Category: English

While I was unboxing the packages I had ordered during Black Friday, I stumbled across something unexpected—Conrad had bought a luxury gift for his college sweetheart. The boxes in front of me were filled with discounted household goods: cleaning supplies, toiletries, and other mundane necessities. It hit me like a ton of bricks—my husband wasn’t clueless about romance, nor was he strapped for cash. He had the ability to pick out an expensive designer handbag worth half a month’s living expenses for me and our child. The handbag, nestled in a box of red roses, exuded a regal charm, while my thrifted canvas tote lay dirty and forgotten on the floor, a glaring contrast between royalty and rags. As I stared at the scene, lost in thought, Conrad walked in. His gaze landed on the mountain of delivery boxes, and his face darkened. With one swift kick, he sent them tumbling to the floor. “All you know is how to spend money! Is there anything else you’re good at?” he snarled. I stumbled back and fell awkwardly to the ground, staring up at the man who stood over me, yelling and pointing at my face. My vision blurred. Was this my life? Was I only ever meant to be the woman clutching a thrift store tote? Content

“Let’s get a divorce.” I struggled to push myself off the floor. Though Conrad’s kick hadn’t landed directly on me, the impact left me with a twinge in my lower back—a lingering pain from years of standing by him through thick and thin. Conrad looked down at me coldly, his eyes brimming with disdain. When he heard the word “divorce,” his lips curled into a mocking sneer. “You want a divorce over some kicked boxes?” I steadied myself, brushed off my clothes, and nodded firmly. “Yes. I want a divorce.” Perhaps it was my unprecedented determination, but the smirk disappeared from Conrad’s face. His tone softened, almost conciliatory. “Don’t be dramatic. We’ve been married five years, we have a five-year-old son. You want a divorce over something so trivial? What will people say?” It was precisely those five years of marriage that made me realize how much I’d endured. Time and again, I had swallowed my grievances for the sake of our family. My mom and Mrs. Mildred Whittaker often advised me to be patient, to understand how hard Conrad worked to provide for us. I treated their advice as gospel. Today, I realized it had only led to my unhappiness. “So what if people talk?” I shot back. “What they say doesn’t matter. But, Conrad, do you even see what’s in these boxes? Is there a single thing you bought for me?” Hearing that, Conrad glanced at the scattered packages. Men’s underwear, orthopedic supports, a foot spa for his mom—everything I bought had been for the family. Not a single item for myself, not even socks. He looked slightly embarrassed and reached out to steady me, but I brushed him off. After a few attempts to pacify me, his patience wore thin. “Fine. I was wrong to yell at you, but I’ve got reasons. Work has been a nightmare. I’ve got my boss breathing down my neck, endless overtime. Can’t you cut me some slack?” “If everyone divorced over small things like this, my parents would’ve split up a hundred times by now!” I remained unmoved. “Your parents are your parents. We’re not them. Yes, work is tough, but is being home, taking care of Landon, your mother, and this household any easier for me?” My voice wavered, and I fought back tears. But Conrad didn’t care. His face grew impatient, even annoyed. “You have no idea how hard it is to make money. I’d like to see how you’ll survive after a divorce.” With that, he stormed into the bedroom and emerged with a box filled with receipts and bills—water bills, HOA fees, school tuition, mortgage payments. “Look at this,” he declared, dumping the contents onto the floor like falling snow. “This is everything I’ve paid for. Do you see how much you’ve spent over the years? And now you want to leave me?” I stared at the pile of receipts with a calm that seemed to unnerve him. “Did I have our child alone? Did you not need a place to live and water to drink before we got married?” Conrad switched to his usual tactic—playing the victim. “You’re the one who wants a divorce, so we need to settle accounts. Or are you just some freeloader, using me for a free ride?” Anger surged through me. My hands trembled as I pulled the luxury handbag out from under a pile of delivery boxes and tossed it at him. “What about this? Is that in your ledger?”

The sight of the handbag drained the color from Conrad’s face. He snatched the box from me, carefully dusting it off as if the bag were a sacred relic. “Who gave you permission to touch this? Is it yours?” he barked. I let out a cold laugh. “You’ve admitted it’s not mine. You bought this ridiculously expensive handbag for someone else, not your wife. Aren’t you afraid of people laughing at you, Conrad?” His face alternated between red and white, his emotions shifting until anger finally took over. He pointed at me, yelling, “I can give it to anyone I want—anyone but you! Look at yourself. You don’t even bother to make yourself presentable. You make me sick.” Smack! My hand flew across his face. Instead of reflecting on his betrayal, he blamed me for everything. “Don’t know how to dress up? Really?” I scoffed. “It’s easy to spend money when you have it. But, Conrad, do you even give me enough to buy the scraps left over from that bag?” He rubbed his cheek where my slap had landed, anger flashing in his eyes. He lunged at me, hand outstretched to grab my hair, but the door creaked open before he could reach me. Landon stood in the doorway, frowning as his eyes darted between the mess in the room. “Dad, Mom, what’s going on here?”

When Landon walked in, Conrad immediately dropped his raised hand. He let out a derisive snort, turned on his heel, and slammed the bedroom door behind him with a loud bang. I sank to the floor, feeling utterly drained. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind spinning in fear and helplessness. Landon wandered over, glanced at the scattered delivery boxes, and muttered in an annoyed tone, “Mom, what are you throwing a fit about now?” As my heart rate began to slow, his words hit me like a hammer. I nearly lost my balance trying to stand up. Looking at him, I suddenly realized how much Landon resembled his father. “Who taught you to speak to me like that?” I asked sharply. Seeing my stern expression, Landon quickly shifted gears. He came over to steady me, guiding me to the couch and even bringing me a glass of water like a little adult. “Dad might have a bad temper,” he said as he handed me the glass, “but it’s because he’s so busy with work.” “Think about it—everything you bought with those packages came from Dad’s money, right? You two have been married forever, so why are you always fighting?” “And when you argue, everyone in the neighborhood hears. Do you know how embarrassing that is for me? The other kids will laugh at me!” I gripped the glass of water tightly, but my heart grew colder than the liquid inside. He was only five, yet he already spoke with such conviction, completely siding with his father. How much of this was his grandmother’s influence? I didn’t dare think about it too much. Placing the glass on the table, I walked straight into the bathroom without a word.

When Mrs. Mildred Whittaker returned, the kitchen was cold, the living room was a mess, and Landon was still in his jacket, playing with the dirty delivery boxes on the floor. She was furious. Storming into the bedroom, she yelled, “What are you doing in there?! No dinner, no care for your kid—is this how you plan to live?” But when she opened the door and saw Conrad lying on the bed scrolling through his phone, her demeanor changed instantly. “Oh, it’s you, son. Where’s Emily?” Mildred was always a sweet, doting mother in front of Conrad and a loving grandmother to Landon. But to me? She called me by my first name as if I were the hired help bound by some unspoken contract. Conrad shrugged. “She’s in the bathroom. I kicked over her delivery boxes, and now she’s talking about divorce.” Mildred’s face twisted with alarm. She marched toward the bathroom, ready to drag me out for a scolding. But before she could knock, Landon called out, “Grandma, I’m hungry.” At the sound of her precious grandson’s voice, Mildred’s anger vanished. She shuffled over to Landon, her wrinkled face breaking into a smile. “Grandma will make you something right away, sweetheart.” As she passed the bathroom, she couldn’t resist shouting through the door, “As if anyone cares for your cooking! You’re fighting over nothing, and it’s absolutely ridiculous. I’ve never seen such a petty wife in my life!” Inside, I paid no attention to her. My phone screen displayed pages of lawyer reviews and job listings. Half an hour later, I stepped out of the bathroom to find the family sitting around the dining table, their plates filled with unrecognizable dishes. Clearly, this was Mildred’s attempt at cooking. Her skills hadn’t improved since I married into the family. In fact, they’d gotten worse now that she assumed I’d always take care of everything. Landon, who was used to my carefully prepared meals, looked at the clumps of burnt food on his plate and scrunched up his nose in disgust. “I don’t want this! I want good food!” Mildred’s smile faltered. She picked up a forkful of food and tried to coax him. “This is good food, sweetheart. Grandma made it for you.” But Landon wouldn’t budge. He clutched his plate and moved away, his face lighting up when he saw me. He ran over and clung to my leg. “Mommy, Mommy, I’m hungry.” I smiled faintly and, for the first time, refused him. “Mommy has to go out. I won’t be cooking tonight.” “Are you serious?” Conrad shot up from his seat, glaring at me. “All this over a couple of boxes? Trying to starve everyone?” He turned to Landon, scooping him up. “Don’t bother with her. Dad’s taking you to Chick-fil-A.” I watched Landon cheer as he clung to Conrad’s neck. Mildred and Conrad both glared at me. Ignoring them, I checked my phone. A single unread message popped up: “I’m nearby. Do you need a ride?”

Marcy Caldwell brought me straight to Haven Dance Studio. After showing me around the space, she led me to the lounge downstairs, where she handed me a cup of coffee. “Emily, let’s be honest,” Marcy began. “We need a good dance instructor, and I know you’ve got the skills. But right now… your image isn’t quite there. Here’s what I can do. I’ll start you on a basic salary for two months. Once you’ve proven yourself, I’ll make sure you get top pay.” Taking a deep breath, I nodded. Five thousand dollars wasn’t much, but it was the best I could find at the moment. “One more thing,” I said hesitantly. When I returned home, the living room was eerily quiet. The boxes still lay scattered, untouched. I stepped over the mess and made myself dinner in the kitchen. That night marked a turning point. I no longer cooked for the family, no matter if they made their own meals or ordered takeout. I only prepared food for myself, Landon included. Conrad continued his routine of leaving early and returning late. Mildred, left to care for Landon, soon began to crack under the pressure. After a few days, she exploded, demanding that Conrad handle the morning school drop-offs and evening pick-ups. “Mom, how can I? If I take him to school, I’ll be late for work. And after work, where’s he supposed to wait for me?” Conrad snapped. For the first time in five years, he and Mildred clashed. I sat in the living room, deaf to their shouting match. The laundry had piled up in the bathroom, untouched. Late at night, Conrad crouched by the bathroom door, looking lost. When I walked by, he called out softly, “Emily, I don’t have any clean clothes left.” When I stopped, he launched into a pitiful tirade. “I can’t do this anymore. Three takeout meals a day—it’s disgusting. I can’t sleep without you beside me. I messed up, I know. Please, just give me another chance.” I turned to him, my voice firm and resolute. “I’ve already spoken to a lawyer and prepared the divorce papers. Just sign them.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295172”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

My wife and I decided to try IVF after years of struggling to conceive. Just before the embryo was created, I caught her swapping my sperm with her ex-boyfriend’s. I didn’t say a word. I switched the sperm back and replaced her eggs with my ex-girlfriend’s. Twenty-five years later, my wife’s ex-boyfriend showed up at our door, desperately trying to claim my son: “My dear boy, I’m your real father!” My son Noah and I had just returned home from an overseas medical cooperation project when we were greeted by an unexpected sight. Our living room was packed with distant relatives we rarely ever saw. The atmosphere was tense, as if a family council was in session. At the center of it all, sitting on the couch with red-rimmed eyes, was Brandon White. My chronically absent “devoted wife,” Yvonne Rivers, was comforting him in a sickeningly sweet voice. I raised an eyebrow, set my suitcase aside, and turned to Yvonne. “What’s the special occasion? Why such a crowd?” Noah stood behind me, arms crossed, eyeing Brandon with disdain. He had already guessed this man’s identity. My mother-in-law sat in the main seat, her expression troubled and hesitant. Before Yvonne could speak, Brandon lunged towards Noah, crying out, “My dear son, I’m your real father!” Noah deftly sidestepped him, his face contorted with disgust as if Brandon were something foul. He took a step back, his voice ice-cold: “My father’s name is Zane Gray.” That’s my boy, always having my back. I took Noah’s hand, giving him a reassuring look, then swung my fist, connecting solidly with Brandon’s face. The dull thud echoed through the living room. “Don’t go around claiming false relationships,” I said, my voice frigid and my eyes sharp as knives. Yvonne jumped up, rushing to Brandon’s side with concern. She pointed at me, screaming, “Zane, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit Brandon!” She raised her hand, about to slap me. Quick as lightning, Noah stepped forward and slapped Yvonne instead. “You dare to hit my dad?” Noah’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. Yvonne froze, shocked and furious. She raised her hand again, this time to hit Noah. But Brandon grabbed her, putting on a show of fatherly concern. “Yvonne, don’t! He’s our son!” His act of the doting father made me want to vomit. Yvonne lowered her hand, glaring viciously at Noah. “If it weren’t for your real father’s sake, I’d teach you a lesson right now!” Noah let out a cold laugh. “Hah, I’d like to see you try.” His piercing gaze was eerily reminiscent of my younger self. I couldn’t help but feel proud. This was indeed the son I had carefully raised!

An elder cleared his throat, attempting to calm the chaotic scene. “Quiet, everyone!” His deep voice carried an undeniable authority. As the room gradually fell silent, all eyes turned to the elder. He looked at Yvonne. “Yvonne, why did you call everyone here? What’s going on?” Yvonne took a deep breath, as if gathering courage. She put her arm around Brandon’s shoulders, a picture of deep affection. “Actually, I have an important announcement to make today,” she paused, her gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on Noah and me. I watched her silently, wondering what kind of show she was about to put on. “Noah… he’s not Zane’s biological son,” Yvonne said, her voice low but clear, like a bomb exploding in the living room. Noah turned to me sharply, his eyes filled with shock. I gestured for him to stay calm. The relatives around us began to whisper, like sharks excited by the scent of blood. “When we did IVF…” Yvonne hesitated, as if struggling to continue, “The doctor said Zane’s sperm quality was poor… To spare his feelings about becoming a father, I used Brandon’s instead…” This idiot was actually trying to shift the blame onto me! Yvonne’s malicious gaze fell on me, seemingly waiting for me to lose control in anger. But I remained calm and composed, forcing her to continue her performance. “I called everyone here today to witness…” she looked at Brandon with apparent deep affection, “Noah recognizing his biological father.” The relatives immediately erupted into chaos. “If Noah isn’t Zane’s son, of course he should recognize his real father!” “That’s right, Zane has been occupying the position of the Rivers family’s son-in-law for so long, it’s time for him to step down!” “Zane has been controlling the Rivers Group’s assets all these years. Now that the truth is out, it’s time for him to leave the company!” Listening to these comments, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly to myself. These greedy relatives had long been suppressed and pushed out of the company’s management by me. They could only profit from year-end dividends and were naturally dissatisfied with me. Now they were eager to watch the drama unfold, hoping to see Yvonne and me fall out so they could return to the company and get a piece of the pie. Noah, seeing the undisguised greed in the relatives’ eyes, gripped my hand tighter. I spoke up: “Noah will always be my child.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm and resolute. Brandon put on a helpless expression and choked out, “Brother Zane, how long are you going to deceive yourself?”

I wasn’t deceiving myself. Noah is indeed my child. Did Yvonne and Brandon really think they could fool me? Years ago, when Yvonne couldn’t get pregnant, we decided to try IVF. Before the embryo was created, I accidentally caught Yvonne and a nurse tampering with my sperm storage. I overheard her excitedly calling Brandon, saying she had successfully switched his sperm in. I didn’t make a scene then. Instead, I silently gave the doctor a million dollars to switch back to my spare sperm that I had provided earlier. I also “kindly” asked the doctor to replace Yvonne’s eggs with my ex-girlfriend’s. On the day of the embryo creation, Yvonne and I witnessed the birth of a “miracle” together. She was abnormally happy, probably thinking it was her and Brandon’s child. Watching her foolish expression, I was laughing inside. All these years, I’ve watched her dote on Noah like a clown, thinking he was her child with Brandon. It’s been incredibly satisfying. She tried to set me up, but ended up being deceived for over twenty years. Yvonne interrupted my reminiscing, mocking me, “Stop being stubborn, Zane. Noah may have been with you all these years, but the sperm wasn’t yours! His biological father is Brandon.” I replied calmly, with a hint of challenge: “Are you daydreaming?” “If you don’t believe it, let’s do a paternity test!” Yvonne said firmly, “And I want a divorce! You forced me to marry you, and I’ve been with you for twenty-five years. I’ve done more than enough for you!” When she mentioned divorce, a hint of joy flashed across her face. Looks like she’s been wanting this for a long time. Hah? She dares to say she’s done more than enough for me? I’ve been married into her family for twenty-five years, and I’ve slept in an empty bed for twenty-five years. When I was raising our child alone, she was off having romantic trysts with Brandon. When I was fighting in the business world to uphold the Rivers family name, she was indulging in entertainment and luxury. But she’s wrong about one thing – I didn’t become her lapdog because I loved her. Marrying her was just to gain the status of the Rivers family’s son-in-law and control the Rivers Group. Now, the Rivers Group is completely under my control. So, Yvonne has no more use value! “Divorce is fine,” I shrugged nonchalantly, “But there’s no need for a paternity test. I’m certain Noah is my child.” Noah looked at me, his eyes determined: “Dad, I believe you.” Yvonne and Brandon immediately became anxious. “Noah, don’t you trust your mother?” Yvonne pleaded. Noah ignored her, sticking close to me instead. Just then, a young man who looked like a college student burst in. He walked straight up to Noah, excitedly calling out, “Brother!” Everyone in the room was stunned. As if one extra father wasn’t enough, now a brother had appeared out of nowhere?

I looked at the young man who bore a striking resemblance to Brandon, and a suspicion began to form in my mind. This must be Yvonne and Brandon’s love child. They had kept it well hidden for over twenty years, never letting me find out. It seems this drama is even more intriguing than I had imagined. My mother-in-law, sitting at the head of the room, looked at the young man with a stern expression. “Yvonne, what’s going on here?” The atmosphere in the living room froze once again. The young man’s eyes were red, as if he was about to cry. “Brother, my name is George. I… I’ve always known about you,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, trembling slightly. He glanced at me furtively, then quickly lowered his head, as if afraid I might scold him. “My… my dad often talked about you, saying how excellent and handsome you are…” Brandon began to sob on cue, his shoulders shaking. “Noah, my precious son, daddy has missed you so much all these years…” He looked up, his eyes brimming with tears, as if he had suffered a great injustice. “George… he’s always wanted to meet you too. We often secretly went to see you…” George nodded eagerly, rushing to add: “It’s true! Brother, I even went to your school, just to… to be closer to you…” He pulled out a stack of photos from his pocket and carefully handed them to Noah. “These are your photos. I… I took them secretly…” Noah took the stack of photos and flipped through them briefly. There were pictures of him in his graduation gown, smiling brightly; exhausted after basketball practice; engaged in a debate with classmates, looking animated… Noah felt his skin crawl. All these years, there had been a stalker-like figure hiding nearby, watching him and taking secret photos! Yvonne wasn’t idle either. She walked up to my mother-in-law, pointing at George, her voice heavy. “Mom, this is the Rivers family’s grandson! All the extended family members are here to witness. Please… please accept him!” Yvonne was quite clever. She knew that after my father-in-law’s passing, my mother-in-law was the one who truly held sway in the Rivers family. She had invited all the extended family members to pressure my mother-in-law into accepting this child. She was certain that if my mother-in-law agreed to let George be recognized as part of the family, I would have no say in the matter. After all, she had observed my obedience and filial piety towards my mother-in-law over the past 25 years. George, being quite sharp, immediately turned to my mother-in-law and respectfully called out, “Grandma!” My mother-in-law looked at George, then at me, her eyes complex. She didn’t immediately respond to George’s call. I knew my mother-in-law cared for me. Not wanting to put her in a difficult position, I spoke up to break the awkward silence. “Yvonne, isn’t your real goal to have this illegitimate child recognized and inherit the Rivers family business? Why drag Noah into this?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295188”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #校园School #励志Inspiring

It was our anniversary, and I lied to Preston Ashford, telling him I couldn’t return from a work trip. In reality, I had prepared a special gift and was hiding in the walk-in closet of our bedroom to surprise him. But then, I overheard his conversation with a friend. “Preston, when are you going to come clean with her? Don’t tell me you’re falling for that woman.” “A woman like her? Not a chance.” “Everett’s been ruined because of her. The Winslow family may have let it go, but I sure as hell won’t.” “Next month is our engagement party. I’ll leave her at the altar and let her feel the sting of abandonment.” Their voices were filled with venom, discussing me like I was their sworn enemy. I froze. My blood turned to ice as the realization sank in. Everett Winslow. He was my ex-boyfriend. And the source of my nightmares. Content It was our anniversary, and I lied to Preston Ashford, telling him I couldn’t return from a work trip. In reality, I had meticulously planned a surprise, hiding in the walk-in closet with a gift I’d picked out just for him. Before long, Preston and his friend Travis Holt entered the bedroom. I was ready to jump out and surprise him, but I stopped when I heard Travis say, “Preston, when are you going to tell her the truth? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that piece of trash.” I froze in place. Tell me the truth about what? “Not a chance,” Preston scoffed. “Everett’s in that condition because of her. The Winslows might not care, but I’ll never forgive her.” “Next month is our engagement party. That’s when I’ll walk out on her in front of everyone and let her taste humiliation.” Travis gritted his teeth, his voice laced with anger. “Everett’s been our brother since we were kids. That woman nearly destroyed him!” “You’ve got to use her and then toss her aside. Let her suffer.” “Don’t worry. I came back to the States for this. I’ve been waiting for the moment to make her hurt a hundred times worse than Everett.” The two of them chatted a little longer before leaving the room. I sat there frozen, my mind a whirlwind of disbelief. My blood seemed to stop flowing, my body growing colder every second. I thought I’d never hear his name again. Everett Winslow. My ex-boyfriend. And my worst nightmare.

Everett Winslow was my first love. After graduating from Emerson University, I fell for him after months of relentless pursuit. At first, we were like any other couple in love—inseparable and utterly obsessed with each other. But slowly, I realized something was wrong. Everett had a pathological, suffocating need for control. After dating, he forbade me from talking to male friends or even casually speaking to other men. He needed me to account for every minute of my day, no matter where or with whom I was. At first, I thought it was his way of showing love. Even though it felt odd, I didn’t think much of it. One night, I worked late, and a male colleague offered me a ride home. When I exited the car, I tripped in my heels, and he reached out to steady me. Everett appeared out of nowhere and punched the man square in the face. “Who the hell gave you permission to touch my woman?” he snarled. He didn’t stop until I physically pulled him away, begging him to stop. That was the first time I saw him truly angry. His bloodshot eyes and twisted face reminded me of a wild animal protecting its territory. From that moment on, cracks began to form in our relationship. He insisted on driving me to and from work daily, demanding to know what I was doing and who I was with. If I went out with friends, he’d show up uninvited and drag me home if men were present. One time, I didn’t answer his calls during a meeting. He called me 70 or 80 times and even barged into my office to confirm I was there. His behavior drained me. The final straw came when he secretly deleted every male contact from my phone. It caused delays at work, and my boss reprimanded me. When I confronted him at home, he shrugged it off and told me to quit my job. “There are too many men at your office. I can’t trust it,” he said. Enraged, I couldn’t take it anymore and told him we were done. Everett lost it. He destroyed everything in our apartment, glass shards cutting my ankle in the chaos. Then he collapsed at my feet, sobbing and begging for forgiveness, swearing he couldn’t live without me. I caved and gave him another chance. But it only got worse. He started hiring people to follow me and tapped my phone. When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I moved back to my parents’ house while he was out. It didn’t take long for him to show up. Standing in my living room, his face was dark as he said, “Baby, I can’t live without you. But if I die, I’m taking you with me.” Terrified, I returned to him. And that’s when the absolute nightmare began. He pretended to be me and quit my job. Then, he took away my phone. I was a prisoner in his estate, only allowed outside if he was with me. If I tried to leave, he’d destroy things in a rage. At night, he would pin me down, his strength overpowering my protests. He tied me up when I resisted and ignored my screams. During his worst moments, he would strangle me, his red eyes crazed. “You’re mine,” he’d whisper, “Only mine. No one else can have you.” I passed out more than once, the room spinning until I blacked out. Those months turned me into a ghost of myself. He kept me isolated, and any attempt to reach out to someone came with his threats. “If you tell anyone, I’ll destroy them,” he’d say. I knew he meant it. After three months of living like this, I cracked. One day, while walking outside, I broke free of his grasp and ran into oncoming traffic. I thought it would all end there. But Everett saved me. He ended up hospitalized, and his family finally learned what he’d done to me. To save face, the Winslow family sent him abroad for psychiatric treatment. I moved to a new city to start over. But the memories stayed with me, haunting my nights. Even now, I dream of him strangling me, his face twisted in rage. For a long time, I felt like someone was always watching me. Like the most minor wrong step would destroy me. I was scared. I was scared that Everett would come back for me. I avoided strangers and avoided relationships until I met Preston Ashford.

At the time, I had just started a new job. His company was on the same floor as mine. One evening, I was working late and hadn’t eaten. My old habit of low blood sugar caught up with me, and I fainted while waiting for the elevator. He was the one who found me, carried me to his office, and gave me food until I felt better. He even insisted on driving me home. To thank him, I invited him out for dinner. From then on, we started talking more often. He had this clear sense of boundaries—polite, careful, and gentlemanly. Around him, I felt at ease, free from the suffocating tension I used to know. We even shared eerily similar interests. We loved the same old movies, the same obscure songs, and even the same flavor of ice cream. After a year of his gentle persistence, my guard came down, and I let myself fall. Unlike Everett Winslow’s overpowering possessiveness, Preston was kind and understanding. He gave me space and freedom but always knew when to show care. Each day with him felt like a blessing. For the first time, I didn’t think about the nightmares of my past. I was so happy; I truly believed he was my soulmate—my salvation. Just the day before I overheard him, we’d been dreaming about the future, laughing as we debated whether to have one child or two. But all of it was a carefully woven lie. A dream spun for me to lower my guard so he could trap me at my most vulnerable. He had told me he returned to the States to advance his career. In truth, he came back to get revenge. Thinking back now, I realize Everett Winslow was undergoing treatment in Denver, Colorado, all this time. Not long ago, Preston had proposed to me in a grand gesture. He insisted on hosting a big engagement party, inviting all his friends from abroad to celebrate. I was overjoyed, thinking I had found someone I could share my life with. But it was just an elaborate performance. He couldn’t wait to humiliate me in front of everyone and settle the score for his best friend. From the very start, it had all been part of his plan. And I had given him my heart so foolishly. While I thought I was the happiest woman in the world, he had only calculation and deceit in his heart. My body trembled uncontrollably as nausea rose like a tidal wave. I ran to the bathroom and emptied my stomach, the bitterness twisting inside me. After the piercing pain subsided, a burning anger ignited within me. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, disheveled and pale. I’d play along if he wanted to put on a show. If he planned to leave me at the altar for his cruel finale… Then what if I left him first?

On Saturday, Preston invited me to a dinner party. He said an old friend had just returned from abroad, and everyone was gathering to catch up. I thought about it for a moment and agreed. When I walked into the private dining room, I noticed their curious, almost accusatory eyes scanned me. Everett had once told me he grew up abroad with many childhood friends still there. These were his old friends, now here to watch the spectacle unfold. I kept my composure, a polite smile gracing my lips, and navigated the evening gracefully. Their glances betrayed subtle hostility. I am still waiting to hear from someone. Preston, on the other hand, was as attentive as ever. He served me food, ladled soup into my bowl, and even peeled shrimp. He stayed close, ensuring I wasn’t left out of the conversation. After dinner, someone suggested heading to a bar, and I went along. Drinks flowed freely; they had started a game of truth or dare long before. When it was my turn, I lost. Travis Holt swirled his drink lazily, his gaze sharp as he asked, “What’s your opinion of your ex?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295204”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #校园School #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

I’m a sophomore in college, and for the past four months, I’ve hidden my pregnancy from everyone, including my parents. Watching my belly start to show, I had no choice but to move out. Now, I spend my days in a small rented room, surviving on expired bread and puking until I feel like I might pass out. But the most terrifying part? I don’t know who the father is. I was drunk that night and have no memory of what happened. It started because I couldn’t stop throwing up. When I saw a pregnancy test lying around in the bathroom, I couldn’t help myself; I grabbed one and took it. To my shock, it was positive—two solid lines. I stood there, hands shaking, staring at the test in disbelief. My boyfriend and I had never gone all the way, and I was still a virgin…yet here I was, pregnant. The next day, I took a day off from classes and went to Chicago Memorial Hospital to get checked out. The doctor looked at my results and told me, “Congratulations, you’re already ten weeks along. The baby’s heart is beating normally, and everything looks healthy.” My mind went blank. Fear and confusion washed over me, but I somehow managed to ask through clenched teeth, “Doctor, my boyfriend and I…we’ve only been…close, but never fully intimate.” “Well, that does depend on how close. It’s rare, but it’s possible for pregnancy to occur even with limited contact,” she explained seriously. “Maybe you’re just very fertile.” On my way back, I was still dazed and barely holding myself together. I called Ben Harris, my boyfriend. As soon as he picked up, I burst into tears and told him about the pregnancy. He was silent, then finally said, “That’s impossible.” When we met, his reaction wasn’t to comfort me but to explode, yelling, “Lily Thompson, don’t play dumb with me. We’ve never gone that far, so who’s the real father? Don’t make me play the fool.” Shocked, I yelled back, “Don’t try to pin this on me! You’re my first love, and I’ve always been careful!” Red-faced, he fired back, “Well, it’s not mine. Our ‘close moments’ didn’t go that far…are you seriously that clueless?” Seeing him so defensive, my heart sank, and I was left with only one option. “Fine, then. If that’s how you feel, let’s just break up.” I turned and walked away, holding back tears. Yet even after all this, I couldn’t go through with it. When I arrived alone at the clinic, I stood outside the door, trembling. Just as they called me back, I panicked and ran out. Lost in thought on my way home, I recalled the doctor’s words: ten weeks. Ben and I had only been away together twice, and even the last time was two weeks off from when I supposedly conceived. Ten weeks ago would have been before winter break—when a bunch of us went out to that karaoke bar downtown and sang until late. The next morning, I had woken up in a strange hotel room with no memory of how I got there. I’d assumed a friend had taken me back, but since my clothes were neat, I thought I’d just gotten too drunk and left it at that. Suddenly, it all clicked: Ben must have taken advantage of me that night and wouldn’t admit it. Calming down, I went back to the bar to check the door footage from that night, but they told me it had been erased after 30 days. Luckily, the coffee shop across the street kept three months of footage, and I managed to get their exterior video from that night. I watched, hoping to catch Ben taking me away so I could confront him, make him own up as the father, and finally discuss what to do about this baby. But to my surprise, the footage showed it wasn’t Ben who took me that night. In fact, right after winter break started, he’s caught on video saying a blurry goodbye: “See you next year, guys!” and walking away. Then he takes a phone call and leaves early, not returning that night at all. My mind went blank, thunderstruck. If it wasn’t him, then…who is the father of the child I’m carrying?

Just then, I noticed I had two unread messages on my phone. One was from my stepbrother, Ethan Marshall, and the other was an odd message from my class group chat, with a notice from Mr. Tom Farley. Ethan is my mother’s stepson from her second marriage. He’s two years older than me and didn’t do well in school, so he left for tech school early. We hardly talk and don’t have much in common. Today, though, he sent a message out of the blue, asking, “Hey, how’ve you been? I’m on my way to Chicago on the train; thought I’d come visit you.” Why would Ethan suddenly decide to visit me after all this time? I frowned. In the class group chat, Mr. Farley had posted something equally strange: “Physical exams will be scheduled soon, and it’s important they reflect accurately in your records. If you’re not feeling well, see someone about it soon…” Was it a warning, or was I just being paranoid? When I went to meet Ethan at Union Station, he showed up with bags in tow, wearing my stepdad’s old army jacket and a cigarette dangling from his lips. His slouchy, careless attitude didn’t fit in with my student life at all. To this day, I don’t know what my mom saw in my stepfather and his son—messy, poor, and plain-looking. Ethan saw me and gave a lazy smile, ignoring my distasteful look. “So, this is a rare warm welcome from my little sister. How’s that fancy Big Ten university treating you?” he asked. “Great. Not that it’s any of your business,” I replied coolly. “You seeing anyone?” “Yes,” I said shortly. “Same class as me, handsome and from a great family.” I walked faster, not interested in telling him Ben and I had broken up. “Looks aren’t everything. You need someone who’ll treat you right, like our dad treats your mom. That’s why he got her in the first place,” he said, looking smug. “Times have changed, not every successful woman is as love-struck as my mom,” I replied sarcastically. “I booked you a hotel, so you can stay there for now.” He’d come to Chicago supposedly looking for work since he said the jobs back home were no good, and my mom had asked me to help him out. As we walked into the hotel lobby, his phone rang. “Couldn’t stay in school, now you’re out of a job too, huh? You’re going to give your grandpa a heart attack!” It was my stepdad, calling him out. Ethan snapped back, “Well, maybe I’ll finally find him a granddaughter-in-law, a girl just like he’s always wanted.” “Stay close to your sister; you don’t know anyone there…” my stepdad added. “I know Chicago better than you think. I came here before winter break, didn’t I?” he retorted. I stopped dead in my tracks, handing him his room card, and stared at him in shock. “You came here before winter break?” He hesitated and then shrugged it off. “Maybe. Don’t remember.” He popped a gum bubble, made a face at me, and then took his bags, heading for the elevator. As the doors closed, my mind exploded. Two months ago, when I was assaulted…he was in Chicago too? My fists clenched, and memories of something horrible from years ago crept up. Even by society’s standards, we were siblings. Well…until that one day when we crossed a terrible line.

It was six summers ago. I was thirteen, just beginning to mature, and looked older than my age. I often got attention from boys, though I was a straight-A student and kept to myself. That summer, my mom and stepdad had only been married six months, and Ethan had just moved in with us. I remember that one humid afternoon. The power went out, and I lay on a mat, trying to nap, though I was sticky from the heat and only half-asleep. In a daze, I felt something cool run across my skin, followed by a sound of admiration. “Who’s there?” I jerked awake and saw my tank top bunched up around my waist, and there was Ethan, smirking above me, acne and hormones plastered across his face. “You’re so pretty, Lily.” With no one else home, I had no way of pushing him off. “Help! What are you doing?!” I yelled, trying to fight him off. I screamed in pain, which seemed to spook him, and he eventually backed off without doing anything more. But he still left me sobbing and ran out of the house in a panic. I buried that memory deep to protect my mom’s happiness. After that, I applied to board at school and practically stayed away for all of high school. Even though Ethan never tried anything again, I couldn’t let go of the grudge. Now, if he was in Chicago that night two months ago, could he have been the one who hurt me? I sat there, lips trembling, overwhelmed. It was too much to handle alone, so I reached out to Megan, my closest friend, and cried my heart out. While I was always the one jumping into relationships, Megan was the voice of reason who kept me grounded. But even her usual calm vanished when she saw my ultrasound report. “You’re pregnant?” she whispered, shocked. “I thought you didn’t believe in premarital…wait, did that jerk Ben force himself on you?” “No, we broke up. I have no idea who the father is,” I replied, drained. After I told her everything, Megan thought carefully, then asked, “Why not check the hotel’s security footage from that night?” Most places keep records for at least three months, so I went to the hotel, but they refused, citing guest privacy. Helpless, I held my stomach and sighed, “Maybe I should just get an abortion, then report it?” Megan shook her head. “If you do that, all evidence will be gone, and without it, the police will be powerless. It’s already been almost three months. It could be anyone from your group that night, and reporting it without proof will only raise suspicions.” She was right. But how could I figure out who had hurt me? Megan paused, thinking back on her time working nights at The Rave. She’d seen all kinds of wild stories.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294937”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #擦边Steamy #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School

My Wife Got Pregnant, So I Cheated With Her Best Friend. Then My Life Turned Into A Nightmare I Can Never Wake Up From. My name is Knox. I just turned 30 this year and consider myself a winner at life. I have a house, a car, a decent job, stable income, and a beautiful wife. Life is pretty great. Oh, and my house and car are both very high-end. But recently, I’ve been troubled by something. My wife Quincy is pregnant, three months along now. Pregnancy is certainly a good thing. I’m not opposed to having kids – I’ve dreamed of having my own child. I eagerly look forward to the arrival of our new life. It’s just that now that Quincy is pregnant, we can’t be intimate anymore. I’m a normal man in my prime, with certain needs in that department. I can’t exactly take care of things myself every night. I hold myself to high standards and always follow the rules. I would absolutely never hire a prostitute or anything like that. So, I turned to Quincy’s best friend Kaia. Yes, exactly the kind of “turned to” that you’re thinking. Quincy and I graduated from the same university. Later we got hired at the same company after interviewing there. A year later, Kaia joined the company too. She didn’t go to school with us, but she and Quincy often hung out during college and really hit it off. They became best friends. Kaia comes over to our place all the time, to the point where we’re practically family. Kaia works in my department as my subordinate, so we have a lot of chances to interact. One time we were working late until 8pm. It was winter, so I offered to drive Kaia home. When we got to her building, she asked if I wanted to come up for a bit. Of course I knew this was a setup. Since it was a setup, I figured I might as well take the bait. We went upstairs. She said she was going to change clothes, and came out in a sheer negligee. She even brought me a glass of wine. I drank the wine while staring at her intently. Soon enough, our little get-together naturally progressed into sex. When I got home, Quincy was still waiting up for me. I felt a bit guilty. But very quickly, my mind filled with images of Kaia’s amazing body. I even had a dream that night, reliving the delicious experience with her. I finally understood why some people like to cheat. It’s so damn exciting. Where there’s a first time, there’s bound to be a second and third time. Sometimes at her place, sometimes at hotels. At first I still felt guilty, but after a few times I made peace with it. I told myself, I’m a man, I’m just fulfilling a physical need. At most it’s just a physical affair. I love my wife 100% and love our family. I have absolutely no intention of divorcing Quincy to marry some mistress. As for Kaia, she’s pretty agreeable. Whenever I ask her out, she comes. She’s very obedient and knows all kinds of positions. She even chats with me on Snapchat all the time, saying all kinds of explicit things. I can’t believe my wife has a friend like this. Who knows what kind of bad karma she must have accumulated in her past life. Before I knew it, the year was coming to an end. Quincy’s belly was getting bigger and bigger, so I took even more meticulous care of her. Plus with all the year-end work piling up at the company, I was busy from dawn to dusk. This meant I didn’t have time for Kaia anymore. After all, work and family are the real priorities. Having a mistress and hooking up can only be a hobby. Kaia sent me a few messages and photos – very sexy ones, with some even completely nude. But I only gave cold replies, saying I was busy and we’d talk later. She even came to my office, batting her eyelashes and sending flirtatious signals. I pretended not to notice. There are a lot of people at the company. As long as I didn’t respond, she couldn’t very well say anything in front of everyone. A few days later, I heard she had found a new boyfriend, some rich handsome guy. Later on she quit her job, saying she was moving down south with her boyfriend. I thought that would be the end of things between us. As long as we both kept our mouths shut, who would ever know I had slept with her? Let’s just pretend it was all a spring dream. A month later, it was almost New Year’s. Quincy and I were lying in bed. She was chatting with someone on her phone. Worried she might get too tired, I suggested we should sleep. She made a sound of agreement, then suddenly said to me: “Honey, I want to discuss something with you. My friend wants to stay at our place for a while.” “Which friend?” “Kaia.”

“Who?” “Kaia, the one who used to be in your department. My best friend, you know, the really pretty one.” Quincy blinked at me, her expression a bit strange. She thought I had forgotten who Kaia was. I quickly collected myself and said: “Of course I remember. What’s up with her?” Quincy snorted coldly: “She ran into a scumbag. Honey, can you believe how despicable some men are? They have a wife at home but still go looking for other women. Then they ghost after sleeping with them. Now she’s in a really bad situation.” “Ah, yeah, despicable.” What else could I say? I could hardly tell my wife “You’re right, your husband is exactly that kind of man.” Quincy continued: “The guy scammed her out of all her money. Now she can’t even pay rent. Honey, please let her stay with us for now. I’m pregnant, so she can help take care of me too.” Of course I disagreed. I may enjoy seeking thrills, but having my mistress and wife living under the same roof isn’t thrilling – it’s suicidal. “I don’t think that’s very convenient. If she has nowhere to stay, I can find her a place. Like a hotel, or a studio apartment.” Quincy immediately shook her head: “That won’t work. She’s emotionally unstable right now. When we met yesterday, she just kept crying. I’m worried she might do something rash. Honey, please let her stay. She won’t be any trouble at all, she’ll take good care of me. We are best friends after all.” At this point, what else could I say? I had to agree. Quincy handles HR at our company and always gets her way. If she hadn’t gotten married and pregnant, her position would probably be higher than mine by now. Plus her dad knows our company’s boss. I don’t dare contradict her easily. I felt increasingly guilty towards Quincy. She’s sacrificed so much for our family, yet here I am fooling around with her best friend on the side. I silently vowed to treat her well from now on. Otherwise, may heaven strike me down and curse me to a miserable death. As it turns out, “Men’s words are lies” is absolutely true. Men don’t just lie to women – they even lie to themselves. The next day, Kaia arrived. Compared to before, she looked quite haggard. You could tell that scumbag guy had really done a number on her. As soon as she saw Quincy, the two of them clasped hands and started chattering away, completely ignoring me. I found a chance to ask Quincy: “Kaia seems to be in great spirits. It doesn’t look as bad as you said.” Quincy pulled me aside and whispered: “Don’t let her appearance fool you. She’s actually very fragile inside. Don’t say anything more. Oh, and you’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” I wanted to say something else, but Kaia was already calling Quincy over. Quincy gave me a little push and went over to her. Then she tossed my blanket and pillow onto the sofa. Quincy is too kind-hearted. At dinner, Kaia’s foot kicked me under the table. I ignored her. She took off her high heels and rubbed my foot with her stockinged toes. I simply stood up and said I was done eating. Quincy asked what was wrong. I just said I was full. After dinner, Quincy even scolded me in private for my bad attitude, saying I was giving Kaia the cold shoulder because I didn’t want her staying here. I didn’t want to argue, I just wanted to go to sleep quickly. The two women had a lot to chat about. The voices from the bedroom didn’t quiet down until after 10pm. I had a busy day with all kinds of things stressing me out. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep. Around 1 or 2am, I suddenly felt someone rubbing against me. I opened my eyes to find it was Kaia. She was wearing a sheer white negligee, seemingly the same one from that first night at her place. “Knox, you haven’t forgotten about me, have you?” With that, she expertly pounced on me. I broke out in a cold sweat. This is my home! And my wife is sleeping right next door!

I remember that time at Kaia’s place, we were on the sofa too. My mind wanted to resist, but my body couldn’t. We only stopped when we heard a sound from the bedroom. Kaia got off the sofa, tossed her hair, and said: “Quincy’s awake. I need to go back. Next time, we’ll continue.” She smiled at me, her eyes full of seduction. I turned my head away, not looking at her, but my mind was filled with thoughts of her. In front of me was a small night light. In its glow, I seemed to see my own pathetic figure sprawled on the sofa. As I said before, where there’s a first time, there’s bound to be a second. And where there’s a second, there will be countless more. And so, unsurprisingly, Kaia and I rekindled our old flame. Having an affair with your mistress right under your wife’s nose – even though I knew it was suicidal, I just couldn’t resist. A few times we almost got caught by Quincy. In those split-second moments, it was always Kaia who covered for me, allowing me to slip away undetected. I even pulled some strings to get Kaia back into the company. This way, we could meet at work too. And where we could meet, we could naturally do what we wanted to do. Kaia told me that Quincy had asked her to keep an eye on me, worried I might have an affair. She giggled as she said this. In her eyes, my wife – her good friend – was the biggest fool in the world. A couple days later, Kaia said her spirits had recovered and she was moving out. Quincy didn’t try to stop her, and even asked me to help Kaia move. Kaia even told Quincy she was going to find a boyfriend who treated her really well. Quincy asked how well. Kaia glanced at me and said, oh, as good as your husband. Quincy laughed, thinking Kaia was joking. There were just a few days left until New Year’s. My parents came to stay with us. They were here to help out, since we had a pregnant woman in the house and everything was inconvenient. Of course, this was mainly my mom’s job. My dad wanted to help but couldn’t do much, so he just did some chores and went grocery shopping. Dad is in great health. He was in the military when he was young. Even in his 60s he looks very energetic, with more black hair than grey. He likes to take walks morning and evening. It was precisely because of this habit that he happened to catch Kaia and me in the act that day. It was actually quite simple. That evening, Quincy asked Kaia and me to come over for dinner. She even asked Kaia if she had any dates lined up, if she’d found a boyfriend yet. Kaia said not yet, but she had someone in mind. Quincy pressed her on who it was, if she knew him. Kaia said it was a secret and changed the subject. I was driving with Kaia in the car when we got to the entrance of our neighborhood. Kaia told me to stop, and I didn’t know what she was planning but I pulled over anyway. She threw herself into my arms, saying she wanted to fool around a bit before going up. Without waiting for my agreement, she started taking action. I’m the type of man who just can’t resist women, especially clingy little vixens like Kaia. I guess I’m one of those guys who thinks with his lower half. After we finished and fixed our clothes, just as I was about to drive into the complex, I suddenly noticed someone standing at the entrance – it was my dad. I broke out in a cold sweat. Dad has always been strict. If he found out…that would be disastrous. That night, Kaia had dinner with us. At the table she had my mom laughing with delight. Dad was smiling too. But whenever our eyes met, the cold glint in his gaze made my heart tremble. After dinner, Quincy asked me to drive Kaia home. At the entrance to her building, she asked me: “Do you want a boy or a girl? A boy, right? After all, you’re an only child, so you have to consider carrying on the family line.” I didn’t say anything. Kaia continued: “Quincy is having a girl, trust me.” “I’d be happy with a girl too. Besides, even if I wanted a son, we could always have another.” “Oh really? Quincy says she won’t have any more kids. She’s a career-oriented woman. It’s already pretty good that she’s having one child for you.” She leaned in close and whispered in my ear: “I’ll have kids for you. As many as you want.” I looked at her coldly and pointed at the car door: “Get out.” By the time I got home, it was very late. I was yawning as I pushed open the door. My parents were both in the living room. Before I could say anything, my dad slapped me across the face, nearly swelling it up. “Dad, what are you–” “You know very well what!” Of course I knew. So I fell to my knees in front of him. “Dad, I was wrong. I just made a mistake. I…I’ve really ended things with her.” Mom tugged at Dad’s clothes, signaling him not to be so agitated. Dad sighed and said quietly: “Remember what you said. End things with that woman. If you keep messing around like this, our whole family will suffer.” I nodded vigorously, telling myself I really had to break it off with Kaia.

The next day, I called Kaia to my office. She came in and casually closed the door behind her, then pulled down the neckline of her top a bit. Seeing I didn’t react, she walked around my desk and sat right on my lap. “Don’t do this.” I told her, trying to push her away, but it was no use. She wouldn’t budge. As a man, if I really wanted to shove her off it would be easy as pie. But for some reason my hands stopped, while my eyes stared fixedly at her chest. From my position, with how she had pulled her top earlier, I had a perfect view down into the valleys of her breasts. She wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear: “Seen enough? Want to go to a hotel tonight?” “Don’t do this.” “If you don’t want this, just push me away.” She was right. If I just pushed her away, it would all be over. I should push her away, but my hands and my body just wouldn’t listen. Willpower is a great thing, but I clearly didn’t have any. If I had any willpower, how could I still be entangled with her? She shifted slightly in my lap, stoking my desire. “You need to leave right now. I want to break up with you. I don’t want to see you again.” I blurted out urgently. She giggled: “What, you’re going to deny everything now that you’ve got what you wanted? Or did your dad see us yesterday and tell you to break it off?” “You…” I didn’t know what to say. She always seemed to lead me by the nose. Kaia shifted in my lap again, as if pressing our bodies even closer together. She said: “Just admit it. You like me. You like me more than your wife. I give you new excitement that she absolutely can’t give you. What breakup? You don’t even have the thought of pushing me away. You…” Her mouth moved closer and closer to mine. I could smell that special scent on her body. She was right, there was something about her that attracted me. I was completely infatuated. But no matter what, I had to make a clean break. Otherwise, my life would be ruined. Just then, the office door opened. A subordinate walked in. “Mr. Lin, about this afternoon’s meeting…Mr. Lin…um…” The newcomer was a young woman who had just joined recently. Seeing Kaia and me tangled together, her face immediately turned red. Kaia finally stood up on her own, smoothing her clothes and hair. She turned to the young woman and said: The young woman lowered her head and said: “I’m sorry, I came at a bad time. I’ll leave you two alone.” She was about to back out when Kaia grabbed her arm and pointed at me: “Go ahead and give your work report. I’m leaving.” Then she whispered in the young woman’s ear: “Mr. Lin and I don’t like closing doors. Want to try it with your boyfriend sometime? It’s super thrilling.” I knew it – she had deliberately left the door unlocked. It seems she has no intention of breaking up with me peacefully. She’s pushing things further, trying to force me to divorce Quincy so she can take her place. That’s impossible. Quincy and I have such a deep bond. How could I just end things? Quincy was with me when I had nothing. We’ve been through thick and thin together for so many years. How could I betray her? It’s true that Kaia is better at sweet talk, knows how to set the mood, and is more exciting in private. She… Suddenly I froze, rushing to the bathroom to stick my head under the faucet and douse myself with cold water. I looked up and stared at myself in the mirror, slapping my own face hard twice. Knox, you fucking bastard, what are you thinking? How could you compare your wife to that Kaia bitch?! How could you?! You shouldn’t even have such thoughts. You deserve to be slapped. Quincy is your wife. She’s been through thick and thin with you to build this family. Now she’s pregnant with your child! How could you think that way? You have no conscience! I have to break up with her. I have to cut off all contact. While there’s still time. My phone buzzed. A message from Kaia. “If you want to break up with me, come to the hotel tonight.” She didn’t say which hotel, but she didn’t need to. It was the same hotel where we had met in secret many times. There was even a room I kept reserved long-term. At 8pm that night, I told Quincy I had to work late. Quincy didn’t suspect a thing. In her mind, I was still that honest guy. She had no idea how much I had changed. I went up to that familiar room and knocked on the door. The door opened and Kaia appeared before me. She looked like she had just gotten out of the shower, with only a towel wrapped hastily around her body. The towel was small, exposing quite a bit on top and bottom. Looking closer, her skin was milky white, as if she wasn’t wearing anything at all. Her hair was damp, falling over her shoulders. Combined with that coquettish, seductive expression, the effect was irresistible.

“You’re here. Come in.” She backed up halfway, gesturing for me to enter. I didn’t move. I knew this was a trap. Kaia’s tricks were always the same. I knew them all too well. “I’m here to break up with you.” I paused, then added, “I can give you some financial compensation.” Kaia laughed. “What do you mean? You think you’ve had your fun, gotten bored, so now you can just pay me off and move on to someone new? You think I’m for sale? ” As she spoke, she walked out of the room and wrapped her arms around my neck. I hurriedly tried to push her away, but just like before, even though I’m stronger, once those snakelike arms were around me I couldn’t break free. “Let go. If you keep this up I’m leaving.” “You’re not going anywhere. Come inside with me.” “No.” I flatly refused. She put her hand on the towel, slowly pulling at one corner: “If you don’t come in, I’ll drop this towel right now. After all, you don’t want me anymore, so it doesn’t matter what I do, right?” She actually started to do it, slowly tugging the towel loose. I had no choice. I quickly picked her up and carried her into the room, kicking the door shut behind us. She giggled in my arms, playfully punching my chest. “I knew you wouldn’t let me embarrass myself. Don’t worry, I’m all yours. Only you get to see my body. I…ouch…” I tossed her onto the bed and dusted off my hands: “Didn’t you have some rich boyfriend before?” “Are you jealous?” I didn’t say anything. She came over and wrapped herself around me like a snake again. “Let me tell you, that boyfriend didn’t count at all. I missed you so much then, I just wanted him as a substitute for you. I even left town with him to try to forget you. But in the end, I still couldn’t get you out of my mind.” I glanced at her, not believing a word. She made a sound of agreement and nodded: “If I’m lying, may I drop dead.” I actually started to believe her a little. But so what? I came here to break up with her – to cut things off completely and never see each other again. I said to her: “Let’s talk terms. What will it take for you to leave me alone? Quincy is pregnant now and can’t handle any stress. Just tell me how much money. As long as I can afford it, I’ll definitely…” Before I could finish, she pounced on me, sealing my lips with a kiss. “I don’t want money. I want you.” “But I’m married, don’t you understand? I have a wife!” “Then get divorced. Leave her and marry me.” “I can’t do that.” I shook my head immediately as I said this. Kaia laughed coldly: “You can give Quincy more money to make her leave. After all, she is my good friend.” How dare this woman still use the words “good friend”. At least I know I’m a scumbag. But Kaia doesn’t seem to think she’s done anything wrong at all. She moved in front of me, lying across my legs and staring at me seductively. “Look at me, Knox. Really look at me. I’m better than her, aren’t I?” I didn’t dare look or speak, but I also didn’t leave. “How about this, Knox. I agree to break up with you.” She stood up and said to me. I felt a bit happy, with a hint of disappointment. I asked her: “Really? Then…what are your conditions?” She slowly pulled open her towel, letting it slide to the floor. Her skin was as smooth as satin: “The condition is that you spend tonight with me. Let’s have one last wonderful night together, to give me a memory to hold onto.” She came over and pushed me down onto the sofa. I embraced her. For the sake of breaking up, let’s do this tonight. Consider it a farewell fling.

Every time I see her flirting with those men, I feel so embarrassed! What’s most confusing to me is that she’s in her mid-forties, yet she still yearns for love. I always mock her for it. “With the way you act, Mom, I’m probably the only one in this world who’ll still love you,” I’d say. She’d just smile at me, tugging at my cheek while laughing. “Plenty of men are chasing me, kiddo!” And honestly, that was true. There were a lot of men interested in her. But she didn’t care about any of them, except one—a man who was sixteen years younger than her. And she was the one who made the first move. That man was named Axel Whitlock. He had this whole “refined bad boy” thing going on, with gold-rimmed glasses that somehow made him look even more dangerous. He was good-looking, with sharp brows, striking eyes, a straight nose, and lips that always looked like they came straight out of a fashion ad. He was tall, around six feet, and his pale skin made the tattoos on his arms stand out even more. The first time I saw him, I was frozen for a moment. For a while, Axel Whitlock was a regular at Hawthorne’s Smokehouse, my mom’s barbecue joint. Every time, he’d call me over to take his order, get him a drink, or bring him some more food. He always stared at me, openly complimenting how pretty I was. Honestly, I felt shy and a little annoyed by it. I didn’t want to run errands for him, but when he handed me a twenty-dollar tip, suddenly, I didn’t mind so much. Axel always ordered a huge amount of barbecue, claiming he couldn’t finish it all, and then smiling as he passed me some of the food. I had barbecue to eat every night, and I could eat as much as I wanted without my mom getting on my case. So, my impression of Axel wasn’t all that bad. Until that one night. My mom brought Axel into the back room, where she and I slept. They were in there for a long time. I stood by the door, listening. I heard my mom giggling, sounding more flirtatious than usual. Then there were sounds of chairs scraping across the floor. After a moment, I heard Axel laugh, too. When my mom finally came out, I angrily confronted her. “What were you two doing in there?” “Just talking,” she said, laughing as she ran her fingers through her hair. But her eyes were scanning me, up and down. That only made me angrier. Her look seemed to say, “You’re just a kid; you wouldn’t understand.” “Just talking? You were alone with a guy in a room for an hour, and you expect me to believe you were just talking?” My mom suddenly laughed, reached out, and pinched my cheek affectionately. “Relax, honey. Axel’s going to take care of me for the rest of my life.” I was stunned. First, I couldn’t believe how fast she’d found someone. And second, was Axel seriously into my mom? Was he blind? I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I knew there was no way I could stop my mom from being with another man. After all, when I was just five, she divorced my dad and raised me alone, too afraid to remarry in case a stepdad might treat me poorly. Now that I was grown, I had no right to stand in the way of her happiness. Besides, she’d found a guy she liked. And he wasn’t just good-looking—he was wealthy, and he’d promised to take care of her for life. But that night, I still buried my head in my pillow and cried hard. I couldn’t help but feel that soon, I’d become the forgotten child. My mom would be like my dad—she’d build a new family and forget all about me. The day after my mom told me Axel would take care of her for life, we moved. Axel bought the house. It was a three-bedroom apartment in Aspen Ridge Apartments, just a thirty-minute drive from Maple Creek High School, where I went to school. It was my first time living in such a nice place. It wasn’t just clean and spacious—it was peaceful. And when you turned on the lights, it was like something out of an influencer’s Instagram post.

At first, I resisted the move, but after seeing my new bedroom with a giant bed all to myself, I quickly changed my mind. That change of heart took about thirty seconds. As I lay on that soft, comfortable bed, I started thinking, maybe Axel wasn’t so bad for my mom after all. Still, one thing had me nervous. I was going to be living under the same roof as Axel. A week later, he finally moved in. And when he did, he brought along a little girl who couldn’t have been more than five years old. “Say hi to everyone, Ivy,” Axel said, looking down at her with a warm smile. “Hi, Auntie! Hi, big sister!” She was adorable, round-faced and pale, looking just like a little doll. I smiled warmly at her. It didn’t take more than a day for us to get along. I found out she was Axel’s daughter from his ex-wife. “Look, this is my mommy,” Ivy said, pulling a picture out of her backpack. It was a family photo, and her mom had this graceful, almost aristocratic look to her. I couldn’t help comparing her to my mom, and, honestly, they were worlds apart. One was a high-society lady, the other, well, just a regular woman. I had to wonder—did Axel have a problem with his vision, or was there something else going on? “Mom loves my brother more than me. She doesn’t love me, so she left me with Daddy. I don’t like her anymore,” Ivy said, her little lips pouting and her eyes welling up with tears. Seeing that she was about to cry, I quickly handed her a doll and said, “Hey, how about we play house?” “Okay!” Ivy cheered up instantly. I looked up and saw Axel standing in the doorway, watching us with a smile on his face. The whole situation felt weird. I quickly got up and left the room. But I could still feel his gaze following me until I shut the door. After that, things only got stranger. My mom was with Axel, but at the same time, it didn’t feel like they were really together. I understood why they weren’t having a wedding, since it was a second marriage for both. But why weren’t they even getting a marriage license? Plus, they didn’t sleep in the same room. Actually, Axel never stayed in the apartment at night. As soon as it got dark, he’d grab his car keys and leave. My mom always laughed it off, saying he was some sort of night owl, always busy after dark. But something about the whole situation seemed off. After thinking about it all night, I came to a conclusion. It must’ve been because I was around, so they couldn’t have their alone time. After giving it some thought, I decided to move into the school dorms. But when I brought it up, my mom got furious. “Living at school is out of the question! Don’t bring it up again!” she snapped. I was confused. They were newlyweds, right? Wouldn’t they want me out of the way? At the same time, though, a part of me felt happy. My mom still cared about me more. “If she wants to live at school, let her,” Axel said as he came in from outside. My mom looked surprised but quickly regained her composure. She turned to me with a softer expression. “Well, if Axel says it’s okay, then fine, you can go.” Even though she’d been calling him “Axel” this whole time, hearing it again made me pause for a second. I thanked him, addressing him as “Uncle Axel” out of habit, and started to head back to my room. Normally, I tried to avoid being around Axel whenever he was at home, just to give them some space. But this time, as I stood up to leave, I noticed Axel frowning. Suddenly, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back onto the couch. He stared at me seriously for a while before finally saying, “I’m only ten years older than you. Calling me ‘Uncle’ feels weird. How about just calling me by my name?” “I’m pretty laid-back. I don’t care about formalities.” A wave of unease washed over me, and I glanced over at my mom. “Young people are easygoing like that. It’s fine. I’m easygoing too,” she said with a smile, raising her hands behind her head as she leaned back on the couch. But the way she looked at Axel didn’t seem like she was looking at a husband. I shook my head and hurried back to my room. Then I heard my mom calling after me from the living room. “Looks like my girl’s all grown up—she’s even getting shy!” And then Axel’s deep, carefree laughter followed. My heart felt more tangled than ever. Something was off—I just couldn’t put my finger on it. When I finally moved into the school dorms, I learned something shocking about Axel Whitlock. Something I never would’ve guessed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294966”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring

The Night I Accidentally Slept with the School Hunk: He Offered Me $30,000 to Do It Again The day before school started, I slept with the school hunk . Morning sunlight spilled across his chiseled abs as he propped himself up, looking at me with an unsatisfied expression. I panicked and stammered, “I’ll give you $20,000, but please don’t tell anyone about this.” He smirked and wrapped his arm around my waist possessively. “How about I give you $200,000 and we do it again?” Chapter 1 You took the initiative last night I threw a party at home and got so drunk that I found myself crying in my best friend’s arms. “You know, my dad secretly picked a fiancé for me,” I wailed. “That means I’m going to marry a man I’ve never even met! What if he’s ugly? Woohoo…” My best friend, equally tipsy, patted my shoulder with sympathy. I felt utterly depressed and kept drinking until two in the morning. After the party, my high school classmates trickled out one by one. As I made my way back to my room, I stumbled and felt someone catch me as I swayed. I looked up to see a handsome, muscular face, his brow slightly furrowed in concern. So… incredibly handsome. At that moment, a sentence popped into my mind: Instead of living an ordinary life with a man you have never even met, it is better to choose a handsome guy, at least he is handsome. So, under the influence of alcohol, I put my arms around his neck and said, ” It’s you , handsome boy, come with me. ” He was stunned for a moment and narrowed his eyes: “Where to?” I hooked my arms around his neck and used all the methods I had seen in my life to seduce men, and tried my best to lead him into the room . I pretended to be casual and said , ” Just come back to my room and chat for a while .” He smiled and followed me obediently. He even supported my waist when we went upstairs. With a bang, the door closed behind me. I shuddered, looked at the chocolate-colored abdominal muscles exposed in front of me , and hesitated. I was drunk just now and my mind was full of thoughts like “I want to rebel against fate.” But now a man and a woman are alone in a room… He took off his clothes completely and put his big hands on my face : ” Why, are you scared?” I have always been a boss lady since I was a child , and I hate it most when people say that I am “scared”. So I stretched my neck to pull his belt: “Who is afraid?” However, my hands slipped, and I accidentally brushed against some parts of his body. He groaned, his eyes darkened, and he grabbed my moving hands: ” Jessica , are you serious?” I was struggling with his belt, sweating and feeling a bit anxious. “What’s the big deal? There’s nothing I can’t handle, including men!” I’m the best at making threats. It’s so easy. Unexpectedly, he suddenly stopped moving and lowered his head dangerously: “You know a lot?” I puffed out my chest: “That’s it.” The next second, the world was spinning. He hugged my waist and threw me on the bed: “Then don’t regret it.” Halfway through , I started to cry out in pain. His whole body was burning, and his voice was hoarse and broken: “I didn’t expect…” I bit his arm. “Shut up!” What are you doing when the sound is so nice? He lowered his head and looked at me lovingly, but his little white teeth were exposed—— I covered my chest and said, “What the hell are you doing?” The man’s eyes were dark as if he wanted to drag me in . A drop of sweat dripped onto my body : ” Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” …The morning sunlight came in, I held my waist and sat up, meeting his deep gaze. His clean, tan skin was in stark contrast to the horrible state of mine. I dressed listlessly. A strong smell of hormones came from behind, but he licked his lips in satisfaction and pretended to wrap his arms around my waist: “Do you need my help?” I jumped away like a frightened bird: “Stay away from me.” He leaned against the bed with his arms around his chest and smiled: “That’s not what you said yesterday.” I blushed at his smile. It was the first time I saw such a handsome man. No wonder I lost control of myself last night due to the alcohol. but– I touched my coat and took out a bank card: “I’ll give you 15,000 dollars. Don’t tell anyone about what happened last night.” The smile on his lips froze for a moment as he squinted his eyes . I stared at him for a moment, and he suddenly sneered, ” Who do you think I am ?” I glanced around and said, “Of course not. This is just hush money.” had paid for it anyway , so I closed my eyes and said: ” It’s not easy for a student to make money. You can get 15,000 dollars just by sleeping. Don’t take advantage of me.” His expression became visibly ugly. Just when I thought he was going to hit me, he suddenly laughed. But this smile looks so gloomy … The boy stood up, approached me, pushed me against the wall, took the bank card from my hand and threw it on the ground. Then he came close to me and said in a very oppressive tone: “I’ll give you two hundred thousand dollars in exchange for sleeping with you again.” Sounds tempting though. But I reluctantly refused: ” You… don’t come over, I’m only doing this to reject the fiancé my dad found for me .” He crossed his arms and glanced at me lazily, emphasizing, ” You were the one who took the initiative last night.” Talking about this brings tears to my eyes. I just wanted to talk a little, but I didn’t expect him to put it into practice. I have already made a big mistake, I can’t make it again. Chapter 2 The freshman representative is him What saved me was a phone call from my dad: ” Jessica , did you forget that school starts today?” I walked to the balcony trembling: “No.” “I’m at the gate of your school,” my dad said, “I want to see you in fifteen minutes.” After saying that, he decisively hung up the phone. When I returned to the room, I found that he was also on the phone. He frowned and looked impatient: “Got it, I’ll be there right away.” After hanging up the phone, he looked at me meaningfully again. I walked over and said, “Um…” The man picked up his coat and said, “Not today, save it for next time.” I:? What is he talking about? “What’s your phone number?” The man walked up to me and fiddled with his phone: “I’ll save it.” I laughed dryly and changed the subject : ” Don’t you have something else to do? I’ll be leaving first. Bye.” “Don’t want to sleep with me?” The man raised his eyebrows and smiled again: “Okay, sooner or later, you will beg me.” … My father’s Rolls-Royce was parked in front of my school, catching the attention of many female college students. I reluctantly opened the car door and got in. My dad glanced at his watch: “Fifteen minutes late.” I answered him expressionlessly, “I had breakfast . You complained that it smelled bad, so I came here after I finished eating.” He frowned and said, “You are late. Your Uncle John and his son just left.” Uncle John is the father of the fiancé my dad found for me . “You don’t want to meet?” I shook my head. My father looked at me and his face began to look unhappy. ” Say that again?! ” He held my credit card in his left hand and a pair of scissors appeared out of nowhere in his right hand… “You don’t want next month’s living expenses?” “Absolutely not!” For a student, living expenses are very important. After a while, I sighed and said in a half-compromising manner , “You decide.” ……. After the busy start of school, there is the freshman party . We were taken to the venue early in the morning . The school leaders spoke passionately on the microphone. I looked at the bright makeup on the girls’ faces and sighed with my roommate, “They are so exquisite.” My roommate lowered his voice and said, “Because this year’s freshman class includes Alan .” I muttered, ” Who is Alan ?” As soon as the voice fell, the host’s voice, raised several degrees, sounded from the radio: “Now, please welcome the freshman representative, Alan, to give a speech.” With thunderous applause, a tall and slender young man walked up to the podium. Even wearing the most ordinary black suit , it is difficult to conceal his masculine temperament and handsome looks, and he stands out from thousands of people. “What the hell?!” I looked at that handsome face and my eyes widened. My roommate said excitedly, “He is Alan , the first handsome guy in the history of our school who was named the school idol because of a photo before he even entered the school. How handsome, isn’t he?” He is handsome. Especially the way he was sweating last night. But now I just want to shout for help. After morning lecture , my best friend came to me from other faculty to have dinner. In the cafeteria, Chloe was stunned when she heard what I said: “You slept with Alan ? He’s the new school idol! ” I quickly covered her mouth and said, “Keep your voice down.” Chloe nodded in understanding and lowered her voice to ask, ” What about the fiancé your dad found for you ?” “What else can I do? He should take care of himself . How can he control me?” “That’s true. I heard you say last night that your fiancé is ugly and weak . It’s not a loss to give your first time to Alan .” I ate my meal in silence. My mind automatically began to recall the scenes of last night. Chloe suddenly poked my arm, ” How was Alan last night ?” I blamed myself for not being naive. I understood what she meant in a second and blushed as I stammered, “Not bad.” “What does ‘not bad’ mean? I heard that tall and broad-shouldered boys are all very capable. Are you kidding me?” I recalled. A face that was almost red: “It’s quite impressive.” “What’s so impressive?” A sexy male voice suddenly came from above my head . In the hot weather, the sound was like a bottle of ice cola . I shivered from the cold . Alan was holding a plate with two boys beside him. The three of them seemed to be passing by. He stared at me with his proud and sexy eyes , with a teasing smile on his lips. I don’t know how much he took Chloe and I into account. I immediately got scared and hid away like a kitten . A boy asked curiously, ” Alan , do you know each other?” I subconsciously retorted: “I don’t know him!” Alan nodded and said, “She said she didn’t know him.” “…” The two of them instantly looked like they understood, then talked and laughed while encouraging Alan to sit down next to me. I lowered my head and ate my meal. ” Are you free this weekend? ” Alan ‘s voice suddenly sounded. I looked up blankly, and the next second, he put two concert tickets in my hands . Chloe covered her heart with her hands, looking as if she had been hurt. Two boys were cheering on the side. My hands holding the chopsticks were unsteady, and I asked Alan , “What are you doing?” Alan said as a matter of course: ” A girl just confessed to me and gave me two concert tickets. I don’t like watching concerts , so you can accompany me .” After that, he narrowed his eyes and asked me, ” You owe me something , so you definitely won’t refuse me, right?” I:…… I think I have to talk to him. Chapter 3 Put on your clothes and let’s talk But before I could invite him, my dad called again. He got straight to the point and said, “The house your uncle John bought for his son near the school hasn’t been renovated yet, so he’ll be staying at your place for a while.” I widened my eyes: “Why?” My dad’s voice was louder than mine: “You two are going to get married anyway , so this is a good opportunity to cultivate your relationship.” He hung up without hesitation after he said that. After a few seconds, my dad pushed the other party’s phone number and social account to me. And the message is: friendly communication. I reluctantly sent the add. The other party passed it in seconds. Without thinking, I sent a message: “Are you there? Look at your face. Send me a photo ? ” After all, I’m a bit of a face-control freak, so if you’re not good-looking, keep your distance. After a few seconds, the other party replied to me: “…” Come on, his reaction clearly shows he must not be good-looking. I didn’t have classes in the evening, so I went back to the apartment early. After heating up the cold pizza from last night and cutting a plate of watermelon, I crossed my legs and comfortably curled up on the sofa to play with my phone . The mobile page is a chat box between me and my fiancée . The message stayed at the address I shared with him. At this time, the doorbell rang.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294982”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #狼人werewolf #魔幻Magic #擦边Steamy #校园School

I went to get my marriage license with my fiancé, but my younger cousin sent a photo of the two of them in bed as a “celebration.” She even went out of her way to tag me in the family group chat— “Cousin, I tested your fiancé’s skills for you. He’s really amazing.” My younger female cousin Sunny sent a photo inMonuments. It was a bed photo of her and Jim. In the image, the two of them were lying naked together, kissing towards the camera. The group, which usually only had the gossips of aunts and uncles, exploded instantly. They all inquired about what was going on. Sunny seemed to realize her mistake and quickly withdrew the photo. She tagged me in the group: “Sister, I’m sorry. I originally intended to send this photo to brother – in – law as a keepsake. I didn’t expect to accidentally send it to the group. It was just that one time with brother – in – law. Please don’t mind. Just consider it as I tested brother – in – law’s ability for you in advance.” At the Registry Office, Jim was holding the queuing slip and running towards me cheerfully: “Lina, let’s go get the marriage license now!” I looked at him with red – rimmed eyes and sneered: “Jim, explain what this is all about?” “What?” Before Jim could react, I threw the photo at him. Then, without waiting for his response, I turned and left. When I got home, I saw that in the living room, my mother was being punished to kneel, and Jim had also chased after me. Granny was scolding harshly: “Look at you. You came back divorced and brought shame to our family. Now you can’t even control your daughter!” Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary were crying and wailing beside her: “Our Sunny is still so young. She’s a simple and kind – hearted good girl. It’s all because you can’t control your own daughter and let her find such a son – in – law to harm our daughter! What are we supposed to do?” I walked over, helped my mother up, and looked at them coldly as I asked – “It was Sunny who shamelessly seduced my fiancé. Why are you blaming my mother?”

Since I was a child, my parents divorced. My father was a philanderer and a scoundrel who fooled around with various women and even committed domestic violence against my mother and me. My mother couldn’t endure it any longer in her husband’s family and divorced my father. She took me, who was young, back to her mother’s house. Unfortunately, what awaited her was not comfort from her mother’s house but ridicule and sarcasm from Granny, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Mary. They believed it was normal for men to cheat and play around with women. As long as my mother gave birth to a son, life would be better in the future. Aunt Mary said bitterly: “Oh, you still have the nerve to say that? Then what do you think we should do now? Your fiancé slept with my daughter. He can’t just get away with it, can he? Sunny is still so young. If this gets out, her reputation will be ruined. How will she get married in the future?” I sneered and asked rhetorically: “Why isn’t Sunny here? Is she too ashamed to face me?” Sunny emerged from the inner room, still being stubborn: “I want to marry Brother Jim! You should give your fiancé to me!” I retorted: “Why should I?” Sunny looked at me with a hint of guilt in her eyes and said: “Because I slept with Jim, he has to be responsible for me!” I snorted: “It’s Jim who should be responsible for you, not me. You’re a mistress. Why should I care about you?” I folded my arms and said: “How about this? Let’s invite all the relatives and friends and let them decide who’s right and who’s wrong?” Aunt Mary jumped up: “Lina, I didn’t expect you to be so vicious, deliberately trying to shame our family!” I said: “It’s your daughter who’s brought shame. She even sent the bed photo to the group. Do you still care about this?” The whole family was left speechless. I continued: “If you don’t want to make this a big deal, I have another proposal…” “All the money my mother earned working outside over the years, including the property she received from the divorce with my father, should be returned to us!”

My father’s family was fairly well – off. Additionally, when they divorced back then, since my father cheated and committed domestic violence, my mother received a large sum of money from the divorce. However, Granny withheld it all and gave it to Uncle Joe. Just a few days after my mother and I returned, she drove my mother out to work. She made it sound nice that she would take care of me, her granddaughter, but in reality, she just wanted to drain the resources of our mother and daughter. When I was a child, their family often beat me and humiliated me by saying that I was an unwanted bastard. The clothes I wore were Sunny’s hand – me – downs, and I wasn’t even allowed to sit at the table to eat. I lived a life worse than their dog. Granny shouted: “You’ve been eating and wearing from our family all these years. Didn’t that cost money?” I directly threatened: “Give it or not, just one word. Otherwise, we’ll make this a huge issue and see who will be the one to lose face in the end!” Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary fell silent. Finally, Sunny knelt down and cried: “Mom, Dad, this bitch wants money. Just give it to them and let them go far away and never come to bother our family again! I like Brother Jim. I want to marry him!” Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary gritted their teeth and agreed. In the end, after calculating the total amount, they needed to give us two hundred thousand dollars. Sunny wiped her tears and was overjoyed. Without waiting for the money to be handed over, she couldn’t wait to go to the room to pack my luggage. She packed the luggage of me and my mother and threw it all at the door. Just then, Jim, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke: “The person I want to marry is Lina. I don’t want to marry Sunny!” He was extremely embarrassed and also a bit scared. He glanced at Sunny tentatively before saying – “It was Sunny who deliberately seduced me and said that I didn’t need to be responsible. She has no self – respect. Why should I be responsible for her?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295002”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic

In the third year since I passed away, my enemy got stood up at his own wedding. I was floating around, enjoying the spectacle. Then, out of the blue, he turned his head. His gaze seemed to pierce through the space where I was, and his voice cracked as he spoke: “Did it take all this for you to show up?” “Go ahead and laugh if it makes you feel better, but don’t you dare leave again.” “Olivia, I miss you more than words can say.” ChapterWhen I got Nathan Gray’s wedding invite, I was really upset. I grabbed the invitation and stopped. Holding the invitation, I was lost in thought, and before I knew it, my rival had taken me for a ride. I lost a bundle to them. A kid ghost peeked over my shoulder. “Nathan? He’s the one who sent a lot of flowers to you from the other side.” The invitation was written by Nathan. No one would burn an invitation to me on purpose. Considering Nathan’s habit of sending me flowers whenever he got the chance, I decided to forgive his audacity. The group lost interest in rolling the dice and gathered together with a mischievous air, gossiping animatedly: “He was so wealthy; I would have loved to go and check out his wedding.” I gave a wry smile: “Come on, he was quite the character. If you really got to know him, it would have broken all your romantic notions.” Chapter

I’ve known Nathan for over ten years and we’ve been at odds for most of that time. When I was young, Nathan was shy. I was bold. I grabbed a frog and shoved it into Nathan’s hand. I told him to kiss it and make it a prince. Nathan was scared and cried. My parents beat me. I was beaten up, but I didn’t care. I disliked Nathan for being timid. Nathan said I was treacherous, wanted to see the frog turn into a prince, but didn’t dare kiss it. When I started junior high, I began to pay attention to my image and learned to moderate my words and actions. I’m not reckless anymore. I even put on the little white dress that I never touched before. Nathan laughed so hard he crowed, saying I was imitating the school belle, cause she usually dressed like this. I was angry, so I put mustard in his cake. In high school, I liked the gym student in my class. I wrote a love letter and asked Nathan to give it to him. I didn’t expect that after he embellished the story, he directly handed the love letter to my mom. My mother ridiculed me. I’m still angry about that love letter. I wasn’t weak either. I cursed Nathan and couldn’t send any more love letters. The ghostbuster asked, “Will you go to the wedding?” “Yes, why not? The invitations have been sent.” Chapter

Nathan has burned me a handwritten note before. In the past three years, Nathan has sent lots of notes, as if they were text messages. “Olivia, I took ugly pictures of you, right? I won’t delete them.” “Olivia, you can’t win by hiding. Our fight is not over.” “Olivia, if you scare me, I’ll admit I’ve lost.” “Olivia, I was in a car accident and had a concussion. I remember now. I’ll never forget what you did to me. You know I’m holding a grudge. It’s too late!” I didn’t get any flowers from Nathan for half a year. He’d bring me a lot of flowers before, so that I could show off in hell forever as someone still remembered me and loved me. I locked the note in the safe, took the money and went to the biggest casino in hell. After turning into a spirit, I was very lucky. I won a lot of money at the casino. I used my winnings to help build hell. The King of Hell was happy. I was not chased by the casino boss. Nathan burned a lot of clothes and bags too. This time was different. Nathan burnt me a wedding dress. Layer upon layer of romantic tulle, intricate and delicate lace embroidery, and the perfectly placed off-the-shoulder design were my favorite elements and designer creations when I was alive. The child ghost looked surprised. “Hey, is this dress for Nathan’s wedding?” Who would wear a wedding dress to a wedding, unless they were there to steal the spotlight? I shook my head, angry. “The jerk, he must be mocking me, like I don’t even have the chance to wear a wedding dress.” The wedding dress and invitation came with the mail. There was also a note. It rambled on with a paragraph: “Olivia, I’m getting married, and I won’t be bringing you any more flowers. You must be angry. Just keep all the flowers and I’ll enjoy them with you after I die.” Chapter

You think I’m a florist? Nathan is getting married and will have a wife and kids to memorize him. He still thinks about my assets. Capitalists are all the same. I was angry. I can’t share half my property with Nathan. That would put me second on the rich list. I won’t agree to that. I’ll accept a 60-40 split: six for me, four for him. I went to the Hall of Hades and asked to go to Earth. Ghosts can’t just enter Earth. I made outstanding contributions to Hell. I still have that privilege. The King of Hell gave me the pass. He also asked if I wanted my bodyguards to come with me. ‘The earth isn’t safer than hell,’ he said. I shook my head and said no. “I’m just going to a wedding, I don’t need a bodyguard.” I’m not going to rob a wedding. Besides, as a spirit attending Nathan’s wedding with a few bodyguards, if something goes wrong, how would I handle the aftermath? As a nemesis, I would love to see Nathan’s jokes. Who asked him to always oppose me in the past? I don’t want that. I want Nathan’s wedding to be grand and successful. He should take everyone’s blessings and walk towards his life with peace and stability. Chapter I held the pass and, with the help of the King of Hell, appeared at Nathan’s house. The villa was empty. It was strange here. I thought there was a wedding today, but there’s no sign of celebration at home. It makes people feel cold. What a weirdo.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295027”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #擦边Steamy

My daughter knelt before me, begging after a hit-and-run accident. “Mom, I just got accepted to Harvard. I have a bright future ahead of me. If I go to jail, my life will be over. Please, save me…” I agreed. During my two years in prison, neither my husband nor daughter visited me once. After being released, I discovered it had all been a scheme by my husband and daughter. They had already transferred all my assets. The daughter who had once cried and begged me to take the blame now cursed me as an ex-con, ugly and old. She kicked me in the chest. I died from cardiac arrest. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day we received the college acceptance letter. “Mom, Dad, I got accepted to Harvard!” My adopted daughter Keira exclaimed excitedly. “That’s my girl! Harvard is one of the top universities in the country. You’ve really made your parents proud. Honey, didn’t you just get a $500,000 year-end bonus? Let’s use all of it to buy our daughter a BMW,” my husband Jack said. This conversation felt so familiar. I suddenly realized I had been reborn. “Dad, I’m still young. Buying a car would be too flashy. Besides, Mom worked hard for that money. I don’t want to spend it,” Keira said sweetly. In my previous life, I always thought she was a considerate, filial, and kind girl. It wasn’t until I went to prison that I realized she was a vicious white lotus flower. “But sweetheart, Daddy promised to reward you with a BMW if you got into Harvard, remember?” Jack looked at me as he spoke. He was a stay-at-home dad, and all our household expenses came from my money. In my previous life, I felt guilty for not giving him a child. “Why are you looking at me? You promised her, not me,” I said coldly. Father and daughter were stunned, their eyes wide with shock. In my previous life, they always acted in concert – one playing the sweet daughter, the other the good father – constantly extracting money from me. And in my previous life, I always thought my adopted daughter was sensible and my husband was generous, treating our adopted daughter like his own. Seeing them act again now made me feel indescribably disgusted. “Have you lost your mind today? Our daughter got into Harvard. That’s great news! You won’t even buy her a car? Are you even fit to be a mother? Or is it that you’ve never truly seen Keira as your own daughter?” Jack shouted at me. “Dad, don’t say that. $500,000 isn’t a small amount. Mom’s company needs working capital too. It’s fine if we don’t buy a car,” Keira continued to act “sensible.” “Well, how about a $300,000 car then? Surely that’s not too much to ask?” Jack yelled at me. “Have you been out of touch with reality for too long? Since when is a $300,000 car considered cheap? Why don’t you buy it for Keira yourself if you’re so capable?” I said mockingly. Jack was dumbfounded that I would say such things. Keira also had a “how could this be happening” expression. In my previous life, this routine worked on me every time. I always fell for it and thought they were good people. “Mom, Dad, I don’t want a car anymore. Please don’t fight because of me. It’s all my fault,” Keira said pitifully, tears welling up on command. In my previous life, I would have hugged her and fulfilled all her desires. But in this life, I knew she was a vicious demon. Seeing her cry made my teeth grind with hatred. Slap! I gave her a hard slap across the face. Father and daughter stood there in shock. Keira looked at me with fear and confusion in her eyes. “Oh, there was a mosquito on your face. I was too hasty and hit too hard,” I said, pretending to be loving as I reached out to caress her red cheek.

The next day at the company, I immediately changed all my bank card PINs and mobile payment passwords. I also began planning to transfer my assets. In this life, I couldn’t let Jack get his hands on my money again. Afterwards, I asked the school for Keira’s candidate number and checked her SAT scores. I was shocked – she only scored 1050. Even with an extra 400 points, she wouldn’t get into Harvard. In my previous life, Keira had shown me several mock test score reports, all above 1450. At the time I believed them completely, but now I realized those mock test scores must have been fake. In the afternoon, I went to a private detective agency and asked them to thoroughly investigate Jack and Keira. I suspected they were actually father and daughter. Twelve years ago, Jack took me to an orphanage. Among dozens of children, he chose Keira. When Keira first met Jack, she showed a natural affinity for him. At the time, I just thought they had a connection, that it was fate. I liked her too. But thinking about it now, the fact that they could work together to deceive me – there could be no other explanation besides a father-daughter relationship. If that was true, it was truly terrifying to think about. They had been playing this long game for twelve years, slowly emptying my assets bit by bit. A week later. At the company, I received a text message from my credit card – the supplementary card had been used to spend $300,000. I had overlooked canceling the supplementary card. To make it convenient for Jack to buy groceries and cover household expenses, I had given him a supplementary card. Without even thinking, I knew the $300,000 must have been for the car. I quickly called the bank and canceled the supplementary card.

In the evening, as I approached our building, I saw a new BMW X2 without license plates in the parking lot. As soon as I entered the house, Keira sweetly brought me slippers. “Welcome home, Mom. You must be tired from work.” Seeing her fake smile, I wanted to slap her, but I couldn’t reveal my hand before the investigation was complete. “Hmm, your dad bought you a car?” I asked casually. “Mom, I kept refusing, but Dad wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t do anything about it,” she said, putting on an innocent and helpless expression. “I’ve canceled your supplementary card. From now on, I’ll give you $10,000 a month for household expenses. If you need to buy anything big, let me know and I’ll handle it,” I said. “What do you mean? Our daughter got into Harvard. Doesn’t she deserve a reward?” Jack angrily demanded. I almost exposed them. With her grades, she’d never get into Harvard in a million years. Fortunately, I held back. “I’m thinking of our daughter too. She’s still young and just got her license. What if there’s a car accident? How could we bear to bury our child?” I said seriously, cursing them. Jack jumped up, slamming the table. “How dare you curse our daughter?” At that moment, I was certain Keira was Jack’s biological daughter. “I’m just worried about her safety. I care about her too,” I said. “Hmph, you’re just stingy,” Jack shouted. “Mom, are you upset that Dad spent your money to buy me a car?” Keira immediately got into character, asking me with tears in her eyes. I stroked her head and said gently, “How could Mom begrudge spending money on you? I’m just worried about your driving skills. What if you had an accident? If something happened to you, how could Mom go on living?” You can act, but so can I! “Mom, I got into Harvard! One of the top universities in the country. If it were someone else’s mother, they’d throw a celebration party and buy expensive gifts. But you haven’t done anything. Don’t you love me anymore?” As she spoke, the tears started flowing. Her acting was truly superb! I continued stroking her head and said, “A party would be too extravagant and wasteful. Besides, we should stay low-key. Being too high-profile will make people jealous. As for gifts, isn’t that BMW a gift?” “Mom, you don’t love me anymore. You know, I didn’t want the car to show off or for my own convenience. I had a dream – Mom, you’ve sacrificed so much for me over the years. I wanted to drive you on a road trip across the country.” “I’m touched that you have such a filial heart, but don’t you think something’s odd?” I asked. “What’s odd?” she asked, puzzled. “You should earn money yourself to buy a car, then take me on a road trip. It’s like saying you’ll treat me to dinner, but I end up paying. Isn’t that strange?” I said seriously. She was stunned, wanting to argue but unable to. “Rachel Johnson, are you even a mother? How can you discourage our daughter’s filial piety?” As Jack spoke, he winked at Keira. “Mom, you’re too much. You don’t love me anymore…” With that, she ran out. “Keira…” Jack chased after her. I suddenly remembered the notice at the entrance to the community: Last night the security cameras were damaged. Property management has contacted repair personnel. Residents are advised to secure their belongings and lock doors and windows. Were they setting me up? I was alone now, and with the security cameras broken, there would be no witnesses if they framed me. Thinking of this, I immediately called Chris, my assistant. Chris lived only a mile from my house. Then I called five other employees, saying there was an urgent meeting and asking them to come to my house as quickly as possible. I said I would reimburse their travel expenses. At 9 PM, I heard the door open and came out of the study. “Have you been home the whole time?” Jack asked. “Yes,” I replied. “I don’t believe you. Didn’t you go out looking for Keira?” “She’s not a child anymore. She can take care of herself.” “Are you even Keira’s mother? How can you say such heartless things?” “We can’t protect her forever. She has to walk her own path in life,” I said calmly. After arguing with him for about 15 minutes, Keira returned in a panic. As soon as she entered, she knelt before me: “Mom, I hit someone and ran away. Can you take the blame for me? Please save me. I don’t want to go to jail. I just got accepted to Harvard. My life is just beginning…” Hearing these familiar words, I was filled with rage. I wanted to strangle her right then and there. In my previous life, I was truly foolish to take the blame for her. “Keira, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid,” I said, pretending to comfort her as I hugged her. “Mom, will you help me?” she asked pitifully. “Of course I’ll help you. You’re my precious daughter.” “Mom, I knew you wouldn’t abandon me. You still love me. I swear, after you get out of prison, I’ll be extra filial to you.” “What do you mean, get out of prison?” I pushed her away, pretending to be surprised. “Mom, didn’t you say you’d help me? Aren’t you going to take the blame for me?” she asked, confused. “When I said I’d help you, I meant I’d hire a good lawyer for you to seek leniency,” I said. Keira was dumbfounded. “Rachel Johnson, if you hadn’t upset our daughter, she wouldn’t have run out. If she hadn’t run out, this wouldn’t have happened. You should take responsibility and take the blame for our daughter,” Jack argued forcefully. “Why don’t you take the blame for our daughter? Keira, listen to Mom. Your dad is just a stay-at-home dad. It wouldn’t be a big deal for him to go to jail for a few years. But Mom is different. Mom runs a company. We need Mom to earn money. If Mom goes to jail, who will pay for your college?” I said. Jack was speechless, his face turning red as a beet. “Mom, Dad can’t take the blame for me. After I hit that woman, I got out of the car to check on her. The woman suddenly grabbed my ankle. I screamed. The woman who was hit didn’t see me, but she must have heard my voice,” Keira explained. I sighed and put my hands on Keira’s shoulders. “Keira, don’t try to run away when you encounter problems. You need to bravely take responsibility. Go turn yourself in. You’re still young – spending a few years in jail isn’t a big deal. Besides, you still have Mom. When you get out of jail, you can come work at Mom’s company.” Keira’s mouth formed an O shape, unable to believe that the adoptive mother who once loved her like her own had changed so much.

“Rachel Johnson, have you gone mad? Telling our daughter to turn herself in? If you don’t take the blame for her, I’ll report you. I’ll say you were the one who hit and ran,” Jack shouted. “Dad, don’t hurt Mom. Besides, Mom would have been recorded by security cameras when she came home from work and entered the community,” Keira said. “The cameras broke down last night.” “What?” Keira put on a very surprised expression. “Rachel, aren’t parents supposed to sacrifice everything for their children? What’s wrong with sacrificing a bit? Can you really bear to see Keira go to jail?” Jack held my hand, trying to persuade me emotionally. “Oh no…” Keira suddenly cried out, looking at me with fear and guilt. “Mom… I think I dropped your key card at the accident scene. If the woman who was hit finds it, she’ll definitely think you were the one who hit her.” “It’s fate. It’s all fate. Rachel, given the circumstances, you should take the blame for our daughter,” Jack said. I smiled and said, “What if I refuse?” “Then don’t blame me. For our daughter’s sake, I’ll have to frame you,” Jack said with a smug expression. “Feel free to frame me however you like,” I said, turning to go to the study. “Rachel Johnson, you think I won’t dare?” He chased after me. I opened the study door. Inside sat six of my employees. Jack stopped in his tracks, shocked into stillness. Keira followed closely behind, also freezing in place. They never dreamed there would be my employees in the study. “Did you all hear that?” I asked my employees. “Ms. Johnson, we heard the entire conversation clearly. I even recorded it,” Chris said, waving his phone. Jack and Keira broke out in a cold sweat, terrified. “Keira, you’re an adult now. Adults should face the consequences of their mistakes. Will you turn yourself in, or should I call the police?” I asked sternly. “Mom… Mom… don’t call the police,” she said in panic, grabbing my hand and begging. “Why don’t we try to settle with the woman who was hit? We can pay her off.” “Alright,” I said with a smile. I wanted to see what other tricks they had up their sleeves.

Early the next morning, I went to a DNA testing center and got the paternity test results for Jack and Keira. As expected, Jack was Keira’s biological father. As I left the testing center, I received a call from the detective. At the agreed-upon cafe, the detective showed me the investigation report. Jack had an affair in our second year of marriage with a woman named Sharon Wilson who worked at a massage parlor. The following year she gave birth to a daughter who was never registered. After raising the child for 5 years, she suddenly sent her to an orphanage. That daughter was Keira. Over the years, Jack had transferred over $3 million to Sharon Wilson. This money had all been obtained by the father-daughter pair weaving various lies to trick me. For example, they claimed it was for elite tutoring classes, buying study notes, purchasing various learning materials, charitable donations, gifts for teachers, and so on. Sharon Wilson used this money to buy two houses and a car in her hometown. Recently, Sharon Wilson had fallen down the stairs in her hometown and broken her leg, landing her in the hospital. Then she came to the city where I lived. The three of them plotted the hit-and-run to frame me, then steal all my assets. In my previous life, they succeeded! “Sharon Wilson came here three days ago and is staying at a hotel. My colleague obtained a used paper cup of hers, then did a DNA test with the hair sample of Keira you gave me. It confirms Sharon Wilson is Keira’s biological mother. Here’s the DNA test report,” the detective said. “Additionally, we have collected the recording of them plotting the hit-and-run to frame you, video of them scouting locations, and evidence of all the money they’ve swindled from you over the years. With a direct lawsuit, we can ensure Jack loses everything in the divorce and force Sharon Wilson to return all ill-gotten gains.” “Thank you,” I said. The next morning, while I was at work, I received a call from Keira saying they had found the woman who was hit. She was in the hospital. I said I’d meet them at the hospital entrance at 2 PM. At 2 PM, I went with them to a private room in the inpatient department. Sharon Wilson’s left leg was wrapped in bandages and elevated. When she saw me, she wailed, “It hurts so much! My leg is broken. How will I live from now on?” “Your voice sounds pretty strong. You don’t look too bad,” I said mockingly. “Are you blind? Can’t you see my leg is broken?” she snapped. “It’s not like they amputated it. A broken leg will heal,” I said with a smile as I sat down. “Ms. Wilson, we’re so sorry. It’s our fault as parents for not raising our daughter well. We’ve caused you to become disabled,” Jack began his act, dramatically emphasizing the word “disabled.” “Auntie Sharon, it’s all my fault. Please tell me what you want. As long as you don’t call the police, we’ll do anything,” Keira pleaded tearfully. “My demands aren’t high. Give me $1 million and we’ll call it even,” Sharon Wilson said, opening her mouth wide. Jack and Keira both looked at me. “Fine!” I agreed readily. The three of them lit up, barely able to hide their joy. I called the company finance department and transferred $1 million to Sharon Wilson’s account. Soon Sharon Wilson’s phone received a bank deposit notification. “Well, you know what’s good for you. This matter ends here,” Sharon Wilson said smugly, looking at the $1 million deposit. “No, this matter isn’t over yet,” I said with a sly smile. The three of them were stunned. The money had been paid – how was it not over?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295044”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring