Category: English

On my birthday, Luke, the university student my wife was sponsoring, posted on Twitter: “Celebrating my 22nd birthday! Even though no one else remembered, my big celebrity sister did!” The location was tagged at a restaurant known for catering to couples. The attached photo showed him and my wife in a selfie, their faces almost touching. The top comment was: “You’re spending your birthday with the famous Nadia! Looking at this restaurant, are you two together?” Luke only replied to this one comment: “Hehe, we’re almost there.” I liked this comment with my main account, but a few minutes later, Nadia called to yell at me: “What’s wrong with me celebrating Luke’s birthday? Did you have to like that comment with your main account? Don’t be so petty, quickly say it was a misclick, fans are asking questions.” I could faintly hear Luke saying in the background: “If getting cyberbullied makes Sean happy, I’m okay with it. After all, he used to be a big star.” I hung up the phone immediately. But today is also my birthday. I’ve supported Nadia for three years, given up my career for her for three years, and we’ve been secretly married for two years. In the eighth year of loving Nadia, I decided to give up on her and make a comeback. …

When Nadia came back, I was playing with my new kitten. Ever since we started dating, she said she didn’t like cats and dogs. After she secretly got rid of the cat I had for five years, I never got close to a kitten again. “Sean, what do you mean? Don’t you know I hate cats?” Nadia’s sharp voice came through. I glanced at her indifferently and continued petting the cat. “Alright, alright, you’re just jealous, aren’t you? Luke just graduated, he needs me right now. Why are you competing with him? I’ll spend more time with you in the future,” Nadia said, pinching her nose, in a tone of condescension. Seeing that I was still ignoring her, Nadia lost her temper. She picked up the cat I had just bought and threw it aside roughly, then pushed me: “Go apologize to him quickly. You’re such a big man, why are you competing with a university student?” The kitten let out a loud cry when it was thrown to the ground, then crawled back to my side and hissed at Nadia. I didn’t expect Nadia to be so strong. My stomach hit the corner of the table, and I felt a spasm in my gut. My face gradually turned pale. My stomach ulcer was acting up again. I originally didn’t eat dinner because I was waiting for Nadia to come back and celebrate my birthday with me. After seeing that Twitter post, I couldn’t eat at all. Now with this external stimulation to my stomach, I was in so much pain I couldn’t speak. I used to be very healthy, but because Nadia said she didn’t like her man being watched and admired by so many women, I gave up my career and focused on getting resources for Nadia. I accompanied various bosses and directors for drinks, and gradually developed a serious stomach problem. Seeing that something was wrong with me, Nadia panicked for a moment: “Where… where’s your medicine? I’ll get it for you.” I clutched my stomach and coldly watched her search around the living room. “I remember it was right here, how…” Nadia’s words stopped abruptly, and an unnatural expression flashed across her face. My medicine box had been taken by her to give to Luke yesterday. I remember yesterday when Nadia rushed back home in a hurry, as soon as she opened the door she asked: “Luke got hurt in a car race! Where’s our medicine?” Without waiting for my answer, Nadia took the box containing my stomach medicine on her own: “Never mind, I’ll take it first.” If it were usual, I would definitely have jealously questioned her, asking if she had taken my medicine to give to Luke, but today, I was tired. Not just physically, but in this relationship, I was tired too. “I… I’ll go downstairs to buy some for you, hold on.” Nadia’s face showed some guilt. She wanted to come closer to help me to the sofa, but was scared away by the kitten. “I don’t know why you bought this damn cat.” Nadia muttered, picking up her keys to go downstairs and buy medicine for me, but just as she was about to leave, she received a phone call. “Sister Nadia… those debt collectors have come to my house again. They said if I don’t pay today, they’ll cut off one of my hands. Sister Nadia, save me.” As soon as Nadia answered, Luke’s tearful voice came through from the other end. “What?! They dare to touch my people!” Nadia’s delicate face showed a panic I had never seen for me. “It’s just some money, I’ll come right away.” “But it’s so late now, won’t Sean be angry if you come over…” Luke continued on the phone. “He wouldn’t dare!” As if hearing these words, Nadia, who was about to step out of the house, suddenly remembered that I was still in the house with a stomach ulcer attack. Nadia gave me a warning look, then hurriedly left. Just before she closed the door, I called out: “Nadia.” “What? Didn’t you hear that Luke is in danger right now? I’ll buy you medicine when I come back.” Nadia replied impatiently, then quickly closed the door. I wanted to say, I want a divorce. I looked at the business card of the international director that Nadia had admired for a long time, which I was clutching in my hand, and tore it to pieces. I had originally planned to give Nadia a surprise on her birthday, but now it seems unnecessary.

I held my stomach until midnight, but Nadia still hadn’t come back. The kitten was licking my hand worriedly, curled up beside me. I knew Nadia wouldn’t come back, but I still couldn’t help but have some expectations. Time passed bit by bit, and I really couldn’t bear it anymore. I called for delivery to bring the medicine over. At this moment, Twitter suddenly popped up with a message. It was another post from Luke. I clicked in to look, driven by some inexplicable force. It was a photo posted by Luke, showing Nadia’s back view. Nadia was confronting the debt collectors, with her arms spread out to protect Luke behind her. Luke said that the debt collectors had already left under Nadia’s threats and money. Luke had suffered some minor injuries and was on the way to the hospital with Nadia. Someone asked in the comments: “Looking at this back view, is it Nadia again? The big star and the young university student are so shippable!” Luke immediately replied: “Thank you for your concern, ship away, there’s plenty of sugar!” My heart ached. Nadia and I had never gone public. She said she didn’t want to affect her career, and I respected her wishes. But now she was appearing in public with Luke again and again, in such an ambiguous relationship. Doesn’t this affect her career? Luke was so concerned about a minor injury, but do you remember a month ago, at the Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony, Nadia won the Best Supporting Actress award through my resource investments and daily humble pleading. When Nadia was accepting the award, I was surrounded by a group of people. “An actor who has already retired dares to compete for resources with the people our boss wants to support?!” The leader kicked me. I knew it was probably because Nadia had been elevated step by step by me, affecting too many other people’s interests. One of them had sent these people to cause trouble for me. “All of you, go up and beat him! Just don’t beat him to death!” As soon as the leader gave the order, more than a dozen people surrounded me and started punching and kicking. Faced with the attack of more than a dozen people, I was powerless to fight back. I could only cover my head and silently endure. Just as I was being beaten, I saw Nadia, who had just received the award, walking past with Luke’s hand in hers, surrounded by stars. “Nadia! Save me!” I shouted. Nadia clearly saw me, but she only glanced at me, then fearfully quickened her pace, pulling Luke’s hand. Because more and more people were gathering, the leader was afraid of making a big scene and withdrew his men. Late at night, I went to the hospital before returning home covered in wounds. “Why are you back so late?” Nadia glanced at me, then was shocked by my appearance, her lips trembling. “Nadia, why didn’t you save me, why didn’t you call the police?” I rushed up to question her. “I… I didn’t know it would be so serious.” Nadia shrank back, her eyes avoiding mine. “You were afraid those people would hurt Luke, right!” My eyes gradually reddened. Nadia was exposed by me and couldn’t speak. Because she knew that as long as these people were causing trouble for me, they wouldn’t bother Luke. “Come with me to report to the police! That place is a blind spot for surveillance, you and Luke clearly saw it, come and testify for me!” I stared at Nadia intently. “Enough! Why report to the police for such a small matter!” Nadia yelled angrily, “Aren’t you fine now? Other than some superficial injuries, what’s wrong with you? You’re not dead or disabled, why is a grown man being so dramatic!” I sneered and nodded. As the night deepened, my disappointment in Nadia also deepened. After Nadia finished speaking, she went back to her room as if nothing had happened, while I sat in the living room, enduring the pain of my injuries, unable to sleep all night. Afterwards, Nadia acted coquettishly towards me again, coaxing me with a few words. She’s always like this, thinking that acting coquettish and saying a few nice words would make everything okay. I also thought it had passed, but seeing Luke’s Twitter post, I clearly remembered everything that happened that day. I closed my eyes tiredly, and when I opened them again, my eyes were clear. I called my former agent: “Hello, I want to make a comeback. Are there any roles available recently?”

When I woke up, Nadia was back, sitting in the living room playing with her phone. Seeing me come out, she imperiously said to me: “I bought you medicine, it’s on the table. Looks like you could sleep without medicine, why pretend to be in so much pain?” I smiled faintly: “Because I had already bought some.” Nadia seemed relieved, then said matter-of-factly: “Since you’re fine now, drive me to the set. My new drama starts filming today. By the way, did you fail to connect with that international director I asked you about last time? I knew you were becoming more and more useless.” I always drove Nadia to her new drama sets because, after all, I was a senior in the entertainment industry. Although I had retired, people would still give me some face. People in the circle also knew about my relationship with Nadia, so they would take extra care of her. Thinking of the international director’s business card I tore up last night, I suddenly felt quite happy. On the way to send Nadia to the set, Nadia complained about wanting to drink ice water. When I went to the back seat to get it for her, I found a pair of men’s underwear on the back seat. Nadia took a sharp breath, looking at me nervously. After all, if it were before, I would definitely have questioned whose underwear this was and asked Nadia to keep her distance from Luke. But now, I just smiled faintly and said nothing. “Luke got caught in the rain once and didn’t bring an umbrella. I went to pick him up, and he changed clothes directly in the car. I didn’t know he even changed his underwear…” Nadia explained, her face a bit embarrassed. “Nadia,” I interrupted her, calling softly, “Did you know that the day of Luke’s birthday was also my birthday?” Nadia was stunned for a moment, her eyes flickering with some guilt: “I… I forgot. I’ll make it up to you next time.” I said nothing, just nodded, handed the water to Nadia, and continued driving. She didn’t know, we had no next time. After arriving at the set, the staff kept looking at me and Nadia, with a look of wanting to say something but holding back. Ouch, it hurts so much, my stomach started hurting again. I took a deep breath, holding back the pain. An actress who was close to Nadia couldn’t hold back anymore. She ran to Nadia’s side and asked: “What’s your relationship with that university student? What about Sean?” Nadia glanced at me cautiously, then said: “One at home, one outside, you know. Besides, young guys are so tender, of course I like them.” The actress looked at me in shock, as if saying she didn’t expect me to be so open-minded, then looked at Nadia admiringly before leaving. After the actress left, Nadia immediately grabbed my hand and explained to me: “You know, Luke just graduated and also wants to enter the entertainment industry. It’s good for him to have you and me to protect him.” I nodded perfunctorily, noncommittal. Watching Nadia act boringly, her acting skills used to be very poor, but I taught her step by step, so that now Nadia can finish a scene without making mistakes. Nadia’s reputation used to be very bad, and I built her image and reputation bit by bit. It wouldn’t be wrong to say she was a rose I personally cultivated. But now this rose is pricking me all over. When Nadia’s most important scene of the day came, Luke suddenly called. Nadia hurriedly went to answer the phone, and the whole crew paused for her. “Sister Nadia, I went to audition for the third male lead role in the TV series you recommended to me, but the people there look down on me and don’t want me to play the third male lead. Can you come over and support me?” Luke’s pitiful voice rang out in the quiet set. “How dare they! Wait for me, I’ll be right there!” Nadia frowned, picked up her bag and prepared to leave. “Miss Nadia, but we haven’t finished here yet…” the director persuaded. You should know that Nadia’s image in the entertainment industry was originally not good, and I had worked hard to correct it bit by bit. If she left like this, there would inevitably be many people saying she was playing diva, one person delaying the progress of the entire crew. Although all of this was true. Nadia rushed out as if she couldn’t hear what the director was saying. I grabbed Nadia: “Don’t forget, if you leave today, your reputation will be completely ruined.” Nadia’s face darkened: “Are you threatening me? Didn’t you hear that Luke needs me?” Luke, Luke, it’s Luke again. “If you dare to walk out of this set, let’s get divorced!” There was uncontrollable disappointment in my eyes. “Threatening me with divorce? Sean, you’re something else! Wait until I come back to talk to you.” Nadia looked at me in shock, but still couldn’t resist her steps to see Luke. Nadia pushed my hand away heavily and turned to run out. My stomach was already hurting, and I couldn’t stand steady. When she pushed me, I fell to the ground, and my stomach hurt even more uncontrollably. “Mr. Sean, are you okay?” The people on the set gathered around and helped me up. Nadia, you see, even some strangers treat me better than you do. So why should I still stay with you? I took out my stomach medicine and ate it, then looked at the director and said: “This drama just started filming, not much has been shot yet, right?” The director nodded. “Then replace all of Nadia’s scenes, I’ll act in them. I can invest a lot of money in you.” I looked at the director seriously and said.

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My dad swapped me out with his first love’s child. He told her, “Our child will have a better future if my wife raises her.” Years later, the illegitimate daughter became the elegant heiress of the Chambers family. And I became the lowest of the low. The illegitimate daughter mocked me in front of others, hinting that they should bully me. Seeing me beg for mercy, she laughed even harder. “A mistress’s kid, huh? You’re really good at groveling.” On SAT Day, she tore up my exam pass and sent a group of thugs to block me in Oakridge Alley. She smirked, “Teach her a lesson.” And that was how I died, on SAT Day, only to discover she was my dad’s first love’s biological daughter all along. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the bullying. Content I was cornered by a group of girls in the restroom. Ivory Chambers stood front and center, gazing down at me with a cold, superior detachment. “Leona, when was the last time you showered? You reek, you know that?” Then, as if flipping a switch, she laughed—sweet and harmless. Her doe-like eyes brimmed with innocence. “Don’t worry. They’ll help you clean up just fine.” At her words, the girls around her grinned wickedly and advanced toward me. In my previous life, I had huddled in the corner, trembling. These girls had dumped a bucket of dirty mop water on me and recorded a video of the entire thing. From that day forward, I became their favorite target—bullied mercilessly. All because I was “the mistress’s child.” Ivory claimed my mother had ruined her parents’ marriage, and my very existence was a sin. Later, on SAT Day, she tore my exam pass to shreds and sent a group of thugs to ambush me in Oakridge Alley. “Teach her a lesson,” she had said with a smug smile. That day, I was violated and killed. It wasn’t until after my death that I learned Ivory was the mistress’s child. My dad, Victor Chambers, had swapped us at birth to give Ivory a legitimate identity and a better future. For years, I suffered under his first love’s abuse and Ivory’s bullying. In what should have been the prime of my life, they uprooted me completely. Rage and hatred exploded within me like a wildfire. This time, they all had to pay. I stood up abruptly and grabbed the mop. Swinging it wildly, I struck at the advancing girls. Screams filled the restroom. No one dared come near me. I charged straight for Ivory. The drenched mop smacked her stunned face, leaving her screaming. But it wasn’t enough. Tossing the mop aside, I grabbed a fistful of her hair, dragged her to the bucket, and shoved her head into the filthy water. “Your mouth stinks more than I do. Let me rinse it for you!”

Ivory’s minions froze, too shocked to move. Ivory thrashed and spluttered, but all she could manage was a pitiful “glug glug glug” sound. Drink up! Even mop water was cleaner than her filthy mouth. Just as Ivory was about to drown, I released her hair. She shot upright, gasping for air and collapsing to the floor. Her chest heaved violently like a fish out of water. Pointing at me, she tried to speak but couldn’t form a single word. Her minions, however, snapped out of their stupor and lunged at me, screaming every curse in the book. Fueled by unrelenting hatred, I fought back. In my past life, I was a meek pushover. This time, I hit hard—taking on all four of them without hesitation. Let loose. Fight like hell. Those who wronged me in my past life wouldn’t get away this time. The result of my outburst? I ended up in front of Ms. Sanders. “Leona Brooks, are you insane? Ivory is still throwing up from drinking mop water! How can someone your age be so cruel? “Aren’t you two sisters? Even if you’re not from the same mom, how could you treat her like this?” “Explain yourself!” I locked eyes with her. “They cornered me in the restroom to attack me.” Ms. Sanders opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off. “I know I don’t have proof, and it’s their word against mine. But I’m not wrong.” Ms. Sanders wasn’t naive. She knew there was no way I could take on so many if I hadn’t been provoked. Her brows furrowed as she sighed. “Leona, I understand your family situation is complicated.” “Your dad and Ivory’s mom are on their way. Apologize. Say something nice.” “I’m not saying this is your fault, but you… You’re back in that family now. You’ll need to survive there. Until you can support yourself, try to endure it. Just finish high school peacefully.” She, too, thought of me as “the mistress’s child,” born with an original sin. Now that my “mom” was gone and I’d been taken back to that house, it was no surprise I couldn’t hold my head high. Being bullied was something I’d have to endure. If she outright encouraged me to rebel, that would only hurt me more. Who wouldn’t want to fight back if they could? I nodded. “I understand, Ms. Sanders. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Ms. Sanders sighed again. “Stay here for now.”

Within forty minutes, Victor Chambers arrived with Serena Caldwell. His expression was thunderous as his eyes swept the room and landed on me. “Leona, I didn’t bring you back here so you could make trouble,” he hissed, his voice low and cutting. “If you think being part of the Chambers family gives you the right to do whatever you want, I’ll send you away immediately.” Ms. Sanders stood up, trying to intervene. “Mr. Chambers, maybe you should hear Leona out—” Victor cut her off with a cold laugh. “I don’t have time to hear excuses. She’s clearly out of control.” Ms. Sanders glanced at me with sympathy but said nothing further. She was an outsider in this family drama and had no authority to intervene. “Daddy! Mom!” Ivory Chambers entered, supported by her classmates. Her pristine new outfit and freshly washed face radiated elegance. She was every bit the poised heiress. “Ivory!” Serena rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace, her concern palpable. Even in moments of distress, Serena exuded calm. Her soft-spoken demeanor made her seem almost incapable of anger. “Mom!” Ivory nestled into Serena’s arms, her teary gaze shifting to me. Though her tears blurred her eyes, I could still see the disdain deep within them. She looked at me like I was dirt beneath her shoes. She had stolen my identity and my rightful place, yet she dared to look down on me, provoke me, humiliate me. The rage burning inside me felt almost unbearable. Serena gently comforted Ivory before finally turning to me. Her expression was icy, her gaze laced with resentment, as though she wanted to say, Your mother destroyed my family, and now you’re bullying my daughter? My patience is at its limit. But with Ms. Sanders present, she held back her words. Victor glanced at Serena, his concern obvious. He quickly stepped forward to calm her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied,” he assured her. “Dad, you really need to give Mom an explanation,” Ivory said, her voice trembling. “Mom’s too kind to say it, but I know she doesn’t want to see Leona anymore. You should send her away.” Ivory would never reveal her true nature under Serena’s watchful eye. She wanted Victor to send me away, knowing that outside this house, I’d be at her mercy. Victor nodded. “Alright, alright. I’ll send her away tomorrow.” Serena’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before she turned back to Ivory. Stroking her hair, she whispered softly, her every move filled with warmth. She truly was a good mother. The kind of mother I should’ve had. Instead, I grew up with a monster who tormented me relentlessly. It wasn’t until she died that I found even a sliver of peace. Back then, I cursed my cruel fate, never realizing my suffering was orchestrated by human hands. Every tragedy in my life was Victor Chambers’ doing. And now, here he was, playing the roles of devoted husband and loving father. This picture-perfect family sickened me to my core. Serena glanced at me once more, her expression unreadable. She gently patted Ivory’s shoulder before walking over to Ms. Sanders. “Ms. Sanders, I’d like to speak with Leona alone.” Ms. Sanders hesitated, then nodded and left the room, her gaze lingering on me briefly.

With Ms. Sanders gone, the room held only four of us. Serena approached me, her cold eyes boring into mine. *”Leona, I won’t hold the sins of the previous generation against you. But if you hurt my daughter, I can’t forgive you. “After the SATs, you’ll leave. I don’t want to see you again.” Her voice was calm, but her words were piercing. I knew she was furious. I had crossed the line by lashing out at Ivory. She had every right to slap me, but she didn’t. For a moment, I wanted to hug her. I wanted to cry out, Mom, I’m your real daughter. But I couldn’t. Ivory was the one she had raised, and no matter what, her feelings for Ivory would outweigh anything she felt for me. I couldn’t risk telling her the truth—not yet. No matter how much I wanted her as my mother, I knew I had to rely on myself. There was still time before the SATs. Enough time. I nodded. “Alright.” Serena turned away, walking over to Ivory and taking her hand. “Let’s go, Ivory.” She led Ivory out of the office without another glance at me—or Victor. Victor watched them leave, then turned his gaze back to me. His expression hardened. “You’ll pay for this,” he spat. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine. I’ll be waiting.” Victor’s face froze for a moment as though something dark crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. With a shake of his head, he walked out. Victor, if I were you, I’d kill me right now. You’re the one giving me the chance to destroy you. And I promise, I won’t disappoint. Ms. Sanders didn’t say much else after that, simply telling me to return to class. As I entered the classroom, Ivory’s minions glared at me, their eyes full of resentment. I stared back, unflinching. “What are you looking at? Do you want to drink mop water too? Or should I livestream all the things you’ve done?” They hadn’t expected me to confront them so boldly in front of everyone. One by one, they shrank back, their hostility crumbling. Bullies like them only preyed on the weak. I pointed at them and spoke loudly. “Everyone, be careful around these girls. They’re bullies. Stay far away from them.” Satisfied, I sat down. A few moments later, Ivory returned. I didn’t even spare her a glance, unclenching my tightly balled fist under the desk. The hair was still there. It was from when I’d shoved her head into the bucket earlier. Carefully, I tucked the strand of hair away and pulled out my math workbook.

My defiance had made Ivory Chambers back off. Though she still glared at me whenever she could, she wasn’t reckless anymore. Each time she thought about coming after me, she hesitated, weighing whether she could handle the fallout. She couldn’t afford the consequences if people found out she was a bully. So, for now, she was quiet. But I knew this peace wouldn’t last. Ivory was undoubtedly plotting something, just like in my past life. On SAT Day, she’d try to destroy me completely. This time, I’d be ready—with a gift just for her. During the break, I paid for a DNA test and got Ivory’s results. Now, all I needed was Serena Caldwell’s. No rush. For now, my focus was on studying. When I was little, Diana Monroe—my supposed mother—used to hit me constantly. I thought if I studied hard and did well in school, maybe she’d like me. But every time I brought home a perfect score, she tore up my test papers in a blind rage and slapped me across the face. Eventually, I realized the better my grades, the worse her fury. So I stopped letting her see my real results. From third grade onward, I purposely came in last in every class. By the time I took the entrance exam for this high school, I intentionally scored just high enough to scrape in. I couldn’t understand why she hated my good grades so much. It wasn’t until after I died that I learned Diana wasn’t my real mother. She couldn’t stand that I was better than her biological daughter. Of course, my success made her furious. If she were still alive, I’d throw my perfect scores in her face and tell her just how much of a failure her precious daughter was. With three days left before the final mock exams, I went to the Chambers Manor to ask Victor Chambers for money. Even if he hated me, it was his obligation. He had to provide for me. While no one was paying attention, I slipped into the master suite shared by Victor and Serena. Finally, I found a strand of Serena’s hair in a corner. Just as I pocketed it, Serena walked in. “What are you doing?” Her voice was sharp and cold. I turned to face her, trying to steady my emotions. I knew she was a victim, too. I shouldn’t blame her. But every time she looked at me with those frosty eyes, it felt like a dagger piercing my chest. The pain was overwhelming, mixed with anger. I couldn’t help but wonder how she would react when she learned the truth—that the girl she had ignored and resented was her biological daughter. Would she regret it? Would she be heartbroken? Would she feel even a little guilt for how she treated me? I wanted her to. But I forced myself not to pin my hopes on her, even if she was my real mother. In my past life, no one had loved me, not until the moment I died. In this life, I would love myself. I could only rely on myself. Taking a deep breath, I swallowed the lump in my throat and said quietly, “I was looking for my dad.” Her gaze shifted to my hand. I opened it and said calmly, “I didn’t take anything. You can search me if you don’t believe me.” Her expression hardened further. “Don’t come into my room without permission.” “If you need money, call your dad. He can transfer it to you.” “I don’t want to see you in this house. Neither does my daughter.” I nodded. “Alright.” As I walked past her toward the door, her voice stopped me again. “Leona, everything in this house belongs to Ivory. None of it has anything to do with you. Don’t get any ideas.” “I’ve given you one chance already. If I find out you’ve hurt my daughter again, I won’t care that you’re just a child—I won’t let it slide.” Her words were laced with venom as she added, “You should know your dad only stayed in this house because Ivory needs a father. He’s a guest here, nothing more.” “Got it,” I replied, then walked out. I went straight to the DNA lab and paid for a test. Three hours later, I had the results: Serena Caldwell’s DNA and mine. Perfect.

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After Mom remarried, my younger brother Miles Brooks found out from Dad’s belongings that Grandpa came from a prominent political-military family. Dreaming of becoming a member of high society, he chose to follow Grandpa. But instead of the glamorous life he envisioned, Grandpa made him work the fields, herd sheep, practice painting, and study hard, never letting him appear in public. Meanwhile, I stayed at Brooks Manor with our stepdad, Steven Hollister, becoming his trusted right-hand man and stepping into the world of the elite. Miles only realized his mistake after finishing his SATs, when he learned that I was leaving for Paris with Evelyn Hathaway, the “princess” of the social elite, and that we were planning to marry upon returning. In a fit of rage, he killed me. And then, we both woke up, back at the moment of choice—Grandpa or Mom. This time, Miles hid behind Mom, declaring, “I’m not going with Grandpa. My dad is right here.” I clung to Grandpa’s coat tightly. I had enough of being someone’s lapdog, ordered around like a servant. Content 0

When Dad passed away, he left behind two sons: my younger brother, Miles, and me, Levi Brooks. Mom quickly remarried, devoting all her energy to our stepdad Steven and the unborn child she was carrying. It was then that Grandpa—whom we’d never met—showed up. He wanted to take both of us under his care. Mom, furious, said, “When I married your son, you didn’t pay a penny for our wedding. I’ve never even seen you before! And now you want to take both of my boys away?” “These are my grandchildren too,” Grandpa replied calmly. “Even though you’ve remarried, I can’t just let them go. If you insist I only take one, let’s ask the boys what they want.” Before she could say another word, Miles grabbed Steven’s hand and said sweetly, “Dad, you look tired. Let me make you some tea.” He stood behind Steven, full of admiration, then chirped, “Dad,” his voice bright and tender. He promised to only recognize Steven as his father from then on. Mom was stunned. Miles had been adamantly against Mom’s remarriage, leaving her stressed as she tried to juggle her grieving son, a demanding new husband, and her pregnancy. And now? Miles had suddenly decided to embrace Steven wholeheartedly, even promising to change his last name to Hollister the next day. Mom, who had always favored Miles, was delighted that he chose to stay. Miles clung to Steven and loudly instructed me, “Levi, you’d better take good care of Grandpa!” As I packed my things and left with Grandpa, Miles mocked me openly. “This time, it’s your turn to suffer. Go on and enjoy digging dirt in the fields!” 0

I knew why he was so smug. In our past life, Miles found a medal of valor and Dad’s farewell letter among Dad’s belongings. The letter revealed that Grandpa came from a prominent political-military family. Hoping for a better life—and tired of feeling like an outsider in Steven’s household—Miles eagerly chose to go with Grandpa. But when he got to Grandpa’s home, he was stunned. Grandpa lived in a small house on the edge of Ashworth Hamlet, surrounded by deep woods and far from the conveniences of city life. His income came from farming and gathering herbs in the mountains. If the harvest wasn’t good or the buyers didn’t come, there was no money. Miles quickly learned that Grandpa was strict. He had to wake up at dawn, eat breakfast, and either walk or take the bus to a public school. After school, there was no time to rest. Grandpa made him finish all his schoolwork before overseeing his physical training. Weekends weren’t for relaxation either; Miles had to help collect herbs in the mountains. There were no luxuries, no entertainment. Miles called his life a nightmare. He longed for the comforts I enjoyed: a grand estate with staff to cater to every need, designer clothes, and private schools where he could network with the children of CEOs and politicians. While Miles wore homespun clothes Grandpa had tailored for him, I was out shopping with Steven’s black card, wearing the latest fashion, and receiving boxes of luxury watches delivered to the door. While he drank bitter herbal teas Grandpa brewed for his acne, I underwent orthodontics and worked with a personal trainer to sculpt my body under Steven’s supervision. He claimed he was a forgotten son of the Brooks family, while I shone brightly in the public eye. At just 16, I had already gained recognition among the elite, with influential families eager to form alliances with ours. Following Steven’s guidance, I presented myself as the perfect young gentleman at every major event. I was his pride, the face of the family, and to the outside world, the Brooks’ golden boy. Miles, on the other hand, fell for Evelyn Hathaway, the darling of high society, and begged Mom to introduce him. She refused. Enraged, he protested, “I’m a Brooks too. Why can’t I?” Steven scoffed and said coldly, “Look at yourself. Following your grandfather around, breaking your back in the dirt. You don’t know finance, can’t speak fluent English, don’t even know how to swing a golf club. What qualifications do you have?” Grandpa dragged him back to the Hamlet, telling him to focus on his SATs and forbidding him from returning until his results were out. Miles once tried to use Dad’s medal to confront Grandpa, only for Grandpa to chuckle and say he’d picked it up at a flea market. “Put your energy into something productive,” he told him. While Miles toiled away in Ashworth Hamlet, I performed a piano solo at my coming-of-age celebration. Under Steven’s tutelage, I played with precision and grace, my fingers dancing effortlessly across the keys. When I rose to bow, the dazzling crystal chandelier above lit up the room and the hearts of everyone watching. Rumors spread: “The Brooks have Levi, and Evelyn Hathaway is the jewel of high society.” Miles came back with his SAT results, eager to share his success, only to find out about my engagement to Evelyn and our plans to study abroad together. At that moment, Steven and Mr. Hathaway were discussing our future plans. Miles approached Mr. Hathaway, who greeted him kindly. But as Miles walked away, he overheard Mr. Hathaway sigh, “So your ex-wife brought two sons. One turned out well, but the other… well, let’s just say Levi is polished, composed, and impeccable. That other one? He reeks of poverty.” Miles snapped. He stormed into my room, hands around my neck, screaming, “Die! Die!” I fought back, hitting him over the head with a heavy object. And just like that, we both died on our 18th birthday. When I opened my eyes, I was back at the fork in the road: Grandpa or Mom. This time, Miles clung to Mom and declared smugly, “It’s your turn to rot in the countryside. Go ahead, Levi. Enjoy your life as a rural nobody.” 0

Life with Grandpa wasn’t rich or comfortable, not by any stretch. Mom had never been close with Dad by the end of their marriage. She didn’t think she owed Grandpa anything, let alone support for my care. Even the child support she received? Not a penny of it went to us. The only time she ever came around was during the summer or winter holidays to pick up Miles for a visit. Even then, it felt like she just wanted to check a box, putting on a show for appearances. Frankly, Mom hadn’t treated Dad well when he was alive either. She often complained about him not earning enough, and judging by the timing of her pregnancy, it was clear she’d been with Steven before Dad passed. Grandpa gave me my own room, modestly furnished. Apart from the essentials, there was only a wooden desk neatly arranged with painting tools—brush, paint, and canvas. One afternoon, Grandpa took me to see the fields. It was the middle of summer, hot and sticky. The ground was dry and cracked under the sun. “Remember,” Grandma Martha said as she watered the crops, “this is the path you chose. You can’t back out now.” Grandpa clearly thought I wouldn’t last here after being spoiled at Brooks Manor. In our previous lives, Miles hadn’t lasted long. He called Mom begging to come home, but she refused. After all, in her mind, Grandpa’s home was supposed to be far more prestigious than Steven’s—enough to elevate Miles to the top of society. At the very least, it could maintain her affluent image. I picked up a watering can and joined Grandpa. “I don’t regret it,” I said. “I like it here. It feels alive.” Grandpa paused, caught off guard. After a moment, he murmured, “You’re nothing like your father.” “What was Dad like when he was young?” I asked, curious about the man behind my faint memories of quiet sorrow. Grandpa’s face darkened. He didn’t answer and instead said, “If you’re staying with me, you’ll follow my rules. I’m strict and have little patience. Now go get some rest.” That night, I fell asleep listening to the sound of frogs and cicadas outside my window. 0

The books on my desk towered over me like mountains. Just looking at them made me want to run. Even after two lifetimes, I’d never really learned the basics. Studying and practicing painting didn’t have the instant gratification of socializing or making connections. Public school was no private tutor. I had to rely on my own grit to catch up. I struggled through it all—homework, reading, painting—but Grandpa never let me off the hook. He sat beside me, refusing to sleep until I finished. If I nodded off, he would clear his throat, jolting me awake. “Sorry! I’ll fix it right away,” I’d blurt out, startled. My body reacted faster than my brain, conditioned by years of reprimands. Grandpa looked puzzled. “What’s wrong? I’m not going to hit you. Did someone use to hit you?” I nodded. “Yeah. I got hit a lot.” Grandpa sighed deeply. “Maybe you should call it a night.” I shook my head. “No! If I take a break every time it gets hard, I’ll never catch up. My painting skills will never improve. I don’t believe I can’t do this.” Grandpa studied me in silence before finally saying, “I’ll go deal with those noisy cicadas outside. They’re bothering you.” Even though I was bad at school, Grandpa stuck with me, helping me correct every mistake. The clothes I wore weren’t designer, but he asked the local seamstress to tailor them. The fabric was soft and comfortable, even if it wasn’t flashy. Grandpa didn’t say much, but I could tell he cared. He wished Mom would visit me. After two lifetimes, I no longer expected anything from her. When she did visit, it was only to take photos for her social media, pretending to be a doting mother. Her eyes were always filled with disdain, like she didn’t want to be there. One evening, music floated in from outside. My hands instinctively moved as if to play along. Grandpa stepped in front of me protectively. We went outside to find Miles standing there, playing the violin like a proud, elegant crane. When he finished, his eyes were filled with pride and scorn. Steven and Mom appeared next. Her belly was round, her face glowing as she alternated between gazing lovingly at her unborn child and Miles. But when her eyes fell on me, they were distant, cold. “Uncle,” she said, pretending to notice us. “I didn’t see you there.” Steven, oblivious to everything but himself, said, “Miles, you should’ve played it like this. Let me show you. Levi, Uncle, you can listen too.” Miles tugged at Steven’s sleeve. “Dad, let’s go home. Mom said you’re her first music teacher. Help me perfect my technique.” I almost laughed out loud. First music teacher? More like a man blinded by lust and greed. Apparently, their performances at home weren’t enough—they had to stage a show here too. After sandwiching Mom between them, Miles turned to me. “Levi, can we talk for a minute?” I knew what he was up to. “You saw that medal, didn’t you?” Miles sneered. “It’s fake. Grandpa’s just a country bumpkin.” “Oh, by the way,” he added, smugly displaying a luxury watch, “did you get an invitation from the Marks family?” “No? Oh, I forgot—you’re stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. You’ve been erased from the Lexington social scene. Beg me, and I might let you tag along. But you’d embarrass yourself there.” He waited, hoping to see me angry, regretful, or ashamed. Instead, I asked, “How long has it been since you’ve had food that tastes like something?” That wiped the smug grin off his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, hick.” He hurried into the car, almost running away. Back at the house, Grandpa awkwardly brought out a cake. “It’s your birthday. Have some cake,” he said. “I don’t know how you used to celebrate at Brooks Manor.” It had been so long since I’d had a birthday. The sweetness of the frosting melted in my mouth, filling me with warmth. Music might require talent, but looks determined fame. Steven firmly believed that with the right face, you could go anywhere. I developed crippling anxiety over my appearance during puberty. Even water retention could earn me a punishment. When hunger kept me up at night, I’d sneak to the fridge. If Steven caught me, he’d make me throw up. Eventually, my stomach learned to reject anything over a certain limit. Steven would dress me in custom suits for performances, and I’d stuff myself with protein powder to fill them out, wrecking my body in the process. When I complained to Mom, she’d only say, “Steven does this for your own good.” I wasn’t a son to them—I was a polished, obedient product. When my little brother Dylan was born, Steven didn’t bother hiding his true colors. “Everything we do is for Dylan. Can’t you be better for his sake? There’s no place for you in this family if you aren’t.” Mom agreed wholeheartedly. “Dylan is our hope. You need to marry someone powerful to help him succeed.” Steven’s wandering eye never stopped, even after Dylan’s birth. Mom wanted to use me to reel him back in.

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Chapter One My wife gave me her male secretary’s underwear as a birthday gift. “Honey, wear it for me when I get back from my trip,” Vanessa said, smirking. Suppressing the nausea that welled up inside me, I snapped a photo of the initials embroidered on the waistband and checked my phone. A notification popped up—Connor Blake had just posted a new update. “My sizzling hot boss insists on teaching me how to swim. Who could resist that?” In the video, Vanessa wore a skimpy swimsuit, clinging to Connor in the pool. Their intimacy was undeniable. I chuckled coldly and left a comment. “So, when does the bedroom yoga lesson start?” An hour later, Vanessa called, fuming. “Ethan Hawthorne, are you looking to get yourself into trouble?” Unbothered, I tossed a divorce agreement her way. She cried. When Vanessa came home, I was in the middle of discussing property division with Julian Scott, my divorce lawyer. She stormed in, slamming the door so hard it echoed through the Tribeca apartment. Kicking off her heels, she peeled off her blazer as she made her way to the bathroom. Moments later, she came out, her face contorted with irritation. She grabbed my phone from the coffee table and threw it down. “Who are you chatting with so intently?” “I told you two hours ago I’d be home. No hot water running? No candles lit? And you didn’t even prepare my pajamas?” In the past, I would have jumped at the chance to cater to her every need. But now, her words sounded like nails scraping against a chalkboard. Perhaps, to her, I was always just an obedient servant she could order around. Swallowing the bitterness rising in my chest, I glanced up. My gaze caught a red mark marring her pale skin—a bold testament to her affair. For ten years, I had loved her faithfully, believing nothing could shake our bond. It was this certainty that allowed her to believe I would never leave her. Realizing my anger, Vanessa awkwardly pulled a blanket from the couch to cover herself. Before I could speak, she offered an explanation, unprompted. “Hotels are full of annoying mosquitoes. I couldn’t stop getting bitten.” I laughed dryly. “Do all the hotel mosquitoes look like your secretary, Connor?” Vanessa’s face turned crimson. She stammered defensively, her voice raising. “What nonsense are you talking about? I was just teaching him to swim!” “Those yoga, cycling, and fitness instructors are men too. Does that mean all of them sleep with their clients?” “Stop filling your head with trash!” she snapped. Watching her panic only amused me further. Tired of the charade, I stood up to pack my things. But Vanessa grabbed my arm, her brows knitting together. “Stop being ridiculous.” “I didn’t forget your birthday. I even got you a gift.” The thought of that “gift” ignited my fury. I put on a pair of gloves, retrieved the underwear from the trash, and threw it in her face. Vanessa screamed, stumbling backward, nearly falling. Chapter Two When she saw the initials “CB” on the waistband, her anger quickly morphed into panic. She stared at me nervously, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out. I crossed my arms and glared coldly, waiting for whatever excuse she’d come up with this time. The tense silence was interrupted by an urgent knock at the door. Vanessa seemed relieved as she darted to answer it. To my surprise, Connor Blake stepped inside. “It’s pouring out there. What are you doing here?” Vanessa asked, her voice soft and warm as she pulled him in. “You’ll catch a cold wearing that soaked jacket.” Her gentleness made me laugh bitterly. When I was sick with a high fever, she couldn’t even be bothered to get me a glass of water. Instead, she’d complain about how my illness inconvenienced her routine. Back then, I thought it was because she wasn’t used to caring for others. Now, I realized she only reserved her kindness for people she deemed worthy. “Ethan, why are you just standing there like a statue?” Vanessa barked, her tone sharp and impatient. “Get your clothes so Connor can change. Bring a few options so he can pick one.” In the past, I might have exploded in anger. But now, all I felt was icy detachment. I smirked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why stop at clothes? Take the bedroom. The bed is spacious enough for the two of you.” Ignoring Vanessa’s darkening expression, I headed to the bedroom to pack. Behind me, Connor tried to calm her down. “Don’t be mad. It’s my fault for showing up unannounced. I just wanted to make up for missing Ethan’s birthday.” Vanessa laughed coldly. “Mad? At him? This tantrum is just his way of trying to control me.” Her defiant tone grated on me. At that moment, Julian Scott sent over the finalized divorce agreement. I printed it out, signed it, and handed it to her without a word. Vanessa glanced at the papers dismissively, but when she realized what it was, her arrogant demeanor dissolved. Anger and disbelief flashed across her face. “You’re going all out with this performance, huh, Ethan?” she sneered, crumpling the paper and hurling it at me. “The digital copy is in your email. Print it yourself if you want,” I replied flatly, dragging my suitcase toward the door. Behind me, Vanessa’s voice shook with barely contained rage. “If you walk out that door tonight, don’t ever come back.” I froze, hand on the doorknob. Something clicked in my mind. I turned to face her. Vanessa’s expression shifted—relief mixed with triumph—before she hardened her features again. “This is your last chance. From now on, don’t even mention the word ‘divorce.’” Chapter Three Over the years, every rule in our relationship had been set by Vanessa. I followed them without question, while she took my devotion as a license to break them whenever she wanted. Words like “breakup” and “divorce” were her go-to weapons, wielded at the slightest inconvenience. Last week, I forgot to buy cat food. That was enough for her to threaten divorce and block me on every platform. I resorted to creating multiple burner accounts just to beg her forgiveness. She ignored me for a week, letting her cold shoulder speak volumes. Eventually, I found out the cat food wasn’t for us—it was for Connor Blake. “Stop standing there like an idiot. Go make some ginger tea for Connor to warm him up,” Vanessa snapped, shoving me aside with disdain. I didn’t argue. Instead, I quietly slid off my wedding ring, turning it over in my fingers. It was a ring I’d designed myself—every detail carefully considered. I’d never taken it off, and I’d been insistent that she wear hers every day too. It was the one thing I wouldn’t compromise on, no matter how angry she made me. But this time, it was different. I inhaled deeply and placed the ring in her hand. This time, I was really letting go. Vanessa’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her face turned red, and tears glistened in her eyes. But instead of breaking, she hardened herself, gripping the ring tightly. “Fine, Ethan. I’ll wait,” she said coldly. “Tomorrow, you’ll come crawling back like the dog you are.” She hadn’t realized yet—there would be no tomorrow for us. It was late at night, and the icy wind cut through the streets like a blade. I leaned against my car, fumbling with a pack of cigarettes. Only one was left. Smoke curled around me as my thoughts drifted. When I first moved to New York City to start my career, I didn’t know anyone. My quiet nature didn’t lend itself to making friends, so I spent my evenings in a tiny Tribeca apartment, playing online games to pass the time. That’s how I met Vanessa. She was my support in a team match. Instead of running to safety, she turned back to save me, even though it cost us both our lives in the game. After the match, she added me as a friend and messaged, “Hey, carry me next round, Mr. Pro.” Her sunny, outgoing personality was the complete opposite of my reserved nature. I couldn’t resist her charm. We started playing together every night. Winning matches and listening to her gentle voice as she talked me through her day became the highlight of my life. One night, out of the blue, she said, “What do you think about meeting up?” Chapter Four Her tone was casual, but I could hear her nervous breathing through my headset. Even now, I can still remember her laughter when I agreed. So this is what it feels like to matter to someone, I thought. When we met in person, she took my arm naturally, shaking it playfully. “Who would’ve thought the gaming legend looked this handsome in real life?” she teased, her bright eyes sparkling like stars in the summer sunlight filtering through the trees. The memory lingered as I took a drag of my cigarette. The glowing ember burned my fingers, and I cursed, tossing it to the ground and grinding it out with my shoe. When I looked up, Vanessa was standing in front of me, her cheeks red from the cold. Her wide eyes brimmed with tears, and her expression was full of unspoken hurt. I sighed deeply. After all these years, I had no regrets about the way I’d loved her. So what was she crying for? She had someone else now. If she loved him so much, why not let me go peacefully? Why cling to this broken relationship? “Ethan, don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, tugging at my sleeve. “It scares me.” “I was wrong about your birthday,” she continued, her voice softening. “I should’ve picked out your gift myself.” “Please don’t stay angry, okay?” In all our years together, I’d never seen Vanessa act so vulnerable. She’d always been confident that no matter what, I would be the one to apologize first. But it was too late for that now. She still didn’t understand why we’d reached this breaking point. I brushed her hand away and opened the car door. Her desperation flared. She pressed her hand firmly against the door to keep it closed. “You promised me,” she said, her voice trembling. “Every birthday, you’d grant me one wish. Don’t you remember?” “Well, this is my wish: come home with me.” For a moment, I was transported back to the past—back to when Vanessa used to hold me tightly and say, “You’ll never be alone again. I’ll always be here with you.” Maybe this could be my final act of kindness toward her. I decided I would give her one last moment of happiness before leaving quietly while she slept. Vanessa wiped her tears and broke into a triumphant smile, tilting her chin smugly. “I knew it. You could never leave me.” The moment we walked through the door, a loud pop startled me. Streamers rained down from above, and voices shouted in unison, “Happy birthday!” I froze in the entryway, glancing around the living room. Among the faces were Vanessa’s closest friends, including Brielle Hart, Chloe Monroe, and Miranda Tate. “Do you like the surprise I planned for you?” Vanessa asked, her tone almost pleading for approval. For a brief moment, the warmth of the gesture softened the icy walls around my heart. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had celebrated my birthday. Most years, I spent it alone or treated it like any other ordinary day. But the smile didn’t last long. My eyes landed on the dining table, where a bright green cake sat. It was decorated with green grapes and surrounded by matching green flowers. “This is my apology to you, Ethan,” Vanessa said sweetly. “I made it myself.” Across the room, Connor Blake smirked at me, his eyes brimming with smug satisfaction. Chapter Five The others crossed their arms and leaned back, amused by the spectacle. Their mocking gazes bore into me, each one like a searing brand. “Don’t just stand there,” Vanessa urged. “Sit down and have some cake.” I couldn’t tell if she was oblivious to the malice in the room or deliberately ignoring it. Still, I wanted to avoid a scene on what would be my last night here. Quietly, I took a seat at the table. A short-haired woman, Quinn Harper, tapped her nails on the table and let out a derisive laugh. “Ethan, let’s be real. You’re not even good enough for Vanessa’s toenails, and yet she insists on staying with you,” Quinn sneered. “Do her a favor and stop acting like a jealous drama queen. If she and Connor had something going on, do you think you’d even be in the picture?” My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. I turned to Vanessa, hoping for even a shred of defense on my behalf. But she averted her eyes, ladling soup into a bowl and placing it in front of Connor. My anger boiled over. Just as I began to rise, someone shoved me back into my seat. Connor stirred his soup lazily, his voice dripping with mockery. “Ethan’s not all bad,” he said. “Vanessa just told us that as long as she sweet-talks him a little, he’ll come running back like a loyal dog.” Something inside me snapped. All this time, I was nothing more than her fool. Connor stood, grabbed a handful of the green cake, and smeared it across my face. The hard metal decorations cut into my skin. Before I could react, others followed his lead, smearing cake onto my hair and clothes. “Look at him,” Connor jeered. “Doesn’t he look like a green turtle?” The room erupted in laughter. Connor leaned close to my ear, whispering, “Even if I slept with Vanessa right in front of you, what could you do about it?” The noise around me faded into silence, replaced by the thunder of my pulse. With a roar, I flipped the table, sending dishes and silverware crashing to the floor. Vanessa, trembling with rage, slapped me hard across the face. “What’s your problem, Ethan?” she shouted. “They were just standing up for me. Connor spent all day making that cake! Now apologize to him, or I’ll never forgive you.” I let out a bitter laugh. How ridiculous. When they insulted me, she stayed silent. But now, over a cake, she leapt to Connor’s defense. “Fine,” I said coldly. “I’ll apologize.” Pulling out my phone, I dialed a number I’d been holding onto for a long time.

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Grace Lockwood was dying. Her one wish was for her only daughter, Sophia Lockwood, to have a child to call her own. To ease her foster mother’s worries, Jason Danish agreed to her request. He started staying out all night, pressuring me to divorce him. After several heated arguments, I summoned the long-dormant Zenith Interface, “I want to leave this world.” To spare me from pain in my final moments, the system extracted my core emotions. I stopped fighting or arguing, which seemed to please Jason. He eagerly married his foster sister, Sophia. Gradually, Jason began to notice my growing indifference. I even prepared baby clothes for the child Sophia was expecting. It was then that he finally panicked. …… Content Jason Danish and I had another fight. It was the third time, always about his foster sister, Sophia Lockwood. I grabbed his arm, refusing to let him leave. Jason flung me off with irritation. Unsteady on my feet, I caught the edge of the table to keep from falling. His face darkened, brimming with impatience. “Chloe Hartwell, I’ve told you this a hundred times: it’s just for a child. A year from now, I’ll divorce her and remarry you. Why can’t you just be reasonable? Why pick a fight now?” I stared into his eyes, my chest heaving. “She wants a child, but why does it have to be you? She knows you’re married. She’s destroying our family.” “Chloe Hartwell!” Jason’s voice was low, carrying a storm of fury. “Grace raised me. Without her, I wouldn’t even be alive. What family do I have without her?” “Tomorrow at the County Clerk’s Office, I’ll be waiting.” With that, he slammed the door, leaving the apartment complex. At the curb, a petite figure emerged from a Bentley and ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms. I clutched my chest, a bitter ache swelling inside. Seven years together, and this was how it all ended. I summoned the Zenith Interface. “System, I want to go home.” Three years ago, I successfully won over Jason Danish. I should have left then. But Jason had said to me, “Chloe, I finally have a home.” I had teased, “You could’ve just bought a house. Isn’t that the same thing?” Jason frowned, shaking his head solemnly. “It’s not about having a house—it’s about having you. You’re my home.” “Chloe, you are my home.” In that moment, I felt like I was walking on air, floating among the clouds. Because of those words, I stayed. After all, I was an orphan. Where I lived didn’t really matter. But only three years later, Jason dealt me a fatal blow. When Grace was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, she clung to Jason’s hand, pleading with him to take care of Sophia. Tears streamed down her face as she expressed her fears that Sophia, alone in the world, would be vulnerable. “If only Sophia could have a child,” she said. “But she refuses to marry. I know—it’s because she’s waiting for you, Jason. I don’t care about dying, but I can’t rest easy leaving Sophia alone.” To ease her mind, Jason promised to marry Sophia and give her a child. I was there in the hospital room when he made that promise, every word chilling me to the core. When we got home, Jason told me he wanted a divorce so he could marry Sophia. I refused, and we argued. He ended it by slamming the door on me. The Zenith Interface hesitated before speaking. “Host, for the first three months of separation, your emotions will be removed. You’ll become an empty shell. Leaving then will spare you much of the pain.” I agreed. I would do anything to get far away from Jason Danish.

The next day, I didn’t make it to the County Clerk’s Office. It was pouring rain, and I hated going out in storms. Jason called, his tone sharp with frustration. “Chloe Hartwell, the wedding is next week. Can you stop causing trouble?” Rain pounded against the windows, and thunder rumbled in the distance. I clutched the edge of the blanket. “Can’t we do it tomorrow? The forecast says it’ll be sunny.” Jason’s breathing grew heavier, tinged with exasperation. “Tomorrow, I’m helping Sophia try on wedding dresses.” “What about the day after?” “Chloe Hartwell!” When Jason got angry, his voice grew low and weighty. I didn’t need to see him to know his face was stormy, his brow furrowed, convinced I was playing games. I sighed. “Fine. Wait for me.” I hated rainstorms—feared them, even. In my original world, I’d been in a car accident during a storm. That’s how I ended up in a coma and became part of this world through the system. I hailed a cab, but by the time I folded my umbrella, the rain had drenched half my hair. I frowned, irritated. I hated rainy days. Outside the fogged windows, the streets were nearly empty. My phone rang incessantly. All calls were from Jason. I tugged at the corners of my mouth in a bitter smile. He was so impatient he couldn’t wait even a minute. Oddly, I felt nothing. It seemed the separation program was already taking effect. The cab skidded at a corner, the tires screeching against the wet pavement. I was thrown forward, my forehead smacking against the seat in front of me. Jason was still blowing up my phone, but unfortunately for him, I’d been in a car accident. I grabbed my umbrella and prepared to walk to the County Clerk’s Office. The driver grabbed my arm. “Where are you going? The ambulance is on its way.” “Let me go. I’ve got urgent business.” “What’s so urgent? Reincarnation?” “I’m getting a divorce.” The driver froze for a second, then tightened his grip. Maybe he mistook the rain on my face for tears. He gave me a look—equal parts pity and sadness. “Urgent or not, you still need to get checked out first.” I supposed he was right. I was taken to Lakewood Medical Center. After a battery of tests, the County Clerk’s Office had long since closed. Jason stormed into my hospital room, his initial alarm fading into a cold mask as he saw I was unharmed. “A car accident? Chloe Hartwell, you couldn’t have come up with a better excuse? Where are you hurt?” I spread my hands. “Nowhere.” Jason flipped through my test results, his face growing darker by the second. The paper crinkled in his hands. He laughed bitterly. “Chloe Hartwell, are you determined to make my mother die with regrets?” “I told you—I’ll divorce Sophia once she has the child. Can’t you think about me? Do you know how worried I was coming here? And you? You’re fine with lying to me.” Once, I might have been hurt by this, furious even. Why should I understand him when he was ready to tear our family apart for Sophia? Who understood me? But now, I was calm. I didn’t even have the energy to argue. “Jason Danish, I wasn’t lying. I really was in an accident. The driver’s still here in the hospital if you don’t believe me. I just got lucky.” Jason didn’t believe me, but before he could vent further, Sophia called. His stern expression softened. His voice became gentle. He didn’t even bother stepping away. Her playful, sweet tone carried clearly over the line. We weren’t divorced yet, and Sophia was already calling him “hubby.” And Jason? He didn’t correct her. After hanging up, he sighed and turned to me. “Chloe, I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Don’t fight me this time. You know Grace doesn’t have much time left.” Grace’s dying wish was to see Jason and Sophia married. Jason busied himself making it happen. I nodded. “Okay.” “Don’t fight me, Chloe…” “What did you say?” Jason froze, startled. I repeated myself. “I said, okay. Tomorrow, divorce.”

In the past, I wouldn’t have agreed so easily. Not scolding him first would’ve been a miracle. But now, it took no effort at all to say, “Fine.” Jason Danish’s furrowed brow relaxed, and he exhaled in relief. “Then, tomorrow.” Sophia Lockwood was waiting for him to have dinner. He had no time to waste on me. Jason left the hospital quickly, guilt written all over him. After he left, the doctor told me I could be discharged. I went home and cooked myself a bowl of noodles. They were tasteless. I added more salt, but the flavor didn’t change. It seemed my sense of taste was already fading, much faster than I’d expected. I finished the meal mechanically, then methodically cleaned up and washed the dishes. Finally, I lay on the cold, empty bed. I ran my hand over the other side—it was ice cold. Ever since Jason decided to marry Sophia, he’d moved out. The empty house was mine alone. If I left, no one would live here anymore. The next morning, I was woken by the ringing of my phone. Jason’s cold voice came through. “I’m downstairs. Get ready and come down.” I froze for a second. “Okay.” When I opened the car door to the passenger seat, I realized Sophia was there too. Her hair was in soft curls, her makeup impeccable. She smiled at me, almost playfully. “Sorry, Chloe, I didn’t feel like getting out of the car. Do you mind sitting in the back?” I nodded. “Sure.” I climbed into the backseat, staring out the window with a blank expression. In the rearview mirror, Jason’s gaze flitted toward me now and then. He cleared his throat. “Uh, Sophia wants to invite you to be her bridesmaid.” I looked at him, puzzled. Jason coughed again. “If you don’t want to, it’s fine. The wedding’s just a formality. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” “I’ll go.” Jason’s expression shifted to one of surprise. “Did you hear me? I said bridesmaid.” “I heard you. I’m not deaf,” I replied. Jason’s face darkened, and he snapped, “Fine. When Sophia picks her dress later, you can pick your bridesmaid dress.” When the seal stamped down on the divorce papers, it marked the end of my three-year marriage to Jason Danish. Jason grabbed his copy of the decree and stuffed it into his pocket without so much as glancing at it. I, on the other hand, took my time, carefully examining every word. The documents were just different pieces of paper, but they ruled most of our lives. I hadn’t finished reading when a large hand snatched the paper from me. Jason’s tone was annoyed. “What’s so interesting about it? It’s not like we’re really divorced.” The stamp begged to differ. Whatever. If that’s how he wanted to see it, so be it. Sophia’s wedding dress was stunning, adorned with diamonds that sparkled in the sunlight. When Jason and I got married, he was fresh out of college and broke. Our wedding had been minimalist, to say the least. He had promised me back then, “When I have money, I’ll throw you an even grander wedding, and you’ll wear the most beautiful dress.” Three years later, he had money, but those promises were long forgotten. I looked at the diamond ring on my finger, then noticed Jason’s hand was bare, leaving only a faint white mark where his ring had been. Calmly, I slipped my ring off and placed it on the counter. Following the store clerk, I began picking out bridesmaid dresses. Each one was prettier than the last. Sophia appeared behind me suddenly. “Chloe, I think this one suits you,” she said, holding up a long-sleeved, nude-toned dress with tulle. It was hideous and outdated. I replied evenly, “Then you wear it.” Sophia bit her lip, feigning hurt. “Chloe, this is a bridesmaid dress. I’m the bride.” I instinctively furrowed my brow. She was on the verge of tears again. Jason tossed the dress to me and wrapped an arm around Sophia, comforting her softly before turning to scold me. “Sophia is the bride. How could you suggest she wear a bridesmaid dress?” “Chloe Hartwell, if you don’t want to be her bridesmaid, just say so. Don’t act all pitiful.” What? I wasn’t doing anything. Jason handed the dress to the clerk. “This one. Wrap it up.” Fine. An ugly dress it was. On the wedding day, balloons surrounded the lawn at Green Ridge Estate, and the area was decorated with countless framed photos of Jason and Sophia. The guests all looked on enviously. Dressed in the hideous bridesmaid dress, I held the rings, waiting for my cue. Finally, it was time for the ring exchange. Step by step, I approached the bride and groom. When I handed Jason the ring, he looked at me, his eyes holding an unreadable emotion. He murmured softly, “Chloe, it’s just an act.” I nodded to show I understood. The emotion in his eyes faded, replaced by a smile as he slid the ring onto Sophia’s finger. Applause erupted, and the officiant announced, “You may kiss the bride!” I stood quietly to the side, waiting for them to kiss so I could finally take off my heels. The ill-fitting shoes had been digging into my feet all day. I lifted one foot to relieve the pain. When I glanced up, Jason’s eyes were locked on mine. He still hadn’t kissed Sophia. Sophia urged him quietly, her voice impatient. The guests stared expectantly. But he didn’t move. His lips quivered. “Chloe, I…”

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After getting married, my husband Ethan William and I have always kept our finances very transparent. He once told his friends, “Ella is independent and capable; she never relies on a man. What I love most is her confident demeanor.” Later, his secretary shared on social media, “I wanted him to set up a more personal payment arrangement, but instead he gave me an unlimited supplementary card. What should I do? The Princess has already fallen for the Dragon Slayer.” The pride of the Little Girl practically radiates from the screen. I sighed as I looked at the joyful posts about her finances every day: “How can I reclaim my share of this marital property? I just wonder if Ethan’s Little Girl will end up in tears.” I looked at the photos Mia posted on SnapChat: a Hermès handbag worth over a hundred thousand, a necklace from G Brand, and clothes and shoes from various luxury brands—each piece was exquisite. The comments below were filled with envy: “Mia, your boyfriend treats you so well!” “Truly, boyfriends like that never disappoint.” “Mia, when will you bring him out for us to meet?” Mia quickly posted another photo. In it, the young and charming Mia, wearing a sexy camisole, was hugging a man’s neck, only his chin visible. A dark red lip mark adorned his Adam’s apple—everyone knew what that meant. Mia captioned it: “My hero wants only me to see him; he’s mine.” The comments continued to brim with envy, but only I recognized the man as Ethan, identifiable by the scar on the side of his chin. That scar was from a winter night in college when we were working part-time. He had ridden a bicycle with me through the snow and, to protect me during a fall, injured his chin. Every time he teased me, he would say, “This is the medal of a hero; our Ella must repay me with her body.” I’d blush and bury my face in his embrace. But now, this boy who once protected me had become someone else’s Dragon Slayer, equally brave and captivating. I liked every one of Mia’s posts and commented on their group photo: “What a happy girl! I envy you for having an unlimited secondary card. When will your hero show his face?” I then selected a few of Mia’s photos and sent them to Ethan: “This style of bag and those clothes are too extravagant; they don’t suit your girl.” When Ethan came home, he bore a look of helplessness as he tore off his tie and sank tiredly onto the sofa. “Why are you competing with a girl? She’s just going to a class reunion, afraid others will look down on her, so she borrowed my secondary card for a photo.” What a flimsy excuse; it felt like a lie. I knew Mia didn’t come from a privileged background; she took out loans for university and only had two work outfits when she joined the company. Yet, her youth shone through—a simple white shirt could keep anyone’s eyes glued to her. But it was this girl who had captured Ethan’s heart. Known in the business world for his integrity, he had fallen into the web of affection spun by her, unable to escape. He continued to explain, “Those things were rewards for her hard work, but her posts were somewhat misleading. I’ve already talked to her about it; I’ll make sure she pays attention next time.” I fixed my gaze on his eyes, and when he looked away, I pointed at the photo and asked, “Ethan, how generous you are! A secretary’s hard work earns her a handbag worth over a hundred thousand and a bracelet worth over ten thousand. If this gets out, applicants will be breaking down the door to Gu’s; you truly are a good boss.” Ethan straightened up, frowning at me. “Ella, enough. I said it’s just a misunderstanding. You don’t need to read too much into it; you know I haven’t betrayed you.” “Your comment on her SnapChat today was excessive.” A sharp pain shot through my heart; he was sitting with a girl, the kiss mark still visible on her neck, and he dared to say I was excessive? I thought back to when we had just married; Ethan had said, “Ella, I will always treat you well, and we will grow old together.” That vow, made just a few years ago, had already scattered like leaves in the wind. I handed him a mirror. “Look at the kiss mark on your Adam’s apple, then tell me you haven’t betrayed me? Ethan, you’ve really disappointed me.” He panicked for a moment, knocking the mirror away, shattering it on the ground. “I felt a bit uncomfortable and pressed on it myself, leaving a mark. Don’t be suspicious, Ella. You’ve always been different from other women; why have you changed now?” He stood up, ignoring my questions, and turned to sleep in the guest room. “I don’t want to argue; you should calm down.” The next day, as soon as I arrived at work, Mia walked in with red eyes and a large bag. In front of all the colleagues, she dumped its contents onto my desk. “I’m sorry, Sister Ella. It’s my fault for being thoughtless and posting those things on SnapChat, which made you misunderstand.” “I shouldn’t have let Ethan’s rewards go to my head and posted those random things on SnapChat; I’m truly sorry.” The colleagues watching had no idea what was happening, whispering and pointing outside. I picked up a G Brand bag and smiled, asking, “What great contribution have you made to the company? A reward of over a hundred thousand? Ask those standing outside; they work hard—have they ever received such rewards?” I tossed the bag lightly onto the ground, landing at her feet. “And a jacket worth several thousand?” “A bracelet worth over ten thousand? Mia, how many good deeds have you done to earn daily rewards?” Mia’s face turned pale, tears welling in her eyes. “I… I work hard; how can you doubt me?” The people outside stared at the luxury items on the ground, murmuring louder: “Yeah, why does she deserve that?” “Didn’t you see her SnapChat? She said her boyfriend bought it!” “Is it her boyfriend who bought it, or is it Ethan’s reward? I’m confused.” “Are you stupid? Ethan’s wife has already spoken; what kind of relationship do you think it is? Isn’t that just a mistress?” The mocking laughter from outside reached Mia’s ears; she bit her lip, looking aggrieved. “What are you all doing? Don’t you need to work?” Ethan entered. Mia looked over, and the tears that had been threatening to fall finally rolled down her cheeks as she gazed at her Dragon Slayer with red eyes: “Ethan.” Her voice was pitiful. Ethan glared at me, looking at the items on the ground. “Ella, I told you yesterday it was just a misunderstanding. What’s the point of making things difficult for a girl?” “You scared her; she came here to apologize early in the morning, and now everything is here. Do you feel particularly imposing and proud, outshining everyone as Mrs. William?”

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The night before the wedding, Charlie suddenly became very busy. He couldn’t even make it to the venue decoration as we had planned. Feeling guilty, he called to comfort me. “There’s a heavy thunderstorm in NewYork. Stay at home and don’t go out, okay?” “Don’t worry about the decorations. Just focus on being a beautiful bride.” I couldn’t rest easy, so I went to check myself. That’s when I saw Charlie. In a huge helicopter parked on the lawn, there was a woman in a flight attendant uniform kneeling between his legs. “Respected sir, are you satisfied with my service?” she purred. Charlie smirked and pulled her into his arms. But that was my wedding venue. The helicopter was the dream Charlie had promised me. … The rain in NewYork came suddenly and violently. With thunder and lightning, I returned home looking like a drowned rat, pale-faced. My whole body felt hot. Dizzy and groggy, I crawled up to take a fever reducer, wrapped myself in a blanket, and dialed a number. “Hello, I’ve changed my mind.” “I want to join your Atlantic Airways. Yes, as soon as possible.” After hanging up, the scene I had just witnessed kept flashing in my mind uncontrollably. I sneezed hard. I never thought I’d leave because of Charlie, when I had stayed for him in the first place. As the medicine took effect, I closed my eyes. Soon after, I was awakened by Charlie’s call. The man’s voice on the other end was low and gentle, just like always. “Rachel, I’ve been so busy. Did you eat lunch properly?” I coughed a couple of times. Charlie immediately became concerned, “What’s wrong? Why are you coughing? Did you not wear enough clothes or…” His concern came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly alert, he asked, “Rachel, did you go out?” “Mm-hmm.” I replied weakly, “I went downstairs to buy breakfast. Didn’t expect the rain to be so heavy.” He breathed a sigh of relief on the other end. “Didn’t I tell you not to go out in the heavy rain? If you wanted to eat something, I could have had it delivered to the villa.” “The wedding is in a few days. If you get sick and can’t get up, where am I going to find such a beautiful bride?” I didn’t answer. My mind was filled with images of the helicopter on the wedding lawn, and the woman in the flight attendant uniform. If I were too sick to get up, wouldn’t Charlie have a better choice? “Rachel?” Seeing my silence, Charlie tentatively spoke up. But his words were cut off by someone’s lips, blocking his false comforts in his throat. The sound of heavy breathing stopped. He growled low, threatening the person with a mix of reproach and indulgence. “Rachel, the rain was too heavy. I got drenched when someone bumped into me.” “Be careful, don’t drive too fast.” “It’s fine.” Charlie’s tone became cheerful, “Just thinking about being able to come back and be with you after these meetings makes me want to drive at 70 mph!” “Gotta go now, I need to drive.” The call ended abruptly, with only half of the usual kisses and hugs. A moment later, Charlie sent a message. “Rachel, the wedding company just called me. They said there’s a problem with the helicopter we ordered, and it needs to be sent back to the factory for repairs… How about we change it to a big flower ball?” Does it need repairs because of a problem… I recalled that eye-catching scene. Or was it soaked with sweat during their romp and can no longer be used? Actually, renting a helicopter for the wedding venue was too extravagant. It was Charlie who insisted. At 24, in my first year as a flight attendant, I encountered an unreasonable passenger. He poured a full cup of boiling water on the back of my hand. I still had to crouch down and clean up the cabin. At that time, it was when Charlie’s startup was struggling the most. I couldn’t afford to rest, having to fly even with bandages on. Busy and rushed, that scar remained there forever. Charlie held me tightly, his heart aching. He swore, “When I make big money in the future, I’ll definitely take you on a helicopter ride.” “No passengers, and you won’t need to serve anyone. It will be a romance just for us.” But he didn’t keep his promise. He gave our exclusive romance to someone else. Everything after that was just his conscience trying to make up for it. I don’t want it anymore. A confused cat emoji came through the chat box. I lowered my eyelids and typed “okay” on the keyboard.

When Charlie sent someone to deliver food, I was in a deep sleep and didn’t hear the doorbell. By the time I woke up, the food outside the door had already gone cold. I opened the packaging. It was all the light flavors I loved. We even had a microwave at home to reheat food. But I only felt nauseous. I put the food in the fridge and called my best friend, Kiera, to let her know I was leaving. She angrily ranted about Charlie for fifteen minutes. “Are you stupid? Now that he’s successful, you’re just going to leave quietly and let him off the hook?” “If you ask me, you should go through with this wedding!” “Slowly collect evidence of his cheating, then file for divorce and take half of his assets!” “You’ve been with him for ten years. Are those ten years of your youth worth nothing?” Yes, ten years. I had been with Charlie for ten years. I watched him go from a nobody startup founder to falling and getting back up, through ups and downs, until he finally established his own brand. The toughest times were during the pandemic years. His company, which had just started to take off, was on the verge of bankruptcy. Most of my flights were grounded. We had to give up the spacious apartment we were renting and move back to a cramped basement. At that time, it was really difficult. So difficult that we had to compete with sewer rats for rice to eat. Charlie had to pay off the debts he owed for goods on time, otherwise it would affect his credit score. He was forced to do manual labor. I begged my superiors to let me fly, taking on any flight no matter how dirty, smelly, or difficult. That’s how we finally got through that period. I’ll never forget the day we paid off our debts. Charlie locked the basement door, dragging a suitcase with one hand and holding mine with the other. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Rachel, thank you for getting through this with me!” “I, Charlie, swear to heaven!” He raised his finger, “I will definitely make something of myself and marry my girl in grand style!” At that time, the young man’s sincerity was transparent. But after walking in the torrent for too long, it was washed away until the color was no longer clear. Actually, Kiera is wrong. From an outsider’s perspective, I must fight for something to do justice to these ten years. But if I say I don’t hate Charlie, probably no one would believe me. Maybe I hated him when I stumbled upon that erotic scene in the helicopter. Afterwards, all that was left was deep exhaustion. I just want to leave. Get away from him, away from this place that holds ten years of our memories, leave everything behind and start over. “I don’t want to make things too ugly with him.” I lowered my head. Call me weak or cowardly if you want. I don’t want to tear away the fig leaf between Charlie and me, destroying the most beautiful memories of our ten years. Because that was my youth too. No matter how rotten the person in my youth has become, he was still the man I once loved deeply. “You…” Kiera sighed, “So when do you plan to leave?” I flipped through my email. The offer from Atlantic Airways had arrived. “Two days.” In two days, I’ll be leaving this place. … At 10 p.m., Charlie still hadn’t come back. Ever since Charlie’s career took off, we’ve been on different schedules. Sometimes when I flew red-eye flights, he’d already be gone by the time I got back. Since then, I’ve asked the company not to schedule me for night flights, hoping to have our private time together when I return home at night. I got used to waiting. But this time, I don’t want to wait anymore. Just as I turned off the lights to go to sleep, Charlie called. The sound of running water came through from the other end, especially jarring in the dead of night. “Rachel, don’t wait up for me.” “I originally booked a flight to get back tonight, but as soon as I landed, I got dragged into a meeting.” “The people below know I’m about to take my honeymoon leave, so they’re taking this time to hold all the meetings for next quarter while they have me…” “Don’t be angry. After our wedding is over, I promise I’ll make it up to you with a proper honeymoon.” I wanted to ask him, what flight could fly from the rooftop garden of the Empire State Building to here? What kind of meeting requires the participants to wash up in a hotel room first? But I didn’t say it out loud. “Work is important. Take care of yourself too.” He was about to reply when the water sound on the other end stopped. Someone was walking barefoot on the wooden floor. The sound of clothes rustling arose. I could almost hear someone breathing into Charlie’s ear. There was a dull “thud”. Charlie’s phone hit the ground, and the sound of lips and teeth intertwining came through the speaker. Perhaps he was too eager. So eager that he didn’t even hang up the phone. I masochistically listened to the whole thing, until the woman’s coquettish gasps arose. “Charlie, are you really going to get married?” she asked. Charlie must have lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke. “What else can I do?” He chuckled lightly, “She’s been with me for ten years. I have to give her a title at least, so people don’t say I’m ungrateful.” “Such a generous old man…” The woman sneered, “Haven’t you ever wondered if she, as a flight attendant all these years… if she’s been with other men…” Charlie didn’t speak again. The woman hadn’t realized anything yet and continued chattering, “I heard she’s flown to India many times… I’ve heard those flights are not clean…” “Also, in her line of work, I don’t believe there are no sugar daddies… Didn’t you say she helped you through the economic crisis for a few years…” “Enough!” Charlie shouted angrily, “Don’t talk about things you shouldn’t know! I know very well what kind of person Rachel is. It’s not your place to comment!” I hung up the phone. My whole body was shaking uncontrollably. I knew very well that Charlie had taken it to heart. He’s usually emotionally stable and wouldn’t get angry unless he had doubts. I recalled those most difficult years. To help Charlie pay off his debts, I did indeed fly many trips to India. The memories are heart-wrenching. The dirty and chaotic environment goes without saying. The scariest part was the scrutinizing gazes of the passengers, like wolves eyeing their prey. After each flight, there would be many black handprints on my bottom. That wasn’t even the worst of it. Once, I was tricked by a passenger in the back row who pressed the call button. He grabbed me and dragged me into the bathroom to assault me. Fortunately, a colleague heard my cries for help passing by and rescued me. On the way home that day, I cried for a long time, but wiped away my tears before reaching the front door. I didn’t want Charlie to know. I also didn’t want him to feel guilty or worried. So I didn’t say anything, not even mentioning the times people offered to be my sugar daddy. Yes, people wanted to be my sugar daddy, more than once. There were also quite a few business elites who expressed interest in dating me. But I turned them all down, one by one. Because I knew very clearly, Charlie only had me. And I only had him. I believed every word he said, every vow he made. I believed he would have his day. But now, I’ve waited for it. Yet I no longer want it.

The next day, I got up early, planning to tidy up the house and pack the large luggage that needed to be shipped. I didn’t expect Charlie to suddenly come home. The photo of us at 27 crashed to the ground. I hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but cut my finger on the glass, blood covering my hand. Seeing this, Charlie immediately ran over to stop the bleeding. His face full of distress, he said, “If you’re not feeling well, just lie down obediently. Let the housekeeper clean up the house.” As he spoke, he angrily kicked the photo frame away. I was stunned, staring at the shattered glass on the floor as tears fell. That was… our engagement photo… When Charlie earned his first bucket of gold, he excitedly bought me a little white dress. And a small 0.5 carat diamond ring. He took me to take a set of engagement photos. He also said he wanted to treat me to a rotating buffet at the rooftop garden restaurant of the Empire State Building. “Wouldn’t that cost thousands?” I felt a bit pained. Charlie put his arm around my shoulders and waved his hand grandly, “I earn the money, you spend it. Isn’t that the natural order of things?” I shook my head, pretending to be angry, “I hate eating things like sashimi. It upsets my stomach.” “How about… you treat me to a bowl of rice noodles with double fried eggs instead… Save the rest of the money… When I want to eat there someday, you can take me then…” Charlie rubbed my forehead and said, “Okay.” But after that, we never ate rice noodles again. The wedding he promised me was delayed for seven years. Seven years had passed already. Seeing me cry, Charlie became a bit flustered, asking if my hand hurt. I shook my head, but the tears wouldn’t stop. “Don’t cry, Rachel.” He gently wiped my tears, “We still have to go try on wedding dresses today. If your eyes are swollen from crying, you won’t look good in the dress…” I was stunned. “Didn’t we already choose a wedding dress?” Charlie’s eyes flashed with guilt for a moment, “We did choose one… but the store just called me… They said a more luxurious, more expensive handmade wedding dress just came in…” “I want to give you the best.” His gaze was fervent. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if it was true or false. But Charlie, I never wanted a more luxurious or expensive wedding. None of this compares to the little white dress you gave me on our engagement day. But I didn’t resist, obediently following Charlie to the bridal shop. As soon as we entered, the staff recognized him. They only glanced at me before awkwardly averting their gaze. I had a rough idea of what was going on. Following Charlie’s instructions, the store manager took me to the luxury section to choose a wedding dress. Passing by the warehouse, I saw two staff members moving a wedding dress inside. It was the one I had chosen before. I smiled, not exposing anything. After trying on a few, Charlie wasn’t very satisfied, until I came out wearing a pure white satin strapless wedding dress. Charlie’s lowered head suddenly lifted. He stared at me, speechless for a long time. At that moment, I saw many emotions in his eyes. Amazement, reminiscence, surprise, doubt, disgust, and impatience. Finally, he frowned. “Who told you to pick such a pure white fitted wedding dress for her!” My heart sank. Did he think I had tainted the pure and innocent Rachel in his heart? Or was he convinced that I had used my body to earn money to help him through the economic crisis? “I said! I want the most luxurious, the most sparkly, the most elaborate wedding dress! Don’t try to fob me off with this kind of thing!” The disgust in Charlie’s eyes hurt me. I didn’t wait for the staff to bring a new wedding dress. I turned and went back into the fitting room, leaning my back against the wall, my eyes stinging. Soon after, I heard Charlie talking to someone through the curtain. “Why are you calling me… You know I’m with her trying on wedding dresses…” “If you hadn’t secretly run to the bridal shop and used my black card to buy the one she had ordered, would I need to come again?” “Seeing her in pure white… I can’t help but think of what you said…” “Forget it, as long as I have you with me in the future, it’s enough if she can just stay at home properly.” All the way until Charlie sent me home. Those words he said kept lingering in my mind, refusing to go away. When I came to my senses, I realized he had left again at some point. I opened the wardrobe and started packing my luggage. The white dress Charlie gave me when I was 27 was still hanging there. I pulled it out and wrapped it up. I stuffed it into a huge bag, planning to have someone come pick it up for recycling later. I cleared out the few boxes from the attic storage room. They contained many things we had moved over when we relocated. There were several photo albums. All filled with memories of Charlie and me. I pulled them out one by one, throwing them into a fire pit to burn to ashes. The empty albums, along with the boxes, were pushed outside the door waiting to be recycled. Finally, I found a notebook. It was piled together with the photo albums, its pages yellowed and covered in dust. Opening it, I saw Charlie’s handwriting densely filling the pages. It was the account book he had used to keep track of his business since he started. How much he borrowed, how much he repaid, how much he spent, how much he earned – all recorded clearly. In my memory, Charlie always carried it with him wherever he went, never letting it out of his sight. I don’t know how it ended up stuffed in an old cardboard box, placed together with our memories. I picked at the imprints on it. They were stains from years of accumulated bread crumbs and vegetable soup, perhaps mixed with Charlie’s tears when he felt life was hopeless. Every page was filled with amounts. “June 10, 2018, owe Mr. Zhao $20,000, to be repaid within one year.” “October 31, 2018, owe Mr. Hu $10,000, to be repaid within one year.” “December 31, 2018, year-end summary, owe Rachel a wedding, to be fulfilled in a lifetime.” I was stunned. Flipping through page by page, my name would appear once every year that passed. On the last page of the notebook, Charlie had written a line in big red letters. “Charlie, don’t forget to marry your girl.” “Remind yourself once every year, hoping that one day you can fulfill your promise!” I didn’t know how to react. I could only smile weakly, hesitating before stuffing the notebook into a compartment of my suitcase. Then I dragged my suitcase, preparing to fly my last flight before leaving. Flying to Denver. After landing, I would transfer to a flight to Canada to directly start my job at Atlantic Airways. I just didn’t expect to encounter Charlie on the flight.

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After making my girlfriend’s restaurant go viral online, the boss’s girlfriend finally decided to reveal my identity at the celebration banquet. But my former apprentice beat her to it, walking up to her parents and arrogantly saying: “Hello, father-in-law and mother-in-law. I’m Emma’s boyfriend.” My girlfriend not only didn’t refute this, but even took out the shares that originally belonged to me and gave them to my apprentice in front of everyone. The restaurant staff was in an uproar, starting to make a fuss. My apprentice kicked me while I was down, and my girlfriend didn’t stop him. She even mocked: “Your cooking skills are indeed okay, but without Ryan’s marketing, no one would know about the stuff you make. You should thank him.” I smiled calmly and nodded: “You’re right. I think just giving him shares isn’t enough. I’ll give him my position too.” I took off my jacket and walked out of the restaurant. I want to see how they’ll keep this restaurant running without me as the head chef and behind-the-scenes promoter. Emma announced to all the employees that Ryan had become one of the behind-the-scenes owners of Magic Bistro. The whole room erupted in cheers. I stared at her in disbelief, my pristine white suit suddenly seeming out of place. “Haha, Jack the cook wearing a suit, how ridiculous!” “What good is cooking skill? This is the internet age. Without Ryan’s online marketing, we wouldn’t have any customers!” “Jack always acted high and mighty as head chef and Ryan’s former mentor, but looks like Emma knows who’s really important to our restaurant.” The employees whispered mockingly. I knew they were taking sides, trying to curry favor with Ryan by mocking me. After all, I was just a cook Emma didn’t value, while Ryan was the new golden boy of this grand restaurant. Ryan put his arm around Emma’s waist and looked at me provocatively, his words dripping with fake courtesy: “Master, you dressed up so nicely today. You must be happy for me too, right?” “But why do you look so upset?” I stared coldly at Emma, wanting her to give me an explanation. Emma’s eyes were filled with disdain. Probably afraid I would cause a scene and ruin her carefully planned celebration, she spoke coldly: “Jack, stop with the attitude. I did promise to give you those shares, but who told you to be so useless? You nearly bankrupted the restaurant before. Not making you pay for it was already merciful of me.” “Is that so?” I looked at the woman before me, my heart sinking to rock bottom. The previous mess was clearly caused by Ryan. He secretly used pre-prepared ingredients at an official banquet without telling me. It was discovered, and I helped clean up his mess because he was my apprentice. Emma knew the truth about this incident. But now they were pinning all the blame on me. I was used to it by now though. Ever since Ryan joined the company, Emma had broken her own principles for him many times. Although Ryan was incompetent, he was young and smooth-talking. He knew how to make her happy. Emma’s heart had long since strayed. “Whatever makes you happy.” I no longer wanted to argue further with them. However, Ryan probably thought I was admitting defeat. A flash of smugness crossed his eyes, but his expression became even more pitiful. “Emma, is Master angry at me? If so, I don’t want these shares. You should give them back to Master. After all, he’s been at the restaurant longer than me.” Hearing this, the mockery on Emma’s face became even more obvious. “Don’t worry about him. Our restaurant rewards contribution, not seniority. He has no skills but still has the nerve to take it out on others.” The other employees around also kept mocking me. Hearing this, I truly felt like all my past sincerity had been fed to the dogs. Emma said she was saving face for me, but when had she ever done that? Magic Bistro was built by Emma and me together. But she didn’t understand management at all. From the very beginning, I was the one in charge. Not only did I build the operations team, I also got hands-on myself, using my family’s culinary skills. I even used my family connections to invite celebrities from various circles to dine at the restaurant, creating this wave of popularity for the bistro. I poured my heart and soul into it for so many years. I never expected that now that Magic Bistro had achieved fame and success, Emma would attribute all the credit to Ryan. Since that’s how it is, there’s no point in staying here anymore. I took a long, hard look at Emma and Ryan. Ryan immediately hid behind Emma. “Emma, I’m scared.” Emma immediately glared at me angrily, “Jack, what are you trying to do?! Don’t tell me you want to get violent? I’m warning you, I can make you leave right now!” I loosened my fists, finding the situation strangely amusing. For Ryan’s sake, Emma had threatened me with this excuse more than once before. But in the past, I liked her too much. I was fooled by her repeated promises. I thought as long as I made the restaurant successful, she would really marry me. But now, I finally saw clearly. I calmly took off my suit jacket. “No need for you to kick me out. I’ll leave on my own!” Probably because I had never defied her like this before, Emma was stunned for a moment. I turned and strode towards the exit. “Jack, stop right there!” Emma’s furious threat came from behind, “If you dare leave today, don’t ever come back!” I didn’t look back. I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a long time. “Grandpa, I agree to come back and inherit the family business.” My grandfather was the behind-the-scenes controller of the country’s leading restaurant group. But when I first met Emma, she said she hated those good-for-nothing rich kids, so I hid my identity. For her sake, I rejected my predetermined fate, abandoned everything, and eloped with her in a grand escape. I even went from being a rich young master to becoming a cook, all for her. But it wasn’t until now that I realized how laughable my love was. I hung up the phone and returned to the house Emma and I shared to pack my things. On our bed still lay rose petals, candles, a pure white wedding dress, the property deed I had given her, and a dazzling diamond ring. I had countless times imagined how delighted and excited Emma would be when she saw these things. But now, I packed everything into my suitcase, preparing to leave. I opened my social media and saw that Ryan had posted a photo. In the picture, Emma’s cheeks were flushed red as she curled up like a kitten in Ryan’s arms. Although I had already decided to leave, my heart still trembled for a moment. Ryan had even commented below the post: Thanks to all our friends and family for the blessings. If it were the past me, seeing this message would have made me furiously jealous and confronting Emma. But not anymore. I blocked and deleted Emma and Ryan’s accounts. I no longer wanted to see this pair of scumbags. However, just after blocking and deleting them, Emma called. She angrily said, “Jack, what do you mean by this? How dare you block my account? Just because I gave the shares to Ryan? You have no skills yourself but have the nerve to be jealous of others?” My hand gripping the phone tightened. “Do you really not know whether I have skills or not, Emma?” There was a pause on the other end, then Emma’s voice came even louder. “You dare talk back! Jack, you’ve grown too bold! Don’t think you’re all that just because you can cook a bit. What right do you have to compare yourself to Ryan!” “I’ve never compared myself to him,” I said word by word, “Because he’s not worthy!” I hung up after saying that. Emma kept calling back, but I didn’t answer a single call. She switched from calling to texting. “How dare you hang up on me! Who do you think you are! You really think Magic Bistro can’t do without you? If it weren’t for Ryan, I’d be embarrassed to even show off your pathetic cooking skills.” “Let me tell you, hurry up and come apologize to Ryan! I can give you a chance to take me back, otherwise you can forget about marrying me in this lifetime.” I laughed coldly to myself, really not wanting to waste any more time on her. I turned off my phone and went to sleep. In the past, whenever Emma stayed out late and didn’t come home, I would always worry about her safety. I would lie awake all night, silently waiting by the phone. But now, I couldn’t mistreat myself like that anymore. I lay in bed and slept soundly for the first time, not having to worry about the restaurant or work. However, half an hour later, Emma kicked open my bedroom door. A sudden loud bang jolted me awake. Emma’s furious face came into view. “Jack, are you tired of living?! How dare you hang up on me and not come pick me up!” I was irritated from being woken up. I threw off the covers and sat up. “Didn’t you already announce you’re with Ryan? You can have your boyfriend pick you up!” I was just stating facts, but Emma unexpectedly sneered when she heard this. “What are you getting jealous about again! Jack, I’ve never seen such a petty man as you! But…” She paused, “Since you care about me so much, I’ll tell you – there’s nothing between Ryan and me. We only announced it to create buzz for the restaurant.” She leaned in closer. The unpleasant smell of cigarettes on her irritated my nose. Emma didn’t smoke. The smell was very similar to Ryan’s favorite brand. She continued rambling, “Just go apologize to Ryan tomorrow. As long as he forgives you, I can let you come back as the chef.” I looked at Emma’s mocking expression. She seemed certain I would agree. But this time, I just frowned and pushed her away. “Sorry, not going!” I got up and walked towards another room. Emma’s furious voice came from behind. “Jack! You’re really asking for it! Just you wait!” I didn’t look back, just locked the door and went back to sleep. The next morning, I came out of the room stretching lazily. But I saw Emma sitting unusually docilely in the kitchen, like a newlywed wife. In front of her were two bowls of wonton soup. However, the wontons seemed to have been opened before. Emma saw me come out and smiled at someone behind me: “Ryan, come quick! The wontons will get cold soon!” I turned to look behind me. Ryan was shirtless with just a white towel around his waist. He greeted me: “Morning, Master! I worked out with Emma last night and got all sweaty, so I borrowed your shower. Hope you don’t mind.” “Oh? Emma, why did you only buy two bowls? Didn’t you get any for Master?” Emma snorted coldly, “Is he worthy? Come Ryan, let me feed you.” She fed Ryan a wonton with a spoon, then looked at me provocatively. Seeing the smugness in her eyes, I instantly understood. She was trying to provoke me, wanting me to go crazy in front of her. And she would sit like a queen on her throne, enjoying my possessiveness over her. It may have worked in the past, but not anymore. Right in front of Emma, I calmly left. Although I no longer planned to work at the restaurant, I still had to go back one last time. To help boost the restaurant’s reputation for going public, I had begged my grandfather, the Culinary God, to agree to come promote it. No matter what, I had to take care of this. When I arrived at the restaurant, a large crowd had already gathered outside. They must have heard that the Culinary God was coming and were waiting here on purpose. The restaurant had been promoting this for a while, but they didn’t know the Culinary God was coming because of me. Everyone attributed it to Ryan. Ryan had even arrived before me. As soon as I got there, I heard people praising him. “Ryan is really something, boosting the restaurant’s reputation so much that even the Culinary God was attracted!” Others immediately chimed in: “Exactly, that Jack wanted to compete with Ryan. He really has no self-awareness.” Hearing the flattery, Ryan looked very smug. “Don’t say that. If Jack hadn’t looked down on me before and not let me be a chef, I wouldn’t have done such a good job with marketing.” As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately agreed. “Hmph, I think he’s just jealous. Who does Jack think he is to compare himself to Ryan?” Just as they were enthusiastically kissing up, I walked right in. “Well, if it isn’t Jack? Didn’t you leave? Why are you back?” “Probably saw the Culinary God was coming and came back to mooch off Ryan’s success!” They all looked at me with disdain. I just stared at them coldly. “Who’s mooching off who? Ryan knows best, doesn’t he?” “Such big talk!” Someone immediately stood up to defend Ryan. “Are you saying our Ryan is mooching off you? Look at yourself! What are you?” “That’s right! Our Ryan made the restaurant famous and invited the Culinary God. Can you do that?” Everyone’s eyes were full of mockery. “Don’t tell me you want to say you invited the Culinary God!” “What if I say I did?” “Jack, what trouble are you causing here again!” Emma’s voice came from behind. “Who told you to stand here?” “Emma, you’re finally here!” Ryan immediately stood behind Emma. “Please talk some sense into Master. He’s insisting he invited the Culinary God. The Culinary God is about to arrive. If he hears this…” Emma angrily slapped me across the face. “Who told you to spout nonsense here! The Culinary God clearly came because of Ryan’s reputation. How shameless can you be!” I looked at Emma. “I’m shameless? Emma, you probably still don’t understand who this restaurant really relied on to get where it is today!” “Relied on who?” Emma sneered, “Don’t tell me you want to say it relied on you? Jack, you’re just a cook. Stop trying to take credit.” “That’s right, Master!” Ryan also stepped forward. “You stealing my credit before was one thing, but the Culinary God’s visit concerns the restaurant’s future. I really can’t let you spread nonsense.” Emma came over and slapped me again. “Petty and selfish. Hurry up and apologize to Ryan!” I clenched my fists, seeing the smug smile on Ryan’s face. “What if I don’t?” “Then get out! Get out of Magic Bistro, and I’ll blacklist you in the whole industry. You’ll never work as a chef again in this lifetime!” I raised an eyebrow, finding it amusing. “Blacklist?” Emma probably thought I was giving in. A look of triumph appeared on her face. “That’s right! Jack, you’re just a useless cook, while Ryan has connections with the Culinary God! You’d better understand – if it weren’t for me, you’d never amount to anything in your life!” “Is that so?” I sneered, “Emma, are you sure he has connections with the Culinary God? Are you sure you want to blacklist me for his sake?” “Yes! If you apologize to Ryan now, there’s still time. But this time, you have to kneel.” Emma was confident. Ryan also walked up to me. “Sorry Master, but this is Emma’s decision. I can’t go against it.” The smugness on his face was evident. Just then, a booming voice suddenly came from behind him. “Who dares make him kneel! Who dares!” The crowd immediately parted to make way. Someone exclaimed: “The Culinary God! It’s the Culinary God!”

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The summer of my sophomore year, Logan Hart lured me into his bed. From that moment, he seemed addicted—devoted to me for the next five years. My friends would tease him, calling him overly lovesick: “Even simps aren’t this devoted.” Until one day, I stumbled upon his secret WhatsApp account. Thousands of status updates—all filled with pictures of his childhood sweetheart in plaid schoolgirl skirts. The girl in the photos was youthful and captivating, her charm impossible to ignore. I then realized that these five years were nothing but a trade-off. While his body was with me, his heart had long since found its way to her. Content The night Logan came home. He swept me into the bedroom with impatient hands when he stepped through the door. Logan’s appetite in that department was insatiable; a few days apart were all it took for his restraint to snap. There was no time for romance, just a rush to satisfy his needs. It was familiar, mechanical even. Quick and over. I collapsed onto the bed, barely conscious. Ding! His phone chimed with a notification. Logan glanced at the screen, immediately getting up to leave. “Where are you going this late?” He kissed my forehead softly. “Something came up at work. I won’t be long.” A strange sense of unease crept over me. Call it women’s intuition, but something didn’t feel right. Summoning my energy, I called his office: “Are many people working overtime tonight? I was thinking of sending everyone BBQ as a treat.” “No one’s working late tonight,” his assistant replied. “Mr. Hart gave us all the night off. The office is empty.” I hung up, staring blankly at the bed. If Logan wasn’t at work, where had he gone so late? By early morning, Logan returned with my favorite dumplings from Sullivan’s in Chicago. The dumplings were perfect—thin skin, rich filling, and a burst of savory broth. He grinned, ruffling my hair. “Anything you want, honey, even if it’s the moon, I’ll find a way to turn it into a pie for you.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe I was just overthinking things. The idea of Logan not loving me? My best friend Marlow Hayes wouldn’t believe it for a second. “Sierra, you’re being paranoid again. Logan’s head over heels for you—he’d probably die without you. “You’ve been dating for five years, and every time you argue, who’s apologizing and begging you to make up? “Stop making him wait. Just marry the guy already.” Marlow wasn’t wrong. Logan had indeed given more in this relationship. But she didn’t know the truth—Logan had never proposed to me. He’d always say, “I want to give you the best, baby. Let me build a solid foundation before we talk about marriage.” I was young and didn’t want to be tied down by marriage. So we dragged on like this for five years. As I reheated the dumplings, I caught Logan on the couch, staring at his phone with a soft smile on his lips. “What’s making you so happy?” I asked. Hearing me, Logan quickly erased the smile from his face. “Nothing, just a funny video.” “Show me.” Instead of sharing, he put his phone away and scooped me into his arms.

He huskily whispered, “Nothing’s more beautiful than you.” Before I could argue, he pushed me down onto the bed, kissing and biting me playfully. His phone slid onto the mattress within my reach. It was his WhatsApp, but the account name was unfamiliar—Starry Sky. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I unlocked his phone and combed through the messages and posts individually. What I found left me reeling. The posts told a story of a Logan I didn’t recognize: October 9, 2019: Do you know what I did? I slept with someone else. You betrayed me first, so don’t blame me for doing the same. I remembered that night. Logan had stumbled into my apartment, drunk out of his mind. July 1, 2020: I’m preparing for my grad school exams. Don’t think graduating means you can leave me. That was the day he confessed his love to me. March 17, 2022: You dared to get engaged behind my back? I’ll never forgive you. That night, Logan was so drunk he scratched me in a frenzy, leaving red marks on my back. December 24, 2023: I know you broke up. I’ll always be here waiting for you. That was Christmas Eve when Logan told me he had a business dinner and couldn’t spend the holiday with me. My hands trembled as I scrolled to the most recent post, dated two nights ago—the night he left claiming he had work. “What’s lost will always find a way back to me.” The attached photo featured a young woman in a plaid schoolgirl skirt with a youthful and alluring figure. I zoomed in on the face. It was Wren Keaton, Logan’s childhood sweetheart. A wave of nausea hit me. My hands shook so hard I nearly dropped the phone. These five years hadn’t been love. I was nothing more than a stand-in while his heart stayed with her. Their shared past and youthful romance was their story, not mine. I had been the outsider all along. I didn’t cry or scream. Instead, I calmly took screenshots, saved everything, and placed the phone back where it was. That evening, Logan came to me with a new assortment of “toys.” I turned my back on him coldly. “I’m on my period. Not tonight.” Logan smirked and wrapped me in his arms, his voice teasing yet possessive. “I promise to be gentle.”

Logan tried coaxing me several times, but when I kept refusing, his expression darkened. “Well, babe, get some sleep. I need to swing by the office for work.” Marlow, my best friend, used to joke about Logan’s persistence: “You should be grateful. A man only sticks around like that if he loves you.” I used to think she was right. Logan never hid his physical desires. But now I understand the difference between men and women: men can separate their desires from their hearts, offering one to each. If a man truly loves someone, would he so carelessly hurt her to the point of breaking? On his secret WhatsApp story, Logan once described Wren as: “You’re my moonlight and a red string of fate. Just looking at you from afar is enough to fulfill me.” And yet, the first time Logan and I spent the night together, he treated me with reckless abandon, leaving me bruised and sobbing, begging him to stop. The difference between love and indifference—between us—was a gap I could never cross. I followed Logan to a café. Wren, dressed in a plaid schoolgirl skirt, was waiting at the door. She looped her arms around Logan’s waist as if they were teenage sweethearts. Logan pushed her against the wall, whispering something that made her smile. Under the dim streetlight, the two kissed passionately. From my hidden corner, I snapped photos of the scene. After five years of dating Logan, we’d tried every kind of intimacy, but he’d always avoided kissing me. Watching them, lips locked and bodies closed, I chuckled bitterly. So, it wasn’t that he hated kissing—it was just that he didn’t want to kiss me. Logan trailed kisses down Wren’s neck, stopping when he reached her collarbone. “Let’s leave it here for tonight. I’ll come back tomorrow.” Wren clung to him with a teasing pout. “Going back to that other woman?” Logan hesitated before replying, “You’re the most beautiful. She’s nothing more than a placeholder.” That seemed to satisfy her, and she smiled. Logan added casually, “Does the shop still have any ice cream? I’d like to take one with me.” At that moment, my phone buzzed with a message from Logan: “Hey, sweetheart, I’m bringing you your favorite pistachio ice cream. Happy now?”

He’s out with another woman but still bringing me her ice cream? I replied, “Oh, okay,” my face was cold as stone as I closed the chat. How much longer could he keep up this performance? Not long after, Logan returned, carrying a Sweet Red Bean Dessert. Trailing behind him was an inebriated Colton Rivers, his childhood friend. Colton was too drunk to stand, so Logan dropped him off in the guest room. Late that night, I went to the kitchen for water and overheard their conversation. Logan’s voice was sharp with irritation: “Keep screwing around like this, and don’t expect me to bail you out.” Colton, ever the carefree playboy, slurred in response: “You’re too uptight, man. Women are like clothes—you’ve gotta have a few spares, right?” “Messing around with random women will land you with a disease,” Logan shot back, his tone cold. “Find someone decent and settle down.” Colton chuckled drunkenly. “Like Sierra? She’s perfect—kind, sexy, everything. You’re one lucky guy. “But now that Wren’s back, when will you come clean to Sierra?” There was a long pause before Logan finally said, “Not yet. Wren hasn’t given me the green light.” Colton snickered. “Then pass Sierra my way after you break up. I’ve had my eye on her for ages.” Something in Logan snapped. The sound of a punch echoed through the room. Colton didn’t seem to mind, laughing as he rubbed his jaw. “Don’t play the saint now. Wasn’t it you bragging about how wild she is in bed? And now you’re acting all protective?” Outside the door, my blood ran cold. I never imagined Logan, who treated me so tenderly, could casually share the details of our intimacy with his friends. Then I heard Logan’s voice again, low and devoid of emotion: “Do whatever you want. She’s desperate for love. “Say the right words, and she’ll fall for it. She’s game for anything.” The words crushed me. The next day, I walked into Sugarland Creamery, the dessert shop Wren owned. The shop’s bright and elegant décor perfectly matched her style. When Wren saw me, surprise flickered in her eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a professional smile. I took a single bite of ice cream before setting the bowl down. “When did you get back to the States?” Her smile never faltered. “Just a few days ago.” I’d known about Wren for a long time. By the second year of my relationship with Logan, her name had already surfaced. One day, I stumbled upon a stack of boarding passes to Pacific Harbor in his desk drawer. He was flying there nearly every weekend. When I asked, he said she was unwell and needed his care. But when I had a fever and was hospitalized, Logan had dinner with her in Pacific Harbor. When our anniversary came, he left to see her in the middle of the night. We fought over her countless times. Whenever I threatened to leave, Logan would find a way to win me back.

Later, I heard that Wren Keaton had married while abroad, and that was when she and Logan Hart finally cut ties. Now divorced and back in town, it wasn’t surprising that their old flame had reignited. “How are you adjusting to life up north? Have you found a good place to live? “Why don’t you move in with us? It’s so inconvenient out there on your own.” I smiled warmly, peppering Wren with questions about her return. “Is running the dessert shop tiring? Do you need any help?” Wren grew increasingly uncomfortable, her eyes darting to Logan for rescue. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and interjected, “There’s no need for that. She’s fine where she is.” Before leaving, I bought a serving of ice cream, smiled politely at Wren, and said goodbye. Logan was quiet on the drive home, his expression dark with barely contained anger. Once we were in the car, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He grabbed me, pushing me back into the seat. “What were you doing back there? Trying to humiliate me?” “What are you hiding that you’re so scared of me seeing?” Logan’s hand clamped onto my jaw as he leaned in, his anger simmering under the surface. “Sierra, will you stop making a scene?” I had no intention of playing along anymore. Pulling the screenshots from his secret account, I shoved them in his face. “This is what you call late-night work? Exactly what kind of work needs a bed, Logan?” My voice was ice cold as I threw his words back at him. “You’re the one who’s desperate for love. “She whispers a few sweet words, and you let her do whatever she wants with you. “Logan, you’re pathetic.” “Let’s break up. I never want to see you or your side piece again.” Logan stiffened but quickly masked his reaction, trying to stay composed. “That night was a mistake. We only kissed—I never slept with her.” I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Well, that’s too bad. I still think you’re disgusting. I don’t want to risk catching something.” Logan finally snapped, picking up an ashtray and hurling it against the wall, where it shattered into pieces. “Sierra, do you have to be this cruel?” Blood trickled down his hand from the shattered glass, but he didn’t seem to care. “Was it Colton who told you?” “Why does it matter who told me?” “It has to be him. There’s no one else.” Logan let out a cold laugh, his hand tightening into a fist. “Yesterday, he was joking about sleeping with you, and today you show up here? I’m going to deal with him.” My anger flared. “Who cares who told me? The evidence is right here—you cheated on me!” I thrust his phone into his face, the records from his secret account scrolling past. “If you like her so much, at least have the guts to admit it. All this sneaking around just makes you look pathetic.” Logan couldn’t hold back his anger any longer. He slammed his fist into the table, yelling, “Nothing happened with Wren! Stop making baseless accusations!” I stared at him, unmoved. It was clear he’d rather die than admit the truth. After a long silence, Logan’s expression softened as he spoke evenly. “You’re just looking for an excuse to leave me for Colton, right?” Logan packed his bags with practiced efficiency and walked out of my apartment. “When you regret this, don’t come crawling back.” He gave me a lingering look, his lips curving into a smirk. “No one else will make you feel the way I do.” When Marlow found out about our breakup, she was incredulous. She’d come to comfort me but froze when she saw my calmness. “Your relationship was like a TV drama. I can’t believe it ended like this.” I thought about it for a moment before replying, “A drama? Then I guess I was the lead actress?” “Obviously,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Logan was the male lead. Five years—that’s enough for a hundred episodes.” I laughed. “The man I choose is the male lead. A cheating jerk like Logan? Not even close.” A week after our breakup, Wren Keaton became the target of online harassment. Photos of her and Logan being intimate had gone viral. The internet quickly uncovered her background, and soon, the hashtags about her being a “homewrecker” were trending. Wren cornered me, tears streaming down her face. “Why would you do this to me?” I shoved her hands off me in disgust. Wren stumbled back and fell to the ground, scraping her hand. “Sierra!” Logan stormed in, his face contorted with rage. He barked at me like it was an order. “Get online and clear her name. Now!” “It has nothing to do with me,” I replied, indifferent. “Don’t lie. When did you become so vindictive?” Logan pulled Wren into his arms, shielding her like a fragile creature. “If you hate me, take it out on me! Why go after her? She’s just a young woman who’s done nothing to you.” I took a step closer and slapped him hard across the face. “The photos are all over the internet, and you’re still pretending to be innocent?” Wren quickly jumped in, pulling at Logan with a sentimental tone. “She’s just too hurt. Don’t be mad at her, okay?” I turned and slapped her to the ground. “Oh, I almost forgot about you, you little homewrecker.” Wren shrieked and lunged at me, clawing wildly. “My parents have never hit me. Who do you think you are?” I wasn’t interested in wasting energy on these two lunatics. I called security. “There are two people causing trouble here. Get them out.” Later that night, Logan showed up at my door.

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My sister wanted to kill me, and the moment my mother stepped forward to help her, I stopped struggling. Later, my sister had plastic surgery to look exactly like me. She sat in my bedroom, waiting for my husband to return. My parents hoped she and my husband would live happily ever after, enjoying wealth and fortune. I just laughed—because they had no idea how terrifying that man really is. Today is the day Liam Hawthorne returns from overseas. He’s been out of the country for over two months, and I’ve already been dead for a week. My sister, Nina Dawson, nervously stood as Liam entered the house. “Liam, have you had dinner yet? I had the housekeeper make your favorite—pumpkin soup.” This should’ve been their first time meeting. Yet Liam didn’t seem to notice that his wife had been swapped. Nina had really done it—altered herself from head to toe to look exactly like me. Liam handed his suitcase to one of the staff and rubbed his temples. “I’ll have a bowl.” Nina smiled, perfectly mimicking my gestures and mannerisms, exactly as she’d seen on hidden camera footage. Following behind Liam, she entered the dining room. “Mrs. Jenkins, get a bowl of pumpkin soup for Mr. Hawthorne.” Liam glanced at her briefly. Though there were plenty of staff, I had always preferred to do things myself. I never felt comfortable ordering people around, even though I’d been living in Harbor City for almost two years now. Before I married Liam, I lived in a quiet rural town in South Carolina. And truth be told, Nina was supposed to be the one marrying Liam. The Dawsons and Hawthornes had been close for generations. The Hawthorne family was second in influence in Harbor City—nobody dared claim first. Years ago, our grandfathers had arranged for a marriage between Liam and Nina. But after both passed away, Liam’s family was betrayed in the business world. Liam’s father, in a last-ditch effort, tried to revive the old engagement, hoping the Dawsons would come to the rescue. But my father had already been courted by other powerful players, ready to divide Hawthorne Holdings, caring little for past loyalties. The Hawthornes went bankrupt. Liam’s father died shortly after, and his mother vanished from Harbor City with Liam and their butler. Two years ago, Liam returned with Hawthorne Holdings, crushing every major player in the city. Anyone who had wronged the Hawthornes wasn’t spared—either left buried in debt or sent to prison. Businessmen quietly thanked their stars that this was happening domestically. Liam’s ruthless reputation abroad was notorious. By the time the Dawsons were nearly bankrupt from Liam’s moves, my father remembered the old marriage agreement. Nina, fearing Liam’s wrath, begged me to take her place and marry him instead. My father, like many businessmen, was deeply superstitious. On the day Nina was born, my father landed a major deal, one that propelled the Dawson family to new heights. But on the day I was born, the deal went sour, and the Dawson family lost half its fortune. He believed Nina brought him luck, while I brought him ruin. If it hadn’t been for my grandfather, who fought to keep me alive, I’m certain my father would’ve drowned me at birth. Instead, he told everyone I was ill and sent me “overseas” to recuperate. The truth? I was abandoned in a small southern town, raised by a blind widow. Nina’s name symbolized peace and safety, while my father named me “Early Death.” He hoped I would die young and not curse the family’s fortune. The widow, who cared for me, pitied me and secretly changed my name to Sarah. Though I escaped an early death, I still ended up dying young.

Nina snapped back to reality and spoke softly, “I’ve been feeling lightheaded lately. I was afraid I might drop the bowl.” Liam stared at her for a moment. Nina swallowed hard. I saw the flash of panic in her eyes. How ironic. The night she stabbed me in the heart, she twisted the knife, just to make sure I didn’t survive. Now, she was pretending to be weak. Nina quickly changed her mind, “I’ll get it for you.” Liam looked away and walked into the dining room. “No need. If you’re unwell, you should rest.” I froze for a moment. In two years of marriage, he’d never told me to rest. Now, after I’m dead, I hear it for the first time. It’s odd, though. Despite my frail health when I first arrived at the Hawthorne mansion, I didn’t get sick much in the last year. Two years of sharing a bed, and I finally mustered the courage to whisper his name in his ear. I wanted him to go to the Dawson mansion and get me out of there. Grandma Dawson had passed away, leaving me with no one to care for. Though I was furious about how I died, living had also felt exhausting. The freezer was cold—too cold for me. I’d always had poor circulation, and I just wanted a warm, sunny place to rest. And when I overheard them talking about dismembering my body, I was terrified. If I died in pieces, I’d rather have been drowned as a baby, at least then I would’ve been whole. I’d rather be burned to ash and have my body intact in death. Unfortunately, Liam didn’t react. He just picked up the bowl and started eating. “I heard you’ve been going out a lot recently?” Hearing him ask that, I brightened a little. I knew no one in Harbor City aside from the Dawsons. On my wedding day, my parents had told me that if I didn’t want Grandma Dawson to lose her medicine, I should do everything I could to please Liam Hawthorne. As long as the Dawson family remained stable, the medication wouldn’t stop. Once married off, I was told not to return. So after moving into the Hawthorne mansion, aside from an occasional trip to the grocery store, I hardly ever left the house. No wonder Liam thought it strange. Nina replied sweetly, “The weather’s been unpredictable lately. My parents got sick, so I went to visit them.” Her mention of our parents reminded me of the night she tried to kill me. I fought back with all I had. But my mother, worried I’d hurt Nina, joined my father in holding me down. In that moment, all the strength left my body, and I let the knife sink into my heart. Liam didn’t say much. “Better to go out than sit at home bored,” he commented indifferently. I felt defeated. Liam, so cautious and suspicious by nature, hadn’t noticed anything strange. And now he was saying things to Nina he’d never said to me. On our wedding day, my parents had smiled apologetically at Liam, telling him that I was to repay the Dawson family’s debts. He could do whatever he wanted with me—I was at his mercy. The Dawsons wouldn’t complain. Liam hadn’t treated me as an outlet for his frustrations, but he was distant and cold. After the soup, the two of them headed to the bedroom. Nina sat expectantly on the bed, watching Liam as he finished getting ready. Just as he leaned down toward her, his phone rang. He answered the call, quickly dressed, and left. I wasn’t surprised—he was probably going to deal with some urgent business at the company. Nina looked disappointed but smiled when he turned back. “You’re wearing too much perfume. I liked it better before,” he commented before walking out the door. Nina froze, then quickly lifted her arm to sniff herself, confused when she didn’t smell anything.

Nina hurriedly called Mrs. Jenkins into the bedroom. “Can you smell perfume on me?” Mrs. Jenkins leaned close, sniffing Nina’s arms and neck. “No, I only smell your shampoo.” Nina frowned, pacing back and forth. “When you worked for Sarah, what did she smell like?” Mrs. Jenkins thought for a moment. “She didn’t wear perfume. She never used any of the bottles in her cabinet. Honestly, she smelled of nothing—like she didn’t care to enjoy life.” Mrs. Jenkins had been hired by my mother six months ago, supposedly to help me with herbal broths since I hadn’t conceived. I was thrilled by my parents’ sudden care for me. Even though Mrs. Jenkins never cooked for me, it filled me with hope that maybe, just maybe, my parents had started to care. But I later learned that from the moment Mrs. Jenkins stepped into the house, she was part of the plan. Her real job was to observe my habits and secretly film me, so Nina could perfect her impersonation. Nina smirked at Mrs. Jenkins’ remarks. “Not just unlucky—she was doomed from the start.” Mrs. Jenkins seemed puzzled. “Doomed?” Nina’s smirk faltered for a moment before she recovered and delivered her rehearsed line. “She was always sick. The old widow who raised her was constantly begging my parents for more money to take her to the doctor.” “All that woman ever did was ask us for money. A beggar raising another beggar! Sarah was so pathetic, trying to do everything herself. No wonder she couldn’t even manage the house staff.” I lunged at Nina, throwing punches and kicks, but my fists went right through her. The Dawsons had only sent money for the first few years, and after that, Grandma Dawson paid for everything herself, collecting scraps to raise me. They only remembered me when they needed someone to take the fall. Mrs. Jenkins suggested, “Why don’t you wash your hair again? Maybe it’s leftover shampoo from your place that hasn’t worn off yet.” “Sarah wasn’t picky about these things. She just used whatever Hawthorne Holdings provided. She wasn’t nearly as particular as you are.” Nina pursed her lips, irritated. “I wash my hair every day—why isn’t it gone yet? I’ll wash it again later.” Nina sent Mrs. Jenkins out of the room and then dialed a number. “Master Evans, have you trapped Sarah’s ghost like you promised?” I hovered near the phone, listening to the reply on the other end. “Don’t worry, I’ve bound her soul to the amulet. She won’t even have a chance to reincarnate!” I rolled my eyes as I floated around the room. Master or not, the man had no spine. He sounded more like a salesman desperate to keep his business.

Liam didn’t return for several days. Nina waited anxiously until 8 p.m., her favorite dishes laid out on the table. I licked my lips at the sight. It’s not that Liam and I had no common ground—when it came to food, we had identical tastes. Nina picked at some vegetables and a piece of meat before setting down her fork. She was always strict about maintaining her figure. Her daily intake wouldn’t even match one of my meals. Not only did she care about how food was prepared, she never ate after 6 p.m. Grandma Dawson used to say, “If you can eat, it’s a blessing.” I never held back at mealtime. Mrs. Collins made the best honey garlic chicken. I was practically drooling, and it hurt to think that Nina had no idea what she was missing. Liam paused, glancing at Nina. “You don’t like the food?” Nina smiled sweetly. “I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.” Liam watched her for a long moment before replying, “The housekeeper said your appetite has been much better while I was away. Funny how it disappeared once I got home.” Nina quickly shook her head. “I’ve been feeling a bit off—probably from the heat.” Liam looked down for a second before replying, “Lightheadedness, lack of appetite… we’ll have you checked out tomorrow.” Nina instinctively wanted to refuse, but in the end, she smiled and agreed. She probably figured that as long as it wasn’t a plastic surgeon, she had nothing to worry about. After all, only three people knew what really happened to me.

Hawthorne Holdings owns several hospitals, and whenever I got sick, I’d go there for treatment and bill it to Liam. I was shocked when Liam went with Nina for a checkup. The doctor handed Liam the report. “Mr. Hawthorne, this is Mrs. Hawthorne’s full medical report. She’s in excellent health.” “I remember when she first came here two years ago, she had several vitamin deficiencies, but everything seems normal now. Looks like she’s been taking her supplements regularly.” Back when I first married into the family, I was constantly getting sick. The doctor recommended a full-body checkup. It turned out my poor health was due to malnutrition, so the hospital prescribed all sorts of supplements to help. But taking medicine for so long wasn’t my thing, so after feeling better, I stopped. Whether the medicine had worked or not, I wasn’t sure—but now they were looking at a healthy Nina, who had always been pampered and well-fed. Liam flipped through the report casually, but then his hand paused as he turned the page. I was about to float over to take a peek, but he quickly flipped to the back. After reading it, he asked, “These symptoms—aren’t they usually linked to pregnancy?” I nearly choked in shock. Even though he wasn’t talking about me, he knew I had always taken birth control. Besides, with my poor circulation and chronic weakness, getting pregnant was never in the cards. The doctor shook his head. “It’s been a hot summer. A lot of people are feeling off. I’ll prescribe some peppermint tea for Mrs. Hawthorne. She’ll feel better after finishing a box.” Liam stared down at the report, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Nina, noticing the conversation between Liam and the doctor, felt uneasy. After grabbing her prescription from the nurse, she hurried over to interrupt. “Liam, is there something wrong with me?” The doctor repeated what he’d said earlier, and Nina finally relaxed. Just then, Nina got a call from her parents inviting her back home for dinner, and Liam, noticing, said he would join her. I floated into the car, following along. Since Liam had come back, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he sensed something off about Nina. A man as calculated and ambitious as him wouldn’t waste time without reason. This was Liam’s first time visiting the Dawsons’ house. My parents were thrilled, their voices dripping with flattery as they greeted him. As they all sat in the living room, I was stuck within the invisible bounds that kept me tethered to Nina, unable to stray too far. My mother held Nina’s hand, studying her, and softly asked, “Are you comfortable at the Hawthornes’? Are you sleeping well?” I couldn’t stand watching her fawn over Nina. My gaze drifted toward the old storage shed in the backyard. That day, they sent all the house staff home, tricked me into that shed, and killed me, hiding my body in a freezer they’d prepared ahead of time. I wanted to see if I was still there. If only Liam would take me away from this place. At that moment, my mother gave my father a look, and he quickly invited Liam to the study for tea and a game of chess.

I followed Nina and my mother to the bedroom. My mother spoke in a low, serious voice, “Your father and I dealt with that girl last night.” I sighed in frustration. They were a little too late. Nina wasn’t happy with my mother’s expression. “What’s with that look? Are you regretting it, feeling sorry for her?” My eyes lit up as I stared at them, eager to hear more. My mother gently tapped Nina’s forehead and gave her a half-hearted scolding. “You little ingrate. The only person I care about is you!” I couldn’t help but float closer. “Mom, aren’t I your daughter too? Didn’t you carry me for nine months? Why did you help Nina overpower me?” “All these years, I’ve listened to you, staying in that small town, minding my own business. If you asked, I would’ve gone back without a fight.” I never dared to hope for the same love she gave Nina. But for the sake of ensuring Nina’s perfect life, she chose to erase me completely. She held me down so her other daughter could take my place. The memory of my mother visiting me once as a child blended painfully with the image of her pulling Nina away from my blood-soaked body, careful not to let my blood stain her hands. But I would never get an answer. Nina smiled, satisfied with the response. “Good. Make sure to scatter her remains bit by bit, somewhere far away.” My mother hesitated for a moment before adding, “There’s one thing… she was pregnant. And it was twins.” I felt my spirit sway as I stood there, staring at them in disbelief. Though I had been taking birth control, deep down, I had always wanted a child. Earlier this year, Grandma Dawson was growing weak. I rushed to the small-town hospital to see her. She lay in bed, holding my hand, worry in her eyes. “Sarah, my sweet Sarah. What will you do when I’m gone?” I held back tears and forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Grandma. Liam’s been treating me much better lately.” With her last bit of strength, she raised her hand, and I leaned in close. “Sarah, try to have a child as soon as you can. Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter—someone to keep you company, someone to protect you.” “People need someone to care for to have the strength and hope to go on living.” I nodded. “Yes, I’ll bring them to see you when I have one.” Grandma smiled and asked me to take off the wooden beads from her neck. “I don’t have much to leave you, but these beads were blessed by a monk for my parents. I was born with a light spirit, and my soul was always drifting. Wearing this amulet kept me grounded.” “It might not be worth much, but it’s something to remember me by.” Remembering her words, I looked at the amulet around Nina’s neck. So that’s it. My soul had been tied to that amulet all along. Nina’s voice trembled with fear. “Who else knows about her pregnancy?!” My mother frowned with concern. “That’s what I’m worried about. But I asked Mrs. Jenkins this morning, and it seems no one at the Hawthorne mansion knows.” Nina paled and grabbed my mother’s arm. “Mom, I don’t want to go to prison!” My mother hugged her tightly, soothing her in a low voice. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll just say you went on a trip, and after some time, we’ll report her missing.” “Your father’s working on getting a meat grinder that can even handle bones. We’ll turn her to dust and bury her somewhere remote. That way, there will only ever be one Sarah Dawson.” My mother’s eyes were cold and calculating, but as she comforted Nina, she returned to her warm, nurturing self.

After dinner, the Dawsons accompanied Liam to the glass greenhouse in the backyard for tea. Nina excitedly picked a few garden roses, saying she’d take them back to the Hawthorne house. My mother eagerly encouraged her, saying, “Liam, we grow the best roses in all of Harbor City. They’ve just bloomed this week—you came at the perfect time.” Liam watched Nina picking the flowers, lost in thought. Nina noticed and asked, “Liam, what’s on your mind?” He turned to her. “Nothing. I just remembered you once told me that your sister loved garden roses. This greenhouse was built for her.” Everyone’s faces showed a flicker of discomfort. My father chuckled awkwardly. “That’s true, but Sarah loved them too.” Nina played along, offering a shy smile. Liam said nothing more, and my mother quickly changed the subject. Back at the mansion, Nina offered to help Liam take off his jacket. He opened his arms, letting her do so. Nina stood on tiptoe, reaching up to unbutton his shirt. Liam frowned. “You’re still wearing perfume?” Nina froze, her smile faltering. “No, it must be the shampoo.” Liam gently pulled her hands away. “I just remembered something I need to take care of in the office. I’ll be in the study.” Nina glared at the closed door after he left, muttering, “What, are you not man enough?” I rolled my eyes. She had no idea how powerful Liam was—especially in bed, where he could wear someone out completely. Out of frustration, Nina sniffed her arm again, then went to the bathroom to compare the scent of the Hawthorne family shampoo with her own. “What the hell? It’s the same smell! I haven’t worn perfume in ages!” I grabbed a strand of my hair and took a whiff—there was no smell. Seeing that she was about to take her third shower of the day, I decided to leave the room and explore the house. As I floated out, I saw Mr. Barrett heading into Liam’s study, and I followed him in, curious. ��Look into Mrs. Hawthorne’s whereabouts after I left for France,” Liam Hawthorne said before hanging up the phone.

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