Category: English

My name is Eliot Gideon. I’ve just finished dinner with my childhood friend Silas Vance. But when I’m about to leave, a stranger blocks my path, insisting I pay his table’s bill. I refuse. I don’t know him, after all. But that refusal angers him. “Fuck you, punk! You should be grateful I even let you pay! In Valecrest, no one snubs Lund Group and walks away.” Before I can answer, he escalates. “Know who I am? Asher Hale. My wife, Coral Lund, runs Lund Group. Still feeling brave?” I stare at him for a second, processing the absurdity, then dial Coral. “So… you have another husband at the office?” The moment I hang up, Asher explodes. He snatches my phone and smashes it to the ground. “Calling for help? You really think you’re leaving in one piece?” “Stop!” Silas steps in front of me, shielding me. “This is Lund Group’s manners? Accosting strangers for money, then laying hands on them?” Asher’s face flushes crimson. “Manners? In Valecrest, the name Lund Group is manners!” “I was doing you a favor to let you pay, get it?” “You wanna talk about rules? My word is the rule!” I laugh, glancing toward Asher. “Even Lund Group doesn’t teach highway robbery, does it?” Asher snorts and slams a boot on the chair, like some cheap gangster. “I’m basically offering you a chance to climb the social ladder higher, idiot. People beg to buy me drinks. I just turn most of them down.” Climb the ladder, he says. Since when does the Gideon Family need to grovel to anyone in Valecrest? I glance at Silas. His face is storm-dark. The richest heir of Havenport, capital of the country, never imagined a petty Lund Group could humiliate him on Valecrest soil. Asher sneers and waves toward the door. “Let me get one thing straight: in Valecrest, I, Asher Hale, am the law. Pin these fuckers down!” The instant the words leave his mouth, seven or eight black-suited bodyguards flood in, circling us like wolves. Silas yanks me back, his fists tightening. But they’re too many. Before he can swing, two guards pin his arms. “Silas!” I lunge, only to feel a blow to the back of my neck. My vision blacks out. Through the haze, I hear Silas snarl, “Bastard!” Then a fist cracks against his cheek. Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth. They force me to the ground. Helpless, I watch Asher drive his boot into Silas’s stomach, cursing all the while. “Stick your nose in my business? Today you’ll learn Lund Group is untouchable!” Their fists pummel him like sledgehammers. Silas came here for fun, not this senseless brawl. I rasp out. “Asher Hale, I’m Coral’s lawfully wedded husband, Eliot Gideon!” I jerk my chin toward Silas. He’s still pinned. “That’s Silas Vance from Havenport! Let us go now, and I’ll let this slide!” Asher’s foot freezes mid-kick; then he bursts out laughing. “Coral’s husband? A Vance? You two must’ve lost your minds.” The table behind him roars with laughter. “Everyone knows Ms. Lund’s husband is Deputy Hale.” “Man, the lies people tell when they’re desperate.” “Vance Family? Havenport? Never heard of it, must’ve pulled the name out of thin air.” Asher crouches, seizing my jaw, eyes vicious. “Say you’re her husband one more time, and I’ll break your arm. I’ll teach you the difference between real and fake. Only I get to say Coral’s name. Only I get to claim her.” Silas, still pinned and bleeding, mocks through split lips. “Eliot, come on. So this marriage of yours is just for decoration? The guy’s declaring himself her man right in front of you, and you’re the cuckold?” His words startle a laugh out of me, dark, edged with fury. Asher still grips my jaw. I wrench my head and sink my teeth into his wrist. He howls, grip slackening. Taking the chance, I slam my knee into the guard behind me. Then I snatch a beer bottle and crack it across another’s forehead. By the time Asher realizes what’s happening, I’m on him, fist crashing into his face. He staggers back, blood gushing from his nose. “You dare hit me?” he roars, lunging. But I catch his arm instead and hurl him to the ground. I straddle him, raining punches. Lund Group thugs surge forward, reeking of alcohol. “You hit Deputy Hale? You’re dead!” Silas has somehow broken free. He kicks one attacker aside and yells at me. “Damn it! Beat him senseless! I’ve never swallowed this kind of insult in my life!” In the chaos, someone swings a chair into my back. I grunt but don’t stop. Asher shrieks, clawing at my hair. “Everyone from Lund Group, tear him apart! I’ll take responsibility, triple bonuses!” They swarm like rabid dogs, pulling my arms, holding my waist, and kicking the back of my knees. Asher lands a boot in my gut while I’m held. I stumble back, ready to charge again, when a voice cuts through the brawl. “Everyone, freeze!”

Two uniformed officers shoulder their way in, take one look at the wreckage, and frown. But the moment they spot Asher, face bruised, nose bleeding, pinned to the ground, their expressions flip like a switch. “Deputy Hale? What are you doing here? What happened?” Detective Finn hurries forward, voice oozing deference, hand already out to help Asher up. Asher sees the badges and suddenly finds his backbone. He jabs a finger at Silas and me, howling. “Detective Finn! These two outsiders are insane! They refused to pay their bill, then jumped us! Look what they did to me. And my staff!” Detective Finn glances at our injuries, dismisses them with a flick of his eyes, then turns on us, face hard. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing? Brawling in public, assaulting Lund Group personnel? You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that.” “He blocked us from leaving and threw the first punch.” Silas growls, wiping blood from his lip. “Lies!” Asher cuts in instantly. “I was being generous, letting them bask in Lund Group’s shine by picking up my tab. They flipped, then had the gall to claim one of them is my wife’s husband and the other’s some big shot from Havenport.” Detective Finn clearly buys every word. He gestures at the shattered bottles and overturned chairs. “Doesn’t matter who started it. You two did this damage, and you injured Deputy Hale. That makes it your fault. Let me spell it out: in Valecrest, nobody snubs Lund Group. Deputy Hale is Ms. Lund’s man. Touch him, and you’re spitting on the whole city’s rules.” The other officer, Declan, already has his cuffs out, twirling them. “Enough chatter. You’re coming with us. Oh, and you’re covering Deputy Hale’s tab, the restaurant’s repairs, medical bills, and emotional damages. Kneel and apologize, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll keep it out of court.” “On what grounds?” I laugh, furious. “He started the whole thing, and you’re sentencing us without a trial?” “On the grounds that you’re outsiders.” Detective Finn waves a hand, bored. “You play by Valecrest rules here. Deputy Hale letting you pay his bill was a gift. Don’t insult the gift.” Silas’s smile is ice-cold. “I’d love to see Valecrest’s ‘rules’ try to outrank federal law.” “Still got a mouth on you, huh?” Declan steps in, reaching for my wrists. “Guess you’ve never learned respect.” I sidestep; he snarls, yanks out his stun baton, and thumbs the switch. “Fine. You want the hard way?” He lunges, jabbing the crackling tip toward my ribs. Electric fire races through my limbs; my knees buckle. Silas catches me, roaring at the cops. “You’re abusing your badges!” “Abuse? I’m enforcing order.” Finn sneers, drawing his own baton and leveling it at Silas. “In Valecrest, Lund Group’s business is order. You punks need a real lesson in respect.” The snap of electricity fills the air. Silas jerks, the smell of scorched fabric rising. “Dogs with badges… You’ll regret this…” “Regret?” Detective Finn laughs, tapping Silas’s chin with the baton. “Save that for when you’re inside, getting nightly reminders from the other inmates.” He turns to Asher, all smiles. “Deputy Hale, how’s that? Hard enough? Want me to dial it up?” Asher smirks, arms folded. “Crank it. They need to learn who runs this town.” Finn kicks me in the ribs, then bows to Asher. “Deputy Hale, if you don’t mind me asking, when’s Ms. Lund due? Declan and I want to be first in line with congratulatory gifts.” Declan nods eagerly. “Absolutely. Please do grant us the honor. Maybe Ms. Lund will remember us when promotions come around.” Hearing that, Asher grins. “Four, five months. Doc says it’s a boy.” Coral… pregnant… The words hit me like a sledgehammer. After six months abroad, I just got back to Valecrest. And now she’s carrying a child. I felt a hot flush of anger spread across my face. Two years we’ve been married. She always said the company was too busy for kids. I struggle to my feet. Declan sees the movement and drives the baton into the back of my neck. White lightning blinds me. The ground tilts. Asher snatches up a chair, ready to bring it down on my skull. Then, quick and sharp, the click of high heels cut through the room from the doorway.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619THTZLAbgXV 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni833037”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The party was in full swing when Mrs. Higgins cornered me by the champagne fountain. Her smile was all teeth, no warmth. “You’re remarkably gracious, Jane,” she purred. “Most wives wouldn’t throw a party for the woman who stole their job.” I froze, wine glass halfway to my lips. “That’s impossible. Caleb values competence above nepotism. I earned that Foundation Director position myself.” Mrs. Higgins’ laugh was brittle. “Darling, I saw the announcement. Harper’s name is right there. ‘Executive Director of the Turner & Co. Charity Foundation.’” She leaned in, dropping her voice to a stage whisper. “Everyone knows Caleb’s been keeping two women on the payroll, if you catch my meaning.” The wine turned sour in my mouth. I turned to find Caleb across the room, his expression guilty as sin. My parents intercepted me before I could reach him. “Jane, sweetheart.” Mom gripped my wrist. “Harper is a widow. She has no family, no prospects. People will talk if she doesn’t have a respectable position.” Dad nodded gravely. “You’re Caleb’s wife. You have his credit card, his name, his mansion. Surely you can afford to be generous.” The word “generous” tasted like poison. My heart felt like it was being carved apart with a dull knife. Fine. They wanted me to be generous? I’d give them generous. I’d hand Caleb over to Harper entirely.

The room was silent except for the clink of ice in Caleb’s scotch. Everyone had left. Just us now. “How long were you planning to hide it?” My voice was steady, cold. “Were you going to tell me after Harper join the company? Or never?” Caleb wouldn’t meet my eyes. That avoidance told me everything. “You’re strong, Jane. You don’t need protecting.” He swirled his drink. “Harper is different. Fragile. She needs me to shield her from the world.” “Jane, be reasonable. It’s only a job.” A job？ The tears came despite my best efforts. We’d been married three years. Three years where he was “too busy building the empire” to spend more than a handful of nights at home. He’d given Harper as his secretary two years ago. She got to work beside him every day while I ate dinner alone. She stole three years of my marriage. Now she was wanting more. Why should I accept this? Harper materialized beside me, eyes glistening with crocodile tears. “Jane, I told Caleb not to do this.” Her voice was honey-sweet. “He just thinks you’re not suitable for the Foundation work. You are Mrs. Turner, after all. He didn’t want people to think you got the position through his powers.” She reached for my hand in a sisterly gesture. Every touch felt like needles under my skin. “Mrs. Turner?” The word came out sharp. “Caleb has suspended the credit card two years ago. I’ve been working day and night. I worked until I miscarried. I’m not suitable?” “I spent a year training—networking events, charity galas, foundation law seminars—so I wouldn’t embarrass him at the Foundation. Crawling through mud and mockery to prove myself. That’s being using his power?” Two years. Every sacrifice I made to stand beside him. Every careful step to avoid even a whisper of scandal. And Caleb erased me with a signature. Replaced me without a conversation. The facade of “protecting me” was stripped bare in front of everyone. Harper’s tears spilled over. “Caleb, please. Give the position back to Jane.” She turned to him, voice breaking. “I can handle gossip. I’ve endured worse…” Caleb immediately moved to comfort her, his expression darkening as he glared at me. My father spoke first. “Jane. Is this how we raised you?” His voice cut like a judge’s gavel. “Harper has no parents, no husband—he died three years ago—and you’re being cruel to her?” Mom’s disappointment was palpable. “Harper’s already facing terrible rumors as a young widow. Are you deliberately making it worse?” Tears blurred my vision. My heart felt like it was splitting open. “You stood by and watched me become the laughingstock of this entire social circle!” My voice cracked. “And you call yourselves my parents?!” Suddenly it all made sense. The menu for tonight—prime rib and lobster thermidor. They knew I hated rich, heavy food. They knew this dinner wasn’t for Caleb and me. It was Harper’s celebration party. They’d known all along. My parents looked away, guilt flickering across their faces. Caleb’s voice cracked like a whip. “Enough!” He slammed his glass down. “I decide who gets what position in my company. My choice. My company.” “Jane, your jealousy right now is pathetic. Harper would never act like this.” “Maybe you should reflect on why you’re so insecure.” He looked at me like I was a stranger having a breakdown. The room erupted in murmurs—some defending him, others pitying Harper. I wiped my tears. Met his eyes. “I did reflect,” I said quietly. “It’s not me who needs to change. It’s you.” “So let’s get divorced.”

Three years of marriage, and everything I owned fit in a single duffel bag. Every penny I earned went to Caleb, just to prove I wasn’t a woman he needed to support. Looking back now, I was really stupid. Packing took ten minutes. Mrs. Higgins knocked, letting herself in. “Jane, darling, where are you going with that bag? You’re not seriously considering divorce…” “I am.” “No, no, no!” She grabbed my arm. “Yesterday was my fault. Don’t throw away your marriage because of my big mouth!” She lowered her voice urgently. “Caleb is young, brilliant, devastatingly handsome. Three years married and he’s never let you suffer a day. Why would you walk away?” “If you leave now, you’re just handing Harper exactly what she wants. Don’t you see that?” The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth from biting my tongue. “Mrs. Higgins, you saw how hard I fought for that position last year.” “Caleb had the power to approve it. I asked him once，just once，and he accused me of being a gold-digger trying to use his connections.” Mrs. Higgins stammered. “Well… but you’re married. People would’ve talked.” I laughed bitterly. “Because we’re married, my hundred hours of work meant nothing. But Harper? No relationship, no credentials, and he paves her entire road in gold.” “Isn’t that right, Mrs. Higgins?” I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. I walked past her, bag in hand. “I know Caleb sent you to change my mind. Don’t bother.” Mrs. Higgins was the most difficult woman in the area. She’d hated me since day one. Only Caleb could make her apologize to me. I opened the door. Caleb stood on the other side, his expression cold and flat. I didn’t acknowledge him. Stepped around him. He caught my wrist, voice low and impatient. “Are you done with this tantrum?” “You filed a complaint with the Board claiming I’m having an affair with Harper. You demanded the divorce. I’m choosing to overlook that.” “Jane, I’m human too. Try to understand my position.” Every time. Every single time I questioned his relationship with Harper, he used this line. “I’m a CEO, I’m your husband, but I’m also just a man.” “Jane, others can doubt me, but you can’t. You have to understand my position with Harper.” Because of his demand for “understanding,” I endured everything. When people mocked me—laughing about how I funded his affair—I screamed back at them. “My husband is just being kind to a widow. I trust him completely!” And the whole time? He was sleeping with her. I was the punchline. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “How dare you say that to me.” “Caleb, before you sign the divorce, I don’t want to see your face.” I moved into an old apartment that night and found a new job. Senior director at Nexon Group, the most prestigious consulting firm in the country. The CEO told me if I secured the Hawthorne Industries this quarter, I will become the Executive Director of the branch office. For that position, I worked before dawn and past midnight. I took every impossible client pitch other consultants rejected. Two months of non-stop presentations and proposals until I collapsed. When I woke up, I was in a private medical suite. My parents sat beside the bed. “Jane, you have a CEO husband who adores you. Why are you destroying yourself like this?” Mom’s eyes were wet. “Look at you—skin and bones. It breaks my heart.” Why were they here? I pinched myself hard. Not dreaming. “Dad. Mom.” My voice broke. “The divorce isn’t a tantrum.” “I have got a job. And when I stand firm, I’ll take you both with me. Away from all this.” Maybe illness makes people vulnerable. In that moment, I wanted to forgive them for lying to me. If we could just be a family again. Mom’s face crumpled. “Sweetheart, that’s actually why we’re here.” “Because of your Board complaint, Caleb was reprimanded. Publicly.” “He says he doesn’t blame you. And he knows you work very hard. He has influence with Nexon Group’s Board.” Dad jumped in quickly. “You just have to agree to attend Harper’s adoption ceremony. ” “Then he’ll pull strings for you. Get you a more easier and respectable position.” Every shred of hope withered and died. Of course. It was always about Harper. My parents were going to adopt another daughter. To save Harper’s reputation, they needed me to smile and play along. I closed my eyes, letting tears slide down my temples. Finally, I exhaled. “Fine. I’ll do it. In exchange, let him sign the divorce paper.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619aVZSvY25vW 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni253185”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

Ten years into my marriage, I, Hugh Baker, stumbled upon a paternity test on my wife’s computer, something I’d never known existed. It declared that the son I’d raised for a decade, Zack Baker, wasn’t my biological child. “Honey, what are you still doing in the study so late?” It was Lilith Wells, my wife. Her voice startled me. In a panic, I closed the document, but she had already seen it. She looked at me with a dark expression. “Don’t you trust me, honey?” I opened the paternity test report and confronted her about it. But she immediately shut down the computer and turned the tables on me, accusing me of not respecting her privacy. Watching her walk away, I realized how strange our ten-year marriage had become. I calmly opened the drawer and tore up the tenth-anniversary gift I had prepared long ago. … I pulled open the bottom drawer, where a signed share transfer agreement was kept. I had planned to give her 15% of the company on our wedding anniversary tomorrow as a tenth-year gift. But now, it seemed unnecessary. I took out the document and tore it apart, piece by piece. The scraps fell into the trash, mixing with the wrapping paper for the anniversary gift I had prepared. I looked at those gifts again. The joy I once felt was gone. All that remained was nausea. When I returned to the bedroom, Lilith was already in bed, as if nothing had happened. I stood at the door for a long time, watching her sleeping back, then turned and went to the guest room. I didn’t sleep all night. The next morning, I was woken up by Lilith. The next morning, Lilith woke me with a sharp knock. She stood at the guest room door, anger written all over her face. “Hugh, what’s this supposed to mean? Sleeping in the guest room?” I sat up and looked at her. It’s a face I had seen for ten years, yet now it felt completely unfamiliar. “I need some space.” Her face turned red, and she stormed off in a huff. “Like I care.” After Lilith went to work, I made breakfast as usual. Zack sat at the dining table, drinking milk. “Dad, you look pale.” I stroked his hair, soft and slightly curly, just like Lilith’s. Over the years, many people had said that they looked alike. “I didn’t sleep well last night. Hurry up and eat, or you’ll be late.” On the way to school, my mind kept drifting. At a red light, I turned around and pretended to fix his collar. From the back of his head, I plucked a strand of hair. “You’ve got a gray hair. Dad will take it out.” I slipped the hair into the small notebook I always carried. Watching Zack walk into the school, I went to the paternity testing center. “I need an expedited test. How soon can I get the results?” “Normally, it takes five working days. If you rush it, it will be before 4PM today. The fee is triple.” “Expedite it.” When I handed in the sample, my hands were a little shaky. After taking my oral cells, I sat in the waiting area, staring at the clock on the wall as it ticked away. During this time, I contacted a private detective. “I want to investigate my wife, Lilith Wells, especially her whereabouts in the past few months.” At 3:40 PM, my phone rang. The results were ready. I clicked open the electronic report and went straight to the end. “Based on DNA analysis, the probability of a parent-child relationship between Hugh Baker and Zack Baker is 0.0001%. According to genetic marker analysis, Hugh Baker is not the biological father of Zack Baker.”

I thought I was ready, yet the words still punched the air out of me. I steadied myself against the wall and slid to the floor. Not my child. The boy I had raised for nine years carried none of my blood. Then where was my child? I drove straight to the maternity hospital where Lilith had given birth. The obstetrician who had delivered my child was now head of the department. I went straight to the point. “Dr Roger, I need my wife’s full delivery file, charts, notes, everything.” Her smile faltered. “It’s been so long. Records are archived off-site.” After a while, the staff finally produced a thin manila folder. I flipped through it but found the records so brief, listing only the admission and discharge times, the mode of delivery, and the newborn’s weight. No labor progression sheet, no nursing hand-over, no pediatrician’s check. “That’s all?” She apologized. “I’m sorry, but paper records are only kept for ten years. Your wife’s is almost expired.” “What about footprints? Heel-prick blood card?” She shook her head. “Those should be in the neonatal records, but we couldn’t find them.” Obviously, something was off. A gaping hole where a life should have been documented. A son who looked like my wife and nothing like me. My phone buzzed. It was Lilith. “Where are you? I’ve already picked Zack up.” I had lost track of time. Luckily, I had told the teacher beforehand. “I’m running errands outside. Be home soon.” I hung up before she could ask more. After dinner, I lied to them, saying I had a migraine and escaped to the guest room. In the living room, Lilith was helping Zack with his homework. Their voices drifted faintly down the hall. “Mom, is Dad mad at me?” “He’s just tired. Finish your work and sleep.” When the house fell silent, I searched the entire place. Our bedroom, living room, Zack’s room, and everywhere else. Still, I got no clue. Finally, I shifted my gaze to the computer. I believed the truth was there for me to find. I was closing a document when Lilith appeared. “Still up?” “Clearing old files.” I turned off the monitor as I answered. She lingered for a moment, as if she wanted to say something. In the end, she only nodded. “Get some rest.” I sat in the dark, listening to her footsteps fade. That night, I didn’t open the computer again. My thoughts were a mess as I lay awake in bed. At dawn, I sent her to drop Zack off at school. She glanced at me and then complained to Zack. “See? Your dad’s just lazy. Good thing your mom spoils him.” The moment the gate clicked, I sprinted to the study. I opened the computer and typed in the possible password, our wedding anniversary. Password denied. Her birthday. Wrong. Zack’s birthday. Still wrong. I tried the date we first met, her mother’s birthday, even the company’s founding day. Still, nothing. The system prompted me to try again in fifteen minutes. I sat in the chair, staring at the screen. We had picked the computer together, but I didn’t have the access now. That night, Lilith came home, peeling off her coat. “I’m leaving for a business trip to Portle tomorrow. Not sure how long I’ll be gone.” I came out of the kitchen with a dish. “That’s so sudden. Who are you going with?” She placed her briefcase between us like a barrier, turning back at me. “It was arranged last minute. Hugh… can you not do this?”

I stared at her in silence, wondering why a casual question had caused such a strong reaction. “You always have to ask about everything, and suspect everyone. I’m just going to work.” I turned to serve the rice, my hand trembling slightly. “I’m just asking.” She didn’t respond, walking straight into the bedroom. Dinner was finished in silence. Zack seemed to sense something and, for once, didn’t pick at his food. After her shower, Lilith picked up her coat from the sofa to hang it up. A receipt fell from her pocket, landing at my feet. After she left, I picked it up and took a look. It was a receipt for an expensive perfume, purchased the previous afternoon. I had never heard of the perfume’s name, but I knew it wasn’t for me. In ten years of marriage, Lilith had never given me a gift. I used to make excuses for her, saying she wasn’t romantic and was too busy with work. Now it seemed she wasn’t incapable of romance; she just wasn’t romantic with me. I jotted down the information on the receipt. The next morning, as soon as Lilith left for the airport, I called the counter. “I’d like to check this invoice, yes, from yesterday afternoon.” “Just a moment. Got it. The purchaser is Mr. Stan Herbert.” Stan Herbert. The name rang a bell. Lilith’s secretary, a divorced man in his thirties, had been hired half a year ago. On my way to the airport, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to confirm. Maybe the perfume was for a client, or maybe I was just overthinking things. I waited outside the international departure hall for half an hour before I saw Lilith and him. Stan, in a beige trench coat and dragging a small suitcase, walked over with Lilith. Lilith’s face wore a relaxed smile I hadn’t seen in a long time. Then, in front of the security checkpoint, Stan stopped and reached out to adjust Lilith’s collar as if it were a habit. She didn’t flinch. He leaned down and whispered something into her ear. Lilith laughed, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. Her hand lingered on his waist for a little while before they parted, as if it were second nature. The last shred of self-deception I clung to vanished in an instant. It turned out there was a reason for those late nights at work and the impatient looks she gave me. As I watched their intimate figures, suspicion began to gnaw at me. Could Zack have anything to do with this man? On my way back, I called the private detective I had hired a few days earlier. “Help me look into a man. Name’s Stan Herbert. I want to know everything about him, especially whether he has a child.” The detective moved fast. By the next afternoon, I received the report. Stan Herbert. Thirty-two. Divorced five years ago. Has a ten-year-old son. William Herbert. Studies at an elementary school in the west district. That date suddenly caught my eye. His son was born only one week after Zack. For the first time in ten years, I felt the blood rush to my head. I sat on the sofa, gripping the report. Then a thought struck me. I rushed into the study. My finger hovered over the keyboard before slowly typing in Stan’s birthday. The desktop unlocked. Only one folder sat there—“Work Backup.” I clicked on it, and inside were subfolders neatly organized by year, starting eleven years ago. The earliest folder contained scanned old photos. Lilith and Stan, in school uniforms, stood under a locust tree. Nineteen-year-old Lilith was smiling, her hand resting on his shoulder. Stan, with short hair, looked up at her. The next photo was from college, in the library. The one after that was their graduation photo, both in academic gowns, holding hands. That same year, Lilith told me the company was in trouble. We canceled our anniversary trip. I closed the folder, feeling a bit nauseous. A decade of deception. Looking at the wallpaper of our wedding photo on the screen, I felt a wave of disgust. At three in the afternoon, I drove to the west of the city. The primary school was even older than the detective had described. The school bell rang, and children poured out of the gate. I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel. He walked out alone, with no one to pick him up. He looked around, then slowly made his way down the sidewalk. I held my breath. That child, William. No, he was my child. The way he walked was a bit like mine, with a slight pigeon-toed gait. When he raised his hand to adjust his hair, I saw a birthmark on his wrist, in the same spot as mine. I saw dust on his eyelashes, his lips a bit dry, and the edges of his shoes coming undone. His eyes were hollow, not like those of a ten-year-old. I covered my mouth to keep from making a sound. He walked away, disappearing around the corner. I broke down and cried, my face buried in the steering wheel. For that child walking home alone, for the ten years of misplaced life, and for living like a fool in a play arranged by others. Then I wiped my tears and started the car. In the law firm, I placed the USB drive in front of Mr. Stuart. It contained backups of all the photos, the paternity test report, scanned medical records, the perfume receipt, and information on Stan and William. “I want a divorce,” I said. “I want her out with nothing. I want custody of the child. And I want her to pay for what she’s done.” As I walked out of the law firm, I remembered what Lilith had said when she proposed ten years ago. “Hugh, I’ll give you a lifetime free of worries.” Turns out, her “lifetime” was only ten years. No, maybe even less. I took out my phone and called the company’s second-largest shareholder, my father’s old colleague. “Mr. Wince, about next week’s board meeting… there are a few things I’d like to discuss in advance.” Lilith must have forgotten. This company carries the Baker name.

She became the general manager because I had persuaded my father to give her a chance. I could elevate her, and I could also make her fall hard. Two weeks after Lilith left, I liquidated everything under my name that could be turned into cash. These days, I spent every afternoon near the primary school in the west of the city. One rainy day, he didn’t have an umbrella. After he waited under the eaves of the school’s convenience store for half an hour, he ran home in the rain. I sat in my car, the rain blurring the windows. On Friday afternoon, I arrived near the school early. When I saw William come out, I got out of the car and pretended to be a passerby. The folder in my hand “accidentally” dropped in front of him. He paused, then bent down to pick it up for me. “Thank you, little one. Is your mom not here yet?” He shook his head. “Mom’s working overtime today.” “So how will you get home?” “By bus,” he replied. I pulled out an unopened bottle of mineral water from my bag and handed it to him. “Have some water.” He hesitated for a moment, then took it and whispered. “Thank you.” I noticed he had a habit of pursing his lips when he spoke, just like me. His eyes were similar too, hidden double eyelids, with slightly downturned corners. “Does your mom often work overtime?” He nodded, then shook his head. “Yeah, sometimes.” “What about your dad?” He didn’t speak, just looked down at his shoes. The edges of his sneakers were fraying, and the shoelace on his left foot was broken. I didn’t ask further and took out two hundred dollars from my wallet, pressing it into his hand. “Poor kids. Do buy yourself a new pair of shoes.” He took a step back. “No Sir, I can’t accept it.” “Consider it a thank-you for helping me with the folder.” I told him, slipping the money into the side pocket of his school bag before walking away. After a few steps, I looked back. He looked a bit bewildered. That night, I stood at the door of Zack’s room. He was playing with the new Lego set Lilith had bought him, a limited-edition spaceship model that was quite expensive. “Dad? What’s wrong?” I went in and stroked his hair. “Did you finish your homework?” “I finished it early.” He showed me the model in his hands. “Mom said if I get into the top ten in the midterm exam, she’ll take me to Disneyland.” I smiled. “That’s great.” The moment I turned around, my smile disappeared. The different attitudes Lilith had towards the two boys felt like a thorn in my heart. My own son, wearing shoes with fraying edges, took the bus alone, while this child enjoyed everything. After a two-week business trip, Lilith finally came home. She put down her suitcase and asked directly. “Where’s Zack? Why is it so quiet?” “I enrolled him in a tutoring class. Two hours in the evening.” “Why? He’s only in the fourth grade.” I didn’t answer, but smelled the perfume on her. She came over to hug me, but I stepped aside. “Who did you have dinner with?” Her expression froze, and she became impatient. “Hugh, you’re being suspicious again. Can’t you stop this?” Suddenly, I found it laughable. Only now did I realize how poor her acting was. I took out an envelope from the drawer of the coffee table, slowly pulled out the photos, and laid them on the table. Lilith’s face turned gloomy. She picked up one of the photos and threw it back on the table. “Did you follow me?” “Does it matter?” I smiled. “What matters is, what would happen if these photos appeared at the board meeting, or were sent to your clients?” She collapsed onto the sofa opposite me, covering her face with her hands. “What do you want?” I stared at her, my voice flat. “First, fire Stan and ensure you never see him again. Second, tell me what happened at the hospital ten years ago.” She stood up, furious. “You’re crazy. Just because of a few photos?” My voice was cold. “Lilith, don’t forget that the company bears my family name. You have what you have today because of me. And I can take it back.” I almost softened, but I thought of William’s shoes with fraying edges, and of him waiting alone for the rain to stop. “For the sake of ten years of marriage and our child, as long as you do as I say, we can continue this life. After all, we still have Zack.” I said, turning and going to the bedroom to get a document, handing it to her. A cancer diagnosis report.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606192WEw8iOD3w 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni648088”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

When I reached the hospital, my in-laws were already at death’s door. The doctor said the snake was extremely rare, and the hospital had no antidote. Only my wife’s company did. I called Laura again and again. Every call was rejected. On the hundredth attempt, she finally answered. “It’s Lucas’s birthday tonight,” she said impatiently. “I’ll stay with him for the night. Stop being like this.” My mind raced with the faces in the ER. I swallowed my anger and forced the words out. “Your parents and sister too, were bitten by a snake.” “The hospital doesn’t have the serum, only your company does. Just bring it here, please.” Before I could finish, Laura cut me off. Her tone was mocking and cold, full of sharp edges. “One vial costs over a hundred grand. Ethan, have you and your family no shame?” “Your whole family gets bitten, and do you have any idea how much it costs to save them all? I’m not a fool.” “Go figure that out yourself.” She hung up and blocked me. I slumped into a hospital chair, stunned. My head felt heavy from being pressed by those words, which I never thought I would hear from her mouth. Then a message from the Vacheron Constantin assistant, she told me the watch my parents prepared for my birthday had been collected by my wife. No need to guess. It was already on Lucas Reed’s wrist. This was not the first time. Taking my things and handing them to her haunting-crush like it was nothing. Every time I protested, she just laughed. “You’re married. Who’s even gonna notice an expensive watch on you? Give it to Lucas. He’s busy with deals.” “Don’t be so petty. Lucas is like my own brother. If you love me, then you have to accept it.” She put Lucas above everything, this man was her world. Watches, cars, houses—she gave them all. It was as if she’d take out her own heart and stamp his name on it. And me—her true husband— couldn’t even get a few doses of life-saving medicine. Ridiculous. I was typing to the assistant when Laura posted online: “The most handsome watch, for the one I love most. Tonight belongs to us.” Lucas posted right after: “I’ll be the knight who protects his princess forever. Your medicine didn’t just save my family—it saved my heart.” In the photo, they were leaning so close together, grinning like the world was theirs. My watch is on Lucas’s wrist. The antidote I begged for was in his hand. He smiled like a champion—and yes, he always was. I was seething with anger, almost collapsing. How can she be this heartless? She threw fortunes at Lucas to please him. while leaving her own family to die. The doctor walked out of the ER. I ran toward him. “Please, give me more time! I’ll get the cure!” But he shook his head and took off his mask. “It’s too late. I’m sorry.”

My nose burned. The pain rushed up all at once. Just hours ago, they were still talking and laughing. Now they lay cold in a hospital morgue, lifeless and silent. And their daughter was still out there, celebrating with joy, pretending nothing had happened. How disgusting. I swallowed my tears and messaged the sales assistant. “I never had anyone pick up the watch. Someone must have taken it under my name. Please report this to the police immediately.” The doctor said the snake was almost extinct here, and that was why the hospital had no antidote. What a coincidence. A rare snake inside their tent. Five people bitten. Five deaths. The police took it quite seriously. The investigation moved fast. It didn’t take long to uncover the truth—someone had bought venomous snakes in bulk online and released them. The suspects were actually Lucas Reed’s parents. The family she had rushed to save. The very people who wiped out hers. I wondered how she’d look when the truth finally caught up with her. The officer explained gently, “Sir, we’ve confirmed the situation. But the suspects are currently hospitalized and can’t be questioned yet.” I replied flatly, “They were bitten too. But their poison’s already been neutralized.” “They can take the questioning, just go ahead.” He gave me a puzzled look, clearly wondering how I knew. But seeing how drained I looked, he didn’t ask more. “Rest assured,” he said. “We’ll find out what really happened.” After they left, I started to prepare a lawsuit. Then a sudden call cut in. It’s Laura. She sounded furious. “Ethan, are you picking a fight on purpose?” “I’m your wife. What’s wrong with me picking up a watch for you?” “How can you call the police?”—were you bitten too? Or did you lose your mind?” The accusations came fast and sharp, one after another. She didn’t spare a second to care how I was feeling at the moment. I replied calmly. “It’s indeed a problem. Because I never saw the watch.” “You said you picked it up. Fine. Then tell me—where is it now?” Silence, a long silence. We stayed like that for a while. Then her tone softened. “We are a couple, what’s yours is mine anyway.” “Lucas wanted a limited-edition watch. There’s only one of this edition in the country.” “And it happened to be his birthday. I just wanted him to be happy.” “It looks perfect on him. Giving brings joy. Don’t be so petty.” The shamelessness was breathtaking. I snapped back without hesitation. “You actually have the nerve to say that? Why didn’t you pay for it yourself?” “How useless you are?” Laura froze for a moment, disbelief cracking her voice. “You dare say that again?” “Are you crazy?” I almost laughed out. I used to guard her pride as if it were my inborn duty and choose every word carefully. Now I see it clearly—she was just utterly shameless. I didn’t give her a chance to argue. “If you have a tiny little bit of conscience,” I said coldly, “come to the hospital now.” “Come and see what you’ve done.” “They’re already dead!” she shouted. “What difference would it make if I go?” “It’s a good day—don’t screw it!” Then she added, casually, “Don’t cremate your parents yet. See if you can send the bodies to my company, we need cadavers for research.” “Oh—and Lucas’s parents had an accident. He’s not doing well; I’m going to stay with him.” Then she hung up. I found it so ridiculous that I lost my voice. So she thought the dead were my family. I had originally planned to lay her parents to rest as soon as possible. Since it was what she wanted, I ordered five industrial freezers. I took the bodies out of the morgue and shipped them straight to her company..

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619i3qptJ0pWZ 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni649140”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

Five years after leaving the country, I returned to attend Mrs. Sterling’s birthday gala at the Plaza. My former fiancée Sierra Sterling—the childhood sweetheart I’d been engaged to since we were eight—pulled out a custom-designed Tom Ford tuxedo and proposed to me in front of everyone. The ballroom erupted. Gasps. Whispers. Champagne flutes frozen mid-air. They all expected me to fall to my knees in tears of joy. Say yes. Beg her to take me back. After all, I’d loved Sierra Sterling with the kind of desperate, embarrassing devotion that became Manhattan society legend. But they seemed to have forgotten something. Five years ago, at our wedding, she ripped the custom Armani suit off my body in front of three hundred guests. Stomped on it with her Louboutins. For another man. She publicly accused me of academic fraud. Scientific misconduct. Patent theft. The wedding was canceled. I stood there in front of everyone—judged, mocked, destroyed. That day, I left for Europe alone. But now that I’m back, Mrs. Sterling grips my shoulder with her perfectly manicured hand and says: “Ethan, Sierra missed you terribly these past five years. Even after what you did, she never forgot you.” “After you left, she spent a fortune burying those scandals. If you’re willing to give her another chance, the Sterling family will give you an even grander wedding than before.” — “Ethan Quinn, will you marry me?” When I don’t answer, Sierra repeats her proposal. Voice dripping with manufactured emotion. Mrs. Sterling watches me with expectant eyes. Like I’m a charity case who should be grateful. I thought seeing Sierra again would make me angry. But standing here, looking at her holding that tuxedo like a peace offering, I feel… nothing. Absolutely nothing. The ballroom falls silent. Eyes boring into me. Some curious. Most waiting for the drama. When I left New York five years ago, I never came back. They don’t know I’m married. That I have a daughter. So I don’t know if Sierra orchestrated this public proposal herself—or if she’s planning to humiliate me again for sport. A flash of mockery crosses my expression, but I keep my face polite. Detached. “Thank you for the honor, Miss Sterling. I was young and foolish back then. I don’t have those feelings anymore.” The room explodes. “WHAT? He rejected her? Is he insane?” “Didn’t he literally beg her to marry him for years? Now she’s proposing and he said NO?” Everyone stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. Because five years ago, I did more than a few foolish things for Sierra Sterling. I made waves that rippled through all of Manhattan’s elite circles. Like the time I spent nine million dollars on fireworks at the Brooklyn Bridge. Spelled out “SIERRA STERLING” in the sky for her birthday. Or when I hired drones to fly over Times Square for an entire month, displaying “SIERRA & ETHAN” on continuous loop. Two weeks before our wedding, I bought every digital billboard in Manhattan. Had our engagement photos rotating 24/7. At twenty-five, I loved her like a man possessed. Wanted the whole world to witness our perfect love story. Never imagined she’d betray me. After all, this was Sierra Sterling. My first constant. My childhood promise. She learned my name before she learned most words. Learned how to spell “Ethan” long before she cared about spelling her own. Growing up, she was always just… there. Reminding me to take care of myself. Quietly fixing the things I forgot. Folding my shirts without being asked, like it was simply part of loving me. For twenty years, we were closer than siblings. More in sync than most married couples. Even when I became the notoriously strict Professor Quinn at MIT, with her I was still the little boy who called her “Sierra Bear” and chased her around with flowers. Always tender. Always devoted. Always hers. The year our love burned brightest, we stood at the Love Lock Bridge in Paris and vowed to be together forever. I believed love like ours was eternal. Until one month before the wedding, when Liam Carter was brought into the Sterling household as their ward.

Supposedly he was the orphaned son of Mr. Sterling’s old army buddy. His father had saved Mr. Sterling’s life, so they took Liam in out of obligation. At first, Sierra and I were both kind to him. I even took him to Knicks games and taught him to golf. But somehow, somewhere along the way, Sierra started spending more and more time with Liam. She started bringing him on our dates. Our private dinners for two became dinners for three. On Valentine’s Day, Sierra promised to come with me for the final fitting of the custom tuxedo she’d designed for our wedding. I called her a hundred times. Waited in our penthouse for two hours. All I got was a text: “Something came up. Rain check.” Frustrated, I went to the tailor alone. And found Liam Carter standing there wearing MY custom tuxedo. Sierra adjusting his collar. Her cousins circling him like vultures, calling him “brother-in-law.” Their praise and laughter made it seem like Liam and Sierra were the engaged couple. And I was the outsider. Rage and humiliation burned through me. My vision went red. “Do you even remember I’m your fiancé?” I demanded, voice shaking. Sierra finally looked up from Liam. No guilt. No shame. Just… annoyance. “I told you something came up. Why are you here?” “Can you stop being so paranoid and jealous all the time? You’re acting pathetic. Like a child.” I’m Ethan Quinn. Son of Wall Street legend Marcus Quinn. MIT’s youngest tenured professor. I don’t take disrespect from ANYONE. “Sierra Sterling, who gave you permission to talk to me like that?” “Your ‘something’ was spending time with Liam? Making him wear MY tuxedo?” My voice cracked. By the time I finished speaking, I’d crushed my phone screen in my fist without realizing it. Sierra instinctively grabbed my bleeding hand. But her tone was still accusatory. “Ethan, stop making a scene. You always do this. I’m tired of placating you.” “I just had Liam try on the tux for sizing. Why are you throwing a tantrum over something so small?” I was so shocked I forgot to respond.

Sierra Sterling was lecturing me. Blaming me. For twenty years, no matter what I did, she never said a harsh word to me. Spoiled me rotten. But now she’s calling me unreasonable in front of all these people. Like she’s forgotten that she’s the one who MADE me this way. My silence stretches too long. Sierra’s expression softens with regret. “Ethan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” “But you accused me without knowing the full story. That hurt.” I force myself to stay calm. Decide to hear her explanation. “Then explain. Why did you cancel on me today?” Sierra soothes me by squeezing my fingers. Kisses my cheek. Then launches into her story: “Ethan, didn’t you notice the sapphire cufflinks on the tux came loose? The original technique wasn’t securing them properly, so I switched to a new method. I needed a model to test if they’d hold, but my usual model canceled. So I grabbed Liam as a last-minute substitute.” Her tone is earnest. Gentle. It sounds… reasonable. My anger cools. But I’m still not satisfied. “Then what about your cousins calling him ‘brother-in-law’?” “Oh, Ethan.” Sierra rolls her eyes playfully. “You’re so spoiled. My cousin was talking about getting a tux FOR the brother-in-law—meaning YOU. You’re taking it out of context.” She puts on a wounded expression, teasing me with her eyes. I’m already embarrassed about my outburst. Now I just want to grab her hand and leave. But before I can touch her, Liam steps between us. Trembling. Eyes wide with fake fear. “Ethan… this is all my fault. I offered to be Sierra’s model. Please… hit me if you want. Just don’t be angry at her.” Liam stares at me like a kicked puppy. The people around us glare at me like I’m a monster. Even Sierra reaches out to comfort Liam while gently suggesting I leave. Later, Liam bought me an expensive watch as an apology. Mrs. Sterling came to our penthouse to explain everything personally. But something felt off. They were apologizing to me, sure. But their words were laced with protectiveness toward Liam. “Ethan, you know Liam is the son of the man who saved my husband’s life. His father is gone now, and Liam’s alone. We have to take care of him.” “Besides, the Carter family saved us. Liam is part of our family now. If he gets mistreated here, people will talk.” Sierra nodded along eagerly. “Exactly, Ethan. Liam’s young. We should be looking out for him.” “Plus, you’re about to marry me. You’ll be his brother-in-law soon. Why fight with a family?” What could I say to that? Sierra looked so sincere. I let it go. Sierra smiled. Took an emerald ring from a velvet box and slid it onto my finger. “There. Is Mr. Quinn done being grumpy now?” I felt the warmth of her touch and finally relaxed. I handed her a folder. “Sterling Industries wants to expand into tech, right? This is my latest research from MIT…” Before I could finish, Sierra threw herself into my arms. “Ethan, I love you!” Her enthusiasm made me blush. I was so focused on our future together. I didn’t realize her love wasn’t exclusive. That it was quietly shifting toward Liam Carter.

Her Instagram became a shrine to Liam. Photos of them together every single day. Rumors started spreading through Manhattan’s elite circles: The Quinn-Sterling engagement was off. The Sterling family was planning to marry Sierra to their ward instead. I heard the whispers and wanted to confront the Sterlings immediately. But before I could, Liam showed up at my MIT office. Gone was the scared, timid boy from a week ago. Now his expression dripped with smug satisfaction. “Ethan, you’ve heard the rumors, right? That’s not just the Sterling family’s intention. It’s Sierra’s too.” “If you don’t want to embarrass yourself, cancel the engagement.” I clenched my fists to control my rage. I’d promised Sierra I’d be patient with Liam. But Liam misread my silence as weakness. His smile widened. “Still in denial, Ethan? Don’t worry. You’ll see Sierra’s choice soon enough.” I snapped. My fist connected with his jaw. “Get out.” Liam stumbled backward, shocked that I’d actually hit him. He fled. Furious, I opened my phone and sent Sierra the audio recording of Liam’s taunts. Waited for her to apologize. But instead of apologizing, she questioned me. “Ethan, is there some misunderstanding?” “Liam’s always been kind and thoughtful. He’d never do this. Are you sure someone didn’t trick you?” I stared at the screen in disbelief. Twenty years of history. Audio evidence. And she still chose to believe Liam over me. She doubted ME for a kid she’d known less than a month. I threw my phone across the room. Decided I was done trying. That night, Sierra flew five hours from a conference in London to New York just to smooth things over. When I saw her exhausted face at my door, I couldn’t turn her away. The moment I opened the door, she kissed me. Deep and desperate. We didn’t pull apart until we were both breathless. “Ethan, I only see Liam as a brother. I’d never have feelings for him. You believe me, right?” “But he’s my father’s savior’s son. There are things I can’t control. You understand, don’t you?” “Besides, we’re getting married next week. You wouldn’t abandon me now… would you?” She looked up at me with those wide, pleading eyes. So careful. So vulnerable. My resolve crumbled. I chose to believe her unconditionally. I didn’t know that trust wasn’t mutual. That she was about to push me into hell with her own hands.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619nDd0RLn89x 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni597427”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The first day of Royal Pack Academy entrance exams was over, and Gavin wouldn’t shut up about how Roxy—that rogue girl he’d met at some club was planned to “celebrate his coming of age.” He was actually going to accept it. The guy who’d spent three years obsessing over his Trial scores was about to throw it all away for a quick fuck. Earlier this morning, I’d been drinking coffee at the pack diner when I overheard Roxy and her friends at the next booth. “Tonight, I’m gonna wreck that virgin boy scout so bad, he won’t be able to stand tomorrow. Forget the Trials—he’ll be lucky if he can crawl to the arena.” In my last life, I’d desperately tried to stop Gavin from going. Begged him not to throw away his future. Got down on my knees and pleaded with him to think about what he was doing. Gavin’s response? “Selene, this is Roxy’s gift to me. Just because you’re too much of a prude to have fun doesn’t mean you get to cockblock my happiness.” I’d been so worried about his future that I’d told his parents everything. They locked him in his room. Dragged him to the Trials the next day like a prisoner. He passed. Got into the Royal Pack Academy. But Roxy’s plan fell apart. She got wasted, and some assholes jumped her in the alley behind the club. They found her body two days later. Gavin lost his mind. He blamed me for everything. Said I’d ruined his life. Taken away his “soulmate.” A month before Academy started, he invited me over to “talk things out.” I thought maybe we could fix things. We’d been friends since we were kids, after all. Gavin drugged my drink. When I woke up in that alley with three rogue wolves holding me down, Gavin was standing at the entrance. Watching and making sure no one interrupted. They destroyed me. My parents couldn’t handle the shame and whispers. They took wolfsbane together one night, holding hands. That bastard filmed it. Stood outside our house with his phone out, recording my parents’ final moments like it was entertainment. He brought the video to the hospital where I was recovering. Made me watch every second. “Your parents are paying for what you did to Roxy,” he’d said, grinning. “And you’re next.” I jumped from the hospital roof that night. The last thing I saw was Gavin’s smile.

“Yo, Selene, you having a stroke or something?” Gavin’s voice snapped me back to the present. He was glaring at me, annoyed. “Can you stop being so weird every time I mention another girl? It’s pathetic.” I looked down at my unmarked skin, my legs that actually worked, exactly as they’d been before everything went to hell. I was alive and breathing. I was back at the beginning—the day before everything went to hell. Gavin’s friend Travis jumped in, trying to smooth things over. “Cut her some slack, man. Selene’s scared to have fun. She’s probably just jealous that Roxy’s got you wrapped around her finger.” Gavin’s face flushed. He couldn’t help himself—had to brag. “Roxy said she’s got a surprise for me tonight.” He elbowed Travis. “Getting to celebrate my eighteenth birthday with a smoking hot girl like Roxy? Tomorrow I’m gonna perform even better than usual!” I almost laughed. This morning, I’d heard exactly what Roxy’s “surprise” entailed. “Tonight I’m gonna ‘take care of’ that virgin boy scout real good. None of you better interrupt!” “But he’s got the Trials tomorrow…” “The Trials?” Roxy’s laugh was cruel and mocking. “Why would my little plaything need to worry about that? Once he gets into some Royal Academy, you think he’ll even remember me?” So that was her idea of a “coming-of-age celebration.” It wasn’t a celebration at all. She was planning to destroy Gavin’s entire future. In my last life, I’d nearly killed myself trying to stop this from happening. And all it got me was my family’s destruction. So this life… Looking at how excited Gavin was, I slowly raised my head. A cold smile spread across my face. “You should go, Gavin. With a ‘beauty’ like Roxy to celebrate with, I’m sure you’ll ‘perform exceptionally well’ tomorrow.” Gavin froze. Blinked at me like I’d just spoken in tongues. Then Travis broke the silence with a nervous laugh. “Uh… did Selene just give you permission to hook up with someone else? Bro, I think she’s finally over you.” Gavin’s face twisted, but before he could respond, I grabbed my bag and stood up. “Wait.” His hand shot out, slamming down on my Trial Pass—the official pass needed to enter the Trials arena. “Where are you going?” I stared at his hand. “Home. To rest for tomorrow.” “Yeah?” Gavin snatched the permit off the desk, holding it above his head. “You’re not going anywhere. Not until I’m sure you’re not gonna run crying to my parents like last time.” My jaw tightened. “Gavin, give it back.” “Or what?” He smirked. “You need this to get into the arena tomorrow, don’t you? What if I just… kept it safe for you? You know, so you don’t ‘lose’ it or anything.” I forced down my anger, trying to sound helpless and reasonable. “Gavin, you know what the Trials mean to me. I promise I won’t tell your parents anything. Just please don’t mess with my future.” But even as I said it, I knew the truth—Gavin probably wouldn’t even make it to the arena tomorrow. There was no way I could let him keep my permit. Thinking about how he’d destroyed my life in my previous timeline, I suddenly lunged forward at Gavin.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619YwKLmgkVD1 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni307220”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

Our family only had enough money to send one person to college. Ma and Pa made us flip a coin to decide. Before the coin even landed, I tore up my acceptance letter. “Ma, Pa—I’ll stay home. Let Caleb go to college.” Because in my last life, I won that coin toss and made it to university. There, I ran into Sarah—the girl next door from when we were kids. We fell in love. Got married. Had a baby. But back home, Caleb lasted less than three years before he was accused of sleeping with Mrs. Higgins, the Mayor’s wife. Unable to bear the rumors, Caleb downed a bottle of poison. Before he died, he wrote Sarah a letter. He said I’d rigged the coin flip. That I’d destroyed his life. After that, Sarah’s attitude toward me changed completely. That’s when I realized—they’d been having an affair all along. On our tenth wedding anniversary, she poisoned my dinner and dragged me to Caleb’s grave. “I was supposed to meet Caleb! You destroyed him! You destroyed me!” “Why weren’t you the one accused? Why weren’t you the one who died?” She forced me to kneel and beg forgiveness at his headstone. She spread rumors that I was an abuser, a cheater—ruined my reputation—then poured poison down my throat. “Every sin you made Caleb suffer, I’m making you suffer twice over!” I thought of our child—not even three years old yet—and begged her to spare me for the sake of our marriage. But she just watched me convulse, watched me suffocate, until there was nothing left. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the coin flip. This time, I gave up college. And I gave up Sarah. — “Ma, Pa—I’ll stay home. Let Caleb go to college.” Ma, Pa, and Caleb all stared at me in shock. “Are you serious? You know how hard you worked for this. You’re just gonna throw it away?” I took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m serious. Let Caleb go.” They stared at me for a long moment, then sighed and accepted my decision. I climbed down from the bunk bed. Suddenly, we heard Mrs. Dixon’s voice from outside. “Hey! Someone from out of town’s here looking for you!” Before Pa could even get up, the door burst open. A girl rushed in, her eyes locked on Caleb like he was the only person in the room. She threw herself into his arms. It was Sarah. Her voice was choked with emotion, like she was holding onto something she’d lost once before. “I made it. I made it in time.” She turned to my stunned parents, her voice urgent. “Mr. and Mrs. Harper—I’m here to keep my promise. I’m here to marry Caleb.” Ma and Pa blinked in confusion, then squinted at her, trying to place her face. “You’re… Old man Westbrook’s daughter? My God, look how grown up you are!” Sarah grabbed Caleb’s hand and nodded. “I’ve loved Caleb since we were kids. Please let me be with him.” Before Ma and Pa could respond, Sarah snapped her fingers. A crew of people started hauling boxes and bags into the house. “This is my dowry. Once Caleb and I are married, we’ll move to the city together. He’ll go to college, and I’ll take care of everything.” I stood frozen, watching it all unfold. Sarah had been reborn too. I lowered my eyes, hiding my shock. “Sarah—” Before I could finish, she whipped around and glared at me with pure hatred. “Don’t even think about it, Ethan. I’d rather marry a homeless man—a criminal—than ever be with you.” “I’m watching you. You won’t pull any tricks this time.” Ma cleared her throat, confused. “Ethan already gave up his spot. He tore up his acceptance letter.” Sarah froze. Disbelief flashed across her face. “What kind of scheme are you running now?” Pa pointed to the shredded paper on the floor. “He’s not lying. Look—he tore the damn thing to pieces.” Sarah followed his gesture and saw the torn letter scattered on the ground. For a moment, she looked genuinely shocked. But she recovered quickly, muttering under her breath: “Fine. At least you’ve got some conscience left.” Then she turned back to Caleb, clinging to his arm and cooing sweetly: “I’m so happy, Caleb. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.” Hearing that soft, affectionate voice made my hands tremble. In my past life, Sarah only ever used that tone with me. Every time she did, I felt like I’d die for her if she asked. “Caleb, baby, come help me pick out stuff for the wedding!” Without waiting for an answer, Sarah dragged Caleb toward the door. As she passed me, she paused, gave me an unreadable look, then left. After they were gone, Ma and Pa sighed and said they were heading out to work. I stopped them. “Ma, Pa—I’m thinking of leaving. Going out of state to find work. It’ll help ease the burden on you.” This meant I’d be gone for a long time. We wouldn’t see each other much. Pa took a drag from his hand-rolled cigarette and sighed. “If that’s what you want, go ahead. We’re too old to tell you boys what to do anymore.” They left without another word. No sadness. No goodbyes. That’s how they’d always been. They didn’t do emotions. But I knew the truth. Between me and Caleb, they’d always favored me. In my last life, they knew how badly I wanted to go to college. So they rigged the coin flip to make sure I won.

Before it got dark, I headed into town to pick up some supplies for the trip. That’s when I ran into Sarah and Caleb. They were shopping for wedding decorations. In my past life, Sarah and I got married in the city. Because it was a once-in-a-lifetime event, I saved up and bought the most expensive ring and make her a custom wedding dress. But when I showed it to her, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. “What century are we in? You seriously expect me to wear this old-fashioned crap?” “My dad just got reinstated as a judge. There are going to be important people at our wedding. You think I’m gonna let them see me in this?” But now—now—I watched her gush over cheap polyester ribbon like it was spun gold. She looked so damn happy. My chest ached like I’d chugged a gallon of vinegar. The sight of them together—smiling, touching—felt like needles in my eyes. I turned to leave. “Ethan! Wait up!” Caleb called out to me. He had his arm around Sarah’s waist as they walked over, grinning like he’d won the lottery. “You shopping too? Hey, listen—Sarah and I set a date. Three days from now. You better be there.” “I’m leaving for work soon. I might not make it—” “What are you talking about? You’re my brother. You have to come.” Caleb clapped me on the shoulder, half-joking: “If you don’t show up, I’m slaughtering Buster and serving him at the reception.” My eyes went wide. Buster was our old dog—ancient, loyal. He’d been with our family for over a decade. Ma and Pa always said Buster worked his whole life for us. Killing him would be cruel. He deserved to retire in peace. Buster and I were close. When he got sick, he’d only eat if I was the one feeding him. I used to come home from school and see him waiting for me at the edge of the property, every single day. I’d loved that dog like family. I forced myself to nod. “Fine. I’ll be there.” I didn’t want to stay another second. I turned to leave. But Caleb blocked my path, grinning. “Hey, Ethan—Ma and Pa always liked you more. They even gave you the token from Sarah’s family—the one from when we were kids, you know, the ‘engagement’ thing.” “Now that Sarah and I are getting married… I’m gonna need that back.” I froze. I’d worn it for years. It felt wrong to give it up. I opened my mouth to say something, but Caleb cut me off: “You’re not gonna say no, are you?” His voice dropped, taking on an edge. “Are you jealous? Is that it? Because Sarah’s marrying me instead of you?” “You’re my brother. I’ve always given you everything you wanted. But Sarah’s different.” “We’re in love. She’s all I have…” Sarah’s expression went ice-cold. She lunged forward and ripped off my necklace. The cord snapped. Pain shot through my throat. I gasped, and when I touched the back of my neck, my hand came away slick with blood. “I knew it. You’re pathetic. You’d even try to keep a stupid charm?” I looked up at her, my voice shaking. “I’m not being greedy. Sarah’s dad wrote me a letter once. He gave this to me—” The memory of my father-in-law—the only one who treated me like a son—made my throat tighten. In my last life, after Sarah killed me, he was the only one who kept digging into my death. When he found out the truth, he disowned her. This life, I’d never see him again. “Stop lying! You think I don’t know what kind of person you are?!” My throat burned. I tried to explain, but the words died in my mouth. What was the point? She’d never believe me. Sarah held out the necklace, her voice hard and commanding. “Apologize to Caleb. Then put it on him yourself.” I took a shaky breath, my voice barely audible. “You want me to apologize?” “Yes. Consider it your chance to atone.” I closed my eyes. Swallowed the tears. “Fine. I’m sorry.” “Caleb… this is my fault.” I bowed deeply. Caleb’s eyes glinted with satisfaction. When I straightened, he put on a fake sympathetic face and pulled me upright. “Sarah’s just protective of me, man. She didn’t mean it. Don’t take it personally.” “You’re my brother. I’m not actually mad at you.” He turned his back to me, waiting for me to fasten necklace around his neck. I reached up and started tying it. But before I could finish, Caleb suddenly lurched forward. His face went red. His voice came out strangled: “Ethan—let go—I can’t breathe—” I immediately released the cord. Before I could check if he was okay, Sarah slapped me so hard I hit the ground. Caleb clutched his throat, his eyes wide with shock, his voice hoarse: “Ethan… I’m your brother. You’d really try to strangle me over a girl?” “Fine. Fine. I won’t marry her. I won’t go to college. I’ll give you everything—just don’t kill me.” His voice was loud. People started gathering, whispering. “Did you see that? He tried to kill his own brother!” “Probably jealous. His brother’s smart, good-looking, about to marry a rich girl…” “Keeping a stupid necklace for himself—what kind of person does that? He should be ashamed.” I ignored the crowd, ignored Caleb’s smug expression. I just bent down and picked the necklace out of the dirt. Sarah walked over and stepped on my hand, grinding her heel into my fingers. Pain shot up my arm. She leaned down, her breath warm against my ear, her voice soft and venomous: “Don’t try anything clever, Ethan. I hate you. Even if Caleb didn’t exist, I’d never choose you.” “And if you want to taste poison again… keep pushing me.”

Sarah pulled Caleb away, leaving me kneeling in the dirt. I lifted my mangled hand and carefully wiped the mud off the necklace. The pain in my hand was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. I slipped the necklace into my pocket and whispered: “I’m sorry, Mr. Westbrook. I’m breaking my promise.” When I got home, Ma and Pa were already asleep. Only Caleb was still up, sitting at the table. He smiled at me. “You’re back late. Come on, I saved you some dinner.” He pushed a pot of stew toward me. The smell of meat hit my nose, but dread twisted in my gut. I looked at Caleb’s face—that barely-hidden smirk—and my chopsticks clattered to the floor. I stood up and bolted toward the barn. “Don’t bother,” Caleb called after me. “That is Buster.” He pushed the pot closer. “Poor old guy was too tough to chew. I couldn’t finish it. You should eat up, though.” His voice echoed in my ears. The smell of meat made my stomach lurch. I doubled over and vomited until there was nothing left. Caleb watched me, satisfied. “I know you’re leaving for the city soon. No one’ll be around to take care of an old dog. Figured we might as well put him to use. Give you a good send-off. Thought I’d do something nice for you, you know?” I clenched my fists, my eyes burning red, my voice raw: “Why? I gave you the college fund. I gave you everything. Why are you doing this to me?” “We’re brothers!” Caleb’s smile vanished. His face went cold. “Hah. You’ve got some nerve asking me that. You think I don’t know? Ma and Pa rigged the coin flip. Both sides said ‘stay home.’” “You know what I went through? Mrs. Higgins tried to sleep with me. When I said no, she told everyone I raped her.” “The Mayor and his guys beat me so bad they broke my spine. I couldn’t walk. Couldn’t control my bladder. I was a cripple.” “You know what it’s like to lie in bed and watch your legs rot? To get bedsores so deep you can see bone? Maggots crawling in the wounds?” “But you? You got a career. A government job. A Senator’s daughter for a wife. All of that should’ve been mine.” His voice dropped to a hiss. “So this time, you’re going to suffer everything I did. Watching you in pain is the only thing that’ll make me feel better.” I stood there, stunned. I’d loved this kid his whole life. And he hated me this much. “You were reborn too. You know I didn’t know about the coin flip.” “I didn’t know what would happen to you. If I had, I would’ve given you the spot.” “Caleb—just tell me. What did you say in that letter? The one you sent Sarah before you died?” Caleb smirked. “Oh, you wanna know?” He stepped closer, leaning in like he was about to tell me a secret. “I told her—” Suddenly, he threw himself forward—right into the pot of scalding stew. The hot liquid splashed all over his arm. He screamed. Before I could react, someone rushed in and smashed a shovel into the back of my skull. Once. Twice. Three times. My vision blurred. My head throbbed. Warm blood poured down my face, turning everything red. I couldn’t hear what Sarah was yelling at me. I just saw her scoop cold water from the bucket and pour it over Caleb’s burned arm. The world went quiet. Then I felt it—a rope tightening around my neck. The air disappeared. My face turned purple. I kicked weakly, my body too weak to fight. My vision went dark. I let my hands drop. Maybe it’d be better to just die here. But then Caleb grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her off me. Air rushed back into my lungs. I gasped, desperate, greedy. Sarah’s voice was ice-cold in my ear. “I warned you. I killed you once. I can kill you again. And again.” “I was going to let you live. But now?” She grabbed my hair and slammed my face into the floor in front of Caleb.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619Lqfsl4tTpp 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni173373”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The night before Regionals, my roommate announced she was going to the abandoned camp by the lake with Jax to blow off some steam. I spent twenty minutes telling her it was a bad idea. The access road flooded after rain. The docks were rotted through. There was no cell signal past the tree line. I pulled her back into the dorm room and kept her there. She made weigh-in the next morning. The team took first at Regionals. Two months later her Penn letter came in. Mine came too. Yale, full ride, cheer recruit. But at the senior banquet that summer, she and Jax drugged my drink and drove me out to that camp. They walked me down to the old waterfront and pushed me into one of the storage pits behind the boathouse. The ones that used to hold equipment. Deep enough that I couldn’t pull myself out. Chloe stood at the edge and looked down at me. “You had to get involved,” she said. “Jax missed his connect that night because of you. You know what that cost him?” She crouched at the rim. Pulled out her phone and took a photo of me down there. “This is going in the group chat. I’ll caption it later.” Then she stood up and dragged the wooden cover halfway over the top with her foot. “Have fun, Carter.” Jax kicked the rest of it shut. I was in there for three days. No signal. No one came. By the time someone found me, my heart had already stopped. That’s how I died. In the dark. Twenty feet from a working road. Then I opened my eyes and the dorm ceiling was over me again. The clock on my phone said the night before Regionals. This time, I put down my pen and went to my dresser. Bug spray. A box of condoms. I set them on the edge of her bed while she was spraying dry shampoo into her hair, already wearing the black lace top she saved for Jax’s parties. “Have fun,” I said. “Watch out for the splinters on the dock.” She wasn’t my problem anymore. Chloe picked up the condoms and dropped them into her bag without looking at me. She grabbed the bug spray, twisted the cap and ran it up her shins twice. “Thanks.” She slung the bag over her shoulder, cracked the door, listened, and slipped out into the hallway. I heard her sneakers go quiet down the hall and then the stairwell door swing shut. I waited a minute. Then I unlocked the door and left it on the latch. She could go wherever she wanted. I picked up my phone and texted her: “I’ll leave the door for you.” She replied in under a minute. “don’t wait up lol, back before you know~” I screenshotted it. Last time I hadn’t kept anything. This time I wasn’t leaving gaps. I set my competition bag, my warm-ups, and my taped wrists by the door and checked everything twice. Outside, the insects were loud. June ran thick and close in this part of Ohio, the kind of heat that sat in your throat at night. I turned off the light. All I could see was dirt. Handful after handful, filling my mouth, my nose, the inside of my eyelids. Chloe at the edge of the pit, looking down. Still smiling. Phone up. “Ellie,” she said. “You should have stayed out of it.” Then the cover came down. I sat up hard. The dorm ceiling was white and flat. The clock on my phone said 1:42 AM. I got up and drank some water. It was fine. This time, I wasn’t the one going into the pit. My alarm went off at six-thirty. I looked at her bed first. Untouched. Pillow still centered. The morning came through the open window smelling like cut grass and lake water. Chloe hadn’t come back. I already knew she wouldn’t. I washed my face, pulled my hair into a high pony, taped my wrists, got dressed, went downstairs and bought a coffee and a muffin from the cart outside the dining hall. The bus to Regionals was already loading. Parents holding signs. Coach Daniels by the door with her clipboard, hair still wet from the shower. My mom didn’t come. She was on shift at the warehouse and couldn’t get the day off. She’d called the night before. “I believe in you,” she said. “Just do your best out there.” I told her I would. The team was on the bus. I climbed up the steps. Twelve girls in matching warm-ups. The empty seat was three rows back. Chloe’s seat. Bag still there from yesterday’s practice. No Chloe. Coach Daniels was on her phone, walking up and down the aisle, the muscle in her jaw working. “Chloe Crawford?” Her voice came down the bus. No answer. “Has anyone heard from Chloe Crawford?” Nobody had. She circled something on her clipboard, checked her watch, and told the driver to go. The bus pulled out. I sat by the window with my hands folded in my lap. Last time my hands shook the whole bus ride. I missed two stunts in the first round. Lost my spot on the pyramid. Came home with nothing. This time, my hands were steady. You don’t get nervous about a competition after you’ve already died once. We hit the floor at noon. I nailed every stunt. We took the regional title and I got the recruit packet from the Yale coach’s assistant in the parking lot before we even got back on the bus. Got home that night. Ran into Coach Daniels in the parking lot. She had her phone jammed between her ear and her shoulder and her lanyard was twisted sideways. She grabbed my arm when she saw me. “Ellie. Have you heard from Chloe?” “No. She wasn’t in the room when I got up this morning.” “You didn’t see her last night?” “I saw her leave. I texted her to check in.” I handed her my phone. The thread was right there on the screen. She looked at it for a second and her mouth went flat. Then she went back to her call. I picked up my bag and walked toward the dorms. The sun was on the front steps and I squinted into it. Last time, Chloe was on that bus. She nailed her stunts. The team won. She got her Penn letter in the mail. And I, the one who had pulled her back and kept her there, ended up at the bottom of a pit six weeks later. The team had a celebration dinner at the country club the next night. Chloe wasn’t there. I was walking out the front of the club when I saw Jax’s truck at the curb. Black, lifted, exhaust the kind you could hear from the other end of the block. Everyone at school knew that truck. Chloe was in the passenger seat. Her face was swollen on one side. Red scratches up her neck and arms. Her hair was tangled and the strap on her lace top had snapped and been tied back together with a hair tie. Someone’s old hoodie was thrown over her shoulders. Jax cut the engine and said something to her. She climbed down from the cab and her legs almost went out when her feet hit the ground. She caught herself on the side mirror and stood there for a second, getting her balance. She looked up. She found me across the lot. Her eyes were swollen and red. “Ellie.” She said my name like she was pushing it through her back teeth. I didn’t move. “You,” she started. She took a step toward me and her knee buckled. She went down on the asphalt. A girl from the team moved to help her. Chloe shoved her off. “Why didn’t you call me?” Her voice came out loud. Loud enough that the parents waiting by the curb all turned around. I looked at her on the ground. Last time, I was the one looking up at her from a hole in the ground. “I texted you,” I said. “That’s bullshit.” “Your phone died.” Chloe pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket. The screen was black. She stared at it. Her shoulders started shaking, all the way down to her hands. Jax got out of the truck. He was taller than me by a head, close-cut hair, a small silver hoop in his left ear. Quarterback shoulders. Those were the same hands that had kicked the cover shut over the pit. I took half a step back. Not because I was scared. I just didn’t trust myself if he got too close. Jax looked at Chloe, then at me, his eyebrows pulling together. “What happened?” I didn’t answer him. I turned and walked away. Behind me, Chloe was crying. The sound mixed in with the parents and the car doors and got smaller as I went.

Coach Daniels called me into her office. Door closed. She sat. I stood. “Chloe says you encouraged her to go.” “No. She decided to leave on her own.” “She says you gave her condoms. To take with her.” I nodded. Coach Daniels’ mouth opened and closed. She took a while to find words. This was probably above her pay grade. “She’s also saying it was deliberate. That you let her go on purpose so she’d miss Regionals.” “Coach. She’s 18. She wanted to go see her boyfriend in the middle of the night. It wasn’t my job to tie her to the bed.” She was quiet for a long time. She opened her desk drawer and touched a pack of gum, then seemed to remember I was still there and pushed the drawer shut. “You know her mother called the school board.” “About what?” “Said the dorm should have stricter sign-out rules. Said you didn’t stop her.” “Chloe has her own key card. She can come and go whenever she wants. That’s not on me.” She went quiet again. “Okay. You can go. The school will handle it.” Chloe was waiting at the end of the hallway when I came out. She’d changed into clean clothes. The scratches on her face were covered in ointment, pink and white in patches. I walked past her. She grabbed my backpack strap. “Ellie. Did you do it on purpose.” I stopped and looked at her. I’d been looking at this face for three years. Locker neighbors freshman year. Roommates for two years after that. I used to spot her on her tumbling passes. I used to stay after practice and run her routine with her until she got it. Last time I did everything for her. She paid me back with three days in the dark. “What do you think, Chloe?” She stared at me. Her lips were shaking. “You look different.” “I’m not different. I just don’t want to look after you anymore.” I pulled my strap out of her hand and walked away. The weeks waiting for the rest of the recruiting calls were quiet. During the day I helped my mom sort inventory at the warehouse. At night I sat at the kitchen table and went through college brochures. Last time I played it safe and stayed in-state. This time I wanted out. The official Yale offer came through on a Thursday evening in July. Full athletic scholarship. Cheer recruit. Pre-med track if I wanted it. My mom came home from her shift and saw the screen and sat down on the kitchen floor and cried. She kept saying, “Your dad has to hear this, he has to hear this.” She called him right there. The construction site was loud. My dad’s voice came through the phone at full volume. “What does it say? Read it again.” “Full ride, Dad. Yale.” A few seconds of quiet on his end. Then he said something I hadn’t heard in eighteen years. “That’s my girl.” My eyes stung. I looked down at my bowl. At ten o’clock that same night, Chloe’s mom called.

It came through on speakerphone. My mom thought it was the warehouse calling and picked up without checking. Chloe’s mom’s voice hit the kitchen like something breaking. “Is this Karen? Your daughter cost mine her shot at Penn, do you understand that?” My mom flinched and nearly dropped the phone. “What? What happened?” “The night before Regionals your daughter handed mine condoms and sent her out the door. On purpose. To get her benched. You people owe us an explanation or I’m calling the school board.” My mom hung up and looked at me. Her face moved through surprised, confused, scared, all in a few seconds. “Ellie. What actually happened?” I put down my fork. “Her boyfriend invited her out the night before Regionals. She wanted to go. I couldn’t stop her.” “And the other thing?” “She was going to spend the night out there. I didn’t want her to be stupid about it.” My mom opened her mouth and closed it again and didn’t say anything else. She hadn’t finished high school, but she knew where the line was. The next morning Chloe’s mom pulled up in a silver SUV. We lived in a small house on the edge of town, one story with a front yard, the kind of fence you could see over from the sidewalk. I was washing dishes in the kitchen when she pushed through the gate. Floral dress, blow-dried hair, white heels that caught in the gap between paving stones the second she stepped in. She yanked her foot hard. The heel snapped off. That doubled her anger. “Ellie.” I looked up. Chloe was behind her, head down. The scratches on her face had mostly faded but there was a fresh scab at the corner of one eye. “Get your mother out here.” My mom came out of the house wiping her hands on a dish towel. Chloe’s mom didn’t wait. She got her finger in my mom’s face. “Do you have any idea what your daughter did. The night before Regionals she hands my daughter condoms and sends her out the door. So she’d miss the bus.” My mom stepped back. “Let’s just calm down for a second—” “Three years. Three years of 5 AM practices. Three years of summer camps and physical therapy bills. Penn was locked in. Locked in. And your daughter ruined it.” The neighbors across the street were already watching. Chloe’s mom turned the volume up another notch, making sure the whole block could hear. “Karen. I’m giving you two options. One, your daughter gives up her Yale spot. Two, you pay eighty thousand dollars. Recruit consultant, retake fees, emotional damages. Pick one.” My mom went white. Eighty thousand. My dad worked a full year at the construction site and barely cleared that. “Pick one.” Chloe’s mom stood in the middle of the yard with her hands on her hips, her foundation cracking in the heat. She reached over and grabbed something off the porch table. My acceptance letter. It had arrived two days ago. My mom had put it in a clear sleeve and set it in the center of the dining room table with a bowl of fruit next to it. She squeezed the sleeve and the plastic made a sound. “You don’t pay, I tear this up right now.” My mom moved. Fifteen years on a warehouse floor will do something to a woman’s hands. She grabbed Chloe’s mom by the wrist, knuckles white, yanked the letter out of those pink-polished nails, and held it behind her back. “Try it.” My mom’s voice was shaking but her hand wasn’t. She looked straight at the other woman. “My daughter earned this herself. Whatever happened with yours has nothing to do with us.” Chloe’s mom just stood there. Two red lines pressed into her wrist. She didn’t move. I walked over and put my hand on my mom’s shoulder. “Mom. I’ve got it.” I turned to face Chloe’s mom. “If you want to go to the school board, go. I have three copies of everything.” I took out my phone and opened a video. I turned the screen toward her. Chloe’s mom leaned in to look. Chloe’s face went still.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606194bakO89vrq 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni949011”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

It was my eighteenth wedding with Julian Sterling, and once again all the guests left with my adopted sister. My parents called, impatient and barely hiding it. “Seraphina’s stomach is acting up again. We’re taking her to the hospital. Cancel the wedding, you should be familiar with what to do.” My maid of honor, my best friend since childhood, clicked her tongue at me over the phone. “You really think your wedding is more important than Seraphina’s health? She nearly passed out from the pain and you didn’t want us looking after her. When did you become this cruel?” And my fiancé didn’t even bother to call. He just texted: Wedding’s off. Discuss it next time. I rolled those words around in my head. He’d used that same line to brush me off eighteen times. A cold laugh slipped out before I could stop it, and I realized I felt nothing at all. Eighteen times. Enough. I was done begging for scraps from people who’d already made their choice. Whatever came next, I’d figure it out on my own. I picked up the microphone and walked onto the wedding stage, every inch of it draped in amethyst violets, Seraphina’s favorite flowers, not mine. “I’m sorry, everyone. Today’s wedding is canceled.” The guests traded glances. Not a single person looked surprised. “Called it. Not one of these weddings has ever gone through. If I were Celeste, I wouldn’t have shown my face.” “The whole family’s obsessed with the little sister. If I were Celeste I’d just let her have him and walk away. Save yourself the embarrassment and at least come out looking classy.” “You don’t know the half of it. She’s like that girl from Just My Luck. Everything she touches turns to gold, everyone around her hits the jackpot. Every time Julian tries to call it off with her, Sterling Global’s stock tanks the next day. He’s tested it a few times and lost billions. That’s the only reason he’s still with her.” I walked off the stage under their stares. I heard every word. My lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. This time, a stock dip was going to be the least of their problems. I changed out of the gown and drove back to the Vane estate to grab my things and leave. But the second I reached the door, a whole parade came pouring in. Seraphina at the center, everyone laughing and fussing over her like she’d just survived something heroic. The moment they saw me, every smile dropped. Julian’s eyes went dark. “Celeste, you canceled and didn’t even bother to give people a reason? Now they’re all going to think it’s because of Seraphina again. That’s on you.” My father scoffed and didn’t bother looking at me. “You really dropped the ball this time, Celeste. Every other time you handled the PR yourself and we didn’t have to think about it. Go put out a statement. Tell them you were the one being unreasonable.” Jade was already pulling out her phone. “I’ll get my agent to call the press. If Celeste puts out a statement now we can still fix this. Get some trolls to go after her online and nobody will be talking about Seraphina.” I didn’t respond to any of them. I just stood there. Okay. Fine. I’d had enough. Three days. I was giving myself three days to cut every last tie and walk away from this life for good. “Celeste, are you even listening? I’m telling you, if you don’t clean this up, I can’t promise when the next wedding will be.” Julian stopped right in front of me, voice sharp and impatient. And then Seraphina finally opened her mouth, voice barely above a whisper. “It’s all my fault. I ruined things between Julian and Celeste. I’m the one to blame.” “This month still has a few good dates. Please don’t push the wedding back any further.” She didn’t even finish before she started coughing. Julian rushed to her side and rubbed her back. “It’s not your fault. Don’t overthink it. Your sister can’t live without me, so it doesn’t matter when we get married.” “Then you’re the one overthinking it.” Those were my first words since I’d walked in. Everyone froze. I lifted the bag in my hand. “I’m leaving.” The words barely left my mouth. The next second, a sharp crack split the air. The slap echoed through the entire living room.

I tilted my head and let out a bitter laugh. My mother’s hand was still shaking from the slap. “Are you done? After everything we’ve given you, this is what you turn into? A spoiled, ungrateful brat?” “You want to walk out? And go where? So the whole city can talk about how we’re the bad guys, how we don’t love you enough? When are you going to stop embarrassing this family, Celeste? God, I wish I’d never had you. Seraphina would never pull this shit.” The taste of blood filled my mouth. I ran my tongue along the corner of my lip. Yes, every other time, I would have made a scene. Because I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why when Seraphina broke my father’s antique, they said I was the one who smashed it. I didn’t understand why there was security footage and they still refused to believe I hadn’t pushed Seraphina down the stairs. I didn’t understand how buying flowers that happened to trigger Seraphina’s allergies made me a bully. This wasn’t the first time my mother had hit me. The last time was two days ago. Because Seraphina wanted to wear my wedding dress and I said no. Then she fainted on the spot. My mother shoved me and cut up the custom gown I’d waited six months for with a pair of scissors. Over Seraphina, my mother and I had become almost enemies. So yes, I used to fight back. I used to scream and demand that someone, anyone, tell me I wasn’t crazy. But this time, I wasn’t going to make a scene. I’d always been the lucky one in this family. The day after I was born, the Vane Empire landed a deal that pulled it back from the edge of bankruptcy and made my father the richest man in Oceana. His stage-two liver cancer went into full remission around the same time, and the doctors never could explain it. My best friend Jade was a plain, forgettable girl before she met me. After we became inseparable in grade school, she grew into the kind of beautiful that made people stare. She landed every audition, won Best Actress, and became the most bankable star in the country. And Julian. He used to be nobody. A guy hawking knockoffs at a flea market, chased off by cops and beaten up by competitors. Until the night he found me lost at a street fair and walked me home. I fell for him on the spot. After that, everything he touched turned to gold. He built his own brand, never lost a deal, and took Sterling Global public before he turned thirty. They adored me for over twenty years. Julian treated me like I was the center of his universe. And they got everything they ever wanted. Then Seraphina was brought into the Vane family. And everyone changed. My father’s voice went cold. “Take all her things. Everything here belongs to this family. She doesn’t walk out with a damn thing.” “You want to go, Celeste? Go. But nobody’s chasing after you this time. We’ll hold a press conference and cut you off for good. You won’t be a Vane anymore.” They didn’t even let me grab a change of clothes before they pushed me out the front door. Julian sighed and quietly slipped me a key. “Here. It’s an apartment. You can stay there. Celeste, we’re done. None of us have the energy for this anymore.” “I wish I’d saved Seraphina that night instead of you.” I scoffed. “Then marry her.” Julian let out a long, exhausted breath. “Don’t start. I said I’d marry you and I will. That’s not going to change.” “Seraphina is a good person. A genuinely good person. I’m not going to let you talk about her like she’s something you can throw away. Don’t say that again.” He turned and walked back up the steps. I dropped the key on the ground and turned to leave. Seraphina rushed over and grabbed my sleeve. “Don’t leave, Celeste. I’m the one who overstepped. I wanted things that were never mine to want. I don’t deserve any of it.” “You stay. I’ll go. I’ll leave the house right now.” I knew exactly what she was doing. So I just stood there and let her cling to me and fake-cry. But when she realized I wasn’t going to shove her away like I always did, she gasped for air and collapsed at my feet. “Seraphina!” “Call the doctor! Seraphina, my baby girl!” Everyone came running and swarmed around her. Julian’s hand closed around my throat and his eyes were murderous. “You touched her? You really think I won’t hit you?” Turns out when you’re past the point of anger, all that’s left is a laugh. I didn’t even touch her. And somehow I was still the one who did. “Julian, I hope none of you ever regret this.” My father’s voice cracked like a whip. “Someone get her out of my sight. Lock her in the basement. I’ll deal with her myself.”

The basement was damp and dark. This was the second time I’d been locked down here. The first time was still fresh in my mind. I’d caught Seraphina sneaking into Julian’s bedroom in the middle of the night. I found her in his bed. She cried and said it was sleepwalking brought on by childhood trauma. She didn’t know why her feet had carried her to Julian’s room. She just felt safe there. She didn’t mean it. My parents and Julian believed every word. Julian even told her, gently, that she could come to him whenever she was scared. Back then I was at the peak of my obsession with him. I wouldn’t tolerate a female assistant anywhere near his office. Apart from junior staff, no woman was allowed on the executive floor. So I slapped Seraphina across the face. And my parents locked me in this basement. Seven days. One bowl of plain rice porridge a day. They didn’t let me out until the hunger broke me and I agreed to apologize. This time, they clearly had no intention of stopping at starvation. My father walked in with a cane and Julian followed behind him. “Thirty would have been fair. But Seraphina begged me to go easy on you, so I’m using the switch instead of the belt. That means fifty.” Crack. The first blow raised an instant welt across my skin. He hit me a dozen times. The welts split open one by one. Every strike after that came with a numb, searing burn. I remembered them saying Seraphina had begged for the switch. It had been soaked in something. Pepper water, from the feel of it. “Apologize to your sister!” “Are you going to apologize or not?!” He never got the answer he wanted, so he just kept hitting harder. After fifty strikes, my entire back and arms were covered in open wounds. The skin had peeled back in raw strips and blood ran down my spine and dripped onto the floor. I was numb from the pain. I curled up in the corner and gasped for air. My father threw the cane on the ground and left. His last words on the way out were, “Stubborn to the bone.” Julian crouched in front of me. “Seraphina sent medicine and clean clothes for you. She’s never been anything but good to you, Celeste. You’re her older sister. I’m about to be her brother-in-law. We should be taking care of her. Why do you always have to make her into the villain?” “Just apologize and get it over with. Stop putting everyone through this.” He unfolded the clothes Seraphina had prepared for me and laid them over my back. The fabric touched my open wounds and my entire body seized like I’d been dropped into a vat of salt. I doubled over and curled into a ball. “Drama queen. Seraphina turns white every time she’s in pain and you don’t see her making a show of it.” Julian stood up with a look of disgust and walked out. I finally managed to catch my breath. Two more days. I just had to hold on for two more days.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619RnIPlAbETJ 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni347235”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

I didn’t understand what Noah meant by “together forever” until Chloe got her HIV diagnosis. In my past life, Chloe collapsed from anemia during the State Championship game. Her childhood best friend Noah insisted on giving her an emergency field transfusion. I fought like hell to stop him. Told her Noah had HIV. That if he transfused his blood, she’d get infected too. She didn’t believe me. Noah cried and said he’d never even hooked up with anyone. How could he possibly have it? He climbed onto the stadium roof and threatened to jump to prove his innocence. Then he slipped. Fell eighteen stories to his death. To avenge him, Chloe and our classmates kidnapped me. She strangled me with her own hands. Her final words still echo: “You LIED about Noah! You killed him! Now you’ll pay with your LIFE!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back. The day of the transfusion. I watched Chloe receiving Noah’s contaminated blood. And I smiled. HIV? No big deal. — “Ethan, I know you hate me. But this is life or death. Stop blocking me from saving Chloe!” Noah’s words hit me like lightning. I’d been reborn. I looked up and met Chloe’s furious glare. Anemia made her face ghostly pale. “Ethan, fine. You’re too selfish to give me blood. But don’t you DARE stop Noah from saving me!” “How was I ever stupid enough to date a selfish asshole like you?!” Her insults cut deep and made my heart go cold. In my previous life, Chloe collapsed during the State Championship. The blood bank’s emergency supply would take hours to arrive. To avoid missing her event, Noah offered to give her a field transfusion. I fought desperately to stop him. Because I’d overheard Noah talking to some sketchy guys in an alley weeks before. “I have HIV. If I can infect Chloe, she’ll be mine FOREVER!” I tried to stop the transfusion and told Chloe that Noah’s blood was contaminated with HIV. She didn’t believe me and accused me of making it up. Noah burst into tears and said I was slandering him. He climbed onto the roof to “prove his innocence” by jumping. Pretended to leap, then “accidentally” slipped. Fell from the eighteenth floor. Later, the autopsy confirmed it. His blood tested positive with a high viral load. I thought it was over. But at my birthday party, Chloe and our classmates kidnapped me. I still remember what she said while strangling me: “You LIED about Noah! Your slander killed him! Now DIE for him!” Snapping back to reality, I heard my classmates’ insults continuing. “Ethan, how can someone be as disgusting as you? Chloe’s anemia is severe. You won’t donate. Fine. But blocking Noah? Seriously?” “Yeah, Noah’s hot and kind. What gives you the right to compete with him?” “Ethan’s just jealous that everyone likes Noah. That’s why he’s blocking this.” This time, I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Then I stepped aside from the transfusion setup and smiled. “Go ahead. Give her blood. 400cc not enough? Take 600cc. Whatever you need for Chloe.” Let them taste the poison they planted themselves.

Noah held the syringe and frowned as he pushed the needle into his vein. Everyone praised him and called him selfless and noble. Chloe’s eyes filled with adoration. Only I noticed the tiny marks on his pale wrist. Scabbed-over needle tracks. Evidence of long-term unsafe injections and proof he carried the virus. After half a blood bag, Noah started swaying and looking dizzy. Chloe immediately pulled the needle from his arm and held him carefully. Noah insisted on standing with his voice full of false righteousness. “Don’t stop me. I HAVE to finish donating.” Then he swayed again. I watched his pathetic performance and knew exactly what he was planning. Sure enough, a male student spoke up. “We can’t let Noah do this alone! Chloe needs more blood anyway!” “Let’s ALL donate! ” The suggestion met instant approval. “Right! Use the SAME needle! We’re not selfish like SOME people!” “Yeah! If Noah’s not scared, why should we be? This is our Loyalty Blood Pact!” I listened to their passionate speeches and wanted to laugh. Good classmates. Sharing everything, including HIV-contaminated needles. This lifetime, they’d finally achieve their dream of “living and dying together.” The team medic walked in and saw students about to jab a used needle into their veins. She rushed forward to stop them. “Are you INSANE?! Stop! Multiple people using one needle? What about cross-contamination?!” The students didn’t even flinch. “What’s YOUR problem? You cursing us or something?” “We’re all clean. How could we get infected?” “Mind your own business! If Chloe misses the championship because of delayed transfusion, can YOU take responsibility?” “You’re probably working with Ethan! Trying to sabotage Chloe’s competition!” Their mockery made the medic’s face go red. She stomped her foot with wet eyes and ran out of the room. After she left, they continued. One. Two. Three… I stood outside the crowd and watched that lethal needle pierce skin after skin. Each puncture meant certain infection. The blood bag filled quickly. Then Noah brought the needle to me. “Ethan. Your turn.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260619FHhM4lXjAb 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni503736”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix