Category: English

When I was seven, I accidentally wandered into the basement and saw a woman in a red dress chained to the corner like an animal. That’s when I learned the ugly truth: my dad wasn’t just a monster—he was a maniac. The woman chained in the shadows wasn’t a stranger. She was my mother. For ten years, they’d been married. For ten years, he’d subjected her to unspeakable horrors. He forced her to eat rotting meat crawling with maggots, raped her whenever the mood struck, tore into her flesh with his teeth, and drank her blood. Sometimes, he’d make her dance barefoot on shards of broken glass, laughing as she bled. After that day, I started secretly helping her, slipping her food and water when I could. The summer I graduated high school, I saw my chance. My dad had left town on one of his business trips, and I finally worked up the courage to get her out. I thought I’d done it. I thought I’d saved her. But as we reached the front door, he appeared. It was like he’d known all along. What happened next still haunts me. The mother who had just moments ago been crying tears of gratitude, clinging to me as if I were her last hope, suddenly turned on me. Her face twisted with venom as she pointed at me and screamed, “Honey, I told you! She’s been trying to get rid of me so she can have you all to herself!” I froze, unable to process her words. “She’s jealous!” she shrieked. “She’s always hated me! I only set a tiny trap, and she couldn’t wait to send me away. You see, darling? You see how cruel she is?” Then she turned to me, her eyes blazing with hatred. “How could I have raised such a disgusting little wretch like you?” she spat. My world fell apart in that moment. I was dragged to the basement, where I became my mom’s replacement. For months, they tortured me. My dad’s cruelty was expected, but my mom? She stood by his side, watching with a smug smile as he tore me apart, her hand resting lovingly on his arm. They whispered sweet nothings to each other, their romance blossoming as I screamed for mercy. In the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw myself against the concrete wall until everything went black. When I opened my eyes, I was back in my room. I recognized the date instantly. It was the day my mom first begged me to save her.

“Eat it.” My dad kicked a plate of maggot-infested meat toward my mom. He stood there, pristine in his tailored suit and polished leather shoes, his hair neatly combed. Everything about him screamed elegance—everything except the blood-stained, damp basement that reeked of iron and rot. In stark contrast, my mom sat huddled in the corner, chained like a dog. She wore a tattered red dress, her thin, gaunt face lifted toward him, eyes wide with fear. “Luke, I… I’m not hungry,” she stammered, her voice trembling. Luke narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling. “Are you defying me, Anna?” Anna bit her lip, her gaze darting to me as I stood silently in the doorway. The same pleading look I’d seen a hundred times before—the one that always tore me apart. “Lila…” she whispered, her voice breaking. In my last life, I’d fallen for that look. Every single time. She never begged outright. She never asked me to intervene. Instead, she’d put on a mask of despair, murmuring things like, “Lila, don’t worry about me. As long as you’re safe, I can endure anything. It’s just a few bugs—it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Then, she’d reach for the plate, her hand trembling as if summoning every ounce of willpower to make the sacrifice. But before she could touch it, she’d start retching, tears streaming down her face as she gagged and sobbed. And every time, I’d break. My heart would twist with guilt, as though her suffering was my fault. And like the fool I was, I’d always fight for her. In my last life, on this very night, I’d snatched that plate of rancid meat from her and made her a bowl of noodles instead. Luke hadn’t said a word. He’d simply turned and walked away, his cold indifference like a knife to my chest. The next day, Anna was allowed out of the basement. She wore an apron and greeted me with a radiant smile as she served me a plate of braised ribs. “Lila, I made this just for you. Try it!” I’d eaten every bite, beaming at her, grateful for even the smallest sign of normalcy. For a moment, sitting at the dining table with both my parents, I’d allowed myself to hope—maybe, just maybe, we could be a real family. But then, Anna covered her mouth, giggling as she leaned into Luke’s chest. Her smile was wide and triumphant, her voice dripping with amusement. “Of course it’s delicious,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ve been taking care of that dog for a whole year. Its meat is so tender!” Her laughter was like the chime of a bell, each note slicing into me like a blade. I stared at her, frozen in disbelief. She swayed her hips as she left the dining room, returning moments later with a blood-stained pelt—a dog’s pelt. It was perfectly skinned, the features intact, almost lifelike. “Luke’s knife skills are impeccable,” she said, holding up the pelt for him to admire. “Look at this! It’s almost like it’s still alive!” The hollow eyes of my dog, the same one that had been wagging its tail at my feet just the day before, stared back at me. I clutched my stomach and ran to the sink, vomiting until there was nothing left. Luke finally glanced at me, his expression cold and mocking. “Lila,” he said flatly, “kindness without strength always comes with a cost.” Anna, emboldened by his words, chimed in. “She’s right, Luke. She ate so much of it—clearly, she enjoyed it. Why pretend to be disgusted now? Such a hypocrite.” The feel of soft fur against my leg jolted me from the memory. I looked down to see my dog, Scout, wagging his tail and nuzzling against me. I scooped him up, holding him close as I looked at Anna. She was already putting on her usual act, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mom,” I said, my voice cold as ice, “Dad works so hard every day. The least you could do is eat what he gives you without being so dramatic.” Luke’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing in approval. But Anna froze, her face twisting in shock. She hadn’t expected this. Not this time. Her lips quivered as she forced herself to look pitiful, her voice trembling. “Lila, you’re my only daughter. I’d do anything for you! If you want me to eat it, I’ll eat it.” She picked up a piece of the rotting meat, bringing it to her nose. The stench made her gag, and she hesitated, her fingers trembling. She wasn’t eating. She was waiting—waiting for me to crack, for me to snatch the plate away and protect her like I always did. But this wasn’t my first life. I’d seen this too many times before. Her fake tears, her empty promises of love. I’d tasted the maggot-infested meat myself, forcing it down my throat while she stood by, pretending to care. This time, I simply stroked Scout’s fur and looked away. Luke’s patience finally snapped. He grabbed Anna by the hair and shoved the meat into her mouth, piece by piece. She choked and gagged, tears streaming down her face as bits of meat and maggots spilled onto her clothes and crawled over her skin. Her face twisted in agony, but Luke’s expression was one of satisfaction, almost ecstasy. He gently brushed the crumbs from her shoulders, his voice soft and loving. “Anna, I love you. I’d never treat anyone else like this. This… this is how you know you’re special to me.” Anna’s tear-filled eyes glowed with a disturbing intensity, her lips curving into a trembling smile. It hit me then. She liked it. She wanted it. They deserved each other.

I never met my mother. Not really. Growing up, whenever I dared to ask about her, the housekeepers would shuffle nervously, muttering vague excuses before quickly changing the subject. It wasn’t until I was seven years old that I learned the truth. I wandered into the basement by accident one day and saw her. She was chained to the wall, a rusted dog collar wrapped around her neck like a noose. Her red dress was torn and filthy, clinging to her skeletal frame. Her skin was ghostly pale, the kind of sickly white that comes from years without sunlight. The air reeked of mildew, blood, and something worse—something rotting. She sat slumped against the wall, combing her brittle, thinning hair with a broken comb. Her bony fingers moved mechanically, and every now and then, she’d hum a tune or let out a soft, eerie laugh. Her hollow cheeks and sunken eyes made her look like a corpse, but even then, I could see it—the faint resemblance between us. That’s when she noticed me. A little girl clutching a doll, chubby and wide-eyed. “Are you… Lila?” she croaked, her voice raspy and strained. Before I could answer, she lunged at me. Her bony hands grabbed my arm, her grip so tight it left five bloody scratches. “You’ve grown so much,” she whispered, her face inches from mine. “I’m your mother, Lila. I’m your mother!” I froze, too scared to move, but then her eyes dropped to my bare feet. Her expression twisted into something monstrous. “You walk around like that in front of your father?” she screamed, her voice shrill and hysterical. “You little whore! You think you can seduce him, don’t you?” Before I could react, her hand shot out and struck me across the face. I was sick with a fever for a month after that. The next time I saw her, Luke—my father—had brought her to my bedside. She stood by my bed, her posture stiff and submissive. Her trembling fingers brushed my hair as she leaned down to whisper, “Lila, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have hit you. Can you forgive me?” Her apology felt hollow, her voice shaking with every word. She kept glancing at Luke like a frightened animal, her whole body trembling whenever his shadow crossed hers. I forgave her, of course. I was desperate for a mother. I’d longed for her my entire life. From then on, I shielded her from everything. When Luke whipped her, I threw myself over her body, letting the lashes tear into my back instead. When he drained her blood, I held the knife myself, matching each cut on her skin with one on my own. When he forced her to eat rotting meat, I swallowed bite after bite until I was retching and sobbing, just to spare her the pain. Eventually, Luke’s affection for me faded completely. “You’re just like her,” he said one day, his cold, sharp eyes boring into mine. “Stupid and weak. It’s in your blood, Lila. You inherited her pitiful, filthy nature.” From that moment on, he stopped trying to mold me into his perfect heir. No more lessons in etiquette or business. No more late nights learning foreign languages or memorizing the weaknesses of his corporate rivals. When Anna heard, she was overjoyed. “Finally, he’s letting you off the hook!” she said, her laughter bubbling like champagne. “Girls don’t need to learn all that nonsense. What, does he think you’re going to inherit the company? How ridiculous. “Your job is to grow up pretty and happy. Find a good man to marry. That’s all that matters. Come, let me teach you how to make men adore you…” I sat there, confused, her words gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. She’s my mom, I told myself. She wouldn’t hurt me. Would she? When I turned eighteen, I was accepted into a university overseas. That summer, Luke left town for a business meeting. The moment he drove off, I ran to the basement, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. “Mom,” I whispered, fumbling with the lock on her chain. “We’re leaving. I’m getting you out of here.” The collar fell away, clattering to the floor. For the first time in eighteen years, she was free. “Dad’s gone,” I told her, my voice shaking with excitement. “I already bought tickets. We’re flying to a new city. I’ll go to school, and I’ll take care of you. I’ll fix this, Mom. I’ll fix everything.” Anna blinked at me, her eyes flicking to the chain on the floor. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. “Okay, Lila,” she said, her voice bright and cheerful. “Let’s go.” The plane was in the air when I finally allowed myself to breathe. It was over. We were free. I turned to share my relief with her, but she was staring at me, her expression unreadable. And then she smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile. The intercom crackled. “Attention passengers, this flight will be making an emergency return to the airport. We apologize for the inconvenience.” My stomach dropped. Ten minutes later, the plane landed. The other passengers were ushered off, leaving just me and Anna. Luke was waiting for us at the gate. Anna ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, “Luke! You stopped a plane for me! You love me that much…” She looked like she might faint from the joy of it all. For her, it was a grand romantic gesture, proof that no one could ever come between them. She turned to me, her expression hardening. “She forced me,” Anna said, her voice trembling. “She wanted to send me away so she could have you all to herself. She’s jealous, Luke. She’s always been jealous of us.” I was dragged back to the basement, my neck chained to the wall where hers had been. Luke tilted my chin up with his foot, sneering. “You’re useless,” he said. “Just like her. But at least she’s entertaining. You? You’re nothing.” He turned to Anna, his voice softening. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve adopted a son. He’ll take over the company someday. You don’t have to think about her anymore.” From that day on, I became Anna. She thrived. The life of a wealthy socialite brought color back to her cheeks. She draped herself in diamonds and pearls, smiling down at me like a queen visiting her subjects. “Lila,” she said one day, letting a box of pastries fall to the floor. “Luke only does this because he loves you. You should be grateful. No man will ever love you as much as he does.” When Luke demanded my blood, she wielded the knife. When he forced me to eat rotting meat, she shoved it down my throat. When he set his wolfdog on me, she handed me a knife and told me to fight. She laughed as I bled, her voice as bright and clear as a bell. “She’s more dog than the dog itself!” she said, grinning at Luke. The night I killed myself, she cried. “Lila,” she sobbed, clutching my lifeless body. “Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone with him. I need you…” But I was already gone.

It took a death for me to see things clearly. In my past life, I thought saving Anna—dragging her onto that plane bound for a new city—was the right thing to do. I was so wrong. How could I have been so delusional? How could I have believed she wanted saving? Anna and my father were a match made in hell. Luke was right about one thing: kindness without strength always comes at a cost. Looking into Anna’s hollow eyes, watching her revel in the torment she claimed to hate, I felt nothing. No pity. No anger. Just a cold, detached clarity. Without a word, I turned and walked away. When I was reborn, I knew exactly what I needed to do. This time, I wouldn’t waste my energy trying to fix what couldn’t be fixed. I resigned as student council president, stepped down as class leader, quit all my extracurriculars, and declined every invitation to events or parties. I poured every ounce of my time and focus into my studies. Because I knew what was coming. Soon, my father’s company would welcome a new rising star—a man as sharp, ruthless, and cunning as a younger version of Luke himself. His name was Jason King. In my past life, by the time I died, Jason had already climbed the ranks to the boardroom. He wasn’t just a rising star—he was a force, someone my father trusted to make major decisions for the company. I remembered the night Jason was promoted. Luke brought him home to celebrate. They stood at the top of the basement stairs, dressed impeccably in tailored suits, red wine swirling in their glasses. From where I was chained below, I could see the faint smirk on Jason’s face, the glint of amusement in Luke’s eyes as they both glanced at me. “Mr. White, such… refined tastes,” Jason had said, his tone polite but laced with mockery. Luke chuckled, pleased by the compliment, but Jason’s gaze never left me. After Luke left the room, Jason came down the stairs. He handed me a sandwich, his expression soft with pity. “Poor girl,” he murmured, his voice almost kind. Starved and desperate, I devoured the sandwich without hesitation. And then I felt it—the sharp, cold edge of a razor blade slicing through my throat. I choked, blood gushing from my mouth as I clawed at my neck. Jason crouched down, dipping his fingers into the pool of blood spilling onto the floor. He brought them to his lips, licking the crimson from his fingertips, his eyes shining with a sick, twisted excitement. He was just like Luke. In this life, I knew what I had to do. The day before my final exams, I returned home. I made a calculated choice to gain Luke’s favor. I prepared a dish—one I remembered from my past life—a delicacy meant for Anna. When I brought the dish to him, Luke looked at me with something I hadn’t seen in years: approval. For the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. “Lila,” he said, his voice warm. “You’re finally starting to remind me of myself.” I lowered my eyes, smiling sweetly. “Of course, Father. I am your daughter, after all.” The dish was called “Three Squeaks.” When I opened the container, the tiny pink baby mice inside squirmed and squeaked loudly, their little bodies writhing as they tried to escape. Anna gasped, her face pale with horror. I turned to her, my smile bright and cheerful as I gently patted her cheek. “Mom,” I said, my voice soft and sweet. “I made this just for you.”

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After the breakup, I immediately quit my job. Just as I was preparing to leave the country to start a new chapter, my ex-girlfriend Miranda Barrett, who also happened to be my former boss, suddenly appeared at the airport, trying to win me back. She told me that she had fired her assistant, Flint Ricardo, and from now on, she was offering me the position of her second-in-command at the company. However, just as I was about to abandon my plans to go abroad and return with her, she yanked her hand out of mine and, with a coquettish tone, called Flint. “Flint, you won the bet. This idiot really thought I was trying to keep him.” With a mocking laugh, she turned to me and added coldly, “It was just a joke, didn’t you get it? If you’re leaving, just go. No one’s stopping you this time.” The colleagues around us sneered, mocking me for being a lovesick fool, obediently turning around just because she waved her hand. But they didn’t know that the only reason I’d given up on going abroad was because my new company had just completed an acquisition, and I was about to become the new CEO there.

When Miranda smugly told me that her attempt to keep me was just a joke, I wasn’t angry. I simply took out my phone, ready to order a ride back to my place. The colleagues around us looked at me with mocking eyes, one of them sneering, “Anthony, Ms. Barrett already said she doesn’t want you to stay. What are you still waiting for? Go ahead and book your flight!” “You said you had an overseas offer, didn’t you? What now? Did they change their mind and reject you?” Miranda stood there, indulging their sarcastic remarks, not even trying to stop them. This kind of humiliating workplace bullying had been a constant presence in my life for years. In the past, I would have rebutted them, feeling wronged. After all, my girlfriend was the CEO, and yet she never stood up for me. But now, I felt nothing. To me, they were nothing but a bunch of clowns. “Don’t you think my affairs are none of your business?” I said, my tone flat. Miranda snorted dismissively and looked me up and down, her eyes full of disdain. “Still being stubborn? “With your abilities, if I hadn’t supported you all these years, you probably wouldn’t even have a job. “Want to go abroad? What a joke.” I was a graduate of a prestigious school. I’d given up a high-paying job that many would dream of and built the company from the ground up with Miranda. But in Miranda’s eyes, I was worthless, and it was only thanks to her help that I had come this far. I felt it was ridiculous. There was a time when I loved Miranda to the point of obsession. Even when I was stuck in a managerial position after working for decades, I never complained. But when she began giving my projects to her new assistant, Flint, and even dumped his messes on me to make me take the fall, cutting my pay and suspending me while promoting Flint, I finally realized that I had to end the love I was keeping alive single-handedly. So, I resigned on the spot, broke up with her, and decided to pursue my career abroad. I never expected that after all this, she would come to me with this “joke” when I was about to board the plane. At that moment, I wasn’t even sad, just perplexed. I couldn’t help but wonder, “How stupid have I been to fall for such a woman?” I shook my head, too tired to argue with her. “You’re right, I’ll leave now,” I said. I tried to walk away, but Miranda suddenly grabbed my arm and stared at me, a look of disgust on her face. “You’re quite a drama king! You’ve been caught in your own lie, and you’re still pretending? “I’ll give you a way out, just for the sake of our past. “I can accept you, and I’ll make you Flint’s assistant.” Seeing her so “generously” extend this offer, I finally understood Miranda’s true motive behind this “joke”. On the surface, it was about a bet with Flint, seeing if I would take the bait and step down. But in reality, she just wanted me to stay in the company and keep serving her and Flint like a lackey. I had to admit that Miranda was quite thorough in planning Flint’s career. She was setting him up for promotions and raises, even planning to send talented people to assist him. I helped her realize her dream of becoming a boss. And yet, she took everything from me without hesitation, solely to pave the way for Flint. I sneered, “Flint isn’t qualified for me to help him.” Miranda’s expression immediately darkened. “Anthony, it looks like I’ve spoiled you too much over the years for you to think so highly of yourself…” Before she could finish, a figure appeared in the distance. “Miranda!” Miranda’s expression immediately softened, and she walked to meet the person. “Flint!” Flint was the only person in the company who didn’t call Miranda “Ms. Barrett” but instead addressed her by her first name. Even though I was officially Miranda’s boyfriend, I didn’t have that privilege. Flint glanced at me, then smiled at Miranda. “See? I knew Anthony’s excuse for going abroad was just a cover. He won’t leave.” Miranda shot me a disdainful glance and said, “Some people think too highly of themselves as if the company couldn’t function without them! “He’s nothing like you, Flint. You’re both capable and humble. Anthony, since you didn’t seize the opportunity, forget it. “Let’s go.” Flint, however, grabbed Miranda’s hand, looking pitiful. “Miranda, we can’t leave yet. Since Anthony resigned, my watch has gone missing. “It was a family heirloom from my grandmother.” Then, he looked at me with pleading eyes. “Anthony, please just return it to me.” Before I could understand what was happening, Miranda glared at me angrily. “Anthony, you stole from him?!” I was about to deny it when Miranda cut me off coldly. “Don’t try to deny it. Do you think Flint would falsely accuse you? “You don’t even have a job now. Who knows if you will steal something to make money?” She then ordered a couple of others, “Open his suitcase and check it!” I stared at Miranda in disbelief. We had spent ten years together. I thought she knew me better than anyone. But just because of an unfounded accusation from Flint, she was about to open my luggage in public. Earlier, I had let her make cruel jokes without arguing with him. But now, this nearly bullying behavior was the last straw, igniting a blaze of fury within me. I felt no more disappointment or heartbreak. I felt just anger and disgust. “Stop!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fury. Flint feigned surprise. “Why are you so upset, Anthony? Could it be that you really took it?” Miranda gave me an even more disgusted look and gestured to two others to restrain me, her voice cold. “Don’t mind him. Keep searching.” As my suitcase was overturned and my personal items scattered across the floor, I reached my breaking point and shouted for airport security. Only then did they stop. “We didn’t find anything.” Flint said with a disappointed sigh, “Forget it. Let’s not make things harder on Anthony. He’s had a tough time, too.” But Miranda shot me one last hateful look. “I bet he sold it after stealing it.” Then, turning back to Flint, she softened her tone. “It’s okay, Flint. I’ll go with you to buy a new one.” As they walked away, Miranda gave me one final, icy glare. “Anthony, when you’re out on the streets someday, don’t come crawling to me.” With that, she then walked off with the group, and Flint shot one last provocative glance at me. I didn’t say a word. I just chuckled coldly to myself. What they didn’t know was that the company’s project had collapsed and was about to be acquired. And my decision to stay wasn’t because of her. It was because my new company had just appointed me as their new CEO.

My new company was headquartered overseas. It was a well-known multinational corporation. When I was about to graduate, I received an invitation from them, thanks to my outstanding grades. But Miranda persuaded me to stay and help her build her business, so I turned down the offer. After I broke up with Miranda and quit my job, the company called me right away, inviting me to join them. However, just before I was about to board the plane, I got a call. Their subsidiary had decided to acquire the company here and integrate resources. Miranda’s company was also on their acquisition list. They offered me the position of the new CEO. After dropping off my luggage at home, I arranged to meet Wilfred Frazier, the domestic head of my new company. I arrived early at the restaurant to wait for him, but to my surprise, I saw Miranda and Flint there, chatting and laughing. When Miranda saw me, she froze for a moment. She walked over with an impatient look on her face and said, “Anthony, why are you following me like a shadow? “You were so tough earlier. What, have you changed your mind?” Before I could respond, Flint, standing nearby, smiled and said, “Miranda, there were so many people earlier. Anthony must have refused because he didn’t want to lose face. “How about this? Anthony, if you apologize to Miranda properly, I’m sure she’d still be willing to give you a chance. “Right, Miranda?” Miranda looked me up and down with disdain, then pretended to hesitate. “Well, since Flint spoke up for you, I suppose it’s not impossible. If you drink this bottle of wine, I might consider letting you be an assistant.” She pointed to a bottle of wine on the table. I felt it was ridiculous. Miranda knew very well that I had stomach issues and couldn’t drink, yet she still set this condition. She was clearly trying to put me in my place, waiting for me to grovel. But she clearly hadn’t realized the situation yet. “You’re overthinking it. I’m waiting for someone,” I said. “Waiting for someone? Ha, you just couldn’t admit your loss, right?” Miranda scoffed. “I’ve known you for so many years. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in your head. “You just think being Flint’s assistant is beneath you, right? “But in your situation, you’d better just abandon your pride.” As she was speaking, Wilfred, the person I had arranged to meet, walked in. He extended his hand to shake mine. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Schultz.” I simply ignored Miranda and smiled as I shook Wilfred’s hand. “Wilfred, let’s go inside and talk. It’s too noisy out here.” “Of course, let’s go.” Miranda stood there, staring at me in disbelief. As I was about to walk into the private room with Wilfred, I overheard Flint say to Miranda in a voice loud enough for me to hear, “Looks like Anthony has a headhunter lined up to help him find a job.” The next moment, Miranda suddenly walked over and blocked my path. She sneered, “Anthony, you really think you’ve got what it takes now, don’t you? You’d rather find a job yourself than beg me for one? “But I want to remind you. Based on your past performance at work, I have already informed everyone in our industry within Nexalis State. No one is willing to hire you. “Are you regretting it now?” She gave me a half-smile, waiting for me to go back to my old job. However, I would make her down. After all, Miranda wasn’t even close to being capable enough to pose a threat to me. What she didn’t realize was that, after I resigned and Frank took charge of all the major projects, the company had been facing substantial risks, to the point of being on the brink of bankruptcy. I responded coolly, “Miranda, being confident is a good thing. I just hope you’ll still feel this confident when your company is acquired during the bankruptcy process.” “Anthony, you…” Miranda was so furious that she almost shouted at me, but she held it back and turned to look at Wilfred. She pulled out a business card and handed it to Wilfred with an air of arrogance. “I’m Miranda Barrett, the CEO of the Barrett Group. Anthony was one of my employees, but his conduct was subpar, and he’s just been fired. “I suggest your company think carefully before hiring him.” After saying that, she shot me a glance, then linked arms with Flint and walked off, her attitude as haughty as ever. Wilfred frowned, holding the business card and looking at me. “This…” “Just a clown,” I said with a slight smile. Wilfred casually tossed the card into the trash. Once we were seated in the private room, we discussed the acquisition of Miranda’s company. We decide to take advantage of the fallout from the Barrett Group’s failing projects and buy them out at a low price. Wilfred then pulled out a list of employees from the original company and asked me to help optimize it. I knew everyone on the list, how each person performed, and their behavior inside the company. I agreed to provide a solution as soon as possible. After the meeting, I went home. But as soon as I entered, I found Miranda sitting on my couch. She was sitting with her legs crossed, staring at me coldly. I frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at the door and suddenly remembered that after the breakup, I had forgotten to delete her fingerprint access. Miranda didn’t answer immediately. She coldly asked, “Who told you about my company’s bankruptcy and acquisition?” I was busy taking off my coat and didn’t bother to respond. Miranda’s face darkened even further. “As you wished, the company did indeed go bankrupt.” I raised an eyebrow, surprised by how quickly Wilfred had acted. We had just discussed this over lunch, and by the afternoon, it was already done. Miranda continued, “Anthony, I don’t know how you found out about this so early, but don’t get too excited. “The company that acquired us is a big corporation. They will help me sort out the issues with the previous projects. “I’m still the head of the company.” I made myself a cup of coffee, not surprised by this news. I knew it well. This was because my optimization list hadn’t been finalized yet, so they had temporarily kept the original team in place. “So what?” I asked calmly. Miranda stared at me intently. “I want you to hand over your previous client resources to Flint, and I’ll arrange a manager position for you at the new company. “You should know, with the backing of the parent company, the Barrett Group will only get stronger from here. “I’m offering you your old manager role. This is a pretty generous offer.” I suddenly smiled. She was acting so self-assured as if she were offering me a huge favor. But I knew full well that after the acquisition, Wilfred would release the development documents, and one of the terms stated that after I took the new role, positions would be assigned based on merit. Miranda’s request was nothing more than to use my client resources to help Flint prove his capabilities, solidifying his position as vice president. I could tell that she was deeply in love with Flint. But sadly, she had bet on the wrong person. “Miranda, you’re quite naïve,” I said. At my words, Miranda’s face darkened instantly. She stood up abruptly and walked toward me, her eyes narrowing as she sized me up. “Anthony, I know you’re jealous of Flint,” she said, her voice colder than before. “You feel wronged, thinking I’ve changed while I’m treating him so much better than you. “But you need to understand, our roles have changed. I’m the boss now. I’m the capitalist. “And you? You’re just an employee. A man like you was never a match for me. “But Flint… Flint brings me excitement and the joy of being a woman. You can never compare to him.” Miranda looked deeply into my eyes, her voice soft and almost too kind. “I’ll give you one night. Think it over.” With that, she turned and walked away. I shook my head in helplessness. I quickly deleted her fingerprint from the system and opened my laptop, sending out the layoff list for the next day. The next morning, I officially started my new job at the company. When I walked into the office, my colleagues were gossiping about the company’s acquisition. Miranda was, as usual, trying to paint a rosy picture for everyone. She assured them that she was still part of the management and that if everyone worked hard, things would remain the same as before. When she saw me, her eyes briefly lit up. She walked up to me with a smug tone, as if she had expected me to come. “Have you thought it over? Are you willing to hand over the client list to Flint?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. Miranda’s expression darkened, and just as she was about to speak, Flint interjected with a smile, “Anthony, why are you doing this to yourself? “If you weren’t planning on handing over the client information, then what are you even here for? “You’re not going to tell me you came to work, are you?” His words made the others burst into laughter. I raised an eyebrow and nodded. “I did come to work.” At that, the colleagues watching couldn’t hold back their laughter. “Work? He’s probably here looking for a job, thinking that just because the company was acquired, he can sneak in.” “Isn’t that a pipe dream?” “Anthony, weren’t you supposed to go abroad? Why are you back here applying for a job?” Before I could respond, Miranda’s face grew even darker, and she snapped at me, “Anthony, are you done yet? “I’ve already given you a chance by asking you to hand over the client information. Are you really this stubborn? “Didn’t you hear me yesterday? Are you happy being unemployed?” I shook my head helplessly. “Miranda, the one who’s about to be unemployed is you. Maybe you should start planning ahead.” Miranda stared at me, then suddenly scoffed, “Look at this. Are you out of your mind? How dare you say that? “What? I am the boss of this company. Do you think you can fire me? “Anthony, do you believe that as long as I’m here, you couldn’t even land a job as a janitor…?” Just as her words hung in the air, two figures appeared at the entrance of the company. They were the people Wilfred had sent to help me restructure the company. Miranda recognized them, and her face changed instantly. She hurried to greet them with a smile. “Mr. Fowler, you’re here! I wasn’t aware our new CEO had arrived. Let me go greet him.” Hurst Fowler glanced at her briefly but said nothing. He walked straight up to me and nodded respectfully. He then addressed the group, “This is our new CEO, Mr. Schultz!” In an instant, Miranda’s smile froze on her face, and she asked, trying to cover her surprise, “Mr. Fowler, you’re not joking, are you? Anthony is a good-for-nothing. How could you…” Before she could finish, Hurst pulled out the layoff list I had prepared yesterday and threw it in her face. Pointing at her and Flint, he said coldly, “You two are fired. Pack up and leave, now!”

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As the true heiress, after being found, I joined a dating reality show with my adopted sister. Facing the mean girl’s taunts, the celebrity’s aggression, and the production team’s schemes, I raised an eyebrow: “You got breast implants, you visited a proctologist, and you bought a house for your mistress.” They were shocked, covering their chests, buttocks, and the scratches left by their wives, trying to figure out who among them had leaked the information. I smiled mysteriously. Who told them I had the strange ability to see other people’s bills? I was hauling bricks at a construction site when my biological parents found me. Years ago, Mrs. Skyler gave birth to me in a small hospital, but due to a nurse’s negligence, I was switched with another baby. Now, they had finally tracked me down. As expected of a wealthy family, their mansion was straight out of a novel – complete with fountains and manicured lawns. I had barely sat down in the living room when a stern-faced woman rushed down the stairs. “That’s an imported sofa from Europe! Our young miss loves it! Who let this beggar in? You’re dirtying the fabric! Get up immediately!” She roughly yanked my arm, nearly causing me to stumble. Before I could regain my balance, another woman with a distinctly different aura hurried in. Her eyes welled up at the sight of me. She rushed over and embraced me. “My child, you’ve suffered so much all these years!” I rubbed my nose awkwardly. “It wasn’t that bad…” Just then, a stern-looking middle-aged man and a delicate young woman burst through the door. All three of them stared at me with a mix of awkwardness and uncertainty. My mother pulled the delicate girl closer, stammering, “Why don’t we let Ava stay with you? So you won’t be lonely.” Their decision to keep the adopted daughter didn’t surprise me. One was the girl they had raised since infancy, the other a biological daughter they barely knew. I had no reservations and spoke frankly, “Dad, Mom, Sister.” Their faces immediately lit up with joy. Ava, in particular, stood behind me beaming, like a loyal sidekick. “But who is this?” I asked, glancing at the stern-faced woman. She instantly changed her haughty demeanor, her smile now sickeningly sweet. “Miss Skyler, I’m Mrs. Johnson, the Skyler family’s housekeeper…” “Housekeeper?” I linked arms with my mother. “Mom, I doubt Mrs. Johnson could afford jewelry worth millions, right?” The housekeeper’s expression faltered. “Mom, I recently saw Mrs. Johnson at a secondhand store, selling a diamond necklace.” My mother paused, eyeing the housekeeper suspiciously. Mrs. Johnson’s face paled, and she broke into a cold sweat. “Miss Skyler, you can’t make such baseless accusations! I’ve never been to any secondhand store you’re talking about.” Her visit to the secondhand store might be a fabrication, but her theft of the Skyler family’s belongings was undoubtedly true. Because after my reincarnation into this story, I gained a strange ability – I could sense the details of everyone’s financial transactions. This Mrs. Johnson had been stealing and selling my mother’s possessions quite frequently! “Alright. To prove I’m not slandering Mrs. Johnson, Mom, why don’t you have someone check your jewelry collection?” I described the necklace in detail. Mrs. Johnson panicked. “Why should there be an investigation? I didn’t steal anything!” A guilty conscience needs no accuser! My mother immediately sent someone to check, and Mrs. Johnson collapsed to the floor. My new sister quietly sidled up to me, tugging at my sleeve. “Sister, you’re… you’re so impressive!” Ava gazed at me with admiration. I was taken aback. Was she won over so easily? Looking at her soft and innocent demeanor, it was no wonder she was the cannon fodder character in the novel who couldn’t stand up to the villainess protagonist. Yes, as the reincarnated true heiress in this story, neither I nor Ava, who had the potential to be the protagonist, were the actual main characters. The real protagonist was Mia Duncan, who climbed the entertainment industry ladder by stepping on Ava. Mia debuted by marketing herself as the “little Ava Skyler,” riding on the coattails of Ava’s popularity while secretly sabotaging her. They both signed up for a dating reality show. During filming, Ava was framed for assaulting a pregnant woman, causing her reputation to plummet and her career to nosedive. Meanwhile, Mia was praised as “beautiful and kind-hearted,” gaining even more popularity by contrasting herself with Ava. From Mia’s perspective, the story was quite satisfying. But I had reincarnated as Ava’s convenient sister. As a reincarnator, I knew the truth – that pregnant woman was hired by Mia with the sole purpose of destroying Ava’s career. Even if Ava was just my adopted sister, she was still part of the Skyler family. How could I let an outsider bully her? Besides, Ava was beautiful and sweet, always trying to please me in subtle ways. Looking at her face that perfectly matched my aesthetic preferences… Well, I simply couldn’t bear to see her reputation ruined. So, when my father asked if I wanted to take over Skyler Corporation, I noticed Ava holding the “Fall in Love, Stars!” show contract and expressed my desire to join the show with her. Ava’s eyes lit up. “Dad! Please!” The innocent girl unleashed her puppy eyes on our father. “If I go on the show with my sister, won’t you feel more at ease?” I had a private conversation with my father, revealing the name of my private equity fund. My father immediately agreed to not only hand over the company to me but also arrange for me and Ava to join the show. The show began live streaming from a villa, with all participants present. I sneaked a glance at my phone, seeing a wave of attacks against Ava in the comments: “Unbelievable, how could the production team invite someone as fake and pretentious as Ava Skyler on the same show as our Mia?” “She’s just riding on Mia’s popularity again. Can’t this old hag stand on her own?” “Exactly! She’s rude and unprofessional, and she still has the nerve to join a dating show? Get off our screens!” Mia, true to her protagonist status, caused another wave of excitement when she appeared. “Ahhh! My wife is so beautiful!” “Oh my god, Mia really has an angel’s face and a devil’s body!” “I’m melting!” The show’s opening and self-introduction segment maintained a facade of peace. When it came to the mutual questioning session, Mia started targeting Ava with seemingly harmless concern, “Ava, have you been watching any TV shows lately? I heard you’ve been resting at home, so you must have a lot of free time.” Well, that was a backhanded way of saying Ava could only stay at home because she couldn’t find work. Ava’s expression changed, and she was about to speak when I stopped her: “Actually, Ava hasn’t had time to watch anything. She’s been busy accompanying our mother on beauty spa trips and attending auctions. No time for trashy dramas.” Mia was stunned for a moment but quickly regained her composure and continued questioning Ava: “So, Ava, did you buy anything nice at the auction that you’d like to share with us?” Her eyes gleamed mischievously: “Just be careful not to accidentally buy fakes. Things are like people – fake is fake, real is real. Only fools mistake fakes for the real deal!” This was clearly an insinuation. Mia obviously knew something, like the truth about Ava’s and my background. But my parents hadn’t publicly announced that Ava wasn’t their biological daughter. How did Mia know? I looked Mia up and down. She didn’t seem nervous at all, even flashing me a meaningful smile. Ava panicked a bit, grabbing my hand and whispering in my ear, “Sister, what should we do? Does she know?” I patted Ava’s hand, signaling her to stay calm. Ava immediately straightened up, looking at me with complete trust. I put on a sincere smile and turned to Mia, “Well, Miss Duncan, your McGrath is quite real.” “Sometimes fake can be real too, it all depends on what people say, right?” Like Ava, and like… Mia’s chest. The comments froze for a moment. “What’s this woman saying? I feel like she’s hinting at something I don’t understand?” “What’s McGrath? Why does Mia look uncomfortable?” “Ahem, if I’m not mistaken, that’s a… breast implant brand, you know what I mean.” “Wait, didn’t she endorse some breast enhancement oil? So it’s all smoke and mirrors?” Mia choked on her water, coughing violently. Jake Thompson, a popular male contestant, rushed forward to pat her back concernedly, “Mia, are you okay?” He almost couldn’t resist covering his own chest as he looked at me. Ryan Evans, the award-winning actor, snapped out of his daze, knowingly glancing at Mia’s… chest. Liam Moore, the lead singer, put away his bored expression and cast an understanding look at Mia’s chest. Mia coughed while covering her chest. Her eyes showed a hint of shock and suspicion as she struggled to defend herself: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miss Skyler. It seems you have some hostility towards me.” She lowered her eyelashes, on the verge of tears. “If I’ve done something to offend you, I apologize here. But please don’t make unfounded accusations against me, okay?” Look at that, she’s trying to manipulate public opinion and incite her fans to cyberbully me! I chuckled softly, “Miss Duncan, weren’t you the one who brought up real and fake first? Why don’t you explain to your fans whether your McGrath is real or fake?”

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It all started when I had a few extra bites of the cake made by the housekeeper. My mother suddenly snapped and ruined my birthday party. “Just like your father. Can’t resist a little indulgence. “You like her, huh? Well, let her be your mother then. “I don’t want you anymore.” I was left speechless, terrified, crying as I begged her to forgive me, but in a fit of rage, she pushed me. I hit my head on the edge of the table, blood pouring out. In my dazed state, I heard her thoughts. “You’ll regret this. Just wait. Anyone who throws away my love deserves to suffer. That heartless man and his brat of a daughter… they must be regretting everything now.” She felt smug, her heart filled with satisfaction, but not a trace of concern or love for me. But if she truly loved someone, how could she bear to let them get hurt? “You like cake, don’t you? Well, have all you want.” When Mom suddenly grabbed an entire piece of cake and slammed it into my face, the once-boisterous living room fell dead silent. Her sharp voice cut through the stillness, hanging in the air like a blade. She wiped the cake off her fingers with a napkin, then shot a disgusted look at Maeve, our housekeeper. “Avery, you really are your father’s child. You two sure do have the same taste. “Well, since you like her so much, why don’t you just let her be your mother?” I glanced at my mom, then at Maeve’s worn-out face. At an age when I didn’t even fully understand what absurdity meant, I suddenly realized what it felt like without anyone telling me. It was all my fault and Dad’s. We always made Mom misunderstand us, and that was why she was so angry. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong.” My voice faltered, and I lowered my head, trying to hide the tears welling up in my eyes. The cream on my face felt sticky and gross. I didn’t dare go wash it off or change clothes. I was too scared. If I made one wrong move, Mom might really leave. But my apology didn’t soften her at all. She looked at me coldly, her gaze sharp, like she was searching for something on my face. “Well? What exactly did you do wrong?” she demanded. I twisted the hem of my shirt in my hands, desperately trying to think back to what I had done to upset her, but nothing came to mind. Singing the birthday song, blowing out the candles, cutting the cake, eating the cake… wasn’t that just the usual birthday stuff? I hadn’t misbehaved. I hadn’t done anything wrong. I dug my nails into my palm in frustration, tears threatening to spill over. As I hesitated, unable to answer, Mom’s face darkened further. Finally, her patience snapped. She grabbed the cake from the table and hurled it to the floor, along with the gifts beside it. They crashed to the ground with a loud bang. “Your dad likes a woman like Maeve? He must be starving for attention. “When I cook, you two always pick at everything. “But when she makes cake, you can’t get enough, huh? “Fine, Avery, you get your wish. I don’t need you anymore. “From now on, you’ll have no mother.” Maeve stood there, frozen, her face pale with shock. She couldn’t understand how, after all her hard work, cooking and cleaning every day, she was now the one accused of breaking up the marriage. I was trembling with fear, too scared to care about the cream still smeared on me. I rushed over, throwing my arms around Mom’s legs. “Mom, I’m sorry! I won’t eat cake anymore. Please… don’t leave me.” My sobs only seemed to annoy her, and the sticky sweetness of the cream on my face made her even more disgusted. “My new dress!” She shoved me away, eyes burning as she looked at the white splatters of cream on her dress, her chest rising and falling with every breath. “Go find Maeve. I don’t want to be your mother anymore.” The force of her shove sent me stumbling, and with the floor covered in cake, I lost my balance and fell hard. My forehead hit the edge of the table with a sickening thud. For a moment, everything went blurry, and a warm liquid started to spill from my head. Before I passed out, all I saw was red. Whether it was blood or just the red of Mom’s dress, I couldn’t tell. “Mom, don’t go…” A cold fear gripped my heart, a desperate, bone-deep terror that Mom might actually leave me.

I woke up in a hospital bed. “Mom!” Panic surged through me as I frantically searched for her. My heart didn’t settle until I spotted her sitting in the corner of the room, casually scrolling through her phone. She was still here. Relief washed over me like a wave, though I couldn’t take my eyes off her, afraid she might vanish if I so much as blinked. Then my dad’s name popped up on her phone screen. Mom let out an annoyed huff and declined the call. But Dad didn’t give up. He called again and again. By the tenth attempt, Mom finally picked up, her voice sharp with irritation. “Clayton, stop calling me. I told you, I’m done. This time, I mean it. I want a divorce. “Go back to your little harem. Enjoy your life with them. “Don’t expect anyone to cook for you anymore. Don’t expect anyone to stay up all night waiting for you to come home. “Losing me is your problem, not mine.” A heavy silence followed. Dad didn’t say a word, but as I stared at Mom, I could almost hear her thoughts, like they were being broadcast straight into my head. “You’ll regret this. Just wait. Anyone who throws away my love deserves to suffer. That heartless man and his brat of a daughter… they must be regretting everything now.” Her tone in my head was full of smug satisfaction, even triumph, but not a shred of it sounded like love or concern for me. I didn’t understand. Why would she say things like that? What did I or Dad ever do to deserve this? I looked at her, my chest tightening with a sadness I couldn’t shake. I wasn’t heartless. I loved her and I always had. But that didn’t seem to matter. A crushing exhaustion settled over me, as if I was trapped in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Why had it come to this? Was it really because I couldn’t resist having a few extra pieces of cake that Maeve made? Tears blurred my vision and dripped onto the blanket, leaving dark, wet patches. “Beatrix.” Dad’s voice sounded tired, his frustration barely concealed. “Can’t we just talk this out like adults? Don’t take this out on Avery. She’s just a kid. “And honestly, you’ve got some nerve bringing up cooking. You nearly poisoned me with yours!” Before he could finish, Mom interrupted him with a cold laugh. “A kid? Please. She’s smarter than you think. I bet she already knows Maeve will be her stepmom one day. That’s why she’s bending over backward to cozy up to her. “But here’s the thing. Stepmothers don’t care about their stepdaughters. I’ll be waiting for the day you regret this.” She threw me a pointed look with those last words, her eyes brimming with something cruel. It was as if she couldn’t wait to see me suffer under Maeve’s care. “You’re unbelievable,” Dad said, his voice turning icy. Then the line went dead. “You’ll be begging me to come back one day,” Mom thought to herself, her anger morphing into a twisted kind of satisfaction. She sat there for a moment, stewing in the fantasy of Dad pleading for her return, before finally grabbing her bag and striding toward the door. “I’m not your mother anymore, so don’t expect me to take care of you,” she said, her tone indifferent. “Stay here and see if Maeve will come get you.” This time, I didn’t try to stop her. I curled into myself, clutching my knees, trying desperately to hold back the sobs threatening to escape. In my mind, I cried out in anguish, “Mom, you always said people who betray your love deserve to be punished. But if you really loved me, how could you stand to see me hurt?”

Maeve never showed up at the hospital to take care of me as she had quit. For someone hardworking and skilled like her, finding a new job wasn’t a problem. There was no reason for her to stay in a house full of drama and risk ruining her reputation. That day, I sat alone in the hospital from morning till night. I didn’t eat or drink, and I felt like I was drifting in and out of a fog. Eventually, one of the nurses took pity on me. She brought me a meal from the cafeteria and called my dad. When he found out Mom had abandoned me at the hospital, he rushed back overnight from out of town. The moment he walked into the room, I blurted out, “If I disappeared one day, do you think Mom would regret it?” I’d been staring at the hospital’s towering buildings all day, and a dark thought had crept into my mind. If I jumped from up there and disappeared forever, would she finally regret it? Would she cry and beg for me to come back, the way I’d begged her on my birthday? “No,” Dad said, his voice firm and unyielding, not even pausing to think. “Avery, people who love you would never want to see you hurt. “People who don’t love you wouldn’t care, no matter how much pain you’re in. “Hurting yourself to make someone feel guilty or regretful? That’s just a stupid game you play with yourself. It won’t get you love or respect. “If you don’t believe me, let’s bet on it.” Not long after, my parents’ divorce became official. Mom took the house and a sizable amount of money but didn’t want me. Her new place was just next door. Whenever I missed her, I’d sit outside her door, hoping to see her. If I got lucky, I’d catch her leaving or coming home. But she never spoke to me. No matter how much I tried to get her attention, she ignored me completely. Then one day, she brought home a little boy. I overheard her calling him Jasper. That was the first thing she said to me since the divorce. “Avery, this is my son, Jasper. “You’d better not bully him. Otherwise…” She didn’t finish her sentence and just gave me a cold, knowing look, as if she was certain I’d hurt him. A few days later, a good-looking man moved in with her. Mom had no problem kissing him right outside the door where everyone could see. Dad came home early a few times and caught them in the act. His face darkened as he tried to talk to her. “If you want to kiss, do it inside your house. Don’t do it in the hallway where the kids can see.” Mom didn’t take him seriously. She just smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “Since when do I need your permission? Or what, are you mad you’re not the one kissing me anymore?” After that, she only got bolder. She loved putting on shows of affection with Jasper too. “Sweetheart, come here. Let me fix your collar. “I made your lunch myself. Make sure you eat it, okay?” I stood there, lingering in the doorway, hoping for even the tiniest bit of attention. But her gaze never once landed on me. When she finally closed the door behind her, I stared at the lunchbox in Jasper’s hands. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I stop him? But before I could say a word, Jasper’s face darkened. Misreading my hesitation, he charged at me, ready for a fight.

Jasper blocked my way, his voice sharp and mocking. “Move it, you motherless stray.” He was built like a young bull, tall and strong. “Don’t even think about touching my lunch.” I could’ve stepped aside. I should’ve. But my bet with Dad played on a loop in my mind. So, I stood firm. Pain exploded in my stomach as Jasper charged, slamming into me. I hit the ground hard, my hands and knees scraping against the rough concrete. Blood welled up from the torn skin, hot and stinging. “Mom!” The word tore from my throat, raw and desperate. My chest tightened with a mix of humiliation and longing, and before I knew it, tears poured down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. Jasper froze, his bravado cracking. “It’s not my fault! You fell on your own!” he stammered, his guilt barely concealed. The noise must have carried into the house because the door swung open, and there she was, my mom. I cried harder, louder, willing her to come to me, to pick me up, to care. “Mom! Jasper pushed me!” The words spilled out between hiccupping sobs. For a moment, guilt twisted in my chest. Was I wrong to complain? Was I being petty? But I was desperate, starved for even a shred of her attention. Her reaction left me cold. She walked right past me and crouched down beside Jasper, brushing the hair from his face with a tenderness I’d never known. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Did she scare you? Don’t worry, I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” I stared at her, the lump in my throat tightening. She had never, not once, spoken to me like that. When she finally turned to me, her eyes were hard, her voice sharp. “Avery, I warned you not to bully Jasper. “Stop this nonsense. No matter what you do, I’m not coming back. “I’ve told you before. I’m not your mother anymore. From now on, I only have one child, and that’s Jasper.” Her voice was dripping with contempt, but beneath it, there was a glimmer of satisfaction, a silent victory she wasn’t bothering to hide. In her mind, she thought, “Regret it now? Too late. All the suffering I endured because of you and your dad… it’s time you felt it too.” “Mom,” I said quietly. “Aren’t you even going to ask if I’m okay?” Her frown deepened, a flicker of unease crossing her face before she forced it back into indifference. “Why would I? Whether you’re hurt or not has nothing to do with me.” And there it was. The truth was stark and undeniable. Dad was right. She didn’t love me. That was why she didn’t care. I stood up and wiped my face with my sleeve, looking her straight in the eye. “Actually, I could’ve dodged him. “But I didn’t. I wanted to see if you’d feel guilty if I got hurt. “And you? Was this your plan all along?” In that moment, it all became clear, like the constant guilt I felt around Mom, the reason she left without hesitation, and why Dad stood by, letting it happen without a fight. Her face flushed red, anger flashing in her eyes. She grabbed Jasper’s hand, pulling him toward the house. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But she did. I saw it in the way her steps quickened, in the tight line of her mouth. She understood exactly what I meant. And it scared her.

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I never thought my journey to beauty would begin with a cross necklace carelessly thrown onto Kate Harrison’s pet dog by Adam Sullivan. As I stormed out amidst the laughter of everyone around, I heard someone say, “Adam, Celeste Carter is just your fangirl. She’ll be back in less than half an hour.” They were wrong. I had originally become Adam’s admirer only to exchange points for beauty. The system told me there were two ways to become beautiful: either win Adam’s heart or become a top student. Not willing to study hard, I chose the first option. But now I’ve come to my senses. If I have the determination to pursue Adam, why not aim for something better? Why not try for Harvard or Yale? However, just as I was about to participate in the academic competition and win a gold medal, Adam lost it. “You’re giving up on liking me because of this guy, aren’t you?” he asked, pointing at the cold-faced academic genius whose arm he had just broken. I slapped him right across the face. Now that I’ve become a great beauty, why would I want him when I could have any guy I want? On Adam’s birthday, I presented him with a carefully prepared gift. It was a cross necklace I had carved myself. I had trekked through an entire forest to cut down a branch from a violet wood tree to carve it. Being a chubby girl, the long hike nearly killed me. But for Adam, I was willing to go all out. Halfway through, I was panting like a dog, unable to go on. “Come on, host! How else will you get through this forest to cut down the violet wood branch? How will you make the cross necklace without cutting down the tree? How will you win Adam’s heart without a gift? And how will you become beautiful without winning Adam’s heart?” the system encouraged me. I thought the system made sense. So I gritted my teeth and pushed on to the top, successfully cutting down the violet wood branch. But when I had carefully set up the venue and waited for Adam and his friends to arrive, I immediately noticed the prom queen by his side. Kate Harrison, standing next to him, had carefully styled her hair and applied the most fashionable makeup, making her features even more stunning. They looked so good together. But I still wanted to give it a shot. “Happy birthday, Adam,” I said, presenting the painstakingly carved violet wood cross. “What’s this?” Adam took it casually, seemingly not caring much. “It’s a cross necklace, isn’t it? Celeste, you’re so thoughtful!” Kate praised me with a smile. “Adam, you must keep it safe. Celeste even went to the forest to cut down violet wood to carve this cross for you. Her gift is really heartfelt,” Kate added. “You went through the forest? You actually went through the forest for this crappy cross? Are you out of your mind?” Adam seemed angry when he heard Kate’s words. “I just heard that violet wood is the best material for making crosses, so…” I took a deep breath and decided to say it. “Adam, I like you.” As soon as I said those words, everyone around us exploded. “Hahaha, Adam, your little follower just confessed to you!” “Hahaha, Adam, she really likes you, she actually said it out loud!” Adam’s face darkened. “Celeste Carter, are you trying to disgust me on my birthday?” He pinched the corner of my cross, looking indescribably angry. “Have you watched too many romantic dramas? You deliberately went through the forest to find a branch, wanting to tell me how much you love me? Have you looked in the mirror? Do you think you’re worthy?” I really hadn’t expected Adam to say such things. I knew he might not like me, might reject me. But how could he, who once pulled me out of the whirlpool, joke about my appearance and push me back into the abyss? Adam almost shouted these words. “Hahaha, isn’t it embarrassing? Adam, you’re being liked by Celeste Carter, you’re not clean anymore!” His buddies burst into laughter. I could barely maintain my expression, almost crying. “Adam, how can you say that to Celeste? It’s obvious she genuinely likes you. She must have thought you had feelings for her too, to have the courage to confess in public…” Kate’s words were very suggestive. Sure enough, after hearing this, Adam became even more furious. “I like her? I have feelings for her? I’m not blind!” Adam was so angry that even the veins on his forehead were throbbing. At that moment, Kate’s Chow Chow came trotting towards the crowd. Kate picked it up and gave it a kiss. “Say hi to daddy, tell him not to be angry. It’s his birthday, he should be happy.” Daddy… Isn’t this Kate’s dog? I got it. It turns out that before I knew it, Adam had already started being a dad to Kate’s dog. “Xiuxiu, come here,” Adam said, his previously angry expression suddenly changing to a gentle one as he patted the Chow Chow’s head. So his attitude towards me was worse than towards a dog. The next second, I saw him casually put the cross necklace I had worked so hard to carve around the dog’s neck. “Here, you can play with this,” he said to the dog. “Yo, Adam, you gave your follower’s gift to the dog to play with. She must be furious!” his friends laughed. I was indeed furious. For this cross necklace, I had shed so much sweat, walked so far, and trekked through the forest. And he casually gave it to the prom queen’s dog. I was both angry and heartbroken. Although it was because of the beauty system that I had decided to pursue him, my feelings for him were genuine. This one action of his was like stepping on my face. I may not be good-looking, but I have my dignity. Since he looked down on me so much, there was no need for me to chase after him anymore. I stormed out amidst everyone’s laughter. “Adam, Celeste Carter is just your fangirl. She’ll be back in less than half an hour.” They were wrong. After this incident, I decided not to like Adam anymore. His allowing me to exist, tolerating me being close, wasn’t necessarily because he discovered my inner beauty or had feelings for me. Perhaps, he just saw me as a tool he could summon at will and dismiss just as easily. I was too stubborn, still wanting to try one more time. I had carefully prepared the birthday venue for him, prepared a birthday gift. I confessed in public on his birthday. Only to embarrass myself. Kate’s laughter came through, mixed in with the crowd, so jarring. Kate Harrison was a transfer student. Due to her pretty face, she caused quite a stir as soon as she arrived at school. She had flowing long hair, lively and delicate features, and a curvy figure. Ever since she came, Adam had become much colder towards me. Before, when I ran errands for him, he would still allow me to stay and hang out with his little group. At that time, I would still comfort myself, thinking that although Adam was cold in personality, he surely wouldn’t be someone who only cared about appearances. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood up for me when classmates mocked me, nor would he have specially allowed me to stay by his side. Yes, there were no other girls around him, only me. I was full of hope about winning his heart. But after the prom queen came, everything changed. I became a true errand girl. Adam wouldn’t let me stay, nor would he take me along to activities anymore. He would make me bring him an umbrella to the basketball training hall on a rainy day, but wouldn’t let me stay for dinner with his good buddies. He would make me take my well-organized class notes to him, but wouldn’t invite me to do homework together. The mockery from the surrounding classmates became even worse. “Celeste Carter, you don’t really think Adam Sullivan likes you, do you?” “Only a beauty like Kate Harrison is a match for him. Give up already.” I didn’t believe it and stubbornly continued to be nice to him. “Celeste Carter, go buy some cold medicine from the school infirmary,” I saw Adam’s message and thought he was sick. I rushed to the school infirmary and ran all the way to buy cold medicine for him, delivering it to his classroom. “Yo, Adam, your little follower is here,” his buddies teased. Adam barely lifted his eyelids and took the cold medicine from my hand. “Adam, are you sick? Are you okay?” I asked concernedly. “Hahaha, Adam, did you hear that? Your little follower is worried about you!” his friends laughed. But Adam didn’t pay any attention to me. He just poured the cold medicine into a cup, then went to get a cup of hot water. After doing all this, he walked straight out of the door and went to Kate’s classroom. “Kate, quickly drink the medicine.” I was stunned. So Adam wasn’t sick at all. He made me run errands to buy medicine, just for Kate. “Adam, how could you do this? I thought you were sick…” Kate looked at Adam, then at me. “Did Celeste buy the medicine? Thank you on Adam’s behalf!” What kind of relationship did she have with Adam? What right did she have to thank me on Adam’s behalf? “Celeste Carter, aren’t you annoying? It’s just asking you to help buy some medicine, why are you making such a fuss?” Adam looked at me impatiently. His tone and expression when talking to me were completely different from when he talked to Kate. I panicked. “System, he seems to really like Kate.” “Host, do you want to choose the other way to become beautiful?” the system asked. I couldn’t make up my mind at the moment, so I just went back to my own classroom. Passing by the window, I saw my reflection. Small eyes, flat nose, protruding mouth, and a big face. I was really ugly. So even Adam would fall for a pretty girl, right? But as long as he likes me, I would immediately become very beautiful. Yes, I was bound to the beauty system. The system told me there were two ways to become beautiful: either win Adam’s heart or become a top student. Not willing to study hard, I chose the first option. Adam was the most popular boy in our school. He was handsome, had a good figure, and came from a well-off family. Most importantly, he had never mocked me. He even stood up for me when I was ridiculed by classmates. “Is it fun to make fun of someone’s appearance?” he had said. At that time, I was pushed to the ground by a group of mean girls, my eyes stinging from pepper spray. It was Adam who pulled me up and took me to the infirmary. “Don’t be afraid, you’ve done nothing wrong,” he had said. His voice was so deep and charming. I almost immediately heard my heart pounding. So when the system appeared, I was ecstatic. The existence of the system seemed to provide a more legitimate reason for me to like Adam. Becoming beautiful for the person you love sounds very romantic. I chose the first way to become beautiful almost without hesitation. I even fantasized about how surprised Adam would be when he found out I had become a great beauty after we got together. Would he be happy? But now, I had been his fangirl for over a year. Chasing someone one-sidedly is very tiring. After being Adam’s fangirl for so long, the beauty progress bar hadn’t changed even a bit. This meant I should change my strategy. With the determination to win Adam’s heart, why not do something else? Why not try for Harvard or Yale? I immediately summoned the system. “I want to change methods, choose the second option.” “Alright, host has chosen to become beautiful through studying. If the host improves by 30 ranks in the next small test, you will gain 10 beauty points.” With a new direction and goal, I felt endless motivation in my heart. “Study hard, strive to become a top student, let’s go!” As the new week began, I became even more hardworking. I would circle the knowledge points I didn’t understand and ask the teachers after class. I also made full use of break times, hardly ever leaving the classroom. Adam and I weren’t in the same class. If I didn’t actively seek him out, we wouldn’t have any interaction at all. I don’t know if he noticed anything unusual, but one day after the morning exercises, he stopped me. “Why haven’t I seen you these past few days? Are you angry?” I didn’t respond. Adam looked at me uncomfortably, “What I said on my birthday was indeed a bit harsh, but it’s only because you went too far.” I went too far? I just publicly expressed my feelings, how was that going too far? Indeed, being confessed to by someone you don’t like or even dislike is not a pleasant thing. But I didn’t care anymore. Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, Adam assigned me a task on his own. “I have a basketball game tomorrow afternoon, remember to buy water and tissues for everyone and bring them over.” He left without waiting for my answer. But there was no way I would go. I now had to focus all my energy on studying. As long as I study hard, not only can I become a top student, but I can also become beautiful. Why didn’t I realize this good thing earlier? Adam means nothing. When it was time for club activities the next afternoon, I was still sitting in my seat studying like a monk in deep meditation. “Celeste, Adam has a game today, aren’t you going to watch?” my deskmate asked softly. I shook my head, “No, and I won’t be going in the future either.” By the time I finished a set of exercises, almost everyone had left the classroom. The outdoor basketball court downstairs was bustling with noise, with cheers and applause coming from time to time. But none of this had anything to do with me anymore. The girl sitting behind me was the top student in our class, and she was also sitting in her seat doing homework. I looked at her, then at the blank questions on my exercise sheet. “Hey, top student, can you help me with this?” I thick-skinned asked for her help. The expected ridicule and sarcasm didn’t come. She just gently took my exercise sheet, looked at the questions, and started explaining softly. In her eyes, I seemed to be just an ordinary classmate, no different from anyone else in the class. When she finished explaining, I understood. It turns out that communicating with people isn’t that difficult. Not everyone likes to make fun of others’ appearances. Since that’s the case, why should I care so much? I started to enjoy studying. Just then, a message came on my phone. It was from Adam. “Where are you?” Although I wasn’t planning to go watch his game anymore, I couldn’t let them go thirsty because of me. “I’m not going. Ask someone else to buy water for you.” After sending this message, I immersed myself in knowledge again. In this small test, I indeed advanced 30 ranks as planned. “Congratulations, host has completed the goal. Beauty value +10, current beauty value 15.” Wow, only now did I realize that my original appearance was only worth 5 points. After the system’s announcement, I immediately went to the bathroom to look in the mirror. I felt… my skin wasn’t as yellow as before, and I seemed to have lost some weight. “If the host improves by 50 ranks in the next small test, you will gain another 15 beauty points.” Improving another 50 ranks would put me in the top 100! Although it’s a bit challenging, I can’t back down. So I studied even harder, even reviewing French vocabulary or knowledge points while eating and using the bathroom. “Celeste Carter has made great progress this time, everyone should learn from her,” the homeroom teacher praised me publicly for the first time in a long time. This feeling was quite wonderful. I was inwardly delighted, still replaying the teacher’s words in my mind. Unexpectedly, I ran into Adam in the stairwell. “Celeste Carter, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you? You dare to not come to the basketball game and even block me!”

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My wife’s first love had an accident, and she insisted it was my fault. Even when I swore on my life, my wife still resolutely sent me to an illegal mining camp for reflection. There, I endured countless humiliations and ended up battered and broken. Three years later, my wife finally remembered me. But I had already died two years ago… Three years ago, Dahlia sent me to an illegal mining camp for reflection and atonement, accusing me of attempted murder. No matter how I explained or even knelt down and begged her with evidence, she was convinced that I had deliberately tried to kill her first love, Jack, out of jealousy. Life in the illegal mining camp was not easy, especially with Dahlia arranging people to ‘take care’ of me day and night. I died not long after being locked up in there. When Dahlia appeared in the mining camp with her bodyguards to visit me, frowning and with a cold gaze, I had already been dead for two and a half years. “Whether he agrees or not, even if you have to tie him up, make him sign the organ donation consent form!” she said coldly. The visiting room was warm, but as her cold words came out, the temperature seemed to drop to the depths of winter. She looked around with disgust and impatiently instructed her bodyguard, “Why hasn’t he come out yet? Hurry up and bring him to see me…” After waiting for a long time, the bodyguard finally appeared at the door with someone. But the person who appeared wasn’t me, it was the foreman of the mining camp. “Miss Dahlia, sorry to keep you waiting, but…” the foreman said hesitantly. “But what?” Dahlia’s face instantly darkened. The foreman quickly said, “But Quentin probably can’t come to see you.” “He doesn’t want to see me? Huh, what does he mean?” she sneered. “Is he enjoying his time here? Three meals a day without worrying, and he can hide from me? Tell him, as long as he voluntarily donates a kidney, he can stay here as long as he wants, even until he dies!” She instructed the foreman to relay the message to me with disgust and impatience, trying to lure me out. But she couldn’t see that I was floating above her at that moment, looking at her with a bitter expression. The foreman didn’t move, and Dahlia, seeing his evasive gaze, immediately frowned with cold eyes. “What? Quentin doesn’t want to see me that much…” The foreman quickly shook his head, “No, it’s not that. He’s not here anymore, how can he come to see you?” That’s right! Except for my soul that no one could see, my body was no longer here. On the first day after I died, they found my death too horrific and threw me out. Now my corpse had probably been digested into fertilizer by some wild dog. Dahlia obviously didn’t believe the foreman’s words. She had her bodyguards watch the foreman while she began to search the mining camp, room by room. She went from the dormitory to the rest area, then to the kitchen, and even carefully checked all the personnel lists, but couldn’t find any trace of me. Dahlia’s face grew increasingly grim, barely suppressing her anger as she questioned the foreman. “I said no one was allowed to let him out, and you dared to treat my words as wind in your ears?” The foreman had taken her money and could be said to be her most loyal dog, so how could he have let me out? Back then, when I was tortured by the people Dahlia arranged until I was a mess, kneeling and begging him to let me out to see a doctor, he never softened. Even when I kowtowed to him until I was bleeding profusely, he never relented. Dahlia sat down coldly and ordered the foreman to bring me to her within five minutes. The foreman, pushed to his limits, sighed and told the truth. “Miss Dahlia, let me tell you the truth. Quentin… he’s long dead!” “He died horribly, not a single part of his body was intact. The walls and floor were covered in blood from him banging his head and scratching with his fingernails that had been torn off.” “On the first day after he died, we threw his corpse out to feed the dogs…” But Dahlia didn’t believe it at all, her face growing increasingly impatient. “Tell me, what good things did Quentin promise you that you dare to disobey my words?” “He crippled Jack for life, does he think he can escape the consequences?” “I think you and he are in cahoots to deceive me!” The foreman hurriedly explained, “No, no… Miss Dahlia, you’re giving me too much credit. How dare I deceive you? You’re my god, my meal ticket!” Fearing she wouldn’t believe him, the foreman quickly pulled out a photo and placed it on the table. “This is the photo I took at the time. Please don’t let it get out…” Dahlia cast a doubtful glance at him, her pupils suddenly contracting as her gaze fell on the photo. In the photo was a human figure whose features were indistinguishable. His body was painfully twisted into an exaggerated arc, covered in bloody marks and bruises, with gashes dripping with fresh blood occupying the entire face. There wasn’t a single good spot on the skin, covered in black and purple scabs. The fingernails looked as if they had been forcibly pulled out, connected to the inner nerves, a bloody mess. From the state of it, the figure had long been dead beyond death. Dahlia froze for a moment, involuntarily widening her eyes. But soon, she let out a cold laugh, “The makeup is really good, at first glance it really looks like Quentin.” “But do you take me for a fool? How could he suffer such severe injuries here when all he does is eat, drink, and work in the mine?” “Besides, if he was nearly dead, why didn’t he go to the hospital? It’s obviously fake!” My heart ached with bitterness. It was she who arranged people to ‘take care’ of me and wouldn’t let me out, otherwise how would I have died so painfully here? After that last brutal beating, I really couldn’t take it anymore. I knelt on the ground, begging the foreman to call her. But she just coldly said, “If you want to die, die quickly. Don’t disgust me!” Even though Dahlia no longer cared about me, the will to survive still made me want to desperately stay alive. I kowtowed to the foreman, the floor resounding with “bang bang” as I hit my head, the blood and dust mixing into a dark black bloody paste, dripping down drop by drop. The foreman, unable to bear it any longer, couldn’t help but say to me, “It’s not that I won’t let you out, but what’s the use?” “Do you have money? The nearest hospital is hundreds of miles away, how would you get there? Not to mention all your ID documents are with your wife.” “Just endure it. If you make it through, it’s fate. If you don’t make it… well, that’s fate too. Remember in your next life, find a good girl…” The foreman’s words made me smile bitterly. I collapsed on the ground like a deflated balloon. Forcibly swallowing the blood that kept welling up in my mouth, I wanted to walk back to the dormitory to rest properly. But at that moment, even rest became a luxury for me. Ten minutes later, the foreman ordered people to pull me off the blood-stained bed and throw me into the coal mine. In the end, I fell there forever… Dahlia glanced at the foreman’s helpless face and snorted coldly. “Enough, stop pretending!” “Hurry up and get Quentin to come out. As long as he’s willing to donate a kidney, I’ll let him leave here right now, and I’ll give him another 200,000 dollars.” I floated numbly in mid-air, but my heart felt as cold as if blown by the winter wind. So my kidney was only worth 200,000 dollars, not even as expensive as a piece of clothing she bought for Jack. Not to mention the millions Dahlia spent without blinking an eye to buy a concept supercar specially for him. Those were in the billions. So, her coldness was only for me. All her love was spent on Jack. The foreman continued to explain patiently, but Dahlia was convinced that we were colluding to deceive her. “Didn’t you say he was already dead? Where’s the body? Where’s the tombstone? What can a single photo prove!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t hand him over today, I’ll make you wish you were dead!” With no other choice, the foreman could only grit his teeth and lead her to a wasteland outside. Pointing to a small mound overgrown with weeds, he said with a complex expression that they had thrown me there at the time. Dahlia’s face darkened as she coldly ordered her bodyguards. “Dig! If he’s alive, I want to see him. If he’s dead, I want to see the body!” Digging up someone’s grave is no less than murder and arson in the eyes of others. But Dahlia showed no sympathy, coldly watching as the bodyguards gradually dug open my grave. I looked at her painfully, never imagining she would hate me to this extent. Perhaps feeling guilty, the foreman kept clasping his hands and muttering, seemingly afraid my ghost would come after him. But soon, he was pulled by the bodyguards to the dug-up mound. It was empty inside, with nothing. “Where’s the person? Where are the bones? Didn’t you tell me Quentin was in there?” “There’s nothing but soil. Don’t tell me you pointed to the wrong place!” Dahlia’s tone was like a volcano suppressed to the extreme, ready to erupt at the slightest touch. The foreman widened his eyes, looking at the empty pit with disbelief. “I… I saw wild dogs wanting to eat his corpse at the time, and couldn’t bear it, so I buried him. How could this be possible…” I was also a bit confused. But Dahlia had long lost her patience and interrupted him with a cold laugh. “So, next you’re going to say his corpse was eaten by wild dogs?” “Good, good! It’s the first time in so many years that someone has fooled me so thoroughly!” “Quentin, and you too! Good! Very good!” The foreman hurriedly tried to explain, but at this moment, Dahlia’s phone rang. When she saw the name on it, the iciness on her face disappeared, replaced by sickening tenderness. “Jack, how are you feeling today? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make Quentin willingly donate his kidney!” It’s him! The culprit who got me thrown into the mining camp and died miserably here, Jack! On the other end of the phone, Jack’s voice sounded very weak. “Dahlia, you don’t have to beg Quentin. My illness…” Dahlia hurriedly interrupted him, seemingly unable to bear hearing more, “Don’t talk nonsense, I promised you I would save you!” “If it weren’t for you donating a kidney to me back then, I might have died long ago, causing your other kidney to also…” “Besides, since his kidney can match, even if I have to search to the ends of the earth, I’ll find him!” I couldn’t help but frown. When did Jack become the one who saved Dahlia? The other end was silent for a moment before asking with some confusion about what had happened. Dahlia told him in detail about my disappearance. The next second, something shocking happened. Jack said in surprise, “That’s impossible. Quentin called me today saying he was going abroad.” “Oh, and he said he left something for you in the old house. You’ll understand once you see it.” Seen me? He’s just a liar! I anxiously shouted at Dahlia, don’t believe him, he’s just a liar. But I couldn’t make a sound. Even when I floated in front of her and waved frantically, she didn’t notice at all. After hanging up the phone, Dahlia’s gaze turned cold again. She coldly glanced at the foreman and turned to leave directly. Half an hour later, Dahlia arrived at the old house where we used to live. Two bedrooms and one living room, this was our love nest when we were dating, and also the place where our past happiness was stored. Without any hesitation, Dahlia walked in with a cold face. On the coffee table in the living room, she saw a letter placed on top. There was only one sentence, which made her angrily tear the letter to pieces. “Dahlia, you’ll never find me!”

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After eight years of marriage, I was finally pregnant. I had just decided to tell my husband, Lowell Henderson, the good news when his secretary, Kaitlynn Warren, “accidentally” bumped into me, causing me to fall down the stairs and miscarry. Kaitlynn was so terrified that her face went pale. She rushed into Lowell’s arms, crying, “Did I mess up again? I’m sorry, you can yell at me…” Lowell’s heart broke as he saw her tears. “Silly girl, it’s fine. You didn’t do it on purpose.” He gave me a sharp glance. “Come on, it was just a fall. Get up. Don’t lie there making a scene!” At the hospital, the woman in the bed next to mine asked with concern why my husband hadn’t come to see me after my miscarriage. She asked if he was too busy. I paused for a moment, then turned and tossed my wedding ring into the trash. “No,” I said softly, “I’ve just become a widow.” Lowell didn’t come home until the dead of night the following day. He walked in and carelessly threw his coat onto the couch. To his surprise, his clothes from yesterday were still piled there, along with shoes scattered all over the floor. A flash of irritation crossed his face. He didn’t notice my pale face or the medicine on the table. “I’ve been out all day and night, and I come home to this mess. Do you expect me to clean it up?” I didn’t even look at him. I felt too tired to remind him that the scent of perfume on his clothes had already given away his whereabouts. Seeing I didn’t respond, Lowell snorted, “Seems like I married a spoiled princess. Sorry, Your Highness, I forgot you are too good to do the chore.” I bit my lip and glanced at my hands. They were calloused, a thin layer of rough skin worn into them. After we got married, I, who had never done any hard work in my life, gladly tied on an apron to learn how to cook and clean for Lowell. Back then, even if I burned my hand while cooking, as long as he praised the meal, I could be happy for the rest of the day. But now, I was tired of it. Seeing me remain silent, Lowell frowned, finally sensing something was wrong. He walked over, clueless, and reached out to touch my head. I subtly pulled away. Lowell froze, his voice softening. “What’s wrong? Are you still angry?” I asked flatly, “What’s the point of being angry?” Yesterday, at noon, I had just found out I was pregnant and had eagerly gone to tell Lowell the good news. But before I could, Kaitlynn “accidentally” knocked me down the stairs. By the time Lowell arrived, all he could see was Kaitlynn crying her eyes out. He was comforting her, his face full of concern. “Silly girl, stop crying. It’s not your fault. Maybe she wasn’t paying attention while walking. A fall might teach her a lesson. “Come on, show me your smile. You know how much I love it.” While he was busy wiping away Kaitlynn’s tears, he didn’t even notice my pale lips and the blood staining my dress. To cheer her up, Lowell promised to take her shopping, and she finally stopped crying. Meanwhile, as they enjoyed their sweet date, I lay alone in the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My baby was gone. Tears welled up again in my eyes. “I just don’t understand you women. Always so angry for no reason,” Lowell muttered in frustration. Seeing my cold attitude, Lowell grew impatient. He tried to turn my face toward him, but when he touched my face, he realized that I was crying. His expression faltered, finally showing some concern. “Why are you still crying? It’s just a fall, and I just scolded you a bit. What’s the big deal? “Okay, fine, it’s all my fault, alright? I’m sorry that I’ve been too busy these days and neglected you.” He pulled me into his arms and sighed softly. “I’m doing this for us. Can’t you understand? “Do you know how hard I work? I work so much just to give you a better life!” Hearing his pretty words, I felt nothing. Yesterday, after my miscarriage, when I was at my lowest, Kaitlynn posted an update on her social media. [Thank you to this gentleman for the flowers! I promise I’ll never cry again!] In the picture, she was smiling brightly, holding roses. And in the background, I could just make out Lowell’s blurry figure. However, since I miscarried, Lowell hadn’t reached out to me even once. The thought made me sick. I shoved him away and casually said, “Yeah, I know. You’ve been so busy. Everything’s for me. Thanks, you’re amazing.” As soon as I finished speaking, the room fell into an awkward silence. Lowell looked at me in shock. After eight years of marriage, this was the first time I had pushed him away. He’d done it to me countless times anyway. My love, so eager and unreserved, had become the very blade he used to wound me again and again. Ignoring his stunned gaze, I turned to walk away. But suddenly, Lowell grabbed my hand tightly, his voice betraying a hint of panic. “Bessie, where’s your ring?”

I glanced down at my bare ring finger and said coldly, “I don’t know, maybe I lost it.” He stared at me intently, furrowing his brow, trying to decide if I was lying. I met his gaze without flinching. After a long pause, he let out a relieved sigh and smiled knowingly. “Really? How careless of you. Well, I’ll just buy you a new one. “I know I’ve been busy lately, and I’ve ignored your feelings. “Actually, I’ve got a little surprise for you. I brought you something you always wanted.” Lowell took a small box from his pocket and pointed to the cluttered clothes and shoes on the floor. “But you’ll have to clean this up first before I can give it to you.” I glanced at the box in his hand, then replied coldly, “I don’t need it. Keep it.” A clear sign of displeasure flashed across Lowell’s face. “You’re so difficult. I bought you the gift you wanted, and now you won’t even do a little housework? “I must have been too…” Before he could finish, his phone rang. I knew that sound. It was the ringtone he set specially for Kaitlynn. Lowell smiled instinctively. He gave me a quick glance before heading to the bedroom with his phone, then closing the door with a loud bang behind him. Five minutes later, he came out, wearing his coat, and tossed the box onto the couch. “Alright, I was just joking. Go ahead and open it. “But the house still needs to be cleaned. It has to be done before tomorrow night. It’s a mess in here, and you’re just sitting around. “We’ve had some small issues with a company project. I need to go to the company to handle it. You can sleep. Don’t wait up for me.” I watched his lousy performance in silence. The same scene had been playing over and over again for the past eight years. But I always hid inside the false dreams he had woven, too afraid to wake up. After Lowell left, I tossed the gift into the trash. But the box hit the edge of the bin, and with a snap, it popped open. A delicate ruby necklace fell to the floor. I froze for a moment, then remembered something. Seven years ago, I had asked him for a ruby necklace. At that time, the company had just started, and I had accompanied him to countless social events. Finally, we landed a major deal. The day the project was completed, I gathered the courage to ask Lowell for a ruby necklace. He frowned, clearly irritated. “Bessie, can’t you stop being like a spoiled girl? Today, you want a necklace. Tomorrow, you’ll want a car, and the day after that, you may want me to buy you a plane. “Besides, your neck’s so short. What’s the point? “If you really like it, I’ll buy you a crystal pendant, okay?” The next day, Lowell handed me a cheap crystal pendant. I always thought he just didn’t like these things. But later, he showered Kaitlynn with countless jewels. It was so many, and she couldn’t help but flaunt them on social media. [How could anyone love giving jewelry this much!!! I’m not an octopus. I can’t wear it all!] [He says I look good in it, so he buys more. Such a spendthrift.] [This ruby necklace is so old-fashioned. I hate it. I really don’t want it!] I clicked on the picture, and there it was. The ruby necklace. The one he had given me. I pressed my lips together and tossed it back into the trash. Then, I dialed a number. “Anstey, can you recommend that famous divorce lawyer you mentioned last time?”

On the other end of the line, Anstey Vargas’ voice came through, full of excitement. “Wait, did I hear you right? You’ve finally made up your mind?!” I let out a soft “Yes,” trying to suppress the bitterness in my chest. “It’s over. Everything is finished. “I just want to go home.” Anstey laughed lightly. “This is a good thing, Bessie. What’s there to be sad about? “Well, then, I’ll wish you a happy divorce in advance!” Anstey was as efficient as ever. By the next morning, the lawyer had already contacted me. I booked my flight for three days later and began packing my things. Lowell had been gone since that night, and I hadn’t seen him for two whole days. If this had been before, I would have carefully asked him why he hadn’t come home yet, afraid to upset him. Even if he hung up on me, I would’ve come up with countless excuses for him. But now, I just didn’t care. At nine in the evening, I was lying in bed, quietly planning my departure for the next day. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Lowell’s friend, Felix Barker. “Bessie, this is bad! Lowell’s about to get into a fight! You need to come here now!”

When I arrived, I immediately spotted Lowell. Kaitlynn stood behind him, trembling with fear. Around them, a few middle-aged men with beer bellies were persistently trying to get them to drink. “Mr. Henderson, what’s the harm in letting this young lady have a drink with us to liven things up?” “Yeah, she’s just your secretary. Why protect her so much?” “As long as she drinks with us, we’ll sign the deal. Isn’t that enough?” At that, Lowell’s face darkened immediately. He slammed his glass down on the floor and sneered. “What? Do you really think I need a woman to sacrifice for my business?!” The words hit me like a slap in the face. The painful memories flooded back. In the early days of the company, to quickly gain market traction, I had accompanied Lowell to countless business banquets. For his career, I’d forced a smile and drank with others, even though it made me sick. But he never stopped the drinks that were pushed in front of me. I remembered one particular night. I cried, begging him to take me home. Those men were disgusting, and I didn’t want to drink anymore. But to my surprise, Lowell had gotten angry. “What are you talking about? It’s a privilege to drink with Mr. Ortiz!” He grabbed my hand tightly and dragged me out. “Stop making a fuss! Just drink and keep quiet. They’re waiting for us!” Thinking back, I couldn’t help but shiver with the memory. Now, facing the same situation, Lowell stood in front of Kaitlynn, shielding her from the men. He gently patted her head, his eyes full of concern. “Kaitlynn, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought you to this place. “This deal? I don’t care about it. I’m not going to let you drink with those old men.” Tears sprang to my eyes. I thought, “So he cares enough to stop his beloved woman from drinking with other men. If Kaitlynn can’t drink, then what about me? All the drinks I had swallowed for him…what did they mean?” My chest clenched with pain. My eyes blurred. I quickly wiped my tears off, wanting to escape this scene. Just then, Felix spotted me and waved frantically. “Bessie, over here!” At his shout, every eye in the room turned toward me. Lowell saw me, too.

I froze for a moment, then, without hesitation, turned and walked away, not even glancing at him. Lowell seemed startled, quickly pushing through the crowd to follow me. His face was pale, likely from the alcohol. “Bessie, did you… see everything? “Listen, Kaitlynn can’t handle alcohol, so I didn’t want her to drink. It’s not what you think…” He grabbed my wrist tightly, his voice anxious. A moment later, Kaitlynn caught up to us, looking pitiful, as she grabbed my other hand. “Bessie, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I didn’t drink the glass of wine, and now you and Lowell are fighting. Don’t be mad. I’ll drink it right now…” Lowell shot her a glare. “What are you doing here? Go back! Do you think this isn’t enough of a mess?!” I didn’t want to hear any of their excuses. Frustrated, I pushed both of them away and tried to leave quickly. But just then, Kaitlynn slipped and slammed into the corner of a nearby table. Blood started to pour from her forehead, and she cried out pitifully. “Lowell, I’m sorry. It’s my fault… “Am I going to be disfigured?” Seeing her injury, Lowell immediately panicked. He spun around and yelled at me. “Bessie, are you losing your mind? Why do you do this? “If anything happens to Kaitlynn, I swear I won’t let you off the hook!” At that moment, Lowell’s face was dark with anger. I stood there, dazed, staring at the man who was so desperately defending Kaitlynn. And suddenly, memories from nine years ago rushed back to me. Back then, he had protected me the same way. At that time, I was still in university. I often visited a friend from a nearby college. One evening, I was coming back late when two burly men suddenly appeared out of nowhere. “We’ve been watching you for a month. We finally got you now! You think you can escape?!” I tried to escape, but two minutes later, I was pinned to the ground, helpless, waiting for what seemed like endless suffering. Then suddenly, I heard a cold voice above me. “Who do you think you’re messing with? You dare bully someone from my university?!” That was the first time I met Lowell. He was incredibly quick and skilled. By the time I registered what happened, the two men were already on the ground. He helped me up, and I stammered, wanting to thank him. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for my words. My face grew hot, and I couldn’t get my words out. “I… Thank you… I’m fine…” He smiled lightly, “Is that so? Then I can relax.” Later, Lowell took my hand. He was the one who stood up for me when I was wronged, the one who made me soup during my period, and the one who carried me to the hospital when I was sick. Under the fireworks, he proposed to me. “Baby, marry me. I want you to be the happiest woman in the world. “I’ll love and protect you for the rest of my life, never letting you suffer again.” With everyone watching and blessing us, I shyly nodded and handed him my hand. I heard Kaitlynn’s pitiful sobs. Just then, a sharp slap came out of nowhere, landing on my face with a loud crack, knocking me to the ground. When I looked up, I saw Lowell’s cold, piercing gaze, strange and terrifying. “Bessie, you really disgust me. “This slap is your lesson. “Don’t think you can get away with anything just because I’ve been nice to you.” With that, he turned and stormed off, carrying Kaitlynn in his arms without a word. The winter air felt colder than ever. On the quiet street, only a few pedestrians walked by, the northern wind howling. I don’t know how long I stood there, but eventually, I got up, wiped my face, wrapped my coat tighter, and slowly began walking home. At home, I packed my bags and placed the signed divorce agreement in the most visible spot. The next afternoon, Lowell called again. By then, I had already reached the airport with my suitcase. “Bessie, if you don’t want to divorce, come apologize to Kaitlynn right now, and we’ll forget about this…” “No need,” I interrupted him. “I’ve already prepared the divorce papers. Just sign them, and we’re done.” With that, I hung up the phone, blocked all his contact information, and boarded the flight home.

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One of my coworkers had a notorious habit of freeloading. Whether it was something as small as a ballpoint pen or as expensive as a pair of headphones or a phone, she would sneakily take whatever wasn’t hers when no one was looking. “We’re all coworkers, aren’t we? What’s the big deal if I use your stuff?” she’d say, completely unapologetic. “If anything, you should be thanking me! The cheap junk you’re using practically destroyed my hands. I haven’t even charged you for the medical bills yet!” Word around the office was that her family owned the company, so nobody dared confront her, no matter how angry they were. Until I joined. When I hosted a birthday party for the team, she managed to swipe an iPad off the cruise ship we’d rented for the event and then faked a heart attack to cover it up. Big mistake. I used to work as a professional in search and rescue. CPR was my specialty. “Sandra! Why did you take my phone again? I need it to call a client!” Laura’s voice trembled as she spoke, her face pale with frustration. “Why the shouting? Your phone was just sitting there on your desk. If you’re not using it, isn’t it a waste? I’m doing you a favor by putting it to use. You should be grateful,” Sandra replied lazily. She lounged at her desk, a sheet mask plastered to her face, watching a drama on her phone. The occasional giggle escaped her lips, the sound only adding fuel to Laura’s frustration. Laura clenched her fists but didn’t dare fully express her anger. Instead, she muttered under her breath, “Just make sure you give it back when you’re done. I need it too, you know.” Sandra ignored her completely, pretending not to hear. It wasn’t until another coworker couldn’t take it anymore that someone spoke up. “Sandra, Laura needs her phone. Give it back.” Sandra shot them an annoyed glance. “What are you yelling about? Her phone isn’t even with me.” Laura froze. “Then where’s my phone?” “It’s at the repair shop. Your phone broke, so I sent it in for you. Be a dear and reimburse me for the delivery fee. That would be 100 bucks.” Sandra reached out toward Laura, completely unfazed. Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes. “Sandra, that’s my brand-new phone! How could it just break like that?” “Come on, people drop dead all day. Why can’t a phone suddenly break?” Sandra said with a shrug, then leaned in with a smug smirk. “Or are you just trying to avoid paying the fee? Laura, think carefully. My family owns this company. If you want to ruin your career, be my guest.” Her veiled threat shut Laura up instantly. She wiped her tears and, shaking, handed 100 dollars to Sandra. I had just finished my onboarding paperwork when I walked into the scene. Curious, I asked the coworker next to me what was going on. They rolled their eyes so hard I thought they might disappear into their skull. Leaning closer, they whispered, “You’re new, so you don’t know yet, but Sandra loves freeloading. “Anything that’s not hers is fair game, pens, headphones, phones, you name it.” They sighed and continued, “Once she gets her hands on something, it’s as good as gone. This time, she took Laura’s phone. Poor girl just graduated and saved up for months to buy that phone. She guarded it like her life depended on it, but Sandra still found a way to take it. “I guess she has to save some money again to buy a new one.” Looking over at Laura’s desk, I saw her sitting there, her head bowed, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were swollen from crying. Sandra, oblivious or uncaring, continued watching her show. But the sound of Laura’s sniffles seemed to irritate her. “What are you crying about? If you keep this up, I’ll have the manager fire you!” she snapped. Laura immediately fell silent, her face pale with fear. I frowned, my frustration bubbling. “Is this what the work environment here is like?” I wondered. I was about to say something when my phone buzzed. It was my dad calling. Stepping out to take the call, I returned a few minutes later to find Laura had already left the office.

Afternoon snacks at the office came with a little extra flair: birthday perks. Whenever someone had a birthday, the company would prepare a special gift. Even the afternoon snacks would include an extra slice of cake for the lucky employee. It was my first week on the job, and I received the same treatment. But as I unwrapped the chestnut cake, I couldn’t help frowning at the flavor. A male colleague at the next desk noticed and offered, “Not a fan of chestnut cake? “I’ve got mousse cake. Want to trade?” “Thanks,” I replied with a smile, swapping cakes with him. Before I could take a bite, Sandra’s head popped up from her desk like a prairie dog. “Ugh, juice again? I’m so sick of it,” she said, wrinkling her nose. Her eyes darted to Pablo’s cake. “Oh, Pablo, you’ve got cake! Let me have a bite.” Without waiting for an answer, she reached out, but Pablo swiftly moved the plate out of her reach. Sandra’s hand grabbed at thin air, and her smile froze. “Wow, stingy much? It’s just a bite of cake. Why so selfish?” Someone nearby couldn’t help but tease, “Sandra, don’t act innocent. You’ve been eating Pablo’s cakes for ages. No wonder he doesn’t want to share anymore.” “Me? Please. He only has cake once a year on his birthday! How many chances do I even get to eat it?” Sandra scoffed, trying to sound indignant. “Besides, my family owns this company. What’s the big deal if I take a bite?” “Then why not buy Pablo a big one? We could all share!” someone joked, prompting a ripple of laughter. Sandra’s hand instinctively clutched her pocket. “This is the company’s way of showing care to employees. No need for me to overshadow that.” But her eyes lingered on Pablo’s coffee, and she wasn’t done yet. “Pablo, is that coffee from the hand-brewed shop downstairs? I hate juice. How about we trade?” Pablo didn’t even glance her way. Instead, he picked up the cup and took a deliberate sip right in front of her. Moments later, the supervisor called Pablo over to hand in some documents, and he left his desk. Sandra’s eyes darted around, and when she saw no one was paying attention, she swooped in, grabbing Pablo’s cake and all his birthday gifts. Back at her desk, she devoured the cake in a matter of seconds, washing it down with her juice before leisurely unwrapping the rest of his gifts to “test” them out. When Pablo returned and found his desk empty, he marched straight to Sandra, his face red with anger. “What’s your problem? Why did you take my stuff again?” Sandra didn’t even blink. “Watch your tone. What do you mean, ‘take’? I was just borrowing them.” “Then give them back!” Sandra smirked, tossing some ground coffee into her mug and taking a sip before handing it to him. “Here, your ground coffee.” Pablo’s frustration boiled over. He slapped the mug away, coffee spilling everywhere. “Sandra, can you stop? Can’t you go a day without freeloading?” Sandra’s smile turned icy. “Why are you so uptight? We’re coworkers. What’s the big deal about sharing a bit of coffee?” Her tone grew sharper. “Cheap people like you really are pathetic. This skirt I’m wearing cost 100 grand. Remember to pay for it if you damage it!” “You—” Pablo spluttered, too angry to speak. Sandra cut him off, smirking as she played her favorite card. “Don’t forget, my family owns this company. If I want you gone, it’s just one word from me.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. Everyone has their limits, and Sandra had crossed mine. My gaze flicked to her skirt, and I remarked casually, “Your skirt’s a knockoff.” Sandra’s head snapped toward me. “What did you just say? This is a designer piece I ordered from an overseas boutique!” I pointed to the fabric and stitching. “The material is wrong, the stitching is sloppy, and there are loose threads everywhere. “Are we supposed to believe a 100-thousand-dollar skirt would leave the factory looking like that?” Her voice rose. “What do you know? High fashion is all about craftsmanship. Hand-sewn details are what makes it authentic!” Sandra stormed toward me, tugging on her skirt indignantly. I took a step back and smirked. “Oh, I get it now. You must’ve swiped that skirt from a coworker too.” Sandra’s face turned crimson. “Are you insane? How would I even ‘swipe’ a skirt? Rip it off someone’s body?” “Why not? You’ve stolen phones out of people’s pockets before. This wouldn’t be much of a stretch.” The office erupted in muffled laughter, and Sandra’s blush deepened. Unable to out-argue me, she leaned on her usual defense. “Don’t forget, this company belongs to my family. If I want you fired, no one can stop me.” Ignoring her, I took a deliberate step back, pinched my nose, and said, “Stay away from me. “I’ve got a sensitive nose, and the stench of freeloading reeks of cheapness.” The office exploded with laughter. People doubled over, their chuckles echoing through the room like waves. Sandra stomped back to her desk, clearly rattled. In her haste, she knocked over her juice, spilling it all over her precious skirt. She let out a piercing shriek before darting out of the office, presumably to the dry cleaner. Pablo, barely containing his grin, brought over a small gift as thanks. But Laura approached me cautiously, her brows furrowed with worry. “Hey, Sandra’s so flashy and bossy. What if the company really is her family’s? Aren’t you afraid she’ll have her dad fire you?” I twirled my car keys in my hand, smirking. “Doesn’t matter. My family isn’t exactly struggling either.” Laura’s eyes lit up. “You’re amazing!”

It was the weekend, and coincidentally, my birthday. Hoping to bond more with my coworkers, I invited everyone to celebrate. “I have a friend whose family runs a yacht business. They’re letting me use one for free, so I’m inviting everyone to join me for a party at sea.” “That’s so generous of you! Are you sure? Maybe we can chip in to cover some costs?” My coworkers were kind and considerate, offering to help pay for the event. I smiled and waved them off. “It’s my birthday, and it only happens once a year. Let’s just have fun.” “Just bring yourselves,” I added with a grin. “Then we’ll make sure to prepare a fantastic gift for you!” someone chimed in, and the room burst into excited chatter. I called the yacht crew to request their most luxurious setup. Just as I hung up, Sandra slinked over, her expression eager but calculating. “I’ve never been on a yacht before, Feona,” she said. “Mind if I tag along?” I didn’t bother looking at her, replying bluntly, “I’m inviting friends, not freeloaders who steal from others.” Her face froze, but she quickly forced a smile. “Oh, come on. I’ll get you a big gift. Trust me, it’ll be something really nice,” she promised with exaggerated enthusiasm. Reluctantly, I agreed. Sandra practically skipped away in delight. The moment she was gone, the other coworkers swarmed me. “Why did you invite her? She’s going to ruin everything!” “Yeah, the last time I had a birthday party, she stole my favorite Lego set. I still have no idea how she managed to smuggle something that big out of my house!” “Feona, you’ve got to be careful. Don’t let her ruin your party or get away with anything.” I looked at their worried faces and smiled reassuringly. Deep down, I knew they all feared Sandra’s threat, so they never dared to defy her. “Don’t worry. She won’t get away with anything this time.” I glanced over at Sandra, who was eagerly stuffing plastic bags into her oversized purse, clearly planning to haul away whatever she could. “Not only will she not profit, but I’ll make sure she coughs up everything she’s ever taken from all of you,” I added with a wide grin. If she loved taking advantage, I’d show her what it really meant to pay for her greed.

The yacht was massive, and I suggested everyone start by enjoying the pool while we set up the other activities. My coworkers brought out their carefully prepared gifts: designer bags, headphones, perfume, and other high-end items. Even a few colleagues who had pooled their money managed to bring something thoughtful and elegant. Sandra, of course, showed up empty-handed. When everyone’s eyes turned to her, she crossed her arms, looking unbothered. “What? I brought a gift, but I forgot to bring it with me, that’s all.” “Sure, you did,” someone muttered. “You always say that!” “Sandra, can’t you at least come up with a better excuse?” “You didn’t prepare anything, did you?” Sandra huffed, feigning annoyance. “Fine, if it’s such a big deal, I’ll go back and get it.” She started climbing out of the pool, taking her sweet time and dragging the moment out for nearly ten minutes before I finally stepped in. “Forget it,” I said, shaking my head. “I believe Sandra. She’ll make it up to me later.” Everyone fell silent, though their expressions made it clear they weren’t happy. Out of respect for me, the birthday girl, they let it go. Later, when a staff member brought out an iPad for us to use to order services, it mysteriously disappeared after making its rounds. The staff was frantic, and all eyes turned to Sandra. “It’s her! She must’ve hidden it!” “She’s the only one here who’d pull something like this!” “She even brought her bag to the pool. I bet the iPad’s in there!” Everyone demanded to search Sandra’s bag, but she clutched it tightly to her chest. “Don’t you dare accuse me without proof! I brought my bag because it’s expensive, and I didn’t want anything stolen from it!” she protested, her voice shrill. “And for the record, it’s just an iPad. Like I’d care about something so basic.” Sensing the growing tension, I stepped in again. “Let it go. I’m sure it’s not difficult to find it,” I said, giving a resigned sigh. “If the iPad can’t be found, I’ll cover the cost.” Sandra beamed. “Feona, you’re so generous!” she said, stuffing her face with food from the buffet. She even slyly emptied dishes into the plastic bags she’d brought. When someone called her out, Sandra snapped back. “Aren’t we here to eat? That’s what parties are for! And Feona doesn’t mind, so why are you making a fuss?” She wasn’t content with just the food either. She even swiped game controllers from the lounge. After filling her bags with all kinds of items, she claimed she was feeling unwell and needed to rest. Someone tried to stop her. “Sandra, you promised not to freeload today.” She snapped, “How is this freeloading? Feona spent so much money. I’m just helping her get her money’s worth. “Besides, this is a yacht. How I’m supposed to escape? “Suppose you want my bag, fine. You can have one of them. I need the other to wash up.” Then, she covered her head and ran away. As soon as she disappeared, Pablo opened the bag she’d left behind, only to find used tissues. “That’s it! I knew she’d run!” Pablo exclaimed, his anger boiling over. “She’s stolen so much! Feona, you can’t let her get away with this!” I casually lined up my pool shot, the cue ball cracking sharply against the others as I sunk another ball. “Don’t worry,” I said with a smile. “She’s not going anywhere.”

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My wife’s true love had an accident, and she was convinced it was my fault. No matter how much I swore, no matter how many times I begged or provided evidence, Karen refused to believe me. She was certain that I, driven by jealousy, had tried to kill her beloved Michael. So, she made her decision. Cold and decisive, she sent me off to a hellhole of a coal mine to “reflect on my sins.” Life in the mine was brutal. The work alone could break a man, but that wasn’t enough for Karen. She made sure I received “special attention”—round-the-clock torment from the guards she’d paid to oversee me. I didn’t last long. Karen didn’t bother to check on me until three years later. By then, I’d been dead for over two years. Three years ago, Karen accused me of attempted murder and had me sent to a coal mine to reflect and atone for my supposed sins. No matter how much I pleaded, no matter how many pieces of evidence I presented, even if I got down on my knees and begged her, she refused to listen. She was convinced that, out of jealousy, I had plotted to harm the love of her life—Michael. Life in that coal mine was anything but easy. Especially when Karen had arranged for “special care” to ensure my suffering continued day and night. It didn’t take long before I died there. When Karen, her expression cold and her brows furrowed, arrived at the mine with her bodyguards to “check on me,” I had already been dead for two and a half years. “Whether he agrees or not, I don’t care. Tie him up if you must, but get his signature on the donation form!” The visiting room was warm and cozy, but her icy voice cut through the air, making the temperature feel like it had plummeted to the dead of winter. She looked around with irritation, clearly disgusted by her surroundings, and snapped at her bodyguards, “What’s taking so long? Bring him out to see me—now!” After what felt like an eternity, the foreman of the mine finally appeared at the door. But he wasn’t bringing me with him. “Karen, I’m sorry to make you wait, but…” “But what?” Karen’s expression turned instantly colder. The foreman stammered, “It’s just… Daniel won’t be able to come see you.” “Won’t see me? Ha!” Karen sneered. “What’s that supposed to mean? Enjoying himself too much here? Three meals a day without a care in the world while he hides from me?” “Tell him this: as long as he voluntarily donates a kidney, I’ll let him stay here as long as he likes—even until he dies!” She ordered the foreman to deliver the message, thinking it’d lure me out. What she didn’t know was that I was already floating above her, my ghost watching her with a bitter smile. The foreman didn’t move. Karen noticed his hesitation and immediately narrowed her eyes. “What’s wrong? Is Daniel that unwilling to see me?” The foreman shook his head quickly. “No, it’s not that. It’s just… he’s not here anymore. He hasn’t been here for a long time.” Of course. All that was left of me was my invisible spirit. My body had been gone for years. The day I died, they couldn’t stand how gruesome my corpse looked, so they threw me out. By now, I’m sure my body has been reduced to fertilizer by some stray dog out there. Karen, however, didn’t believe a word of the foreman’s explanation. She ordered her bodyguards to keep an eye on him as she began searching the mine herself. Room by room, she went—checking the dorms, the break room, the kitchen. She even scrutinized every name on the employee roster. But no trace of me could be found. Her frustration grew with every passing moment. Rage simmered beneath her icy demeanor as she turned back to the foreman. “I told you no one was to let him leave. Are you deaf, or do you just enjoy defying my orders?” The foreman, who had been nothing but her loyal lapdog, would never have dared to let me go. Three years ago, when Karen’s men tortured me until I was barely alive, I had begged the foreman on my knees to let me out for treatment. He hadn’t even flinched. I had bled, I had wept, I had smashed my head against the ground until it was covered in blood, but the foreman never once relented. Karen sat down, her face frostier than ever, and gave the foreman one last ultimatum: “You have five minutes. Bring him to me.” Cornered, the foreman sighed deeply and finally confessed. “Karen… I’ll tell you the truth. Daniel is… he’s dead.” “He died horribly. His entire body was covered in wounds. The walls and floor were smeared with blood from where he bashed his head and clawed with his fingernails until they were gone. The day he died, we… we threw his body out to the dogs.” Karen didn’t believe him. If anything, her irritation only deepened. “Stop lying to me. What did Daniel offer you to help him escape? Do you think you can deceive me and get away with it?” “Michael’s been stuck in a wheelchair for life because of him. Does he think death will excuse him? Or worse, did you two conspire together to fool me?” The foreman panicked. “No, no! Karen, I wouldn’t dare! You’re my boss—I’d never betray you!” Desperate to prove his innocence, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a photograph, placing it on the table. “This is a picture I took at the time. Please, Karen—don’t let anyone else see it…”

Karen cast a doubtful glance at the foreman, her gaze landing on the photo he placed before her. The moment her eyes focused on it, her pupils contracted sharply. The image showed a figure, barely recognizable as human. The body was contorted into an unnatural, agonizing curve, covered head to toe with cuts, bruises, and swollen welts. Blood streaks ran across the face, obscuring any identifying features. The skin was a patchwork of dark purple scabs, with no unbroken area to be found. The fingernails appeared to have been ripped out, exposing raw, bloody tissue beneath, where nerves and flesh were left mangled and torn. From the state of the body, it was clear—the person in the photo was long, irreversibly dead. Karen froze for a moment, her eyes widening involuntarily. But soon, she broke into a cold, mocking laugh. “The makeup job is impressive. For a second, I almost believed this was Daniel.” “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to fall for this? How could he possibly end up like this? All he does here is eat, drink, and work in the mine. What could’ve hurt him this badly?” “And,” she added with a sneer, “if he really was dying, why wouldn’t he be taken to a hospital? No, this is obviously fake!” Her words stabbed at me like knives. Floating invisibly above her, I felt a deep ache in my hollow chest. It was her, after all, who arranged for me to be “taken care of,” ensuring I could never leave. How could I have died here in such misery if she hadn’t ordered it? I remembered the last time they beat me. After that, I couldn’t hold on anymore. I knelt on the ground, begging the foreman to call her. But she had only relayed a single message: “If he’s going to die, let him die quickly. Don’t disgust me with his whining.” Even though Karen had clearly stopped caring about me, my will to survive still burned. I smashed my head against the ground repeatedly, the sound echoing through the grimy room. Blood mixed with dirt, forming a dark, sticky sludge that dripped down in slow, heavy drops. The foreman, perhaps out of some faint flicker of pity, finally spoke to me. “It’s not that I don’t want to let you out. It’s just… what’s the point?” “You got money? The nearest hospital’s hundreds of miles away. How do you plan to get there? And don’t forget, all your ID—everything that proves who you are—is in your wife’s hands.” “Just hold on. If you make it through this, it’s fate. If you don’t… well, that’s fate too. Next time, kid, marry someone kinder.” His words made me laugh bitterly. Fate, huh? I collapsed onto the floor like a deflated balloon, utterly defeated. Blood bubbled up from my mouth, but I swallowed it back down, forcing myself to crawl toward the dormitory. Maybe I could rest there for just a little while. But rest was a luxury I couldn’t afford anymore. Ten minutes later, the foreman had me dragged from my bloodstained bed and thrown back into the coal mine. That was where I finally collapsed for the last time, never to rise again. Karen glanced at the foreman, whose face was filled with unease, and let out a cold scoff. “Enough with the theatrics! Stop wasting my time!” “Tell Daniel to get his ass out here. If he agrees to donate his kidney, I’ll let him go—and I’ll even throw in an extra $20,000.” Floating above them, my spirit felt colder than the bitterest winter wind. So this was it. My kidney was worth $20,000 to her. Less than the cost of one of the designer jackets she’d bought for Michael. Let alone the millions she’d casually spent on that concept supercar for him, a gift she didn’t even blink at. Her indifference? That was reserved only for me. All her love—all her warmth—was saved for Michael. The foreman continued to try to explain, but Karen was stubborn, convinced that I was hiding somewhere and that the two of us were conspiring to deceive her. “You said he’s dead? Then where’s the body? The grave? A single photo isn’t proof of anything!” “I’m warning you—if you don’t hand him over today, I’ll make your life a living hell.” With no other option, the foreman gritted his teeth and led her outside to a barren patch of land. Pointing at a small, overgrown mound, he said reluctantly, “This is where we dumped him.” Karen’s face darkened as she issued a cold, cutting order to her bodyguards. “Dig. I want him found—alive or dead.”

Digging up someone’s grave is seen as a line you simply don’t cross—a vile act, no better than arson or murder. But Karen stood there, cold and detached, watching her bodyguards claw away at my grave with shovels, showing not a shred of sympathy. I hovered above, staring at her in pain and disbelief. I never thought her hatred for me could run this deep. The foreman, perhaps feeling a twinge of guilt, stood off to the side with his hands clasped together, muttering prayers under his breath, as though hoping my ghost wouldn’t come after him for vengeance. But his moment of solace didn’t last long. A bodyguard grabbed his arm and dragged him to the edge of the now-dug-up mound of dirt. The grave was empty. Nothing. No bones. No body. Just cold, barren soil. “Where is he? Where are the bones? Didn’t you say Daniel was buried here?” Karen’s voice was sharp, the kind of sharp that precedes an explosion. She glared at the foreman, her anger bubbling beneath the surface like a volcano about to erupt. “It’s just dirt!” she snapped. “You better not be telling me you got the wrong spot!” The foreman’s eyes widened as he stared into the empty pit, disbelief plastered all over his face. “I… I swear this is the right place! I saw wild dogs sniffing around his body, and I—I couldn’t stand it! That’s why I buried him here myself! This… this doesn’t make sense!” Even I felt a flicker of confusion. My body was here—wasn’t it? Karen, though, had run out of patience. She folded her arms and cut him off with a bitter laugh. “So, let me guess—now you’re going to tell me the dogs dug him back up and ate him?” “Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. All these years, and no one’s ever managed to fool me like this before!” Her voice grew icier with every word. “Daniel. You. All of you. You’re all just great.” The foreman stammered, trying to explain, but before he could get another word in, Karen’s phone rang. The second she saw the name on the screen, her frosty demeanor melted away entirely, replaced by a softness so tender it was almost sickening. “Michael,” she cooed, her voice dripping with warmth. “How are you feeling today? Don’t worry—I’ll make sure Daniel willingly donates his kidney for you!” Michael. Him. The very person responsible for me being thrown into that coal mine. The reason I suffered and died in agony. The one who started it all. On the other end of the line, Michael’s voice was weak, barely above a whisper. “Karen… you really don’t have to go through all this trouble for me. My condition—” “Stop it!” Karen interrupted, her tone suddenly frantic, as though the mere suggestion of giving up was unbearable to her. “Don’t say things like that. I promised you I’d save you, and I will!” “If it weren’t for you donating one of your kidneys to me back then, I might not even be alive today. And now your other kidney is… well, don’t worry. If Daniel’s is a match, I’ll track him to the ends of the earth if I have to!” I frowned. Wait, what? Since when did Michael save Karen’s life? There was a brief pause on the other end of the call before Michael hesitantly asked what was going on. Karen explained the situation—how I had supposedly “disappeared” and how no one could find me. And then, to my shock, Michael said something that made my non-existent heart skip a beat. “That’s impossible,” he said, sounding surprised. “Daniel just called me earlier today. He said he’s leaving the country.” He paused before adding, almost casually, “Oh, and he said he left something for you at the old house. Once you see it, everything will make sense.” What?! I wanted to scream, to yell, to warn Karen not to believe him. He was lying! He was manipulating her, like he always did. But no matter how hard I tried, no sound came out. Even when I floated right in front of her, waving my hands wildly, she didn’t notice me at all. After hanging up the phone, Karen’s expression turned ice-cold again. She shot one last glare at the foreman before turning on her heel and leaving without another word. Half an hour later, Karen arrived at the old house where we used to live. It was a modest two-bedroom place—a cozy little home that had once been our sanctuary, filled with warmth and love back when we were happy. Without hesitation, Karen pushed the door open and stepped inside. Her face was set in a hard, determined expression, but there was a flicker of something else—nostalgia, maybe, or bitterness—as her eyes scanned the familiar surroundings. In the living room, on the coffee table, she spotted an envelope. She picked it up, opened it, and pulled out a single sheet of paper. There was only one sentence written on it. “Karen, you’ll never find me.”

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I had proposed to my childhood sweetheart, Brenda Schultz, countless times. It wasn’t until my 99th attempt that she finally said yes. But on that very day, another piece of news shot became a hashtag: “Dexter Greville, the once-proud heir to the Greville family who had fallen to the status of a servant’s son, proposed to Brenda.” In the news footage, my fiancée Brenda covered her lips with trembling hands, blushing as she accepted the ring Dexter offered her. Behind them, their parents and friends were all offering their blessings. What they didn’t know was that Brenda had also agreed to marry me. Later, Brenda shamelessly explained, “Dexter has cancer. I’m just playing along to make him happy.” However, when I left, she draped herself around Dexter’s neck and cooed, “I’ve set my wedding with Kendrick for three days from now. “I only agreed to his proposal, so I could see you try to stop it. Isn’t that romantic?” When I heard that, I finally gave up. I picked up my phone and made a call. “I’m getting married in three days. Are you coming? I need a bride.” On my wedding day, when I was preparing to marry another woman, Brenda lost her mind.

“Kendrick, can you stop being so unreasonable?” Brenda snapped. “Dexter has cancer. He’s dying! This is his last wish. I just want to make him happy! “You already took his place as the Greville heir. I’ve even agreed to marry you. What more do you want?” Brenda rushed back as soon as she got my call. Storming into the room, she yanked off her engagement ring and threw it onto the couch, her frustration spilling out. “Yes, I know you’ve suffered a lot in the past, but what does that have to do with Dexter? “Do you really need to take out all your resentment and anger on an innocent man?” I am Kendrick Greville. Dexter was my non-biological brother, and Brenda was the woman I’d been in love with for many years. When I was born, Dexter’s mother, Laura Ruiz, worked as a servant in my family’s household. Taking advantage of her position, she swapped me and Dexter. I was abandoned in the countryside and grew up as a penniless orphan, while Dexter became the pampered heir to a wealthy family. Perhaps out of guilt, Laura adopted me, but she never treated me kindly. My childhood was a nightmare. She would beat me over nothing, whip me with thorn-covered switches, and in the dead of winter, she would throw me out, bruised and shivering, without so much as a sip of warm water. During those bleak years, Brenda was my only source of light. She was my neighbor. Her mother was a gambling addict, and her stepfather was a violent drunk. Whenever they fought, she became their punching bag. I would stand in front of her to shield her from the blows, and she would often sneak food to me when I was starving. We supported each other through those long, harsh years. When my true identity was revealed, and I returned to the Greville family, I brought Brenda out of that miserable environment, too. I insisted on making her my girlfriend, supported her financially, and provided her with an education. I spoiled her, turning her into a refined and affluent lady. She once cupped my face with tears in her eyes and told me I was the light of her life. She said she couldn’t live without me. That’s why I never understood why she always hesitated and found excuses every time I proposed to her. But now, I finally understood. I realized my fiancée had fallen in love with the servant’s son who had stolen my life.

As I watched Brenda’s impatient expression, a dull ache began to rise in my chest. Instead of answering her questions directly, I reached out and smoothed her disheveled hair. “Do you remember what you said to me when I returned to the Greville family?” Even after regaining my rightful identity, I never truly became part of the family. My parents preferred the son they had raised themselves. When the truth came out, Dexter faced no consequences. They still took him to social events, and the dinner table was always filled with the dishes he loved but would trigger my allergies. Back then, Brenda would hold my hand tenderly and tell me, “It’s okay. Even if the whole world doesn’t love you, I will. I’ll always stay by your side.” But now, even the one person who had stood by me had switched sides. Brenda frowned slightly, avoiding my hand as a flicker of unease crossed her face. “I remember,” she replied reluctantly. “Of course I do, but… “Dexter’s situation is dire. We should prioritize his need.” Perhaps realizing she’d been too harsh, she softened her expression and spoke gently, “Don’t worry. I only said yes to Dexter to give him some comfort. The person I’m marrying is still you.” But I knew she was lying. Even though her words professed love, the impatience in her eyes and her thinly veiled resistance told the truth. I realized that she no longer loved me. Brenda’s phone buzzed on the table. Dexter’s face appeared on the screen, but she quickly covered it up, saying evasively, “It’s probably my parents asking about the wedding arrangements. You should go prepare…” She paused briefly, then added with a meaningful look, “I’ll give you a surprise on our wedding day.” With that, Brenda left in a hurry. I frowned, uneasy. I felt something was off, so I followed her. As I’d suspected, she drove away in a rush and headed to a private suite. When I reached the door, I heard laughter inside. Someone said, “Dexter, are you really planning to crash the wedding that day?”

Inside, Brenda sat beside Dexter. Dexter toyed with her fingers, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. “I always keep my promises. Don’t you think so?” Their friends burst into laughter, chiming in, “We just don’t get it. If you’re going to be together, why make Brenda accept Kendrick’s proposal? Isn’t all this a hassle?” I knew his reason. Because I had taken his place as the Greville heir, Dexter was determined to take away the one person I cherished most. He had fooled my parents with his innocence and deceived Brenda with excuses, but he couldn’t fool me. Of course, Dexter didn’t admit any of this. Instead, he said dramatically, “Crashing the wedding is romantic, isn’t it? “It makes our love story more epic. Don’t you think so?” Their laughter erupted again. Someone turned to Brenda and asked, “Aren’t you worried Kendrick will be furious? Running off with Dexter at the wedding would publicly humiliate him. No man could tolerate that.” Brenda leaned into Dexter’s arms, gazing up at him shyly before replying, “I’ll do whatever makes Dexter happy.” Upon hearing this, I felt my heart sank. Their laughter became a cruel mockery of me. Stumbling backward, I staggered out of place, dazed. Images of Brenda blushing as she accepted Dexter’s ring and their schemes for the wedding flashed through my mind. The cold winter wind cut through me, seeping into my bones. I closed my eyes, but their words echoed in my ears. They said, “Mr. and Mrs. Greville also know about this. “They agreed because they wanted to fulfill Dexter’s last wish. “With Dexter’s parents on your side, what’s there to worry about?” Now I understood why my parents had attended Dexter’s proposal. No one truly loved me. To them, I was merely a steppingstone for Dexter’s happiness. My parents and my friends were all the same. I used to think Brenda was different. But after twenty years together, after all the love I’d given her, she had said, “I’ll do whatever makes Dexter happy.” I thought, “Then let me grant them their wish.” A loud car horn jolted me back to reality. I opened my eyes and found myself standing in the middle of the road. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the ache in my heart aside. Finally, I made a call. “I’m getting married in three days. “Are you coming? I need a bride.”

In order to create the dramatic effect Dexter wanted, my wedding was arranged to be exceptionally grand. My parents even arranged for the media to broadcast the event live. Our relatives and friends, well aware of the underlying tension, were ready to witness the spectacle of a dramatic wedding crash. Everyone assumed I was oblivious to the scheme. Brenda arrived early and changed into her wedding gown. In the private area designated for wedding preparations, she and Dexter enjoyed themselves with passionate sex. When I arrived, she emerged from the room, her face flushed. The sight of me startled her, and she stammered nervously, “The light in the room went out. I was scared of being alone, so I called Dexter to help fix it.” Feigning ignorance, I nodded in acknowledgment. Brenda flashed me a smile and slid her arm through mine. She pressed the wedding ring into my palm. “When we’re up there, kneel down and slip this onto my finger, okay?” I knew this was part of their carefully crafted plan. Dexter intended to burst onto the scene just as I was kneeling to propose. He wanted to snatch Brenda away in the most dramatic fashion possible. That was their idea of romance. I agreed, and as Brenda smiled contentedly, preparing to leave, I stopped her. Looking straight into her eyes, I asked, “You once said I was the light of your life. You said you couldn’t live without me. Was that true?” She froze for a moment. We had been together for so many years that whatever passion we once shared had long since withered. I doubted she even remembered her own promises. Forcing a smile, she replied half-heartedly, “Of course. Now hurry up and get ready. The ceremony is about to begin.” I watched her retreating figure and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. I wondered if her old promises ever held any truth.

The wedding began with elegant music drifting through the venue. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Brenda approached me with a smile. But I could tell her anticipation wasn’t to be my bride. Her gaze lingered on Dexter, filled with unspoken anticipation. When it was time to exchange rings, the entire room held its breath. Dexter stared at me intently, poised to step in and execute his plan. Brenda extended her hand to me, the romantic melody shifting into a more suspenseful tune. But I didn’t move. Brenda grew impatient, whispering urgently, “Kendrick, what’s wrong? Put the ring on me!” Still, I said nothing. In the audience, my father stood abruptly, his frustration evident. “Kendrick, what are you doing? Everyone’s waiting!” As I remained motionless, whispers of confusion spread among the guests. Brenda, now visibly flustered, gave me a reproachful look. “Kendrick, what’s the matter with you? Isn’t this what you wanted? Today is our wedding! Everyone is watching. Don’t humiliate me like this!” I let out a weary laugh. So, they were aware that disrupting the ceremony would humiliate the couple involved. Yet they went ahead with their plan, anyway, caring little for my dignity. Once the murmurs of the crowd subsided, I finally spoke, “I’m sorry, but my bride hasn’t arrived yet. Could we wait a little longer for her?” Brenda’s face paled with disbelief. The audience erupted in shock, unsure of what was happening. Just then, the hotel doors burst open. A familiar figure, wearing a dazzling wedding gown, strode in. “Kendrick, I’m here to marry you!”

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