Category: English

The proud and scheming wolfdog-like bottom bunk uke × the sunny and easily tamed puppy-like top bunk uke × the self-imagining seme Taming Diary ‘Wife’ isn’t about gender; it’s a feeling. If the feeling’s right, it could be a guy too. Stellar Song lay on the top bunk across from me, half his body hanging off as he poked his head out to say this. His tone was a mix of cute and just a little coy. What? We were clearly just talking about what types of girls we liked. How did this guy go off on a tangent? I quickly glanced over at Flynn Song on the lower bunk across from me, raising my eyebrows with a knowing look that said, “Did you hear what your brother just said? This guy’s trouble. You think he might actually be turning gay?” Flynn Song was looking right back at me, but instead of reacting to Stellar, he said something that caught me even more off guard: “I agree, but let’s keep things straight between brothers.” As soon as he said that, I felt the air around me turn three degrees colder, and a strange feeling creep up my heart. Dude, you two brothers don’t want to share one, do you? Also, why are you suddenly getting out of bed? That’s right. The unlucky guy who was being stared at so intently by these two men at this moment was me. Being liked by a man was already strange enough, but what was even stranger was that it wasn’t just one man. The real kicker was that they were brothers—twins, no less. “Hold on a second, you two. I’m not the one you’re planning to ‘share,’ am I?” Stellar Song flashed a mischievous grin, showing off his cute canine teeth as he nodded slowly. “Why not?” “It’s not me, for crying out loud. I’m a guy.” But Flynn just smirked. “Didn’t my brother say that if the feeling’s right, it could be a guy too?” The two brothers teamed up and yanked away the blanket I was using to cover myself. Then, my wails filled the whole corridor, “Damn it! I treated you two as brothers. What do you two take me for!… Ah. ..Don’t touch me there…” Here’s how it all started. My name’s Wayne, and I’m the head of this dorm. When I first entered this dorm, I thought my days here were going to be tough, because the rejection and coldness in the eyes of these two brothers clearly showed that they regarded me as an outsider. And things were tough… just not in the way I’d expected. Turns out, it was my lower body that took the hit. “Hi, I’m Wayne , your senior…” Although it was a bit awkward, I still calmly introduced myself. Thankfully, there were four of us in the dorm, and the other freshman gave me a friendly nod, saying apologetically, “Hello, senior. Sorry about that. They’re just a bit slow to warm up. They’ll be fine once they get to know you.” “It’s all good. They’re freshmen; everyone’s got their own quirks.” I walked straight to my bed and smiled at these two brothers. Back then, I thought I’d just get through the year and graduate, but little did I know I’d walked straight into a den of wolves. I’d had the bad luck of breaking my leg last semester, which meant a year off to recover at home. By the time I was back, my original classmates had already graduated, so I had no choice but to transfer to this dorm. I thought since I was the oldest, I should take care of these freshmen brothers a bit more. So, I usually helped them fetch water, bring food, and reserve seats for them when I had nothing to do. I thought I was just doing good deeds . Who would have thought that I did do good deeds, but ended up sacrificing my own parts. Now that I think about it, there were signs of this. For example, recently, Stellar Song would suddenly hug me from behind after taking the food I brought him, and then give me a smile that would make girls go crazy and say to me , “Thank you, Brother Wayne.” And then there was Flynn Song, who suddenly started wearing perfume. He’d come over, letting me smell it and asking if I liked it. The way he stretched his neck was so flirty. He clearly looked like a bottom, but at that time, all I could think was, “Well, he knows I’m a nice guy and is coming to play with me. Little brat.” Now I really regret it. I even took the initiative to invite them to the bathhouse for a soak together. Take a bath! Get naked with two bottoms! Take a bath! Wasn’t I just throwing myself at them? I still remember the looks they gave me at that time. Stellar Song’s eyes were bright. “Are you sure you want to take a bath with us~?” Flynn Song, on the other hand, stared at me strangely and said, “I don’t want to be in the bathroom.” At that time, I scratched my head, not understanding their intentions, and said stupidly, “What’s the matter? We’re all buddies. Hurry up, don’t be so slow. ” In the bathroom, steam was swirling around. The two brothers had squeezed in close, sandwiching me in the middle as we took a bath. “Brother Wayne, I didn’t expect you to have such a good body.” Stellar Song praised me with a smile. “Of course. I’ve been working out for a long time.” Flynn Song, keeping his usual confident demeanor, chimed in, “What’s the point of looking good? Being healthy is what really matters.” “I’m as fit as a fiddle, guys,” I said, naively starting to brag about my glorious achievements with my ex-girlfriend, completely oblivious to the increasingly mischievous glints in their eyes. After we got back from the bathhouse to the dorm, I decided to continue our earlier topic and asked them what kinds of girls they liked. That’s when the same scene unfolded again, with Stellar Song saying how “wife” is a feeling and it can be a guy too. And then these two bottoms surrounded me. Now I’m extremely regretful. I’m such an idiot. Not having a gaydar has really screwed me over. If God were to give me another chance now, I would never take a bath with these two brothers again. No, I would never share a dorm with them again. “Brother Wayne, your body is so good. I was drooling over you when we were taking a bath just now.” Stellar Song reached out to a place he shouldn’t have and pinched me sneakily. I have to admit, this guy has really nice skin, and his eyes are huge. With those Korean-style bangs, he actually looks a bit like a cute girl. “Let’s call this love at first sight, shall we?” Suddenly, he climbed onto me, looking at me with burning eyes and even licking his lips? In that moment, even though I was fully dressed, it felt like I was completely naked. I got angry.“Stellar Song, get off me right now. Don’t make me hit you!” “Humph, then hit me.” Who would’ve thought this guy wouldn’t listen? He took the chance to fall into my arms and said coyly, “Just right. I like being tamed by Brother Wayne.” What the hell! I rolled over to get up, ready to throw a few punches at him. But as I landed a few hits, I suddenly felt something strange. This guy was actually moaning and wriggling around? Damn it, it made me hard. “Stop moving!” I roared at Stellar Song. “Okay, don’t be so mean. I’m just in pain because you hit me.” Stellar Song looked at me pitifully and stopped. But Flynn Song was all fired up. “What are you afraid of? There are two of us. Can’t we overpower him?” Flynn Song is different from his brother. He’s smart, decisive, and he has to succeed in whatever he wants to do. He never accepts threats. Just like today, he managed to send the fourth roommate to the cybercafe without anyone noticing. That guy even promised that he wouldn’t come back today before leaving. On top of that, Flynn works out regularly, so when it comes to physical strength, I might not stand a chance against him. It turned out that Flynn Song had been quietly watching Stellar Song and me mess around for a while, just biding his time to wear me out before striking at the perfect moment. “Okay, the appetizer is over. It’s time for the main course.” “What are you doing? Don’t come over here. Don’t… Don’t touch me!” Flynn Song pressed down on me and said ambiguously in my ear, “Don’t pretend. You were already hard just now.” I was stunned. So, he had seen everything I’d tried to hide. “Don’t worry. It’s obvious that you’re a top. You won’t be on the bottom.”

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My boyfriend Vincent was a special forces soldier specializing in bomb disposal. To save a woman, he endured inhumane torture at the hands of a terrorist organization. His fingers were cut off, his tendons severed, and the tip of his tongue was chopped away. From a proud and noble man, he was reduced to a fool who drooled when he spoke. He had no idea that the woman he was trying to save was the beloved of Simon, the leader of the terrorist organization. It was all a trap, designed to lure him in. On the day I heard the news of Vincent’s death, I committed suicide by jumping into the sea. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself the most favored captive of Simon. The original owner of this body was used to wearing heavy makeup, but I wasn’t. I remember that on the second day after transmigrating into this body, I showed up in front of Simon without a trace of makeup. He grabbed my chin and forced me to look up, a half-smile on his face. “You don’t look like Jilly without makeup.” So today, I deliberately applied makeup to imitate Jilly’s look. I even added a tear-shaped mole at the outer corner of my right eye. I was planning to get rid of someone. Tiger, Simon’s right-hand man. When Simon rushed into the room after getting the news, I was in Tiger’s arms. Tears streamed down my face. Tiger loomed beside me like a mountain, his face flushed from drinking, his eyes gleaming with greed. I shook my head, crying out “No—” while pushing against him with what seemed like feeble strength. “If your brother Simon finds out, he won’t let you off!” Tiger laughed loudly, his gold teeth shining. “You? Just a substitute for Miss Jilly. Brother Simon doesn’t care.” “A nobody. Do you really think Brother Simon would care?” I felt humiliated and was determined not to let him succeed, struggling to move backward. He licked his lips. “What a beauty. No wonder you’ve been able to stay beside Brother Simon for so long.” He was about to make his move. It was at that moment that Simon burst in. He held a pistol, his face cold and stern. I cried out to him, “Simon, save me—I’m not pure anymore, Simon. I don’t want to live.” I knew that with my face slightly tilted to the right, I resembled Jilly the most. When Tiger saw Simon approaching, instead of backing off, he touched my face. “Well, you little thing. You really called Brother Simon here.” He turned to Simon, grinning widely. “Brother Simon, I’ve risked my life for you all these years. Can you give this girl to me?” Everyone around Simon feared him. Even if it was just a woman, as long as she belonged to Simon, she was his private property, and no one dared to touch her. After Tiger said this, I knew that the drug I had slipped him to induce mental confusion had taken effect. Simon’s handsome brows furrowed deeply. He stood there, silent, weighing his options. Should he choose the woman or his brother? Tears streamed from the tear-shaped mole on my face as I sobbed, “Simon, if you really give me to him, I’ll die!” Simon raised an eyebrow, maintaining that careless, half-smiling demeanor. “Alright, Tiger, Cherry is yours.” Tiger’s face lit up with joy at Simon’s permission. Just as he was about to touch me, I closed my eyes in despair. But in the next moment, Simon’s expression changed completely. He looked incredibly sarcastic, his tone fierce: “You? You think you’re worthy?” “Bang!” Tiger’s head jerked to the side, a hole appearing in it. I had bet correctly. Simon strode over, shoved Tiger aside, and lifted me by the waist. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” he murmured. “No one dares to touch you.” I leaned against his shoulder, trembling uncontrollably, but a chilling smile curved on my blood-stained lips. Vincent, was this how it felt when Tiger cut off your fingers and the tip of your tongue back then? Turning my head, I caught a glimpse of Tiger’s disbelieving eyes, still open on the ground. Good riddance.

Vincent and I met in a war-torn foreign country. Terrorists had invaded the hospital and strapped a bomb to me. Vincent led a team to rescue me. I was so nervous that cold sweat poured down my face as I clenched my teeth. He smiled, his eyes clear behind the mask. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you die here,” he comforted me. For two whole hours, Vincent knelt beside me, meticulously dismantling the bomb. I had never stared into someone’s eyes for so long. Even now, whenever I close my eyes, I can still picture his face in my mind. The bomb was finally removed, but after a five-second pause, it triggered a new countdown. Only ten seconds left. Vincent’s expression tightened. He grabbed my hand and rushed me out of the hospital. Just as we burst through the doors, he yanked me into his arms, throwing us both to the ground. His body shielded me completely. The next second, an explosion roared behind us. The entire makeshift medical point was obliterated. Sand, mud, and debris rained down from the sky. The man on top of me frowned from the force of the blast, but I felt nothing. Only the sound of heartbeats. Deafening heartbeats. Drowned out by the explosion. After that day, Vincent often visited the newly built medical point. One day it was, “Dr. Leo, I got bitten by an ant on my thumb.” The next day, “Dr. Leo, I got pricked while picking flowers.” And the day after that, “Dr. Leo, I think I have a heart problem. The kind only you can treat.” Seeing me blush with anger as I tried to shoo him away, he would laugh, a triumphant glint in his eyes. From then on, he claimed he had two missions: to fight against terrorists and to protect me. But one day, he simply stopped showing up. He was kidnapped by the terrorist organization. The group had taken a Chinese woman hostage and specifically demanded Vincent by name. If he came, they promised to let her go. Vincent didn’t hesitate. He went alone, willing to trade his own life for hers. The terrorist organization live-streamed the scene of Vincent’s torture. They wanted him to work for them, to make bombs. Vincent would rather die than submit. On the screen, Simon sat opposite him, watching coldly as Vincent was hung up. In his lap was the so-called Chinese woman, Jilly, the hostage. She had her arms draped around Simon’s shoulders, smiling coyly. “Simon, he’s so stupid. He actually came to save me.” “Do you think he has a crush on me?” she teased. Simon, not even glancing at Vincent, casually replied to Tiger, “If he doesn’t comply, cut off his fingers and chop off his tongue tip.” He leaned in to plant a light kiss on Jilly’s red lips. “I want to see how he can dismantle bombs after that.” Jilly giggled, “Leave him two fingers on each hand. After all, the feeling of being worse than dead is the most interesting.” With a swift swing of his knife, Tiger severed Vincent’s fingers, blood gushing from the wounds. Vincent’s screams of pain echoed through the live stream. As a doctor, I had witnessed many deaths in the war, but it was the first time I understood the depth of such agonizing screams. My heart ached as if it were being sliced by thousands of knives, and tears streamed down uncontrollably. It felt as if the cuts on Vincent’s body were also inflicted upon mine. In the following days, Simon continued to live-stream Vincent’s torment. His head hung limply, his mind foggy, and the blood from his severed fingers had dried to a dark crust. Because his tongue tip was cut off, his mouth couldn’t close, and saliva constantly dripped from the corners of his lips. He couldn’t care for himself and had even lost control of his bladder. All he did was stare blankly at the camera, murmuring repeatedly, “Marilyn, I’m okay.” My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, the pain so intense that I felt like I might die. Even in this state, he was still trying to comfort me! Is this really okay? Is this really okay?! My Vincent, my proud Vincent. The Vincent who dismantled bombs with calm, confident smiles, always there to comfort me. The Vincent who came to the hospital just to tease me, laughing joyfully when he succeeded. He should have always shone like the sun, standing tall like a pine tree. He should have returned to our country, glorified and honored. He shouldn’t be like this. He shouldn’t be like this. A week later, the news of Vincent’s death arrived. He was dead. … After Tiger died, I stood frozen, my eyes cast down, silent and seemingly docile—almost frighteningly so. Perhaps my frightened demeanor unnerved Simon. He kissed my hair, constantly reassuring me that it was okay, that everything was over. He brought me before his subordinates, made me sit on his lap, and declared that I was his woman and could only belong to him. Anyone who dared to touch me again would meet the same fate as Tiger. Simon had Tiger’s head severed and displayed as a warning. His actions made me think I was important to him. But it wasn’t enough. I had to be important enough for him to marry me. Only then could I give him the ending he deserved. But what I didn’t expect was that, not long after, Jilly returned. She played with a knife against my face, smiling with amusement. “Your face does look quite like mine.” In the next moment, she clung to Simon’s arm, whining, “Simon, I haven’t practiced shooting in a while. Can I practice on Cherry?” Simon, casually smoking, patted her hand and said, “Sure.” Jilly’s idea of practice involved me putting an apple on my head as a target. I looked at Simon, pleading silently. He knew I was terrified of gunshots. Whenever one went off, he would cover my ears. But this time, he just had a cigarette in his mouth, a smile on his lips. “Cherry, Jilly just likes to practice this way. She’s a great shot. She won’t miss. Don’t worry.” I closed my eyes, standing frozen in place. No, I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t lose my temper. I had to be gentle and docile, playing the role of Simon’s captive well to earn his trust. As Simon had said, Jilly was indeed an excellent shot. She hit the apple on my head in one shot, the force knocking me to the ground. My elbow scraped against the ground, blood oozing from the wound. The loud gunshot made my ears ring. I bit my lip hard to keep from crying. I thought of Vincent. He had given me a gun, saying that in war, anything could happen, and told me to use it for self-defense. He taught me how to shoot. Standing behind me, he held me close, guiding my hands into the right position on the gun, teaching me step by step, his voice low and steady in my ear. Our bodies were pressed tightly together, the air he exhaled brushing against my skin. I don’t know whose ears turned red first. He had promised that as long as he was alive, no one would dare to bully me. But Vincent, the one who protected me, is gone. What am I supposed to do now, alone? Jilly was bouncing around, wrapping her arms around Simon’s neck. “Simon, look! My shooting is still as good as ever!” Simon didn’t even glance my way; his eyes were solely on Jilly, his expression affectionate. “Just stop when you’ve had enough fun,” he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. Jilly rolled her eyes. “Not enough!” This time, she made me place the apple on the side of my face. I knew she had been annoyed with my presence for a long time. Simon glanced at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if he wanted to say something, but all he said was, “Alright, if you want to play this way, go ahead.” But this time, Jilly missed.

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I was a childhood sweetheart with Jack, and Melanie suddenly appeared. It is said that the feelings of childhood sweethearts can’t compete with newcomers. Not long after she transferred to school, someone saw the empty stairwell after school. Jack lowered his head to review his mistakes like a docile puppy. Later, Melanie and I had a little conflict. He said lightly, “I don’t want to see Linda at school. ” My parents immediately transferred me for fear of offending the Jackson family. Since then, I didn’t dare to show my face in front of him as if I had disappeared from his world. But later on his birthday, he knocked on my door，with an embarrassed and aggrieved face: “Did you forget that today is my birthday?” ChapterIt is said that the feelings of childhood sweethearts can’t compete with newcomers. In the old days, I would have laughed at this saying. But when I saw Jack watching Melanie dance, I could see the love in his eyes. I believed it then. I also believed the rumour that Jack had gone soft on Melanie in a stairwell. I couldn’t tell him how I felt. It’ll stay hidden in my heart forever. When the song ended, I applauded the young girl on stage. Jack got up and left. I also left. Walking out of the hall, he raised his hand with a small pendant hanging on his hand. “Linda, here…” I asked him, “What’s this?” Jack was seven when he followed his sister-in-law to watch a soap opera. He remembered something called a love token. “Give it to Linda. From now on, Linda can only like me.” “ I will always protect Linda from now on too.” …… Melanie is new here this semester. She is good-looking and a dancer. She caused a stir when she arrived. The girls in the class said that Melanie was like one of those school stories where the heroine transfers, is a good girl, and is then taken in by the school bully. At that time, many people were pursuing Melanie.Jack said he was not interested in her. But now I know, I should stop and stay away from Jack. I used to go home with him, but I forgot when he started letting me go first for various reasons. In fact, he could have talked to me, I wouldn’t have stalked him. We’ve never been together. Chapter

We handed in our homework on Monday morning.I “I didn’t finish.”,Jack said. I had a good relationship with Jack, so the monitor come to me directly every time. He looks for Melanie as soon as class is over. “It’s none of my business now.” They nodded. The rumour that Jack had a girlfriend seemed true. They were even more sure. After class, I wrote my test papers. I wanted Jack to take the exam with me to North City. I’m going to work hard to get into North City University. Jack didn’t come back for the whole evening. The teacher asked where he’d gone. Everyone looked at me, but I didn’t look up. In the second lesson, Jack came back. He sat in his seat and didn’t say anything until someone told him the homeroom teacher wanted to see him in the office. He came back to his senses and paused as he passed me. I didn’t look up because I was doing math. My classmates came over and asked what was wrong with Jack and me. “Nothing.” “Really?” she said. My classmate was shocked. I told her, “I won’t care about him anymore.” “Ah.“ She was surprised and said, “Jack’s girlfriend is Melanie.“ I looked away and didn’t say anything. After the second night study session, Jack walked back to the classroom. I got a note: “You go first after school.” I put it away and wrote my test paper. The class after school was always crowded and noisy. I sat in my seat and gathered my things. The class suddenly got quiet. My desk mate covered her mouth in shock, so I followed her gaze. Melanie stood at the doorway, tilted her head and hooked her hand towards Jack before walking away. I looked at Jack, who smiled and followed her out. The class was noisy. “Oh my god!” “I thought Jack and Linda were a couple.”Linda “They grew up together.” “Childhood sweethearts can’t compete with newcomers.” … My classmates tried to comfort me, but I picked up my school bag, my heart hurt so much, but I had to smile, I couldn’t shed tears. I can’t show I’m sad or I’ll be laughed at. “I’m fine. Jack and I are just friends. I’ll leave now, see you tomorrow.” I left the noisy campus and gripped my school bag tightly. But I still cried, and my heart hurt. How did he suddenly fall for someone else? My vision blurred, but I heard the young man’s clear voice. Linda “I will protect Linda forever!” Chapter

“Linda , why didn’t you wait for me? ” Jack was late this morning. After class, he came over and put a bottle of milk on my desk. I stopped writing vocabulary and looked at the milk bottle. “I’ve already had breakfast. ; I’ll come to school early.” Jack sat next to me. He looked confused. “I haven’t messed with you lately. We’ve always walked together.” “Not anymore.” I put my pen down, took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “You have a girlfriend now, so let’s stay away from each other.” He looked shocked. “I do mind.” I told him, “I don’t want to be the target when your relationship goes wrong.” Jack is bad-tempered and impatient. After talking to me so much, I guess he’s had enough. His face went cold and he got up violently. The chair hit the floor with a loud thud, followed by a sentence. “Whatever.” I hung my head and closed my eyes. Last night I sat on the balcony blowing in the wind. Should I hide my feelings for him? Was this the end of our childhood love? No girl wants her boyfriend has female friends. After that day, Jack ignored me, even when we met in the corridor. The girl who used to be by his side changed to Melanie, and he introduced Melanie to everyone. Melanie was his first love. I listened to their love story like everyone else There’s a sportsman who likes Melanie. A few days ago, he blocked her in the alley. Jack beat him up. I’m top of my grade again. My teacher said to leave Jack alone or it would affect my studies. Jack’s family is rich. School is not important to him. After school, I looked out the window at the sunset. “Linda , where do you want to go to university?” After a hot, dry evening, Jack sat next to me. He tickled my hair and spoke carelessly. I said, “North City University.” “It’s far away.” I didn’t tell him I wanted to go to North City University because it was a top school, but because I wanted to escape. My dad cheated on my mother when he got rich. My mother said he didn’t love her because I’m a girl. She would cry at night, asking why I wasn’t a boy. She later gave birth to a son. My father returned to family briefly, they only loved my brother. I wanted to get away from home. Jack said he’d protect me forever, so I’d go anywhere with him. Chapter

A rumor that Melanie interfered in other people’s feelings gradually spread in the school. Jack strangled me and couldn’t wait to kill me. “Linda, what do you want to do?” My friend hurriedly pushed Jack away: “Are you crazy? Let her go quickly. She can’t breathe.” Jack let go and I could breathe again. “Linda, you’re gross.’” “Linda, are you okay?” I sat on the ground and coughed, crying. Victoriahugged me and patted my back. I wiped my tears and tried not to cry out. Jack looked like he wanted to strangle me. The teenager was gone. A classmate gave me a phone to look at. It turned out that someone wrote an anonymous letter accusing Melanie who destroyed my relationship with Jack. Many people believe it. They are insulting Melanie. The pinch marks on my neck have turned red. I thought to myself that when I get back from school at night, I will immediately write a letter of clarification. When I got home, my parents sat on the sofa with a gloomy face. A glass was thrown at my feet and shattered. “Why did you annoy Jackat school?” Dad slapped the table, eyes wide. “Our company has always relied on Jack. Are you trying to ruin us?” I stood there, listening to my mum and dad argue. The villa was cold. I was shivering. I don’t know how the fight ended or how I was taken to apologise to Jack. I wanted to tell him I didn’t make the post, but I’d clarify. When the door opened, he looked at me coldly. I couldn’t speak. I bowed and apologised. He looked at me and said, “I don’t want to see you at school again, Linda .” Mum and Dad promised they wouldn’t let me see him again. I looked up at him, but I couldn’t see his face in the light. My self-esteem was crushed. I realised we were never in the same world. The moon doesn’t descend on itself because of people’s delusions. The moon falling down the well is only a reflection, an illusion. His kindness to me was nothing more than a teenager’s whim. I shouldn’t have fantasised about anything. It was wrong from the beginning. That night I packed my things and my parents transferred me to another school. ChapterI moved schools two weeks ago. I rented a house near the school. I was forbidden to go home. We didn’t see each other for a while. “Linda , come play basketball today.“ Ian is my classmate who has come over to see me a lot recently. They said this was Ian’s first time chasing a girl. Teenagers always fantasise about school love stories. I shook my head. “I have homework.” He looked at the exercise book on the table and raised his eyebrows. “Linda , I’ve been chasing you for two weeks.” “So?” He laughed, “Why did you reject me?”

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Four years after our breakup, my ex shows up at the hotel with a woman, and here I am, the unfortunate front desk receptionist stuck checking them in. The guy has these sharp, chiseled features, his dark eyes like black holes, staring with that unmistakably predatory look. His brows arch as he speaks, his voice a low, intimate rumble. “Got any protection in the room?” I hold a polite smile, keeping my tone smooth. “Apologies, sir, but we don’t stock extra-small in this hotel.” Content Hidden behind the counter, I slip off my heels, feeling instant relief as my feet press down on the cool floor. After standing for hours, there are just ten minutes left until the end of my shift. A few minutes of peace, I think—but of course, footsteps sound through the hotel lobby. I instinctively rise to my toes and paste on a smile. He’s wearing a dark shirt, mature and built, his features striking and severe. Draped over his arm is a suit jacket, swinging as he walks my way. As he approaches, I’m caught off guard by a sudden wave of déjà vu. Caleb Hawthorne. My ex from college. Three years together, and nothing since we broke up. Four years and not a single word. His youthful recklessness is gone, his face now edged with a steady, controlled confidence. Time has refined him. Made him look every bit the part. And there beside him stands a woman, pale and delicate, with a gentle look that practically demands sympathy. Ah, life—always serving up these awkward little moments. Ex-boyfriend shows up with a new woman, and I’m here, the front desk minion. Thankfully, I’m one of three people on shift. Come on, don’t notice me. Don’t notice me. But before I can finish the thought, Caleb’s gaze cuts right past the other two receptionists, landing directly on me. Oh, hell. His dark eyes are as deep and intense as ever, staring me down with that familiar hunger, now even sharper. If the old Caleb was like a wolf, then today he’s the king of the pack, here to hunt down some runaway prize. Judging by his expression, you’d think I was the one who’d run off with some rich sugar daddy. As I recall, though, wasn’t it you who asked for a breakup? Seconds tick by as he stares without a word, oblivious to the woman’s curious glance at his side. Finally, Caleb looks away, pulling out a credit card and placing it on the counter, his voice low and steady. “One room with a king bed.” With a professional smile, I check them in, sliding over the key card. Caleb slings his suit jacket over the woman’s shoulders, his movement brisk and practiced. My hands work on autopilot, but my mind drifts—Caleb never used to let anyone near his stuff, had a thing about his personal space that only I got to ignore. That was four years ago, though. People change. In college, Caleb wouldn’t even wear a suit, but there was one time I managed to coax him into it after an entire day of cajoling and bargaining. “Could I see your ID, please?” He hands me his card, and I can’t help brushing my thumb over the back. The scratches and the photo are the same as I remember from college, the one we got together. I pass him the key. “Room 1087. The elevators are to your right. Have a nice stay.” He takes the key and hands it to the woman, who heads for the elevator. But Caleb stays put, brow arching, a smile playing on his lips, his gaze intense. “Got any protection in the room?” I nearly break character trying not to laugh. After four years, I thought he’d changed, but no, he’s still the same charming jerk. Keeping my tone polite, I respond, “Sorry, sir, we don’t stock extra-small in this hotel.” Caleb’s brows draw together slightly, but his smile widens. Oh, so he’s got a little attitude about it, huh? He leans in closer, voice low and heavy. “If there isn’t any, how will I enjoy my stay, Ms. Winters?” I don’t care whether you enjoy it or not. Caleb takes a step away, like he’s about to leave, but turns back, tapping the counter with his finger. “Ms. Winters, as I recall, you used to be quite attached to my ‘extra-small.’” I feel a sudden, overwhelming urge to slap the smirk off his face but remember my job, my paycheck, and manage to hold it in. “Sir, my shift’s over,” I say with a sweet smile and step into the break room.

“What? You ran into Caleb yesterday?” I shut the door behind me and answer with a sigh. “Yeah.” “And? How did it go?” Switching my phone to my other hand, I press the elevator button. “How did it go? He brought a woman to get a room. How do you think it went?” It’s been four years since the breakup. Any remaining thrill or spark has long since faded. Mara tries to say something, but a baby’s wail cuts her off. “Hold on, Bella just woke up. I’ll call you later.” I chuckle, shaking my head as I hang up. It only takes half an hour to get from my place to the hotel, but it takes me all morning to psych myself up for the job. After pasting on a fake smile for wave after wave of guests, I’m ready to quit for the hundredth time. Just as I’m reaching for my water bottle, the front desk phone rings. I pick it up, muttering a few choice words under my breath. “Hello, Crescent Hotel front desk. How can I assist you?” There’s only silence on the other end, but I already know who it is. After a long pause, the voice on the other end finally speaks. “It’s me.” I roll my eyes, staying silent. Go on, Caleb. What now? An invitation to your wedding? Maybe a baby announcement? He waits a beat before asking, his voice playful. “I have a question.” Oh, this should be good. “Your king beds—do you have anything bigger? The last one was so small I couldn’t even move.” Oh, please. I force a customer-service smile he can’t see and adopt a sugary voice. “Sorry, sir. All our bed sizes are fixed. Although…” His breath is close to the phone, and I swear I can almost feel it. “Just five hundred feet to the left of the hotel, there’s a couples’ hotel. The beds there are massive—I’ve tried them myself. You can roll three times with someone in your arms.” I hear his breathing hitch. Satisfied, I hang up with a benevolent smile. As expected, the phone rings again within seconds. I ignore it, but my coworker glances over. “Lena, aren’t you going to pick up?” I give a casual shrug. “Ex.” She nods knowingly, offering a sympathetic glance. When the phone rings a third time, I finally answer. “Hello?” His voice is low, dripping with irritation. “Lena Winters.” Oh, what’s wrong, Caleb? You’re allowed to book a room, but I can’t have some fun too? “Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention, Mr. Hawthorne—I’d strongly recommend the ‘Underwater Paradise Suite.’ Soft water bed and ceiling mirrors…” This time, he’s the one who hangs up. Smirking, I put down the receiver, feeling a little more refreshed.

I met Caleb Hawthorne in the spring of my freshman year. I was at a club event, decked out in a cheerleader’s outfit, dancing with my squad on the basketball court. Caleb strolled by, surrounded by a crowd of guys. Just as he put out his cigarette, he looked up—and his eyes locked on me. The look he gave me was scorching, hotter than any summer sun, searing right through me. When I finished dancing, Caleb had drifted closer, blocking my path. “Caleb Hawthorne.” As I tied up my hair, I glanced at him sideways. “Let’s be friends,” he said, half-lidded eyes glinting in the sunlight, like a wolf stalking its prey, no shame in his gaze. I casually looked away. “The smoke’s suffocating me.” He stubbed out the cigarette with his thumb. “Fine. I’ll quit.” I almost laughed—what a shameless, bold move. But a month later, maybe because of his persistence, or maybe because I found his ‘lone wolf’ act oddly charming, I agreed to be ‘friends.’ The kind who kiss. And we kissed for three years. Until he suddenly broke it off.

On a weekend off, I head to the mall, browsing through everything from snacks to lingerie. Even if I don’t buy, it doesn’t hurt to look. I’m holding up a purple bra when I catch the scent of a faint cologne—familiar in the worst way. A long-fingered hand picks up a black bra, placing it front and center on the rack. “Black suits you,” he murmurs, completely unfazed. Turns out, people are right when they say your ex is like a ghost—never quite gone. I don’t bother turning around. “Thanks, but my boyfriend prefers purple.” Only then do I look over, catching Caleb’s stormy gaze. Caleb’s eyes are intense, his face set in stern lines, almost menacing, but I don’t let it bother me. Smiling sweetly, I wander over to the men’s section and hold up a pair of boxers, beckoning him over with a smile. Caleb’s face darkens as he approaches, looking like he’s ready to kill someone. “These your size?” I ask, holding them up. He raises a brow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh? Why?” “Just checking. If these are yours, I’ll go a size up—my boyfriend’s a bit bigger.” Watching Caleb’s composure crumble, his mature demeanor slipping, I leave the store, satisfied. As I check out, Caleb appears beside me, pulling out his card. “I’ll pay for these.” I study him, amused. The hot-headed college guy now a cool, collected professional? The contrast is a bit much. But still, something sparks in me, and I glance up with a smirk. “Wow, Mr. Hawthorne, so generous. How about throwing in those boxers for my boyfriend, too?” Caleb’s expression hardens again. “In your dreams.”

Not wanting to make a scene, I didn’t actually push Caleb into buying the boxers. Instead, I had him pay for my two sets, calling it a small “harassment fee” for all his recent antics. But I didn’t expect to see him again the next day at the gym. Seriously. This guy is like bad karma. Part of me wondered if he’d planned it, though he hadn’t crossed any lines and even footed the bill yesterday, so I let it go. Caleb wore a black T-shirt, hair damp with sweat, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tipped his head back to drink from his water bottle. His whole look screamed “testosterone overload.” Still black, even after four years. I scanned my card at the entrance and walked in. Caleb wiped his face, the sweat rolling down his chiseled nose, his profile all strong lines and angles. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it off, showing off the contours of his muscles and the rise and fall of his abs as he breathed. Leaning an elbow on one machine, he wiped down with his shirt, revealing a black ink tattoo of bamboo winding down his right shoulder, sleek and snakelike. Beneath the ink, I noticed a twisted scar—a new addition since our breakup. Shirtless in the gym wasn’t exactly classy, but no one complained. A few women cast glances, and a few phones even came out to snap a shot. Was Caleb the kind of guy to strip down for no reason? Definitely not. Snickering to myself, I headed into the locker room. Ever since college, I’ve always been into fitness, but usually stuck with a T-shirt and leggings. Today, though, I pulled my hair up and stepped out in a sports bra and leggings, showing off a trim waist and a well-rounded shape. Caleb had noticed me back in college, and I didn’t get this front desk job after a single interview for no reason. As soon as I walked out, I could feel eyes on me, but only one gaze burned with intensity. Ignoring it, I made my way to the squat rack. With one foot planted on the platform, I lowered myself slowly, my leggings tight, highlighting every curve. I could almost feel the heat of his gaze, my own smirk forming as I sank into another squat. Then suddenly—a shirt landed on my head. Pulling it off, I turned to see Caleb’s tense jaw and his narrowed eyes, muscles flexed. “You win, Lena Winters,” he growled. The shirt smelled clean, with a faint trace of laundry detergent. I raised an eyebrow and slipped it on, unbothered. His gaze dropped to my legs. “Change the pants too,” he said. Caleb’s not the kind of guy who imposes on what people wear. Today, though, he was fuming, a look that only made him more intense. “This is the only pair I have,” I said, lying with the straightest face. Caleb gave me a look, muttering “Wait here” before grabbing his stuff and leaving. Sure, I’d “wait.” I picked up my bag and left too, deciding my perfect body deserved a break.

The next morning, I dragged myself back to work. There was a company dinner that night, one of those events I couldn’t weasel out of. My boss and another slightly sleazy manager sat together, both looking a bit worse for wear. I sat nearby, sipping my wine quietly. The place was lively, but then I heard my name being called. Glancing over, I saw my boss waving me over. With a polite smile, I took my purse and joined them. After a quick toast, the other manager’s hand drifted onto my thigh, edging inward. After two years working in this hotel, I’d dealt with these kinds of things more than once. I wasn’t the same girl who used to panic over this. I debated between slapping him or digging out my pepper spray when suddenly someone yanked me up by the arm. In the dim lighting, Caleb stood there, his gaze hard and expression unreadable, radiating a quiet menace. He lifted a glass of wine and poured it over the manager’s face. The man sputtered, anger flashing in his eyes, as if about to retaliate. Caleb smirked. “Try me.” “Touch her again, and you might not get that hand back.” Then he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. Pulling it closer, I suddenly felt a sense of relief—Caleb had grown in these four years. No more smashing wine bottles over his own head to make a point. Now he knew how to stand his ground without losing his cool. This kind of maturity was… reassuring. I didn’t resist as Caleb led me out of the restaurant and into his car. After a silent moment, he looked at me and muttered, “Wait,” before stepping out and locking the door behind him. Soon, I saw Caleb striding back, swinging open the door and slipping into the driver’s seat. His collar was unbuttoned, his tie loosened, face still set with barely controlled anger. I couldn’t help laughing. “Where’d you go?” His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed forward. “To make sure he remembers next time.” I chuckled. “So after all these years, you really have grown up.” Caleb flashed a wicked grin. “Some parts have grown up. Wanna see?” Bring it on. Fueled by a little too much wine, I felt a sudden spark of mischief. “Sure.” My hand drifted up his thigh, my smile widening as I leaned closer. “Let’s see exactly how grown up you are.” I remembered a college party during my sophomore year. Caleb and I had gone to a karaoke bar with some friends. I was craving iced coffee and demanded he go find me one. The moment he left, though, a few guys dragged me into another room. Nineteen years old, terrified, and too scared to call the cops, I didn’t know what to do. The guys had started pouring drinks down my throat when Caleb burst into the room, knocking the bottle out of one guy’s hand.

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When my parents fought, they left my brother and me sitting outside on the air conditioning unit. We were several stories high, and our love-crazed mom wouldn’t let us inside, hoping Dad would feel remorse. But Dad didn’t feel anything—he just found her annoying, slammed the door, and left. The wind was bitterly cold, and I hugged my thinly dressed brother close, crying and pleading for Mom to let us back inside. But she was only focused on her own anger, pointing at us and saying, “If it weren’t for you two dead weights, I would’ve divorced him a long time ago! Shut your mouths! If you cry again, I swear you’ll never come back inside!” The wind dried my tears, and I silently promised never to forgive them. Later, Dad was drunk and got in an accident, hitting Mom with his car. They both ended up paralyzed. The insurance payout was in the hundreds of thousands, but I decided not to save them. Content My parents were fighting again; the sounds of things crashing around filled the house. Anything they could throw, they did. My mom yanked my brother and me out of bed and shoved us toward the window. We were dressed only in thin long-sleeves and sat barefoot, curled up on the air conditioning unit outside. Mom stood at the window, pointing at us and yelling, “Rick Grant! If you ever go after that tramp again, I’ll take the kids and we’ll all jump!” Reeking of alcohol, Dad snapped back, “Then jump, Clara! You’re always threatening to jump—go ahead and do it! You jump, and I’ll marry Lacey tomorrow!” Mom’s hair was wild, and she was shaking with rage as she threw a glass of water at him, screaming that he was no man. Dad didn’t hold back either, slapping her hard as soon as the glass hit him. “Stop making a scene and divorce me already. I’ve been done with you for a long time, you crazy witch!” He slammed the door as he left, hard enough to make the whole building shake. Mom sank to her knees at the window, covering her face and asking me in a daze, “Sunny, did you hear what he said? He doesn’t want us anymore.” I couldn’t care less about their fight. We were on the 18th floor, and the wind was strong enough to blow my brother and me off at any moment. I shivered uncontrollably. “Mom, my brother and I want you. Please, let us back in—it’s so cold out here.”

My brother’s face had turned bright red from the cold, and his nose was dripping, almost slipping into his mouth. He huddled against me, his hands and feet freezing, like blocks of ice. But Mom didn’t seem to hear us. She kept repeating, “He wants a divorce… He doesn’t want us anymore.” My feet were going numb, and I didn’t understand why she’d stay by the window but wouldn’t pull us back inside. It was early winter, and my brother was still young. If he stayed outside, he’d get sick. I flexed my numb fingers and stood up. I had to get my brother back inside first. I grabbed his hand and pushed him through the window. But suddenly, Mom jumped up and shoved me back. “Who said you could come back inside? Your dad wouldn’t even glance at you two; what good are you anyway?” My brother wailed, terrified, but Mom only yelled at him, “If it weren’t for you two burdens, I would’ve divorced him ages ago. Shut up! If you keep crying, don’t even think about coming back in!” Luckily, my brother had half his body inside already, so he tumbled into the room, while I stumbled back, landing on the edge of the air conditioning unit. If I hadn’t grabbed it quickly, I would’ve fallen. My upper body was clinging to the unit, my legs dangling below. I didn’t dare look down, and I cried out to Mom to save me. She looked out, startled, but after a quick glance, she went back inside. “If you fall, don’t blame me. Blame your dad for not saving you.” With that, she shut the window, blocking out the wind and my pleas.

My arms were aching, and tears poured down my face as I screamed for her. “Mom! I’ll listen from now on! I’ll never sneak my brother candy again. Please don’t abandon me!” “Mom, I don’t want to die. I really don’t want to fall.” “Mom, I love you. I’ll behave. I don’t want Dad anymore…” But no matter what I said, the window stayed shut. I felt hot and cold all over, my fingers stiffening. Then the air conditioner roared to life, blowing icy air over me. Mom had turned it on. She really didn’t want me anymore. My heart felt like it was freezing over, the pain numbing as the cold seeped in. I couldn’t hold on much longer—it was so, so cold. I couldn’t understand why she’d treat us like this. Was it because Dad was cruel to her? My brother and I loved her. If they divorced, we’d still want her… But she didn’t seem to want us. The wind dried my tears. I silently vowed that if I survived, I’d never forgive them. It was as if heaven heard my promise, as our neighbor Tess opened her window with an annoyed look. She squinted, her cigarette falling out of her mouth in shock. “Damn, girl! You cosplaying Batman up there or something?”

I looked at her through teary eyes, and Tess finally realized something was wrong. She quickly banged on our door and came to pull me back inside. Her hand, tattooed with a butterfly, reached out and yanked me in with a firm grip. My legs were too weak to stand, and I sat on the floor, the warmth making my cheeks tingle painfully. Mom scowled, shooing Tess away before snapping at me, “What were you yelling about? I wouldn’t really let you fall.” “Oh, and that woman? Don’t you dare speak to her again. She’s trash, can’t you tell?” I opened my mouth to say Tess was kind, but my throat was too raw to speak. Mom was always saying bad things about our single neighbor, claiming a woman her age who hadn’t married must have something wrong with her. But Tess was the one who had saved me. For the first time, I started to doubt what Mom had always told me. After a few minutes, I noticed an unusual silence. Where was my brother? I was ten, and he was three years younger, a kid who cried over everything. I found him slumped against the bathroom door, fainted from crying, his cheeks flushed and burning hot. He had a fever. My first thought was to call for Mom, but she’d locked herself in her room, listening to sad songs.

I had no choice but to bang on her door. “Mom! Finn is sick! We need to take him to the hospital!” But she didn’t respond, so I started kicking the door. “Mom, stop listening to music! Finn’s really sick…” He was already frail, getting sick a lot when he was little. I was scared he wouldn’t pull through this time, just like Grandpa and Grandma who had passed away. I kept kicking until she finally opened the door, and my foot landed on her shin. She yelped in pain and slapped me across the face. “Why are you kicking like an idiot? Just like your useless dad!” I bit my lip, swallowing my tears. “Finn’s sick, and you wouldn’t come out…” She interrupted me, “Why don’t you ask your dad? Is he dead?” “Besides, I don’t have money. If you can’t find your dad, then deal with it.” She slammed the door again. My brother’s fever was getting worse. I hoisted him onto my back, one arm under his legs, and the other holding him steady. If his fever spiked any higher, it could be life-threatening. I went over to Tess’s door, and she opened it, a purse slung over her shoulder like she was heading out. Seeing us, she frowned. “What do you want? Didn’t your mom tell me to get lost?”

I knew Tess had every right to be mad. She wasn’t obligated to help us. Sniffling, I mustered the courage to ask, “Tess, could I borrow your phone to call my dad?” She handed over her brand-new smartphone, and I called Dad again and again, but he didn’t pick up. Tess, noticing my struggle, took the phone from me and dialed a few more times herself. Finally, someone answered, but it was a woman. I asked her where my dad was, and she snorted before handing him the phone. Annoyed, he asked, “What? Is this your mom making you call? Tell her I’m not coming home!” “No, it’s not her, Dad. Finn has a fever. Please, come back and take him to the hospital.” He scoffed. “Yeah, right. Tell your mom even if both of you die, I’m not coming back!” Tess’s jaw dropped, and she snatched the phone, yelling, “What kind of father talks to his kids like that? Why don’t you do us all a favor and drop dead already!” She hung up with a sharp click, then looked at us and sighed. “Alright, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

The doctor said it was a good thing we’d come when we did. Finn was burning up and convulsing from the fever. Any longer, and he could’ve suffered brain damage or even worse. Sitting in the hospital waiting area, I turned to Tess and said, “I’ll pay you back for the hospital bills, Tess.” She pointed to my face. “You should get that looked at too. You’re a mess.” She handed me a small mirror, and I saw a scratch running across my cheek. Mom must have clawed me during one of her slaps, but I hadn’t felt it. It only started stinging now that Tess had pointed it out. I shook my head and decided not to get it treated. The bleeding had stopped, and besides, a doctor visit would cost more money. Tess didn’t push it. She handed me a stick of gum and asked, “Any other family besides your parents?” I thought for a moment, then shook my head. We used to have Grandpa and Grandma, but they’d passed away. It was just Dad and Mom now. Tess was silent, then she patted my shoulder and said, “Alright. From now on, if you need anything, come find me. The name’s Tess Harper.” “Thank you, Tess.” “Eh, don’t go calling me Tess like I’m old. Just call me ‘Tessie’.” I nodded. “Tessie.” She chuckled, mussing up my hair. “Don’t go thinking I’m a saint, though. I’m letting you stick around ‘cause you owe me, alright?” I nodded hard. I knew when someone was truly good—not by what they said, but by what they did. We didn’t go back home until the next day, but no one was there. Mom had taken all her things and whatever money was left. She left a note on the coffee table. “Even if you beg, I’m not coming back!” My heart turned cold. The note wasn’t even meant for us—it was for Dad. Finn, still weak, lay in bed with his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his fingers clutching mine tightly. “Sunny… what did we do wrong? Why don’t they want us anymore?” I didn’t know how to answer, so I turned away and wiped a tear with the back of my hand. His small hand gently brushed my cheek. “Sunny, I’ll grow up fast. I’ll make a lot of money, and I won’t ever let you cry again.” I buried my head in the blanket, feeling a stinging pain behind my eyes. Soon, the fabric was soaked through. I held him close, thinking, even if they’re gone, we can still make it.

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I dragged Lyra Linwood from the twisted wreck of the car, putting everything I had into pulling her free. The flames behind us shot thick, choking smoke into the air as I carried her, stumbling to the side of the road where I set her down under the old sycamore tree. Blood was soaking through my clothes and pooling around me, a slick, snaking trail stretching farther and farther from my body. The screams around us grew faint as my strength waned. I reached up, touching Lyra’s face, and asked, “After twenty years, did you ever love me?” Pressing her hands against my wounds, Lyra’s face remained cool, her tone sharp as ever. “Don’t talk. The ambulance is on its way.” I forced a weak smile. Such a shame. I was going to die without hearing her say, “I love you.” Everything went dark. When I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t believe it—I’d gone back twenty years. Given another chance. If fate would let me choose again, then I’d choose to stay far, far away from Lyra Linwood. But there she was, standing on the rooftop with her arms spread wide, looking out over the city we’d lived in for two decades. Her hair flowed in the wind, her smile as bright as the colors of sunset. “Reece Dawson,” she called out to me. “Do you want to know what it feels like to watch the one you love die in your arms?” Content

I jolted awake, finding myself at my desk, my fingers lightly touching the keyboard. It wasn’t a dream. I’d been given a second chance. Maybe my last life’s bitter death was pitiful enough that fate decided to throw me a bone. Great. I’d take it. Lyra Linwood—she’d be nothing more than a memory. I’d leave her so far behind, she’d never see me again. I opened my computer, ready to write a resignation letter. But I hesitated. It had only been two years since I started this job, and things were tight at home. Dad was taking on every odd job he could to pay off debts, and Mom’s health meant she was always on medication. Leaving now would only make things worse. Lost in thought, I jumped when someone clapped a hand on my shoulder. It was a coworker, who asked dully, “What are you getting the boss for her birthday tonight?” My heart dropped. I grabbed my phone, checked the date, and went cold. It was today—today was the day that set the whole mess in motion. Tonight’s gathering was where I’d gotten entangled with Lyra, dragging myself into two decades of misery. Lyra’s father, a major shareholder at Linwood Corporation, had her take on a CEO role at the Regional Office right after she graduated. Young, gorgeous, and rich, she had everyone in the company worked up. I hadn’t been any different. But she hardly ever showed up, and when she did, her cold expression kept everyone at a distance. It just happened that this was her birthday, and for once, she’d invited everyone to celebrate. A party was one thing, but somehow, a “genius” coworker had spotted her at the airport with Aiden Brooks, her childhood friend. By the time they got back, they were spreading the story that Lyra had invited us because she’d just broken up with him. They said she was lonely and didn’t want to be alone for her birthday. The thought had struck me back then: those who seem cold on the outside must need warmth the most. So, I bought her a childish stuffed bear. And just like that, I won her “love.” I felt like a lottery winner who’d hit the jackpot out of nowhere. Every morning, I woke up, half-convinced I was dreaming, shocked that Lyra Linwood was my girlfriend. That disbelief blinded me to how she really treated me. All the way through our wedding, I was convinced that marrying her was some divine reward. But after twenty years, I finally understood: being married to someone who doesn’t love you is a cage of agony. I never saw her smile, never felt her warmth. Everything was cold, no matter how hard I tried. Loving her felt like talking to a mirror—nothing but my own reflection staring back. That’s why, as I lay dying, I had to ask her if she’d ever loved me. And I still never heard an answer. I took a long breath, cleared my thoughts, and held back the tears. Sorry, Lyra Linwood. This time, I’m leaving you. The grand ballroom gleamed, and Lyra sat at the center, as striking as a star in the night sky. Just one look, and my heart twisted, so I turned away, clapping along with my coworkers. We waited as she blew out the candles, each of us ready to present our gifts. Lyra thanked everyone in turn, a polite smile on her face—one that probably took her considerable effort, considering her usual icy demeanor. When it was my turn, I handed her a small box. No stuffed bear this time. Just a cheap bracelet I’d picked up off a street vendor for three bucks, complete with a freebie. She wouldn’t like it, I thought. But in front of everyone, Lyra put the other gifts aside, picked up mine, and opened it. She looked down at the bracelet, stunned. I thought she’d toss it aside, but instead, she slipped it on and looked up at me with a smile—a real one. One I’d never seen in twenty years. “Thank you. I love it.”

I was sure I’d misheard her. Lyra had always lived in luxury, with cabinets full of jade and porcelain. Nothing I could afford would ever impress her. Last time around, when I could finally afford high-end bags and jewelry, she’d taken one look and tossed them aside. Luxuries like that were “intelligence tax”—nothing worth her time. She had to know this bracelet was glass. Yet here she was, smiling at me. And for a moment, I felt like I’d been transported to a different world, one where she wasn’t the Lyra Linwood I’d known. Trying to shrug it off, I replied, “No problem,” and quickly walked away. I didn’t care which version of Lyra Linwood she was. I wasn’t betting my future on her loving me. Those twenty years were a prison of silent agony, the kind that chokes you until you’re numb with pain. Just thinking about it scared me. The party ended without incident, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Yet beneath it, there was an odd sense of disappointment. As if, somehow, she’d forgotten me. The next day, I dragged myself to the office. Most people were off on summer vacation. If I wasn’t short on cash, I wouldn’t be there either. I walked in to find everyone working away like their lives depended on it, a sharp contrast from the zombie-like scene just days before. Confused, I soon realized why. Lyra had come to the office. While everyone else scrambled to put on a show, I decided to keep my head down and follow along. Then Lyra walked straight over to my desk, tapped her finger on it, and said, “Reece, follow me.” My mind reeled. She was the CEO; I was a lowly employee. What did she want with me? But I followed her, too stunned to think. She led me into a remodeled office next to hers, complete with sleek mahogany furniture, a plush sofa, even flowers and a fish tank. The whole place smelled faintly of sycamore blossoms. She looked around and then pointed. “From now on, you’re my personal assistant. You’ll work here.” I was stunned. Lyra was the classic rich girl, but she was always professional. Last time, I’d earned my way up to manager on my own merit. She’d never given me special treatment at the company, even while we were dating. But now she was making me her assistant? Meaning I’d see her every day? I didn’t want to relive that nightmare, so I replied coldly, “Sorry, Ms. Linwood. I’m not qualified for this role. If that’s all, I’ll get back to my work.” She didn’t even hesitate. “Salary’s tripled.” My steps faltered, my heart betraying me with a quickened beat. Three times my current salary! I barely made six thousand a month now, but with a tripled salary, I could make nearly two grand. Even after taxes, it’d be a good amount. That money would ease Dad’s burden, pay down our debts, cover Mom’s medical costs, and maybe even leave enough to buy her some nice things. I hesitated, recalling those twenty years of silence, the feeling of being locked in a cage. But then I thought of Dad, hunched under the weight of hard labor, his skin sunburned and peeling, while I sat in an air-conditioned office. His back, bent under the load of our family’s struggles, seemed to whisper, “Hang in there.” I clenched my jaw. “Alright.”

I moved my stuff into the new office, one trip at a time. My coworkers were all gawking, probably thinking I’d been fired. When they heard I’d been made Lyra Linwood’s personal assistant, their jaws practically hit the floor. One of the guys who used to sit next to me leaned over, grinning slyly. “Hey, I just saw Ms. Linwood wearing that bracelet you gave her. Now she’s got you working right by her side, huh? Man, you’re on your way up!” I shot him a look. “Yeah, and where’s your girlfriend, big shot?” Inside, though, I was bitterly laughing. Just like before, everyone saw me as some big winner in life. Nobody knew the kind of life I actually lived. It was nothing but a cold face, constant orders, and no room for my opinion. Lyra made all the rules, and I was like her puppet, doing whatever she wanted. Once, I even thought about divorce. But what did Lyra do? She held our child in her arms, her eyes wild as she told me, “Leave, and I’ll end him.” I’d never seen that kind of craziness in her eyes before. I stayed, fearing what she’d do. She was back to her usual ice-cold self in no time, but the message was clear. Years later, when our child grew up and could manage on his own, I planned to leave her. But I never got the chance—there was a massive pileup on the highway, an oil tanker explosion that sent flames into the sky. I’d managed to pull her out but died myself, full of regret. If those coworkers knew half my life had felt like a prison sentence, would they still envy me? After moving my things, I checked to see if Lyra was still around. She was gone, and I felt a wave of relief as I sat down and started organizing files. This time, I had no plans to get tangled up in her life again. All I wanted was to give my parents a break and eventually find a woman who truly loved me. That was going to take money. And if Lyra was willing to pay, I’d play along. Besides, I knew how to keep things professional. But then, she surprised me again. Lyra walked in not long after and didn’t even look my way as she pulled out her makeup kit, touching up her face, taking off her earrings. She went through her entire routine, even taking off her shoes and lying down on the sofa. I stared, dumbfounded. I’d spent twenty years with her and never seen her care for herself this meticulously. Still, as long as she didn’t bother me, I figured I’d just ignore her. I turned back to the computer to start working, but I could see her out of the corner of my eye, lying right there, making it impossible to focus. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Ms. Linwood, it’s work hours. People might talk if they see you sleeping here.” She didn’t even open her eyes. “I bought this sofa specifically for naps. Now stop talking and get back to work.” Her words made me feel that old, suffocating resentment. In my last life, she’d told me to be quiet and follow orders until my dying breath. Was she expecting me to do it again? No way. I shut my laptop, grabbed my bag, and stood to leave. Lyra opened her eyes. “Where are you going?” “To see some clients,” I said coolly. “I still have open accounts to close.” Lyra looked at me for several long moments, then smiled. Twice in two days. I felt like I was seeing things. “You’re my assistant now,” she said. “No more running around. Just stay here. I’ll tell you what to do when I need you.” It was like she knew I hated those words and said them just to rile me up. I told myself to stay calm—losing my temper wouldn’t help. As long as I could hold on, my mom wouldn’t have to tell me she felt like a burden, and my dad could ease up a little. I kept my tone as steady as possible. “Sorry, Ms. Linwood, but the company policy on account responsibility says I have to finish my own work.” I left before she could respond. Out in the summer heat, I felt a rush of freedom. Last time, I’d fallen into her trap and spent two decades shackled to her. I wasn’t sure how I’d survived it. Now, she wanted to rope me in all over again. At least I could separate work and personal life. As long as I didn’t get involved with her outside of the office, I’d be fine. The whole day passed with me working outside, meeting clients, and closing deals. When I finally sneaked back into the office to clock out, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Lyra was right there, out of nowhere, holding an ice cream cone in one hand and a blueberry sundae in the other. “This is for you,” she said. “Looked like you could use it in this heat.” I glanced out the door to see my coworkers craning their necks, grinning like fools, looking ready to start gossiping. Clearly, one of those idiots had told her blueberry was my favorite flavor. I shot them a glare, shut the door, and looked back at Lyra. “Ms. Linwood, I appreciate the gesture, but please don’t do things like this. It’s easy to get the wrong idea. I know you’ve just gone through a breakup with Aiden Brooks and probably need someone to lean on, but I’m just a lowly employee, and you’re the CEO. We don’t have a future together. Whether you believe it or not, I swear on everything—I can promise you, you’re not going to love me in this lifetime.” I put my files away and clocked out on my phone. If I didn’t set things straight now, there’d only be more problems later. I knew that the one she really loved was Aiden; I was nothing more than a stand-in, like the stuffed bear I’d given her in my last life. This time, I wouldn’t throw my life away for someone who didn’t love me. I wanted someone who loved me, someone who had eyes only for me, not a memory. If I’d misjudged things and she wasn’t after anything romantic, then fine—I’d only have embarrassed myself, no big deal. I could always apologize later. Just as I turned to leave, Lyra grabbed my arm, smiling as she said, “Come with me for a minute.” Was she out of her mind? I’d practically laid everything out, and she hadn’t reacted at all. In my last life, she would’ve exploded. Even delaying her orders was enough to send her into an ice-cold rage. But here she was, calm as ever. Puzzled, I followed her to the elevator. She led me up to the rooftop, where the sunset filled the sky with streaks of gold and red. Standing against the glowing horizon, Lyra looked at me and smiled. “I never liked sycamore trees,” she said. “But do you know why I filled your office with sycamore sachets?” “Because the last time I saw you was under the sycamore tree,” she continued, her words hitting me like a punch to the gut. Lyra had also come back to the past. I stared, speechless, as she walked over to the edge of the rooftop, stretching her arms out to the city. The wind caught her hair, her smile as bright as the evening sun. “Reece Dawson, would you like to feel what it’s like to watch the one you love die in your arms?”

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My boyfriend’s team won the World Robotics Championship. During the celebratory hugs with teammates, the junior girl impulsively kissed him. Flustered afterwards, she blushed and quickly kissed all the other teammates too. In an instant, the whole internet was buzzing: “Hidden love can’t be concealed” “To kiss you once, she kissed six people’s faces” It’s indeed so sweet, I’ll ship it first. “June, you’re finally back! The final match is about to start!” In the living room, my parents and Simon’s parents were all sitting on the couch, nervously staring at the TV screen. I changed my clothes and brought some washed fruit to the living room. My mom complained, “June, you’re really not taking this seriously. It’s such an important competition for your boyfriend, and you didn’t even come back early?” I hugged my mom’s arm and whined, “I made it back in time, didn’t I? I was finalizing an article with my editor, we need to go to print tonight.” My mom tapped me lightly, dissatisfied, “Quit that magazine job soon and focus on your grad school applications!” Simon’s mom chimed in, “That’s right, June. You should apply to grad school in N City soon, so you and Simon won’t have to be in a long-distance relationship anymore.” My mom nodded in agreement, “Yes, the two of you have known each other since you were seven or eight, you’ve never been apart for so long.” I smiled softly, not continuing the topic. Simon and I had known each other since we were seven or eight when our families moved into the same building. We became childhood sweethearts. After high school graduation, he confessed to me, and we became a couple. When we told our classmates about our relationship, they were all surprised, “Oh, weren’t you two already together?” Everyone thought we were destined to be together, including both our parents. Simon and I had been dating for several years, almost inseparable. It wasn’t until last year when he got into graduate school in N City, and I failed my first attempt at grad school applications and stayed in our hometown to work at a magazine, that we started our long-distance relationship. At first, we would video chat and text every day, sharing our daily lives. But at some point, all of his topics with me became about robots and his genius junior, Sophia. “June, I’ve never met a girl with such quick thinking, so proficient in programming and mechanics. I always thought girls were like you, enjoying reading and drawing!” I knew nothing about programming and mechanics, and I didn’t want to know how excellent Sophia was. I could only become more and more silent. Gradually, he talked to me less and less. I scrolled through my phone; the last message was from over ten days ago. He said he needed to focus on preparing for the competition and might not have time to chat with me. Even when it was my birthday, he didn’t send a single message. He used to be the first person to wish me happy birthday, but this time, his wishes never came. I felt like something was slipping through my fingers like sand, impossible to hold onto. I was lost in thought. “They won! They won!” Simon’s dad and my dad cheered, while my mom and Simon’s mom happily applauded. I looked up at the screen. Simon’s team had just won the championship. The crowd at the venue cheered continuously, and team members hugged each other in celebration. Simon and the girl next to him were also hugging tightly. Suddenly, the girl lightly kissed Simon on the corner of his mouth. Simon froze, his face turning red, his arms still tightly around the girl. The girl realized what she had done and blushed, looking flustered. She quickly grabbed the nearest teammate and hastily kissed him on the cheek, then proceeded to kiss all the other teammates in quick succession. The venue erupted in good-natured laughter, everyone was in high spirits. My heart felt ice-cold. This girl must be Sophia, right? After the competition ended, reporters interviewed on site, specifically asking Simon and Sophia, “Are you two a couple?” The other teammates laughed and teased them. Sophia blushed and remained silent, while Simon scratched his head and smiled, neither denying nor confirming. Simon’s dad frowned, “How could this girl behave like that? Casually kissing someone else’s boyfriend? And what’s wrong with Simon, why didn’t he deny it?” My mom gently patted my hand, “They’re probably just too excited about winning. They’re all young.” I forced a smile, “Yeah, they must be really happy.” Simon’s mom took my hand, “No matter what, we only recognize June as our daughter-in-law. Don’t worry, June. I’ll teach him a lesson when he gets back. He’s being too careless!” Simon’s dad added, “Let’s arrange the wedding for these two kids during the New Year. Getting married won’t affect his studies.” After Simon’s parents left, I went to the balcony to video call Simon. They were celebrating at the hotel restaurant. Simon seemed to have had a few drinks, his eyes looked excited. “June, did you watch my competition?” Suddenly, someone entered the frame. It was Sophia. She might have had some drinks too, her delicate face was flushed. Sophia leaned on Simon’s shoulder, her doe eyes looking at him lovingly, “Senior, they’re making me drink…” Simon carefully cupped her face and looked at her, then turned his head and called out, “Who’s making Sophia drink again? You know she can’t handle alcohol…” “Boss, who would dare to force the junior to drink with you around? She drank on her own~” “Yeah, boss, who are you video calling? Are you secretly introducing her to your parents? You say there’s nothing between you two, but you’re actually already together?” …… Simon turned back, looking a bit flustered, “Don’t talk nonsense, this is my girlfriend.” Sophia suddenly grabbed the phone, held it up and panned around, “This is sister-in-law, look how pretty she is!” I was disheveled, wearing pajamas, and was suddenly put on display for everyone’s curious gazes. Simon snatched the phone back and immediately hung up the video call. I returned to the living room. My parents were sitting on the couch, looking at me worriedly. I forced a smile, “What’s wrong?” “Did you and Simon have a fight? You’ve seemed distracted all day.” I shook my head, “We haven’t talked in a long time.” My mom anxiously said, “This long-distance relationship is bound to make feelings fade. You should apply to grad school in N City soon, everything will be fine once you two are together again.” My dad said, “I actually think their long-distance relationship isn’t a bad thing. These two kids got together too early, they haven’t seen the outside world or met other people. They should both broaden their horizons, see the world, figure out what they really want, and then make a decision.” I nodded, “I’m planning to go to N City this weekend.” My dad sighed, “Go ahead, ask Simon what he really thinks.” That night, I kept scrolling through my phone. Simon and Sophia were trending. “Hidden love can’t be concealed” “Love is the only eye contact in a chaotic crowd” “She kissed six people for you” …… The internet was going crazy with speculation. I didn’t sleep all night, but I didn’t receive any message from Simon either. On the weekend, I went to N City. When I found Simon, he was coming out of the lab building with Sophia. The autumn rain was cool, they were wearing matching scarves, walking side by side down the steps. Suddenly, Sophia slipped. Simon quickly steadied her, then simply picked up the petite Sophia by the waist, lifting her off the ground. Sophia giggled, “Senior, put me down, my waist is ticklish~” Simon smiled indulgently, “Don’t move, be careful not to fall.” I watched their smiling faces in a daze, feeling like I’d seen this scene before. Finally, I remembered. Back when we were in school, on rainy days when the steps were slippery, Simon used to carry me like this too. At the bottom of the steps, Simon put Sophia down. When he looked up, he saw me. He was stunned for a moment, “June, why are you here?” I hadn’t expected the temperature drop in N City and was dressed too lightly, shivering in the autumn wind. Simon unwrapped his scarf and put it around my neck, holding my cold hands. “June, why are you dressed so lightly? Why did you come all this way in the cold instead of staying home and focusing on your studies?” Sophia stared at his hands holding mine for a while, then looked away, asking with apparent curiosity, “Is senior applying for a PhD?” Simon explained, “She’s applying for grad school. She missed it by a few points last year.” I clearly saw a flash of contempt in Sophia’s eyes. Sophia, like Simon, had been directly admitted to grad school. She was a genius girl the school had competed to recruit, the apple of their advisor’s eye, and the darling of the whole team. I had heard Simon talk about this countless times. In comparison, I indeed had nothing to boast about. After all, I was just a failure who didn’t get into grad school, too far removed from their world of geniuses. “June, you haven’t eaten yet, right? Let’s go get something to eat.” After saying this, Simon instinctively looked at Sophia. Sophia pouted, “I’ll just eat at the cafeteria. Senior, you take your girlfriend out for something nice. Remember to come back early, we have a group meeting at 2 pm.” Simon looked at me again, “It’s almost 1 pm now…” I smiled lightly, “Don’t bother, let’s just eat at the cafeteria together.” Simon looked relieved, “Alright, I’ll show you our cafeteria then.” Sophia smiled sweetly, “Yes, our cafeteria is quite good, we can even order dishes!” Simon went to order food, while Sophia and I found a table to sit down. “Is senior studying the same major as us? Are you applying to our school again this year?” Our cafeteria, our major, our school… Her repeated use of “our” was a bit grating. I didn’t mind, just said calmly, “I study literature. Your school doesn’t have a suitable program, I’m planning to apply to N University.” Sophia nodded, the contempt in her eyes becoming more obvious, “Oh, senior studies literature?” I nodded. “Since you study literature, how did you end up with our senior who’s such a science and engineering nerd?” I didn’t respond, and she continued talking: “Senior, you don’t know, our senior is such a total nerd, I wonder how he even found a girlfriend~” “You know what? Once in class, I had really bad cramps and was in so much pain I couldn’t speak. He kept asking what was wrong, and when I told him my stomach hurt, he ran out without a word to buy medicine. Guess what he bought? He came back with diarrhea medicine! He thought I had an upset stomach!” “An upset stomach! Haha…” Sophia laughed uncontrollably. Simon came back, “What are you two laughing about? Seems like you’re having fun.” Sophia glanced at him, “I’m telling senior about your bad side~” During the meal, I couldn’t taste anything. Simon and Sophia were discussing topics I couldn’t understand, something about “collaborative robots, BCI brain-controlled robots…” The gap between different fields was like a mountain, I couldn’t join the conversation at all. After lunch, Simon took me to his rented apartment near the school, telling me to rest there and that he’d be back after the group meeting. I waited all afternoon, but even by evening, he hadn’t returned. He sent a message saying there was another group meeting in the evening that would run late, and since there were more activities in the morning, he’d just stay in his dorm on campus for the night instead of coming back and forth. I looked around the empty room. We’d been in a long-distance relationship for almost two years. He always came back home to see me whenever he had time, accumulating a stack of high-speed rail tickets. This place where he had lived for almost two years, I was visiting for the first time. The small studio apartment was kept fairly clean. The books on the desk, the water cup, the clothes in the closet, were all unfamiliar to me. It was as if the owner of these things was becoming a stranger too. While getting ready for bed, I found a bottle of conditioner in the bathroom. I couldn’t understand why Simon, with his crew cut, would need conditioner. The next morning, Simon didn’t come back until almost eleven. He smiled and handed me a paper bag, “I bought this for you.” I took out the contents – a fluffy hat and scarf set. Olive green. He held up the hat to my head, “Isn’t it nice? Sophia picked it out.” I stopped his hand, “You went shopping with Sophia just now?” He said casually, “We didn’t have time to go shopping. We had an event at the science museum this morning. On the way back, Sophia mentioned you were dressed lightly yesterday and specially reminded me to buy something for you.” I said flatly, “How thoughtful of her, busy sending me a green hat.” Simon’s face darkened, “What are you talking about? What green hat?” The questions that had been bottled up inside me made me feel irritated. I had originally planned to have a good talk with him, to ask him what he really thought, whether there were any problems between us, and what we should do. But now, I just wanted to throw the hat in his face. “Simon, don’t you owe me an explanation?” “What explanation?” “You kissed on a globally broadcasted competition, it even trended online, shouldn’t you explain that?” “What kiss? What are you talking about? It was just a celebration, right? Everyone kissed, didn’t you see?”

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The Southern-Style BBQ deli downstairs from my apartment, Maynard’s Deli, had a reputation for being pricey but delicious. I was practically there every day. At first, I’d pay for whatever amount they weighed out. But gradually, when I asked for $30 worth, they’d weigh out $50. Ask for $50? They’d scale it up to $100. I figured they were just trying to make ends meet, so I never made a fuss—always paid, no questions asked. One morning, I was in a rush to get to work, with my Uber driver honking outside. After grabbing my bagged order, I realized the plastic bag was torn, and broth was leaking out. Not wanting to trouble the busy shop, I grabbed two extra plastic bags and bolted for the car. Later that day, Russell Maynard’s mother, Martha, stormed into my office building and demanded I pay for those two bags. In front of all my coworkers, she accused me of being cheap and shameless. It hit me then—some people just aren’t worth your sympathy. Content 0 I’d stayed up too late the night before and overslept. I scrambled to get ready for work, throwing on whatever I could grab, and ran out the door. The Uber driver was already waiting, but my stomach reminded me I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I rushed into Maynard’s Deli and told Russell to pack me $30 worth of BBQ for the road. I was running late and couldn’t waste time. When he weighed it, the total came to $56.90. Fine. I didn’t argue. I paid, grabbed the bag, and was about to leave when I noticed the torn bag leaking sauce onto my hand. Russell was busy, so I didn’t want to bother him. I grabbed two extra bags and left. Twenty minutes after getting to the office, I hadn’t even had time to eat before Mia Carter, my coworker, told me someone was there to see me. I thought maybe a client had arrived early. Adjusting my blazer, I stepped outside—and was face-to-face with none other than Martha Maynard. “You ran off without paying!” she barked, her voice dripping with venom. “How can someone who works at such a big company be so shameless?” My mind raced. Did my payment not go through? I quickly pulled up my payment history on Venmo—everything looked fine. “Mrs. Maynard,” I said, keeping my tone polite, “I just checked, and I definitely paid. Maybe there was a delay on your end?” I showed her the transaction receipt on my phone. “See? I paid. This must be a misunderstanding.” “You paid for the chicken wings,” she sneered. “But don’t forget about the extra plastic bags you took! Five cents each, and you just walked off with them like I owe you something!” The misunderstanding wasn’t cleared up; if anything, she doubled down. “Walking around all polished and proper, working at a big company, but you still can’t resist taking advantage of us small folk.” “Doesn’t your company care about hiring people with integrity? Call your boss out here and let him see your true colors.” “You think because I’m an old lady, you can bully me? Taking things without paying just because I’m too polite to stop you? You’re disgusting!” By now, her shouting had drawn the attention of my entire office. 0

Martha’s voice echoed across the office, loud enough for the whole floor to hear. People started gathering, curious about the commotion. Even Greg Mitchell, my team leader, rushed over. Seeing her rage, he tried to calm her down before even asking me for the full story. “Jules,” Greg said, turning to me, “just give her the money, and let’s move on. She’s an elderly lady—it’s not easy for her to come all the way here. Let’s not cause a scene or hurt the company’s image.” I bit back my anger, knowing he had a point. This was about a dollar. Not worth escalating. Besides, I had a major client meeting in thirty minutes and couldn’t waste energy arguing with her. “Fine,” I said coldly. Turning to Martha, I spoke deliberately. “Mrs. Maynard, I was in a hurry this morning, and I didn’t realize you’d weighed out $56.90 instead of $30. That was already more than I asked for. And I didn’t know the extra bags cost money. That’s on me. My apologies. Give me your payment code, and I’ll pay you right now.” The murmurs around the office showed my colleagues understood the situation now. Many of them shot me sympathetic glances. Martha, however, glared at me like I was the devil incarnate. “Well, at least you’ve got some decency,” she spat. “But next time, if you don’t pay for the bags, don’t bother coming to Maynard’s. We don’t serve people with no class.” I nearly exploded but forced myself to hold back. I opened Venmo, sent her $1, and stepped back. The app chimed, “Payment received: $1.” I thought that would end things, but Martha wasn’t done. She pointed a finger at me, her nose in the air. “One dollar? That’s it? Who knows how many bags you’ve swiped before today? I’m asking for $50, at least. You’re rich, right? Don’t act like you can’t afford it.” Seething, I asked through gritted teeth, “How much do you want?” “$50,” she snapped, her tone dripping with entitlement. Knowing I couldn’t waste more time, I transferred the $50 to make her leave. She smirked as the transaction went through. “You’ve got the money, so why not give it to me? Better me than someone else, right?” With that, she left, grinning ear to ear. As I watched her walk away, I clenched my fists. Fifty dollars for two plastic bags? Seriously? I’d let this slide for months—letting her overcharge me, thinking it was charity. Dad even wanted to raise their rent, but I told him to hold off. “They’re struggling,” I’d said. “The BBQ’s good. Don’t push them too hard.” And this is how they repay me? Sometimes, being nice just makes you a target. ome people think kindness is weakness. Some horses, when gentle, are ridden rough. Watching Martha Maynard’s retreating back, I raised an eyebrow. She had no idea who she’d just picked a fight with. 0

As soon as Martha left, the tension in the office evaporated. My coworkers gathered around to console me. “Jules,” Mia Carter said, “with people like her, you just have to swallow your pride. If you don’t pay, they’ll never stop causing trouble. Don’t let it get to you.” “Seriously,” another coworker said indignantly. “What a vulture. I can’t believe people like her exist.” “Right? That Maynard’s Deli? I used to love their BBQ. Never going back again!” Then, Colin Spencer, who always seemed to delight in needling me, chimed in with his usual smug tone. “Well, Jules, technically you didn’t pay for the bags at first. She’s got a point, doesn’t she? Is it really okay to badmouth an elderly woman like this?” “Why don’t you say it to her face if you’re so righteous?” he added with a challenge in his voice. I turned to him, my gaze sharp as a blade. “Colin, did you come straight out of a cave or something?” “What? No, why would you—” “Because you sure act like you’re covered in ancient murals. You’ve got so many cracks, you’re practically falling apart.” His face turned green, then white, then red, but he didn’t have a comeback. He just shut his mouth and sulked. People like him? You have to shut them down without mercy. That night, I told my dad about what had happened. He didn’t play the “I told you so” card. Instead, his voice was full of warmth and fury on my behalf. “Jules, don’t worry about it. We’ll stop buying from them. People like that? They’re destined to fail.” “And the storefront?” I asked, already knowing the answer. “Oh, I’ll let it sit empty before I rent it to them again. No one gets to mess with my little girl.” “When’s the lease up?” “About a month.” “Then don’t give them a heads-up. Just kick them out when the time comes,” I said, my tone icy. “Consider it done,” Dad said firmly. Dad wasn’t around much, always busy with work, and Mom, a college professor, spent most of her time on campus. It was just me at home, so their support, even from a distance, meant the world. But truth be told, I wasn’t losing sleep over this. A dog bite doesn’t become your fault just because it hurt. After work, I stopped by the bakery and bought a selection of fancy pastries. On a whim, I also picked up a large box of freshly cut durian—an indulgence I’d been craving. The Maynard family had three kids. Their eldest daughter was off at college, the middle child, Lily, was 13 and in middle school, and the youngest, Noah, was still in elementary. As I walked past Maynard’s Deli, Lily and Noah came bounding over, their faces lighting up at the sight of my bags. Lily trailed behind me like a shadow, her eyes practically glued to the box. “Miss Jules, what did you buy? It looks so yummy!” I saw right through her act. “Just some cake and durian,” I said bluntly. “Why? Got something to say? If not, I’m heading home.” The word “durian” made Noah’s eyes sparkle with excitement. Without hesitation, he reached for my bag. “Miss Jules, how did you know I wanted durian today? Open it up and let me have some!” I lifted the bag out of his reach, my expression unamused. “If you want it so bad, go buy it yourself. Don’t have money? Ask your dad.” Noah scrunched up his face, clearly displeased. “My dad doesn’t have your kind of money. He’d never buy us something so expensive.” Lily quickly chimed in, “Yeah, yeah! If it weren’t for you, we’d never get to taste anything nice like that!” How had I missed it before? These two were just as shameless as their grandmother. A house full of the same brand of entitlement. Out of pity, I used to share with them every time they played the sweet sibling act, calling me “Miss Jules” like I was their favorite neighbor. But today? Not a chance. 0

When I didn’t hand over the goods right away, Noah tried to grab my sleeve. “Give it to me now! I’m telling you to!” “Back off,” I snapped, shaking him off. “I’m not your mom. Why should I give you anything?” Noah’s face darkened. “I know you love the BBQ from our shop. Keep this up, and I’ll make sure Dad stops selling to you!” Lily dropped her sweet-girl act and planted her hands on her hips. “You always shared with us before. Why not today?” Excuse me? Somehow, they’d managed to take shamelessness to a whole new level. Before I could respond, Martha waddled over, looking every bit as bold as when she stormed into my office. There wasn’t a hint of shame on her face—just the smug air of someone who thought they had the upper hand. “Let’s just put the plastic bag thing behind us, shall we? I won’t hold it against you. No need to sour things between us.” Her tone shifted to one of mock generosity, but it was dripping with condescension. “Kids will be kids. Just let them have a little taste. You’re doing well for yourself, so what’s the harm?” “And you know,” she added, her voice laced with fake sweetness, “my grandson only asks because he likes you. Don’t let him down.” Her audacity nearly made me laugh. I stared her down, my voice ice-cold. “What do you want? A verbal slap? Fine, I’ll deliver.” “Lack of education can be fixed. Bad looks? There’s always surgery. But a rotten heart? That’s incurable. You extorted $50 from me for a plastic bag and have the gall to stand here pretending to play nice? Do you even realize how much face you’re losing?”

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The day Silas Peyton and I had planned to move to the same city, I couldn’t make it. He might never understand how, after just a quick trip back home to pack, I vanished without a trace. A few days later, I called him. The moment he picked up, his voice was sharp and accusing: “Evie Langston, were you planning a cliff-edge breakup?” I glanced around at the cold, unyielding concrete walls and forced myself to say what I didn’t mean. “Yeah, I’m heading to Europe soon to live a better life.” “Let’s not contact each other again.” Content Five years later, I was making ends meet by running a stall at the Blue Ridge Night Bazaar in Asheville. By night, I painted nails for tourists and sold handmade trinkets on the side. That evening, a drizzle started. The woman running the neighboring stall began packing up and called out to me, “Evie, it’s raining. Why aren’t you heading home?” I gave her a bitter smile and shook my head. I hadn’t made a single sale all day. Going home empty-handed didn’t sit right. She tried to console me. “Girl, this isn’t how you earn a living. You’ve barely eaten today—you can’t keep treating yourself like this.” Before she could finish, two people stopped in front of my stall—a couple who looked like they’d stepped straight out of a magazine. “Hey, how much for a manicure?” The girl’s voice was sugary sweet as she idly flipped through the nail designs. I instinctively lowered my head, wiped off the chair for her, and introduced myself eagerly, “Basic designs are $50, more intricate ones are $100. And if you like, I can give you a free plush toy—handmade by me.” She barely glanced at me, pointing at a trendy seasonal design. “This one. Forget the plush toy—I don’t trust unlicensed crafts.” The man beside her raised the umbrella higher over her head, his voice teasing and indulgent. “Only you would think of getting your nails done in the rain.” My hand, reaching for tools, froze. That voice—I hadn’t heard it in years, but I’d never forget it. Silas Peyton. I stole a glance at him and saw how he’d changed. He was leaner, sharper, and even more handsome. My heart twisted like fallen leaves caught in a fierce wind. I pressed down on the girl’s hand and forced myself to focus, mechanically tracing the design she wanted. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Silas pull out a chair and sit down, still holding the umbrella over her. My mind drifted back to our college days. Whenever it rained, he’d wait for me outside the dorms, tilting the umbrella to shield me more than himself. But that devotion no longer belonged to me. Now, he stood beside another woman, shielding her from the elements and giving her his undivided attention. “Wait—wipe it off,” the girl suddenly said, pulling her hand back to inspect her nails. “Miss, is… something wrong?” I asked nervously. She frowned, shaking her head. “Your hands—they’re rough. It feels like they’re full of thorns.” “How are you supposed to do manicures with hands like that? Don’t you know anything about marketing?” For the first time, I noticed my cracked, calloused fingers, worn from years of stitching and mending. My face burned, and my chest tightened with shame. Silas chuckled lightly, tousling her hair, and pulled out his wallet. “Could you clean it off for her? Keep the money.” Then, his gaze finally fell on me. That one look made him freeze, his hand gripping the cash mid-motion. I watched as his expression hardened, his facial muscles twitching. Those once gentle, mesmerizing eyes were now filled with bitterness. The girl, oblivious, began wiping her fingers with disinfectant wipes. She turned to him and asked, “What’s wrong? Do you know her?” He suddenly laughed, pulling out a few more bills and tossing them at me. “No. Just felt sorry for her.” “Think of it as charity for a beggar. Let’s go.” Those words felt like claws digging into my chest. He’d recognized me—at my lowest.

What Silas Peyton didn’t know was that this wasn’t my lowest point. The year we graduated, we had agreed to move to the same city. Before leaving, I returned to my mother’s house to pack. What greeted me there was a nightmare. My stepfather had my mom pinned to the ground, one hand holding her head down, the other raining punches. When he saw me, he didn’t stop. If anything, he hit harder. “You worthless leech! Just like your daughter—useless and filthy. You live off my money, but when it’s time to serve me, you refuse? I’ll beat you to death!” My mother’s wails and his curses blended into a cacophony that shattered my sanity. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I charged at him and pushed him away. But I was no match for him. Within seconds, he’d recovered and slapped me across the face. My mom scrambled up and clung to his legs. “Please, stop! Don’t hurt her. She’ll make money—she’ll help you.” The mention of money made him even angrier. He shoved her aside and wrapped his hands around my neck. At that moment, I thought I was going to die. In desperation, my hand found a fruit knife on the table. Without thinking, I plunged it into his chest. At barely twenty, I had taken a life. The day I awaited sentencing, I called Silas. His first words were angry: “How could you do this to me?” I wiped the tears streaming down my face and, for the first time, forced myself to sound cold and disdainful. “Silas Peyton, listen. In a few days, I’ll be in Europe living my best life.” “Only a fool would stick with someone like you.” My lies were enough to crush him, who had nothing back then. His voice trembled as he warned me not to regret it before hanging up. I was sentenced to five years for manslaughter. My mom hanged herself a week later. From that moment, I lost not just my freedom but also my mother. Regret consumed me, but it was too late. Silas Peyton was perfect, the kind of man no one could ever replace. And I—my carefully built inner fortress had crumbled into ruins. I was no longer worthy of him. Never would be. When I was released, no company would hire me. I managed to find a job delivering food, but once my record was discovered, even my kind boss turned cold. “You stupid girl! Don’t you know they’ll investigate and come down on me? Get out—now!” Who would’ve thought a graduate from a prestigious college would end up unqualified even to deliver takeout? Eventually, I survived by selling crafts I’d learned in prison, working from dawn until dusk just to make ends meet. The money Silas threw at me today was almost what I earned in a month. But I didn’t want it. That money hitting me felt more painful than a slap across the face. Later that night, I got a call from my college roommate, Madison Vance. She was the only person I’d stayed in touch with after my release. “Evie, I’m getting married next month. Silas will be there—my dad’s working with him, and I can’t avoid it.” “But you have to come. We promised back in college, remember?” I glanced at the money I hadn’t returned, steadying my voice. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.” “I have something I need to give back to him anyway.” It’s time to return it. And let go.

Madison Vance’s wedding was held at her father’s hotel, the Vance Regency Hotel in Manhattan. It was my first time back in this city in over five years. Even though I’d been out of prison and reintegrating into society for half a year, crowds still made me feel uneasy. “Evie, don’t be so tense,” Madison said, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat. I forced a dry smile and gestured for her to go ahead and tend to her guests. Once everyone had taken their seats, I realized I’d been placed at a table with my old college classmates. None of them recognized me. Silas Peyton arrived with the same beautiful woman I’d seen at the Blue Ridge Night Bazaar. Their entrance caused an immediate stir. “Well, well, looks like Mr. Peyton might be tying the knot soon,” someone teased. Silas didn’t deny it, confidently holding the woman’s hand as they walked. Glancing briefly in my direction, he nodded with a smile. “That’s right. When Serena and I get married, I hope everyone here will join us to celebrate.” So, her name was Serena Cross. I kept my head down, wishing I could disappear into the floor. My only strategy was to make myself as invisible as possible. But Serena noticed me. “Hey! Aren’t you the girl who did my nails that day?” Her voice carried, and every pair of eyes at the table turned to me. Finally, someone exclaimed, “You’re… Evelyn Langston, right?” I nodded slightly, still avoiding eye contact. The recognition set off a wave of murmurs. “It is her! But what happened to you? You used to be so gorgeous. Now you look… malnourished.” I forced a weak smile, not knowing how to respond. One of Silas’s friends, who had always been close to him, smirked and added, “Wow, the campus beauty queen fell pretty far. Guess karma caught up with you. No one’s heard a word from you for years—we thought maybe you didn’t survive the pandemic.” The comments stung, but I could bear it. After all, compared to the abuse I endured in prison, this was nothing. Besides, this was Madison’s wedding. I wouldn’t let anything ruin it. I focused on my plate, quietly eating while ignoring the conversation around me. Silas chuckled, serving Serena another bite of food. “Ms. Langston, is American cuisine too plain for someone who’s been living abroad?” I chewed my last bite mechanically, set my fork down gently, and stood. “Enjoy your meals, everyone. I have to go.” I spoke with my eyes fixed on the empty space above their heads. At a table full of people, I couldn’t find a single pair of eyes willing to meet mine. I left in a hurry, without saying goodbye to Madison or returning the money I owed Silas. But before I could step out of the hotel, Silas intercepted me. Somehow, he’d taken a different route and was already waiting at the door. Without warning, he grabbed my arm and dragged me to a secluded corner. His expression was dark, like a brewing storm. “Evelyn Langston, what’s the deal? Weren’t you supposed to be living it up in Europe? What are you doing back here?” I stood there, tongue-tied, his words like barbs caught in my throat. “This is your karma for dumping me, isn’t it?” he spat, his voice rising. “Are you jealous? Look at me now—I’m wealthy, successful, and my girlfriend is beautiful and sweet.” “The best part? She loves me. She’d never abandon me like you did. You’re the one who got left behind!” Years of pent-up anger exploded like a dam bursting, his words hitting me like tidal waves, leaving me gasping for air. Just then, Madison appeared, out of breath and stepping protectively between us. “Silas, what’s wrong with you? Do you even know what Evie—” “Madison!” I interrupted sharply, cutting her off. I shoved the money I’d been holding into Silas’s hand, then grabbed Madison and walked away. He didn’t need to know. Some truths are better left buried.

That night, Madison called me. “Evie, stop hiding in that little market. Come work at my dad’s hotel.” I hesitated, feeling a mix of apprehension and disbelief. “Are you sure? I don’t want to cause any trouble.” Madison dismissed my concerns. “It’s fine! Just a temporary job as a guest room attendant. You won’t have to deal with people much, and you’ll make way more than you do selling plush toys.” For once, I decided to take a chance. On my third day, there was a birthday party being held in the main hall. It had nothing to do with me—until my manager called me down to help serve drinks. When I entered the hall, I froze. The party was for Silas Peyton. I’d completely forgotten. The place was packed with college friends and influential people he’d befriended in Manhattan. I scanned the room, desperate to spot Madison. I wanted nothing more than to stay out of sight. “What are you staring at? You’re here to work, not gawk!” barked the floor supervisor. She shoved a tray of drinks into my hands and pointed to the main table. “Hurry up! They’ve been waiting.” Before I could protest, she pushed me forward. Like a zombie, I carried the tray toward the crowd. As I approached the main table, Serena suddenly turned, bumping into my arm. The tray slipped, crashing to the floor. Glasses shattered, and wine splattered everywhere—right onto Serena’s expensive heels and dress. “Seriously? Are you blind?” she snapped. “I’m sorry.” My apology was automatic as I fumbled to clean up the mess. Serena wasn’t satisfied. “Sorry? Do you have any idea how much these shoes cost? Get down and clean them properly!” I hesitated, glancing at Silas. His brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. That was answer enough. He wasn’t going to step in. “Hello? Are you deaf? Is this how your staff handles mistakes?” Serena pressed. Fine. I pulled out a handkerchief, knelt down, and began wiping her shoes. I could feel the weight of every gaze in the room pressing down on me. Before I was done, Serena let out a cold laugh. “Ladies and gentlemen, doesn’t this face look familiar? Anyone know where our dear Evelyn Langston has been all these years?” My mind went blank. She planned this. Her voice dripped with mockery. “Evelyn, should I tell everyone where you disappeared to, or would you like the honor?” I finally understood—she’d dug into my past. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, she was determined to expose me. The crowd buzzed with whispers, like a swarm of flies. I looked up, meeting Serena’s triumphant gaze. At that moment, I felt like a cornered animal, surrounded by predators waiting for me to crumble. If I was going to fall, I’d do it on my own terms. Straightening up, I turned to the crowd. My voice was steady. “No need. I’ll tell them myself.” “Years ago, I killed someone. I spent those missing years in prison.” The truth wasn’t for them. It was for me. All I wanted was to live without hiding. “What did you say?” Silas shot to his feet, staring at me in disbelief. His eyes burned with intensity, like a fire that couldn’t be extinguished.

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Today is my 18th birthday. My parents forgot, but my online boyfriend sent me a gift. A nightgown with very little fabric. He sent me a voice message, “Baby, come to the hotel and wear it for daddy, hehe.” My name is Linda. I’m 18 years old this year. Is it reasonable to receive a uniform from my online boyfriend on my coming-of-age day? After all, my parents divorced when I was young. I lived with my mother after she remarried, and my mother and stepfather had another child. I’m just an invisible nobody who doesn’t get any attention. My mother’s neglect and my stepfather’s favoritism made me timid and reluctant to speak. Being so lonely and insecure, with no family or friends caring about me, my boyfriend naturally became my whole life. My relationship with my boyfriend Jason was simple. Long-term lack of love, plus the pressure of senior year studies, made me turn to the internet as an escape and a way to act out. The online world is vast and carefree. There, I didn’t have to do anything to have many people care about and sympathize with me. Especially in this private chat room that was very popular. Although some people there said things that were a bit over the line. Like “Little sister, how old are you? Have you had a boyfriend? I like young and tender girls the most.” “What’s wrong, little sister? Are you lonely? Don’t worry, tell big brother where you are, and I’ll come give you a hug right away!” “Sister, I’m a good guy, can you show me your photo?” And so on. These people are really disgusting. I could even imagine all those lewd faces behind the phone screens. Of course, I wouldn’t talk to these creepy people. I had my eye on someone else. “What’s wrong? Did you come here because something unhappy happened? I have a lot of time. If it’s convenient for you, we can chat.” Such a simple sentence, yet it had been absent from my life for the past dozen years. Are you happy? No one cared if I was happy or not, let alone ask. Only he did! This stranger, with just a simple sentence, touched my heart. Am I unhappy? I didn’t reply. His messages continued. “Don’t worry, this is the internet. We’re all strangers here. You can tell me your troubles and sorrows. I won’t know who you really are. I’ll just comfort you, and I absolutely won’t bother you.” That’s right. He doesn’t know who I am. I don’t need to worry or be afraid. I can pour out my heart and vent freely. My mother’s unfairness, my stepfather’s coldness, the pressure from school, the uncertainty of the future… “My parents divorced. I live with my mom. She had another daughter, and I’m no longer her favorite baby… I feel so alone.” I said a lot. He was very attentive, replying to every sentence I said. “That’s so pitiful. Every person is a living being and has the right to enjoy love.” He was also very gentle, comforting me and giving me hope. “If you were my friend in real life, I would definitely give you a comforting hug.” I received long-lost warmth, even if it was from a stranger. Chatting is indeed a good way to pass time. We talked for so long that time quietly slipped by. I hadn’t eaten all day. My stomach was growling. When I looked up, I realized it was already dark. I had to end this pleasant conversation. “I have to go,” I told him. His reply was quick. “So soon? Although we’ve only known each other for a day, I feel like we’ve known each other for a long time. Knowing how hard your life is, I’m sorry I can’t do anything for you.” He sent a sad emoji afterwards and asked to add me on SnapChat. Looking at our chat history and how he cared for me, this was exactly what I had been praying for but couldn’t get. Having finally obtained it, I didn’t want it to just disappear. So, I agreed to add him on SnapChat. He told me his name was Jason, and if I ever felt unhappy about anything, I could always find him. At first, I didn’t pay much attention. After all, people need to learn self-control, so I almost never reached out to him. But he often came to find me. He never missed sending good morning, good afternoon, and good night messages every day. The questions he asked most frequently were: Did you eat enough today? Are you happy? Is there anything you’re unhappy about that you’re hiding from me? Gradually, I started to get used to his presence. At that time, he was like a big brother caring for me, and I enjoyed the emotional value he brought me. Then, he confessed his feelings to me. I still remember what he said when he confessed. “Linda, do you know? From the first time we chatted, I marveled at the wonder of fate. From your words, I could see that you are my destiny!” Of course, I didn’t believe it. “You haven’t even seen me. How can you say I’m your destiny?” My words didn’t discourage him. On the contrary, his care for me became more meticulous, and he was more attentive in everything. That’s when I realized that “destiny” doesn’t necessarily have to be between two people who have met in person. Because I seemed to be gradually falling for him too. That day, after I finished showering, I didn’t reply to his messages for a long time. When I opened my phone, I found over twenty unread messages. “Linda, why aren’t you replying? When you don’t reply, my whole heart is uneasy. I’m worried about you!” “Linda, I’ve realized I love you to the point of no return. Even if I don’t hear from you for three seconds, I feel uncomfortable all over!” “Linda, what are you doing? Have you forgotten about me?” No one had ever put me in such an important position before. The emptiness in my heart seemed to be filled. The corners of my mouth turned up involuntarily. I told him I was just taking a shower. He sent an embarrassed emoji. “Linda, we’ve been talking for so long, and I’ve fallen for you so hopelessly. Can you fulfill one wish for me? Can you show me your photo?” I thought for a moment. “No.” Although we had been chatting for a long time, I actually didn’t know much about him. Most of the time, our topics were about me. He sent a very hurt emoji. “Not knowing what the person I love looks like is too cruel for me.” I was moved. After thinking for a while, I still chose a pretty good photo and sent it to him. “Oh my god! This is exactly what my dream girl looks like! Linda! You’re so beautiful! Linda, just looking at your photo, I’m already imagining what it would be like for us to get married and have children! I want to be with you, be with you forever, and build a happy family with you!” “If we have a child, I will definitely pay extra attention to them. I will never let what happened to you happen to them!” “My baby has been through so much. If I could, I really want to fly to your side and give you a comforting hug!” Just a few simple lines of text made me blush. My grades weren’t good, and college was already out of reach. Although this thought was a bit shameful – I really wanted to have my own family and a man who loved me wholeheartedly. Jason’s existence made me feel “happy” for the first time. Moreover, he said he would treat our children well. He wouldn’t let my tragedy happen to them. Jason was really a warm person. He was worthy of my expectations and aspirations. After that, Jason became even more attentive to me. Although I had never seen him, he had appeared in every corner of my life. Even if we didn’t chat for just an hour, I couldn’t help but think about him. Slowly, he offered to send me gifts. After asking for my name, contact information, address, and school information, I received many small accessories and pretty clothes. Girls are always happy to receive gifts, and I was no exception. Mom didn’t care about me. I hadn’t bought new clothes since freshman year of high school. I felt that Jason treated me better than my own mother. So, I agreed to be Jason’s girlfriend. On the night I agreed to be his girlfriend, my phone kept ringing. Dozens of confession messages from him made my heart sweet. “Linda, can you send me another photo? I love you so much! You finally agreed to be with me! You’re my first love. I want to fall asleep holding your photo!” I blushed. After all, his way of expressing love was too direct and intense. I gave him one. But he didn’t seem satisfied. His message came a few seconds later. “Linda, the photos you send always only show your face. I want to know you better. Can I see other parts? I can’t not know what my girlfriend’s figure is like, right?” I asked him what part he wanted to see. “Can I see your legs?” He sent a pleading emoji. Although legs aren’t a private part, it still felt strangely embarrassing. I said no. Jason’s message came very quickly. I could feel his anxiety from his words. “We’re boyfriend and girlfriend now. What’s wrong with seeing your legs? Don’t worry Linda, I don’t have any other intentions. I just want to get to know you better.” To be fair, he had indeed been very good to me, and I had been chatting with him for over half a year. He had never said or done anything that made me uncomfortable. Maybe he really just wanted to know me better when he asked for photos of my legs? He was so good to me, yet I wouldn’t even let him know what my figure was like. This did seem a bit unreasonable. So, I sent a photo of myself wearing shorts. Long, slender white thighs stood straight, with the girl in the photo making a “peace” sign. “My baby is so beautiful! What a great figure!” His compliments made my heart bloom. I sent an embarrassed emoji with a smile. The next day, I received another package from him. It was an even sexier mini skirt. “My baby’s legs are so beautiful, you must wear the prettiest skirt to match them!” At his request, I put it on and took a photo for him. Once you open that door, it’s hard to control what comes after. He started asking for photos of other body parts, like my upper body in low-cut tops, exposed collarbones, and later, even a few photos of private areas. And I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. After all, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, right? If I could send photos of my legs, I could send others too. That day, he said he wanted to see photos of me without clothes. How could I agree? Who would be comfortable with such embarrassing photos? Seeing his impatient words, I could only refuse politely. For the first time, his attitude towards me turned cold. “Other people’s girlfriends are by their side, but my girlfriend is so far away from me.” “I just want to see you, see everything about you, because I love you. But now, I can’t even quench my thirst by looking at plums!” “Linda, if you’re not willing to agree to even this, I’m starting to doubt if you really love me.” I looked at his words and fell into deep thought. Do I have to send such revealing photos just because I love him? I still refused. He didn’t answer. For a whole day, he didn’t send me a single message. I had already gotten used to his companionship. Without his messages, my life returned to its previous lonely state. I seemed out of place in this world, lonely in a corner. I couldn’t help but reach out to him first. “Are you there? What have you been doing today? Why haven’t you replied to my messages?” “Are you very busy? I miss you a little.” “When you don’t reply, I feel like the whole world has lost its color.” I didn’t even understand how these cheesy words came from my fingertips.

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