Category: English

The day my wife gave birth to a child for her terminally ill first love, her parents hired ten security guards to stand outside the delivery room. But even as the delivery ended, I didn’t show up to make a scene. Her mother held her hand, comforting her. “Sarah, don’t worry. As long as we’re here, he won’t get within ten feet of you.” “Your dad’s stationed at the hospital entrance too. If he dares to come here and stop you from having this baby, we’ll call the police!” Sarah, pale and exhausted, nodded weakly, but her eyes kept darting toward the elevator doors. When she saw only empty hallways, she finally exhaled in relief. She couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t just support her decision to have a child for her first love, Thomas. Looking at the nurse cradling the crying newborn, Sarah smiled with satisfaction. She thought to herself, If Brian comes to see me tomorrow, I’ll let bygones be bygones. I’ll even let him raise this child as his own father. What she didn’t know was that I had submitted my application to the United Nations earlier that day. In seven days, I would renounce my citizenship to become a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. I would leave this country—and her—forever. The day Sarah left the maternity recovery center, I had just finished handing over my hospital responsibilities. As I approached the front door, I heard laughter and cheerful voices inside. “This baby is gorgeous! Those big eyes—definitely got the best features from his dad,” Sarah’s mother cooed as she played with the baby in her arms. Meanwhile, Thomas was walking out of the kitchen with a steaming bowl of chicken soup. “I made this myself. You’re still weak; you need to take care of yourself,” he said, sitting beside Sarah and gently feeding her like they were the perfect little family. Sarah’s father sat nearby, shaking a rattle for the baby, grinning ear to ear. “This kid is just so lovable! Definitely takes after his dad. Thank God it’s not Brian—that guy’s such a bore. Imagine having a doctor for a father—what a nightmare!” My hand tightened on the doorknob. I thought back to the first time I met Sarah’s father. He had slapped me on the back and said being a doctor was a noble calling, how saving lives was an honor for the whole family. He even mentioned that he, too, had been a doctor before retiring early after a workplace injury. But now, here he was, sneering about how a doctor didn’t deserve a family. I lowered my head and let out a bitter laugh. Sarah and I had been married for three years. She told me early on that she didn’t want kids, and I respected that. I knew how dangerous childbirth could be, so I never pressured her. I still remember the day I left for my year-long advanced medical training abroad. She had cried so hard, saying she couldn’t bear to be apart from me. For that entire year, we talked every day, sharing every little detail of our lives. Even my colleagues teased me, saying we were like newlyweds who couldn’t get enough of each other, even after three years of marriage. But then, a month ago, I managed to take a break and fly home. After sitting through an exhausting eight-hour flight, I didn’t even stop to rest. I rushed straight home, only to find Sarah heavily pregnant, standing beside her first love, Thomas. My thoughts were interrupted by Thomas’s voice. “Brian, when did you get back? Why are you just standing there? Come in!” At his words, everyone in the room turned to look at me. When Sarah’s father noticed the resignation letter in my hand, his expression darkened. “Why the hell did I ever agree to let my daughter marry someone like you? What a disgrace. Quitting your job now—what are you planning to do? Live off us?!” “What kind of husband are you, huh?” Sarah’s mother jumped in, her voice sharp. “You quit your job? You couldn’t even hold onto a high-paying, stable career as a doctor? What else can you do?” “Sarah just had a baby! She and the child need money for everything! Are you planning to let the three of them starve?” I couldn’t help but laugh at her words. “Whose wife and child? Whoever they belong to should be the one providing for them.” “Brian, what’s that supposed to mean?!” Sarah’s voice rose, her eyes red with anger. She glared at me, her chest heaving with frustration. She coughed violently, and Thomas quickly moved to comfort her, rubbing her back with a look of concern. Taking a deep breath, Sarah shouted, “Three years ago, if it wasn’t for Thomas saving me in that car accident, I’d be dead! His parents are gone, and now he’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Soon, the world won’t even remember him!” “Why do you keep targeting him? Do you really think I’m some kind of filthy, immoral woman?” Thomas gave her a pained look before turning to me. “Brian, just let it go. This is all my fault. I promise I’ll disappear from your lives from now on. Just don’t let me ruin your marriage.” I looked at the four of them—the perfect little family—and felt a wave of irony wash over me. So this was what a real family looked like. Sarah took a deep breath before speaking again. “Brian, my patience has limits. If you keep badmouthing Thomas for no reason, then don’t bother coming home anymore!” “If you want to stay married to me, you’ll behave yourself. At the baby’s party next week, I’ll even announce in front of all our friends and family that you’re the baby’s father.” Next week? I glanced at the baby sleeping peacefully in the crib. By next week, I’d already be on a plane to another country. But before I left, I didn’t mind giving them a parting gift they’d never forget. Without a change in expression, I nodded. “Alright.” 2 After finishing my sentence, I didn’t bother to wait for their reaction. I turned and headed to the bedroom to pack my things. Since I’d already decided to leave for good, I didn’t want to leave any trace of myself behind. The laughter from the living room seeped through the closed door as I folded my clothes, making my hands pause for a moment. “Thomas, I’ve been thinking…” Sarah’s voice drifted in, soft but filled with affection. “I’d like the baby to have your last name. That way, no matter who he calls ‘Dad’ in the future, he’ll always remember that you are his real father.” Even without seeing her face, I could imagine the tender smile she must have worn as she said those words. And just like that, my heart, already riddled with wounds, took another blow. My mind flashed back to last month, when I’d flown home after a year abroad. I’d been so eager to see Sarah that I hadn’t cared about the long flight. I even brought home a special gift I’d picked out for her. But the moment I reached our front door, I froze. There she was, walking hand-in-hand with Thomas, laughing as they returned from a stroll. Sarah’s face turned pale with panic when she saw me, but Thomas just looked confused, staring at me like I was a stranger who’d wandered into the wrong house. “Are you sure you’ve got the right door?” he asked, his tone casual and mocking. I didn’t say a word. My eyes were fixed on Sarah’s swollen belly. Eleven months. I’d been gone for eleven months, and now my wife was pregnant. No matter how much I wanted to lie to myself, there was no way this child could be mine. Sarah’s panic grew as she rushed to stand between us, stammering an introduction. “This is my husband, Brian…” I thought Thomas would back off after hearing that, but instead, he acted like he owned the place. With an infuriating smirk, he invited me—invited me—into my own home. As we passed each other in the doorway, he leaned in close and whispered, just loud enough for me to hear: “I hear you’re a bit older than me. Guess I should call you ‘big bro.’ After all, my kid’s living in your house.” My blood boiled. I couldn’t take it anymore. Without thinking, I swung my fist and slammed it into his face. Years of longing, frustration, and betrayal erupted all at once. If there’d been a knife nearby, I might’ve done something I’d regret for the rest of my life. The neighbors must’ve heard the commotion because it wasn’t long before the police arrived. We were both taken to the station, but since it was deemed a “domestic matter,” the cops couldn’t intervene. They sent us home with a warning. When we got back, Sarah’s parents were waiting for us. Before I could explain, they immediately tore into me. “How dare you cause such a scene the moment you come back? Do you know how embarrassing this is for us? The whole neighborhood must think we’re a joke now!” “All those years of school, and this is what you’ve learned? Resorting to violence? If something had happened to Thomas, we’d never forgive you!” It was then I realized they’d known about Sarah and Thomas all along—and not only that, they supported it. In just one year, Thomas had become their perfect son-in-law, while I’d been kept in the dark. Bitter laughter bubbled in my throat as Sarah nervously approached me, trying to take my hand. “I never meant to betray you, Brian,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “Thomas… he’s not well. The doctors said he only has six months to live. I couldn’t bear the thought of him dying without leaving behind a child.” “I wanted to tell you, but you were so far away, and I didn’t want to distract you from your work. I thought we could talk about it when you got back.” “Brian, we can raise this baby together. Please?” She spoke about having a child so casually, as if it were just another errand on her to-do list. I didn’t respond. I just zipped up my suitcase and turned to leave. Before I could reach the door, Sarah’s mother walked in. She glanced at the suitcase by my feet and gave me a condescending smile. “Good. At least you know your place. While you were gone, I let Thomas stay in your room. The study’s been turned into a nursery, so you can sleep on the couch tonight—or better yet, find a hotel.” I was too drained to argue. Nodding silently, I headed to the living room and lay down on the couch. That night, the baby’s cries echoed from the bedroom. I rolled over and reached for my earplugs, but then I heard Sarah’s annoyed voice. “Thomas, can’t you do something? He won’t stop crying.” “You’re my baby too,” Thomas teased. “Why don’t I take care of you instead? Let the little guy cry—it’s good for his lungs.” Sarah giggled, whispering something too soft for me to hear, followed by the unmistakable sound of rustling sheets. I pulled the blanket over my head, trying to block out the noise. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Sarah’s face from the night she first confessed her love to me—so pure, so full of hope. That version of her was gone, replaced by someone I no longer recognized. 3 I barely slept through the night, tossing and turning on the couch. At dawn, I grabbed my suitcase and left without a word. My first stop was the municipal office, where I filed the paperwork to renounce my citizenship and finalize my plans to leave the country. The process was surprisingly quick—having the right government approvals made everything smooth, and the clerk didn’t ask many questions. Just as I was about to leave, the clerk called out to me. She handed me a small piece of candy, her smile kind. “May your wishes come true,” she said softly. I gave her a faint smile, thanked her, and walked out. After checking into a nearby hotel and dropping off my suitcase, I decided to head out and find something to eat. But as fate would have it, I ran into Sarah and Thomas, surrounded by her parents—and their new baby. Thomas looked nothing like a man on the brink of death. He was dressed in a tailored Armani suit, his face glowing with health. “Brian! Wow, I thought I saw you earlier, but Sarah insisted it couldn’t be you,” Thomas called out, his voice dripping with mock surprise. His eyes landed on the recruitment flyer in my hand, and a smirk spread across his face. “So, you’re out here job hunting, huh? With your scrawny frame, are you planning to work construction? Seems like a bit much for you, doesn’t it?” I didn’t respond. The flyer had been handed to me by a young girl on the street, shivering as she stood in the winter cold. Out of sympathy, I’d taken it from her without even looking at it. Thomas took my silence as an opportunity to continue. His laughter grew louder, more mocking. “You should’ve told me you needed help. Who knows? Maybe I could’ve pulled some strings for you. After all, we’re family now, right? If you do well, Sarah will be happy, and I’ll sleep better at night knowing she’s taken care of.” His words hung in the air. My silence must’ve looked like agreement because Sarah’s expression darkened. Her brows furrowed deeply, and the disdain in her eyes became impossible to miss. “Why would anyone help him? He quit a perfectly good job as a doctor, and now he’s out here looking for work? If he starves on the streets, that’s his own fault. He deserves no sympathy.” She crossed her arms, glaring at me. “Brian, you really have no sense of responsibility, do you? What, you think this little act will guilt me into giving up the baby? Dream on.” I looked at her face—once so familiar, filled with warmth and love. Now, she was a stranger to me. I thought back to the early days of our marriage. Once, when the hospital’s cutthroat competition had left me demoralized and considering a career change, Sarah had held me close. I could still hear her voice as she gently patted my back and whispered in my ear: “We’re in this together, no matter what. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.” “Who cares if you leave the hospital? You’re brilliant, and I know you’ll shine no matter where you go. I’ll always be by your side.” But now, that same woman stood by silently as another man humiliated me. She’d forgotten those promises. She’d forgotten the love we once shared. Even her parents, who had once welcomed me into their family with open arms, were now shaking their heads in disappointment. Sarah’s father let out a heavy sigh. “I must’ve been blind to think you could give my daughter the future she deserves.” “Good thing we’re still around,” her mother added. “If we weren’t here to protect Sarah, who knows what kind of life she’d have with someone like you?” Their voices grew louder, more exaggerated, and I could feel the stares of passersby on the street. My hands slowly clenched at my sides. I was about to speak when Thomas stepped forward, his voice filled with mock sincerity. “We’re actually on our way to take a family portrait. Brian, why don’t you join us? After all, I’ll be counting on you to help take care of Sarah and the baby in the future.” Before I could respond, Sarah let out a cold laugh and cut him off. “Are you serious? Look at him—he looks so pathetic. If he gets in the picture, he’ll just drag down the whole family’s image.” With that, she turned around and started walking toward the photography studio, not bothering to look back. “Hurry up, Thomas,” she called out impatiently. Thomas gave me a smug smile and patted me on the shoulder. “Well, we don’t want to hold you up, Brian. Good luck with the job hunt.” I watched them walk away, their laughter fading into the distance. From the outside, they must’ve looked like the picture-perfect family. If that was the life Sarah wanted, who was I to stand in her way? Letting go was the only gift I had left to give her. 4 Three days before I was set to leave, I received a message from the hospital director. He told me that the cardiologist I’d reached out to—a world-renowned expert—was in town for a medical conference. It was the perfect opportunity to have him examine Sarah’s father’s heart condition. Sarah’s father had always had heart issues. Years ago, he’d even been rushed to the ER for emergency surgery. While I was abroad for my medical training, I collected case studies and resources to help manage his condition. No matter what had happened between us, I still felt obligated to help. After all, years of being family couldn’t be erased overnight. I figured this would be my last act of goodwill before cutting ties with them completely. But when I told him about the appointment, his face darkened immediately. “Why on earth would I go to the hospital? Are you trying to curse me or something? That bypass surgery I had years ago was a success—what’s the point of another checkup?” “There’s a top cardiologist in town today,” I explained calmly. “It would be a good chance to get ahead of any potential issues—” Before I could finish, he hurled a water glass at me, the contents splashing across my shirt. “Cut the crap! You think a jobless bum like you could get an appointment with a top expert? Stop bragging! Thomas stayed up all night once to get me an appointment with a specialist. Where were you when I needed that?” Every word, every comparison to Thomas, made his opinion of me crystal clear. No matter what I did, I would always be wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I would never measure up to Thomas.

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In my previous life, I merely tried to protect our female CEO from excessive drinking, but out of jealousy, Manager Declan spread rumors that I was a sugar baby climbing the corporate ladder through women. What was once a harmonious workplace became a hostile environment. Colleagues viewed me with contempt, mocking and ridiculing me. There was even an online rumor that I had been a male model. My mother’s house was vandalized with paint and funeral money—an act so cruel it caused her to have a heart attack and pass away. When I sought revenge on Manager Declan, he hit me with his car, killing me. After being reborn, I decided to win over the female CEO and start my path to revenge. It’s been two months since my rebirth. Based on past events, today marks a turning point in my life. At 3 PM, the HR Department posted the candidate list for the branch company general manager position. There were only two names: Declan and me. It’s understandable for Declan, a vice president in charge of operations and management at headquarters, to be a candidate for branch company general manager. However, as someone who had been a group leader in the Planning Department for just over two years, my inclusion on the list caused quite a stir. The newly formed branch company encompasses the most profitable projects, such as online marketing, digital media, and social media platforms, representing the future of the entire group. Thus, the position of branch company general manager is incredibly important. “Why is Ezra’s name on the list? How long has he been here that he can already compete for the branch president position?” “If something seems unusual, there must be something hidden.” “Could it be that he traded something unspeakable for it?” “Since Ezra joined our company, I’ve noticed he’s not simple. In just a year, he rose to the group leader position.” “Maybe he even got into the CEO’s bed.” “Damn, these days, it’s all about looks in the workplace. Pretty boys are popular everywhere, while those of us who work hard see no hope.” In the Planning Department, colleagues mocked me with cold sarcasm, their eyes like daggers. “Everyone in the Planning Department, meeting in the conference room,” the supervisor called out. In the conference room, I saw Declan sitting at the head of the table, looking grim. After listening to the reports from the supervisor and each group leader, Declan’s tone shifted, and his eyes latched onto me like hooks. “I want to say something off-topic here: if you want a promotion and a raise, you need to follow the right path. Don’t engage in underhanded tactics. Protecting the CEO from drinks and currying favor won’t create a shortcut in life.” “Even if you get that position, do you think you can hold onto it forever? Short-term opportunism won’t be successful. Being a pretty boy and a sugar baby will make you a social outcast. Even if the CEO wants to protect you, she’ll have to think about the consequences.” “I absolutely won’t allow the unhealthy trend of being a gold digger and reaching the peak of life to spread in our company. Therefore, I’ve already instructed the Public Relations Department to set up a personal development class. Ezra, your name is already on the list. I hope you study hard and reform your thinking.” After the meeting, my colleagues’ disdain for me reached its peak. “Sure enough, he relied on shielding the CEO from drinks to climb up. Shameless.” “Comparison is infuriating. Some people get to the top with just a few drinks, while we work like dogs and are stuck in the same place.” “Damn, I’ve decided. Tomorrow, I’ll take out a loan to get plastic surgery and become a pretty boy. No point working hard.” “Group Leader Ezra, so when you said you had a stomach illness, it was because you were shielding the CEO from drinks? You truly ‘worked hard.’ I’ll have to learn from you.” All sorts of sarcastic remarks surrounded me.

In my past life, these sarcastic, cutting words tormented me into insomnia night after night. Eventually, I begged CEO Genevieve to remove me from the candidate list, but Genevieve said she had given it careful thought. In this life, my colleagues’ words won’t affect my mood or life anymore. In my youth, I didn’t know the value of a wealthy woman, mistaking young women for treasures. Since a wealthy woman favors me, why should I resist? It’s been two months since I was reborn, and in these two months, I’ve already won over Genevieve. Two months ago, Genevieve asked me to accompany her to meet an important client, and during the event, I protected her from drinking again. Afterward, Genevieve drove me home and helped me upstairs. Taking advantage of my slight intoxication, I confessed my feelings to her. She remained silent… I blamed myself for confessing too hastily, too abruptly. “Let me think about it and get back to you,” Genevieve said shyly. Her words surprised me. The following days were filled with anxiety. I thought, with Genevieve’s status and wealth, finding someone more handsome than me would be easy. Just when I thought there was no hope, Genevieve sought me out and agreed to be my girlfriend. I was shocked and overjoyed. “I’m nine years older than you. Do you mind?” Genevieve asked sincerely. At that moment, I found her so charming, my heart rippled with emotion. Although she is nine years older, she takes such good care of herself that she looks younger than me. “An older woman is like hugging a golden brick, and I’m lucky to hug three. I’d be overjoyed, why would I mind?” I replied with a smile. And so, we were together, but kept it private. The next morning, I saw Beatrix, the group leader of Planning Group 2, struggling with a pile of folders, so I went to help. “Beatrix, let me help you with that.” “How could I trouble the future president?” Beatrix said sourly. We used to have a good relationship. “I just wanted to help.” “No need. Offering unsolicited kindness is either deceitful or thieving. I can’t afford help from a pretty boy like you. Besides, I have no money, so there’s no point in you taking advantage of me.” With that, she hurried away. I sighed. It was the same in my past life, but my mindset is much calmer now. After lunch, I returned to my desk and checked my chair. As expected, there was a thumbtack. In my past life, I didn’t notice and sat on it, jumping up in pain, looking ridiculous. I picked up the thumbtack, initially wanting to confront them, but I held back. “Who is so wicked to put a thumbtack on Group Leader Ezra’s chair?” It was my team member, Cora, speaking. “We wouldn’t do such a thing. Maybe the wind blew the thumbtack, and it just landed on his chair,” a male colleague said sarcastically. “How is that possible?” “These days, pretty boys can run for president. There’s nothing impossible.” “Watch your mouth,” Cora said indignantly. “Group Leader Ezra earned his spot with his own ability.” “Cora, are you eager to pledge loyalty?” “I just can’t stand your attitude.” I interrupted their argument, “Alright, stop talking.” “Group Leader Ezra…” Cora looked aggrieved, standing up for me. I nodded in appreciation.

Around 8 PM, I was working on a proposal at home when the doorbell rang. It was Cora. She had a bag of alcohol and smiled, “Group Leader Ezra, I know you’ve been feeling down and stressed lately. I happened to be passing by and thought I’d share a drink with you. You can tell me all about your grievances.” “Thank you. Come in.” The scenario was exactly like my past life, but this time, I was prepared… Early the next morning, people from the Public Relations Department stormed into the Planning Department to find me. “Ezra, why didn’t you attend the personal development class after work yesterday? Do you dare defy the company’s arrangements? Do you have any self-awareness at all? This class was set up specifically for you,” they said aggressively. I laughed and replied, “I’m here to work, not for some ridiculous thought reform. Also, after-hours belong to personal time, and the company has no right to interfere.” “As a company employee, you must comply with company regulations. If you refuse, you can resign.” “Whether I resign is not for you to decide.” “Fine, since you’re unrepentant, I’ll report your bad attitude to the HR Department and ensure you’re penalized in your evaluation.” “Go ahead.” “Hmph.” The Public Relations Department person turned and stormed off. “Wait.” “What, are you scared? Changed your mind? It’s too late. I must report your behavior to HR.” “Tell your boss, Declan, that I am determined to become the branch company president.” Upon hearing this, the person from the Public Relations Department looked shocked and angry before leaving. In my past life, I obediently followed Declan’s orders and attended the personal development class. I was the only one there, and the Public Relations Department people humiliated me, shattering my spirit. This time, I won’t be foolish enough to let you toy with me.

On a Sunday afternoon, I was cooking at Genevieve’s house. Every weekend, Genevieve and I spent time together. Over time, I slowly fell in love with this female CEO nine years my senior. She never flaunted her wealth or status around me. Instead, she was gentle and considerate, sometimes acting coy and snuggling in my arms. This was unexpected for me. The doorbell rang. I thought Genevieve was back. When I opened the door, I was stunned. The person at the door was stunned too. “Ezra, why are you at Genevieve’s house?” It was Declan. “Why can’t I be at Genevieve’s house?” He angrily shoved past me and stormed into the room. “Genevieve, Genevieve…” In the time we’ve spent together, I’ve gradually fallen for Genevieve, the female CEO who’s nine years older than me. Despite her status and wealth, she’s never been condescending. Instead, she’s gentle and considerate, sometimes even playfully leaning on me. I wasn’t expecting this. The doorbell rang. I thought it was Genevieve coming back. I opened the door and was caught off guard. The person at the door was equally surprised. “Ezra, why are you at CEO Genevieve’s house?” It was Declan, the manager. “Why shouldn’t I be here?” He angrily pushed past me and barged in, calling out, “CEO Genevieve, CEO Genevieve…” “Stop shouting. Genevieve went to the bank.” “Genevieve?” Declan was seething, “Who do you think you are to call her by her first name?” “Do I need your permission for that?” I replied with a smirk. He then noticed the apron I was wearing and the steaming dishes on the table, “You shameless gold digger, taking such a disgraceful path at your age.” “I have no choice. I’m handsome and I like this path. What can you do about it?” “Do you really think cooking and pouring drinks will make you the branch company general manager? You’re just a backup; that position is mine.” “Manager Declan, the announcement for the new branch company general manager is tomorrow. Your presence here today shows you’re not confident,” I chuckled. He glared at me, full of rage, “Ezra, I can’t believe someone as smart as CEO Genevieve would fall for someone like you.” “Anything is possible. Sometimes looks matter. Blame your parents for not making you handsome,” I teased. Just then, Genevieve returned. “Declan, why are you at my house?” Genevieve asked, confused. “CEO Genevieve, why is Ezra here? Is he really your kept man?” Declan asked, exasperated. Genevieve frowned, clearly displeased: “My personal life is none of your business, and he’s not a kept man. He has a name, so show some respect.” “Genevieve, you’re being blinded by him. He’s no good; he’s just using you for your position and money.” “Declan, I’ll say it again: my personal affairs are not your concern. Please leave, and in the future, let’s discuss work matters at the office. I don’t want you coming here,” Genevieve said coldly. “Genevieve, I’ve been with you from the start, building this company. You’re not just my CEO; you’re the woman I admire and love.” Declan’s unexpected confession shocked Genevieve. “Declan, we have a professional relationship only. Please know your place and stop speaking nonsense. Besides, I already have a boyfriend.” “What? You have a boyfriend? Is it Ezra?” “Yes, it’s Ezra.” I proudly wrapped my arm around Genevieve’s waist and kissed her, “Jealous?” Declan was furious, “CEO Genevieve, you’ve really let me down.” With that, he left in a huff. In a previous life, Declan spread rumors that I was Genevieve’s kept man. In this life, I might as well make the rumor true. Having a successful and beautiful girlfriend is really quite nice. The next day, on Monday, the HR Department posted an announcement: After thorough consideration, Ezra is appointed as the branch company general manager of Big Digital Network. The announcement led to some colleagues mocking and ridiculing. “Damn, in the end, looks win. Gold diggers are popular in any era.” “From today on, I need to spruce myself up and improve my drinking skills, waiting for my chance to charm.” Some colleagues tried to flatter me. After using the restroom, a male colleague quickly handed me a tissue. “Mr. Ezra, please look out for me in the future. I’ve wanted to follow you for a long time. Can you transfer me to the branch company?” “Mr. Ezra, this is top-notch Pu’er tea from my hometown. Please give it a try.” “Mr. Ezra, can I treat you to dinner tonight?” When Declan found out he was not selected, he was furious and stormed into Genevieve’s office with his team to demand an explanation. Genevieve decided to hold a staff meeting. The auditorium was packed, with some employees standing due to the lack of seats. Declan took the initiative: “CEO Genevieve, even though you’re the company chairman and have absolute control, the company belongs to all of us. You can’t just give Ezra such an important position because he’s your boyfriend. This behavior will dishearten employees and lead the company to ruin.” With that, the room erupted in murmurs. “What? Ezra is the chairman’s boyfriend?” “I thought it was just a rumor, but it’s true.” “I thought he was just a male escort, but he’s actually a boyfriend.” “This company is doomed.” “Quiet, quiet!” Genevieve called out several times with the microphone, then had her assistant turn on the projector to display an analysis PPT. “Everyone, throughout history, there’s been a saying about not avoiding relatives when selecting talents. Ezra is my boyfriend, but he’s also an outstanding talent. In the two-plus years he’s been with the company, he’s accomplished several innovations. He built the big database, established the client management service system, opened up online sales, and led the development of a social app. In just one year, it reached 30 million registered users, and his proposals have brought the company huge profits.” “In interactions with major clients, his demeanor and conduct have earned him their praise. Moreover, this personnel appointment was thoroughly discussed with several major shareholders and wasn’t just my personal decision.” The audience buzzed with conversation. “CEO Genevieve is right. Ezra has contributed a lot to the company.” “We were misled by Manager Declan’s rumors, focusing only on Ezra’s looks and forgetting his strong abilities.” “Comparatively, Ezra is indeed more suitable as the branch company general manager. He treats his subordinates fairly, unlike Manager Declan, who likes to form cliques and suppress dissenters.” At this point, Cora stood up and walked onto the stage. “Colleagues, I believe Ezra isn’t qualified to be the branch company general manager because he’s morally corrupt and a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” “During the time he was being criticized, I went to his house to comfort him. He pushed me down, and we had a relationship. Afterward, he said I would be his girlfriend and that we would get married. But this morning, he told me to pretend nothing happened that night because he’s with CEO Genevieve now. He abandoned me. He’s a modern-day Chen Shimei. I’ve sent the photos from that night to all the work groups. Check your phones.” Colleagues checked the group messages. I also looked, and in the Planning Department group, Cora had posted over a dozen photos from that night. The entire venue was in an uproar. “I can’t believe Ezra is such a scumbag. He’s with CEO Genevieve but also slept with Cora.” “What a dog. No matter how capable, his character is so low.” “This scumbag only knows how to play with women.” Declan smiled grimly and stood up, loudly addressing the colleagues, “Do you think Ezra deserves to be the branch company general manager?” “Unworthy, unworthy…” Colleagues stood up to protest. “If Ezra becomes general manager, we’ll all resign together.” Genevieve also checked the group messages, her face pale and embarrassed… “CEO Genevieve, you should know what kind of person Ezra is now, right? Make a decision quickly to stabilize morale,” Declan said smugly. I calmly walked onto the stage and questioned Cora, “Are you sure we slept together?”

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A few days before the wedding, my half-brother had a depressive episode. To appease him, my fiancée cut up the wedding suit that my mother had handmade before she died, despite my pleas. She stared at me angrily and said, “Bryce has nothing left. Why did you provoke him with the wedding suit? Do you want to force him to die to be satisfied?” I looked at the mess all over the floor, my heart aching until it was numb. After packing everything up, I called my mentor, saying, “I would like to go to the three-year foreign exchange program you mentioned before.” After sending the wedding suit to the repair store, I returned home alone. However, standing in front of the door of the familiar villa, I couldn’t open it. I was stunned. Could it be that my fiancée, Nicole Phillips, changed the password? The next second, the door in front of me was pulled open. I looked up, but the person I saw was Bryce Kingsley. He looked like he had just gotten out of the shower, wearing a bathrobe with water dripping from his hair. He stood in the doorway, greeting me like he was the master of the house. “Elliott, you’re back. Come in.” Bryce walked over to me and took my shoulder affectionately. “Sorry, Elliott. I forgot to tell you about changing the password. “Nicole was worried that I wouldn’t be able to take care of myself on my own, so she brought me back for a few days. But I was too stupid to remember the original password, so she changed it to my birthday.” I paused as I pushed Bryce away, feeling like my heart had been gripped by a large hand, painful. Two years ago, when I had been kicked out of my home by my father, Vincent Kingsley, Nicole had bought the villa and set the password to the day I’d been with her. She said at the time, “Elliott, it will be your new home from now on, just for you and me.” But today, she had forgotten that. “You ran out without drying your hair. What if you catch a cold?” Nicole scolded. Her words interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see Nicole walking over with a towel, gently wiping Bryce’s hair. “Nicole, Elliott is still watching. It’s not appropriate.” Bryce looked at me and scrunched his neck, panic showing on his face. Nicole stiffened slightly and frowned impatiently when she met my gaze. “What are you standing here for? Hurry up inside and cook us dinner.” I took a deep breath and indifferently responded, “If you want to eat, cook for yourself.” However, just as I walked inside, Nicole blocked my way. She said, “Why are you acting like this? If it weren’t for the fact that you irritated Bryce with the wedding suit and forced him to have a depressive episode, I wouldn’t have taken him over to take care of him. What’s wrong with you cooking for him?” At this moment, the words “wedding suit” stuck into my heart like a needle, and my eyes instantly turned red. I asked, “Didn’t he sneak into my room and look at it himself? You ruined my wedding suit for him, and you want me to serve him now. On what grounds?” “On the grounds that you’re his older brother.” Nicole looked at me coldly. “Besides, it’s just a wedding suit. I can pay you back for one.” “What did you say?” I looked at Nicole incredulously, gritting my teeth. She clearly knew the significance of this wedding suit. It was not only a memory my mother, Brenda Kingsley, left me with but also a blessing for me and her. Seemingly realizing that she had said the wrong thing, Nicole opened her mouth to say something. However, Bryce rushed between us. “Elliott, don’t fight with Nicole because of me, okay? It’s all my fault. Why don’t you hit me, Elliott? Do whatever you want to me as long as you’re happy.” Bryce got more and more agitated as he talked, tears falling from his eyes. He even grabbed my hand and slapped it in his face. I muffled a grunt as my hand, injured from grabbing the scissors with Nicole this afternoon, oozed blood once again from Bryce’s grip. I was about to pull my hand back, but Nicole had already yanked me away with one hand. The force of her unexpected move caused me to stumble, and my back hit a shelf on the side, hurting me so much that I took a deep breath. Bryce said, “Nicole, my face hurts.” Nicole immediately tensed and cupped Bryce’s face, finally finding a tiny red mark by the corner of his mouth. The pain in my back hadn’t even faded when a burning pain came from my palm. It was only then that I realized the gauze on my right hand was completely red with blood. However, Nicole just glared at me viciously and turned around, pulling Bryce to put on the medicine. I stared at their backs and mocked myself with a smile. Once upon a time, the person Nicole cared most about was me, and the slightest injury to me would cause her heartache. But after Bryce was taken home, she didn’t care about me anymore. I closed my sore eyes and headed to the guest bedroom with my exhausted body.

After briefly treating the wound, I was so tired that I fell straight to sleep. The next day, I left the house early and went to the school to submit the materials for the foreign exchange program. My mentor, William Roberts, looked at me appreciatively after scrutinizing them. “Elliott, you really are the most suitable person for this program. That competition before is closing soon, so you can leave as soon as you finish it. When do you plan to leave?” After thinking about it, I calmly said, “Seven days later.” Seven days from now happened to be the day before my wedding to Nicole. William opened his mouth in some surprise. After glancing at my injured hand, he sighed and nodded his head to respect my decision. When I got home, Nicole was the only one home. She was leaning back on the couch somewhat impatiently, a brand-new wedding suit by her side. Seeing me, she loosened her furrowed brow and waved me over to her. Nicole said, “I was impulsive yesterday when I cut up your wedding suit. But I won’t delay our wedding. I bought this from the world’s most luxurious wedding suit store. Do you like it?” I knew Nicole was apologizing to me for yesterday. However, as I looked at the most luxurious wedding suit in front of me, pain slowly appeared in my heart. By now, she still thought I cared that I would not be able to hold the wedding if the wedding suit was gone. Seeing that I didn’t say anything, Nicole probably acquiesced that I had accepted her kindness, showing a smugness in her eyes. She continued, “You know Bryce has been in poor health and has delayed a lot of his academic process. I’ve heard that you have a competition coming to an end. Why don’t you change your name to Bryce? He needs it more than you do. You have the same teacher, so it’s not hard to change your name.” I looked over at Nicole in shock, realizing that she had done all of this for Bryce. My lips trembled as I said, “No way. All of this is the result of my hard work. Why should I let anyone else have them?” Nicole’s face grew somber as she heard my refusal. She said, “Elliott, I’m not negotiating with you. The investor in this project is me. If you disagree, I’ll withdraw my investment right away.” I clenched my hands so tightly that my fingernails sank into my flesh. Nicole had invested in my project for no reason in the first place to pave the way for Bryce, right? The thought that I was so happy over this matter that I stayed up the whole night at that time made me feel that I was too stupid. But now, even if I was not willing, I could not resist because this project was not just my efforts alone. Images of countless nights in the past where William had led me and the others through sleepless nights waiting for the results of a piece of data came to my mind. I unclenched my fists. “Okay.” Hearing that, Nicole sneered, “You should have obeyed like that a long time ago. Why did you have to let me threaten you into making things awkward?” With that, she directly left. I looked at Nicole’s leaving back, standing up numbly and starting to pack up everything related to Nicole. We had been together for twenty-two years, and Nicole had given me a lot of things except for these two years after Bryce’s return. All of these were now stacked in the small attic. Inside were various birthday and holiday gifts Nicole had given me from the time I was one to the time I was twenty. Among them was a jar of wishing stars that Nicole had hand-folded for me as a confession gift when I turned eighteen, and each star had a moving love message on the back. I rummaged further in and found a heavy photo album. After Brenda died, Nicole had worried that I was too upset and had taken me on a trip around the world, taking group photos at every place we went. Nicole had promised me while stuffing the photos. “I’ll travel the world with you.” When I came back to my senses, I realized that my face was wet with tears and that it was dark. At that moment, my cell phone vibrated, and it was Bryce who sent me a video. On the screen, Nicole was holding Bryce’s hand, watching fondly as he wished on a meteor shower. Immediately afterward, he sent me a message: [Elliott, it would have been great if you could have come. It’s a shame you can’t see such a beautiful meteor shower.] I clicked on his Instagram and saw the photo he posted a minute ago, with the caption: [She said even if she can’t get close to me, she will always be with me. I wish all lovers in the world a happy ending.] I wiped the tears from my eyes, then calmly liked it and went to the garden to burn everything.

Nicole had never returned in the days that followed. However, through Bryce’s Instagram, I knew about all their itineraries. They had gone to the mountains to watch the sunrise, to the beach to collect shells, to a wild open-air barbecue… I knew it was all sent out by Bryce for me to see. But I wasn’t angry or upset at all, and I focused on packing my bags. I didn’t stop until after there was no more of my stuff in this house. I looked at the calendar, and there were still four days left. Finally, I decided to say goodbye to my friends. At the dinner table, they were shocked when I finished talking about the foreign exchange program I was going to participate in. Quentin Fisher, my best friend, froze for a long time before saying, “Aren’t you and Nicole getting married soon? Why did you suddenly…” “It just suddenly dawned on me that she and I weren’t a good fit.” I closed my eyes without explaining too much. Quentin, however, violently hugged me and said, “Did Nicole bully you? I felt something was wrong when I first saw Nicole’s concern for that bastard. But I knew what she meant to you, so I thought I was overthinking it. If I’d known she’d put you through the wringer, I’d have broken up the marriage between you two.” With that, he added, “But it’s not too late now. Don’t worry. We will support you in whatever decision you make.” Hearing Quentin’s words, the others chimed in, patting me on the shoulder to comfort and encourage me. Sourness welled up in my heart, and I reddened my eyes, feeling touched. Ever since Nicole changed, I hadn’t felt such warmth, always digesting my grievances by myself. Perhaps because it had been too long since we had gotten together, we drank a lot, but we also talked freely and cheerfully. After a while, I got up to go to the bathroom. I didn’t expect to meet Bryce, who happened to come out of the box, on my way back. Bryce’s exaggeratedly shocked voice rang out. “Elliott, I didn’t expect to run into you even when Nicole threw me a celebration party. It’s too coincidental. Since you’re here, why don’t you join us?” My brain was a little slow from drinking, and I was already pulled into the box by Bryce by the time I reacted. After I appeared, the originally lively atmosphere instantly fell silent. I saw Nicole and many familiar faces. Nicole looked at me with displeasure. “Elliott, I said I would marry you, and I won’t go back on my word. I just haven’t been home in a couple of days. Do you have to follow me?” I felt uncomfortable with the stares of the people around me. “You misunderstood. I just came out for dinner with my friends and just happened to run into you guys. Besides, it wasn’t me who wanted to come in. He had to drag me in.” Seeing me pointing at Bryce, Nicole frowned. “Bryce just wants to share the joy with you. Why do you look reluctant?” Was Bryce sharing the joy of stealing my credit? How could Nicole say that? Sensing the stagnant atmosphere, one of them smiled, “Ms. Phillips, don’t pay too much attention to him. He has no self-awareness. Today is a celebration for Bryce. Let’s not ruin the fun for someone else.” Hearing him say that, Nicole eased her expression, and the others gathered around Bryce and Nicole. One man said, “Yes, I’d like to thank Ms. Phillips. Without your support, we wouldn’t have had the success of this project.” A woman added, “I want to thank Bryce. If it weren’t for you working day and night on the experiments, there’s no way we could have gotten so much valuable data.” Hearing their words, I froze in place. I had done those experiments and data with my own hands, and they all knew about it. But now, they calmly ignored me and bragged about Bryce. Seeing me lost in thought, Bryce looked over at me triumphantly and said silently, “You’re a clown.” I took a deep breath and tried to step forward. Nicole sensed something and glanced at me coldly, her eyes full of warning. She took a step in front of me and ordered me condescendingly, “Now that you’re here, aren’t you going to congratulate Bryce?” I stared into Nicole’s eyes and felt as hard and painful as if I had something stuck in my throat. I didn’t understand why Nicole was pushing me so relentlessly. After a long pause, just as Nicole was getting impatient, I chuckled, “Okay.”

I picked up my glass and turned to Bryce. “Congratulations. You’ve only been in the program for three days, and you’ve never even been to the lab, yet you’ve managed to lead the group to an award. You are truly gifted. “Thank you for pulling in Ms. Phillips’ investment. As expected, projects with more funding have a higher chance of winning the award.” Although they were words of congratulations, the expressions on everyone’s faces in the room turned awful all of a sudden. I finished the wine in my glass in one go, then smiled at Nicole, “Ms. Phillips, are you satisfied?” Without waiting for her answer, I put my glass on the table and turned to leave. I had just stepped out of the box when my tears fell uncontrollably. I held onto the wall and relaxed for a long time before I could suppress the grief in my heart. Following that, I took out my cell phone and sent a message to Quentin and the others: [Sorry. I have something to do, so I’ll go back first. Let’s get together again sometime afterward.] I didn’t want them to see me like this, which would only add to their worries. I walked out of the front door in a state of disorientation and realized that it had started raining at some point, feeling piercing cold. I looked at the lone shadow on the ground, and all my emotions came flooding back to me. No longer having the strength to support my body, I crouched helplessly on the ground and wrapped my arms around myself, crying loudly. Bryce had not only robbed me of the home I had lived in for eighteen years, but he had also robbed me of the new home Nicole had promised me. For a moment, I actually didn’t know where to stay. Suddenly, a person appeared in front of me. Nicole held an umbrella to protect me from the rain and looked at me with mixed emotions in her eyes. Nicole looked down at my messy appearance. “Elliott, I told you a long time ago. Even if you sacrifice as much as you can for others, they will only betray you for profit without hesitation.” I looked up at Nicole, who looked indifferent, then stood up and slapped the umbrella out of her hand. I yelled at her hysterically, “Who are you to say these things? Isn’t this all thanks to you? Nicole, who the hell are you to do this to me?” As if angered by me, Nicole’s tone suddenly went cold. “You owe it to Bryce. If you hadn’t let people isolate him in college and found someone to bully him, there’s no way he would have suffered from depression.” Hearing this reply, I was a bit dazed, then realized. No wonder she had suddenly changed her attitude towards me. How ridiculous it was! The trust of twenty-two years of living together could not withstand the words of a first-time acquaintance. Nicole hadn’t even thought to ask me for confirmation. My nerves that had been tensed broke, and my consciousness gradually became blurred. As I stumbled unsteadily, Nicole yanked me roughly. “Elliott, it’s not too late for you to start making it up to Bryce. As soon as he gets better, I’ll start over with you.” I smiled bitterly as my tears slid down with the rain before I passed out ultimately. Nicole, we wouldn’t get a chance to start over. I woke up, and it was the next morning. There was steaming milk on the table. I walked over to see a note from Nicole: [I’m going on a business trip for a few days. But don’t worry. I’ll be back in time for the wedding day, and I definitely won’t miss it.] I looked at the trash can beside me and crumpled up the note, then threw it in, while walking to the kitchen to pour out the milk. Nicole had probably forgotten that I was lactose intolerant. The next few days were peaceful without Nicole and Bryce. Not only did I send the bags I had packed earlier overseas, but I also got someone to find out what had happened that year. I set up a timed e-mail, and all the evidence would be sent to Nicole’s mailbox at twelve on the day of the wedding. After I finished all this, it was already the day before the wedding. When I brought the flowers I bought and planned to visit Brenda at the cemetery, Nicole actually came home early. Seeing me going out, she frowned. “Where are you going?” I replied calmly, “I’m going to see my mom.” After freezing for a moment, Nicole didn’t say anything more and offered to go with me. I didn’t refuse in order to keep her from getting suspicious. However, Bryce called just as she pulled up to the entrance of the cemetery. Not knowing what Bryce had said, Nicole lost her intention to get out of the car. She refastened her seatbelt and said with a slight apology, “Remember to come home early and get ready for the wedding tomorrow. “I still have some things to do, so I won’t be back tonight. I’ll be waiting for you at the venue tomorrow.” The car left, and I mumbled in the direction Nicole left, “Nicole, I hope we never see each other again in this life.”

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Chapter One My husband casually sprinkled a handful of green onions into my soup, and that’s when I decided to ask for a divorce. His chopsticks froze mid-air, his expression baffled. “What? Why?” I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat, lowering my gaze as I scrolled through his secretary’s Instagram. “Offhandedly, she mentions a craving, and you personally fly to D.C. to consult with a pastry chef about the perfect flavor for her dessert.” I locked my phone screen and began picking the green onions out of the soup, my movements deliberate and irritated. “We dated for two years, married for three, and you still don’t remember—I don’t eat green onions.” Years later, when my daughter was already two, he was still asking around, trying to find out where I’d gone. He frowned, slamming his chopsticks onto the table with a sharp crack. “Stop being so dramatic. You’ve never made a fuss about green onions before.” Some things, if you repeat them too many times, just lose their meaning. Over time, you stop fighting and start compromising. But that day, I realized I was done. I was done with retreating. Done with compromising. Done with a life that felt smaller and smaller with every concession. I didn’t argue. I just grabbed my bag and stood up to leave. His face darkened, and he grabbed my wrist in frustration, his grip firm enough to knock over the soup bowl sitting precariously on the edge of the table. The scalding liquid splashed directly onto the back of my hand, the burn so sudden and intense I didn’t even have time to cry out. But instead of concern, he crossed his arms and glared at me like I was the one who had ruined dinner. “Why do you always have to make a scene?” he snapped. Before I could respond, a sharp-eyed waitress rushed over, gently pulling me away. She guided me to the back, where she ran cool water over my red and swollen skin. Then, carefully, she applied burn ointment to the affected area. The icy coolness of the ointment seeped into my skin and, strangely, deep into my chest. She hesitated, as if debating whether to say something. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and asked in a low voice, “That guy just now… was he your husband or boyfriend?” My gaze turned cold, and I shook my head lightly. “Neither.” “Good,” she said with a sigh of relief. “Because no decent man would just stand there watching while his woman gets hurt, let alone blame her for it afterward.” Her words broke through a fog I hadn’t realized I’d been living in. For years, I had buried myself in the dust, bending over backward to please a man who never truly saw me. In doing so, I had lost sight of myself. Later, Gavin stood by the door, his fingers flying over his phone, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. But as soon as he noticed me approaching, his expression shifted. The smile vanished, replaced by that all-too-familiar look of annoyance. It was the same look he always gave me, the one that said he was waiting for me to apologize first. I ignored him completely, walking past him as I opened an app on my phone and scheduled an appointment with a burn specialist at the nearest hospital. He caught up to me, his pace hurried. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his eyes flicked to my phone screen and saw the appointment confirmation. His expression wavered, guilt flashing briefly in his eyes. “I… I’ll drive you,” he offered, his tone awkward. Before I could object, he pressed his hand on my shoulder and ushered me into the car. He leaned over to fasten my seatbelt, and the cloying scent of his cologne—or was it perfume?—wafted over me. The smell made my stomach churn violently. I pushed him away, gagging, my face flushed red as I fought the urge to vomit. He frowned, his voice tinged with concern. “Did you eat something bad? Don’t worry, we’ll get to the hospital soon.” As the car started, a piercing ringtone shattered the silence. Gavin glanced at the screen, hesitated for a moment, and then declined the call. But whoever was on the other end was persistent, calling again and again, the ringtone shrill and insistent in the cramped space of the car. I pressed my fingers to my temple, trying to ease the headache building behind my eyes. “Answer it.” He shot me a quick, conflicted look before slipping on his Bluetooth headset and answering in a low voice. The conversation was short, but his tone was careful, almost nervous. When he hung up, he pulled the car over to the curb and turned to me with an apologetic expression. “The hospital is just up ahead. Can you go in by yourself? I… I can’t keep driving forward from here.” I glanced at him, unimpressed. “Sure.” He blinked, surprised by my curt response. “You’re not going to ask where I’m going?” I unbuckled my seatbelt, my movements slow and deliberate. “Why would I care? Where you go has nothing to do with me.” Chapter Two The doctor sternly reminded me to come back every three days to change the bandages. “The burn covers a large area,” he warned. “If the wound isn’t properly cared for, it could get infected. And if that happens, we’ll have to remove the dead tissue and start the healing process all over again. Trust me, you don’t want that.” He also advised me to avoid spicy or irritating foods while I healed. Pulling out my phone, I opened the notes app to jot down his instructions. As I finished typing, a notification popped up—a new post from Hannah. “The mosquitoes in the garden are driving me crazy. Thank goodness someone brought me some herbal cream just in time,” she captioned. The photo showed her lounging on a couch, her long, pale legs draped across Gavin’s lap. He was leaning over, his expression gentle and focused as he applied the cream to her skin. My chest tightened, and without warning, warm tears spilled onto the back of my hand. The doctor’s previously firm tone softened slightly. “Make sure to protect the wound,” he said quietly. “If it gets worse, cleaning out the infected tissue will hurt like hell. You’ll regret it later.” I forced a small, polite smile, picked up my medication, and walked out of the hospital. The streets were eerily quiet in the early hours of the morning. The cold white glow of the streetlights felt harsh against the shadows. The burning on the back of my hand was growing worse with every step. Meanwhile, the man responsible for it was somewhere else, wrapped up in warmth and affection that wasn’t mine. Anger and humiliation boiled over, and before I could stop myself, I dialed Gavin’s number. He declined the call immediately. I tried again. Declined again. After several rounds of silent back-and-forth, he finally answered, his voice low and laced with irritation. “What now? What are you freaking out about this time?” I tilted my head back to look at the full moon hanging in the cold night sky. My voice was calm, detached. “Come pick me up. I’m at the hospital.” “Are you serious?” A woman’s soft laugh rang faintly in the background, followed by the sharp, mocking sound of a call being cut off. The cold autumn wind bit through my thin coat, and I clutched it tighter around myself as my vision blurred. For a moment, I was no longer standing in the middle of an empty street. I was eighteen again, sitting on a swing next to my best friend. She had been crying, her voice trembling with frustration as she vented about her boyfriend’s lack of boundaries with other girls—and how he never took her concerns seriously, no matter how desperately she tried to get through to him. I had leaned back on the swing, letting the golden sunlight of a summer afternoon filter through the leaves above us. My voice had been soft but firm as I said, “If someone ever takes my love for granted, I’ll walk away without a second thought. No regrets.” A cold gust of wind snapped me back to reality. I sighed, my breath visible in the frigid air. Sorry, eighteen-year-old Stella. Thirty-year-old me has let you down. My phone was open to a text message draft. The divorce papers were already attached, ready to be sent. But my thumb hovered over the send button, unable to press it. Suddenly, a tall, familiar figure stepped into the glow of the streetlight, blocking its harsh brightness. I looked up instinctively. Gavin stood there, his face partially obscured by the shadows, but I could still make out the features I had once found so comforting. For a fleeting moment, he reminded me of the boy who had once treated me like his whole world. But then my gaze shifted to his rumpled shirt, the mismatched buttons, and the faint lipstick smudge on his collar. Whatever fragile hope I had left shattered into dust. My hands clenched into fists, my body cold and stiff. “Let’s go home. What are you just standing there for?” Gavin grabbed my wrist, his tone impatient as he tried to pull me along. When I caught sight of the faint red marks on his neck, the anger I had been trying to suppress erupted all at once. I yanked my hand from his grip, my breathing ragged as I stared at him. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, to ask him how he could betray me so blatantly and still act like I was the one causing trouble. But all the words I wanted to say got caught in my throat. “What now?” he snapped, his brows furrowed in frustration. “I came all the way here to pick you up, and now you’re acting up again?” His audacity was almost laughable. How could he cheat so openly and still have the nerve to question me? The words “I want a divorce” pounded in my head, over and over, louder and louder. I was just about to say it when the passenger door of his car suddenly swung open. Chapter Three A pair of long, pale legs stepped out of the car. Hannah, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned her head out with a bright smile. “Stella, come on, get in! It’s freezing out here.” Something inside me seemed to shatter with a deafening crash. My fingers tingled as numbness spread through them. Slowly, I turned my head to look at Gavin. His expression flickered with a trace of panic, but he quickly regained his composure. “I was just giving her a ride home. It’s on the way.” Hannah chimed in cheerfully, picking up the thread of his excuse. “Oh, Gavin’s the best! Ever since he found out how hard it is to get a ride from my place in the suburbs, he’s been picking me up and dropping me off for months now.” She glanced shyly at Gavin, as if suddenly realizing how intimate her words sounded. The “suburbs” she mentioned were on the far east side of town—12 kilometers from our house. If traffic was heavy during rush hour, the trip could take nearly 50 minutes out of the way. So, this was his idea of “on the way.” This was what he’d been doing during all those early mornings and late nights. This was the real reason he had refused me so many times when I’d asked him for a ride. Like that one time when I was doubled over in pain from menstrual cramps, struggling to deliver samples to a demanding client who’d called me a dozen times. He’d grabbed his keys and stormed out, tossing over his shoulder, “This family doesn’t rely on your paycheck anyway.” Or the night it poured rain, and I stood shivering at the subway entrance, feverish and soaked, staring helplessly at the flooded streets. He wasn’t there for me that night either. No, he was probably driving Hannah home, laughing and chatting with her about whatever trivial nonsense they found amusing. “Oops!” Hannah’s sudden squeal yanked me out of my thoughts. “What’s this? It poked my hand.” She reached into the side of her seat and pulled out a small, pink nameplate shaped like a paperclip. “‘Princess Piggy’s Seat,’” she read aloud, snorting with laughter. She held it up like it was some ridiculous trinket. “Who’s ‘Princess Piggy’? How childish.” My chest tightened. That nameplate—my nameplate—was something Gavin and I had bought together at a night market back in college. I could still remember the way the colorful lights of the market reflected in his eyes, making them sparkle like stars. He had pinned it to the seat with such care, smiling as he said, “From now on, this will always be Stella’s special seat.” It used to sit proudly in the most visible spot on the passenger seat. But at some point, he must have decided it was an eyesore and moved it to a hidden corner, out of sight. Yet here it was now, uncovered and exposed. “It’s all faded,” Hannah said dismissively, tossing it lightly from one hand to the other. “Gavin, I’ll buy you a new one next time.” As she said this, her gaze landed on me. Her eyes sparkled with thinly-veiled triumph, her words dripping with mockery. With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the nameplate out of the car. It spun in the air before landing in the muddy gutter on the side of the road, filthy and discarded. Gavin took a step forward instinctively, as if to retrieve it. But then he hesitated, freezing in place. He turned back toward me, his brows furrowed, his lips parting as though he wanted to say something. But no words came. “Stella, your bracelet is so pretty,” Hannah said suddenly, her eyes fixating on my wrist. The small crystal charms jingled softly as I shifted my arm. “The little bells on it are adorable.” Without a word, I let out a cold laugh, unhooking the bracelet from my wrist. I tossed it toward her with a casual flick of my hand. The bells clinked against each other as it landed in her lap. “If you like it, you can have it,” I said, my tone detached. “I’m tired of wearing it anyway.” The bracelet wasn’t just any piece of jewelry. It was something Gavin had bought for me when he was just 17, working a grueling summer job. Back then, he had accidentally fractured his hand while working, and his boss had offered him compensation. Instead of going to the hospital right away, he’d gone straight to the mall, rushing to buy me this bracelet—the one I’d admired in the store window so many times. “Stella, close your eyes,” he’d said breathlessly, his face flushed and damp with sweat. He must have sprinted all the way to find me. When I opened my eyes, the bracelet was already on my wrist. “Stella,” he’d said, his voice trembling with emotion, “I swear I’ll treat you like a princess for the rest of my life.” Chapter Four Promises only hold weight when love is still alive. Gavin’s expression darkened instantly, fury flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist tightly. “Stella, what the hell do you mean by this? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten—” My gaze was ice-cold as I pried his pale, clenched fingers off my wrist one by one. Each movement felt like driving a knife deeper into my chest. “I did,” I said slowly, each word deliberate. “I forgot.” Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked away. Even as I got farther and farther, I could feel his burning stare on my back. When I hailed a cab, he ran toward me, his expression frantic and desperate. “It’s not safe for you to take a cab this late. Let me drive you home,” he said, his voice unsteady. I didn’t respond. The only sound he got in return was the slam of the car door as I shut it in his face. Through the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of him standing frozen on the sidewalk, watching as the cab pulled away. I whispered to myself, “I don’t need you anymore.” Scrolling through my contacts, I hesitated for a moment before dialing Aria. Aria had moved to New Zealand after her messy breakup, eventually starting her own immigration consultancy. When I first began to notice Gavin acting differently, I’d called her late at night, my voice breaking as I tried to keep my tears in check. “Why?” I had asked her, over and over again. She had stayed silent for a long time before finally asking, “Do you remember what you said on the swings all those years ago?” Now, gripping my phone, I took a deep breath and said, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m coming to see you tomorrow.” I could hear the excitement in her voice, barely concealed. “Finally! I’ve been waiting for this. When I bought this little house, I made sure to save you a room.” After we hung up, I felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest. I rolled the window down, letting in the crisp night air. The faint scent of gardenias drifted in, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of freedom. Stella, you’re free again. Gavin arrived home almost at the same time I did. It seemed like, for once, he hadn’t taken the long way around. He grabbed my wrist again, his eyes slightly red, his voice hoarse. “Stella, my stomach hurts.” This was his usual tactic—playing weak. It was almost laughable. Giving me the chance to take care of him was his way of offering me a way to mend things. Normally, I’d have rushed to find the first-aid kit or headed straight to the kitchen to make him something warm to eat. But this time, I didn’t even spare him a glance. “Hmm,” I muttered indifferently before heading to the guest room. A few minutes later, I heard him knocking on the door. He waited for what felt like forever, but when no response came, the sound eventually stopped. The next morning, he intercepted me before I could leave. His tone was oddly gentle, almost coaxing. “Come with me today. It’s my mom’s birthday. Let’s go together, okay?” His family had never liked me. To them, I was nothing more than an orphan with no background—a woman completely unworthy of the heir to a billion-dollar company. Before and after the wedding, I was excluded from every family gathering. At first, I envied the warmth of their family dinners and begged Gavin to help smooth things over. But he had only glanced at his watch, his expression indifferent, and said, “You’ve been on your own your whole life. Why bother trying to fit in with a family now? It’s unnecessary.” Remembering those words, I let out a bitter laugh and brushed his hand off me. “I’m busy.” His face darkened instantly, his jaw clenching. He slammed his fist into the wall beside him. “Stella, enough already,” he snapped. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve put up with since last night? Fine, you’re busy. Just make sure you keep that same energy. Don’t come crawling back to me like a pathetic dog later.” He shot me a furious glare, shoved past me, and stormed out the door. Moments later, I heard the roar of his car as he sped away. Unbothered, I called for a ride to the airport. As I sat in the terminal waiting for my flight, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. The notifications were coming from the Rhodes family group chat. Someone had posted pictures of Gavin at the birthday party. Hannah was wearing a stunning designer gown and had her arm linked tightly through his. She smiled demurely at the camera, her cheeks flushed, leaning close to whisper something in his ear. The Rhodes family members, who had never accepted me, were practically falling over themselves in the chat. “Now this is the kind of woman the Rhodes family needs—classy and elegant.” “Gavin’s date tonight is stunning. I wish she were my sister-in-law already!” I smirked, amused by the audacity. Calmly, I uploaded a PDF of the finalized divorce agreement to the group chat. Then, I added a message: “Consider this my wedding gift. And here’s $20 for the party.” I left the group chat before they could even react. Then, I turned off my phone. The flight to New Zealand was direct. When I landed and turned my phone back on, it vibrated so violently in my hand that I almost dropped it. Hundreds of missed calls from Gavin. Text after text filled my screen: “Stella, you’ve got it all wrong.” “Stella, please don’t ignore me. Let me explain.” “Stella, where are you? I’m coming to get you. Just wait for me.”

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During college, I broke the heart of the richest, most sought-after heiress around. Three years later, my apartment’s pipes burst in the middle of the night, so I crashed at my friend’s place. In the dark, I stumbled into the guest bedroom, only to end up lying next to her. She smirked with a wicked grin, “What’s this? Rekindle an old affair?” Panic hit me like a freight train, and I tried to bolt, but she grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “What’s wrong? You think you can just leave after showing up?” In my dream, there was warmth in my arms, soft and sweet. Just as my heart began to race and I was about to make my move, a sharp pain jolted through my ear. I shot awake, only to be met with the very pair of bright eyes that had haunted my dreams for years. Below them, her lips moved, teasing and cold. “Elias, it’s been so long, and now you sneak into my room? What’s this? Rekindle an old affair?” Panicked, I pulled my ear free and jumped out of bed, my face a kaleidoscope of red and pale. It was Cassandra Brooks, my ex-girlfriend. What the hell was I doing in bed with her? Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she wore nothing but a thin, nearly transparent camisole. Her curves were impossible to ignore. I stammered, “Why… why are you here?” “I should be asking you that.” Guilt weighed me down as I tried to make a quick escape, but she grabbed my wrist, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “What’s wrong? You think you can just leave after showing up?” How the hell was I supposed to know that after my apartment’s pipes burst, crashing at my buddy’s place in the middle of the night would land me in bed next to her? The commotion must have woken the owner of the house. Logan Bennett shuffled toward us in his pajamas, his voice cutting through the hallway before he even stepped in. “What the hell are you yelling about in the middle of the night?” When he finally saw me, his eyes went wide with disbelief. “Holy shit! What are you doing here?” I let out a helpless laugh. “My pipes burst, so I came to crash here.” Logan pulled me aside, his expression shifting into one of exaggerated amusement. “She’s my cousin. Don’t tell me… you two just spent the night together?” I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Of all the people in the world, Cassandra Brooks was the last person I wanted to see. She was the girl I had once loved with all my heart, but fate had never been on our side.

Back in college, Cassandra was the untouchable goddess of our school. The first time I saw her at a club event, it was love at first sight. I heard she was a rich girl, one of those people who had their heads in the clouds and their feet nowhere near the ground. But then, one day, fate gave me a chance. She sprained her ankle in the locker room and hobbled out, her face pale and slick with sweat. I happened to walk by, and without a second thought, I scooped her up and carried her to the infirmary. From that day on, we became friends. I soon discovered that behind her aloof exterior, she was surprisingly down-to-earth. She had a habit of forgetting things, always losing track of her belongings. She would text me constantly, asking me to pick up this or bring her that. “You’re the most attentive guy in the world,” she once told me. “You know all my favorite things and always cheer me up. Are you sure you don’t have a girlfriend? You seem way too experienced for this.” I laughed. “Nope. You’re the first.” Her eyes sparkled as she reached out and held my hand for the first time. As we spent more time together, I realized why people called her a goddess. It wasn’t just her beauty. She was the queen of her elite social circle, effortlessly charming, and always in control. But she confided in me, saying she hated the pretentiousness of her world and found my simplicity refreshing. It made me happy. I introduced her to the joys of a more grounded life. Whenever I earned a little extra money from helping my professor with research, I would take her out to eat at food stalls and hole-in-the-wall diners. Sometimes, she would offer to pay, but I always refused. “Paying the bill is a man’s responsibility,” I told her. I couldn’t give her the luxurious life she was used to, but I gave her everything I could. Those days felt like heaven. But our love was fragile. Ordinary. The kind of love that couldn’t withstand a storm.

One day, Adrian Cross, a guy from another department, showed up out of nowhere. “I’m Cassandra’s fiancé,” he said. “Stay away from her.” I stared at him in shock. “She’s never told me she’s engaged.” “It’s an arrangement between our families. You think you can be her boyfriend? What can you offer her? Drag her down?” I didn’t believe him, and we argued. He smirked arrogantly. “Let me show you her world.” He had me disguise myself, and then he took me to a lavish villa. There she was, perfectly poised with immaculate makeup, her hair swept up elegantly. She wore a custom gown that highlighted her beauty, moving through the crowd like royalty. She was the hostess, exuding grace and confidence as she charmed every guest. Adrian turned to me with a sneer. “Look at her. She’s a queen, and you’re nothing but a nobody. She doesn’t need a guy who takes her to street food stalls. She needs someone who can stand beside her, shoulder to shoulder.” I glanced down at my sneakers and jeans, feeling completely out of place. But I clenched my jaw and said, “She likes me just the way I am.” Adrian laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. “Sure. She likes a lot of guys like you. Check her phone if you don’t believe me. The contacts in her phone are categorized. Our circle is one group, and you… you’re in another.” The next day, I couldn’t resist. When Cassandra left to use the restroom, I took a peek at her phone. Sure enough, I found myself listed as a code and a number, grouped with several others. When she returned, I asked her directly. “Am I boring you?” She blinked in surprise. “Boring? No way. I love spending time with you. You make me feel relaxed. I don’t have to pretend around you.” “Do you feel that way about anyone else?” She tilted her head, considering. “Well, there are a few others, I guess.” My heart sank. “And in your future, is there a place for me?” “Of course,” she said with a teasing smile. “You’ll come to work with me at my family’s company. There’s this trendy term now, ‘live-in son-in-law.’ What do you think?” She looked at me playfully as if it were all a harmless joke. But it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to stand as her equal. One night, after we finished a movie, something inside me gave out. “Let’s break up,” I said. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but her pride quickly took over. “Fine. But don’t come crawling back later.” She texted me after that, but I blocked her. And just like that, three years passed. I heard she moved abroad.

Logan’s jaw practically hit the floor. “So, you and Cassandra, huh? No wonder she was so down for a while back then. She wouldn’t talk to anyone, just locked herself in her room for weeks.” I couldn’t imagine her being sad over me. Her phone had listed seven or eight people in the same group as me, each with their own impersonal code. I was just one of many. “Getting dumped always stings. That’s nothing new,” I muttered, brushing it off. The next day, I had to go to work and figure out who could fix my apartment’s busted pipes. In the morning, I left quickly, not wanting to cross paths with her again. I worked as a project manager at an IT company, and we had a major meeting scheduled with a corporate client. When my team and I arrived at the client’s headquarters, the person greeting us was none other than Cassandra. My scalp tingled, and I fought the urge to bolt. There was no escaping this. “The timeline for this project is tight,” she said, her tone cool but professional. “The workload is heavy, and many of the deliverables will require in-person meetings with me.” I nodded. “We’ve secured the bid, so we’ll give it our all.” She turned her gaze directly on me. “Elias, could you step into my office? I’d like to discuss some details privately.” I followed her, trying to steady my nerves. Her office was sleek and modern, with a stark elegance that didn’t quite match the soft, gentle image I remembered. The tailored suit she wore, though, fit her perfectly, accentuating her poise and commanding presence. We went over the project specifics, and I responded to each point. Then she asked a question out of nowhere. “With such a demanding project, won’t your girlfriend mind you working late nights?” I shook my head, unsure why she cared. And then, for reasons I couldn’t explain, I blurted out, “Will your boyfriend mind you pulling late nights with us?” She leaned back in her chair, speaking slowly. “My boyfriend? He’s temperamental, a bit spoiled.” The words stung. I figured she meant Adrian, and the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. “Then maybe you shouldn’t stay too late,” I said awkwardly. “We can update you on any issues in the morning.” She didn’t reply, just stared at me for a moment before getting up and sitting down next to me.

I scooted away, trying to keep my distance. She reached out and grabbed my sleeve. “Why did you block me? If we can’t be lovers, can’t we at least be friends?” Her words twisted something inside me. Did she really think I had a choice? She leaned in closer, her breath brushing against my face, carrying a faint, familiar fragrance. ” Elias, I…” Cassandra started, but before she could finish, a knock on the door interrupted us. Adrian walked in and said, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you had a guest.” He stopped abruptly when he saw me. Then he turned to me, his eyes narrowing. “Well, well, if it isn’t Elias. Long time no see. I hear you’re a project manager now. Congrats.” The sight of him dredged up old memories, filling my chest with a sour jealousy that I struggled to suppress. He strolled over to Cassandra and casually slipped an arm around her waist. “What do you feel like eating tonight?” he asked her, his tone intimate. “I’ve already made reservations.” Then he glanced at me, smirking. “Care to join us?” I stood abruptly, gathering my things. “Thanks, but I already have plans. My girlfriend’s waiting for me.” I nodded stiffly. “Excuse me.” Cassandra froze, her expression unreadable, as I walked out under Adrian’s mocking gaze. My chest felt tight, and my long-buried emotions shattered into pieces. The girlfriend I mentioned wasn’t real. I was referring to Elena West, a former classmate who had pursued me relentlessly during college. Back then, I had rejected her. Years later, we reconnected when her family’s company partnered with ours on a project. During those months, she had organized countless dinners under the guise of client relations, always trying to get me drunk. Her predatory gaze made me uneasy, and I instinctively kept my distance. But at that moment, I needed her name as a shield.

I hadn’t expected this project to be with Brooks Enterprises or that Cassandra would now be running the company. I did everything I could to avoid her. Unless she explicitly summoned me, I stayed away. Even when she called for me, I always brought a colleague along to share the responsibility of presenting updates. I noticed Adrian in her office several times. He was relaxed, at home there. Sometimes, even during serious project discussions, Adrian would linger, casually listening or throwing in the occasional comment. The company rumor mill painted the two of them as a power couple, their relationship practically common knowledge. One night, when everyone else had left, I stayed behind, stuck debugging a particularly stubborn section of code. I was so absorbed in my work that I didn’t hear the footsteps approaching. A hand appeared in my peripheral vision, holding a cup of coffee. Startled, I turned too quickly and accidentally knocked the cup over, spilling its contents all over Cassandra. Panicking, I grabbed a napkin and started dabbing at the stain. But the moment my hand brushed against her, I froze. The fabric was thin, and beneath it, the sensation was soft and warm. Realizing what I was doing, I yanked my hand away and stood stiffly to the side, waiting for her inevitable reprimand. Cassandra sighed, “Go buy me something to change into.” I dashed downstairs to a 24-hour convenience store and bought her a blouse and a pair of pants. After a moment’s hesitation, I also picked up a set of undergarments. I had noticed the coffee had soaked through. When I handed her the bag, she stepped closer, pinning me against the desk. “You still remember my size?” she asked, her voice low and teasing. “Haven’t you noticed how I’ve changed over the years?” I turned my face away, my thoughts in chaos. “You’ve kept in great shape,” I mumbled. “But I did buy the top a size bigger.” When she emerged after changing, she looked like the girl I used to know, the one who had shared street food with me on warm college nights. She opened her mouth to say something, but my phone buzzed with a call that couldn’t wait. I answered quickly. “Yeah, I’m on my way.” I turned to her, holding up my phone apologetically. “I’ve got an emergency at home. Gotta run. See you.” Without waiting for her response, I grabbed my things and bolted out the door. The call was from my neighbor. Apparently, the repair on my pipes hadn’t worked, and water had leaked into his apartment. I had no choice but to return home shut off the water supply entirely, and accept the harsh reality. Just as the repairman had warned, it might be time for a full renovation. Once again, I turned to my buddy Logan for help. “You can crash at my place. I’ll be out on business trips all week,” he said. I hesitated for a moment before asking, “Cassandra isn’t staying there, is she?”

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At the company gala, my fiancée clung to her first love—the so-called “golden boy” of her past—and smugly demanded I step aside. “Starting today, all your client accounts will be transferred to him,” she announced with a condescending smile. “And as for you, there’s an opening in the janitorial department. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.” The room fell silent. All eyes were on me, waiting for the inevitable—me groveling, begging her to reconsider, swallowing my pride for her sake. But what they didn’t realize was this: without me, those clients would vanish overnight, and the company? It would crumble within weeks. I let out a cold, detached laugh and turned on my heel, walking away without a word. By the end of the night, I’d already signed with her biggest rival—the one person she hated the most. You see, I’m not satisfied with just watching her company fail. I’m here to destroy everything she thought she could take from me. For five years, Chloe Hill and I had built something together—both a company and what I thought was a relationship. She always said, “Once the company is stable, we’ll get married.” I believed her. So I worked like a madman, day and night, entertaining clients, closing deals, and doing everything in my power to build the life she wanted. The life we wanted. And it worked. The company grew steadily, year after year. With our largest shipment yet arriving soon, I was already planning how to propose. Tonight was supposed to be the company’s celebration party. Chloe had smiled at me that morning, tying my tie with her usual grace. “Don’t forget to come back early for the party,” she said, her voice soft and full of warmth. I promised I would. But when the shipment arrived late, I had no choice but to go handle it myself. This was the biggest deal our company had ever secured, and I couldn’t afford even the smallest mistake. For two weeks, I’d barely left the office, sleeping on the couch, eating cheap takeout, and working myself to the bone to make sure this deal went smoothly. By the time I finished, it was nearly 10 PM. Exhausted but eager to see Chloe, I drove straight to the hotel where the celebration was being held. But as I approached the door to the private room, laughter and voices drifted out, freezing me in my tracks. “You mean Daniel Brooks?” Chloe’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, followed by a laugh that made my stomach turn. “Marry him? Are you serious? What a joke.” My hand hovered over the doorknob, my entire body going cold. “He’s just a pathetic loser who works himself to death for me,” she sneered. “I only keep him around to do the grunt work.” Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. “All he does is drink and schmooze with clients. No romance, no charm. He’s nothing like my baby—someone who actually knows how to treat me.” A man’s voice broke in, low and suggestive. “Come here, babe. Let hubby take care of you.” Then came the unmistakable sound of kissing. My mind went blank. That voice—it was Jacob Scott, the new assistant Chloe had recently hired. She’d told me he was an old college friend and insisted he’d be a great addition to the team. I’d trusted her. Jacob had been nothing but polite to me, always staying late at the office, bringing her coffee, and helping with her workload. I’d even praised him for his diligence. But now, it was all clear. He wasn’t staying late to work—he was staying late to be with her. These two had been sneaking around right under my nose. “You’re the only one I trust with the clients,” Chloe purred, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. “Now that the company is big enough, there’s no need to keep him around anymore.” Jacob hesitated. “What if he takes the clients with him?” Chloe laughed dismissively. “This is my company. He’s just an employee. If he tries to leave, I’ll make sure he never works in this industry again. What does he think, that the company can’t survive without him?” The sound of glasses clinking and laughter filled the room. “Ms. Hill and Jacob are such a great match,” someone chimed in, their voice full of fake enthusiasm. “Daniel’s just some desperate loser—he should be grateful to step aside.” Another voice added, “Honestly, Jacob’s the real deal. That guy? He’s just a placeholder.” Jacob chuckled, and I heard him say, “This seat was always mine. Just like Chloe has always been mine.” Chloe giggled, her voice dripping with flirtation. “Oh, stop. You know I’ve always been yours. Even back in college…” Her words trailed off into playful laughter, and my blood boiled. I stood frozen, my mind replaying the last six months. Chloe had been “traveling for business” more often than ever, always coming home smelling of a different perfume. On the nights she stayed in, she was distant, always claiming she was tired. And the times she was affectionate? Now I wondered how much of that was just her scrubbing away the scent of another man. Every tender word, every night spent together—it all felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I wasn’t Chloe’s boyfriend. I was her workhorse, her stepping stone, her fool. Inside, Chloe’s voice turned sweet again, but it wasn’t for me. “Jacob, you’re the only one who knows how to treat me right.” My stomach churned. So she could act playful and vulnerable—just not for me. For me, she’d always played the strong, independent businesswoman. Five years. Five years of my life wasted on a woman who saw me as nothing more than a means to an end. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. For a moment, I thought about walking away, but something inside me snapped. I wouldn’t let her get away with this. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The laughter stopped immediately.

Chloe was wearing a backless gown tonight, and Jacob’s hand was resting on her bare back, sliding up and down. The two of them stood so close, their faces practically touching, exuding a level of intimacy that made me want to vomit. When Chloe saw me, her expression flickered with annoyance, but she quickly regained her composure, slipping back into her usual air of superiority. “Oh, you’re here? Why didn’t you call to let me know?” she asked, pushing Jacob aside and smoothing her dress with feigned elegance. “Sorry,” I replied coldly, my eyes fixed on the red marks on her neck. “I was in a rush and forgot.” She glanced at me with thinly veiled contempt. “Why are you so late? Seriously, you spent all night dealing with one shipment? What’s wrong with you lately?” I let out a bitter laugh and replied with an icy tone, “Yeah, good thing I didn’t come back later—otherwise, I might’ve caught you two in a hotel room.” Chloe’s face froze, her expression darkening in an instant. “What are you implying?” she snapped. “Jacob and I are just friends. Don’t you dare make baseless accusations!” “Just friends?” I said, my gaze dropping to her swollen lips. “Then what, exactly, is his hand doing? Just being friendly?” Her voice rose sharply, clearly rattled. “Daniel, don’t push your luck! We’re not even married. Who I spend time with is none of your business!” “Funny,” I said, my voice low and cutting. “I thought we were building a life together. Guess I was wrong.” At this point, Jacob decided to insert himself into the conversation, stepping forward like some kind of knight in shining armor. “Daniel,” he said, puffing out his chest, “are you seriously questioning Chloe’s character right now? As her boyfriend, shouldn’t you trust her?” Looking at the two of them, smiling and backing each other up, I felt a wave of nausea rise in my chest. I clenched my jaw and said coldly, “Oh, so you do remember she’s my girlfriend, huh?” Chloe tilted her head, her expression smug. “If you’re so unhappy with me, then it’s perfect timing. I have an announcement to make.” She paused for dramatic effect, her voice dripping with mockery. “Starting today, Jacob will be taking over your responsibilities.” The room fell silent. Everyone’s eyes darted between us, waiting to see my reaction. “And you?” she continued, her tone casual but cruel. “You’ll handle the small accounts from now on. Unless, of course, you feel that’s beneath you. If so, the janitorial team could always use an extra hand.” I stared at her, my expression unreadable. The audacity of this woman. She had no idea how much I’d sacrificed to build her company. Every major client, every deal, every connection—I’d earned them through endless nights of drinking, networking, and suffering through grueling hangovers. I’d worked myself to the brink of collapse just to make this business successful. And now, she thought she could replace me with this clown? Did she really think any of those clients cared about her? Chloe raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. “What, nothing to say? Feeling a little betrayed, maybe?” I watched as Jacob leaned down, planting smug little kisses on Chloe’s lips in front of the entire room. The other employees whispered among themselves, eager to see how I would react. Chloe probably thought I’d beg her to reconsider, that I’d grovel for my job and her affection. She thought she’d won. But what she didn’t realize was that without me, Hill Group would collapse like a house of cards. I shook my head and let out a dry laugh. If they wanted to play dirty, I’d show them how the game was really played. Reaching into my pocket, I felt the engagement ring box I’d been carrying for weeks. With a bitter smile, I tightened my grip on it and turned on my heel, walking away without a word. As I left, Chloe called out after me, her voice dripping with mockery. “What, leaving already? Don’t you want to talk about your new role?” I didn’t even look back. The moment I got into my car, I floored the gas pedal and headed straight to the office. There was no time to waste. Sitting at my desk, I opened my laptop and began contacting our clients. My fingers trembled with rage as I typed, my mind racing with plans to dismantle everything Chloe thought she had under control. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down, gulping down a bitter cup of coffee. Five years. Five years of loyalty, sacrifice, and love—and for what? At least now I knew the truth.

I spent the night at the office. Yesterday had been a whirlwind—I closed several major deals and contacted a long list of clients. By the time I was done, it was already past midnight. I stopped by my apartment to pack a few things before heading back to the office. That place wasn’t home anymore, and sleeping at my desk felt like the better option. “Daniel!” I was jolted awake by someone shaking me roughly. Groggy, I opened my eyes to find Chloe’s perfectly made-up face staring down at me. Her makeup was flawless, but the hickey on her neck was impossible to miss, even under the thick layer of concealer she’d used to try and hide it. Her movements were so aggressive that a few early-arriving coworkers were already sneaking glances in our direction. She slammed a crumpled piece of paper onto my desk, her face twisted with anger, though she forced a saccharine smile a second later. “Daniel, what is this?” she asked, her voice unnervingly sweet. “You moved out in the middle of the night? And now you’re handing me a resignation letter without even saying a word? What’s going on with you?” I glanced at the wrinkled resignation letter on the desk and let out a bitter laugh. “You’re asking me? Weren’t you the one who told me to leave?” Her expression wavered for a moment, but she quickly plastered on a fake look of concern. “I was just upset yesterday,” she said, softening her tone. “You shouldn’t have accused me of being inappropriate with someone else. Let’s talk about this calmly, okay?” She reached out to touch my face, the same tender gesture that used to melt my heart. But now, it only made my stomach churn. I turned my head away, dodging her hand. “Chloe, you can drop the act,” I said coldly. “After the little show you put on last night, don’t bother pretending to be innocent.” I shoved her hand aside. “We’re done.” Her face turned bright red, anger and humiliation flashing across her expression. “What nonsense are you spewing?” she hissed. Just then, the elevator doors opened. Jacob strolled out, followed by a few clients. Ah, so that’s why Chloe was suddenly putting on this performance. She wasn’t here to patch things up—she was here to squeeze every last bit of value out of me before I walked out the door for good. “Well, speak of the devil,” I said with a cold laugh, eyeing Jacob. “Chloe was just telling me how disappointed she is with your… performance.” The room fell into a heavy silence. Coworkers whispered among themselves, while the clients behind Jacob raised their eyebrows in interest. Jacob’s face turned crimson, but he forced a smile, trying to maintain his composure. “Mr. Brooks, please don’t joke like that… Ms. Hill and I have nothing but a professional relationship.” He was dressed to impress, wearing a tailored suit and enough hair gel to make his head shine under the fluorescent lights. He looked like he belonged in a cheap cologne ad, not in a boardroom. “Professional?” I smirked. “Didn’t sound so professional last night when you were bragging about your relationship at the party.” The office erupted into murmurs. “Everyone shut up!” Chloe snapped, her voice cutting through the chaos. She turned back to me, her face livid. “Daniel, I came here to talk things through, and you’re making a scene! I’m trying to be reasonable, but you’re being impossible!” “Reasonable?” I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. “Did you forget the things you said while you were draped all over Jacob last night? Should I remind you?” Jacob’s face went pale as he motioned for his assistant to guide the clients into a nearby conference room. “Daniel, Chloe is still your girlfriend,” Jacob said, his tone stiff. “You shouldn’t humiliate her like this.” Looking at the two of them standing side by side, their united front only made me feel colder inside. Chloe’s face twisted with rage as she pointed a finger at me. “You ungrateful bastard! I’m trying to help you, and this is how you repay me? Do you even have a shred of decency left?” Her voice was shrill, her eyes filled with nothing but disgust. The warmth she used to fake so well was completely gone. I let out a humorless laugh. “Careful, Jacob,” I said, locking eyes with him. “The same woman who’s throwing me aside today will do the same to you tomorrow. You’re just a placeholder, a temporary distraction.” “Daniel, you’re asking for it!” Chloe shrieked, her voice echoing through the office. She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged in time. Her nails caught the side of my face, leaving a few shallow scratches. The sting was sharp, but I didn’t flinch. Missing her target only made her angrier. She lunged at me again, completely abandoning the polished image she’d always tried to maintain in front of others. Jacob quickly grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her to stop her from clawing at me again. “Chloe, calm down. Don’t let him get under your skin.” I brushed off my suit and stood, smirking at the two of them. “If I’m worthless, what does that make the two of you?” “Get out, Daniel!” Chloe screamed, her voice cracking. “You’re nothing but a parasite! Do you hear me? I’ll ruin you! I’ll make sure you never work again!” I adjusted my tie and straightened my jacket, taking my time before replying. “Chloe,” I said, my voice calm but cutting, “you really think your little company would’ve made it this far without me? Without the clients I brought in?” Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, her whole body trembling with rage. “You think I need you?” she spat. “Take a few clients if you want—I don’t care. Hill Group will be fine without you!” “Is that so?” I said with a cold smile. “We’ll see about that.” “You touch even one of my clients, and I’ll make sure you regret it!” I laughed, shaking my head. Chloe really thought she was untouchable. I turned and walked toward the elevator, ignoring her shrill screams behind me. “You’ll come crawling back, Daniel! You’ll beg me to take you back!” Without looking back, I raised a middle finger as the elevator doors slid shut. The sunlight outside was blinding, but I didn’t mind. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled to a familiar name in my contacts. It was time to call Mila Morgan. If Chloe wanted a war, I was more than ready to give her one.

At the coffee shop, Mila sat across from me, her every movement polished and deliberate. She held her coffee cup with the kind of grace that made it seem like an accessory, not a necessity. Her sharp, assessing gaze flicked to me every so often, as though she were measuring my worth. She’d been trying to recruit me for years. But I’d always turned her down—because of Chloe. “It’s a rare treat to finally get you here,” Mila said with a soft laugh, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. “I thought you’d spend the rest of your life burning yourself out for Chloe.” I stirred the coffee in front of me, watching the ripples swirl as I answered flatly, “She kicked me out. The details are messy, and frankly, I don’t want to waste my energy explaining. Ask around—you’ll figure it out soon enough.” Mila’s company wasn’t just big—it was the biggest player in the industry locally. Everyone knew her family had money and connections, and if she wanted something, she usually got it. The fact that she’d reached out to me for this meeting was already making waves in our professional circles. “So,” she said casually, setting her cup down, “I take it you’re bringing Chloe’s clients with you in this… transition?” I smirked. “You’re sharp, Ms. Morgan. Yes, I’ve got over 80% of her major accounts in my pocket.” Mila chuckled at that, leaning back in her chair as though savoring my words. “Well, I imagine Chloe’s losing her mind right about now.” “She’s about a month away from crawling back to me,” I said with quiet confidence, lifting my coffee cup. “But by then, it’ll be too late. I’m not just taking her clients—I’m going to make sure she’s finished in this industry.” Mila’s eyes gleamed with interest at my boldness, a flicker of admiration crossing her expression. She rested her chin in her hand, studying me with a newfound curiosity. “You’re more decisive than I expected.” “I’ll make it worth your while,” she said, extending her hand with a polished smile. “I’ll give you a general manager position and triple your current salary. I like your style.” I shook her hand briefly but didn’t let her finish. “There’s one more thing I need from you.” Her perfectly shaped brow arched slightly. “Oh?” “When the time comes,” I said firmly, “I want you to help me expose Chloe and Jacob’s little ‘arrangement.’ Once the scandal hits, you can swoop in and buy her company for pennies on the dollar.” Mila’s lips curved into a slow smile. The idea clearly appealed to her. “Interesting,” she murmured, tapping a manicured finger against her chin. “You’re giving me a perfect opportunity to crush a competitor. But…” Her gaze turned thoughtful, almost mischievous. “How do you know I won’t do the same to you someday?” I met her eyes directly, my tone steady and unflinching. “Because I trust you.” The sunlight streaming through the window caught the angles of her face, highlighting her sharp features and the faintly satisfied look in her eyes. “Fair enough,” she said after a pause, raising her coffee cup toward me. “To a fruitful partnership.” I clinked my cup against hers, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. If Chloe only knew what her betrayal had set in motion, I wondered if she’d still be lying in Jacob’s bed right now—or if she’d already be regretting every choice she’d made.

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After my breakup, I had a one-night stand with a stranger—his presence was terrifying. I couldn’t bear the thought of carrying the child of a monster. But then, everything changed when I uncovered an astonishing truth. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as I sat in the cold, white-walled office. My hands were clenched tightly on my lap, nails digging into my palms. The doctor walked in, her face soft, her smile almost too kind for what she was about to say. “Congratulations, Leila,” she began, her voice gentle. “You’re pregnant.” The words hit me like a thunderclap. My chest tightened, and the room felt suddenly smaller. Pregnant? No. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Not like this. The memory came crashing down like a tidal wave, sweeping the air from my lungs. George. He broke up with me. “It’s not you, Leila. It’s me. I just… I can’t do this anymore.” I could still see the cold resolve in his eyes, the finality in his tone. I grabbed my coat and stumbled out of my apartment, desperate for an escape. The streets blurred as I made my way to the nearest bar, my head spinning with anger and heartbreak. Inside, the dim lights cast shadows over the faces of strangers. I slid onto a barstool, slamming my purse down. “Whiskey. Straight,” I said, my voice trembling. The bartender raised an eyebrow but poured the drink without a word. I’m an orphan—no parents, no siblings, nothing. The one person I ever loved, truly loved, was George. But now… now I have no one. I downed the first glass, then another. Each burn in my throat felt like it might numb the ache in my chest. A man sitting nearby leaned over. “Rough night?” he asked, his voice smooth but tinged with curiosity. “Mind your own business,” I snapped, waving at the bartender for another drink. But he didn’t take the hint. “Sometimes it helps to talk about it.” I turned to him, my eyes blazing. “What do you know about it? Have you ever had your heart ripped out and stomped on?” He chuckled softly, holding up his hands in surrender. “Fair point. Just thought you could use some company.” I didn’t answer. I just kept drinking, sinking deeper into the haze. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a strange bed. The light filtering through the curtains was blinding, and my head pounded like a drum. Panic shot through me as I looked around. A hotel room. “What the hell…”

I started the day hunched over the toilet bowl, my stomach twisting like a wrung-out rag. “Fantastic,” I muttered hoarsely, wiping my mouth. “Another perfect morning.” The mirror above the sink was no help. My hair hung limp, my eyes dull with exhaustion, and dark circles loomed like permanent shadows. If pregnancy came with a glow, mine must’ve been on back order. After splashing cold water on my face, I trudged into the kitchen and reached for my pack of cigarettes on the counter. One drag—just one—might help me feel normal again. “Seriously?” Leila’s voice cut through the silence. She was leaning against the fridge, arms crossed, her eyebrows raised. “Leila, don’t start,” I sighed, shaking a cigarette loose. Before I could light it, she snatched it from my hand. “What the hell?” I snapped, glaring at her. “What the hell, indeed!” she fired back, waving a piece of paper in her other hand—the pregnancy report. I froze. “Where did you get that?” “It was on the bathroom sink, genius,” she said, her voice softening. “And I hate to break it to you, mama bear, but smoking’s officially off the table.” “Leila…” My voice cracked, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. She stepped closer, placing the cigarette and the report on the counter. “Look, I know this is a lot. I know it’s scary. But you’re not doing this alone. I’m here, even if it means wrestling cigarettes out of your hand every morning.” I reached for the cigarette pack on the counter, only for Leila to slap my hand away. “Seriously?” I groaned, clutching my stinging fingers. “One cigarette won’t hurt the baby.” Leila’s eyes narrowed as she snatched the pack and held it up like evidence in a courtroom. “One leads to two, and two leads to you chain-smoking like a chimney. Nope. Not happening.” “Leila, give it back.” “Not a chance.” She spun on her heel and tossed the pack into the trash. “You’re unbelievable!” I snapped. Cigarettes had been my escape since I was sixteen. They’d carried me through the stress of college, through assignments, and sleepless nights. This felt like an attack on my sanity. “You’re pregnant, not invincible,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “If you want a bad habit, you can start drinking herbal tea. It’s safe and soothing.” I rolled my eyes. “What’s next? Are you going to cut off my Wi-Fi so I don’t stay up too late?” Her face turned serious. “Funny you mention that. Last night, you were on your laptop at 4 a.m., and don’t think I didn’t notice.” I groaned. “Leila, I’m finishing my dissertation. I need to graduate.” “You also need to sleep, or do you want a baby born exhausted from the womb?” she countered, her tone sharp. “Fine!” I threw my hands up. “You win. No smoking, early bedtime, and chamomile tea for life. Anything else?” Leila smirked, but her expression softened as she grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge. “Now that we’re clear on that, have you thought about… him?”

My chest tightened. I knew exactly who she meant, but the last thing I wanted was this conversation. “I don’t even know where to start, Leila,” I admitted quietly. “We didn’t exchange numbers. I don’t even know his last name.” Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re telling me you had a one-night stand and didn’t get his number?” I winced. “It was… a complicated night.” Leila grabbed her coat, determination blazing in her eyes. “Alright, we’re going to the hotel. We’ll find him.” I shook my head. “He doesn’t live there. He said he was staying for a week—just passing through.” She froze, then snapped her fingers. “The bar. Someone there might know him.” “Leila, this is ridiculous,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “What’s ridiculous,” she shot back, “is you acting like this isn’t a big deal. You’re having his baby.” “I know that!” I snapped, my voice cracking. “You think I’m not scared out of my mind? I don’t even know where to start!” Leila softened, stepping closer. “Then let me help. But you can’t shut down on me, okay?” I nodded weakly, barely able to meet her eyes. Then she frowned, a new thought dawning. “Wait. What’s his name?” I froze. “Don’t tell me…” Her eyes widened. “You don’t know his name.” I swallowed hard. “Are you serious?” she hissed. “You don’t even know the name of the guy whose kid you’re carrying?” “It was one night!” I shot back. “I didn’t think—” “Clearly,” she interrupted, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Okay. No judgment. But we’re finding him. Name or no name.” “And if we don’t?” I whispered. Her expression softened, but her tone stayed firm. “Then we’ll deal with it. Together.” “W-What?” I stammered, staring at Leila in disbelief. “You found him?” She grinned, leaning against the doorframe like she’d won the lottery. “Found your baby daddy. You’re welcome.” My chest tightened. “How?” She smirked. “Went back to the bar. Bartender remembered him—apparently, he’s a regular.” I blinked, heart racing. “You just… asked?” Leila shrugged, but her smugness was impossible to miss. “I might’ve flirted a little. Maybe bought him a round. Details don’t matter.” I crossed my arms. “Leila…” “Relax!” she interrupted, pulling a napkin from her pocket. “Look.” I stared at the name scribbled on it: Mark Adonis. Below it, a phone number. My hands trembled as I took it. “Call him,” Leila said firmly. “Now?” My voice wavered, every instinct screaming to delay. “Yes, now,” she snapped, her gaze sharp. “He deserves to know. And so do you.” I gripped the napkin, my pulse roaring in my ears. There was no running from this anymore. I felt my breath quicken as I unlocked my phone, staring at the keypad. This was it. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. The phone rang. Once. Twice. I swore I could hear my own pulse in my ears. By the fifth ring, I could feel the cold sweat gathering on the back of my neck. This was the moment. Seven. Eight. The line cut to voicemail. “It’s gone to voicemail,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. A strange relief washed over me. Leila shot up from the bed. “Leave a message! Now!” I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the button to end the call. But Leila’s frantic gestures pushed me forward. I put the phone back to my ear, the beep almost echoing in the silence. “Uh, hi,” I stuttered, my throat dry. “It’s Elena… we met a few months ago at the bar.” Leila glared at me, silently urging me to keep going. “I—I need to talk to you about something. It’s important. Please call me back.” I rushed the last words out, my voice shaking. “Shit! What do I do?” I hissed, waving my phone in front of Leila. “What does this mean?” Leila’s eyes widened in shock, and she grabbed the phone from my hand, accepting the call before I could blink. She slammed the phone on speaker, leaning in close. “Talk,” she hissed under her breath. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I stared at the screen. What the hell was I supposed to say? “Hello?” A deep, gravelly voice answered after a few seconds of agonizing silence. I froze, looking at Leila, who was now gesturing wildly for me to speak. I couldn’t find my words. “Hello?” His voice grew impatient.

“Hi.” My voice cracked as I squeaked out the word. “Hi,” I repeated, louder this time, though my nerves rattled. “Elena? What do you need to talk about?” His tone was direct, almost demanding. I swallowed hard. “I—I think we should meet. This can’t be said over the phone.” There was a long pause. “Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Where?” I blinked, surprised by how easily he agreed. I hadn’t expected this. I ran a hand through my hair. “Uh… my place?” I offered weakly, though I could tell Leila was stifling a laugh. She shot me a look and mouthed café before nodding towards the door. He chuckled lightly. “Fine. Two o’clock. Does that work?” I nodded quickly, heart pounding. “Yeah, perfect.” “See you then,” he said before hanging up. I exhaled sharply, eyes closing as anxiety clenched my chest. Tomorrow. It had to be done. Leila’s voice cut through my thoughts. “He sounds hot.” I snapped my eyes open. “He is.” I couldn’t help but remember how he looked at me that night—powerful, magnetic. I’d been drawn to him instantly. Leila smirked. “He thinks you’re after a repeat of that night.” I groaned. “No. It’s not like that.” She mimicked his voice dramatically, “My place,” before bursting into laughter. “Not funny,” I muttered, but she was still laughing. At the coffee bar

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My stepsister framed me for causing her allergic reaction, so my three brothers locked me in a cramped, airless cellar and chained the door shut. I weakly pounded on the cellar door, begging my brothers to let me out. James, my oldest brother and a business tycoon, coldly scolded me before leaving: “It’s bad enough that you usually bully Lily, but deliberately feeding her seafood when you know she’s allergic? Were you trying to kill her? Stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” William, my second brother and a rising music star, and Henry, my third brother and a genius painter, both sneered: “Someone as vicious as you is still making excuses and playing the victim? You can just stay in there and suffer the consequences!” With that, they carried my trembling stepsister Lily in their arms and rushed her to the hospital. As the oxygen slowly ran out, each breath became more labored until I finally died in that cellar. Three days later, when my brothers returned home from the hospital with Lily, they finally remembered me. But by then, I had already suffocated to death in that cramped cellar. I died from lack of oxygen in that cellar. When I regained consciousness, I found my spirit hovering next to my three brothers. They had just returned to their mansion. James and William were gently helping Lily, speaking to her kindly: “Thank goodness we got you to the hospital in time. You’re recovering so quickly.” Henry fussed over her with obvious concern: “The doctor said your body is still weak and needs proper nourishment.” He then eagerly served Lily a large piece of meat. A servant hesitantly spoke up: “Young masters, Miss Rachel hasn’t made a sound in the cellar for three days now…” James snorted and cut her off: “Today is a happy day – Lily’s coming home from the hospital. Why bring up that troublemaker?” The servant tried to continue, but William and Henry’s cold glares silenced her. “That wretched girl must have known about the seafood allergy and deliberately made an entire seafood dinner,” William fumed. “And here I thought she was finally starting to accept Lily. Turns out it was all premeditated!” Henry added angrily. Lily put on a frightened expression and timidly said: “Big sister is being punished because of me. She’s been alone in that cellar for so many days. What if she’s angry when she comes out?” James’ expression hardened. “Don’t worry, Lily. We’ve been too lenient with her before. She’s never faced real consequences. After this lesson, she won’t dare bully you again.” As he spoke, he instinctively pulled out his phone and refreshed our chat history. But our last messages were still from three days ago. In those three days, I hadn’t sent a single message or made a single call. James’ eyes flashed with anger. “That ungrateful brat! It’s been days and she hasn’t even sent one message asking how Lily is doing!” At that moment, Lily deliberately grasped James’ hand and said in a tearful voice: “I just wanted big sister to spend time with me. I never meant to steal anything from her.” James quickly set down his phone and stroked Lily’s head affectionately. “Lily, you’re so kind. Not like her – she’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch.” William’s eyes filled with cold disdain as he thought of me. “That’s right. She dares to harm family just to get attention? She’s truly despicable!” Henry nodded in vehement agreement and sneered, “Unless she’s learned her lesson and is willing to kneel and apologize to Lily, I’ll throw her out of this house myself!” I stood nearby, listening to my brothers’ words, and could only laugh bitterly at the absurdity. But my spirit’s actions went completely unnoticed by the living. Ever since our parents died when I was young, my three brothers had devoted all their attention to me. One day I said I wanted a playmate my own age, so my brothers went to an orphanage and adopted Lily as my stepsister. I opened my heart to Lily’s arrival, but in front of my brothers she repeatedly framed me, causing them to grow more and more distant from me with each passing day. Including this time – my three brothers locked me in that tiny cellar without a second thought. I struggled desperately, but could only feel the air in the cramped cellar growing thinner and thinner. Pounding on the cellar door, I begged my brothers over and over to let me out. But my brothers only looked at me coldly, angrily saying: “What are you yelling about? This is all your own fault. If it weren’t for you, why would Lily be suffering from such a bad allergic reaction?” “We’ve clearly been too nice to you, that’s why you keep bullying and tormenting Lily. Just stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” With that, William personally wrapped chains around the door, while Henry piled heavy objects in front of it, eliminating any chance I had of saving myself. Now, watching Lily fake-smile at my brothers, I let out another bitter, mocking laugh. Brothers, the sister who loved you most in this world has been killed by your own hands! Lily tugged on James’ sleeve and said in a pitiful voice: “Big brother, don’t be angry anymore. It’s my fault for being so weak and having food allergies. I’m sure big sister didn’t mean it. Please don’t blame her!” James’ expression instantly darkened. He said coldly: “That wretched girl! We’ve clearly spoiled her too much, letting her develop such an arrogant and domineering personality!” William’s eyes flashed with surging anger: “The older she gets, the more narrow-minded she becomes. If it weren’t for her, how could Lily have ended up in this state?” At this point, Lily deliberately exposed her limbs, which still showed faint traces of the allergic reaction, to the three brothers. There were still a few red marks visible. Henry gently stroked the skin that still bore slight redness. “Does it still hurt, Lily?” Lily lowered her head, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry: “It doesn’t hurt… really, it doesn’t…” The anger in William’s heart was thoroughly ignited. He shouted furiously: “If we’d gotten to the hospital any later, it could have been life-threatening for Lily. And after all these days, she hasn’t even sent a single message. She truly shows no remorse at all!” James spoke with even greater fury: “Go bring that wretched girl here to apologize! I don’t believe she can keep refusing to say sorry!” William and Henry joined in angrily: “It’s all because she’s relied on our support. Now that she’s done something wrong, she must face proper punishment!” They turned to the servants and thundered: “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and bring that ungrateful brat here. And bring our disciplinary cane too. If it weren’t for Rachel deliberately putting seafood in the meal, how could Lily have suffered in the hospital for three days?” “It’s time to set the rules straight in this household!” The servants didn’t dare disobey and hurried off in my direction. I let out a despairing, bitter laugh. My brothers hadn’t even investigated the truth before arbitrarily deciding I was guilty. Three days ago, Lily said she was hungry, so I wanted to do something nice and cooked for her. She even gave me a small packet of seasoning, saying she wanted to eat that. I tasted it and it seemed like normal seasoning. Who could have known it contained her allergen? James is supposed to be a business genius, yet he couldn’t even see through such an obvious ploy for attention? If that’s not favoritism, what is? In my brothers’ hearts, I would never be as important as stepsister Lily. I felt increasingly desolate. But it didn’t matter anymore. I had already died in that cellar. Now my brothers could give all their love and favor to Lily. “Young master, we’ve been calling Miss Rachel for a long time, but there’s been no response at all.” “We can’t hear any breathing from inside!” James frowned deeply, stood up abruptly, his face cold with anger: “What new game is that wretched girl playing now? Does she think it’s beneath her dignity to apologize to Lily?” “Does she still not understand that she nearly killed you this time?!” Lily tugged on James’ sleeve again and said sadly: “Big brother, it’s okay. I’m just an orphan. I don’t deserve to have big sister apologize to me.” The anger in James’ heart was thoroughly provoked: “Using such a lowly tactic for attention – does she really think I can’t see through it?” “She must think she’s so clever, thinking if she plays mute she can get away with it. It seems the punishment I gave her was too light!” “Let’s go. Drag her out here. I’d like to see how she tries to hide now. She must kneel and apologize to Lily!” I involuntarily followed my three brothers’ footsteps, my heart growing heavier with sorrow. Fueled by their rage, my three brothers soon arrived at the cellar door. “Rachel Harper, do you think hiding in there silently will let you escape punishment?” But there was no sound from inside the cellar. William’s face grew even darker: “Rachel Harper, what are you still pretending for? Come out right now and kneel to apologize to Lily!” “Don’t think that hiding in there, turning off your phone, and not contacting us will let you avoid the consequences of deliberately hurting Lily!” Henry’s eyes were blazing with anger as he shouted: “Rachel Harper, you’ve really gotten bold. You just can’t stand to see us being nice to Lily, so you’re deliberately staying silent to provoke us!” “Do you really think hiding in the cellar and refusing to speak will make us give in first?” There was still no sound from inside the cellar. James turned to look at the trembling servants and coldly commanded: “Why are you all shaking? Tell me the truth – did that wretched girl bribe you? Did you secretly let her out?” William snorted, “Given her despicable nature, she probably couldn’t stand being in the cellar after we left and had these servants open the door to let her out.” Henry’s eyes were filled with disappointment: “You nearly killed Lily, but you can’t even face the consequences of your actions. Is this really the sister I know?” “Do you really think we only have you as a sister?” At this point, a servant finally spoke up trembling: “Young master, we wouldn’t dare let her out without your orders!” “Miss Rachel has truly been in the cellar for three whole days now.” Henry looked at the still silent cellar, a flicker of unease passing through his eyes. He walked up and pulled hard on the cellar door several times, but couldn’t open it. “Rachel Harper, enough is enough. I’ve unlocked all the locks. Are you still stubbornly holding the door shut from inside?” I looked at the twisted cellar door and could only laugh bitterly. At the time, desperate to save myself from suffocation, I had repeatedly slammed against the door, just wanting to survive. But the cellar door was exceptionally sturdy. I couldn’t even create the slightest gap, and could only suffocate to death in that cellar. Brothers, when you see my corpse, will you be able to give me even a tiny bit of love and bury me next to mom and dad? James grew increasingly agitated. He started kicking the door forcefully. The twisted cellar door opened a larger crack, and a foul stench wafted out. A servant trembled as she spoke: “It smells like… a decomposing body!” The other two brothers also approached, full of rage. “What decomposing body? She clearly ran away long ago and just threw a dead rat in there to trick us!” “Rachel Harper, do you really think we’re that easy to fool?” The three brothers grew even more impatient and all started kicking the door together. The entire cellar entrance shook again. With a loud bang, the door was kicked wide open. Along with an even stronger putrid smell, the small dark cellar was exposed to everyone’s view.

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Dad always claimed he had a connection in the admissions office at Sunshine University. My younger brother, Gavin, barely scraped by with a GPA that would get him into a third-rate college. But Dad insisted Gavin should apply to Sunshine University, the best university, saying his “connection” could pull some strings. As someone who worked in the local education department, I thought Dad’s plan sounded ridiculous. Connections like that rarely worked the way people thought. So, I went through every college admissions guide I could find and helped Gavin apply to a second-tier university abroad—one that matched his grades and seemed like a good fit. Years later, Gavin graduated but couldn’t find a decent job. Dad wouldn’t let it go. “If Stella hadn’t stopped me from getting you into Sunshine University, you’d have companies lining up to hire you by now!” The more Gavin thought about it, the angrier he got. He stewed over it for weeks. Then, one evening, when I came home for dinner, he snapped. He poisoned my food with pesticide. I didn’t even see it coming. The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes—and I was back on the day of Gavin’s college application deadline. This time, I didn’t argue. “Dad’s the expert, right?” I said with a smile. “Let him handle it.”

I woke up to find myself reliving the day of Gavin’s college acceptance party. At the moment, Dad was at the dinner table bragging to everyone about how Gavin was about to be accepted into Sunshine University. He proudly explained how he’d been working his “connections” since Gavin’s junior year of high school. Recently, he’d met someone who claimed to work in the admissions office at Sunshine University. This so-called admissions officer had assured Dad that as long as Gavin put Sunshine University as his top six choices, the acceptance letter would arrive in the mail within a month. Some of the more practical-minded guests tried to talk Dad out of it. “You’ve got to be careful with people like that. He sounds like a scammer.” “No way!” Dad shot back indignantly. “We’ve known each other for a while now. He hasn’t asked me for a single penny. In fact, every time we’ve gone out to eat, he’s the one who pays the tab. You tell me, where are you going to find a scammer that generous?” Then Dad turned to me, throwing me squarely under the bus. “And isn’t Stella working in the education department? Stella, you tell them—don’t colleges sometimes admit students even if their grades don’t exactly meet the requirements? That’s how these things work, right?” All eyes turned to me. For a moment, my mind drifted to my previous life. I remembered this exact scene playing out before. Back then, I had given Dad a serious, straightforward answer. I told him that college admissions were one of the few truly fair opportunities for ordinary people to change their lives. There was no way someone could get into a top-tier school like Sunshine University through “connections.” I even gave him examples—cases where desperate parents had been scammed out of their life savings by people pretending to be college recruiters. These scammers would strike up casual conversations, claim they had “connections,” and promise the world, only to disappear once they got their money. Dad didn’t take it well. Right there in front of everyone, he slapped me across the face. After that, he confiscated my phone and my wallet and kicked me out of the house in the middle of a thunderstorm. But later that night, after being pressured by relatives and friends, he reluctantly dropped the idea. I spent a week researching schools and helped Gavin apply to a second-tier university in Germany that matched his grades. That decision haunted me for years. Any time Gavin faced even the smallest challenge in school, Dad would blame me for not letting him go to Sunshine University. Over time, Gavin’s resentment toward me grew deeper and deeper. It all came to a head one evening when I came home for dinner. Gavin handed me a glass of juice laced with pesticide. Even as I lay dying, struggling to breathe, Dad stood there watching. He didn’t call for help. Instead, to protect Gavin, he dismembered me and fed my remains to the neighborhood’s stray cats and dogs, bit by bit. When the deed was done, he told everyone I had run away with a man, abandoning my family. One night, I saw him sitting alone in my empty room, staring at the walls. “Stella,” he muttered to himself, his voice heavy with guilt. “I’m sorry. But you were already gone. I had no choice. I had to protect Gavin.” I was there, my soul floating above him. I couldn’t contain my rage. I had been alive when he made his choice. He had seen me fighting for my life, and still, he did what he did. Now, back at the dinner table in this new timeline, I looked up at Dad, who was waiting for my answer. His eyes were filled with pride, eager for validation. “I mean, I don’t know all the ins and outs of how these things work,” I said with a smile. “But Dad, you’re Gavin’s father. You’d only want what’s best for him, right?” Hearing my response, Dad beamed and turned to the guests. “You see? Even Stella, who works in the system, isn’t against it. So why are you all so worried? Just wait! When Gavin gets into Sunshine University, I’ll throw another party to celebrate, and you’re all invited!” I couldn’t help but smile. Dear Dad, I can’t wait to see how far your “connection” gets you this time.

A few days after the party, Dad called me over for dinner. “Stella,” he said, patting my shoulder. “You know how tight money is around here. Gavin’s admission to Sunshine University is going to cost a little extra. Can you help out your brother this once?” He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Don’t worry, as soon as Gavin graduates and lands a good job, he’ll pay you back, every cent.” In my previous life, I fell for this line. Back then, I thought about how hard Dad had worked to raise me and decided to give him the money. But that was just the beginning. Gavin took it as a blank check. Every month, he’d come to me asking for $300, sometimes $400. If I refused, he’d show up at my workplace, crying and causing a scene until I gave in. I once suggested to Dad that he step in and talk to Gavin. “Oh, boys mature slower than girls,” he said dismissively. “Don’t hold it against him. You’re his sister—you should know better.” Looking back, it was laughable. Did being a sister mean I had to let Gavin bleed me dry? No. Not this time. “Dad,” I said, tilting my head, “didn’t you say that admissions officer was your best friend? And that he wasn’t charging you anything?” Dad’s face stiffened for a moment before he forced a smile. “Well, sure, but the guy’s been pulling a lot of strings for us. I can’t let him go unpaid, can I? You work in the system—you should understand how these things work.” “And besides,” he added, trying to change tactics, “as Gavin’s sister, shouldn’t you at least give him a little gift? Something to celebrate getting into Sunshine University?” I smiled politely but didn’t budge. If Dad wanted to waste his money on a scammer, that was his choice. But he wasn’t getting a dime from me.

About a week later, I got a call from Gavin. “Stella,” he said, his voice dripping with entitlement, “it’s already a done deal—I’m going to Sunshine University. So when are you going to buy me a new phone and laptop?” He didn’t even wait for me to reply before adding, “And they’d better be the latest models! If they’re not, I’m not going to school!” His words hit me like a flashback to my previous life. Back then, I had already enrolled him in a decent state school, with plans for him to transfer after a year and continue his studies abroad. But Dad had filled his head with fantasies about Sunshine University, convincing him it was his birthright. To keep him happy and on track with the plan I’d worked so hard to create, I ended up buying him a new phone and laptop. But let’s be real—he’s the one going to college, not me. If he doesn’t want to go, why should I care? So this time, I wasn’t in a rush. I popped a strawberry into my mouth, sipped some tea, and replied lazily, “Oh, that’s not happening. I don’t have the kind of money to buy you all that stuff. Besides, wasn’t it Dad who promised you those things? You should probably ask him.” There was silence on the other end of the line. Gavin was clearly caught off guard. I’d never said no to him before, especially when it came to things Dad had already promised. He huffed, but instead of blowing up, he asked, “Fine. If you can’t get it now, will you buy it for me after your next paycheck?” I laughed softly, unbothered. “Absolutely not. I’m your sister, not your mom. I’ve bought you snacks and small things here and there, but we’re talking about thousands of dollars. Why on earth would that be my responsibility?” That set him off. He practically screamed into the phone, his voice cracking, “Dad spent all his money on your stupid work gifts! He can’t afford it anymore! And everyone knows government employees like you are swimming in bribes—don’t tell me you can’t spare a little for your own brother!” “Stingy jerk!” I froze for a moment, then calmly hit the record button on my phone. “Excuse me?” I said, my tone sharp. “Who told you government workers are taking bribes? Why don’t you bring that person to me, and we’ll have a little chat?” “Let me be clear: I’ve never taken a single penny beyond my salary and benefits. If someone’s spreading nonsense like that, they’d better be ready to face the consequences. So tell me, Gavin—who’s your source? I’d be happy to report them for corruption.” The line went dead silent. Of course, Gavin didn’t actually know anyone. He had just made it up, hoping to guilt me into buying him what he wanted. The silence dragged on until I heard muffled shouting in the background. It sounded like Gavin and Dad were arguing. Then, with a loud slam, the call disconnected. Curious, I pulled up the security camera feed from home. Sure enough, Gavin hadn’t gotten any money from Dad. Worse, his old phone had been smashed in the middle of their argument.

In the end, Dad gave Gavin the brand-new phone I’d bought him earlier this year. To placate him even further, Dad promised to get him the latest model before school started, so he wouldn’t “lose face” at Sunshine University. As for Dad himself? He dug out an ancient Nokia brick phone and resigned himself to using it. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. Thinking back to my past life, I remembered how I’d been using a five-year-old, barely functional phone while spending half a year’s salary to buy Gavin the latest Apple products. And what did I get in return? Snide comments. “You’ve been working for years, and you still can’t afford a decent phone?” he’d said. “You’re just cheap, Stella. Admit it. This phone is your way of making up for not letting me go to Sunshine University. And even then, it’s last year’s model—couldn’t you at least get me something new?” Well, if last year’s model wasn’t good enough for him, then this time he’s getting nothing. Let’s see how he manages without me footing the bill. I didn’t bother keeping up with their drama after that. I did hear that Gavin started strutting around town, bragging about how his dad had “pulled strings” at Sunshine University. He even claimed he was already set to attend a top-tier school like Harvard or Stanford. His lies stirred up quite a bit of chaos in the community. Parents stormed the local education office, demanding answers. “Don’t worry,” I told them during a public meeting. “We can assure you that the college admissions process is fair and transparent. It’s one of the few opportunities for students to change their lives based on merit alone.” I continued, “Please don’t believe rumors about buying admission spots. If anyone claiming to be from an Ivy League or top-tier school approaches you asking for money, report them immediately. “Think about it—if college admissions could really be bought, why would wealthy families bother sending their kids abroad? Wouldn’t they just pay for them to attend school nearby?” Most of the parents calmed down after hearing this. They were scared, not malicious—just worried about their kids falling behind. Once they realized they weren’t being left out of some secret system, they backed off. Of course, there were still a few who clung to the rumors. But honestly? Some people are determined to believe what they want, no matter what you say. If I couldn’t stop my own father and brother from making fools of themselves, how could I possibly stop strangers?

Time flew by, and soon the first round of college acceptance letters started arriving. Gavin watched as other students proudly showed off their letters, and for the first time, he started to feel a little anxious. He badgered Dad to contact the “admissions officer” and ask about his acceptance letter from Sunshine University. This time, it took a while for the call to go through. “Hello?” a lazy voice finally answered. Dad immediately switched to his overly polite tone, practically groveling over the phone. “Oh, no rush, no rush! Just wanted to ask—when is my son’s acceptance letter going to be mailed out? He’s just a kid, you know, getting a little impatient. Think you could speed things up for us?” The man on the other end didn’t miss a beat, responding with absolute confidence, “Of course! Don’t worry, I’ll get it sent out in the next couple of days.” Hearing that reassurance, both Dad and Gavin relaxed, their worries melting away. Gavin’s confidence returned in full force. He waited eagerly, day after day, for that letter to arrive. Whenever he saw other students on the street crying tears of joy over their acceptance letters from state schools or second-tier universities, he couldn’t help but mock them. “You call that a college?” he’d sneer. “Pathetic. I’m going to Sunshine University.” A few days later, the “admissions officer” called Dad again. This time, he told him that Gavin’s letter had already been mailed. To back up his claim, he even sent a photo of the acceptance letter with Gavin’s name on it. Seeing that photo was all the proof Gavin needed. He practically vibrated with excitement, going around town boasting to anyone who would listen. “If you losers are proud of getting into those garbage schools,” he’d say, “you’ll be blown away when you see my letter from Sunshine University. It’s already on its way!” Then he’d whip out his phone, showing off the photo of his “acceptance letter.” Some people were impressed, looking at him with envy. But not everyone bought it. “Why doesn’t it have an official seal?” someone asked skeptically. “No legitimate university would send an acceptance letter without one.” Gavin’s response? A murderous glare and a string of curses so vile he practically insulted their entire family tree. Five more days passed, and still no letter. At this point, Dad called me, clearly starting to panic. “Stella,” he said, his voice filled with urgency, “Gavin’s acceptance letter was mailed five days ago. Even if it was sent from California, it should’ve arrived by now! Do you think someone at your office intercepted it because they’re jealous Gavin got into Sunshine University?” Before I could respond, he barreled on, “Or worse—what if someone else stole Gavin’s spot? You’ve heard of those cases where people bribe their way into college with someone else’s acceptance letter, haven’t you?” Listening to his ridiculous accusations, I could tell Dad was spiraling. The fact that he still hadn’t questioned whether this “admissions officer” was real was almost impressive. Was he just naïve, or straight-up gullible?

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I am locked in a narrow, airless basement after my adopted brother Lucas has an allergic reaction, and my three older sisters blame me for it. I pound on the door, begging them to let me out. The eldest sister, a business tycoon, turns around before leaving. Her face is icy as she scolds me, “You’ve been bullying Lucas for ages, but knowing he’s allergic to seafood, you still made him eat it? You did that on purpose to hurt him. Stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” The second sister, a rising pop star, and the third, a gifted artist, both snort in disdain, “You’re so vile, and yet you still try to act innocent. Just stay there and suffer!” With that, they rush off, holding Lucas, who is trembling in their arms, and head straight to the hospital. As the oxygen slowly runs out, I struggle to breathe. Every inhale becomes harder, and I feel myself slipping away in this suffocating basement. Three days later, when my sisters return from the hospital, they finally remember me. But by then, I have already died from oxygen deprivation in this narrow, locked space.

I suffocated to death in that basement. When I woke up, I found myself standing beside my three sisters, watching them from a place I couldn’t reach. They had just returned to the villa. The eldest, Serena Hayes, and the second sister, Celeste Hayes, were holding my adopted brother, Lucas, comforting him like a little prince. “Thank God we got to your hospital in time. That’s the only reason you’ve bounced back so quickly,” Serena said with a soft smile. My third sister, Annalise Hayes, seemed even more concerned, her voice full of care. “The doctor says you’re still weak. You need to really build your strength back up.” As she spoke, Annalise casually grabbed a huge chunk of meat and placed it in Lucas’ bowl. A servant hesitated and then spoke up, “Misses, Mr. Liam hasn’t made a sound for three days in the basement…” Serena scoffed, her patience running thin. “Today’s the day Lucas gets out of the hospital, so why bring up that troublemaker?” The servant tried to speak again but was quickly silenced by the cold, piercing glares from Celeste and Annalise. “That little brat must’ve known Lucas had an allergy and deliberately made him seafood oatmeal. I can’t believe I thought he was finally accepting Lucas—turns out, he was plotting all along!” Serena’s voice dripped with disdain. Lucas, putting on a terrified face, spoke up in a small, trembling voice, “Liam’s being punished because of me. He’s been stuck down there alone for so long… he won’t be angry when he comes out, will he?” Serena’s expression turned cold, but her voice softened as she reassured him, “Don’t worry, Lucas. We were just too soft on him. We never disciplined him properly. After this, he won’t dare mess with you again.” As she spoke, Serena absentmindedly pulled out her phone, refreshing our chat history. But it was clear—no messages from me in three days. Not a single call. Her face darkened. “This brat… It’s been days, and he hasn’t even bothered to check on you? Not even one message?” Serena snapped, barely holding back her anger. At that moment, Lucas reached out, gently holding Serena’s hand, and spoke in a soft, pitiful tone, “Please don’t let Liam misunderstand. I don’t want to take anything from you, I just want your attention.” Serena immediately put her phone down, her expression full of sympathy as she patted Lucas’ head. “You’re so sweet, Lucas. You’re nothing like him. He’s just a heartless, ungrateful little snake.” Celeste, remembering me, cast a cold glance in my direction. “Yeah, this guy would hurt his own family just to get attention? How low can you get?” Annalise agreed with a fierce nod, sneering, “He’s been locked away for three days. Unless he’s ready to kneel and apologize to Lucas, I’ll kick him out of this house myself!” I stood silently to the side, hearing their words. It was almost laughable. But no one noticed me, not even as I stood there, helpless and invisible. Ever since our parents died, my three sisters had focused all their love and energy on me. When I wanted someone my age to play with, they adopted Lucas from an orphanage. I accepted him wholeheartedly, but Lucas, in front of my sisters, repeatedly framed me, causing them to pull away further each time. This time, they didn’t even hesitate. They locked me away in that tiny, suffocating basement. I struggled, but the air in the basement grew thinner and thinner, each breath more labored than the last. I knocked on the door, desperately pleading for them to let me out. But all I received were cold stares and harsh words. “What’s the point of crying out now? This is all your fault. If you hadn’t done what you did, Lucas wouldn’t have suffered so badly. We’ve been too good to you, letting you bully him. Stay in there and think about it!” Celeste sneered. As she spoke, Celeste personally wrapped chains around the door, and Annalise shoved heavy objects in front of it, blocking any last hope of escape. Now, watching Lucas fake a smile at my sisters, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter laugh bubble up from deep inside. The world’s most devoted brother had been killed by his own sisters.

Lucas tugged gently at Serena’s sleeve, his voice trembling as he spoke, “Don’t be mad at him. It’s my fault, really. I’m the one who’s weak, and Liam didn’t mean to hurt me. Please don’t blame him.” Serena’s face went cold as she shot him a sharp look. “This kid… We spoiled him rotten. How did we end up with someone so selfish, so arrogant?” Celeste’s eyes burned with rage. “He’s only getting worse. If it weren’t for him, Lucas wouldn’t be in this condition!” Lucas then intentionally pulled up his sleeve, revealing the faint red marks from his allergic reaction, still visible on his skin. Annalise immediately reached out, gently touching the redness with a soft, concerned expression. “Does it still hurt, Lucas?” Lucas lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “No… it doesn’t hurt anymore…” Celeste’s anger flared. “If we hadn’t rushed him to the hospital, Lucas could’ve been in real danger. And after all this time, Liam hasn’t even bothered to send one message to check on him? What’s wrong with him?” Serena’s anger was almost palpable. “Get that little brat in here now, and make him apologize. I don’t care if he’s too proud. He’s going to apologize to Lucas.” Celeste and Annalise both nodded in agreement, their voices filled with fury. “He wouldn’t dare act this way if he wasn’t hiding behind us. Now he has to pay the price. Make him apologize, or else we’ll take it even further.” When Serena turned to the servant, her voice was sharp as steel. “Why are you still standing there? Go get that ungrateful brat. And bring the punishment stick. If Liam hadn’t put seafood in that oatmeal, Lucas wouldn’t have been in the hospital for three days.” “It’s time to set things straight and remind this family what discipline really means!” The servant didn’t dare argue, rushing off to follow the orders. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. My sisters didn’t even bother to look into the truth before blaming me. Three days ago, Lucas had wanted some oatmeal, so I thought I’d make him something special. He handed me a small packet of seasoning, asking for that specific flavor. I tasted it, and it was just simple seafood oatmeal. Who could’ve known it would trigger his allergy? Even Serena, the business mogul, couldn’t see through something so simple. Wasn’t that a sign of favoritism? In their eyes, I would always be less important than Lucas. My heart sank further. But it didn’t matter now. I was already dead in that basement. They could give all their love to Lucas from now on. “Miss, we’ve been calling Mr. Liam for a long time. He’s not responding… We can’t hear any breathing from inside.” Serena’s frown deepened. She stood up abruptly, her face a mask of fury. “What’s he playing at now? Does he think he can ignore us just because he’s too embarrassed to apologize? He really doesn’t realize he almost killed Lucas?” Lucas tugged at Serena’s sleeve again, speaking in a fake, sorrowful tone. “It’s okay. I’m just an orphan. I don’t deserve Liam’s apology.” Serena’s anger boiled over. “So this is his pathetic little game to win sympathy? Does he think I can’t see through him? He thinks he can pretend to be mute and get away with it? Looks like my punishment was too light! Go get him, drag him out, and let’s see how he tries to avoid this now. He’s going to apologize to Lucas, and he’ll do it on his knees!”

I couldn’t help but follow my three sisters, each step making my heart sink even further. Their anger was a storm, and soon, we had reached the door to the basement. “Liam, you think you can hide in there and stay quiet and somehow escape punishment?” Serena’s voice was sharp, full of fury. But there was no sound coming from the basement. Celeste’s face grew darker, her voice cold. “Liam, what are you still pretending? Get out here and apologize to Lucas! Don’t think you can get away with hurting him just because you’ve hidden yourself away, turned off your phone, and cut us out!” Annalise’s eyes blazed with anger. “Liam, you’ve really outdone yourself. You can’t stand it when we show Lucas any attention, so now you’re pretending to be silent just to mess with us? You think hiding in that basement is going to make us back down?” Still, nothing came from the basement. Serena turned to the trembling staff, her voice icy and accusing. “Why are you all shaking? Tell me the truth—did this little brat bribe you? Did you secretly let him out?” Celeste scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “With his attitude, I wouldn’t be surprised if he couldn’t handle being locked up and had these servants open the door for him the moment we were gone.” Annalise’s expression was filled with deep disappointment. “How could you do this to Lucas? You almost killed him, and now you won’t even own up to it. Is this really the brother I grew up with? Do you really think we only have you to care about?” One of the servants finally spoke, voice trembling, “Miss, we didn’t let him out without your permission. Mr. Liam really has been locked in the basement for three whole days.” Annalise’s gaze flickered to the basement, her unease suddenly apparent. She stepped forward and yanked on the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Liam, seriously? I’ve unlocked the door, and you’re still refusing to come out?” I stood there, staring at the twisted basement door, bitterly smiling. I had tried to survive by banging on the door, desperate for air, but it was too solid, and I couldn’t get it open. No crack, no escape. I was left to suffocate, trapped in that dark place. Sisters, if you see me like this—my body cold and lifeless—could you at least show me a little love? Could you bury me beside Mom and Dad? Serena grew more impatient. She kicked the door with all her might. The twisted door cracked open, and a putrid stench wafted out. One of the servants, shuddering, spoke in a terrified whisper, “It smells like… a corpse.” Both Celeste and Annalise stormed forward, their faces filled with fury. “A corpse smell? Don’t be ridiculous! That little punk must have snuck out already and thrown in a dead rat to mess with us. Do you think we’re that stupid?” All three sisters kicked the door in unison, shaking the entire basement. With a loud crash, the door finally gave way, revealing the dark, claustrophobic space—and the overpowering stench of decay that followed.

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