Category: English

Eight months’ pregnant, my husband—so-called CEO of the Sterling Corporation’s Global Security Division—finally found time to accompany me to my prenatal checkup. But the moment we stepped into the hospital, his phone buzzed urgently. The caller ID flashed across the screen. Lucas, usually so composed, panicked instantly. “Honey, it’s a Code Red. Another corporate saboteur has breached the perimeter. I… I’m sorry…” He was frantic, carrying that authoritative tone that left no room for argument. A hurried apology, and he was gone. Watching his car speed away, I crushed the prenatal form in my hand until my nails dug through the paper. I hailed a cab, my pregnant belly weighing me down, and spoke quickly: “Driver, follow that car.” Ha. A Code Red saboteur? What a ridiculous lie. My father hadn’t received any alerts. My father was the real CEO and the person in charge. My husband Lucas only helped my father manage a few branch companies because he married me. What kind of “urgent threat” could possibly require him? What could be so important? Something even more important than accompanying me to my prenatal checkup? I had to see exactly which “executive” was so desperate to summon him. The moment I said “catch him cheating,” the driver hit the gas and caught up to Lucas’s vehicle. I didn’t know who Lucas was meeting, but my gut told me something was terribly wrong. To my surprise, after several turns, the car stopped at the gates of the Executive Estate. I exhaled in relief. At least it wasn’t a hotel. This area housed luxury residences reserved for top Sterling Corporation executives. Lucas had been assigned a villa here too. Before my first pregnancy, I’d lived here briefly. The neighbors were all pleasant. But now, seeing luxury cars lined up at my front door… I was confused. Was today some important occasion? I approached to investigate, but the security guard stopped me: “Executive Estate. No unauthorized entry.” I froze, then smiled politely. “I just entered a moment ago. I’m Mrs. Lucas—the Head of Security’s wife.” Unexpectedly, the guard looked at me with contempt. “Mr. Lucas’s wife is Miss Selina. And you are? Do some research before you try to impersonate someone.” In an instant, my body went rigid. Selina. That woman Lucas had hired as my living blood bank… I came to my senses and pushed past the guard, my pregnant belly leading the way as I rushed to the villa entrance. Inside the grand hall, I saw a sea of elegant guests—power players and elites, laughing and chatting. My usually reclusive mother-in-law, Martha, was uncharacteristically mingling with the crowd. And my husband, Lucas, was holding a baby in his arms, feeding it a bottle, smiling happily at the delicate woman beside him. That woman was Selina… My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. I couldn’t breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. During my first pregnancy, Lucas had worried about my rare blood type causing complications during delivery. He’d searched the entire country to find me a living blood donor. That donor had been a struggling student named Selina. After I gave birth, he said he’d send her away. Out of sympathy, I let Selina stay on as a clerk at Sterling Security. I even had Lucas bring her supplements regularly. But I never imagined Lucas would cheat with her—and that he’d move her into this house. This villa was the home he’d carefully prepared for me after his promotion to Head of Security. But it was far from the hospital, so after I got pregnant again, Lucas insisted we move closer to the city hospital. I never thought it would become their “marital home.” And they’d had a child… “Congratulations, Mr. Lucas! Your wife is so virtuous, and now you have a son. You’re a true winner in life!” “Oh, Selina is so blessed to have found a husband who cherishes her like this. I’m so envious!” One of staff’s wife patted Martha’s hand, fawning over her. Martha’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she looked at Selina, bragging: “My Lucas is the lucky one to have married such a wonderful wife.” Lucas, unbothered by the crowd, leaned close to Selina and whispered something in her ear. Selina blushed and smiled shyly, then raised her glass to the guests: “I was afraid that going public at the company would hurt Lucas’s reputation, so we kept it private. Please don’t mind.” “Today is our son’s 100-day-birthday celebration. Everyone, please drink—consider this our belated wedding toast.” Seeing Selina handle the situation so gracefully, the guests smiled and offered their congratulations. “We wouldn’t dare hold it against the Head of Security’s wife! We just forgot to say congratulations on your marriage!” “I say, why not take this opportunity and have them act as bride and groom again? Let’s see them drink from the unity cup!” Lucas’s security team subordinates chimed in, and the banquet atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Selina bashfully tried to decline, but Lucas pulled her close by the waist and liftedked onto mine standing at the door. He shoved the woman in his arms away violently. Selina shrieked as red wine splashed all over her. “Evelyn…” I wiped the tears from my eyes, my pregnant belly leading the way as I stormed forward and slapped him across the face. “SLAP!” The crisp sound echoed through the hall, plunging the entire room into dead silence. “Lucas!” Selina’s eyes rolled back as she lunged toward him, screaming at me hysterically: “Evelyn! How dare you—” “SLAP!” Another slap. Selina’s face swelled instantly, and she stumbled backward into Lucas’s arms, sobbing pitifully. I shook out my stinging palm. “Ser—” Lucas immediately reacted, shouting at me. “LUCAS!” But my voice was louder. I turned my head, glaring at him with ice-cold fury. “Is THIS your ‘Code Red saboteur’?!”

Lucas was speechless. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. The crowd of executives and their families stood frozen, utterly clueless. In the suffocating silence, a baby’s cry suddenly pierced the air, startling everyone. Martha rushed to take the baby and soothe it. Then she immediately turned on me, screaming: “Evelyn! You crazy bitch! You’re already divorced—how dare you come here and harass my son! Get out before you offend someone important and end up in prison!” The Deputy Director’s wife immediately joined in with a harsh rebuke: “Even if you’re Mr. Lucas’s ex-wife, you can’t just assault people!!” Learning my identity, the hall erupted. The crowd began clamoring to have me locked up and taught a lesson. I frowned and grabbed Lucas by the collar, about to demand why I—his lawful wife—had suddenly become his “ex-wife.” But Selina beat me to it, shrinking into Lucas’s arms with tears in her eyes as she looked at me: “Sister Evelyn… Lucas already divorced you. Why are you still clinging to us…?” Her tears flowed freely. “It’s all my fault. I’ll give Lucas back to you, okay…?” Lucas’s expression darkened. Suppressing his rage, he snarled at me: “Evelyn! I’ve told you—I won’t reconcile with you! Stop harassing us!” “Get out while I still have patience! I don’t have time to deal with you!” With a gesture from Lucas, several boygaurds rushed forward to forcibly remove me. As I struggled, I stumbled and crashed into Martha. But the moment I caught sight of the baby’s face in her arms… I was struck by lightning. Because the child Martha was holding—the child supposedly belonging to Selina—was my firstborn son, Theodore, whom I’d labored seven hours to deliver! But my child had died three months ago. Lucas himself had cremated him— Lucas… My breath caught. A searing pain flooded my eyes. That bastard! He’d faked our child’s death just to give him to Selina to raise! “Give me back my child! He’s my Theodore!” My teeth ground together audibly. I snatched the baby from her arms, shoved Martha aside, and gently soothed the crying infant, tears streaming down my face. Selina suddenly panicked. Crying, she rushed forward to snatch the baby back. Her voice trembled: “Evelyn, he’s not your child!” “I know Theodore died, and you were traumatized—you went mad. Even after the divorce, you insisted on clinging to Lucas to have another baby…” “I pitied you for losing your son, so I tolerated everything. But you can’t steal my child!” “Please, let our family go… I’ll divorce Lucas if you want, just give me back my baby!” Hearing this, Lucas’s face twisted in pain. He gripped Selina’s shoulders tightly and shouted: “Selina, I won’t allow it!” “Divorce is out of the question. No one is tearing apart our family of three.” “What about ME?!” I roared, cutting him off. Watching the two of them perform their tragic love scene, I pointed at my swollen pregnant belly and spoke to him word by word: “Lucas, I’m still carrying YOUR child. You cheated on me in front of my face and turned me into your ‘ex-wife.’ Don’t you feel disgusted?!” His throat bobbed. He looked away, unable to meet my eyes. Selina’s tears fell even harder, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice in the world. She turned to the guests, sobbing: “I’m sorry, everyone. Evelyn is Lucas’s ex-wife. After a difficult birth and losing her child, she went insane.” “Later, she kept begging Lucas for another baby. When he refused, she… she went to thugs and criminals to… to get pregnant…” “Lucas, out of old affection, checked on her from time to time. But now she’s trying to force him to claim another man’s bastard child, and she’s… she’s trying to make us divorce…” This speech ignited the fury of everyone present. The socialites immediately jeered in disgust: “A crazy whore—she’s got both titles covered! Someone get this lunatic out of here!” Cradling the baby in my arms, I let out a cold laugh. I was too angry to even be furious anymore. I looked at Selina, my gaze frozen into ice: “Who’s the whore setting up her chastity arch, Selina? Don’t you know?” “Need I remind you how much you sold each milliliter of your blood for?” “You took thirty million from me, then knelt at my feet, begging for a stable job. Wasn’t that you?” Selina’s face grew paler and paler with each word. But I wasn’t finished. “What, Lucas’s mistress allowance wasn’t enough? So now you’re smashing my rice bowl?” “You, a mistress, insisting on pretending to be the lady of the house—doesn’t your face hurt from the swelling?” Before I could finish, someone violently shoved my pregnant belly, and I stumbled backward.

“YOU’RE the homewrecker destroying my son’s family!” Martha’s shrill scream echoed through the room. My back slammed hard against the wall. My abdomen cramped violently. The baby in my arms was ripped away and handed back to Selina. Immediately, the boyguards erupted in righteous indignation: “That’s right! Everyone at Sterling Security knows Lucas and Selina are a couple!” “If it weren’t for Selina providing intel, how could Lucas have solved so many major cases and gotten promoted so fast?” “You useless ex-wife only ever held Lucas back. YOU should be ashamed!” Providing intel? Solving cases? Getting promoted? Wasn’t that all MY work for Lucas? He didn’t just steal my identity—he handed all my accomplishments to Selina. To make her look good. Why?! “Exactly! Even if you’re mentally ill, destroying a marriage is still illegal!” “You shameless slut, stop pretending to be Mrs. Lucas and dirtying our eyes! Mr. Lucas is merciful—if it were me, I’d have already…” The vicious insults continued relentlessly. And throughout this nightmare, I looked at the man standing off to the side, completely detached, looking down at me from his high perch. “Lucas.” My voice was weak. “You tell them… How exactly did you become Head of Security?” Lucas’s fingers clenched suddenly. He turned his head and looked at me coldly, a rare flash of hatred in his usually indifferent eyes. I laughed. “You said the frontline was too dangerous, that you didn’t want to risk your life. You wanted to stay in the safe zones. I agreed.” “After we got engaged, you said your rank was too low, that you weren’t worthy of me. So I begged my father.” “You said the cases were too complex, too hard to solve. I worked myself to exhaustion providing you with leads. And now you—” “ENOUGH!” Lucas roared. He strode forward and grabbed me by the throat, his eyes bloodshot and savage, screaming in my face: “You’re lying! Everything I have, I earned myself! What does it have to do with a useless woman like you?!” My throat burned. The suffocating pressure made my vision go black. My face turned purple from the blood rushing to my head. But seeing my conviction, Lucas was suddenly enraged beyond reason. The executives and socialites seemed to glimpse something. They began whispering amongst themselves. Seeing this, a dark gleam flashed in Selina’s eyes. Holding the baby, she suddenly dropped to her knees before me, crying tragically: “Evelyn, I’ve tolerated your delusional ramblings before.” “But on an occasion like this, if you spread lies, you’ll ruin Lucas’s future!” “I’m begging you. I’ll kowtow to you. Please stop this madness… please…” She crawled forward on her knees, clutching at my pant leg, about to slam her head against the floor. Lucas’s eyes widened in alarm. The hand strangling my throat released. He crouched down to help her up. But in the next second, Selina grabbed my leg and flung herself backward. At the same time, she screamed: “AHH! Sister Evelyn, just kick me to death!” Before I could react, Lucas’s hysterical slap came crashing down: “Evelyn! You ungrateful bitch!” My right cheek exploded in pain. I raised my hand to strike back, but Martha kicked me hard in the lower back. The moment I hit the ground, my stomach erupted in bone-deep agony. Bright red blood poured from between my legs. Within seconds, I was sitting in a pool of blood. I collapsed in the crimson puddle, my entire body wracked with unbearable pain, as if I were being torn apart. “My stomach… Lucas… it hurts…” Tears of blood streamed from my eyes. I reached out to him for help. But Martha’s foot came down hard on my hand, crushing my bones: “Bitch! Stop faking! My son won’t be threatened by you!” Tears blurred my vision. My lips trembled. “Lucas… I’m not faking… please… take me to the hospital…” But Lucas didn’t even turn to look at me. He only carefully protected Selina, his voice cold and ruthless: “Enough! Evelyn, stop pretending. Apologize to Selina!” “Always using the baby as a weapon—do you think I’ll believe you?!” As he spoke, Lucas turned back in fury. But the moment he saw the pool of blood beneath me… His disgust crumbled. A flicker of fear appeared in his eyes. Lucas knew my identity. He couldn’t just stand by and watch. I locked eyes with his panicked gaze. Gritting my teeth through the pain tearing through my insides, I snarled at him: “Lucas! If anything happens to the baby in my stomach! You—the biological father—” “Will be the one who killed him!” “My father, my brother—they’ll make your entire family pay with their lives! NOW! Take me to the hospital!”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606190n2nj7d1gd 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni536398”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

On the day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday, my husband’s childhood sweetheart, Wendy Shaw, showed up half-naked, wailing that my brother had ruined her purity. The noble ladies pointed at our family and spat. “Miss Shaw is a candidate for imperial consort. I can’t believe Mr. Greenwood would do something so bold! He should be beaten to death!” I took out the Imperial Pardon Token that our family received after our father died on the battlefield and begged for mercy. In the end, the Emperor spared my brother’s life and even bestowed a marriage between him and Wendy. But the very next moment, my husband, Eric Jones, struck in public and broke both of my brother’s legs. He leaned close to my ear and sighed softly. “If His Majesty’s anger isn’t vented now, he might remember this later and exterminate the entire Greenwood family.” My brother and I swallowed the humiliation. But seven and a half months later, Wendy gave birth to an eight-pound baby boy. My brother cried out, blood in his tears, “I’ve said it a thousand times, I never even touched a single finger of hers!” He had repeated those words countless times on that day, yet no one believed him. They only mocked him for daring to act but not to admit it. Dragging his crippled legs, he picked up the child and tried to file a formal accusation before the throne, only to have his skull smashed from behind by Eric. I opened my mouth to scream, but his hand clamped around my throat. “Have you ever thought about how Wendy and the child will live if you and your brother take this to His Majesty?” His eyes were ruthless. He strangled me to death, even as I was heavily pregnant. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the very day of the birthday banquet. This time, I directly had my brother bound and locked inside a side hall. Yet Wendy still cried that someone had defiled her innocence. *** Wendy slammed her forehead against the dragon-carved pillar until blood streaked down her face. Sobbing, she collapsed into the arms of several noble ladies, trembling as if the world had ended. “I’ve lost my purity. I’ve shamed the Shaw ancestors, and I can no longer face His Majesty. Just let me die!” The ladies shot me vicious looks, their eyes sharp as knives. Each of them burned with righteous fury, as if they wished to spit on me where I stood. “The Greenwood family has grown too arrogant! Guarding the frontier and then returning to violate a maiden chosen for the imperial consort selection?” “They rely on their military merit to act lawlessly, as if even the Emperor were beneath them!” “They brag about strict discipline in the army, yet dare behave so wildly under the Son of Heaven’s gaze. Who knows how many women at the border he’s already ruined!” I glanced at the man who was standing right next to Wendy. It was my husband, Eric. I suppressed the sneer tugging at my lips and spoke calmly, my voice slow and cold. “Miss Shaw, I’d suggest you think about what you say very carefully. Was it really my brother who raped you?” Wendy’s body stiffened, but then she cried even harder. “I already belong to Adam. Why must you humiliate me like this, my lady? I… I might as well die!” She lunged for the pillar again, but the noble ladies hurriedly grabbed her and held her back. Eric walked over to me and dragged me to one side. “Laura Greenwood,” he said through clenched teeth, “your brother committed a beastly crime, yet instead of making him confess, you dare use your status to bully and interrogate Wendy? The honor your Greenwood men won with their blood on the battlefield has been completely ruined by you siblings!” I winced at the pain from his tight grip. But inside, I couldn’t help letting out a cold, silent laugh.

About an hour ago, I personally tied Adam up as if he were a prisoner of war and locked him in a side hall. How could he possibly have slipped out and violated Wendy? I lifted my gaze, fearless, and met Eric’s eyes. “Eric, are you certain it was my brother?” His expression turned vicious. He leaned close, spitting the words at my face. “I knocked that beast unconscious myself, tied him up, and saved Wendy. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my own brother-in-law?” My heart skipped a beat at those words. Could it be that Adam had broken out of the side hall? “How long are you going to keep this up, Mrs. Jones?” one of the elder matron asked. “As the wife of a court official, instead of easing your husband’s burdens, you shield your scandalous, debauched brother. You are utterly unfit to be the mistress of the Jones household!” “Must Lord Jones twist the law for your sake? Must he protect that disgraceful brother of yours and drive Miss Shaw to her death before you’re satisfied?” Eric glared at me. “Stop embarrassing yourself, Laura!” I snorted and scanned everyone in the room, who thought they were on the side of justice. “Looks like you’re going to pin the blame on my brother no matter if Miss Shaw is raped or not today.” “What?” Tears streamed down Wendy’s cheeks as if she had suffered a huge grievance. She trembled as she took out a handkerchief covered in blood and threw it at my feet. Her voice broke, every word soaked in grievance. “I, Wendy, a sheltered maiden of good family, am I some shameless, wanton harlot who would willingly debase herself? If the Greenwood family refuses to acknowledge this, then I will die here today and never stain your noble name with my presence!” With that, she turned and rushed toward the pillar again. The noble ladies cried out in alarm, grabbing her and holding her fast. “Don’t do that, silly girl. It’s all that pervert from the Greenwood family’s fault! It’s already bad enough that you were raped; we can’t let you just kill yourself like that. We can’t let that bastard off that easily!” shouted the elderly woman. She then turned to me, “Miss Shaw is a candidate for imperial consort. One day she may bear heirs for the royal family! Your Greenwood household is only a minor marquisate. Do you really think you’re some prized treasure, that she would ruin her own reputation just to frame you?” Eric frowned and seized my wrist, putting on the guise of someone acting for my own good. “Stop this nonsense, Laura. Just admit that Adam’s behind all of this and make preparations for Adam and Wendy’s wedding. After that, you need to beg His Majesty for his forgiveness. His Majesty is benevolent. Perhaps he’ll spare Adam’s life. Otherwise, merely for defiling a consort candidate, extermination of the entire family would be considered lenient.” In my previous life, I was tricked by those same words. I believed my brother had truly committed a drunken mistake. Out of guilt, I handed over half the Northern Marquis’ Estate as betrothal gifts to the Shaw family, and treated Wendy like an honored ancestor. In the end, she gave birth to a bastard child after only seven and a half months, and destroyed my entire family. The memory made my stomach churn with nausea. I used all my strength to pull my arm out of Eric’s hand. “You want Wendy to marry into our family? No way!” I shouted. Eric’s face immediately darkened, his gaze turning vicious. Before he could lash out, a commotion rippled through the crowd. Wendy’s father, John Shaw, hurried in.

His face was livid, his whole body trembling with fury. He strode straight up to her and raised his hand. A loud, sharp slap rang out. The blow sent her sprawling to the ground, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. “Why are you still alive, you embarrassing piece of shit? Guards! Take this whore away and strangle her to death! I don’t want her embarrassing the Shaw family!” Two servants of the Shaw family immediately walked forward. “That won’t be necessary, Father,” cried Wendy as she took off her silver hairpin and stabbed it at her own neck. The hall erupted at once. Some were gasping, some tried to stop Wendy, and others turned to me. “Mrs. Jones, are you just going to stand and watch all of this? If your brother hadn’t done something so vile, would Miss Shaw be driven to this? Where’s your conscience?” I watched the spectacle with cold eyes and said nothing. A ruthless look flashed in Wendy’s eyes as she pushed the hairpin into her neck. Blood gushed out instantly. All the noble ladies gasped. “Heavens above! The Greenwood family has driven someone to suicide!” Eric’s face completely changed. He rushed forward and took the hairpin from Wendy’s hand. “Quick! Summon the imperial doctor!” He quickly ripped off a piece of his clothes and pressed it against the bleeding wound on Wendy’s neck. Wendy was surrounded by people as she blinked weakly. Yet when her gaze brushed past me, there was no will to die in her eyes, only a faint, triumphant gleam, as if victory were already within reach. After Wendy’s wound was taken care of, Eric walked up to me. “You evil bitch!” he cursed angrily and slapped me hard across my face. The blow caused me to stumble and fall. My palms skidded across the cold, hard floor and immediately began to bleed. My left cheek was burning with pain, and my left ear was ringing as well. Eric pointed at me as he looked at me with cunning eyes. “How can you be so ruthless? Do you really want to force Wendy to her death? The Jones family has no place for such a ruthless woman like you! I’ll divorce you right now!” All the noble ladies nodded in agreement. They even began clapping and cheering. “You did the right thing, Mr. Jones! You should divorce this evil bitch!” I was bombarded with curses and insults. They all looked like they wanted to throw rotten eggs at me. I swallowed the blood in my mouth and ignored the scorching pain in my palm as I forced myself up from the ground. “Accusations require proof, Mr. Jones. Which one of you has actually seen my brother raping Wendy?” Everyone present looked at each other in a daze. Eric sneered. “Looks like you just don’t know when to give up!” He walked quickly to the corner of the hall and kicked a sack that was guarded by a couple of guards. He then bent down and untied the rope, reached in, felt around a little, and pulled out a Silver Cloud Circlet. He held the circlet high and turned to face the others. “Take a look, everyone! This Silver Cloud Circlet is something only a Marquis can wear! Of all the Marquises in the kingdom, only my brother-in-law, Adam Greenwood, is missing! The rest are all present!” Eric’s gaze was sharp as a knife. He threw the circlet, which still had a few strands of hair on it, towards me. “What else do you have to say, Laura?” My heart sank at the sight of the circlet. This circlet was indeed the one that Adam was wearing today. Could it be that someone had released Adam after I left? No, that was impossible! John cursed, “Are you still going to say it’s not your brother now that we have solid evidence?” I gritted my teeth and looked straight at Eric as I laughed sarcastically. “Well, that’s strange. My brother and I have only just gotten back to Impelia from the boarders. We might not have attended banquets often, but we’ve never caused any problems. Why was it that when I especially told my brother to stay by your side, Eric, to learn proper etiquette, such a thing happened? Who exactly is having an affair with Wendy and wants to frame my brother and family for it?” “That’s nonsense!” Eric shouted angrily. He was clearly in a panic. A couple of men held him back. Everyone present shook their heads at me. “You’ve really lost it! You are actually trying to frame your husband just to protect your brother!” “You really have no conscience! Looks like you want to drag the Jones family down with you!” “I really feel sorry for Eric to have married such a heartless woman!” A couple of kind elders came over and tried to calm me down. “Let’s not make things more complicated than they already are, Laura. Just apologize to Eric. We can still work something out.” I pushed their hands away and sneered. “Why should I apologize? I did nothing wrong!” Someone present mumbled, “Mr. Jones and Miss Shaw grew up together. If there really was something between them, would Eric have married her?” Everyone present felt the statement sounded a little weird, but soon, realization dawned on them. An elderly lady of the Jones family became anxious and grabbed my arm. “What’s gotten into you? All the men of the Greenwood family have died on the battlefield, and your brother’s the only man left! If His Majesty and Empress Dowager find out about this, what would they do to your brother?” I couldn’t help but recall what happened in my previous life. After Adam’s legs were crippled, all he could do was lie in bed all day. His wound became infected and began to rot. He used to be the most talented young general in the army, but ended up being a cripple who couldn’t even walk. I couldn’t forget the hopeless look in his eyes when he was nothing but skin and bones and wishing he were dead.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619dDrZw2P8Zr 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni650779”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

During our first date after getting back together, my boyfriend, Jake Shaw, and I got caught in an escalator accident at a shopping center. As a firefighter, Jake immediately rushed to his friend Jessica Rane and led her away from the escalator. I, however, tripped over the escalator handrail and fell to the ground. After I was rescued, Jake calmly explained, “You had just stepped onto the escalator, so you had time to step back. I was closer to Jessica, so saving her was the best option…” He listed dozens of reasons for me, but in the end, he looked at me and said helplessly, “Stop sulking, Laura.” I tightened the bandage around my wound and said softly, “Why don’t you go check on Jessica? She’s just next door.” Jake smiled as if he were happy with my reply. He held my hand and said, as if giving a reward, “Didn’t you always want to go see the aurora lights, Laura? I’ll go with you once Jessica fully recovers.” That was a wish I made in front of Jake when we were both 18. But I only got a reply when we were 28. I raised my head and looked Jake in the eyes before nodding my head meaningfully. Seeing that I wasn’t as happy as he expected, Jake furrowed his brows, about to speak, but someone entered the room. He let go of my hand and rushed towards the person who just came into the ward. His voice was gentler than ever. “Shouldn’t you be resting in bed, Jessica? The doctor said that you need to rest for your legs to recover.” Jessica allowed Jake to pull her into his arms and said, “I was afraid that Laura’s going to be mad at you for what happened, so I came to explain things to her for you. Look at how thoughtful I am.” With that said, she turned to me and curved her lips. “Please don’t get the wrong idea, Laura. Jake and I are just good buddies. He chose to save me instead of you this time because he was closer to me. I hope you won’t mind.” I ignored her and unlocked my phone to book a one-way ticket to Iceland. Jake furrowed his brows as if he was unhappy with me remaining silent. “Don’t go too far, Laura.” Jessica clicked her tongue and chuckled. “Looks like Laura’s still mad. Women are so complicated. Looks like it’s better to be friends. Let go of me, Jake. I’ll kneel down and apologize to Laura.” Jake naturally wasn’t going to let Jessica get on her knees. He picked her up in his arms and turned to leave. Before he left, he said, “There should be a limit to your attitude. Looks like I’ve spoiled you for too long.” Jake slammed the door shut, and the sound echoed in the ward as if telling me how angry Jake was. Like countless times before, he pinned the blame on me before I even said anything. Later that day, I saw Jessica’s Twitter post. “Heading off to Iceland to see the aurora lights with my bro!” The post had a picture of a text confirming Jake and Jessica’s flight to Iceland in five days’ time. I liked the post, and it was immediately deleted. In their childhood friends group chat, someone asked, “Why did you delete the post, Jessica? I was just about to comment.” Jessica replied with a crying emoji and said, “I forgot to block a certain someone, and she saw it. She loves competing with others for attention. I’m afraid that she’ll throw another tantrum.” Jake’s friends in the group chat began commenting sarcastically. “Has Jake gotten back together with that drama queen again? Where are his standards? How is she better than Jessica?” “I’ve heard that she’s sulking because Jake saved Jessica first and not her during the escalator accident. It was a good thing that Jake chose to ignore her. It’s bros before hoes after all.” “Who knows? All men probably like women who act weak in front of them. Independent women like Jessica aren’t really the first choice for men.” Members of the group chat were all Jake’s childhood friends. In the past, I would’ve argued with them in the group chat or confronted Jake directly. But now, I just left the group chat and deleted everyone. A short while later, I received a message from Jake. He sent me a picture with a flight number circled. “We’re going to Iceland on this flight in three days’ time. You book your own ticket. Jessica and I have booked ours. I’m only taking you with us because Jessica asked me to. You should really reflect on your own actions, Laura.” I pursed my lips. He could see the messages in the group chat, but he didn’t say anything on my behalf.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619zAWnD7CvlT 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni375063”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

I’ve always been a petty man. In my world, if you throw mud at me, I don’t just throw it back-I burn your entire house down with you inside it. When I was ten, our neighbor Mrs. Henderson accused me of stealing a package from her doorstep. I didn’t do it, but she told the whole street I was a thief. That night, I snuck into her backyard and blasted death metal through her garden speakers at three in the morning. She never said a bad word about me again. After I started my career, a colleague whispered that I only got promoted because I was sleeping with the female lead. At the annual gala, I played the hidden camera footage of him and that same boss moaning in the supply closet on a 50-foot loop. After that, people learned to keep my name out of their mouths. They called me crazy. Unhinged. A psycho. I didn’t give a damn. Then my family found me a fianc閑. Charlotte Ashford. Old money. Manhattan elite. The night before our wedding, she threw a pre-wedding party at some overpriced rooftop bar in Tribeca. I showed up because my father insisted. “The Ashfords are critical business partners, Vincent. Play nice.” Play nice. Right. I was nursing a whiskey when her “best friend” Ethan Lawrence-some trust fund brat who’d been orbiting Charlotte since prep school-decided to run his mouth. He leaned against Charlotte’s shoulder, smirking at me like we were sharing some inside joke. “Vincent, I heard your dad married into money. A real boy-toy situation, you know? And word is you’re just like him-living off women. Got dumped by some rich cougar before you latched onto our Charlie, right?” Charlotte’s friends erupted into laughter. Champagne glasses clinked. Eyes gleamed with malicious amusement, waiting to see if I’d crumble. I set down my glass. Picked up the empty bottle next to it. Then I smashed it against the edge of the bar. The sound cut through the music like a gunshot. Glass shards scattered across the marble floor. I pressed the jagged edge against Ethan’s cheek, close enough that he went pale. “Charlotte,” I said, not breaking eye contact with him. “You’ve got so many friends here. You won’t miss this one, right?” …… Charlotte’s face went ice-cold. She slapped my hand away hard enough that the bottle neck clattered to the floor. “Vincent, what the hell is wrong with you?” “It was a joke! Ethan was joking. Are you seriously this fragile?” Her friends piled on immediately. “Vincent, Charlotte’s doing you a favor by marrying you. Your family legacy would be nothing without the Ashfords. You should be grateful, not throwing tantrums.” “Ethan’s known Charlie since they were kids. They’re like family. You threatening him? That’s insane.” “You should learn how to tolerate your future wife-and her friends, Vincent. ” I laughed. Genuinely laughed. I bent down, picked up a shard of glass, and twirled it between my fingers. “Here’s the thing,” I said, my voice calm. “I’ve never had a sense of humor. Never learned to take a joke. So when people joke about me, I take them as the joke.” I locked eyes with Ethan, whose face had gone from smug to terrified. “For example, if someone says my father’s a gold digger, I’d be justified in assuming theirs was too. That they’re just a bastard child from an affair, swept under the rug to avoid scandal. Isn’t that right , Ethan?” Ethan’s body went rigid. Tears welled in his eyes instantly. Charlotte grabbed my wrist, her nails digging into my skin. “Vincent, you apologize to Ethan. Right now.” “Where do you get off saying something like that? Ethan’s father died saving my dad in a construction accident. My family took him in out of gratitude!” “Say one more word, and I’ll throw you out of here myself.” Ethan cowered behind her, playing the victim perfectly. “Charlie, don’t be mad at Vincent. Maybe I said the wrong thing… I’m sorry, Vincent. I shouldn’t have joked like that.” Her friends immediately turned on me. “Ethan apologized. What more do you want, Vincent? Besides, Ethan’s not wrong-we’ve all seen you getting out of different women’s cars. Who knows what you were doing in there?” “You’re marrying Charlotte tomorrow. Maybe tone down the psycho act? If you can’t handle some friendly banter, maybe don’t show up.” I was genuinely amused by these idiots. Before I came tonight, my father had given me his usual lecture: “The Ashfords are crucial partners, Vincent. This alliance benefits both families.” I tried to follow his advice, but honestly, they don’t treat me like a partner. This is truly regrettable,for them. I learned early on that backing down only makes you a target. The only way to survive is to be crazier, meaner, and more vicious than anyone else. If someone bites you, you don’t just bite back. You shatter their teeth and make them choke on the fragments. I slowly released the glass shard from my palm, letting it fall. “You’re right. Getting upset over something so trivial-that’s immature of me.” Their faces lit up with smug satisfaction. Charlotte’s expression softened slightly. She opened her mouth to say something conciliatory. I cut her off. “But if we’re talking about playing games…” I smiled. “I’m the best there is.” “You want to play? Let’s play. Come on. Let’s continue.”

I scanned the crowd of vultures circling for entertainment. Grabbed a glass and started pouring every liquor I could find into it. Whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, rum-seven or eight different kinds, creating a toxic cocktail that looked like it could strip paint. “Here’s the game. Loser drinks this. Then answers one question from the winner-total honesty required.” “If you lie or refuse to answer, you drink three more.” One of Charlotte’s friends sneered. “Games need stakes, Vincent. What are you putting up? Or are you broke as well as boring?” I swirled the toxic mixture, my smile widening. Then I pulled out my black AmEx card and slammed it on the table. “Anyone who gets me to drink, even just one sip, will get my card with unlimited credit.” The room went dead silent. Charlotte’s face flushed with anger. “Vincent, enough. You think you can humiliate people just because you have money?” I ignored her. Kept my eyes locked on Ethan. “What’s wrong? Scared to play? You were so chatty a minute ago.” “Ethan. You’re up first.” Ethan’s eyes were glued to that black card like a starving man staring at a steak. He rolled the dice. I didn’t even look before I opened the cup. Six sixes. Ethan’s face went ghost-white. “Truth or dare,” I said. “Did your mother marry your father before or after you were born?” His body started trembling. “I… I choose dare!” I nodded slowly, sliding the toxic cocktail toward him. “Fair enough. Drink this. Then call your dad and tell him, on speaker, that Ethan’s father was the real gold digger.” Ethan broke instantly. “Charlie! I don’t want to! I don’t want to play anymore!” Pathetic. Two moves and I’d already peeled back his skin. Charlotte exploded. She shoved me hard. “Vincent, enough! Ethan’s young, he doesn’t know better. How can you be so cruel?” I actually laughed. Charlotte was too stupid to see manipulation even when it slapped her in the face. “When he was slandering my father and calling me a parasite, you didn’t say he was ‘young.’ Interesting double standard.” I stepped closer, voice dropping. “Charlotte, you’re protecting him so hard, people might think he’s your fianc?instead of me.” “Your ‘best friend’-is that code for fuck buddy?” Charlotte’s hand flew up to slap me. I didn’t dodge. Just stared at her. “Go ahead. Hit me.” “Let everyone see how the great Charlotte Ashford assaults her fianc?to defend some other man’s illegitimate son.” “Should I call your father? Let him know tomorrow’s wedding is off?” I pulled out my phone, thumb hovering over the contact. Charlotte panicked. She grabbed my phone and hurled it to the ground, shattering the screen. “Vincent, you’re being unreasonable!” “The wedding’s tomorrow. Go home and think about what you did. Don’t embarrass yourself-and me-at the ceremony.” She wrapped a protective arm around the still-whimpering Ethan and marched out. Her friends followed, throwing sneers and insults my way. I stood there, surrounded by broken glass and spilled liquor, and smiled. Perfect. Tomorrow, we’d see who the real joke was.

I got home and immediately grabbed my burner phone. Dialed a number I’d kept for emergencies. “I need everything on Ethan Lawrence. And I mean everything. His father’s death, his mother’s history, the Ashford connection-all of it.” “The dirtier, the better.” The voice on the other end chuckled. “Mr. Sterling, it’s your wedding eve. You sure you want to go nuclear?” “Less talking. Have it in my email by morning.” I hung up and stared at my reflection in the window. Charlotte. Ethan. You think this is over? You threw mud at me. Now I’m going to make you eat it-mixed with broken glass and blood. The next day was the so-called “wedding of the century.” Sterling and Ashford families united. Manhattan’s elite packed into the Plaza ballroom. My father cornered me in the groom’s suite. “Vincent, keep your temper in check today. This is your wedding.” “If you don’t want Charlotte, fine. You can live separately after. She’ll have the Sterling name, Just a nominal Mrs.Sterling.but you’ll have the real power. That’s what matters.” I gave him a tight smile. Said nothing. My temper wasn’t something I could turn on and off. It was a wildfire, and once lit, it consumed everything. As I stepped into the ballroom, my phone buzzed. It was a number I didn’t recognize I answered, and immediately, I knew something was wrong. And then I realized-maybe this is a good opportunity. Without hesitation, I synced my phone to the ballroom’s wireless speakers. Every guest in the room went silent as Ethan’s voice flooded the space. “Charlie… this is all my fault. If I hadn’t been so upset because you’re getting married tomorrow, we wouldn’t have… God, we shouldn’t have slept together.” “You’re getting married today. I gave you my virginity. What if Vincent finds out? What if he makes a scene?” Charlotte’s voice came through, soft and reassuring. “This isn’t your fault, Ethan. Vincent pushed you. It just… happened. We got carried away.” “If there’s a baby, I’ll keep it. I’ll raise it. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.” I walked calmly to the stage, picked up the microphone. “Sorry to interrupt, everyone.” “Looks like my bride has some unfinished business with her best friend.” Charlotte’s parents looked like they’d been struck by lightning. Her father roared toward the back rooms. “Charlotte! Get out here right now!” She emerged seconds later, still in her wedding gown, face pale with shock. When she realized what had happened, her eyes found mine across the room. Pure, venomous hatred. But with hundreds of witnesses staring at her, she had no choice. Her father slapped her. Hard. “Apologize to Vincent. Now. Or you’re no daughter of mine.” Charlotte’s voice was barely a whisper, choked with rage. “I’m sorry, Vincent. Ethan and I… it was a mistake. I swear I’ll never see him again.” She glared at me with such intensity I could feel it burning. I gave her my most charming smile. This alliance was dead anyway. I wasn’t marrying damaged goods. I opened my mouth to officially end this charade- When my phone buzzed. A photo. My mother. Bound with rope. Dangling from the edge of a rooftop. Every drop of blood drained from my face.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Q7yjk9XCeg 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni237525”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The day my Harvard acceptance letter arrived, everyone expected me to frame it. Mount it on the wall like a trophy. Proof that Liam Vance had finally made it. Instead, I declined the offer and enrolled at MIT. It wasn’t impulse. It wasn’t rebellion. It was survival. Because I reborn. In last life, accepting Harvard meant becoming the perfect husband for Seraphina. It meant watching her, six months pregnant with my child, stand over me with a smile. “If you hadn’t gone to Harvard,” she’d whispered, rope cutting into my wrists as I hung from the ceiling beam, “my family never would have chosen you. And my love wouldn’t have drowned his heartbreak at that club. They wouldn’t have found him dead in some backroom, servicing strangers for pills.” Her voice had been so calm. So rational. “You stole his place. So you’ll pay with your life. Piece. By. Piece.” She deliberately had a miscarriage that night. The reason was that she didn’t want to have a child with me. She felt disgusted. I died at the same night… And then I woke up. Eighteen years old. Acceptance letters scattered across my desk. The same day. My phone buzzed. Mr. Kowalski, my guidance counselor. “Liam, the deadline’s tonight. Harvard’s waiting. You’re really going to make them sweat?” I ended the call and stared at the MIT enrollment form on my laptop screen. Different path. Different future. No Seraphina. The door flew open. “Liam.” My mother swept in. Her hands fluttered. “Tell me you’ve confirmed Harvard. Please. I need to hear you say it.” Seeing mom now—alive, whole, not beaten to death by Hawthorne security—made my throat close. In that other life, she’d found my body. Seen what Seraphina had done. And she’d lunged at the woman who’d butchered her son. The Hawthorne guards hadn’t hesitated. I reached for her hand. “I’m going to MIT, Mom. The research programs align better with my focus. Cybersecurity architecture, AI ethics, systems integrity—” “No.” She yanked her hand back. “You’re going to Harvard. Do you understand me? When you fall, you get back up where you fell. I taught you that.” My blood went cold. She remembers. She reborn too? “Mom—” The front door slammed. My father’s voice boomed through the house, followed by a second set of footsteps. Lighter. Deliberate. “Julian! Come on in, son. Let me grab you something to drink.” Julian Vance. Not my brother by blood. Not really. But my father—decorated veteran and self-made businessman—had adopted him at thirteen after his father, Dad’s Army buddy, died in combat. Except Julian’s father hadn’t died in combat. He’d died of a heart attack in a motel with his mistress, but my father had needed a redemption arc more than he’d needed the truth. I watched Julian glide into my room, all easy smiles. “Liam.” He clasped my shoulder. “Dad wants to talk to you about Harvard. He’s really proud, man.” My father appeared behind him, already talking. “Two spots. Harvard only takes two from Riverside Prep, and this year it’s a miracle we got that many. Liam—” He looked at me the way you’d look at a stain. “You’re going to withdraw your acceptance.” My mother stiffened. “Excuse me?”

“Julian needs this.” Dad’s voice carried the weight of absolute authority. “His father gave his life for this country. For me. The least we can do is make sure his son has every advantage. Liam’s smart—he’ll land on his feet. MIT, Stanford, whatever. But Harvard?” He put his arm around Julian. “That’s Julian’s spot. And the Hawthorne family is looking for a Harvard man to marry their daughter. That’s his future. Not Liam’s.” “He earned his acceptance—” “And Julian earned our loyalty!” My father’s face flushed. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to owe someone your life? His father took a bullet meant for me. So yes, Elena. Julian gets the girl, the school, and the life. That’s not negotiable.” My mother looked at me, and I saw it again—that flash of something ruthless beneath her beauty queen mask. She remembered Julian sitting outside while I bled out. She was trying to weaponize me against him. I pulled out my phone and opened the photo album. Found last night’s graduation party. There. Julian and Seraphina Hawthorne, tucked into a corner booth at The Dorset Club. Her hand on his thigh under the table. His mouth at her ear. The angle of the shot made it clear—this wasn’t friendly. This was ownership. I held up the phone. “They’ve been together for months.” My voice came out flat. Clinical. “So it doesn’t matter where I go. I’m not in the running.” Julian’s smile never wavered. “Liam.” He sighed, wounded. “I know you had feelings for Sera. But she sees you as a friend. A brother, even. You need to let her go.” He checked his watch. “Actually, I’m late. We’re catching a movie. Dad, you coming?” My father was already grabbing his keys. “I’ll drive you.” The door slammed. Silence. Then my mother’s hand cracked across my face. “You coward.” I tasted blood. “I thought getting a second chance meant you’d be smarter. Faster. But you’re still the same pathetic boy who let them walk all over him.” Her voice shook. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me in this house? Your father worships Julian. Your grandmother thinks I’m worthless because I can’t control you. My entire future depends on you marrying into the Hawthorne family, and you’re just going to—what? Run away to MIT and play with computers?” The same script as before. Always the same. In last life, I’d internalized it. Believed I owed her my success. My sacrifice. My life. I’d studied until I couldn’t see straight. Married a woman I didn’t love. Let myself be reshaped into the perfect Hawthorne son-in-law because I thought it would finally be enough. It never was. “I’m going to MIT,” I said quietly. “And this time, I’m living for myself.” She opened her mouth, but I was already walking out.

I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that simple. That night, I woke to the sound of my bedroom door clicking open. My father stood silhouetted in the hallway light. Behind him—Seraphina. I lunged out of bed. “What the hell—” But they were already at my desk. My laptop glowed, enrollment page still open. Seraphina’s finger hovered over the keyboard. “Don’t you dare—” My father caught me in a bear hug, pinning my arms. “She’s doing you a favor, son. Trust me.” “That’s my MIT enrollment—” Seraphina clicked DELETE. The page refreshed. Application Withdrawn. I went numb. “Seraphina—why?” She didn’t even look at me. Just reached down and unplugged the laptop, lifting it by the screen. “What are you—” “If I leave the computer intact, you’ll find a way to re-enroll.” Her voice was ice. “I won’t make that mistake.” She raised the laptop above her head. “No no no—please—” It shattered against the hardwood. Glass and circuitry exploded across the floor. I stopped fighting. My father released me, and I collapsed to my knees, staring at the wreckage. “You knew I picked MIT,” I whispered. “I told you this morning.” Seraphina crouched in front of me, and for the first time, I saw her eyes. Empty. Flat. She’d reborn too. “You said a lot of things last time,” she murmured. “You said you didn’t want me. You said you weren’t interested. But the first night we were together, you were in my bed before I’d even finished unpacking.” My stomach lurched. “That wasn’t—Sera, your roommate drugged me. You know that. She wanted to humiliate me at the party, and I came to you because I trusted—” “Liar.” The word landed like a slap. She stood, smoothing her skirt. “You manipulated me from day one. Played hard to get so I’d chase you. And the moment you had me, you ruined everything.” She turned to Julian, who’d appeared in the doorway. Her voice went soft. Tender. “It’s done, baby. He can’t threaten you anymore.” Julian’s smile was small. Satisfied. “Wait—” My mind raced. “Sera, I’m not trying to come between you two. I want you to be together. Just let me go. I’ll transfer schools, move across the country, whatever you need—” “You really think it’s that simple?” She leaned close, her breath cold against my ear. “Did you think I’d forget what you did to Julian in last life? How you let him die?” “I already paid for that. I died—” “Not enough.” Her whisper was a blade. “I’m going to make you watch Julian and me build the life you stole from him. And you—” Her lips curved. “You’re going to spend every day in hell.” She straightened. “Oh, and before I deleted your enrollment? I submitted a formal withdrawal letter to MIT on your behalf. Citing personal reasons and a commitment to Harvard.” She tilted her head. “Congrats, Liam. You’re going to be a Hawthorne after all.”

They locked me in my room after that. Took my phone. My laptop. Even the old iPad I kept in my desk drawer. For three days, I was a prisoner in my own house. But they didn’t know about the backup phone taped under my bed frame. The one I’d bought with cash the day I woke up reborn, because some paranoid part of me knew they’d try this. I powered it on and opened my email. One unread message. From: MIT Admissions Subject: Enrollment Confirmed Dear Liam Vance, Welcome to MIT. Your enrollment in the Computer Science and Engineering program has been finalized. We look forward to seeing you at orientation on September 1st. I closed my eyes, exhaling for what felt like the first time in days. The system Seraphina had accessed wasn’t real. I’d built a dummy server the day I got the acceptance letter—a perfect replica of MIT’s enrollment portal, hosted locally on my laptop. If anyone tried to tamper with my decision, they’d be deleting a ghost. The real enrollment had gone through the morning I woke up in this timeline. I texted my best friend Marcus: Need you to grab my dorm stuff and meet me at South Station. Day before move-in. I’ll explain later. His reply came in seconds: Dude. What did you DO? Escaped. — Move-in day. I waited until my mother left for her book club and my father took Julian shopping for his dorm at Langford College—the private liberal arts school Seraphina’s family had paid to accept him after his 140 SAT score. Picked the bedroom lock in twenty minutes. Walked out the front door. Took the subway to South Station and didn’t look back. The train to Boston pulled away from the platform, and I watched my childhood disappear through the window. For the first time since I’d woken up in this nightmare, I let myself breathe. — I dozed off somewhere around Providence. When I woke up, something felt wrong. The train had stopped. But we weren’t at South Station. I looked out the window—and my blood turned to ice. We were at a private rail platform. Sleek. Modern. The kind of place you only accessed with a keycard and a seven-figure bank account. And standing on the platform, arms crossed, was my mother. She smiled when she saw me. “Liam. You’re awake. Perfect timing.” The train doors hissed open, and two men in black suits stepped aboard. “Mrs. Vance.” The taller one nodded. “We’ll take him from here.” “Wait—Mom—what is this?” She leaned into the train, her smile bright and terrible. “The Hawthornes are very excited to meet their future son-in-law, sweetheart. Seraphina’s been asking about you.” “I’m not—I don’t want—” “You’re eighteen. You’re brilliant. And you’re exactly what the Hawthorne family looks for in a match.” She stepped back as the men hauled me to my feet. “Oh, and I have wonderful news. They’ve agreed to let you and Seraphina get engaged today. Isn’t that romantic? The wedding will be right after her graduation.” “You can’t do this—” “I can. And I am.” She waved as they dragged me onto the platform. “The Hawthorne estate is lovely this time of year. You’ll see.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Den9Z1KrEJ 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni044754”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

I’m a research scientist at Ares Biotech, one of the most prestigious defense contractors in the country. When the Principal Scientist promotion committee convened, my wife Lydia-a voting member-struck my name from the candidate list. Again. After five consecutive rejections, I was forced out under the company’s “up or out” policy. I refused to quit science. I leased a private lab and continued my work independently. Six months later, the lab caught fire. I was trapped inside with a young intern named Parker Stone. Through the smoke, I saw Lydia burst through the door. For one desperate second, I thought she’d come for me. She ran straight past me. She grabbed Parker by the arm and dragged him toward the exit. I reached out, my hand closing on empty air as flames licked closer. She looked back once. Her eyes were cold, clinical. “Parker’s a Principal Scientist. His work is classified. He’s more valuable than you.” The ceiling collapsed. Fire swallowed everything. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in our apartment. Lydia was leaning against me, pouting prettily, her fingers playing with my collar. “Arthur, baby, just withdraw from the promotion round this year. Do it for us.” I recognized this moment. This exact conversation. Three years ago. The first time she’d asked me to step aside. I shoved her away so hard she stumbled. “You want me to withdraw? So you can take my spot?” I looked at her like she was a stranger. “Not a chance in hell.”

Lydia froze, shocked and confused. “Arthur Vance, is waiting one more year really so hard? Why are you competing against your own wife?” I stared at the candidate roster on her tablet. Arthur Vance. Marcus Smith. Lydia Sterling. Only three spots available for Principal Scientist this cycle. “There are only three openings,” she continued, her voice with that insufferable self-righteous edge. “We can’t both make it. If you wait a year, you can focus on your research instead of this political nonsense. Why are you being so selfish?” “You claim to love science, but all you care about is climbing the ladder. I’m disappointed in you.” Her words yanked me back to reality. The same script. Word for word. In my first life, I’d believed her. I withdrew my application. She got promoted. She’d promised it was temporary. “You’re young, talented, respected. You’ll get your turn next year.” But ten years later, she was still saying: “You’re aging out, Arthur. Science needs fresh blood. It’s time to make room for the next generation.” Past and present overlapped. I saw both versions of her face-the manipulative wife and the woman who’d left me to burn. Lydia grabbed my arm, her voice rising. “I don’t care what you think. We’re going to the committee right now, and you’re withdrawing your application!” I jerked away from her touch. “My qualifications exceed every requirement. My publication record is flawless. Why the hell would I withdraw?” “You talk about ambition like it’s a disease. What’s your excuse for wanting the promotion, Lydia?” She hesitated, then her voice went shrill. “Because of you!” “You publish constantly, but you never add my name to your papers. Do you know how that makes me look? People whisper that I’m riding your coattails. If I get this promotion, no one will dare question my credentials again!” “So are you withdrawing or not?” I looked at her face, twisted by jealousy and ambition, and shook my head firmly. “No. I’m staying in the race.”

Lydia slammed the door on her way out. Watching her leave, I saw another image superimposed-her walking away from the fire, leaving me to die. In my previous life, we’d been married for twenty years. The only real fight we ever had came in my final year of eligibility-my last chance before mandatory retirement from research roles. By then, she’d clawed her way onto the promotion committee. For nine consecutive years, she struck my name from the finalist list. She called it integrity. “I’m on the committee. I have to avoid any appearance of favoritism.” But when I asked the other committee members, they all said the same thing: my publication record and project impact scores were the highest in the cohort. I should have been promoted years ago. By that point, Lydia had become Committee Chair. She wielded veto power. I tried reasoning with her one last time. “This isn’t about prestige. If I don’t get promoted this cycle, I’m out. Forced retirement. I won’t be able to do research anymore, Lydia. This is my life’s work.” She threw her coffee mug at the wall. “So you’re asking me to pull strings for you? Is that it, Arthur?” “No. I’m asking you to recuse yourself from the vote. Let the decision stand on its merits.” She ignored that completely. “Principal Scientist is just a pay bump and a better pension. You don’t care about money. Why are you so obsessed with a title?” “Besides, these positions are limited. We’re married. It would look bad if we monopolized two spots. I won’t let you guilt me into approving your promotion!” My last opportunity died with her veto. I was forced out of Ares Biotech. Twenty years of research, gone. But I couldn’t just stop. I rented a small lab downtown and continued working independently. Lydia opposed it viciously at first, accusing me of “stealing proprietary research for personal gain.” She came by twice to trash the equipment. Eventually I agreed to mentor a junior researcher. She backed off. The junior researcher was Parker Stone. Lazy attitude. Mediocre skills. Constant attitude problems. One afternoon, I asked him to sterilize the workbench with ethanol. He “accidentally” knocked over an open flame. The entire lab went up in minutes. We were both trapped. Lydia arrived with the fire department. I heard her shouting orders outside. “Prioritize Dr. Stone! He’s a Principal Scientist working on classified defense contracts! He cannot be lost!” “Ma’am, your husband-” “He’s just a family member. He knew the risks when he married into this field.” I gripped my lab notebook, my knuckles white. When she kicked down the door, I felt hope flare in my chest. We’d been together for twenty years. Surely- She kicked my outstretched hand away. She grabbed Parker by the shoulders and hauled him toward the exit. She didn’t look back. Her voice was flat, mechanical. “You’re expendable. He’s not.” That was Lydia Sterling. The woman who’d stolen my promotion. The woman who’d let me burn. This time, I’d make sure she never got the chance.

I knew Lydia would fight dirty. I didn’t realize how low she’d sink. Within two days, rumors spread through every department at Ares Biotech. Even members of my own research team started looking at me with contempt. “Dr. Smith, this data point looks off. Can you double-check the calculation?” I held out the report. My junior researcher, Sarah Smith, just stared at me, arms crossed. “Sorry, Dr. Vance. I’m not qualified for such important work. You should do it yourself.” “Excuse me?” She sneered. “Don’t play dumb. We all know what kind of person you are.” My jaw tightened. “If you have an accusation, take it to HR. But while you’re on my team, you’ll do your job.” Sarah threw her tablet down. “Who wants to be on your team? I heard you steal research from your wife and force her to commit academic fraud. Then you beat her when she refuses. You’re a fraud and an abuser. Why should we respect you?” The lab erupted in whispers. “I saw them arguing once,” someone said. “Lydia was begging him to credit her on a paper. Now it makes sense-she did all the work, and he took the glory.” “I heard he tells people women can’t do real science. That’s why he never collaborates with female researchers.” Every woman on my team was glaring at me now. So this was Lydia’s play. Before I could respond, the lab door opened. Lydia walked in. I moved toward her. “Lydia, we need to-” “No! Don’t hit me! I’ll do whatever you want!” She screamed and cowered, throwing her arms over her head. Every eye in the room locked onto me. One of the female researchers rushed over. “Oh my God, Lydia, your arms-what are those bruises?” “And your lip is split!” Instantly, the entire room turned on me. Lydia threw herself at my feet, the perfect picture of a battered wife. “Arthur, please, I’ll be good. I’ll listen. Just don’t hurt me anymore.” “I’ll do anything you ask. Please don’t be angry.” She started sobbing, angling her face so everyone could see the injuries clearly. “Please… don’t misunderstand. This isn’t his fault. I… I fell. That’s all.” The more she defended me, the more guilty I looked. “I always thought Dr. Vance seemed so professional,” someone muttered. “I can’t believe he’s a wife-beater.” “God, I actually found him attractive. Turns out he’s a monster.” In my first life, I thought her obstruction was about ethics. About maintaining her impartiality. I never imagined she’d stoop to character assassination. “We should report this to the Ethics Committee,” someone said loudly. “Or Security. Get this abuser fired.” Lydia immediately threw herself into my arms, shaking her head. “No, no. I love him. He only hits me sometimes. The rest of the time, he’s… he’s fine.” Everyone looked at her with pity. Several male researchers glared at me with obvious jealousy. Lydia pressed against me and whispered, so quietly only I could hear. “Everyone believes I’m the victim. No one cares if it’s true.” I tried to push her away. She let out a theatrical scream and collapsed. Immediately, two male colleagues grabbed me and slammed me face-first against the lab bench. “You’re attacking her in front of witnesses?” My cheek pressed against cold steel. Through the corner of my eye, I saw Lydia smirking. An hour later, I was sitting across from the Division Chief. “Dr. Vance, effective immediately, you’re suspended from all active projects pending investigation.” I looked him in the eye. “So I’m out of the promotion cycle.” “Your file won’t be reviewed during the suspension period. After the investigation concludes… we’ll see.” It didn’t matter that my research record was stronger than Lydia’s. With domestic violence allegations hanging over me, the committee would never approve my promotion. In a high-security defense contractor, even a hint of scandal was disqualifying. I left his office and walked straight to the Academic Integrity Committee. “I’m filing a formal complaint against Dr. Lydia Sterling for academic misconduct, falsification of research, and plagiarism.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619HGhFcGhW9a 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni811879”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

My parents foster daughter said I called her bitch, but I was mute since birth. I was the true heir, the one the Sterlings had hunted for eighteen years. But the second I stepped into the house, Evelyn screamed and buried herself in my mother’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Dad. Mom.” Her voice broke. “Please don’t make me call her sister. I can’t.” “She’s the girl from the Academy! The one who started the rumors. She’s the reason I’m like this! The reason for my depression!” Mom held Evelyn tight, stroking her hair. Dad stared at me. His face was pure disappointment. “We lost you for 18 years and this is what you grew up to be?” “Jennings — get her out. No daughter of ours bullies people. The Sterlings don’t raise that kind of girl.” I stood there frozen, my hands flying through signs so fast they barely looked like language. Me? Spread rumors? I’m mute. I literally cannot make a sound. I stood still in the entryway, fingertips cold from outside. Evelyn sobbed into Mom’s neck, her whole body shaking. When she finally lifted her head, her eyes were red-rimmed and raw. “You don’t know what she did.” Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. “Last month, when I made it into the Dean’s list, she told everyone I cheated. That Dad paid off the teachers. That I slept with the department head to protect my scholarship record—” Every sentence landed. Mom’s hand on Evelyn’s back pressed down harder with each one. Dad’s jaw locked tighter. I opened my mouth. Only air came out. I’ve never been able to speak. Damaged vocal cords — doctors said it at birth. I’ve spent my whole life talking with my hands and a notebook. I raised my hands. My fingers had just started to form No when my brother, Julian, shot up from the couch. He crossed the room in three strides and stood over me. “Clara.” His voice was flat. “Stop performing. You drove her to a breakdown. There’s nothing to explain.” I held still, hands frozen mid-sign. Julian was the only son. From the moment I walked in, he’d barely looked away from Evelyn. When he looked at her, he was soft. When he looked at me, he acted as if he saw something filthy. “Julian, don’t.” Evelyn reached for his sleeve. Her voice was small. “Maybe she just wanted attention. She didn’t know how else to reach out. I don’t blame her. I really don’t.” “You’re always too kind.” Mom pulled Evelyn closer and turned to me, her eyes cold. “Clara. We brought you home to be part of this family. Not to torture the girl who’s been living in it. Whatever habits you picked up out there — leave it at the door.” Dad knocked his knuckles against the side table. Once. Hard. “A Sterling girl, raised anywhere on earth, should know how to conduct herself. You’ve been inside five minutes and already embarrassed this family.” The staff had clustered near the hallway. They weren’t even pretending not to stare. “She grew up with the street boys. What did you expect?” “Poor Evelyn. Who could go after someone that sweet?” “Look at her, signing like that. She’s faking it. Milking it for sympathy.” I breathed through it. I reached into my bag for my notebook. I can write it done, I will explain everything to them. My fingers touched the zipper. Julian grabbed my wrist. “What are you pulling out now?” I twisted free and got the notebook out anyway. He snatched it from my hand and tore it in half. Then kept tearing. The pages came apart in the air and drifted down around my feet. I stood there and watched them fall. Evelyn let out a soft sob and turned her face away. “Julian, please. She’s just confused—”Evelyn’s voice was barely audible. Julian cut her off. His eyes were burning. “She drove you to a breakdown and you’re still defending her? Someone this twisted doesn’t belong in this family.” Dad’s face went stone cold. He turned to the door and gestured once. “Jennings. Throw her out. The Sterlings don’t have a daughter like this.”

I spent the night on a motel cot, the mattress hard as a board. Morning came. Before first period even started, the Headmaster called me to his office. When I pushed open the door, Evelyn was already sitting across from Mr. Harrison’s desk. Her shoulders were heaving. She had a handkerchief twisted in both hands. Her eyes were swollen almost shut. The second she saw me walk in, she shrank back toward Mr. Harrison’s chair. Just enough. Just the right amount of fear. “Clara.” Mr. Harrison’s voice was flat. “Come in and tell me what you did to Evelyn yesterday.” I stayed in the doorway. Evelyn drew a breath and started talking. “Sir, please don’t be too hard on her.” Her voice was soft. Careful. “Yesterday she cornered me in the hallway. She told me I was an interloper who stole what didn’t belong to me. That she’d make sure I had no place left at this school.” She paused. “I was scared. I’m still scared.” Her voice was soft. But every word landed clean, like a blade finding its mark. Mr. Harrison’s expression darkened. He reached for the phone. “I’ve already called your parents. They’re on their way.” The door opened a few moments later. Mom and Dad walked in together. Mom went straight to Evelyn and took her hand. Dad’s face was iron. “Mr. Harrison. What did she do this time?” Mr. Harrison pushed his glasses up. “According to Evelyn, Clara has repeatedly targeted her — verbal harassment, false accusations, threats to her enrollment. This kind of behavior has no place at St. Jude’s.” Dad turned to look at me. “What kind of person did you turn into out there? Are you determined to drag this family’s name through the dirt?” I tried to explain, but silence was all I had. I raised my hands. My fingers had just started to form ‘No’ when Dad stepped forward and slapped my hands down roughly. I looked at him. Tears came before I could stop them. “Now you’re going to cry?” His voice was quiet. That made it worse. “You do all of this and then you cry? You’re performing again. Playing the victim.” Evelyn made a small sound across the room and pressed herself into Mom’s side. “Dad. Mom. Please stop. I don’t blame her.” Mom looked at me once. Cold. Done. “Some people are just born rotten.” The office door had drifted open. A cluster of students stood in the hallway, not even pretending to walk past. Their voices carried. “So she really has been going after Evelyn this whole time.” “She seemed so quiet. You never know.” “I heard her own parents didn’t want her. That explains it.” I breathed through it. I raised my hands again. Three words: I didn’t do it. Mr. Harrison frowned, his voice filled with impatience. “Clara. Stop using these gestures to deflect. If you have something to say, say it out loud. This isn’t the place for theatrics.” My hands went still in the air. So even this — the only language I have — was just a trick to them. A performance. Then the door opened again quietly, a girl appeared in the gap. She was gripping the hem of her blazer with both hands. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “Sir. She’s not performing. That’s ASL.” Everyone turned. The girl kept her eyes down but held her ground. The girl, Sarah, swallowed. “My brother is deaf. I know what I saw. She signed ‘I didn’t do it.’ And she’s never spoken. Not once. Everyone here knows that.”

The room went silent. “You’re certain about this?” Mr. Harrison asked. “I wouldn’t confuse those shapes, sir. And Clara has never said a single word in class.” The room went quiet. Dad and Mom’s expressions changed. Mom looked at me. Her lips parted. A flicker of guilt crossed her face, so faint it was almost nothing. Then Evelyn let out a sob. She wiped her eyes and spoke softly. “Clara. Even if you don’t want to admit what you did, you don’t have to recruit someone to pretend to be mute.” That single sentence cut straight through whatever guilt Mom had left. Dad’s face hardened. He turned to me, eyes burning. “Clara. You’ve got nerve. You couldn’t just lie, you had to bring someone in to back you up? You are completely beyond help.” My hands were shaking. I reached into my blazer pocket and pulled out the document I always kept there. I unfolded it carefully. The paper was old, the creases worn pale. But the words were clear. Organic damage to the laryngeal structure. Permanent impairment. I held it out. Dad snatched it from my hand and tore it in two without reading a single word. Then in four. Then into pieces too small to put back together. He let them fall. I looked at him. The tears came before I could stop them. “Keep performing.” His voice was raw with disgust. “Go ahead. Since you love it so much, I’ll have you sent to a reform ranch. Let’s see if you keep playing mute when there’s real work in front of you.” Mom’s face had already closed off. She pulled Evelyn close. “We thought we could trust you. We thought you were worth bringing home. We were wrong. You are a disappointment.” Evelyn rested her head against Mom’s shoulder. Against the curve of her cheek — just for a second — her lips arranged themselves into something that was not grief. “Mom, Dad, please.” Her voice was soft. “Maybe she just lost her head for a moment. She didn’t mean it.” “Lost her head?” Dad let out a cold laugh. “This is who she is. Someone like this has no place in this family. I’m calling Miller right now. He’ll come take her away.” Mr. Harrison stood at the edge of the room, his expression unreadable. He glanced at me once, then at Dad and Mom. Then he sighed and turned to Sarah. “Go back to class. We’ll handle this.” Sarah opened her mouth. Mr. Harrison’s look closed it. She held my gaze for a moment, her eyes full of sympathy. Then she turned and walked away. I stood there and looked at the pieces of paper on the floor. Then I almost smiled. Every last thing I had fought to prove — in their eyes, it was nothing but a performance. In this family, I had never existed at all. I crouched down and started picking them up. One fragment at a time. An edge caught my fingertip and opened a thin cut. I didn’t feel it. Compared to everything else that hurt, what was a paper cut?

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619XkFixhN4Kr 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni076786”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

I was Mafia Don’s most beloved little princess. However, a glass of orange juice got me sold to an underground strip club. Vincent Rosario is the most powerful mafia don in New York. My parents, the Colombos, died in a car crash. Vincent raised me for fifteen years, spoiled me rotten. When I was twelve, I fought a senator’s daughter over a limited-edition diamond necklace. Vincent bought the entire jewelry company and reopened the production line just for me. At a charity gala, someone called me Vincent’s caged canary. The next day, he and his father’s company vanished from New York. Once, a boy tried to hold my hand at the school dance. The next morning, his right hand was delivered to his family in a box. Vincent would also kneel by my bed after nights of dancing, removing my heels and massaging my calves. Then Serena Moretti arrived. She walked into the Long Island estate in a crimson gown. Her eyes were cold. I heard her on the phone in the garden. “I want the full Cartier ruby set. Vincent owes me. So what if he’s doting on that little brat right now? His money will all be mine eventually.” She hung up. A tortoiseshell cat trotted over. It had wandered into the estate months ago. I called her Pudding. Pudding brushed past Serena’s feet and dirtied her satin heels. “That filthy thing,” Serena said to the bodyguard. “Kill it.” The bodyguard hesitated. “Miss Moretti, this is—” “I said kill it.” He drew his gun. Attached a silencer. One muffled shot. Pudding collapsed in a pool of blood. Serena stepped out of her heels and walked away barefoot. That night, I knocked on Serena’s door. “Leave Vincent.” “Why?” “Because you don’t love him. You just love his money and power.” “Little girl, what do you know? You just a spoiled child. You could never understand.” “I saw what you did. You killed that cat.” “Jenna, you’re not Vincent lover. But I am. You think he’d give me up for you?” “He would.” “Alright. I’ll leave.” The next morning, a helicopter roared overhead. Black SUVs poured through the estate gates. The butler, Antonio, told me Serena had slipped away without telling anyone. Vincent was looking for her. Vincent growled into his phone. “Find her! ” “Maybe Serena just needed some air—” “Jenna. Go to your room.” He was gone. For three full days, he didn’t come back.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619HBkUah0nf8 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni224853”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

I caught my wife cheating on Christmas Eve. The proof? One million people watched her do it on TikTok. Christmas was three days away. After five years of marriage, my wife Chloe finally agreed to take me home to meet her parents. I wanted to bring the two bottles of 1945 Romanée-Conti wine. My father left for me—worth five million dollars. But when I went to the cellar, the bottles were gone. Chloe flew into a rage, accusing me of being broke and pretending to be rich. That night, she took our daughter Lily and left for her parents’ house without me. On Christmas Day, a video exploded across TikTok. On the dining table sat two identical bottles of wine. The caption: [Generous Son-in-Law Brings Million-Dollar Wine to Christmas Dinner] Just as I thought it was an impossible coincidence, Chloe’s face appeared in the video. My hands trembled with rage. I left a comment under the video: [Does stolen wine taste good?] Later, I slapped the divorce papers down in front of Chloe Morrison and immediately withdrew all my investments from her company. She stared at me. “You want a divorce? Because of two bottles of wine?” I nodded, my voice steady. “Yes.” … My comment was quickly buried, but not before catching some attention. Less than five minutes later, Chloe’s call came through, her voice exploding through the phone. I thought she’d apologize. Instead, the moment I answered, she started screaming. “Ethan Carter! Are you out of your mind? Who told you to leave comments under Jared’s video?” “Do you know Jared has one million followers? His image is everything! If your comment starts a hate campaign, it’ll destroy his career! Can you take responsibility for that?” I forced down my anger, my voice ice-cold. “Destroy his career? He stole my wine to show off. Tell him to return it, or I’m calling the police.” “You dare!” Chloe’s voice shot up even higher. “Ethan, can you act like a man for once and be more generous? The wine was going to my dad anyway. What’s the difference if you give it or he gives it?” “Jared is a public figure. He needs this persona! And those wines—how much can they even be worth? I’ll Venmo you two hundred dollars, okay?” First she accused me of being broke and faking wealth. Now she accused me of being petty. Some people have a talent for twisting black into white. “Chloe, I’m telling you one last time—” “Enough!” She cut me off brutally. “Delete the comment now, and post an apology pinned to the top! Or we’re done!” She hung up. Listening to the dial tone, my heart turned cold. Years ago, I hid my true identity as the sole heir to Carter Group just to win her heart with sincerity, not money. For five years, I gave her every resource to fulfill her entrepreneurial dreams, helping her rise from a junior employee to CEO of a public company. It was time to end this. Just then, the regional director from Porsche called. “Mr. Carter, the Porsche Panamera you ordered for Mrs. Carter has arrived. When would you like to pick it up?” I froze. I’d ordered this car two weeks ago. To make it up to her, and to give her face when visiting her parents, I’d custom-ordered this fully-loaded luxury car as a surprise. I took a deep breath, about to say I’d postpone the pickup. But the director hurriedly added. “Oh, sorry Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter just picked up the car with another man. My colleague just told me. Apologies for disturbing you.” “What did you say?” I sat bolt upright. My head buzzed. I hung up immediately, opened TikTok, and clicked into Jared’s profile. Two minutes ago, he’d posted a new video. The background was the dealership entrance. Jared leaned against a brand-new burgundy Porsche Panamera, dangling the keys, his face lit up with smug satisfaction. Chloe stood beside him, intimately adjusting his collar. The caption read: [Christmas Gift!!! Is This What Being Loved Feels Like? Obsessed with New Ride! #NewCar #Porsche #Blessed] The comments section exploded. [Wow! She spoils you so much!] [He gives million-dollar wine, she gives a fully-loaded Panamera!] [Tears of envy streaming from my mouth—is this what power couple love looks like?] Chloe replied with a blushing emoji. [As long as you’re happy, this car is worth it! ] My fingers tightened around the phone. At that moment, I finally gave up hope. I opened the company group chat and dropped the screenshot. Caption: [How generous of CEO Morrison—stealing her husband’s money to her assistant, wine and cars for Christmas.]

The message went out. Within a minute, the group chat exploded. But the response was completely opposite of what I expected. I thought the employees would be shocked. But I forgot—though I was the one who invested in this company, nobody knew, even Chloe. Chloe’s message immediately popped up. [Ethan Carter, what’s your problem? Why are you talking nonsense in the company chat?] [Do you have any idea how much profit Jared’s livestream sales brought the company this past six months? This car is his year-end bonus. What’s the issue?] [You, on the other hand, as a grown man, you’re petty and vindictive.] What a masterclass in gaslighting! That car was bought with MY money! Before I could type a response, the employees started kissing up. [Exactly, Mr. Carter. Jared is the company’s backbone now. It’s just a car. CEO Morrison’s decision was right.] [Some men are just insecure. When they can’t succeed themselves, they get jealous of those who can.] [Mr. Carter, I heard you can’t even afford decent gifts for CEO Morrison. Now she’s rewarding a top performer and you’re bitter about it?] Watching message after message attacking me and praising Jared, watching Chloe’s blatant favoritism, my anger strangely dissipated. The greatest sorrow is a dead heart. Chloe continued, tagging me in the chat. [Ethan Carter, delete that message NOW and post an apology to Jared! Or face the consequences!] [Don’t force me to humiliate you during Christmas!] Jared chimed in with a fake, pathetic voice message. “Miss Morrison, please don’t fight with your husband over me. I’ll return the car. As long as he’s not mad and doesn’t misunderstand us, I’m fine taking this hit.” Chloe’s response came instantly. [Don’t you DARE return it! You earned this car! Let’s see who dares say otherwise!] Watching this pair of bitches playing their little theater, I let out a cold laugh. [The wine is worth five million dollars. The car is worth five hundred thousand dollars. Transfer the money by tomorrow, or I’ll see you in court.] After sending that message, I didn’t hesitate. I left the group chat. Instant silence. My marriage had been stable until Jared returned from abroad. He was Chloe’s college junior—her “innocent little boy,” as she called him. When Chloe was pregnant and craved sour food, I drove all night across the city to find it. She complained it tasted terrible. Jared casually shipped her a box of lemon. She called it heaven-sent. Gradually, she came home later and later. She mentioned Jared more and more. Now I understood. Chloe’s heart had left home long ago. I sat in the empty living room and texted my lawyer. [Draft divorce papers. Also, withdraw all investments from Chloe’s company.] After finishing, I stood up to leave. The moment I opened the door, I came face to face with my wife and daughter. Chloe’s expression darkened when she saw me. “Ethan Carter, how long are you going to keep this up? My parents just called asking what the hell is wrong with you! Do you know how embarrassing this is?” I ignored her, my eyes falling on our five-year-old daughter Lily. I wanted to carry her to her room, to spare her from adult problems. But suddenly she screamed. “Get away! Bad Daddy!” The toy in Lily’s hand came flying at my face. The sharp edge hit my brow bone. Searing pain. Warm liquid trickled down my temple. I covered my forehead, staring in disbelief at the daughter I’d cherished since birth. Lily hid behind Chloe, glaring at me like I was her mortal enemy. “You’re a bad person! You bullied Jared! Mommy said Jared is a hero and you’re demon!” “I don’t want you as my daddy anymore! I want Jared to be my daddy!” Chloe didn’t scold her. Instead, she stared coldly at my bleeding forehead. “See? Even your own daughter is disgusted by you. Ethan Carter, you’ve failed as a human being.” “By the way, Dad’s hosting his wine tasting dinner tonight. Jared’s livestreaming the whole thing. If you don’t show up and apologize, we’re getting divorced!” In that instant, I heard something inside me shatter completely. I turned to my briefcase, pulled out freshly printed documents, and slammed them down in front of Chloe. “You don’t need to threaten me. We’re getting divorced.”

Chloe froze. She looked down at the divorce papers, then let out a scoff. “Ethan, you’re serious? Over a few bottles of wine and a car, you want a divorce?” I nodded, my gaze steady. “Yes.” “Fine! Don’t regret this!” Chloe grabbed the papers and signed her name without hesitation. “Let’s divorce!” “Lily, we’re leaving! Let’s go find Jared!” My daughter stuck her tongue out at me. “Blehhh! I’m going to ride in the sports car!” The door slammed. The house returned to deathly silence. I touched the dried blood on my forehead and dialed a number. “Marcus, it’s me. Ethan Carter.” An excited voice came through the phone. “Mr. Carter? You’re finally contacting me! After your father passed, the company has been waiting for you to take charge!” “I’m coming back.” My voice was flat. “Also, notify the group. Cut off all funding to Morrison Enterprises and Chloe Morrison personally.” “Yes, Mr. Carter! I’ll handle it immediately!” “One more thing.” I glanced at the wall clock. Six hours until their dinner party. “Run a paternity test between me and my daughter, Lily Carter. I need results in two hours.” My assistant agreed repeatedly. After hanging up, I made another call. Watching Jared’s preview video for the wine tasting, I smiled. I hope your party goes smoothly tonight. I sat in the back of the Rolls-Royce, watching the livestream on my iPad. The stream was packed—over two hundred thousand viewers online. Jared wore a custom-tailored suit, sitting beside the head of the table like the man of the house. My daughter Lily sat in his lap. The two looked strikingly similar. Chloe sat beside him, smiling tenderly. Chloe’s parents held my two bottles of vintage wine, showing off to the camera. “Everyone, look at this wine! My wonderful son-in-law Jared gave us this! I heard it’s worth tens of millions!” The comments flooded in with praise. [Jared’s amazing! Even the bottles look extraordinary!] [This wine looks like the legendary reserve collection? I heard it was owned by top elites in elite circles.] Jared basked in the flattery, humbly telling the camera. “Thank you, everyone. This wine is indeed rare. I pulled a lot of strings and bid on it at an auction, all to make my future father-in-law happy! As long as they’re happy, it’s worth it!” Chloe looked at him adoringly. “Jared, you’re so thoughtful.” Just then, my assistant sent the paternity test results in electronic version. Looking at the results, I laughed bitterly. The last trace of warmth in my eyes vanished completely. “Stop the car.” The Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop at the hotel entrance. I pushed open the door and strode toward the banquet hall. Since they wanted to play this game of wealth and status, I’d give them a performance they’d never forget. I kicked the banquet hall doors open. The loud crash interrupted the celebration. Every eye instantly locked onto me. Chloe saw me, her face turning black with rage. She shot to her feet. “Ethan Carter, I told you to come apologize, not crash the party.” I stared coldly at this family of clowns, pointing at the wine on the table and the car keys in Jared’s hand. “Jared, stealing my wine, driving my car, flaunting wealth online—aren’t you afraid it’ll shorten your life?” The livestream exploded. Comments flew past in a blur. But Jared didn’t panic. He gave the camera a helpless, bitter smile. “Everyone, this is the gold-digging loser I’ve mentioned before. He has no skills himself, so when he sees his ex-wife doing well, he gets jealous.” My mother-in-law spat on the ground. “Pfft! What do you mean YOUR wine? Have you ever even SEEN wine this expensive? This is from my wonderful son-in-law Jared, who spent big money to honor us!” I turned to Chloe. “Chloe Morrison, we haven’t finalized the divorce yet. Are you that eager to acknowledge your new husband?” Chloe looked at me with pure disgust. In front of all the relatives and the livestream camera, she wrapped her arm around Jared’s. “Ethan Carter, stop flattering yourself. In my heart, only Jared deserves to be my husband.” My father-in-law stood up, announcing loudly to the camera. “Listen up everyone, from now on, the Morrison family only recognizes Jared Robinson as our son-in-law. This Carter guy has nothing to do with us—he’s just a shameless leech!” “Security! Get this lunatic out of here!” Following his shout, four burly men surrounded me. “I’d like to see who dares touch me!” My sharp command, backed by years of authority, made the guards hesitate. But then a wine glass came flying, smashing against my leg. Red wine splashed all over my pants. I looked down. It was Lily. She still had a piece of cream cake in her hand, which she hurled at my face. “Bad man! I’ll hit you! Don’t bully my daddy!” Cream covered my eyes. I was a mess. But Lily clapped and laughed, throwing herself into Jared’s arms. “Daddy, I chased away the bad guy! Take me to Disneyland!” Jared stroked her head lovingly, looking at me with provocation. “Good girl, you’re amazing.” In that moment, my heart twisted like a knife. Turns out I didn’t even need to read that paternity test. Just looking at this identical cruelty, I knew whose child she was. “Beat him! I’ll take responsibility!” Chloe ordered. The guards stopped hesitating and rushed forward. Four against one. I was forced to the ground, fists landing on my face. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. Jared walked over, looking down at me. His shoe pressed onto my hand, grinding hard. “Ethan, do you see reality now?” Before I could respond, the doors burst open again. The livestream comments went insane. [Holy shit! Isn’t that—isn’t that the billionaire who’s always on the news?!] [Oh my god! Jared’s connections are insane! Even a billionaire came to toast him?] A man with a powerful aura walked in, surrounded by an entourage. Jared clearly hadn’t expected such a big influence. After a moment of shock, he became ecstatic. Thinking his fame had attracted this important person, he quickly straightened his clothes and approached with a wine glass, his smile obsequious. “Mr. Sterling! What brings you here! This is such an honor!” However, Mr. Sterling didn’t even glance at him, completely ignoring his outstretched hand. After scanning the room, his brow furrowed slightly. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto the two bottles of opened wine on the table. Mr. Sterling’s face instantly turned to shock. He pushed past Jared and rushed to the table, his hands trembling as he picked up the bottle to examine it closely. My father-in-law, thinking the VIP liked the wine, said proudly. “Sir! This wine is from my son-in-law Jared—worth tens of millions dollars! If you like it, I can pour you a glass?” “Your son-in-law gave this?” Mr. Sterling whipped around, staring daggers at Jared, his voice carrying a hint of killing intent. “You’re saying this wine—you gave it, you bought it?” Jared was startled by the intensity, but thinking of the hundreds of thousands watching the livestream, he raised his head confidently. “Yes! I got this at an auction—” “BULLSHIT!” Mr. Sterling’s hand cracked across Jared’s face, spinning him in place. Half his face instantly swelled up. “How DARE you steal from the Carter family!” “I personally gave this wine to Old Mr. Carter years ago. There are only two bottles like this in the world. What gives YOU the right to touch them!”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606191MRDYHU6jS 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni642246”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

“I have an announcement. Ivy and I got married.” My husband said it at Thanksgiving dinner, with my sister’s hand held gently in his. For a few seconds, I thought I had misheard him. Last night, he kissed me and promised that today he would tell everyone we had been secretly married for five years. Now he was holding Ivy’s hand at my mother’s table, letting everyone believe she was his wife. My mother froze with her fork halfway to her plate. Then her face lit up. “Oh, Declan. Ivy. That’s wonderful.” “Well, now you’re married to Ivy, so we really need to find someone for Olivia. If you know any decent single men, you should introduce them to Olivia.” After dinner, Declan motioned for me to follow him to the balcony. He lit a cigarette, his voice flat and detached. “Remember the papers you signed last week while you were drunk? I lied to you.” “Those weren’t for home purchase. Those were divorce papers.” My body went cold as I forced the words out. “Why would you do this?” Declan let out a heavy sigh and ruffled my hair. “Ivy is just an adopted daughter in your family.” “What if your mother forces her to marry a disgusting old man for business? I had to protect her.” From inside, I heard Ivy calling for him to come home, her voice soft and needy. I watched them walk away together, then turned to my mother with tears streaming down my face. “Mom, I want to go with you. Let’s relocate to Switzerland like you’ve been asking.” My mother froze mid-step, caught off guard. She rushed over and pressed her palm against my forehead, genuinely confused. “You’re not running a fever. I’ve been begging you for months and you kept refusing. What changed your mind so suddenly?” I’d refused before because I couldn’t leave Declan behind. He had severe chronic stomach issues. Without me, he was completely helpless at taking care of himself. And besides, our five-year agreement was almost up. Once we went public with our marriage, I could move into the penthouse with him and we’d have the life I’d been dreaming of all these years. But now he’d kicked me to the curb with some pathetic excuse, choosing Ivy over me instead. My vision blurred as tears threatened to spill over. I ducked away from my mother’s concerned gaze and quickly wiped my eyes, fighting to keep my voice steady. “I just need a change of scenery. I heard Switzerland is full of attractive men anyway. Maybe I’ll even find you a European son-in-law.” My mother stared at my red-rimmed eyes and let out the softest sigh. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re heartbroken because Declan married Ivy, aren’t you?” “I’ve known since you were children that you had feelings for him. He always took such good care of you. I never imagined he’d marry Ivy.” Mom’s words finally broke the dam holding back all my hurt. I collapsed into my mother’s arms and let myself fall apart. She didn’t know that just last night, Declan had kissed me so tenderly. She didn’t know that the simple silver band on my finger, the one I never let anyone touch, was slipped by Declan. Back in my room, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Ivy had sent a series of photos, each one designed to twist the knife. The first showed her and Declan having an intimate candlelit dinner at the exact restaurant where he’d proposed to me. The second was them tangled together, completely naked, in the bed I’d spent weeks picking out. I checked the timestamp on the photo. Two years ago. My blood turned to ice. He’d been cheating on me for that long. The third photo was a group shot from years back. When I recognized the man standing beside Declan, my mind went completely blank. My hands started shaking uncontrollably and my phone clattered to the floor. A new message from Ivy popped up on the screen. “Don’t you want to know why Declan was so desperate to marry you five years ago?”

Five years ago, right before graduation, Ivy suggested we go camping in the Adirondacks for one last adventure. She even brought along some guy none of us knew, called Trent. The entire hike, Trent wouldn’t leave me alone. “Are you thirsty? Want me to carry your bag?” His hand kept brushing against my ass, supposedly by accident. I was terrified and kept trying to catch Declan’s attention, but he completely ignored me. He was too busy crouching down to tie Ivy’s shoelaces. When we were kids, a campus security guard once groped me. I didn’t even understand it was sexual assault at the time, but Declan saw it happen and completely lost it. He punched the guy so hard his nose bled everywhere. Then dragged his uncle who worked on the school board to make sure the creep got fired. But now? He couldn’t even be bothered to look at me. I had no choice but to stick close to our trail guide to escape Trent’s wandering hands. That night, I woke up to freezing air on my chest. I opened my eyes to find Trent unbuttoning my shirt. I screamed. The guide and Declan came running. Declan immediately pulled me into his arms, whispering soothing words. I was sobbing, begging him to call the police. But Declan frowned and stopped me. “Olivia, if we report this, everyone will know. Your reputation will be destroyed.” “Do you want tabloids and paparazzi turning this into a scandal for your family?” I broke down completely. Declan squeezed my hand, his voice gentle. “Don’t be scared. I brought you here, so I’ll take responsibility for you.” Right after graduation, Declan proposed and took me to Vegas to get married. My phone buzzed, snapping me back to the present. I could practically see Ivy’s smug face through the screen. “He married you because he was afraid Mom would blame me for not protecting you. And calling the police would’ve exposed that I was the one who hired Trent to harass you.” “Declan had to shut you up somehow, and he knew you love him, so he sacrificed himself.” It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. Tears splashed down onto the silver ring on my finger. The night we got married, Declan set off the most beautiful fireworks display for me. Under that cascade of sparks, he’d kissed me and made a promise. “Olivia, I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.” We’d kissed so passionately that night, then checked into a hotel suite. Declan had been so gentle taking my virginity. I wanted so badly to laugh at Ivy’s lies, to prove her wrong. But I couldn’t find a single piece of evidence that Declan had ever truly loved me. My phone buzzed again. This time Ivy sent an audio file. My hands were shaking as I pressed play. Declan’s voice came through the speaker. “Ivy, Olivia is pregnant, but don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” My heart felt like it was being crushed in someone’s fist. Three years into our secret marriage, I found out I was pregnant. Declan had been so excited he stayed up all night with his ear pressed against my stomach. The next morning, he insisted on driving me to my checkup himself. Halfway there, the brakes failed and we slammed into a guardrail. I started bleeding immediately, soaking through my dress and onto the seat. Declan was knocked unconscious and the engine started smoking. My first instinct wasn’t to call an ambulance but to smash through the window with my bare hands, and drag him out before the car exploded. By the time I regained consciousness in the hospital, our baby was already gone. Declan had knelt beside my bed, sobbing uncontrollably. I’d swallowed all my own grief just to comfort him, terrified he’d blame himself. It had all been a setup. I started laughing through my tears, then pulled out the crumpled ultrasound print. Then tore it into pieces.

The next morning, Declan showed up at our door carrying expensive supplements. When he saw the moving boxes in the living room, his brow furrowed. “Eleanor, are you moving?” I answered before my mother could. “No, just clearing out some old junk.” Declan glanced at me, then walked straight to the fridge like he owned the place and stored the supplements inside. “Eleanor, Ivy asked me to bring these tonics for you. She’s been dealing with morning sickness and couldn’t come.” The words hit me like a physical blow. I knew Declan had been cheating for years, but my heart still twisted painfully in my chest. Just last month, I’d casually mentioned wanting to see the Northern Lights in Norway, and he’d cancelled a ten-million-dollar deal without hesitation. Last week when someone at work gave me a hard time, he had bought into the company just to threaten the executives. Declan’s love was apparently infinite enough for two women. After tucking me into bed each night, he still had energy left over to go see Ivy. My mother shot me a quick glance before responding. “Tell Ivy to rest and not worry about me.” Declan nodded, then pulled out a thick stack of files from his briefcase. “By the way, Eleanor, these are profiles of quality single men from my company.” “Take a look and see if any of them might be good for Olivia. ” My eyes landed on the first profile. Trent Lawson. Nausea surged through me and I bolted for the bathroom. My mother rushed after me, panicked, patting my back. “Is your stomach acting up again? You’ve been throwing up for days now.” Declan’s gaze burned into me, his eyes narrowing slightly. While my mother went to get stomach medicine, he walked over and grabbed my wrist hard. “You’re pregnant.” I jerked my hand away in disgust. “No, I’m not.” But he stared at my stomach with cold certainty. “You haven’t had your period in two months.” My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I screamed at him and shoved him hard. “That’s none of your business! You’re Ivy’s husband now. She’s the one you should be worried about!” Before Ivy showed up, Declan used to follow me around everywhere. He knew I loved spicy food but hated sweets, knew I never wanted cream on bagels. He even tracked my irregular periods better than I did. Every time I got cramps so bad I couldn’t get out of bed, Declan would skip hanging out with his friends after school. Instead, he’d go home and take care of me. His mother used to tease me about it, saying she’d never seen Declan care so much about any other girl. She’d even jokingly asked my mother if we should arrange an engagement. But then my mother adopted Ivy from the orphanage. She was so tiny and fragile that a strong wind could knock her over. During morning track practice one day, Ivy collapsed and fell into me. We both got hurt, but Declan didn’t hesitate for a second before picking her up and running to the nurse’s office. After that, I stopped being the one Declan protected. I cried about it. I even told him we weren’t friends anymore. He just patted my head and said Ivy was an orphan and needed more help. Strong people should take care of weak people. So Declan forced me to take care of Ivy too. When my mother sent new clothes to school, Declan made Ivy pick first. When my mother packed identical lunches for both of us, Declan would take all the meat from mine and give it to Ivy. He could protect Ivy all he wanted, but why did he have to use me as a stepping stone for their love? Footsteps approached and I frantically wiped away my tears. For just a split second, I thought I saw something like pain flash in Declan’s eyes. But it vanished instantly. Right before my mother walked back in, he leaned close to my ear. “Get an abortion.” “Ivy has always been sensitive. If she knows about this, she’ll think there’s still something between us.” I’d said those exact same words to him once. When we were camping and setting up tents, I’d told Declan I felt insecure and wanted to sleep near him. He’d refused, saying he needed to stay with Ivy. After my miscarriage, I’d begged him to stay with me at the hospital. He said it was Ivy’s birthday and she’d be hurt if he missed it. When I got jealous and demanded to know what his relationship with Ivy really was, he’d looked at me like I was insane. “Olivia, you’re being ridiculous. I only see Ivy as a sister.” I wasn’t being ridiculous. He was just covering his cheating tracks. He has no right to demand that I abort my child. I laughed coldly and pushed him away. “This is my business. It has nothing to do with you.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619ZRWcHFNdxh 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni263832”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix