Rowan had found a knockoff to keep him company. The atmosphere instantly dropped below freezing. Rowan seemed to realize that letting me see Lily wasn’t a good thing. He shot me a panicked look but still opened his mouth to explain. “Harper, her name is Lily Evans. She’s a pre-med student at State University. A student I sponsored three years ago.” Three years ago? Now that he mentioned it, I had a vague memory of it. He had brought it up in passing during a FaceTime call back then. But he never mentioned that this Lily Evans looked so much like me. “You sponsor a student, and now she’s sponsored all the way into your house?” My tone was entirely flat, but a heavy stone was definitely lodging itself in my chest. “It’s not like that, Harper…” Rowan was visibly panicking. He grabbed my hand to explain, “She just came to drop something off today.” I glanced at the open box on the patio table. Several individually wrapped pastries were scattered around it. “Yes… because my paper won an award, my professor gave them to me. Please don’t misunderstand.” Lily kept her head down, seemingly afraid to look at me, but she still stammered out an explanation. “I’ve never had this kind of pastry before, and I figured Mr. Hayes probably hadn’t either, so I brought them over as a small thank-you gift…” Her voice got quieter and quieter until I couldn’t hear the rest. Rowan was the CEO of a publicly traded company. Who in their right mind would think there was an expensive pastry out there he hadn’t seen before? “Harper, it’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you.” Rowan lowered his eyes. Paired with his sharp, aristocratic nose, he really was handsome. Sweat was pooling in his palms as he held my hand; I could tell he was incredibly tense. I didn’t want to put too much strain on his heart. “Alright, I believe you.” I forced a relaxed smile. “But Rowan, you should avoid eating high-cholesterol foods like cheese pastries. Your condition has finally stabilized a bit these past few years. I don’t want you getting sick again.” Seeing that I wasn’t angry, the tension between Rowan’s brows finally smoothed out. He turned to look at Lily. A complex emotion flashed through his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal, using the cold tone he reserved for outsiders. “It’s getting late. You can go back now.” Lily’s head snapped up. She looked at him in disbelief, her expression slowly shifting to crushing disappointment. “But the pastries…” “Miss Evans, what’s your specialty at the medical university?” Hearing my random question, both of them looked at me in confusion. Lily pressed her lips together and whispered, “Cardiology.” “Then you should know that patients with IPAH shouldn’t consume foods high in cholesterol, right?” Lily stared at me blankly for a moment before something seemed to click. Looking utterly defeated, she turned back to pack up the pastries on the table, putting them in her bag one by one. “I’m sorry… I’ll take my leave now.” As she brushed past me, I noticed her lift a hand to wipe away tears. Winning an award for a paper, yet not even knowing that IPAH patients can’t eat high-cholesterol foods? The academic standards at State University really seemed to be slipping. “Rowan, since I’m back this time…” I was just about to tell him that I had fully graduated and didn’t need to leave again. But when I looked up, I saw him staring blankly in the direction Lily had gone. My heart sank. I didn’t finish my sentence. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and walked straight into the house. When Rowan snapped out of it and realized I was already walking ahead, he recognized his slip-up. Looking guilty, he rushed forward and grabbed my suitcase. “Harper, let me get that!” I didn’t fight him for it. The suitcase wasn’t that heavy anyway. We walked into the house in silence, right up until the housekeeper, Maria, greeted us at the door with a beaming smile. She didn’t know what had just transpired outside in those few short minutes, but she could probably guess who it was about. Because there was no way I believed Lily had only come to the Hayes estate today. Today’s little drama was quite the “surprise” to come home to. 2 “Harper, what happened today wasn’t what you thought.” During dinner that evening, Rowan was the first to break the silence. “She really is just a student I sponsored. That’s all.” Rowan looked up at me, his eyes pleading. “Please don’t be angry because of her, okay?” “What’s with her face?” I asked. “I leave home for five years, and when I come back, I find you two acting intimately, sharing food. And it was food I explicitly warned you not to eat. Do you expect me not to be mad?” My tone was harsh. It was then that Rowan realized I wasn’t just throwing a petty tantrum. Panic seized him, and after a long moment, he leaned over and grasped my wrist. “Harper, I admit, I sponsored her through college because she looks so much like you. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d overthink it. But there is absolutely nothing going on between Lily and me.” “Rowan, let me ask you something. If I hadn’t spoken up to stop you today, would you have eaten that pastry from her hand?” I stared stubbornly into his eyes. His eyes were as dark as ink; anyone looking into them would be involuntarily drawn in. But looking at them now, I just wanted to cry. Hearing my voice crack, Rowan’s expression finally broke. His eyes filled with heartache as he pulled me into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Harper. I was wrong. Please don’t cry, okay…” “You’re unbelievable, Rowan. Who do you think I went to Europe for? Who do you think I went to medical school for? Do you know how hard med school is? And what’s the first thing I see when I get back! I see you eating some cheap pastry she gave you…” He coaxed me softly in my ear, but I was like a broken dam. The tears wouldn’t stop flowing. It was as if I wanted to pour out all the grievances of the last five years at once. Rowan clumsily tried to kiss me, but I pushed him away. He resorted to gently wiping my tears with his thumbs. This was the tenderness he never showed anyone else, a tenderness that belonged only to me. I don’t know how long I cried. I cried until I was dizzy, and Rowan carried me to the bathroom to wash my face, then laid me down on the soft bed. “Harper…” Rowan propped himself up to kiss me. I caught the faint scent of cedarwood on him. It was intoxicating. “Rowan…” I pushed against his chest as he leaned in. “Are you thinking about something you shouldn’t be?” “…” Rowan’s ears instantly turned bright red, and he turned his head away, too embarrassed to look at me. But that put my mind at ease. He was still the same Rowan. The Rowan who looked cold and arrogant to the world, but turned into a blushing mess whenever it came to me. I looped my arms around his neck and kissed him gently. What I got in return was a deep kiss that was anything but hesitant. It had been five years. We had both waited too long for this day. After that, we didn’t bring up Lily Evans again. We settled into the Hayes estate, picking up the life we had planned five years ago. Unfortunately, the peaceful days didn’t last long. Not long after I started my residency at the city hospital, Rowan’s old symptoms suddenly flared up. Shortness of breath, tachycardia. He collapsed in the underground parking lot of his company. When he was rushed to the hospital, I was in the middle of a heated debate at a medical conference with a senior professor. By the time the conference ended in the afternoon, I finally heard that an emergency patient had been brought in that morning. However, the first person I saw wasn’t Rowan in his hospital bed, but Lily Evans, pacing anxiously outside his room. Hearing my footsteps, she looked over joyfully, but when she realized it was me, the light in her eyes died. I had to admit, seeing her face was still jarring. It was like looking into a blurred mirror. But I didn’t have time to deal with her right now. I walked past her straight into the room. Nurse Sarah was monitoring Rowan’s blood pressure. “Dr. Brooks…” “How is the patient? Has he regained consciousness since he was brought in this morning?” I asked. “Not yet. But after putting him on oxygen, his blood pressure and oxygen saturation have returned to normal.” Looking at Rowan lying in the hospital bed with an oxygen mask, my heart ached terribly. “He’s stable for now. You can go back to your duties, Sarah. I’ll take care of him here.” I gave her a faint smile. Sarah nodded, but before leaving, she hesitated and glanced at me. “Is there a problem?” Was there another symptom they hadn’t told me about? “Dr. Brooks, I know it’s not my place, but that girl at the door has been standing there for a long time. Is she your sister?” I subconsciously looked toward the door. Sure enough, Lily was still standing there. Who exactly was keeping her from coming in? I smiled bitterly and shook my head. Sarah didn’t ask any more questions and left. Rowan lay on the bed. Even though his vitals were stable, he just wouldn’t wake up. It reminded me of a rainy night six years ago when Rowan had collapsed without warning just like this. That was when I first learned about Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH). There was no absolute cure for it, which was why I made the firm decision to go to Switzerland, where some of the most advanced research on the disease was happening. “Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why are you still standing here like a pole?” “Mr. Miller, please just let me go in and see him. I’m really worried about him…” “Worried my ass. Who do you think you are? Get lost, go on, shoo! You’re blocking the doorway!” “Mr. Miller…” “Stop yelling! This is a hospital ward. Take it outside…” Hearing the commotion, I walked over and saw Lily arguing with a man holding a bouquet and a fruit basket. “Harper Brooks?” The man’s shocked voice made me turn to look at him. Thick eyebrows, big eyes, dyed blonde hair, wearing a black jacket covered in straps and chains. That flashy, avant-garde style, combined with that face… “Chase… Chase Miller?” “Ha! You remember! Five years and I thought you forgot about me! When did you get back? I bumped into Rowan passed out in the parking lot this morning and brought him in. Anyway, how is he? Is he awake?” His rapid-fire questions almost transported me back to our exhausting high school days. I smiled helplessly and stepped aside to let him in. “Go see for yourself…” I said. “Miss Brooks, please let me in too. Just one look at Mr. Hayes, just one… I’m so worried…” Before Chase could respond, Lily grabbed my arm. Her eyes were filled with tears as she begged, drawing the attention of passing patients and nurses. Lily was pretty (I mean, not to be narcissistic). Even though we looked alike, she possessed a pitiful, fragile aura that I completely lacked. Crying like that, it made it look as though I was the cold-hearted villain bullying her. “Tsk, what is wrong with you?” Chase said. “You’re not family, you’re not a friend. Why should we let you visit? Besides, aren’t you a student? Rowan pays for your tuition, and you skip a whole day of classes on his dime? Get out of here. If you hang around any longer, it’ll be dark, your dorm will be locked, and you won’t even be able to get back!” Chase’s rapid-fire delivery and sharp tongue made me wonder if he shouldn’t have majored in debate instead of art. Lily’s face turned beet red. Faced with his humiliation, she fought hard to keep her tears from falling. Chase shot me a triumphant smirk. I shook my head helplessly. “Har… Harper…” Rowan’s weak voice came from the hospital room. I immediately rushed back inside. Rowan was awake. He looked around in confusion until he saw me, then realized what had happened. “Did I have another episode?” A bitter smile touched his lips. My heart throbbed with pain. I lowered my eyes, trying to hide the tears welling up. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine,” I comforted him, though I was also comforting myself. “Alright, he’s awake. You can stop worrying now. Hurry up and leave, do you have zero situational awareness?” Chase’s voice drifted in from the hallway, followed by the sound of Lily walking away, sobbing. “What’s going on outside?” Rowan asked. “It’s Chase. He’s the one who brought you to the hospital,” I paused. “And Lily Evans.” Rowan didn’t say anything else, but the fleeting look of emotion in his eyes still stung me. It seemed this matter was far from over. 3 “How is Rowan doing? Why did he suddenly have an episode?” Shortly after waking up, Rowan fell back asleep. Chase pulled me out into the hallway and asked quietly. “There’s still no case of his disease being completely cured,” I sighed. “With current medical technology, we can only rely on medication to stabilize his condition… When you found him, was there anyone else with him?” Chase hesitated, looking at me as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. “Lily Evans?” He nodded. I knew it. “Uh, but don’t overthink it. She’s been staking out his office building for a long time. She just happened to catch him today.” “You’re really good at making excuses for your bro,” I complained, feigning anger. Chase panicked. “Tsk, I’m definitely on your side! Didn’t you see me roast that Lily girl until she was speechless just now?” The image of Chase arguing with our high school principal suddenly popped into my head. I laughed. “Alright, seriously though, thank you so much for today. I owe you a dinner.” Chase grinned, scratching his head awkwardly. “It was nothing… but since you’re offering, I won’t say no!” I waved at him helplessly as he left. However, just as I saw Chase off and turned to head back to the room, I saw Lily standing pitifully off to the side. Didn’t she leave? She really pulled a fast one on me. “Do you need something?” I asked her expressionlessly. “Miss Brooks…” Lily’s eyes were red, like a rabbit’s. “I’m sorry.” “Sorry for what?” “I…” Like someone who had been holding back grievances for a long time and finally snapped, Lily suddenly covered her face and burst into loud sobs. “It’s all my fault. I said things that upset Mr. Hayes. I made him sick. If it weren’t for me… if it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have collapsed… It’s all my fault…” My mind went completely blank. “What did you say to him?” I tried my best to suppress my emotions, not wanting her to notice anything off about me. Lily rubbed her red eyes. “I came today to say goodbye to Mr. Hayes. I wanted to go back to my hometown. My relatives found a pretty good match for me to marry, and then… he got so angry he yelled at me, and then he collapsed from the stress…” I didn’t know what to say for a moment. In my memory, Rowan rarely got sick because of emotional fluctuations. “Miss Evans, you don’t need to cry.” I smiled faintly. “Rowan probably had an episode because he inhaled fumes. It was an underground parking garage, after all. There’s a lot of exhaust. “But Miss Evans, what you said is infuriating. Rowan sponsored your education for so many years, and you want to drop out to go back and get married? Isn’t that making all his efforts a waste? You should focus on your studies and not let us down.” Probably not expecting such a calm reaction from me, Lily looked up, staring at me in shock. I put on a look of concern. “Is it your relatives forcing you to go back and get married? Do you need me to introduce you to a lawyer?” Lily froze for a moment, then forced a smile. “No, no need.” I didn’t say anything more to her and turned back into the hospital room. Rowan was still sleeping, his breathing even. But I felt like I was suffocating. I had never doubted Rowan’s feelings for me. After all, we had known each other for twenty-two years. We were childhood sweethearts, having met when we were four. In my memory, before he turned seventeen, Rowan didn’t like smiling at others, and he never smiled at me. I figured back then, to him, I was probably just the daughter of his father’s friend. Even though we had been in the same classes since elementary school, we rarely actually spoke. When Rowan was seventeen, disaster struck his family. His father was reported for financial fraud. Shareholders pulled their investments overnight, the company was shut down and investigated, and his business partners absconded with the funds. The Hayes Corporation became the target of public outrage. Added to the cash flow problems, the Hayes family went bankrupt. At the time, Rowan’s mother had already been in the hospital for over a year due to health issues. Neither father nor son told her what happened. In the end, his father sold their house at a heavy discount just to scrape together enough money for her surgery. But when you’re at your lowest, tragedies tend to pile on. Rowan’s mother made it off the operating table safely, but died of sudden cardiac arrest shortly after. It was a common surgical risk; no one was to blame for the tragedy. But the sorrow didn’t end there. The night his mother died, another body appeared below the Hayes Corporation building. His father had jumped. By the time my family rushed over, Rowan was standing in the morgue, staring blankly at the bodies of his parents. My father stepped forward and held him tightly; my mother pulled me close, crying uncontrollably. At the funeral, Rowan didn’t cry. Like always, he was just silent, watching the friends and relatives who came to pay their respects with no joy and no sorrow. The few friends his father had when he was alive didn’t show up. Although they claimed they were tied up with business, I knew they were just afraid of getting involved in the mess. Despite the large number of relatives, not a single one offered to take in a seventeen-year-old Rowan. We couldn’t bear to let him go back to that shabby rented apartment. Rowan was in a daze, like a walking corpse. He slept quietly in our guest room that night. My father said, if they won’t raise Rowan, I will. And just like that, Rowan stayed at our house. He still went to school and came home like usual. His grades were always at the top of the class, and he had an ever-growing list of admirers. He was as normal as could be, but I always felt that the more normal he acted, the more he was suppressing his true emotions. I figured our house wasn’t where Rowan truly wanted to be. My father seemed to notice this too. One day, he suddenly placed the keys to the Hayes family villa in front of Rowan. A flicker of emotion finally crossed his deadened face. He nodded, said thank you, took the keys, and left our house. I knew my father was good to Rowan mostly to repay the debt of gratitude he owed Rowan’s father for giving him his start. But now, he truly cared for the boy from the bottom of his heart. After Rowan moved back into the Hayes house, he stopped going to school. He locked himself inside all day. Even when I went to drop off food, I could only leave it at the door. But days passed, and the food at the door remained untouched. I suspected he was having suicidal thoughts. “Rowan! Rowan!” After losing count of how many times I failed to see him, I had no choice but to bang loudly on the floor-to-ceiling windows of the balcony. No one answered. Finally, I smashed a hole in the glass with a rock, stuck my arm in, unlocked the door, and went inside. Probably hearing the noise, Rowan finally came downstairs. He was wearing dirty clothes, enveloped in a cloud of gloom. He was much thinner than the last time I saw him, and a fine stubble covered his chin. Although it was a false alarm, I was still furious. But before I could blow up, he grabbed me and dragged me toward the bedroom. “What are you doing! I’m going to scream!” I struggled in terror, but Rowan was tall and strong, and he literally dragged me all the way into the bedroom. It’s over, I thought. Rowan’s suppressed his feelings for too long, he’s finally lost his mind. However, what awaited me wasn’t the horrifying scene I had imagined, but a shallow stinging sensation on the back of my hand. Only then did I realize that the back of my hand had been cut by the glass at some point. Rowan carefully disinfected my wound with a cotton swab. His clumsy yet gentle demeanor was as if he were handling a fragile, precious treasure. It was right then that I realized I had a bit of a crush on him. Later, I talked to him a lot. I told him he could stay home alone, and he didn’t have to go to school, but he absolutely had to eat properly. I also told him that as long as he said he was sad, I would come over and stay with him until he was ready to face the world again. That was the first time I saw Rowan smile, and also the first time I saw him cry like a child. Later, when the investigation into his father’s case concluded, it was proven that the rumors were malicious lies. The rumor mongers were arrested, but Rowan’s parents were never coming back. It was also that day I learned Rowan had IPAH. He was rushed to the ER, and I was so terrified he would go in and never come out, just like his mother. Thankfully, he was okay. It was also from then on that I secretly changed my college major. It was precisely because we had been through so much together that I had absolute confidence in our relationship. I never imagined another woman appearing by Rowan’s side, much less that he would care excessively about any woman other than me. But these five years seemed to have changed too much. I was beginning to doubt. A man I was afraid to even argue with because of his health had actually been hospitalized out of anger over another woman. 4 Rowan slept until early the next morning. I had a nurse arrange some tests for him. As long as there were no major issues, he could be discharged. I sat on a stool watching Rowan. He stared out the window, his brows furrowed slightly, lost in thought. “Rowan, after you fell asleep yesterday, Lily Evans came by.” Actually, she had never left. Rowan shot me a quick glance, then asked calmly, “Did she say anything?” “She said thank you for all your help, and that she’s going home to get married.” “Cough, cough…” Rowan clutched his chest and started coughing. Normally, I would rush forward to coddle him, but now, I figured a few coughs wouldn’t kill him. After all, he’d already passed out for her. “How is that possible…” Rowan muttered to himself. “Why wouldn’t it be possible?” I fired back instantly: “Do you know her that well?” “Harper…” Rowan looked at me, his face pale. “Do you really want to talk about this right now?” “Fine, we won’t talk about it. You’re sick, after all.” I didn’t want to bother with him anymore. I pulled off the pulse oximeter and turned to leave. For whatever reason, Rowan grabbed my hand. “Ever since she left the house that time, she’s been coming to the company a lot. Every time, I’ve had my assistant turn her away. I just didn’t expect her to follow me to the parking lot yesterday, and even say she wanted to…” He didn’t finish the sentence. I turned to look at him, and he looked back at me, lost. “She said she wanted to get married, and you were so furious you passed out.” I couldn’t help but find it funny. “Rowan, just admit it. “In the three years you’ve known her, you wavered.” I shook off his hand and ignored his calls, told the nurses outside to keep an eye on him, and went back to my office. Before returning to the States, I never imagined that I’d come home to face Rowan’s infidelity. Those five years of sleepless nights and relentless studying felt like a complete joke. I moved out of the Hayes estate. At first, he stood outside my door saying a lot of sweet things, bringing up all our memories from high school. Listening to him, apart from sadness, I just felt a heavy weight on my heart. He knew our best memories were from back then. But the more he made me reminisce, the more lost I felt. Later, when he realized I wasn’t just throwing a tantrum, he panicked. He started apologizing constantly, promising he would cut all ties with Lily, that he would never let her appear in front of me again, let alone near our lives. My parents thought that since Rowan had admitted his mistake, and since nothing physical had actually happened with Lily, I should forgive him for the sake of our twenty years of history. But how many times had I woken up in the middle of the night, the image of Rowan smiling tenderly at Lily flashing in my mind? His smile was no longer exclusively mine, and his heart was slowly shifting away. I really did love him hopelessly. Being able to endure five years in a foreign country was entirely because of him. But now, I was starting to doubt. I was doubting if it was all worth it. “Harper, today is your birthday. Can we please just see each other?” After many days, Rowan’s voice had grown hoarse. He knocked on the door outside, but I ignored him. “Okay… if you ever want to see me, just call. I have something I want to tell you too…” Rowan’s desolate voice drifted in, followed by the sound of his heavy, retreating footsteps. I wiped away the dried tear tracks on my face, ready to pull myself together, when I received a text. It was from Chase. Ever since I went abroad, I hadn’t had much contact with my old high school friend. Even when I did get news, it was through Rowan telling me how Chase was doing. That familiar chat box blinked on my screen. “Happy Birthday, Miss Brooks!” Followed immediately by another text. “When are you cashing in on that dinner you owe me? I’ve already picked out a super expensive restaurant ι(｀?-?′)/” His use of emoticons was so spot-on it gave me intense déjà vu. I replied: “Let’s do today then. Are you free?” Chase replied instantly: “? For real?” Me: “For real, but if you’re too slow, this lady won’t wait around.” This time, he didn’t reply for a long time. By the time I got another message, he had already parked his car outside my door. Still rocking that eye-catching blonde hair and edgy, loud clothes. Seeing me, Chase lowered his sunglasses and gave me a cocky eyebrow raise: “Get in. I’m taking you out for a good time!” “Humph.” I sniffled slightly, opened the door, and got in. The car smelled faintly of paint. “I think I’m taking you out for a good time, okay?” “Alright, alright, Miss Brooks. You’re the boss. Where to?” Chase tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, seemingly in a great mood. For some reason, seeing Chase like this made me feel incredibly at ease. So much had changed in the last five years, but Chase was still the same carefree guy he had always been. “Pfft—” “What are you laughing at?” Chase looked at me laughing uncontrollably, completely bewildered. “Nothing… let’s go eat.” I said excitedly. “Let’s go somewhere with a huge menu!” “A huge menu?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “411843”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

A viral TikTok asked, “How much damage can a guy’s ‘first love’ actually do?” I saw my boyfriend’s comment: “My current girlfriend was just diagnosed with a terminal illness. All I can think is: thank God she’s just a lookalike, and not her.” Clutching my diagnosis report, I cried until I started to laugh. 1 The first thing I did after leaving the hospital was pack my bags. Sean noticed me packing before he noticed my bloodshot eyes. He frowned and asked, “What are you packing for?” I looked up at him and grinned widely. “I’m packing up to go die.” But Sean didn’t laugh. His frown only deepened. I knew he only liked it when I offered a demure, close-lipped smile; he only liked me when I was gentle and quiet. But now that I was dying, I only wanted to do what made me happy. Right then, his phone rang. The room was so quiet I could hear his friend’s loud voice through the receiver: “Sean! She’s back! Are you coming to pick her up from the airport or what?” Sean’s grip on his phone tightened instantly. He gave a quick, soft “Yeah” and hung up. Probably out of guilt, I could feel his displeasure vanish, replaced by a kind of apologetic affection. “Baby…” he started, but I cut him off with a smile: “If you have something to do, go do it! Don’t worry about me.” Sean was in such a hurry he didn’t even notice my suitcase was already fully packed. He hastily ruffled my hair, grabbed his coat, and walked out the door. The moment he left, I rolled my suitcase straight to a salon and chopped off the long hair I’d grown out for five years. Snip. Five years, gone in an instant. 2 Sean had barely reunited with his long-lost first love at the airport when I showed up, dragging my suitcase behind me. Wearing sunglasses and holding a compact mirror, I looked at the woman beside him, then at myself in the mirror. I suddenly had the urge to get a DNA test. Seeing me, Sean’s brow furrowed so deeply it could have crushed a fly. “Chloe? What are you doing here?” See? In front of his first love, he resorted to using my actual name instead of his usual pet names. I took off my sunglasses and walked over confidently to say hi. “What a coincidence.” The woman was momentarily startled to see me, but she quickly recovered, offering an elegant, close-lipped smile and looking at Sean questioningly. Sean’s annoyance eased slightly at her smile. He introduced us simply: “This is Audrey, we grew up together. And this is Chloe, my… friend.” He said the word “friend” so quickly and quietly, it was as if adding “girl” in front of it made no difference. A sudden look back, and there she is, in the dim, fading light… Ah. I smiled and extended my hand. “Hi there, I’m Chloe. I’m a ghost, a phantom, someone who shouldn’t exist. And of course, I’m Sean’s ‘friend’.” “Hello,” Audrey replied, taking my hand. Every movement and smile radiated the ease and confidence of someone who knows they are favored. Sean looked inexplicably uncomfortable. He gently urged her, “Audrey, you still need to get over your jet lag. I’ll drive you home first. Chloe, you…” I smiled and cut him off again: “If you have something to do, go do it! Don’t worry about me.” This time, Sean finally noticed something was wrong. As if just realizing my short hair and the suitcase, his tone suddenly became anxious. “Why did you cut your hair? Where are you going with that suitcase?” I laughed. “Sean, you’re so funny. Where else would I be going with a suitcase at the airport but on a trip?” Sean’s pupils constricted. “You’re leaving me?” “Oh look, my flight’s boarding soon.” I checked my watch and waved at them. “Audrey, I’m leaving my friend in your hands. See you around.” With that, I turned to leave, but Sean grabbed my wrist and yelled, “Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you?!” I flinched at his yell, turning my head. The smile was still on my lips, but tears were falling pathetically down my face. “Sean, there is something wrong with me. I’m sick.” As I said this, my peripheral vision was entirely focused on her. She was so beautiful, so confident; even the sunlight seemed to favor her. “Sean, let me guess. Right now, are you thinking… thank God I’m the one who’s sick, and not her?” 3 I insisted on boarding my flight; Sean insisted I couldn’t. We ended up causing such a scene at the airport that even Audrey got dragged to the airport police station for questioning. Coming out of the station after giving our statements, I was still mourning the cost of my plane ticket. Sean tried to drag me home by the hand. I shook him off and took two steps back. “That’s not my home.” “Chloe, haven’t you made enough of a scene?” Sean had completely lost his patience. He said coldly, “Our engagement party is the day after tomorrow. I’ve already sent out the invitations. Who are you throwing this tantrum for?” “Oh, so you do remember we have an engagement party the day after tomorrow.” I let out a bitter laugh, turning my gaze to Audrey. I didn’t even need to speak; the sarcasm was practically overflowing. Hearing the words “engagement party,” Audrey also looked up at Sean, a fleeting look of loneliness crossing her face. “Sean, you’re… congratulations.” The moment his eyes met Audrey’s, Sean’s expression looked exactly like heartbreak. They say when the ex cries, the current girlfriend loses. Well, here I was—the ex didn’t even shed a tear, and I had still lost completely. Whatever. I’m done playing this game. I hailed a cab, leaving my suitcase behind, and told the driver to go. I saw Sean subconsciously take two steps after me, his face dark. But in the end, he turned and went to drive Audrey home, leaving my suitcase abandoned on the curb. Nobody wanted it. I pulled my gaze away, my nose burning with the urge to cry. “Miss, fighting with your boyfriend?” The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and gossiped, “Men, you know, they’re bound to have wandering eyes. As long as he has you in his heart, that’s what matters. You can’t push a man too hard, it just drives him further away. You just need to coax him a little and it’ll be fine.” I rubbed my nose. “Sir, please don’t try to talk me out of it. I’m taking a cab home to get an axe. If you talk me out of chopping him up, I’ll have to chop you up instead.” “…” The driver immediately shut his mouth, and the car finally fell silent. As we reached a downtown mall, I suddenly asked him to pull over. The driver dropped me off, muttered a curse, and sped away. I looked up, took a deep breath of the bustling city air, and decided to go on a wild shopping spree. However, once inside the mall, I lost interest and just sat blankly on a bench. Suddenly, I snapped out of my daze, my eyes locking onto Sean’s dark ones. Of course, he hadn’t come looking for me. He was there accompanying Audrey on a shopping trip. Beside Audrey was an older couple. The four of them were laughing and chatting together, looking like a picture-perfect family from an advertisement. That was something I had never had in my entire life. Seeing me as well, Sean’s face clearly displayed a look of blame, as if to say, ‘Are you haunting me?’ But before he could speak, the older woman beside Audrey suddenly became agitated: “Sparky? Sparky?” Tears streamed from the woman’s eyes as she practically threw herself at me, trembling. “Is it you, Sparky? Sparky, my Sparky!” “It’s really… it’s really Sparky…” The woman’s husband also recovered from his shock, his wrinkled, red eyes brimming with emotion. Audrey, meanwhile, was stunned. She looked at her parents, then at me, her chest suddenly heaving violently. “S-sister?” Sean was frozen, and I stood rooted to the spot. What kind of plot twist was this? I took a step back to avoid Audrey’s mother. “I’m sorry, ma’am, you have the wrong person. I know Audrey and I look very much alike, but I grew up in an orphanage…” I paused mid-sentence. “My poor Sparky…” Audrey’s mother cried so hard she couldn’t stand. Audrey’s father barely managed to support her, his graying temples seemingly drooping with exhaustion. “Do you remember the carnival when we were little?” Audrey wiped her tears furiously. “The carnival Mom took us to. Because we were throwing a tantrum, Mom bought us each a…” “A little hamster in a red bamboo basket.” “A little hamster in a red basket.” I instinctively finished the sentence, speaking almost simultaneously with Audrey. Audrey’s mother cried out “My Sparky,” clutching her chest tightly, practically fainting on the spot. Memories that had been forcefully sealed away for years suddenly burst open, and my entire consciousness blurred. “I remember… I remember that carnival. Because the little hamster ran away, I let go of someone’s hand to chase it. Then someone picked me up… I think I slept for a while, and was taken to a lot of places… and then my last memory is being in the orphanage…” My eyes glazed over, as if I were dreaming. “Are you… are you really my family?” Audrey grabbed my hand and nodded frantically, crying so hard she couldn’t even speak. All that elegance and composure vanished in an instant. As I slowly pulled my hand back, I realized I was already crying. I looked at Sean, then at Audrey, and finally at Audrey’s parents. Suddenly, I broke into a wide grin. “But why did it take you until now to find me? Did you know…” “I’m about to die.” 4 From as early as I can remember, I lived in an orphanage—a cage filled with gloom and bitterness. Fortunately, I met a wonderful teacher in elementary school who guided me onto the right path, teaching me optimism and cheerfulness. I liked to laugh out loud, I liked to play harmless jokes, and I liked to joke around while laughing out loud. Until I met Sean. It was at the freshman orientation gala. Sean was the student representative and the host, wearing a dark blue suit, standing tall and straight, his eyes bright as stars. It’s no exaggeration to say that just standing there, he was the brightest boy, the most heart-stopping moonlight. In that moment, I felt like my soul had been stolen by him. Of course, I wasn’t the only freshman whose soul was stolen by Sean that night. The girls swarmed him, but off-stage, Sean was like a block of ice—a block of ice with a bad temper. So you can imagine, when that block of ice melted only for you, it wouldn’t be surprising if you went a little crazy. Sean rejected every girl who asked for his WeChat, walked straight toward me through the crowd, and quietly asked if we could exchange numbers. I almost lost my mind on the spot. Back then, I thought that encounter was because of love, because of fate, or maybe even a connection from a past life. Now the answer was revealed: it was because of bloodlines. Because I was biological sisters with his first love. There was no more perfect “stand-in” for her in this world than me. Sean really was life’s favorite. If he couldn’t have the younger sister, life handed him the older one. That day at the mall, when I publicly announced my impending death, Audrey’s mother fainted immediately, her father wept bitter tears, and Audrey slumped to her knees, unable to accept it. Even the look Sean gave me was one I had never seen before… Shock? Unease? Panic? Heartache? A single word couldn’t describe that look. “Affection that comes too late is cheaper than dirt.” Audrey held my hand, her eyes swollen like peaches. She had been like this for the past two days: red-eyed, clinging to me. “Affection that comes too late is cheaper than dirt, sis,” Audrey repeated. “Don’t look back. He’s not worth it.” I smiled. “I thought you really liked him? Weren’t you looking pretty lonely outside the airport when you heard he was getting engaged?” “I’m sorry, sis, I’m so sorry…” Audrey’s tears started falling again. “I know I was acting like a total bitch back then. I clearly didn’t like Sean, but because he was always chasing after me, suddenly hearing he was marrying someone else made me feel like something of mine was being stolen. I thought I’d just flirt with him a little to disgust you on purpose… I really didn’t know it was you back then!” “I saw you and thought you looked really familiar, but I just assumed Sean had deliberately found a ‘stand-in.’ So it made sense that your features were similar to mine. I even thought to myself, Sean is really good at playing the devoted lover if he could find someone who looked so much like me. I even felt a sense of contempt and superiority deep down. I… I was wrong, I was so wrong, sis!” Audrey cried as she tried to explain, gripping my hand tightly, terrified I would pull away again. But I could understand what she was saying. It’s like a spoiled kitten—sometimes they just have to knock over a water glass with childish behavior to prove their place in a human’s heart. Because she didn’t know it was me, Audrey naturally felt entitled to enjoy being favored. She subconsciously wanted to show off her superiority as the “first love.” But once she knew it was me, she could no longer feel a shred of superiority, only overwhelming guilt. Human double standards have always been like this. Bzzzt, bzzzt, bzzzt… The phone on the table was vibrating like crazy. I clicked it open and saw it was all messages from Sean. Sean said he had already booked the best doctor for me, that my illness could definitely be cured. He said he wouldn’t break up with me because of this, and that he would still marry me. I watched the messages roll in one after another. Audrey watched me nervously, terrified I would soften. I just found it fascinating. Turns out Sean had such a passionate, proactive side to him too. In the past, I’d send him dozens of messages and he’d reply to one, and I’d carefully save every single reply, grinning like an idiot over them when I had nothing else to do. Honestly, I hadn’t planned on telling Sean about my illness this early. I wanted to leave quietly, die quietly, so that one day when Sean realized he could never find me again, he would stumble upon my gravestone, engraved with the joke: “Surprise! She’s already dead!” His expression at that moment would surely be priceless. Bzzzt, bzzzt. The phone showed an incoming call again. I pushed the phone toward Audrey, and she simply put it on speaker: “Hello.” Hearing Audrey’s voice, Sean clearly paused. “Audrey, give the phone back to Chlo… give it back to your sister. I need to talk to her.” But Audrey asked her own question: “Sean, do you like me? Do you want to be with me?” The other end of the line fell silent. The living first love versus the dying memory—choosing between them must be really tough for him, right? “Stop messing around, Audrey.” Sean’s voice was full of exasperation, not blame, as if dealing with a spoiled little girl. “This isn’t the time for this. Where’s your sister? She’s still throwing a tantrum at me. I’ll come find her in a bit.” I suddenly leaned close to the phone and repeated, word for word: “How much damage can a guy’s ‘first love’ actually do? My current girlfriend was just diagnosed with a terminal illness. All I can think is: thank God she’s just a lookalike, and not her.” “…” Beep. After a moment of silence on the other end, Sean hung up the phone. “Scumbag!” Audrey immediately blocked his number, trembling with anger. “Why didn’t I realize he was such a bastard before!” Because humans are the most selfish animals. Before their own interests are threatened, everyone is a “good person.” I smiled indifferently and turned the phone off completely. The living first love versus the dying memory. Which one to choose? He must be in quite a dilemma right now, huh? But he doesn’t need to worry. Because no matter which one… Neither of us will choose him. 5 Surprisingly, the ones who found me faster than Sean were Audrey’s parents. Or rather, my biological parents. Maybe there really is some sort of connection between blood relatives. They didn’t even ask me to take a DNA test; they recognized me as their lost daughter with just one look. But to me, blood is just blood; it doesn’t equate to family. Family bonds can only be built on time and companionship. They are irreplaceable. And without that bond, they were no different from strangers to me. However, when those two people, both over fifty, knelt before me, begging me not to give up on treatment, begging me to try other options… my heart still ached. I tried to pull them up, my tear ducts losing control. I couldn’t get them to stand, so I could only kneel down with them, tears blurring my vision. How was I supposed to explain to these two elderly people, who had just found their lost child, that they were about to face the pain of losing her all over again? When my life expectancy was down to just three months, I didn’t want to waste that time in sterile hospital rooms, enduring endless, agonizing chemotherapy, just to gamble on a one-in-a-ten-thousand chance of survival. How was I supposed to explain to myself why, looking back on my past, I realized I had wasted my entire twenty-something years? It’ll be better after midterms… it’ll be better after graduation… it’ll be better once I find a job… it’ll be better once I get married and have kids… My time was spent either surviving or waiting, as if my life would only become happy and fulfilling after passing some arbitrary milestone. It wasn’t until death was at my doorstep that I suddenly realized I had never done a single thing for myself in this lifetime. Even the love I fought so hard for was just me being a placeholder for someone else. As the song of my life dwindled down to its final three movements, I finally gathered the courage to take the conductor’s baton for myself. So, I wasn’t seeking death; I was seeking life. For my last three months, I wanted to truly live for myself… But could I? I cried like a mess, my words jumbled and incoherent. I originally thought my parents would firmly object, using their status as the ones who brought me into this world to forbid me from acting so recklessly. But instead, they said “Okay.” Even though they were crying a river of tears, even though they seemed to age ten years in the blink of an eye, they still said “Okay.” They said, “No matter what you choose, we will always love you.” I froze, and then, I sobbed uncontrollably. It turns out, I actually had really wonderful parents. It turns out, my life could have been really happy. Once everyone had calmed down, my mom held my hand tightly and showed me photos from when I was little. In the pictures, her younger self was holding two chubby little bundles, smiling radiantly. She pointed at an old photo and laughed, “Look at this one, Sparky. Your dad was trying to change your diaper for the first time, but he couldn’t tell the front from the back, and you ended up smearing poop all over his face…” As she laughed, her emotions broke down again. She cried, her mouth wide open but no sound coming out. Yet I could tell she was screaming, “My Sparky.” How was she supposed to accept this kind of ending? She’s a mother… she’s a mother! Having to watch her own child march toward death—how could she bear it? My dad held my devastated mom, his cloudy eyes suppressing tears. He smiled kindly and waved me off. “Go on. Go do what you want to do. Audrey, spend more time with your sister. All these years… she’s had it hard, all alone.” This sudden outpouring of care made me want to run away. My heart felt like a towel being wrung out, throbbing with pain. Audrey followed closely behind me. Her hands and feet were weak, but she still managed to look up at me and smile. “Sis, where are we going?” I took a few deep breaths to calm the throbbing pain. After thinking for a moment, I still asked the question: “If they love me so much, why didn’t they ever come looking for me?” Audrey’s eyelashes fluttered, and she told me the story of what happened back then. It turned out that when I got lost at the carnival, my mom immediately started looking for me and called the police. Witnesses said they saw me being carried away, and the police managed to track down the license plate of the kidnappers’ car. However, by the time they found the car, it had been involved in a major accident out of state. The gas tank exploded. All that was left in the wreckage was the charred body of an adult in the driver’s seat… and the charred body of a toddler in the trunk, burned beyond recognition. All the evidence pointed to me being kidnapped and then dying in the car crash. But my parents always firmly believed I was still alive. My mom quit her job and put up missing person posters everywhere. My previously healthy dad developed all sorts of illnesses practically overnight. If it weren’t for their younger daughter, Audrey, being there, the couple wouldn’t have survived until today. I tried desperately to recall my past. I did remember being placed in the passenger seat. After that, I slept for a long time. Maybe because I wasn’t crying or making a fuss, the person got out of the car midway and left me alone. Not long after, another person got into the car. Seeing me, he seemed very surprised. He carried me out of the car, put me in a small corner, and my last memory was of the back of a car driving away. Thinking about it now, it’s very likely the kidnappers ran into a car thief. The car thief threw me out of the passenger seat, but didn’t notice there was another kidnapped child in the trunk. In the end, the car thief got into an accident, and because of that, I escaped being trafficked and ended up in an orphanage instead. I really did experience all the coincidences in the world. And with a life like this, was I lucky, or unlucky? I couldn’t figure it out, and I didn’t have the time to try. At least for the days I had left, I wanted to be happy. I pulled out a crumpled piece of loose-leaf paper and unfolded it. The top prominently read four big words: “Bucket List” Audrey looked over, and I explained, “I wrote this back when I was 18. I had just watched the movie The Bucket List and thought it was fun, so I copied the idea and wrote one too. Who knew I’d actually need to use it someday? Good thing I didn’t throw it away.” Saying that, I pulled out a lipstick and crossed out the first three items on the paper: Live to be 100. Travel the whole world. Marry the person I love most. I put the lipstick away and smiled at Audrey. “Not bad. A good start is half the battle. I’ve already crossed three wishes off the list so fast.” Audrey covered her mouth tightly, her thick sobs making her words come out squeaky. “Sorry… Sis, I need to go to the bathroom.” I watched Audrey stumble away, the smile on my lips slowly fading. Was it because I hadn’t joked around in so long that my skills were rusty? Why did my jokes only make people cry now? “Chloe.” I was lost in thought when I heard the voice behind me—the voice I used to long for even in my dreams. I turned around and looked at Sean. He was wearing a black trench coat. His tall, lean figure standing there was a sight to behold. Seeing my bloodshot eyes, Sean reached out to take my hand, his voice gentle enough to melt ice. “Baby, let’s go to the hospital. Be a good girl.” I pulled my hand back and stepped away. “Piss off.” Sean stiffened but still tried to coax me. “Baby, I was wrong before. I apologize. That comment was just a joke. I didn’t know you were really… I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to curse you. I had a little to drink that day, and I don’t even know where I copy-pasted that sentence from. I didn’t mean it. Can you forgive me, baby?” I stuck with my original statement: “Piss off.” Sean’s face finally darkened. “Chloe, I understand you’re in a bad mood because you’re sick, but can you stop throwing childish tantrums? I heard from Mr. Davis that you’re planning to refuse treatment. Taking it out on your own body just to spite me—is that really worth it? Is that fair to Mr. Davis and your mom?” More guilt-tripping? I grinned. “Life is as short as a fart. As long as I’m enjoying myself, that’s all that matters.” Sean froze, then frowned, clearly displeased with my “vulgar language.” “Chloe, can you stop acting so neurotic all the time? Look at Audrey. A refined lady like her is much more likable.” I dropped my smile. “Sean, did you know? I actually heard the name ‘Audrey’ a long time ago.” Sean stiffened. “That day, you had a little to drink too. You were drunk, holding me, and kept mumbling ‘Audrey’, ‘Audrey’. But the funny part is, I actually thought you were reciting poetry. A sudden look back, and there she is, in the dim, fading light… Ah.” I stared at him, without a trace of a smile. “When you looked back, who did you actually see? The fading light, or Audrey?” Sean’s face turned pale. He murmured, “Chloe,” his hand hovering mid-air, trying to reach for me. Even though he was within arm’s reach, it felt like we were separated by life and death. “Sean, tell me the truth. Did you ever love me? Just me, pure and simple, not as a replacement for anyone else?” I looked at him pleadingly. “You don’t want me to take your lies to the grave, do you? I just want the truth.” Sean lowered his eyes and turned his head. He was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse. “You… are more suitable for marriage.” I let out a soft “Ah.” The silence in my chest was terrifying. It turns out that when a person is about to die, the first thing to go is the heart. And right at that moment, Audrey came sprinting over, her eyes red, and planted a kick square in Sean’s back— “Go fuck yourself! Stay away from my sister!” Sean stumbled forward from the kick. When he turned around and saw it was Audrey, his face was a picture of shock. “Audrey?” And Audrey, the “refined lady” he just praised, was shielding me with one hand and pointing right at Sean’s nose with the other, screaming at him: “You disgusting piece of trash, stop pretending to be so devoted! You want your cake and to eat it too. White rose, backup plan—you’re just playing games and you actually got addicted to it. You really think you’re some great romantic, don’t you?!” “Audrey, stop.” I reached out to stop the enraged Audrey. Seeing this, Sean looked slightly surprised, and even a little touched, as if he was seeing me for the first time. But Audrey was anxious. “Sis, you can’t be soft on him! He’s just an empty shell of a scumbag! He can’t stand being lonely, but he wants to act like a devoted lover. He…” “Audrey, don’t do that.” I cut her off, shaking my head gently. “Don’t just use your words without using your hands.” Audrey stared blankly. Sean looked even more incredulous. I took out my lipstick and crossed out the fourth item on the list: 4. Beat up a jerk. I gave Sean a radiant smile. “Sean, I will take my disgust for you to the grave.” Then, I kicked him hard.

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When I got home from work, I noticed one of the spare keys on the table was missing. I asked my husband Ethan about it. He said he’d lost it. In the shower, I spotted a strand of hair stuck to the drain. Long, curly, wine-red. My hair was short. Soon after, I received a message on my phone. It was from Vivian, Ethan’s newly hired assistant. “Aria, Ethan gave me a spare key the other day. He said it was for convenience.” I didn’t respond. The next day, I changed the locks. Then I posted a message in the company’s group chat. “Locks have been changed. If Vivian wants a new key, she can come find me.” The moment Ethan got home, his face darkened. “Aria Summers, have you lost your mind? What nonsense are you spouting in the company group? Do you know what people are saying about her?” I set down the soup. Looking straight at him, I asked, “Then why did you lie about losing the key?” He froze. After a long pause, he sighed, his voice softening slightly. “Vivian is my assistant. Giving her a key was just for convenience. I lied because I was worried you’d overthink things. Did you really need to react like this?” I was silent for a few seconds, my voice hoarse. “Should I just give her all the keys then?” “Aria Summers!” Ethan raised his voice impatiently. “Vivian left crying this afternoon. She and I are just normal colleagues. Can you stop being so paranoid?” “Then how do you explain the overlapping handprints on the shower wall?” “What handprints?” I grabbed his arm and pulled him into the bathroom, pointing at the wall where the handprints should be. But there was nothing there. Ethan immediately shook me off and snorted coldly. “I don’t want to fight with you, but this better not happen again! Go reflect on yourself.” Then he kicked me out of the group chat. A new notification popped up on my screen, showing that I, the administrative assistant, had been terminated. The grayed-out group number and the termination notice. Like two heavy slaps across my face, leaving it burning. The fragrance of soup drifted from the kitchen into my nostrils. Suddenly, it didn’t smell good anymore.

Seven years. I hadn’t waited for his proposal yet, but I’d waited for him to publicly defend someone else. It reminded me of the year my father jumped off a building and my mother left. He had held me then, his eyes red, voice low and fierce. “Aria, listen to me. Even if the whole world abandons you, you still have me. If I can’t do surgery, I can still be a pharmaceutical rep. I can give you a home, a balcony for growing flowers. You plant azaleas, I’ll grow succulents, and we’ll have lots and lots of children…” My heart had ached with tenderness then. I couldn’t refuse Ethan, who had ruined his hands saving me in a car accident, losing his ability to hold a scalpel, yet still making me promises. I stayed. From a tenth-level pianist to a nanny who racked her brains to take care of him. Massages, cooking soup, arranging daily life—my entire existence revolved around Ethan. My mom couldn’t understand. “Is it worth giving up your life’s dream for him?” I had answered with certainty. But now, looking at Ethan’s still-handsome face under the warm lights, growing increasingly cold and distant, I realized I’d been wrong. Ethan and I fell into a cold war. He stopped coming home, and I had the housekeeper continue delivering his meals as usual. Vivian’s social media posts became increasingly frequent. Like the Pikachu slippers that appeared outside Ethan’s usual break room. Not my size. Not his style either. Like the new soup bowl Ethan was using, in a pink he would never choose. In the photo, they shared one bowl of soup, smiling at each other. Vivian’s caption read, “Drinking love soup with the one I love. Some old things are destined to exit the stage.” But I’d spent four hours making that soup. The discarded bowl was from the matching couple’s set I’d given him seven years ago. In the comments, someone teased, “Did Ethan switch girlfriends? Better than the previous one, they look more compatible.” Ethan didn’t deny it. Instead, he liked the comment. The lighting was warm and yellow. The heating was on full blast. Yet I felt bone-chillingly cold. Because of Ethan’s casual like, my seven years of giving everything were just “old things” in others’ eyes and “the previous one” in his. With a ding, Vivian tagged me in a post. “Sorry, Aria. Last time I accidentally got my clothes dirty and borrowed your bathroom. I apologize. Please don’t make things difficult for Ethan because of this.” “Ethan said he’s already added my fingerprint to the system, so I don’t need to get keys from you anymore…” Followed by a smug emoji. She had every reason to be smug. Apologizing on the surface while secretly telling everyone that Ethan was on her side. An acquaintance defended me. “Is this an apology or marking territory? Ethan, aren’t you going to do something about this?” “Do what? Can’t you see Mrs. Blake is about to be replaced?” The comment section erupted. Ethan said nothing, but under the “Mrs. Blake is being replaced” comment, he posted a smiley face. I stared at the screen. My eyes stung with pain. I exited the app and opened the fingerprint settings. Deleted my newly added fingerprint, leaving only his two. Ethan wanted a replacement. And I was tired of being his nanny.

That evening, Ethan came home. His face was expressionless, but his eyes gleamed brightly. Then he shoved a music score into my arms. “I promised to give you this before. Here.” He pushed me down onto the sofa and sat at the piano himself. With his back to me, hunched over, he clumsily searched for each key. If this were before, I would have, like Vivian, taken a photo and posted it with the caption, “My boyfriend is trying so hard to make me smile!” But now, I just asked calmly, “When did it start?” The piano stopped. Ethan turned around, his brows furrowed tightly. “I’ve explained. I’ve apologized. Aria Summers, what more do you want?” I looked up at him directly. “There’s an extra pair of slippers at home, a new perfume, and a Pikachu plush. The bedside drawer also has several boxes of ultra-thin condoms, the strawberry-flavored kind we never bought. Your closet—” “Enough!” The living room fell into dead silence. Only our amplified breathing could be heard. Ethan stood still for a few seconds before getting up. The music score crumpled in his grip, his knuckles white with tension. He looked at me with disappointed, cold eyes. “Aria Summers, I’m starting to wonder if your father’s mental illness was hereditary. Are you planning to jump off a building to force me next?” “Just like how your mother cheated and your father used death to force her?” A roaring sound filled my ears. My heart felt like it had exploded. I’d thought he might argue or deny. I never expected him to tear open my old wounds this way. “Some things are better left unsaid—that’s adult maturity! No matter what I do outside, you’re still the future Mrs. Blake. I ruined my hands for you, gave up my dream of being a doctor. What more do you have to be suspicious about?” “Vivian shouldn’t have showered in your bathroom, but she apologized. Don’t blow other things out of proportion and target her!” His voice grew louder with each word. Combined with those cold eyes, every word cut like a sharp blade. As if the one being unclear with a subordinate, maintaining an ambiguous relationship, wasn’t him, but me. I looked at him, finding the certainty in his eyes painfully glaring. Not the guilt of being caught, but the confidence that I had no way out, that I wouldn’t dare break things off with him. My throat felt blocked. I didn’t say another word. He only remembered ruining his hands, giving up his dream of being a doctor. But he’d forgotten that I’d also ruined my hands, spending every day in the kitchen for him. After he went to the bedroom, I numbly pressed piano key after piano key. The music played on. But it no longer had the sweetness of the past. Neither of us spoke again that night. Around midnight, Ethan quietly left. When the door closed, I opened my eyes. Soon after, Vivian posted again. Five photos. Each one showed brilliant fireworks exploding in the night sky, forming words. Together, they read, “Ethan Loves Vivian.” I’d received the same confession three years ago. Back then, Ethan’s company had just gone public. On the same day, he gave me a villa key and a huge flower-growing balcony. It had roses, peonies, orchids, and succulents. Lively like a warm little home. That night, countless fireworks exploded in the night sky as he shouted with a smile, “I did what I promised Aria. I’ll love Aria forever.” Same person. But the object of his love had changed. My phone vibrated. It was a reply from my mom. I turned off my phone, opened my suitcase, and began packing my clothes. Everything else went into the trash. When Ethan returned, what he saw was that suitcase.

He instinctively frowned. “Where are you going?” “On a trip.” “A trip?” He loosened his tie, as if he’d heard a joke. “You’ve taken care of me for seven whole years without leaving home for a single day. You think you can actually leave?” “Aria, if you think you can force me to give in this way, it won’t work.” “I don’t think I’m wrong, and I don’t think Vivian and I did anything wrong. I’ve supported you for seven years. You should be more understanding by now.” I didn’t speak or argue. I just stuffed the 20-inch suitcase back into the closet. The suitcase was light. Just like this home I’d stayed in for seven years, this marriage I’d anticipated for seven years. I’d thought it was full of blooming flowers. But it was riddled with holes. Only then did Ethan nod with satisfaction, a laugh escaping from his nose. “Good that you understand.” “In this world, besides me, no one else can give you a home, a balcony for growing flowers. You should cherish your blessings.” These words were certain yet cold. Mixed with an unfamiliar strawberry-milk scent on his collar, my heart throbbed with delayed pain. “Remember, you’re no longer the Aria Summers who shone on stage. You’re just my nanny now, a woman I’ve taken care of who’s become useless. Stop with these pointless acts. Behave, and I’ll treat you well…” The man’s slightly cold words drifted through the sound of running water. I couldn’t hear clearly. But it was enough. He didn’t know. The suitcase I’d put back contained my travel documents and clothes. I didn’t leave, not because I couldn’t bear to, but because I’d booked a flight for the day after tomorrow. The next day, Ethan unexpectedly called me. His tone was soft. “Company gala. The business partners all want to meet you.” A laugh came through the phone. “Come. I’ll use this opportunity to propose.” My heart raced for a few seconds, then calmed down. Not much excitement. But I still agreed. Not because I had any expectations, but for these seven years of wholehearted devotion, I wanted an answer. That evening, he had someone deliver a pair of sapphire earrings to me. And a black off-shoulder dress. My favorite color. My exact size. My heart warmed slightly. When the grand doors of the venue slowly opened for me and I walked step by step to the center of the crowd, I froze. On the stage paved with flowers, Vivian stood at the center in a black diamond-studded off-shoulder dress. Around her neck was an even larger sapphire necklace. And Ethan was holding a ring, down on one knee. Brilliant lights cast halos around them. The clicking of cameras mixed with congratulations loud enough to shatter the ceiling. Like a tsunami drowning me. I should have felt sad. But I didn’t. Only a sense of relief, as if things had turned out exactly as expected.

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My boyfriend’s birthday—my first time staying over at his place. In the middle of the night, while he was sound asleep, I got up for a drink and accidentally bumped his computer. The screen lit up, showing an Instagram post visible only to friends. The bold title read: [The Billionaire’s True Love Game] Eight months ago, this billionaire had started publicly documenting his operation to hunt down a Cinderella. The post had plenty of followers. I scrolled to the latest comments. “What’s up with Ethan lately? No updates? Isn’t the new target supposed to be dumb and clueless—difficulty level zero?” I refreshed. A new reply appeared: “Ethan already said he’s taking this girl’s virginity tonight. He’s busy with that right now!” I looked at the blogger’s profile picture—unmistakably Ethan’s profile. That side view I could never mistake. A bone-deep chill washed over me. What I thought was true love was just a con. He’d pretended to be a poor, hardworking, innocent boy—just bait tossed out by a wealthy playboy in his game. I forced down my explosive emotions and posted from my Instagram burner account to ask strangers for advice. Half an hour later, I’d made my decision. I grabbed some chicken blood from the fridge and climbed back into bed.

I didn’t sleep well. When I woke up, my eyelids felt heavy. Ethan sat at the small table typing on his laptop, his white dress shirt glowing faintly in the morning light. Campus heartthrob looks—truly captivating. Hearing me stir, he brought over a glass of warm milk. He affectionately pinched my cheek, his voice doting and magnetic: “Baby, drink your milk.” Then he pulled out a paper jewelry box and opened it. Inside was a tarnished silver ring that looked dirty and old. He knelt on one knee, held the ring up in front of me, and said: “Baby, this is the silver ring my mom took off her own finger and gave to me. It was also a gift from my grandmother to her.” “It’s not expensive, but to my family, it means everything.” “We’ve only been dating for five months, but from the moment we met eight months ago, I fell deeply in love with you.” “Please don’t refuse me, okay?” I silently sneered to myself. Wasn’t this the exact suggestion from the comment section when he posted pictures last month? A cheap alloy ring bought online for a dollar, free shipping during promotions. And they’d written so confidently: Game props don’t deserve expensive investments. Their disgusting game involved deliberately pretending to be poor, deceiving girls who struggled to make ends meet, scamming them for money and sex. And they justified it shamelessly: This is the only way to find girls who aren’t materialistic. Ha! Screw their “good girls!” I stayed silent, lowering my eyes. Ethan maintained his kneeling posture, his expression gradually tensing. He was worried I’d reject this piece of trash. I hid my left hand under the covers and viciously pinched my thigh. Tears immediately sprang to my eyes. Then, overcome with joy, I extended my right hand and slipped my ring finger into the silver band. I quickly pulled it back, as if afraid he’d change his mind. “It’s too precious. Are you sure you want to give this to me now?” Ethan blinked, caught off guard. He set down the paper box, using that movement to compose his expression. He gave me a sincere smile: “Of course. I’m sorry, baby. This is all I can give you right now.” What award-winning acting. I wiped away my tears and clasped my hands tightly together. “Ethan, don’t you dare look down on yourself!” I pressed the ring against my chest and solemnly declared: “I swear, it’s more important to me than my own heart.” His expression froze slightly, the mockery hidden in his eyes quietly dissipating. I shyly pulled him close, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his white shirt. I mentally reviewed all the netizen comments from last night. Ethan stroked my hair and murmured: “I’m sorry. Last night… I couldn’t hold back.” Fighting the urge to jump up and slap him, I gently pushed him away and turned to pull at the bedsheets. Against the large expanse of sky blue, a spot of oxidized rusty red stood out prominently. From where Ethan stood looking down, he could definitely see it. I quickly bundled the sheet into a ball. When I turned around, his face indeed showed poorly concealed smugness. “Last night was worth commemorating. Baby, don’t bother cooking. I’ll treat you to pizza.” I stuffed the sheet into the secondhand washing machine, poured in detergent, and replied casually: “Forget it. Takeout is expensive and dirty. I’ll cook instead. We need to save money if we’re going to buy a house someday.” Ethan looked deeply moved and tender. “You’re right, baby, but today’s an exception.” Without waiting for my answer, he placed the order. Then he walked over and held me tight. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely make you happy. I’m going to work and earn money now. You eat first, okay?” The door closed. As I listened to the washing machine rumbling, memories flooded back.

Eight months ago, I was running a street stall on Central Street. Ethan worked at the boutique shop next door. That night, a woman with a nose ring and tattoos all over her body walked past my stall and kicked over my most expensive crystal ball. It shattered completely. I immediately stopped her and demanded compensation. The woman shoved me hard, climbed on top of me, and started hitting and cursing me. Ethan, from the boutique a few meters away, stepped forward and pulled her off me. The woman pointed at his nose and cursed him out, then stormed into the shop threatening to cause trouble. The shop owner wanted to keep the peace and told Ethan to apologize. I grabbed him and refused to let him. In the end, Ethan and I packed up my little stall and left together. We were both ordinary people who’d come from far away to make a living. No special skills, no connections—just warming each other through hardship. Half a month later, he handed me discounted red roses. Blushing, I kissed the corner of his mouth. That’s how our relationship began. Ethan was wonderful—handsome and gentle. Worried about my safety, he accompanied me to my stall whenever possible. When I caught a cold and felt chilly, he held me through the night. Last month, he proactively suggested I move in with him. Living together would save more money than living separately. Once we’d saved enough, we could get married. I was overjoyed and nodded eagerly. I looked forward to our future. But “the future” was just a joke. Now, I opened his profile page. Sure enough, there was a new post. “Easy as pie. She’s even dumber than I thought.” In the comments, his buddies posted a string of emoji. “That’s our Ethan!” “Ethan’s the best! Destroy her!” I smiled mockingly. Ethan put serious effort into pretending to be poor. He worked overtime every day, but in reality, his private blog posts showed yachts, mansions, and seafood feasts. Naturally, I couldn’t fall behind. I turned around and increased my workload, getting up early and staying out late, running all over the south and north sides of the city. Every night in the latter half of the night, I’d return to this cheapest basement apartment with my voice hoarse. But I never complained. I took care of him a hundred times more attentively. I’d rather eat rock-hard bread myself than skip making him chicken soup. Watching me grow increasingly pale, the mockery in Ethan’s eyes gradually disappeared. Instead, he occasionally seemed lost in thought. One morning, I knelt on the floor polishing his leather shoes. He seemed to choke up. After a long pause, he said: “Baby, they’re not worn out. I can still wear them.” I carefully wiped them, saying: “Clothes make the man. You can’t wear shoes with peeling polish—people will laugh at you.” “I don’t have money to buy you new ones right now, so I’ll just touch up the polish for you. Look! All done! Come try them on!” Ethan hesitated for a long time before walking over and stepping into them. His smile looked very unnatural. This weekend, Ethan said he had time off and took me to the night market. He bought me a grilled sausage, half-jokingly apologizing that this was all he could afford. I ate it with a blissful expression, as if it were a delicacy. Just then, the woman with the nose ring walked toward us from across the way. She was fawning all over a bald man’s arm. What rotten luck. The bald man had a face full of flab. He listened to the woman whisper in his ear, then sneered at us: “So you two are the ones who offended my woman?” This nouveau riche posture—in the past, Ethan wouldn’t have been worthy of pouring him water. Ethan’s fists clenched tight. If he threw that punch, the so-called game would end early. My eyes swept the area. I grabbed nearby pasta and hurled it at them. The bald man and nose-ring woman both shrieked, utterly embarrassed, then cursed and charged at us. I shielded Ethan behind me, waving the bamboo stick from my sausage while shouting tremblingly: “You bastard! Don’t think having money means you can bully people!” The bald man’s eyes widened as he tried to kick me. “Bitch, who are you trying to scare?” But he didn’t succeed. Ethan stepped forward quickly, kicked his foot away with one leg, then kicked him to the ground. His hand gripped the bald man’s throat, his expression murderous. “You want to die?” The bald man’s face turned completely red. A few seconds later, Ethan released him. The bald man didn’t even bother with nose-ring woman and fled directly. Ethan grabbed my hand and threw away the bamboo stick. “Do you know you could go to jail if you hurt someone? Just because of me… you fool.” His words were tender, but his eyes held scrutiny. I squeezed out tears and smiled at him. “You’re my man. I protect my boyfriend. Do I need a reason?” “Ethan, I’d do anything for you.” For an instant, something seemed to crack in his eyes. Ethan, who played with people’s hearts, claimed not to believe in genuine feelings—but what he wanted most was exactly that: genuine feelings.

That day when we got home, Ethan proactively put his arm around me for a selfie and posted this couple photo to social media for the first time. I understood—my progress bar had advanced another notch. Late that night, I opened his private profile page in the bathroom. Sure enough, there was a new blog post. He’d written about today’s events. The comments were full of mockery: “This chick’s got some fire in her.” “Ethan, are you catching feelings?” “Tsk tsk tsk, is Ethan going serious? You’ll lose the game if you do.” Ethan hadn’t replied to a single comment. The next night at midnight, he came home reeking of alcohol, looking at me with both despair and pain. “I’m sorry. Baby, let’s break up.” He pulled out a diagnostic report. “I’ve been feeling unwell these past few days—dizzy, headaches. I went to the hospital today for a checkup. Turns out I have a brain tumor.” “Surgery would cost at least two hundred thousand dollars. Where would I get that kind of money?” Did he steal this from a soap opera? I resisted rolling my eyes. Ethan half-reclined on the sofa, tears streaming down his face. “Lily, I can’t ruin your entire life.” I clasped my hands together, my nails digging into my palms, my lips biting until they bled. Between my part-time jobs and street stall, I’d only managed to save fifty thousand dollars so far. Two hundred thousand could crush me. Ethan cried while sneaking glances at me. He was waiting to see how I’d agree to break up, dump this terminally ill boyfriend, and restart my life. But I said nothing and turned to leave. The door clicked shut. His mouth opened—he hadn’t expected me to leave without a single word. After turning two streets, I opened his profile page. Ethan’s tone was agitated. “She ran off over two hundred thousand. Really poor, cheap, and worthless.” The comment section echoed in agreement: “Normal. For poor people, two hundred thousand is worth more than life itself.” “Ethan, you’ve played with this one for most of a year. Getting bored? Let’s find someone new!” Ethan didn’t reply, but he didn’t leave either. He stayed in the basement apartment, continuing to smoke and drink. Staring fixedly at the door.

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My husband, Ethan Pierce, wants me to sign an infidelity agreement. Article Three of the agreement: twelve opportunities to cheat per year, unused chances can be converted to cash. I smiled and signed it. From then on, I purchased various contraceptives and sex toys for him. I took excellent care of my husband and his lovers. Those lovers humiliated me: “That old hag is so pathetic. Does she really think she can keep Ethan’s heart by acting like a dog?” I still didn’t cry, didn’t make a scene, and didn’t file for divorce. Instead, every year, I collected a payout of thirty-six million dollars. Every second, I waited for that bastard husband to die. After all, Ethan Pierce had no idea. His HIV test had already come back positive long ago. The sixty-eighth time. When the nauseating moans from the master bedroom finally stopped, I swallowed the PEP pill in my mouth and put on protective gloves before daring to push the door open. Bit by bit, I cleaned up the disheveled, obscene mess of the room. The next second, the frosted bathroom door was yanked open. Ethan Pierce walked out bare-chested, supporting a young woman who could barely stand. “Ouch, I told you it was my first time. Did you have to be so rough?” It was Sophie West, the new intern at the company — fresh, beautiful, like a rose with thorns. The two of them flirted and laughed, but when they saw me, the warmth in Ethan’s eyes plummeted. “Fast work.” He pulled out a black card and casually tossed it onto the messy sheets stained with spots of blood. “Get the most expensive bedding set. Keep whatever’s left and buy yourself some handbags.” His voice sounded like he was dismissing a beggar. I numbly walked over, bent down, and picked up the card. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. Because Ethan Pierce had no idea. Six months ago, I’d found the medical report of his previous lover. Positive. And not only had I quietly concealed it, I’d also prayed to every god I could think of — and received confirmation that Ethan Pierce had tested positive too. Childhood sweethearts. A power couple. Seven years of marriage. I never imagined that one day, I’d be hoping for Ethan Pierce to die. Seven years ago, when Ethan used half of the Lynn family assets as startup capital and became the leading business tycoon in Crestwood, he knelt before me and said I was the only true love of his life. When he knew I was overseas on a business trip missing home-style cooking, he’d fly over ten hours just to cook me a table full of dishes himself. But after my family went bankrupt and Ethan handed me an agreement allowing him to “cheat twelve times a year,” I went from being the pampered elite wife he held in the palm of his hand to the maid who cleaned up after his hookups. If love could be performed, then I’d perform until he lost everything… After all, with one month left until his onset period, I was only one step away from completely destroying Ethan Pierce. “You clean up. I need to take this call.” The ringtone interrupted my thoughts. Ethan kissed Sophie for a few seconds, answered the phone, then turned and headed to the study. In the enormous bedroom, only Sophie and I remained. I watched Sophie — who had just kissed Ethan and been infected again — sit brazenly at my vanity without the slightest hesitation, picking up my bottles and jars and smearing them recklessly on her neck. I smiled. “If you like them, I’ll give them all to you later.” Through the mirror, Sophie looked at me with contempt, a provocative smile curling at the corner of her mouth. “Smart of you to know your place. So what if you’re childhood sweethearts? You’re still just a washed-up old woman.” “Ethan said that because I gave him my first time, I’m his only true love. And without me, he’d rather die.” “So, Lydia Lynn, do you really think a marriage certificate can hold onto Ethan?” True love… I laughed. Didn’t she know? She was already Ethan Pierce’s sixty-eighth true love. Looking at Sophie’s young, ignorant face, remembering how she’d just bragged about her first time, out of what little pity I had left, I looked at her with a hoarse voice. “Ethan Pierce has too many women around him. He’s not clean. If you’re smart, you should leave him as soon as possible.” But that sentence seemed to step on her tail. Sophie shot up, her pretty face instantly twisting. She raised her hand and slapped me. The crisp sound echoed in the empty bedroom. My cheek burned with pain, and the metallic taste of blood exploded in my mouth. “Leave? You bitch! You’re just jealous of me! You just can’t stand seeing Ethan treat me well!” She screamed, her eyes reddening, then turned and ran toward the study, crying and shouting as she ran: “Ethan! Your wife is bullying me! She said I’m dirty! She’s forcing me to leave you!” The study door burst open. Ethan Pierce strode out, his face showing the impatience and fury of being disturbed. Without asking any questions, seeing Sophie crying like a pear blossom in the rain, then seeing me covering my face, he delivered another slap, viciously striking my other cheek. “Lydia Lynn, no matter how jealous you are, you’d better fulfill the agreement! I give you money, you do your job as the maid!” I fell to the ground, my ears ringing. Through blurred vision, I watched Sophie coyly throw herself into Ethan Pierce’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, her face full of smug satisfaction. “Ethan, don’t be angry. Let’s do it again, okay? I really want to give you a baby.” “Okay, whatever you want.” Ethan Pierce lowered his head and kissed Sophie’s forehead. Before entering the room, he glanced at me like I was trash and coldly ordered: “When we’re done, wash those sheets clean.” “Okay.” I nodded silently, watching their backs disappear. Since Sophie wouldn’t listen to my warning, getting infected was no one’s fault but her own. That evening, after professional disinfection personnel finished sanitizing the villa, I had just changed into my pajamas when the villa’s door lock suddenly turned. Ethan Pierce had come back. He carried a strong scent of perfume and alcohol, his steps unsteady. I instinctively tried to dodge, but he suddenly grabbed me from behind, his scorching breath spraying on the back of my ear, his voice hoarse and suggestive. “Seeing me with others, you must be missing me too, right? Tonight, I’ll pamper you, okay?” With that, his kiss came crashing down.

In that instant, my stomach churned. I was not only disgusted by his touch, but terrified of infection. “My period… just started.” I firmly held back his chest. Ethan’s movements froze. I took the opportunity to turn aside, my voice extremely low: “Don’t touch me.” The man released his grip, stepped back, and the lust on his face was quickly replaced by disgust. “Playing high and mighty? Your period isn’t today.” He tugged at his shirt collar, his gaze sweeping over me from top to bottom, as if examining an expired product. “You won’t let me touch you, right? There are countless women outside waiting in line for me. Lydia Lynn, you’ll regret this someday.” He sneered, grabbed his car keys, and slammed the door without looking back. As the engine roared, I made one phone call, and a complete disinfection and cleaning crew rushed in. Smelling the gradually spreading scent of disinfectant, I clutched the folded blank equity transfer agreement in my pocket. Tomorrow, as long as he signed this document, his three most core holding companies would be transferred, without his knowledge, to the shell companies I’d set up in advance. This was the entire meaning of my endurance through sixty-eight times. The next morning, at Pierce Group headquarters. As the CFO, I had just exited the elevator when I saw the CEO’s office door standing open. Sophie West was wearing a barely-there camisole dress, half-sitting on Ethan Pierce’s desk, legs crossed, bossing around the head of administration. “This month’s team-building budget is too low. Ethan said to let me choose the restaurant. The one I picked averages three hundred eighty dollars per person. Go change it.” The admin manager looked troubled, glancing at me as if seeking help. Sophie noticed me too, and smiled. That kind of smile, like a cat catching a mouse. She hopped down from the desk, waving a stack of receipts as she walked up to me. “Ms. Lynn, help me sign off on this reimbursement, will you? Last month’s personal expenses — Ethan said to expense them through the company.” I took it and scanned it… eighty-six thousand dollars. Luxury goods receipts, medical aesthetics treatments, an invoice for a couples’ hot spring hotel. “Exceeds approval authority. Against regulations. Can’t sign it.” I handed the documents back. Sophie’s smile froze for a second, then she turned and ran into the inner office. Less than ten seconds later, Ethan Pierce stormed out with a livid face. Three executives who’d just finished a meeting were still standing in the hallway. In front of everyone, he threw the stack of reimbursement forms viciously in my face. Papers scattered across the floor, one slicing past my eye, bringing a faint sting. “Lydia Lynn, is your brain rusted?” “Sophie is my woman. Over a little money, you’re pulling the legitimate wife act?” The hallway was so quiet you could hear the air conditioning hum. The three executives kept their heads down; no one dared look at me. Seven years ago, I had injected all of the Lynn family assets into this company. This building, this floor of offices, even the land beneath our feet — all of it was bought with my dowry. And now, in front of the executive team I’d built with my own hands, he was making me reimburse expenses for his mistress. I bent down and picked up the receipts one by one. “Fine. I’ll sign.” After all, once you’re dead, I can take it all back. After everyone dispersed, Sophie slowly sauntered over to my side. She deliberately circled behind me, leaning close to my ear, her voice as light as a honey-coated needle. “Ms. Lynn, last night when you wouldn’t let Mr. Pierce touch you, he came to me again.” She stroked her lower abdomen, her eyes full of smugness. “Mr. Pierce is really something. What if I get pregnant… shouldn’t the position of Mrs. Pierce be handed over?” Pregnant? Perfect. Looking at her young, arrogant face, endless excitement surged in my heart. I didn’t speak, only showed a submissive, almost humble bitter smile. “Ms. West is right. Mr. Pierce… really does love you most.” With that, I pulled out the blank agreement from my bag, along with the reimbursement forms that had just been thrown in my face, and respectfully handed them to Sophie. “Ms. West, please also have Mr. Pierce sign these financial reports.” Sophie paused, then quickly took them, her face filled with satisfaction. “Should’ve been this sensible from the start. I’ll be the boss’s wife of this company sooner or later anyway.” Perhaps my submissiveness pleased Sophie greatly. Before long, Ethan Pierce, with one arm around Sophie, tossed the stack of documents mixed with the contract onto the desk in front of me. On top were three characters… Ethan Pierce. Written with flourishing strokes. Signed right on the agreement worth thirty-four percent equity. Got it. “Oh, by the way…” Ethan Pierce finally looked up, as if remembering something, and said casually: “The company scheduled annual executive physicals tomorrow. Family members included. I registered Sophie too.” He turned to look at Sophie, gently pinching her chin with affection: “Maybe you’re already pregnant, babe. Might as well get checked.”

Physical examination. Full panel. My mind buzzed instantly. If Ethan Pierce had blood drawn tomorrow, the positive results would come back within forty-eight hours at the earliest. Given his personality, his first reaction wouldn’t be fear — it would be rage. A full investigation. Investigate the source of infection, investigate everyone around him, investigate finances, investigate the company… Then the last equity swap funds I hadn’t finished transferring would be frozen overnight. Sixty-eight times of endurance, five years of planning — all reduced to zero. I couldn’t let him get blood drawn tomorrow. Absolutely not. At six o’clock the next morning, I stood in the kitchen, a packet of brown powder in my palm. prune juice concentrate — colorless, tasteless. Mixed into warm milk, it would only cause several hours of severe diarrhea. Completely untraceable. I placed the milk on Ethan Pierce’s designated black coaster. Seven years. I knew his habits better than he knew them himself. At exactly seven o’clock, Ethan Pierce came downstairs in his crisp suit and sat down punctually. But just as his hand touched the cup… “Ethan!” Sophie came running in fuzzy slippers, plopping herself into Ethan Pierce’s lap, coquettishly snatching the glass of milk. “I want some too. I’m the lady of this house — everything should go to me first.” She deliberately glanced at me, then tilted her head back and drained the entire glass in one go. My hand holding the fruit plate froze in mid-air. Sure enough, by the time they left, Sophie’s face had turned pale. And just as the car got onto the elevated highway, she suddenly clutched her stomach, instantly breaking into a cold sweat. “Ethan… my stomach hurts so much…” Ethan Pierce’s expression changed immediately. He grabbed her and shouted at the driver: “Turn around! To the nearest hospital!” Sophie vomited three times. The last time, she was practically semi-conscious, collapsing in Ethan Pierce’s arms. When he carried her rushing into the emergency room, his eyes were red. And I was summoned by his furious phone call. “Lydia Lynn, you can’t even make a fucking breakfast right? Did you deliberately give her diarrhea!” The roar on the other end was so loud even the taxi driver glanced over. When I arrived at the VIP hospital room, I saw Ethan Pierce crouching by Sophie’s bedside, carefully tucking in her blanket, his gaze as tender as a different person. He heard footsteps and shot to his feet. A glass of cold water came crashing down. I was knocked to the ground in an instant. Ice-cold water ran down my hair, face, and neck, soaking the collar of my blouse. A cut opened on my forehead, blood seeping out. In front of three nurses and an attending physician, he pointed his finger almost at my forehead: “If it weren’t for your dead father’s sake, I would’ve kicked you out long ago!” My dead father. He had the nerve to mention my dad? He’d had the chance to save my father with just three million dollars, but didn’t my dad still jump to his death? I lowered my eyes. Water droplets slid from my lashes, like tears, but they weren’t. “If anything happens to Sophie…” Ethan Pierce gripped my jaw, the force nearly dislocating it: “I’ll make you pay with your life.” “I’m sorry… it was my fault. But the medical center… are we still going?” Wiping the water from my face, I asked timidly. “Go? Go where!” He waved his hand irritably. “We’ll go after Sophie recovers. Reschedule for next week!” Ethan Pierce turned away from me and sat back on the edge of the bed, intertwining his fingers to hold Sophie’s hand again. That image was so tender, it reminded me of three years ago. I’d hemorrhaged from a miscarriage in the ER, called him seventeen times, and every single call went unanswered. I found out later that he’d been celebrating girlfriend number thirty-four’s birthday that night. I was lost in thought when… Buzz. Ethan Pierce’s phone suddenly exploded with sound. He frowned and answered, but less than five seconds in, his face turned from iron-blue to deathly pale. “What did you say?!” On the other end, I heard it — the finance department’s voice trembling: “Mr. Pierce, there’s an abnormal flow of three hundred million dollars from the company accounts!” “The system shows the approver is… Mrs. Pierce.” The air in the hospital room instantly froze. Ethan Pierce slowly turned his head, those bloodshot eyes nailing themselves onto me.

“Lydia Lynn, give me an explanation.” Ethan Pierce’s Adam’s apple rolled. The room was so quiet you could hear the monitor beeping. I panicked. After all, panic was exactly the reaction I should have. Lowering my head, I clumsily pulled a document from my bag, hands trembling slightly as I handed it over. “This… I discovered it last week. I checked — someone hacked my authorization in the approval system. The funds flowed to… the account for that villa in Heron Bay.” Ethan Pierce’s pupils shrank violently. That was the residence of his sixty-seventh mistress, Yvonne Zoe, whom he’d dumped just a month ago. The breakup had been ugly. Yvonne had even threatened to expose him, but Ethan had silenced her with a lawyer’s letter. Ethan Pierce snatched the report, his eyes flying over every line of data. Then, gritting his teeth, he threw the report down. “That bitch!” After cursing, he didn’t look at me again. After all, in Ethan Pierce’s world, Lydia Lynn was just a dog. Would a dog bite? No. That night, I sat in the darkness of the study, the blue screen light reflecting on my face. When I pressed Enter for the last time, my finger was steady. Over the past thirty days, the old Lynn family guard had completed the final round of capital swaps. The core assets and underlying equity structure of Pierce Group had been hollowed out by me, thread by thread, over seven years. From the outside, Pierce Group still looked glamorous. But the bones were gone. I closed the laptop, walked to the window, and looked out at the city’s night view. A month later, at Pierce Group’s year-end gala. Under crystal chandeliers, Ethan Pierce appeared on the red carpet with Sophie on his arm, camera flashes crackling. I was seated at the most remote table in the corner, without even a nameplate, sitting with three drivers from supplier companies. Ethan Pierce stood on stage holding a wine glass, confidently describing his business empire. He looked much worse than a month ago. Sunken eyes, night sweats, and then swollen lymph nodes appearing on the side of his neck. Ethan Pierce thought it was just too much socializing and not enough rest. A few days ago, he’d gone for a checkup, gotten an IV drip at a private hospital, and taken a few fever reducers. This time I didn’t stop the checkup. I didn’t need to anymore. After all, what’s coming will come. At the gala’s climax, Ethan Pierce suddenly called my name. The entire ballroom went silent. He threw a document in front of me, his tone like ordering a servant to pour water: “Sign it. Just a formality. Sophie likes the garden at the old Lynn estate. I’ve already transferred the deed to her name. You don’t mind, do you?” I looked down and made out the line: Lynn Family estate Property Transfer Agreement. That was my father’s last possession before he jumped. That was the courtyard where my mother had grown magnolia flowers for twenty years. That was the only place I could still call home in these seven years of hellish existence. One mistake in a hundred calculations. My hands began to tremble. This time, they were really shaking. I finally looked up at him with reddened eyes: “Ethan Pierce, do you have to be this ruthless?” He looked down at me like an ant blocking his path. “Lydia Lynn, don’t be ungrateful. Without me, you wouldn’t even have the right to stand here. Sign it, and you’re still Mrs. Pierce.” “If you don’t sign…” He didn’t finish, but of course he didn’t need to. Sophie walked over with a wine glass and high heels, deliberately thrusting out her waist, smiling broadly: “Ms. Lynn, Mr. Pierce dotes on me now. If you still want to be Mrs. Pierce, be smart about it, won’t you?” I bit my lip, my hand holding the pen still trembling. Over three hundred pairs of eyes in the room watched me — some sympathetic, some indifferent, most just watching the show. And just as I was about to sign… Bang! The side door of the ballroom was violently pushed open. The private doctor I’d bribed, pale-faced and sweating, clutching an urgent report in trembling hands, stumbled in. His voice exploded across the entire hall, uncontrollably shaking: “Mr. Pierce! Something terrible has happened… Your physical examination report…”

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