Category: English

The Day My Daughter Celebrated Her Birthday I received photos of my husband Ryan cheating on me. Ryan couldn’t come home due to a company dinner. After putting our daughter Mia to bed, I kept scrolling through the photos on my phone. [Buzz—] A text message vibrated. Unknown number: [Interested in talking?] I typed a reply with trembling fingers. [Who are you?] Unknown number: [We can meet and talk about your husband’s affair.] Then, they sent me an address for a coffee shop. I looked at the address information and tried to calm myself down. When Ryan came home reeking of alcohol, I pretended nothing was wrong as I helped him take off his coat and brought his slippers. He hugged me from behind as usual, smiling and asking if I had missed him. If it were before, I might have flirted back a bit. But now I had no interest in entertaining him. Because I needed to know if my husband was really cheating on me. While washing up, I checked his clothes in the laundry basket, not missing a single item from his shirt to his socks. When I saw the lipstick mark on his pants zipper, I felt sick to my stomach like I had swallowed a dead fly. I took out my phone and replied to the message. [I’ll be there at 3 pm tomorrow.] Within three minutes, they replied “OK.” That night I lay awake clutching my phone, with only one thought in my mind. Divorce! But I wouldn’t let Ryan get away with any benefits! I wanted him to leave with nothing, and I wanted this sponging cheater to be utterly disgraced! To be honest, I never thought Ryan would cheat. Because when Ryan proposed to me, he had nothing. It was only by marrying me that he gained a foothold in the expensive city of New York. His friends all thought he had scored big by marrying me. Even his mother, my difficult mother-in-law, thought so. At 3 pm the next day, I arrived at the coffee shop as agreed. At a table by the window, I met the stranger who had texted me. It was a woman, not particularly beautiful, but with a good figure and mature charm. She said her name was Lily and told me to call her Lily. As soon as I sat down, Lily pushed an envelope towards me. Lily said: [Take a look at these first. You’ll need them if you file for divorce.] Although her words seemed helpful, the certainty in her tone about me getting divorced was unsettling. I didn’t open it, but asked her: [Why are you helping me?] [No reason, I just don’t want him to get away with it.] She glanced at me and continued: [Also, you were the other woman back then, interfering in our relationship.] Lily stirred her coffee casually as she answered, but I nearly spilled my coffee on her. The other woman? You must be joking! I had never interfered in someone else’s marriage. Ryan and I were legally married. How could I possibly be the other woman?! [Don’t misunderstand, you were unknowingly the other woman.] Lily explained with a smile, [Ryan and I were college sweethearts. He made up an excuse to break up right after graduation. I only found out later it was because he had hooked up with you.] My nails dug into my palm as I gripped the coffee spoon, my mind filled with images of Ryan’s sweet words to me back then. I wanted to rush to his office and strangle him. Using the word “hooked up” was indeed accurate, because besides the car and house, even Ryan’s position at the company was arranged through my family connections. But arguing about this now wouldn’t do me any good. It might even play right into that scumbag’s hands. [So why are you contacting me only now?] I took a deep breath and questioned her, [Is it because he’s in touch with you again, or because you’re not willing to let him go and want to win him back?] Lily lit a cigarette, smiling and giving me a meaningful look. She said: [You can guess more boldly. For example, maybe he’s been secretly involved with multiple women behind our backs. Or maybe this time I’m just one of the women interfering in your marriage.] I let out a cold laugh. It was pretty much as I had guessed, otherwise Lily wouldn’t have suddenly sought me out. But what I felt more was sorrow. The marriage I had maintained for five years turned out to be just a joke.

Lily told me that Ryan wasn’t just cheating with her, but that the private investigator’s photos showed at least three women. She hoped I could work with her to deal with Ryan and not give a scumbag like him any chances. That afternoon we added each other on SnapChat, agreeing to join forces. As I was leaving the coffee shop, Ryan happened to call. He first asked what I was doing, then sweet-talked me for a while. But he probably didn’t know I was standing right next to his mistress. Fighting the nausea rising in my stomach, I only told him I was having coffee with a friend. [Alright then, you go ahead. Mom bought a ticket and will arrive tonight. She wants to see Mia.] Ryan said: [She can be a bit temperamental at her age, so try to be patient with her.] I rolled my eyes without responding. Because his mother was no saint either. She claimed to be coming to see Mia, but in reality she came asking for money every time. I was already being polite by not chasing her out with a broom. And he wanted me to be patient? How thick-skinned could he be? Before leaving, Lily said she would give me the private investigator’s contact. I neither refused nor agreed. I didn’t refuse because this private investigator who could take photos must have some skills. I didn’t agree because the situation now felt like a game of Werewolf, and I might be the next one to be eliminated. At 6:30 pm, I picked up my daughter from school. My mother-in-law was already squatting by the door with her bags, her face darker than a pot bottom when she saw me return. [Always running around outside, what’s wrong with staying at home properly?] My mother-in-law glared at me angrily, [A little girl that big doesn’t know the way? You still need to pick her up? If you’re so free, hurry up and give me a grandson!] I kept a cold face and didn’t respond, just taking Mia into the room. This made my mother-in-law even angrier. She started yelling through the door: [What kind of attitude is this? I’m your mother! Who are you giving attitude to?!] If I hadn’t confronted Ryan yet, I definitely would have gone out and torn her mouth off. But my mother-in-law was quick to tattle. Just as I opened WeChat, a message from Ryan came through. Ryan: [Honey, don’t be upset with my mom. She’s your mother-in-law after all. Apologize to her later.] I almost sent back “Fuck off!” Damn it! One eating from multiple women outside, one freeloading off me – did they think I was the Buddha blessing all beings? But Ryan didn’t notice my change, still sending sweet messages as usual. Unfortunately, in my eyes now, those words were just nauseating. If I hadn’t seen the photos, I probably would have believed his bullshit and thought he was a good father and an even better husband. I held back my anger and typed: [Are you coming home for dinner tonight?] Ryan: [Not coming back. I have a work dinner tonight.] Work dinner? Those two words disgusted me the most now. Who knows who he was really “dining” with? Though I knew he was lying, I still replied out of habit. [Be careful and come home early.] After I put Mia to bed and helped her with homework, I opened the door only to find my mother-in-law eavesdropping right outside. She stumbled and almost fell, but still started cursing. [What are you doing closing the door! We’re all family, what is there that I can’t hear? Were you talking bad about me behind closed doors? Have you ever seen a daughter-in-law like you, not even knowing to bring slippers for her mother-in-law when she visits?] I frowned and looked down. Sure enough, my mother-in-law was wearing the new slippers I had just bought for Mia, stretching them out of shape. [Mom, there are slippers prepared for you in the shoe cabinet…] I had told her this at least four or five times, but it was always the same result. But this time I didn’t back down, and continued coldly: [These slippers are Mia’s. What will she wear if you take them?] [So what if they’re Mia’s? I’m her grandmother! Everything in this house belongs to my son, why can’t I use or wear it?] My mother-in-law rolled her eyes and scolded shrilly: [You know there are slippers in the shoe cabinet, why didn’t you take them out for me to change into? What, you think I’m dirty?] My mother-in-law was a typical rural woman, but I had never looked down on her for that. But ever since finding out about Ryan’s affair, I felt disgusted with their whole family. Thinking that Mia still hadn’t had dinner, I couldn’t be bothered to argue further with her. After washing my hands, I started preparing to cook. Just as I opened the refrigerator door, my mother-in-law started yelling again. [Oh my god! You really are a wasteful woman! You don’t treat the money my son earns as money at all! Buying so much fruit, can you eat it all by yourself? What a waste!] I clenched my fists and said, [I bought this fruit with my own money. It has nothing to do with Ryan.] But my mother-in-law kept nagging and following me, [What? Your money isn’t my son’s money? There’s only three of us for dinner tonight, why are you taking out pork ribs? Put them back! Just stir fry a couple small vegetable dishes and that’s enough!] [You’re really pampered, eating pork ribs so late at night? My son works so hard every day but can’t even eat this well. You sure know how to enjoy yourself.] She kept muttering while trying to grab the pork ribs from my hand. I slammed the ribs hard on the counter. [What kind of attitude is this? I can’t even say anything to you now?] I said nothing and took out the cleaver.

I started chopping the ribs, putting all my strength into each cut! [Can’t you hear me talking to you!] My mother-in-law shouted, [I’m calling my son right now. What use is a daughter-in-law like you? Only knows how to spend money, not how to save for my son. It’s been years and you still can’t give birth to a son. It’s still me, his own mother, who cares for him most!] If murder wasn’t illegal, I really wanted to give this old lady a chop. But reason prevailed over anger. I held back my temper and smiled sweetly at her: [Mom, I was wrong just now. I won’t cook these ribs. Why don’t you go rest in the room first?] My mother-in-law snorted disdainfully, but looked quite pleased with herself. She thought she had me under control, and went to rest in the guest room with a victorious air. I quickly blanched the ribs in boiling water to remove the blood, ignoring the constant buzzing of my phone on the counter. I said I wouldn’t stir fry them, but I never said I wouldn’t stew them. Rather than let Ryan and his mother continue to walk all over me, I might as well become a saint right here and now. At dinner time, my mother-in-law almost flipped the table in anger. I ignored her and first ladled a bowl of rib soup for Mia, before leisurely opening my WeChat. 99 unread messages. All from Ryan. Probably trying to coax me into apologizing to his mother again. I pretended not to see and smiled as I called out to my mother-in-law: [Mom, why aren’t you eating? This rib soup smells so good.] My mother-in-law glared, [Eat? I’ll eat your mother’s X! Cooking such a good meal when there’s no man at home, who has such a greedy mouth like you? Aren’t you ashamed!] She finished cursing and reached out to take away the soup pot. I immediately smacked her hand with my chopsticks! I used to put up with her because I didn’t want to fight too early, but now that she’s bullying my daughter and me in front of Mia, how could I still tolerate her? My mother-in-law’s voice nearly broke from yelling, [You dare hit your mother, have you lost your mind!] I ladled myself a bowl of rib soup right in front of her, deliberately scooping up the biggest pieces. My mother-in-law’s face turned red with anger. I smiled and said: [Mom, if you’re full and have nothing to do, why don’t you go for a walk downstairs? Mia and I still need to eat. I bought these ribs with my own money, so how I eat them is my business. Don’t worry about it.] But of course she wouldn’t give up. In her eyes, no one deserved to eat well except her son Ryan. In this family, I was just a freeloader spending Ryan’s money, including Mia. My mother-in-law was used to throwing her weight around before, and couldn’t swallow this. She reached for the soup pot again. This time I didn’t stop her, because the pot base was still heating. She yelped in pain when she touched it. Seeing that bullying didn’t work, my mother-in-law resorted to playing the victim. She slapped her thigh and sat on the floor wailing, [There’s no justice! What kind of daughter-in-law is this, even daring to hit her own mother-in-law!] I couldn’t be bothered to pay her any attention. But Mia was scared and ran to her room to do homework without finishing her meal. I listened to her howling dramatically as I slowly cleaned up the dishes and went to my room. I knew exactly what my mother-in-law was like. She would definitely go complain to Ryan next. As soon as I opened WeChat, Ryan’s video call popped up. I hung up immediately. But Lily suddenly sent me a message, along with several photos. The photos showed Ryan drinking with his buddies. Sitting next to him was an unfamiliar but pretty young girl. Lily: [Didn’t he tell you he had a work dinner and couldn’t come home tonight?] I replied with a “Mm.” Lily typed quickly. Lily: [Haha, he told me he was at home. Said you and his mom were fighting and he was complaining that you don’t know how to behave.] I didn’t respond to that, just asked where she got the photos. Lily said the private investigator took them. Right now he was following them at the SOHO bar. [What about this young girl?] Lily: [New intern at his company. Poor family background, but pretty and sweet-talking. See how she’s the only woman at the table?]

With Lily’s explanation, I finally noticed the oddity in these photos. I have to say, Ryan is quite photogenic. Otherwise I wouldn’t have fallen for him and been willing to support him financially. Lily sent several more messages in quick succession. I didn’t reply, switching to Ryan’s message window instead. Looking at the messages he sent, I didn’t even have the urge to sigh. This mama’s boy who likes to eat from multiple bowls, how could he be any good? I thought for a moment, then typed and sent: [Honey, are you tired from the work dinner tonight?] He was probably looking at his phone, or maybe replying to someone else. Ryan: [It’s alright. This boss kept making me drink for him. I’ll probably be too drunk to come home tonight, might have to crash at a colleague’s place.] Oh, he’s already got an excuse ready for not coming home tonight. I held back my anger and sweet-talked him for a bit like usual before getting to the point. [Drinking so much, I bet there are female colleagues there you want to impress?] Ryan: [Haha, what are you saying? It’s just a bunch of guys, how could there be women?] Seemingly afraid I would get suspicious, he immediately sent a photo. One look at the photo and I knew I had him. The background and number of people were the same as in Lily’s photos, but his side of the table wasn’t shown. [Then drink less and take care of your stomach.] Ryan sent another message, basically just saying how tired his mom was and telling me to apologize, etc. I didn’t even look before closing his chat window. I was afraid if I kept chatting I would throw up. Simply put, this mama’s boy was just trying to mediate, stopping just short of listing all his mother’s great deeds in raising him over the years. I scrolled through my social media feed in frustration for a bit, then sent Lily a message. [Are you free tomorrow? I’d like to meet you.] [Yes.] She replied quickly. [Same place.] I sent the message and didn’t look again. It’s not that I wanted to ally with someone like Lily, because a woman who could be a mistress wouldn’t be a good person either. Not everyone has morals. Or principles. Ryan didn’t come home until nearly dawn. I heard his mom complaining about me to him. She might as well have used a megaphone to declare war on me. [Honey.] The covers were lifted and hands started roaming my body. [Did you miss me?] I almost couldn’t hold back from cursing. I never realized before how selfish Ryan was, but ever since his affair came to light, I became more and more aware of his flaws. Like disturbing my rest right now. I pushed him away. [Stop it.] But Ryan quickly pressed close again, grinning as he tried to take off my clothes. At that moment, three words popped into my head. Marital obligation. But obviously I didn’t want to disgust myself, much less give him a chance. I turned over stiffly. [Your mom is eavesdropping outside.] Sure enough, he stopped moving. I continued asking: [When is your mom planning to leave this time?] Ryan didn’t say anything. But his shocked expression clearly conveyed his thoughts. Yeah, I used to treat the old lady like royalty, how come I’m fighting and trying to get rid of her now? Before he could answer, the door was banged loudly! [This is my son’s home, I’ll stay as long as I want!] My mother-in-law raised her voice, [You hurry up and give me a grandson. My son can’t end up without an heir!] I couldn’t help but laugh. [Did you hear that? Your mom wants you to give her a grandson. The throne in your family needs an heir after all.] This was the first time I had ever mocked Ryan, but it definitely wouldn’t be the last. [Honey, my mom didn’t mean…] [Go to sleep.] I cut him off. The next morning, I used the excuse of taking Mia to tutoring to go out. My mother-in-law followed behind, making cold remarks. She just couldn’t stand me spending so much money on my daughter. In the car, I contacted Lily and asked about the private investigator she had introduced to me, inquiring if he could get evidence of my husband’s affair. My requirements weren’t high: First, I wanted to know how many women Ryan had cheated with, for how long, and I needed photos and recordings if possible. Second, whether Ryan had any financial dealings with these women, or if he had given them any expensive gifts. As long as I had this evidence in hand, I would essentially have the leverage to make Ryan leave with nothing in the divorce. The private investigator Lily introduced charged quite a lot, but I could afford it. However, I’m not an idiot. I didn’t trust Lily, nor did I trust him. It was the same coffee shop as last time, but this time I met a young man in a trench coat. To be honest. The moment I saw this private investigator, a woman’s sixth sense told me something was off. He reeked of perfume, and his mannerisms were nothing like a real private investigator’s. He first enthusiastically ordered me a coffee, and when he handed it over, he seemed to deliberately brush my fingers. Years of housework and taking care of my daughter had taken their toll, and despite spending money on skincare, my hands were no longer like a young girl’s. In contrast, this “investigator’s” hands were truly white and delicate. Either he was very young, or he had never done a day of manual labor in his life.

[Mrs. Gao, you really don’t look like you’ve had a child. So young and beautiful.] He complimented me, but I didn’t respond. He then started discussing my husband Ryan’s affair with me. I listened for a while before interrupting him, [How do you know Lily?] He was taken aback for a moment, but quickly composed himself with a smile, [Miss Lily? She was referred by another client.] With just that one sentence, I smiled and put down my coffee, understanding most of the situation. Every time the “private investigator” said something to me, his phone buzzed with a notification. In the less than three minutes we had been talking, his phone had gone off seven or eight times. I glanced over and saw that all the chat avatars were colorful and feminine. In other words, they were all women’s profile pictures. [Business is good? All female clients? I guess they’re all hiring you to catch cheating spouses?] I asked with a smile. He put away his phone and nodded hurriedly, [Yes. Mrs. Gao, I suggest you prepare for divorce in advance. I’ve seen many cases like your husband’s. With a new flame by his side, how could he remember what his old lover looks like?] I nodded, [I understand. How long will it take you to get the photos and recordings to me?] He didn’t expect me to end the conversation so quickly and stammered, [T-two… two weeks.] [Alright, we’ll be in touch in two weeks then.] I picked up my bag and stood up. [Mrs. Gao, don’t you want to chat more?] [Chat?] I looked at him, [Chat about what? Haven’t we already discussed everything?] My attitude was probably too cold. He stood there for a moment, not saying anything more. I stared at his fairly handsome face, tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and smiled. Interesting, very interesting. The person Lily introduced to me was almost certainly not a real private investigator.

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On my 18th birthday, I received several mysterious text messages on my phone. The sender claimed to be me from ten years in the future. “This is not a prank,” one message read. “Go to the Computer Science department and find Liam Blackwood,” another instructed. “He may seem reserved and cold now, but in the years to come, he will be the one who loves you most in this world.” “Save him. Promise me you won’t let him die for you this time.” My name is Aria Winters, and I’m a freshman in college. I just celebrated my 18th birthday last week. It was probably the most surreal birthday I’ve ever had. On my birthday, my dad gave me a new phone. That night, after showering, I lay in bed, transferring the SIM card from my old phone to the new one and downloading some commonly used apps. As I was fiddling with those apps, my phone suddenly notified me of a new message. I glanced at it casually – it was a random sentence that said, “Go to the Computer Science department and find Liam Blackwood.” I had never even heard of Liam Blackwood. It must have been sent to the wrong person. I ignored it, but soon another message came through: “Hurry, you must find him before Christmas, or it will be too late!” The sender seemed so urgent, it might be something important. Out of kindness, I opened the message thread and replied, “I think you’ve got the wrong person.” The response came immediately: “No, I’m looking for you, Aria Winters.” I found this bizarre, so I checked the sender’s phone number. What I saw made my blood run cold, and I threw my phone away in shock. The sender of these messages had the same phone number as mine. Imagine this: it’s exactly midnight, and I’m texting… myself. Was this a malicious prank or a ghostly midnight message? I took a few deep breaths, mustered up my courage, picked up the phone, and with trembling fingers, typed: “Who are you?” Until dawn, there was no reply from the other end. I had almost forgotten about this incident, but tonight I stayed up late preparing for a club officer interview the next day. As soon as the clock struck midnight, my phone automatically popped up a message, still the same – “Go to the Computer Science department and find Liam Blackwood.” This was the second time. I wanted to get to the bottom of this. “Who are you? Is this a prank?” I asked. The reply I got was mind-boggling: “I am you, Aria from ten years in the future.” Are they kidding me? This is ridiculous. I reminded them: “April Fools’ Day was six months ago.” “I’m not lying to you. If you don’t believe me, I can prove it. On your end, it’s 2020, and you currently have a crush on Connor Sullivan, right?” My head buzzed. Connor Sullivan was a guy in our club, a year older than me. He was quite handsome, known as the gentle senior among the students. He had been particularly caring towards me, and I did have some feelings for him, but I had never told anyone about it. How did she know? As if knowing my thoughts, the other person said, “Don’t doubt it, I just know because I am you from ten years in the future.” A sudden thought struck me, and I asked her, “So, am I with Connor Sullivan ten years from now?” This time, the other side was silent for a moment. “Yes, you’re married.” Before I could feel embarrassed for a few seconds, my phone started buzzing with messages as if it was possessed: “But he has a small dick, he’s terrible in bed, and he’s a super mega scumbag. If you end up with him, he’ll spend your money, sleep with your friends, and even try to kill you!” I was dumbfounded. After digesting her information, I couldn’t help but feel devastated. What? Is my future really that miserable? Perhaps realizing the topic had gone off track, she quickly brought it back: “There’s no time left. Listen to me, you must go to the Computer Science department and find Liam Blackwood.” “Although he seems introverted and cold now, in the years to come, he will be the one who loves you most in this world.” “Promise me, save him. Don’t let him die for you this time.” I asked her who Liam Blackwood was, which class he was in, why she said he died for me, what happened, but the messages I sent seemed to sink into a bottomless sea. I looked at the time – well, it was 12:05 AM. It seemed to be the same time last time. It appears that this cross-time communication between us has a specific time limit. The next day, I dragged my tired body to the 8 AM class. It was the Department Head’s course, and everyone had fixed seats. You could tell at a glance who was late or absent. As soon as I entered the classroom, I noticed extra breakfast on my desk – soy milk, small wontons, and even a chocolate muffin. I asked my roommate, who had arrived just before me, “Who brought this?” She said, “I don’t know, it was already there when I came.” She lowered her voice and grinned at me, “Honestly, Aria, was it Connor Sullivan? I saw him buy you bubble tea before. Not bad, huh? You just posted on social media last night that you wanted to eat a chocolate muffin, and today he bought it for you. He must like you, right?” The chocolate muffin was only sold at a trendy store three miles from campus, and that store was so popular that you had to be quick to get their hot new products. If it were any other time, I would have been touched and given Connor some bonus points in my heart. However, because of last night’s text messages, now when I heard Connor Sullivan’s name, I couldn’t help but think of that sentence – “he has a small dick, he’s terrible in bed.” Help. Connor Sullivan’s image in my mind crumbled by half. Facing my roommate’s suggestive gaze, I quickly denied it: “No, we’re not in any kind of relationship.” At 3 PM, I attended the club officer interview on time. The interview went smoothly, and afterwards, Connor came to congratulate me and asked if I wanted to go watch a movie with him that evening. In the past, I might have happily agreed, but today, as soon as he came close, that phrase “small dick, terrible in bed” kept flashing in my mind. Heaven knows how much willpower it took to keep my gaze from drifting downwards. Connor took another step towards me: “I’ve already bought the tickets. It’s a mystery film, the kind you like.” I declined politely, maintaining a calm expression: “I have something to do today, sorry, Connor.” “Alright,” he looked a bit disappointed, “we’ll plan for next time then.” I breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered something. Liam Blackwood was also in the Computer Science department, right? Maybe Connor had heard of him. With a try-and-see attitude, I asked him about Liam Blackwood. He did know him: “He’s in Class 1, the most famous among this year’s freshmen. Why? Do you know him?” I shook my head and made up an excuse: “A friend of mine likes him.” “Aria, you should tell your friend to give up on that idea,” Connor’s expression turned serious. “Why? Does he have a girlfriend?” “No,” Connor frowned, “I heard he’s sick. Mental illness.” I heard some rumors about Liam Blackwood from Connor. Apparently, when he first entered college, he became quite popular due to his good looks and aloof attitude towards people. Connor’s position as the most popular guy in the department was almost threatened. But later, someone dug up his family history and posted it on the school forum. People’s attitudes towards him changed 180 degrees overnight. The reason was simple: he had a mentally ill father who was a murderer. When it happened, Liam was only five years old. He witnessed his frenzied father kill his mother with a knife, then walk towards him step by step. Fortunately, before the knife fell, his father came to his senses, but realizing what he had done, the tremendous fear and guilt made him drop the knife and flee. In the end, it was a neighbor returning from work who discovered something was wrong, opened the door to find a murder had occurred next door, and shakily called the police. When the police arrived, the body was lying in a pool of blood, already cold. The five-year-old boy was curled up in a corner, his body trembling uncontrollably, his gaze blank. After that, Liam’s father remained missing. The police couldn’t find his whereabouts. Liam only had a distant relative, but that family considered him a burden and sent him to an orphanage. The person who posted on the forum described it vividly, claiming to be Liam’s high school classmate who had personally witnessed Liam go berserk, pinning a much taller senior against the wall and beating him. The reason seemed to be that the senior had made a joke about Liam’s parents. Everyone said that his reckless, life-risking craziness must have been inherited from his father, and so rumors of Liam having a mental illness spread throughout their Computer Science department. I read all the posts about Liam on the forum. Far from being scared, I felt a bit sorry for him. … I must have been influenced by the text messages from these past few days. There was a photo of Liam on the forum, a candid shot taken by someone. In the photo, he was glaring at the camera, his eyes wild and cold. I stared at that photo again and again, conflicted all night, and decided to go find Liam and see the situation for myself. Finding Liam wasn’t difficult at all. I didn’t even need to ask anyone. Standing outside their classroom window and looking in, I could spot him at a glance among the sea of people. His aura was unique. At this age, college students often like to wear a few branded items, each one full of youthful energy. Liam was different. He sat alone in the last row, wearing the simplest white t-shirt, with black hair and black eyes, like a stagnant pool untouched by sunlight, out of place in this world. I compared this face with the photo on the forum and could confirm it was him. Perhaps my gaze was too intense, he suddenly looked in my direction. Our eyes met, his gaze sharp. Caught peeking, my heart skipped a beat, and under the influence of guilt, I reflexively crouched down, hiding under the window. Only after crouching did I realize how strange this looked. I wasn’t a peeping tom, why was I feeling guilty? As the bell rang, people poured out of the classroom. I stood on tiptoe looking for Liam. As expected, he was walking at the back of the crowd, carrying a shoulder bag, his expression quiet and indifferent. Because of the rumors, everyone’s attitude towards him was both wary and fearful. While others were in groups of three or five, there was no one around him. The sense of loneliness was palpable. I couldn’t help but call out to him: “Hey!” I ran up to him, took out my phone, “You’re Liam Blackwood, right? Hi, I’m Aria Winters from the Design department. Can I add you on SnapChat?” This was the first time in my life I had ever approached a boy on my own. While I was feeling nervous, Liam stopped and looked at me. I couldn’t tell if it was surprise or expectation in his voice: “You know me?” His voice was quite pleasant, very clean. To not seem too abrupt, I answered honestly: “I didn’t know you before, but I want to know you now. Is that okay?” Liam didn’t seem satisfied with my answer. He said, “No, it’s not.” Those eyes returned to their previous emotionless state, as if the expectation I saw in them earlier was just my imagination. He strode past me. I called his name, only to receive a cold response: “Don’t follow me.” Hello?? Don’t you know this is how you lose me? At midnight, the message from the future arrived on my phone right on time. It was still that same, unshakeable, almost like a death warrant: “Quickly go to the Computer Science department and find Liam Blackwood.” Thinking of what happened during the day, I replied with a depressed mood: “I went today. Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? I feel like he doesn’t like me at all. He doesn’t even seem to know me.” In my depression, I also felt a bit wronged. I didn’t know where this sense of grievance came from. Was it because I had enthusiastically approached someone only to be coldly rejected? Or was it because it was Liam? That glance he gave me through the glass today left a deep impression. I think I might have… fallen for him at first sight. It took a full two minutes before a message came from the other side. “No mistake. I’ve read his diary. He carried out a secret love throughout his student years, but neither you nor I knew about his feelings.” A secret love that lasted throughout his student years. I searched through my memories but really couldn’t remember anyone named Liam Blackwood. I asked, “When exactly did Liam start liking me?” Surprisingly, my future self replied: “I don’t know either.” “His love… was too silent. I never noticed it.” “Anyway, you must be wary of Connor Sullivan. He’s a complete scumbag, guilty of both financial fraud and attempted murder. If it weren’t for Liam, Connor would have succeeded. My life was exchanged for Liam’s. That’s why I want to save him. I want him to live.” I promised my 28-year-old self that I would save Liam, and for this, I even made a comprehensive plan. First, of course, was to stay away from Connor Sullivan. My fondness for Connor came from his usual care for me, but I’m not stupid. Once I learned he was a scumbag, I would have bought a train ticket and fled overnight. Next was to find a way to get close to Liam. I got hold of their department’s class schedule from the school’s confession wall. On a morning when I didn’t have class, I walked into their classroom with two breakfast sets, brazenly sat down next to Liam. Liam seemed very uncomfortable with my arrival. From the moment I sat down, he curled up like a little hedgehog, his voice hard and cold: “What are you doing here?” He was quite cute like this. Writing about his secret love for me in his diary, but in reality, for some reason, he seemed to deliberately avoid me. It was a bit like those people online who say one thing but mean another. I handed him the bun and soy milk I had brought: “I brought you breakfast.” He clenched his jaw, stared at me for a while, then pushed it away: “I don’t want it.” But the way he looked at me just now clearly showed he wanted to accept it. What a contradictory person. I admit I had my own agenda. My 28-year-old self only said to save Liam’s life, to let him live. But knowing this, my 18-year-old self wanted to date him. We pushed and pulled over the breakfast several times, attracting the attention of classmates in front of us who couldn’t help but turn around to look. Their faces couldn’t hide their shock, as if surprised that someone would actually sit next to Liam and talk to him. As the bell for class rang, I simply grabbed Liam’s hand, put the breakfast in it, and softened my voice to say quietly: “Come on, skipping breakfast is bad for your health. I brought this specially for you. Just take it, okay?” I’m quite good at acting coy. Sure enough, Liam froze when I held his hand, reacting as if he had been electrocuted. This time he didn’t refuse, but he put the breakfast at the corner of his desk, seemingly with no intention of eating it. I sighed internally, thinking there would be more opportunities in the future. However, I had only come three times before Liam grabbed my arm and cornered me in the hallway. If I had to describe it, he was like a small beast whose territory had been invaded, bristling with all his spines to warn me: “What exactly do you want to do?” If it were someone else interrogating me like this, I would have been scared away long ago. But it was Liam, those dark eyes staring intently at me, beneath the surface of annoyance was an almost undisguisable confusion and fear. I didn’t understand, but I felt sorry for him, so my mouth moved faster than my brain: “I just kind of like you. Can’t you like me back a little?” Liam let go of my hand. The next second, he suddenly smiled. This was the first time I had seen him smile. It was very attractive, making me dizzy. If I liked Liam five points before, from this second on, I can guarantee this liking had shot up to seven points.

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I Climbed into the Bully’s Bed, Actively Pleasing Him, Just to Gain His Trust. To Make Him Pay with His Life. I was an accidental product of my parents. My father was an alcoholic, and my mother abandoned me early on. When I was five, my father died of alcohol poisoning, and I was sent to foster care. At six, the well-dressed Liam Foster stood in front of me. His eyes were contemptuous as he pointed at me crouching on the ground: “Let’s take her.” At that time, I didn’t understand what this meant. The foster care worker told me I could have a good life from now on. She didn’t lie to me. After coming to the Foster family, I could have whatever I wanted. Exquisite clothes, limited edition dolls, high-end meals… But I lost the one thing that was worthless – my dignity.

Mrs. Foster raised me well. At just 16, I became the perfect lady in the eyes of all the wealthy women in the city. I was their ideal choice for a daughter-in-law. A perfect doll without a temper, to be manipulated at will. On the night of Liam’s 18th birthday party, I had just entered the room when a strong hand suddenly grabbed my arm. Then a familiar scent hit me. Through the moonlight, I looked up to see Liam, who was a head taller than me. Liam had never liked me, and I always tried to minimize my presence around him. I lowered my head timidly: “Brother, do you need something?” Liam’s eyes were filled with undisguised disgust: “Don’t look at me like that.” I knew it was because of my existence. Liam felt that the unique love that belonged to him was divided, He despised me. Liam’s hand suddenly wandered to my neck, He lowered his head, and then a warm, stinging sensation came. I covered the red mark on my neck, looking at Liam in front of me in horror. It seemed that from that day on, He had opened Pandora’s box, taking pleasure in tormenting me and making me uncomfortable.

In high school, I entered one of the top private schools in the city. The students there were either rich or noble. Perhaps because of Liam, everyone knew I was adopted by the Foster family. Even though I tried hard to lower my presence, I still couldn’t escape their bullying. “Brother, please tell them not to touch me! Please!” “Don’t call me brother!” My body was firmly pressed down by four strong students. While Liam just hugged the prom queen on his body, looking at me coldly. He glanced at my torn uniform, his eyes flashing with contempt. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare without Mother’s orders.” I was almost desperate. Liam thought I had stolen all his mother’s love. But he didn’t know at all that my existence was just to marry into a higher-status family, paving the way for his future. I felt the clothes on my body peeling off layer by layer. My tears had completely dried up, and I gave up struggling completely. It’s fine, maybe Mrs. Foster would give up on this useless pawn. “So many people bullying one girl? That doesn’t seem right, does it?” All eyes were drawn to the source of the voice. Sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves, shining on Noah Parker’s smiling face. He seemed to have just woken up, his uniform was a bit wrinkled, and his hair was messy. This was the first time I saw Noah, a boy even more handsome than Liam. In this school, it was the first time someone dared to openly contradict Liam’s words. “If you know what’s good for you, get lost.” Liam squatted beside me, took a drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke in my face. I coughed and sneezed, looking pathetic. Noah didn’t say anything, he just walked straight to me. He put his jacket over me. “Are you going to let go, or do I have to make you?” The boys looked at each other, then burst into laughter. The next second, Noah’s fist landed on their faces. He grabbed my hand: “Run!” For the first time, I wanted to resist. Ignoring Liam’s warning behind me, I ran wildly following Noah’s footsteps.

That day when I got home. I saw Liam barbecuing in the yard with Mia Anderson and his group of friends. I ran to the basement wine cellar. Only here could they not find me. But I didn’t expect that this decision would plunge me into an endless abyss. “Liam! Why did you reject me! You know I like you so much!” It was Mia’s voice! Out of fear, I froze my body, shrinking in the corner, not daring to move. “I just see you as a sister.” I had thought they were in a relationship! After all, I had seen them kissing in front of me before! — At night, my door was pushed open. I was awakened by the pain on my body. It was Liam! His eyes were a bit hazy, obviously not in a normal state. “Brother, let me go! I’m Chloe!” But he couldn’t hear any sound at all. My tears dried up, and my throat was hoarse from crying. Mrs. Foster was out of the country, and there was no one in the whole Foster house who could save me. The next day Liam sobered up. He looked at the messy room, the bloodstains on the bed, and the hideous red marks on my body, and immediately understood. Without any remorse. He just said lightly: “Clean up quickly, don’t let Mom find out.” I laughed. “Apologize!” Liam sneered, his contemptuous eyes scanning me from head to toe: “Chloe, you’re just a toy my family bought. You’re not even human, and you want my apology?” He pushed my body away and left the room. When I arrived at school, I saw him under his school uniform, a beast in human clothing, without any guilt. But because of his one night of madness. I was directly grabbed by the hair by several of Mia’s female companions and dragged into the bathroom. Mia slapped me without saying a word, cursing with filthy and dirty words. “Bitch! Who told you to seduce Liam!” “He broke into my room!” Mia didn’t listen to my explanation at all. She tore at my clothes, using her phone to take pictures of my naked body. “Get lost if you don’t want to die!” It was Noah’s voice. He rushed in front of me, avoiding eye contact with me, and once again covered my defeated body with his uniform. “Hand over the phone.” “Noah, this is the girls’ bathroom!” “Mia, don’t make me hit a woman!” Mia looked at me with a hateful face, but she obediently handed over the phone. Noah threw it into the toilet and flushed it away in front of us, then hugged me and left.

Noah took me to the infirmary. I clutched the clothes on my body tightly. Unwilling to let Noah see those shameful marks. “It’s not your fault.” “Huh?” This was the first time in my life that someone told me it wasn’t my fault. Even after experiencing such a thing, suffering such harm. The first reaction in my mind was if only I had locked my door tighter. If only I wasn’t in the room. If only… “The ones who made mistakes are them, the abusers will never think they’re wrong. Chloe, you did nothing wrong. Don’t be ashamed of the scars on your body, those who should be ashamed of seeing these wounds are them, not you.” Without waiting for my response, Applause sounded at the door. With a man’s usual mockery: “Chloe, I was wondering why you’ve been so bold lately, turns out you have a backer.” I followed Liam’s gaze, Found that he was staring intently at the marks he had left on my body. Noah held my hand. His hand was very large, able to completely wrap around mine. He seemed to be continuously transmitting his own courage into my body. I found that I dared to look directly into Liam’s eyes. My reaction seemed to anger Liam. His upturned phoenix eyes were filled with malice. But due to Noah’s presence, he didn’t say much more before leaving.

After returning home, as expected. Mrs. Foster knew about this. She tore open my clothes and slapped me across the face without a word. “Chloe! Is this how you repay me for raising you!” Liam’s smile froze. He seemed not to have expected that Mrs. Foster, who had always been kind to me, would hit me so hard. Completely different from the gentle mother in his memory. I just laughed coldly. This was the norm of my life. But when she heard Noah’s name, her smile at the corners of her mouth became more obvious. She walked up to me and grabbed my hand. “You really are my good daughter.” Even though her hand was warm, I only felt endless coldness. Liam also seemed to understand something at this moment. The look in his eyes towards me became complicated Perhaps because of Mrs. Foster’s instructions, Since that incident. Liam and Mia never bullied me again. That day I received a text message from Noah. He told me to meet him in the art room after school. I didn’t think much and went straight in. I didn’t see Noah, but soon smelled a strong smoke. I wanted to get out, but found that all the doors and windows were locked. The smoke was thick, and my breathing was already becoming rapid. I saw Liam and Mia’s faces outside the window. I knew they wanted me dead! In a daze, I saw a white figure appear in front of me. It was Noah! — When I woke up again, it was three days later. I heard the news of Noah’s death. I couldn’t believe it. How could Noah possibly be dead? This must be a joke, right? I wanted to rush out of the room, but was blocked by Mia. She smiled at me and leaned close to my ear. “Noah died horribly, he rushed into the fire to save you, but stupidly tried to take out those paintings. But I also helped you fulfill his last wish. I took the paintings away for him in advance.” I knew what those paintings meant to Noah! They were his life’s work! I grabbed Mia’s hair like a madwoman: “Go to hell!” Mrs. Foster didn’t expect that I, who had always been docile, would react like this. She slapped me across the face and told me to apologize to Mia. And I could only apologize to this murderer! From that day on, I began my revenge plan.

I didn’t stay in the city for college. I started investigating Liam’s preferences and aesthetics. Completely transforming myself into the perfect lover in his mind. When I appeared in front of him again, it was already my senior year of college, I returned to the city for an internship, Seeing Liam’s eyes gradually becoming infatuated with me, I knew my years of planning had succeeded. In the end, I married him as I wished. “Silly girl, what are you looking at?” I stared at those eyes: “I don’t eat beef.” Liam’s expression stiffened, and he almost instinctively threw the cooked steak into the trash. We both knew very clearly. One of his ex-girlfriends had once deliberately bullied me, ordering a dozen steaks and making me eat them all. Eat and vomit, vomit and continue eating, from day to night. No one could help me, because Liam was also sitting at the dinner table, watching my “performance” with great interest. The difference is that now he awkwardly walked to my side and hugged me. As if wanting to fuse me into his flesh and blood: “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” I rubbed his head, holding back my disgust, and kissed his cheek: “It’s okay.” The phone rang inopportunely. We both looked over at the same time. It was Mia, my nightmare. Liam glanced at me and immediately hung up the phone. “I have absolutely no contact with her!” I deliberately showed a trace of pain, with a forced smile at the corners of my mouth: “It’s okay, I believe you.” But the phone kept ringing, Liam finally answered in exasperation. “Mia! I’m married! Can you stop bothering me!” I don’t know what Mia said on the other end. I only saw Liam’s face gradually turning ashen. He hung up the phone and squatted in front of me. “Chloe, Mia attempted suicide and is in the hospital, she’s not in a good emotional state, I…” Liam hadn’t finished speaking when I interrupted him directly. “Go ahead.” If you don’t go, how can I carry out my revenge plan.

After Liam left, I leisurely cooked the beef steak and ate it. Round one, failed. I dialed a number on my phone and went downstairs with a garbage bag. Passing by the traffic light, I looked at the car driving towards me and took a deep breath. “Boom!” The car hit me hard. It really hurts! I used the last bit of strength in my body to dial Liam’s number. No answer. I curved my lips in satisfaction, then lost consciousness. In my dream I saw Noah, the man who had illuminated my dark life, just like his name. “Don’t go!” I screamed at his receding figure. “Chloe, are you okay!” The first thing I saw was Liam’s exhausted face. He was still wearing the clothes he had left the house in that day. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his pupils were bloodshot, looking quite hideous. My tears instantly filled my eyes, I hugged Liam tightly and sobbed softly: “Liam, I thought… I thought I would never see you again.” I felt Liam’s body stiffen, as well as his guilt. “I really didn’t expect this to happen, I didn’t mean to not answer your call, I…” He seemed to know that too much explanation was useless. And this was exactly the effect I wanted. I habitually stroked the back of his head, my eyes indifferent. Unexpectedly, I made eye contact with Mia who had rushed over. She was wearing a hospital gown and charged angrily into my hospital room. “Liam! She just smiled! I saw her smile! She must have staged this herself! She just wanted to make you feel sorry for her! This bitch!” “Enough!” Liam walked up to Mia and slapped her across the face without regard for their past relationship.

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I had just been married to my husband, Thaddeus “Thad” Hayes, for less than a month when my mother-in-law, Ophelia “Ollie” Hayes, decided to move in, claiming she wanted to experience life in the big city. Just a few days after she arrived, she suddenly barged into our bedroom while Thad and I were being intimate. Without a word, she yanked me up, yelling, “What are you doing? That position is going to ruin our family’s financial fortune! You’re a bad luck charm!” It was then that I realized she had secretly installed a hidden camera in our bedroom! Furious, I threatened to call the police, and in her panic to escape, she left her phone behind. From that phone, Thad and I uncovered a shocking secret—his infertile brother and sister-in-law had a baby boy! It was our first month of marriage, and that evening, while Thad and I were wrapped up in each other, he suddenly exclaimed, “What the heck!” and quickly grabbed a nearby blanket to cover us. I was facing away from the door and hadn’t reacted when my mother-in-law stormed in, pulling me away from Thad. I screamed in shock and fell to the floor, completely exposed. Thad quickly reacted, disregarding his own state of undress, and wrapped the blanket around me, shouting at his mother, “Mom! Why are you barging into my and Sera’s room at this hour?” His face was dark with anger. But Ollie ignored her furious son and pointed a finger at me, her voice sharp as she yelled, “How could you be so reckless! Doing that with my son in that position?!” “Do you have any idea that you could ruin our family’s fortune with that posture?” “Are you prepared to take responsibility if our luck goes away? If you’re just being selfish for a moment’s pleasure…” “You’re a bad luck charm!” Ollie’s tirade left me stunned, trying to process the absurdity of it all. What was I hearing? Ruining fortune with a position? Selfish? Bad luck charm? I thought to myself, “Is this woman even speaking English?” I could hardly comprehend any of it! Unable to contain myself, I shot to my feet. One hand clutching the blanket to cover myself, the other pointing accusingly at Ollie, I coldly demanded, “You, an elder, barged into your son and daughter-in-law’s bedroom without knocking or saying a word. What, did you want a front-row seat to our private moments?” “And what’s wrong with the position we used? Shouldn’t I be comfortable while doing this?” “You call me selfish? You call me a bad luck charm? You’ve been living in my house for two weeks, and I’ve accommodated you everywhere! Don’t push your luck!” My outburst left Ollie momentarily speechless. She had moved in two weeks ago. At that time, Thad and I had just been married for a month. She called me, saying she had lived most of her life without experiencing life in a big city and wanted to stay with us for a while. Thad didn’t want his mother there; he mentioned that he didn’t grow up with her around. He wasn’t close to her and didn’t want her to interfere with our lives. But I thought, since she is my mother-in-law and she asked, why not let her come? What a mistake that turned out to be! Ever since she arrived, there hadn’t been a single peaceful day. She would argue with the dogs in the community garden or sneak out to catch and kill the neighbor’s pet chickens for soup. Thad and I spent our evenings dealing with the messes she created—paying fines and apologizing. Not only did Ollie show no understanding, but she continued to stir up trouble. I had never been so frustrated in my life. I finally told her that if she kept it up, I would send her back home. Thad stood by my side in support. Maybe Ollie wanted to continue living in the city, but after I laid it all out for her, she really did quiet down. She stopped going out, staying home all day, glued to her phone watching videos. Who would have thought that after just a few days of silence, this would happen tonight!

In my agitation, the blanket I had wrapped around me almost slipped off. I kicked Thad in annoyance. He quickly held me up from behind. I guessed Ollie had never been talked back to like this before; she pointed at me, trembling with rage. “You, you, you…” After stumbling over her words for a while, she finally managed to say, “You young wife, how could you be so shameless! Why do you have to be comfortable doing that?” I shot back at her, “If I’m not comfortable, what should I be? Ask your son if he’s comfortable!” Thad noticed my skilled deflection of the anger and quickly stepped in to mediate, pushing his mother out of the bedroom. As he did, he said, “Alright, Mom, that was too much.” “Sera and I are a married couple; we can do whatever we want. Why do you care?” “Sera is magnanimous enough not to hold this against you, so take this as a warning!” Ollie wasn’t done yet, trying to turn back and argue with me. But Thad firmly pushed her toward the door. He kept mumbling in frustration, “What if you startled me so much that I couldn’t handle it…” Suddenly, I noticed the key sticking in the bedroom door. My heart skipped a beat. “Wait!”

Thad and Ollie froze in their tracks, turning to look at me. Thad had a puzzled look on his face. Ollie, having just been reprimanded by her son, scowled at me and demanded, “What now?!” I didn’t respond. I walked over with a serious face and pulled the key from the lock. Then, with a loud clatter, I threw it on the floor. Ollie’s eyes widened in shock. Upon seeing the key on the ground, her expression flickered, her eyes darting, clearly feeling guilty. I confronted her, “How do you have a key to our room? I don’t recall ever giving you one!” “Did you sneak into our room while we were gone?!” As soon as I finished speaking, Ollie jumped as if I’d stepped on her tail. “Don’t accuse me!” “What would I want to do that for? I’m not just sitting around twiddling my thumbs…” Thad and I exchanged a glance. The louder Ollie got, the faster she defended herself, making her seem even more suspicious. I narrowed my eyes, “Still not admitting it? Fine, our room has a camera…” “Camera?! I didn’t see any camera!” Ollie’s eyes widened, her confession slipping out as she unwittingly revealed the truth. Thad’s face turned pale with anger. He scolded, “Didn’t I tell you that no one is allowed in our bedroom or office? Are my words just falling on deaf ears?” Having been caught, Ollie dropped her act. She straightened her back, adopting an unreasonable attitude, and even turned the blame on us. “Who told you not to lock all the doors?” “You only locked the office but left the bedroom unlocked, so that clearly means you allow people in there!” Good grief. I couldn’t believe her twisted logic. We locked the office because it contained important documents and files. We didn’t lock the bedroom because we valued our privacy and simply felt it was unnecessary. Who would have thought Ollie would overstep so badly! I pointed my finger at her, “Do you have any sense of boundaries?” “Who barges into someone else’s bedroom without permission?” Ollie erupted in response. “Who’s the outsider here? Am I the outsider?” “Seraphina, I’m your mother-in-law, Thad’s biological mother! If anyone is the outsider, it’s you!” With that statement, Thad couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief, “You think you’re justified for being in the wrong!” Ollie genuinely believed she hadn’t done anything wrong and stubbornly replied, “So I stepped into the bedroom; is it really that serious?” “Are you sure that’s all you did?” I coldly continued to confront her, pointing at the key on the floor, asking, “Where did that key come from?” I kept the bedroom key in the drawer of my nightstand and rarely took it out. If she had a key, it was clear she had rummaged through our room. There was no denying it. Sure enough, Ollie faltered again. Thad, gritting his teeth, clearly felt hurt by his mother’s actions. “Enough talking. I’m taking you back home this weekend. You can’t stay here any longer!” “Don’t, son!” For some reason, hearing she would be sent back home genuinely frightened her. “Wait! I won’t go in anymore!” Thad remained unmoved, and Ollie quickly turned to plead with me. “Sera, I was wrong this time. I promise I’ll behave and won’t cause trouble for you two!” After saying that, she swiftly picked up the key from the floor and handed it to me. “Here, I’m giving the key back. I’ll go rest now.” Just as she took a step away, she turned back, her expression conflicted. “You two… still shouldn’t use that position. It really will ruin our fortune…” I was instantly infuriated again. Before Ollie could turn to leave the room again, Thad blurted out: “Wait!”

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My wife, Samantha “Sam” Wyatt, works as a sleep therapist, helping people with insomnia drift off through voice calls and video sessions. At first, I couldn’t take it seriously—I mean, what kind of job is that? Besides, I do well enough financially that she could live comfortably without lifting a finger. I tried talking her out of it, but she snapped, saying I was holding her back, keeping her from her “big dreams” and disrespecting her career ambitions. Her parents, both teachers, raised her as the model “untouchable beauty” back in high school, and I didn’t think she’d cross any lines. Maybe it was just her stubborn pride, I figured, and I stopped asking. Until I scrolled across a certain video… One evening, I was lounging on the couch, scrolling through my phone. I came across a video from a local group titled: “Hot Housewife.” Intrigued, I clicked on it. The video showed a man and a woman intimately entangled; the camera didn’t catch their faces, but it was far steamier than anything I’d usually see. My mind drifted, mostly wishing my wife was home instead of away on her “trip.” I even commented in the thread, joking about how “wild” the woman looked. The screen was a storm of pale skin and close-ups of the woman’s body. The footage shook wildly, filled with lust and raw energy, and a deep voice called out, hoarse, sultry—purring, “Yes, sir…” The sound was uncanny; it was Sam’s voice. Every note, every breath, hit me like a brick. The realization sank into me like a blade. I played the video over and over, desperate for any other explanation. No, there’s no way it could be her. She was supposed to be on vacation—on my dime. Besides, I thought, voices and bodies overlap, and the internet is full of fakes. Sam’s never been this “expressive” with me. She’s always reserved and quiet, especially in bed. But that voice—the same exact tone she used for her “clients”—dug into my mind with every replay, every moment wearing me down. For the next hour, I slowed the video down to analyze every detail, looking for any hint to disprove what my gut was telling me. With my heart hammering, I went frame by frame. The video blurred, the camera shook, and her face was never visible. But then, out of nowhere, something appeared—a detail sharp as a razor’s edge. Her wrist flashed, caught mid-motion, revealing a thin, simple silver bracelet. The bracelet was custom-made, our fifth-anniversary gift. I’d designed it just for her. It was her. My wife of five years, Samantha Wyatt, had betrayed me.

In that split second, rage ripped through me, obliterating every shred of rational thought. My ears roared, and every fiber of my being seethed with humiliation—I’d been played. I scoured the video, hoping to spot the man’s face. I couldn’t, but there was no longer any doubt. There was no other way to explain that reckless, eager expression, the raw intensity of her moves. I had to know who the guy was, and my best bet was to go after the person who’d uploaded the video. I set up a fake account, friend-requested the uploader, and waited. Soon enough, he accepted. I played the role of a sleazy “fan,” messaging him: “Dude, where’d you get this video? I can’t get enough!” He hesitated a bit, clearly wary. “Why do you care?” he asked. I upped my game, dropping a fat payment in his account. “Man, this chick has me on fire—can’t you help a guy out?” The money worked. After a moment, he got chatty, responding with, “Whoa, didn’t know you were that serious! Can’t leave you hanging, man.” He dropped a few more videos in the chat. Each one was more explicit than the last. Faces were still blurred, but it didn’t matter. The body, the movements, the sounds—it was unmistakably Sam. My mind blanked as waves of humiliation washed over me, taunting me. I felt like a pathetic joke. All these years, she’d never once been this way with me. She was always reserved, avoiding intimacy and rarely taking initiative. I figured she was either modest or just not that into it. But now I knew the truth. It wasn’t shyness or indifference. She just didn’t want that part of herself with me. Yet with someone else, she was willing to go this far, become this whole other person. Shaken, I lit a cigarette, hoping to calm down. I couldn’t let myself be crushed by this. Not yet. First, I had to find out who this guy was.

He never showed his face, but one detail stood out: every video had the same man, a guy with a prominent tattoo down his forearm. I tried getting more out of the uploader. “So, where’d you get these clips?” “Let’s just say I’ve got my channels, alright? Just enjoy the show,” he replied, his tone guarded. I backed off, promising him I’d pay for more “good stuff” if he got any new clips. Then I logged off, utterly spent. I threw my wedding ring in the trash. Divorce was the only answer. But I couldn’t walk away without settling the score. For years, I’d gone above and beyond for Sam and her family. Her parents were teachers, and she’d had a reputation as the “untouchable beauty” back in high school. I’d assumed they were a decent, respectable family. But on my first visit to her house, her mother asked me for a forty-thousand-dollar wedding gift, her eyes gleaming as if I were buying a product instead of marrying her daughter. When I hesitated, her mother’s face darkened, and she practically threw me out, muttering about how their beautiful, well-educated daughter had men lined up around the block. I was a catch, with a house, a car, and a solid inheritance. But they wanted the cash. Still, Sam surprised me by showing up at my place in tears, confessing that her mother had overstepped. She said her dad had hit someone with his car and they were being sued for forty thousand dollars. If I didn’t help, she’d be forced to marry a forty-something guy her mom had lined up. I couldn’t stand to see her cry, so I paid. But that was just the beginning. After the wedding, her mom and her good-for-nothing brother, Ethan, kept finding ways to borrow money that I’d never see again. Ethan, lazy and deep in debt, became my problem to fix. I finally gave up and hired him as a low-level assistant at my company, figuring I could keep an eye on him. I was exhausted with all this, but Sam’s tearful requests kept softening me up. I put up with it because, at the end of the day, I cared for her. But now, it was time to end things. I’d make sure she paid for every bit of damage. I reached out to a lawyer to draft the divorce papers, and as I finished, I heard the key turn in the front door. She was back.

As soon as Sam walked in, I caught a whiff of unfamiliar cologne clinging to her, faint but undeniably there, as if marking her for someone else. Feigning calm, I asked, “How was your trip?” I searched her face for any hint of guilt or remorse, but she avoided my gaze, mumbling a few vague comments. I recalled what she’d said before she left, “Don’t worry about me—I’m just going to relax and unwind.” What a loaded statement that had been. While she showered, I dug through her bag. Sure enough, I found an open box of condoms. It was almost too much, even though I’d already braced myself. My hands shook as I pulled out her phone, combing through her contacts and messages. Nothing incriminating. Then, on a hunch, I checked her alternate profile, the one she used for her “sleep therapy work.” At the top of her friend list was someone she’d marked as “Hubby.” I scrolled through their messages, each word driving a fresh knife into me. “Be gentle tonight; you were too rough last time, almost got me caught.” “Thank God I pretended to be drunk—almost blew our cover.” “Next time, call me with your husband in the room. Let’s make it more exciting.” My blood surged. I felt my pulse pounding in my head, barely able to keep myself from storming into the bathroom and confronting her right then and there. Suddenly, I remembered the night she’d stumbled home late, hair disheveled, cheeks flushed, no bra. She’d collapsed against me, smelling of alcohol, mumbling about feeling sick. I’d made her some ginger tea, only for her to fall asleep on the couch. I’d thought it was sweet of her to let loose. I was a fool. Now, Sam wasn’t just “putting people to sleep”—she was clearly doing much more. I dug further in her bag and found a small bottle of lubricant. That was it. I emptied the bottle and replaced it with industrial-strength adhesive. Let’s see how they handle this little “bond.” I quickly noted the “hubby” account but found it locked, blocking any friend requests. This clue was slipping away, but then I had a flash of inspiration. The video uploader—he was the key. No upstanding person makes money off footage like that, so there was a good chance he knew who this guy was. Rather than offering him cash, I decided to approach him using a woman I knew, knowing men like that tend to lower their guard with women. When the meeting day arrived, I watched from a safe distance, tense with anticipation. But when my target arrived, I was floored—it was Ethan Wyatt, my good-for-nothing brother-in-law. He was selling his sister’s affair for profit.

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I was furious when my boyfriend hooked up with a rich woman. In a fit of anger, I found an older man. I declared boldly, “I’ll take care of you, mister.” He replied, “Alright.” Until the company’s annual party… When my “poor” husband went on stage to give a speech, I was dumbfounded. On May 20th at 8 AM, I put on a white lace top paired with a burgundy maxi skirt, ready to walk down the aisle with my boyfriend of 3 years. But reality slapped me hard in the face, leaving me stunned and confused. I should have been suspicious when he stepped out of that BMW. “Zoe, I’ve been thinking… I can’t marry you after all. I’m sorry, but we need to break up today.” My ex-boyfriend, who had hooked up with a rich woman, chose to break up with me on the very day we were supposed to get married. I can’t believe I gave you guys the satisfaction.

I stormed back home and plopped down at the dining table, gulping down a large glass of ice water. My best friend looked at me in shock. “Zoe, are you a water buffalo or something?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong. “Wait, weren’t you supposed to go register your marriage with your boyfriend today? Why are you back alone?” “Don’t even mention it!” The anger that had just been quelled by the ice water flared up again. “That jerk hooked up with a rich woman. He couldn’t break up earlier or later, he had to do it on our wedding day. Does he think I’m a dog he can summon and dismiss at will?” My friend snorted. “I told you Ben was no good. Forget about it, let that loser enjoy his sugar mommy. I’ll find you some hot guys and take you out to have fun!” I was going to refuse, but then I thought, Ben’s first move after hooking up with that rich woman would definitely be to get married. How could I fall behind him? So I agreed. My friend got excited and pulled out a bunch of photos of handsome guys for me to choose from. “This one is my cousin’s friend, a total puppy dog who would stick to you all day.” “I met this one while drinking, he’s got a great body. I wasn’t into him so I didn’t pursue it, but I checked and he’s still single.” “Oh, and this one is…” My friend went on and on, introducing the guys one by one. Looking at all these different men, I felt overwhelmed. This was like selecting concubines for an emperor! No wonder the cat in “Empresses in the Palace” was so irritated when faced with all those men vying for the emperor’s attention. Who could handle having all these people laid out in front of them, having to get to know each one? “Hey, I’ve been talking for so long, hurry up and pick someone already!” My friend finally got tired of talking and took a sip of water, then pushed me impatiently. I stared at the photos spread all over the coffee table, feeling a headache coming on. I randomly pointed at one. “This one, I guess.” My friend followed where I was pointing and fell into an odd silence before speaking with great difficulty. “Zoe… I didn’t know you were into… that type?” Me: “Huh?” I took a closer look. Oh boy! Among all the young, handsome guys, my finger was pointing steadily at the only photo of an older man. Me: “…” Was this fate?

My friend dolled me up and sent me off on the blind date. I stood in front of the agreed-upon restaurant, my friend’s words echoing in my head. “I don’t know this guy very well, but I heard from another friend that he seems pretty ordinary, maybe not rich, but he’s apparently very honest and quite handsome. His personal life is pretty clean too, no major issues. You can go for it with peace of mind.” Alright, got it. Not rich, good-looking, honest guy. I psyched myself up and pushed open the restaurant door, politely telling the hostess I had a reservation while scanning the room. Ah, the man sitting by the window on the right must be him. I confidently walked over, ignoring the hostess’s hesitant look. “Hello, I’m Zoe Wilson.” I stopped at the table and extended my hand, flashing my signature smile that showed eight teeth. The man seemed to pause briefly before reaching out to shake my hand lightly. “Lucas Gray.” His voice was pleasant and slightly husky, a real treat for the ears. Looking at his unbelievably handsome face, any lingering doubts in my mind instantly vanished. With such a good-looking older man, who cares if he’s not rich? I’ll take care of him! I sat down across from Lucas, took a sip of water to wet my throat, and began speaking. “Mr. Gray, here’s the situation. My family has been pressuring me to get married, and the boyfriend I was supposed to marry yesterday became my ex due to certain circumstances. So I’m here on this blind date today.” “Um… I’ve heard about your basic situation, that you’re in a tight financial spot? Don’t worry, after we get married, I can support you.” I explained everything calmly, then looked at Lucas expectantly. Lucas: “…” “Miss Wilson…” Lucas began slowly. My heart tightened, and I quickly interrupted to add: “My current salary is $5,000 a month, plus monthly commissions and year-end bonuses. It’s actually enough to cover expenses for both of us.” “And I don’t need your money. I have my own place and car, so you won’t have any financial burden.” I rushed to get all the words out, then realized Lucas was looking at me with a… strange expression? As I was feeling nervous, Lucas glanced at me, then lowered his eyes, seeming to quirk his lips ever so slightly. “Alright. When shall we go get married?” My eyes lit up instantly. “We can go right now!” Lucas nodded calmly, then gestured for me to order. “Let’s eat first, then we’ll go tie the knot after.”

After finishing our meal, I happily drove Lucas to the courthouse to get married. It was a weekday, but that didn’t dampen couples’ enthusiasm for getting hitched. Lucas and I were waiting in line when I kept glancing behind us. Sure enough, that jerk Ben was in line with his rich woman, waiting to register their marriage. “Zoe?” My stare must have been too intense, as Ben turned his head slightly and spotted me. Ben frowned: “We’ve broken up, why are you here?” “What, you’re allowed to get married but others aren’t?” I rolled my eyes and pulled Lucas forward, interlocking our fingers to show Ben. “I’m here to get married too, you know.” Ben: “…” Lucas looked Ben and his rich girlfriend up and down, then glanced at our intertwined hands, seeming to understand something. The rich woman was staring intently at Lucas, who knows what she was thinking. I didn’t like the way she was looking at him. I couldn’t be bothered to say anything and just pulled Lucas away. Behind us, I heard the rich woman mutter: “That man… he looks familiar somehow?” Hmph… Just say you think my husband is handsome! … Back in the car with Lucas, I stared at the marriage certificate in my hand, still in a daze. We just… got married like that? It felt unreal. I kept turning the certificate over and examining it. “You…” Lucas had been watching my foolish behavior for a good 30 seconds before he couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up. “Did you suddenly decide to get married because of that man just now?” “Huh?” I was caught off guard. Meeting Lucas’s serious gaze, I thought for a moment, then shook my head. “Of course not. Who is he to me? Why would I suddenly get married because of him?” That was the truth. My decision to get married really had nothing to do with Ben. Maybe the initial blind date was because I was angry at that jerk, but after meeting Lucas, whether I was angry or not didn’t matter anymore. Deciding to marry Lucas was actually the calmest decision I’ve made in my 28 years of life. After all… Just thinking about spending the rest of my life with this incredibly handsome man made me overjoyed!

After asking Lucas where he wanted to go next, I dropped him off at the restaurant where we had our blind date, then drove to work. As soon as I got to the office, I habitually grabbed some paper and headed to the bathroom. “Did you hear this morning’s meeting was cancelled?” What what what? This morning’s meeting was cancelled? I distinctly remembered there was an important meeting scheduled for this morning. Given our big boss’s workaholic tendencies, he never cancels meetings unless it’s for something extremely important. “Yeah, we were all prepared, but then the big boss called to cancel the meeting out of nowhere. I was completely stunned.” The secretary in her business attire seemed to rub her temples in frustration. “This meeting was crucial for the upcoming collaboration. Cancelling it so suddenly… we’ll need to give them a reasonable explanation.” Another woman in casual clothes hesitated, then leaned in close to the secretary’s ear. She thought she was whispering, but I could hear her clearly from two stalls away. “I have a friend who works at that company. Apparently the big boss’s reason was that he got married today, so the meeting had to be postponed.” Me: “???” What??? Our iron-faced, extremely strict big boss got married? Wow! Who is this amazing woman who managed to tame the big boss? The secretary seemed shocked too, stumbling over her words. “But… the big boss… he…” “Forget it, let’s just focus on our own work. The boss can handle this himself.” I was stunned, forgetting to flush the toilet for a while. After some time, a loud “Holy crap!” suddenly echoed through the quiet bathroom, and then it instantly became lively. “No way, the boss is so rich and successful, he actually got married?” “His spouse must be incredibly impressive!” “Another poor soul entering the grave of marriage!” “Tsk tsk, so even the big boss can’t escape marriage after all!” “Hey, you know what, I actually heard the boss’s mom was pressuring him to get married! Said he had to bring a girlfriend home by next month!” Me: “…” Well well, looks like I’m not the only one getting paid to use the bathroom.

I flushed and walked out to see women from various departments with excited expressions on their faces, chattering away even though they didn’t know each other. Hmm… Looks like this news will spread through the whole company within half an hour. But everyone seemed to be marveling at how even someone like the big boss could be pressured into marriage. I couldn’t help but purse my lips. What’s the big deal? No matter how awesome and rich the big boss is, he’s still human. If someone doesn’t truly hate the idea of marriage, most people will end up taking that step eventually. But I did feel a bit emotional about it. After this incident, the high and mighty big boss seemed a bit more… human. I couldn’t help but smile as I walked to my desk and sat down to start work. I guess the only things the big boss and I have in common, besides being human, is getting pressured to marry! Just before leaving work, I got a message from Lucas. He said he was already home and had tidied up all the stuff I hadn’t gotten around to unpacking since moving into the new place. He even called cleaners to thoroughly clean the apartment. The whole place was now neat and tidy, starting to feel like a real home. Home… Looking at Lucas’s message, I suddenly felt a bit of anticipation. This home was one I established after leaving my parents, starting my own family. From now on, I would work hard for this home. After work, I rushed home eagerly. Lucas had timed my commute perfectly and prepared a table full of dishes. As soon as I walked in, I was hit with the mouthwatering aroma. I was moved to tears. Ever since my parents kicked me out for not getting married, I hadn’t eaten such hot, home-cooked meals! At that moment, I completely forgot about my best friend who used to cook for me, my mind filled only with thoughts of my dear husband. “Honey! I love you so much!” Lucas’s movements paused: “Honey?” I smiled brightly, linking my arm with his and happily telling him about what happened at work today. “Honey, guess what? My company’s big boss, like the top CEO, he actually got married! And he even gets pressured to marry too!” “What’s so strange about that? Aren’t we all human?”

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After my brutal death, Dad kept delivering more orders, day and night. He was always on time, even offering to take out customers’ trash on his way down. It didn’t take long before the property manager began to suspect something dark, that maybe those missing tenants were actually hidden in the garbage bags Dad took downstairs. Dad only chuckled calmly at this. “I’ve been running deliveries around here for ten years, and you’re still questioning me?” In front of the police, Sam Hendricks, the property manager, dragged over a trash bag leaking blood. A few bystanders, straining to watch, nearly gagged. The officers quickly cleared the crowd and surrounded Dad. “Officer, it’s him,” Sam said, his hand trembling as he pointed at Dad, fear and suspicion heavy in his eyes. “The last few tenants who ordered from him—well, they’re all gone now.” Dad stood still, holding several trash bags in each hand. Despite the sudden chaos, his expression stayed calm. He set down the bags, raised his hands, and let the police approach. “Sir, we have reason to believe you’re involved in recent disappearances. Please cooperate with the investigation,” one officer ordered, his voice cold. Dad shrugged and nodded, unfazed. “Go ahead. I’ve been delivering here for nearly ten years now, every day. Not like I’m going anywhere.” When they tore open the bloodied trash bag from Sam, all they found were dead rats. “It’s not illegal to kill rats, is it, Officer?” Dad shrugged, leaning back. But the officers ignored him, determined to keep searching. All they found, though, was a pile of trash and some unclaimed food deliveries—until one of them reached the bottom of the delivery cooler, where a metal box lay hidden. The K9 unit started barking furiously. When the officer pried the lid open, a sharp smell of blood spilled out, making the bystanders gag. Inside was a box filled with raw, bloodied scraps. Dad stayed calm, even apologizing to the crowd. “Sorry, hadn’t processed those kidneys yet. Bit gamey; should’ve soaked ‘em in some vinegar…” The officers pressed him down and barked, “Enough games, Frank Collins. Where are those missing people?” “And your daughter, Lily Collins, has been gone for nearly two weeks. You filed a report, then pulled it back. What did you do to her?” “File a report?” They shoved him to the ground, but he only laughed, a cold, mocking sound. “If I’d waited for you to find her, she’d have rotted by now.” Following him silently, I felt my soul ache with every word. I’m already dead, so why does it still hurt? Dad always called me stupid. All my life, I was the one he’d berate. Now, the police were shoving Dad out the door, bringing him to his apartment. The freezer in the center of the room immediately caught everyone’s attention. When they carefully opened it, the stench made even the officers grimace in disgust. Inside, lying in a twisted heap, was me. The missing Lily Collins, my body horrifically mangled.

I was attacked on a night like any other. With my backpack slung over my shoulder, I walked quickly, trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Then, shadows sprang from the darkness, too fast and rough for me to even scream. Fear and pain swallowed me as I fought desperately, but they were too strong. They dragged me to a dark basement, hands tearing at my clothes. I screamed, but my mouth was gagged tight. My flailing limbs only seemed to spur them on, and I felt my body being torn apart. My soul was ripped away in that moment, forced to watch the horror being done to me. At one point, a younger man with curly hair gasped, “Hey! She’s not moving!” “Passed out from all the fun?” “Hey, get up! Quit faking!” The muscular man in charge hoisted my lifeless body, slapping me over and over. Each blow reverberated through my soul like an echo of pain. Finally, after dozens of slaps and seeing my head slump with no response, they began to panic. They checked my pulse, and it was gone. The younger guy clutched his head in horror. “We’re finished. They only paid us to have some fun, not kill her! I’m not going back to prison!” “Stop whining,” the leader spat, kicking him. “They asked for a job; we got paid extra. She won’t be back for her money anyway.” They disappeared into the darkness. And I floated aimlessly, finding my way back to our front door. I arrived just in time to see Dad return from his deliveries, fumbling for his keys. A neighbor called out, “Hey, Frank! Your Lily probably made dinner for you, right? You’ve got a good girl there.” “Good for nothing,” Dad muttered without a second glance. “So stupid, I’m just glad she doesn’t cause any trouble.” “Oh, c’mon, Frank. Give the girl some credit. Kids have their pride, you know?” “I raised her on my own. I get to say a word or two.” Dad scoffed as he pushed the door open. The house was dark, and he frowned, calling out, “Lily? Didn’t make anything tonight, huh?” Nothing answered except the cold draft from the hall. After Mom’s accident, Dad started his job with Quick Bites, out all day, every day. He said I held him back, that he could never find a new wife because of me. I was just his stupid deadweight, too dumb to do well in school, or even cook right. As the night wore on, his frustration grew. “That girl. Out wandering now, huh? Just wait till she gets back.” He kept calling my phone, dialing until it went straight to voicemail. He even took his scooter out, riding around the streets, searching up and down the path I took home from school. But I was nowhere to be found.

Dad wasn’t denying the murders anymore, but he wasn’t being particularly helpful either. “How many people? I don’t keep track. Leftovers are in the box. You can sort ‘em yourselves.” The box held scraps in different stages of decay. Some parts were blackened and reeking, nearly liquid from sitting so long. It was enough to keep the coroner’s office busy for weeks. While Dad was being shown around, identifying possible crime scenes at Maplewood Terrace, a man stumbled over, clearly drunk. “Frank Collins! Where’s my wife? You took my wife, didn’t you? Give her back!” It was Doug Montgomery, Carla’s drunk husband. The neighbors started whispering, “Yeah, haven’t seen Carla Montgomery in a while. I’d heard she’d had a fling with the delivery guy, her husband beat her up something fierce after that… But now…” Doug spat through slurred words. “Hell, I’m not the one having flings with some delivery guy! Now get outta here!” He took a swing at Dad, who only staggered and laughed, “Can’t handle your own wife? And you’re blaming me?” When I first went missing, Dad came to this neighborhood, knowing it was on my way home. He knocked on Carla’s door first, the only person he knew nearby. But Doug had thrown him out. “What’s your daughter to us? Just looking for an excuse to hit on my wife again?” Now, as the police separated the enraged Doug from Dad, Dad chuckled bitterly. “I’ve taken out so much trash, I can’t remember where Carla Montgomery ended up.” Faces turned pale around us—police officers calculating the endless garbage bags they might need to search, and the crowd imagining what might be in each one. Watching Doug rage helplessly made me feel something like joy for the first time since my death. I remember how Dad’s fling with Carla was exposed when Doug came to our house, reeking of alcohol, and told Mom, “Your husband’s been with my wife. You’ll pay up for it. Or maybe I’ll just take your daughter as payment.”

Dad and Carla had something short-lived once, nearly going through with a plan to leave together. I remember when Mom and Dad were always fighting, and he’d come home later and later. Carla was one of his regulars at Quick Bites, always seeming to know just how to get his attention. Once, I overheard them planning a future, each word a sharp sting in my heart. “Let’s just get a divorce. I won’t let him hurt you again,” Dad had said, his voice low and determined. Carla’s voice dripped with charm and anticipation, “Yes, we’ll finally be free.” I hid behind the door, tears blurring my vision. I hated Dad, hated that he wanted to leave me and Mom to chase after his happiness. I hated Carla, hated her for trying to destroy my family. And, somewhere in me, I hated Mom, too, for being too weak to keep Dad’s attention. But then, in the rain one night, Mom’s life came to an abrupt end. Dad and Carla’s plans crumbled, and he chose to stay, raising me on his own. He cut ties with Carla, filling his life only with endless deliveries and a child he resented. Some nights, he’d sit alone with a drink, calling me his “deadweight,” cursing that I couldn’t grow up faster. And I, after losing Mom, closed myself off, rebelling against him at every turn. I ignored his concern, meeting it with coldness and defiance, as if punishing him would heal the pain. Then came the night that sealed my fate. I don’t know how Dad found his way into that dark basement. He stood there, staring at my battered body, unmoving. After a long time, he draped a jacket over me, covering my broken form. He didn’t wail or cry; every movement was calm, mechanical. I thought, maybe he felt freed, relieved of the burden I’d always been. Maybe he’d go back to Carla, start a new life, chase that vision he’d once had. Maybe… he’d be happier without me. Dad never went back to the police. Maybe he hated them for refusing to file a report at first, telling him he’d have to wait 48 hours. Instead, he brought me home, tucking me into the big freezer in the middle of the room. He gently wiped my face with a towel, murmuring, “Wait for me, Lily. Dad’ll be right here.” And he threw himself into his work, delivering day and night. Until, finally, he found every last person who’d hurt me. Dad brought cigarettes for everyone at Quick Bites, trading every delivery in Maplewood Terrace for himself. He became silent, delivering more orders than ever, hunting for any hint of who was behind my death. One evening, Dad made his usual rounds, delivering food and politely asking customers if they had trash he could take downstairs.

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Lucas Miller’s first love had returned to town. He carefully bent down to help her put on her high heels. I wasn’t idle either – I called over her uncle and had him kneel down to put shoes on my feet. “The doctor said I can only wear flats,” I said. The day before our engagement, Lucas broke up with me. The reason? His dream girl from 8 years ago had finally returned, and he had once promised to marry her. Lucas and I had dated since college. I never knew he had a first love all this time. Over the past few years with Lucas, I had given him my heart and soul. I first noticed him during Freshman Orientation Week – it was love at first sight. After that, I started pursuing him like crazy. I’d bring him lunch and accompany him to class. The whole campus knew about my pursuit. Eventually, he seemed touched by my efforts and finally accepted my confession. We became a couple and had a sweet honeymoon period. Later, when we grew closer, he hesitantly told me that his family was actually very poor. His parents had scraped together everything they had just to send him to college, hoping he would make something of himself and leave their small town behind. Hearing this made my heart ache for him. From then on, I started voluntarily covering all our expenses when we were together. I figured he may not come from money, but I did. My parents had plenty to spare for their only daughter. I started transferring money to him regularly, and he gradually got used to spending my money. Eventually, I even set up a joint account. All his living expenses came out of my pocket. After graduation, we started looking for jobs. Lucas told me he wanted to start his own business. He said he knew that being an employee for life wouldn’t change his fate. He was ambitious. After experiencing life in the big city, he naturally didn’t want to return to that small town. Looking at him then, I saw the fire in his eyes. I was drawn to his determination. I was so captivated that I actively asked my dad for help, pulling strings to ensure Lucas’s business succeeded. But once his company got on track, everything changed. He was no longer as gentle and patient with me as before. At first, I thought he was just too busy with work to have energy for me. After all, he had still proposed marriage to me. But I never imagined… his coldness and impatience weren’t because work had gone to his head. It was because of that damn first love.

After leaving Lucas and returning home, I immediately had someone investigate his first love’s background. Lucas’s dream girl was named Sophia Newman, the daughter of a branch of the Newman family. Oh, and she was an illegitimate child who had just been officially recognized by the family. That’s why she was able to return from abroad. I looked at the photos attached to the email. The girl in the picture wore a white dress, her brown hair in a messy bun, smiling brightly and innocently. She was indeed quite pretty. But what really caught my attention wasn’t her beauty, but the tear mole under her eye – identical to mine. So this was why Lucas had accepted me… As I flipped through Sophia’s photos one by one, I found it increasingly laughable. I laughed at my years of sincere devotion. I laughed at how my wholehearted dedication had only earned me a relationship built on deception from the very beginning. I propped up my forehead, laughing so hard my hands shook. Suddenly, I noticed a familiar figure in one of the photos. Frowning slightly, I zoomed in and realized the man looked very much like someone I had casually helped years ago. I stared at the man in the photo for a long time, suddenly feeling unsure. The man in the photo wore an elegant suit. His hair was styled neatly, and he held a glass of red wine, his expression neutral but dignified as he chatted with others. He seemed very different from the man I’d met years ago. After looking a while longer, I was still curious. I asked someone who the man in the photo was, and learned he was actually Sophia’s uncle. In other words, Samuel Henderson, the current head of the Newman family. I stared at Samuel’s photo for a long time before making a decision. Sophia, Lucas. No matter who, I wouldn’t let them take what was mine for nothing.

The gossip spread faster than I could act. Social media was flooded with candid photos of Lucas and Sophia. As a rising tech star, Lucas had gained some fame in recent years. Among the many photos, one of Lucas bending down to tie Sophia’s shoelaces was particularly eye-catching. The media speculated that Lucas would become the Newman family’s son-in-law. “What a perfect match!” they said. I tossed my phone aside, grinding my teeth in anger. This couple that seemed so well-matched in the public eye was actually quite unremarkable when you dug deeper. Lucas’s “wealth” was all thanks to my love-blind support. As for Sophia. I had carefully studied her background too. There were many suspicious points. The scumbag and his dream girl had finally reunited, while I became the object of pity and mockery. The reports only mentioned that I was Lucas’s college classmate, somehow lucky enough to be with such a “business genius” like Lucas. They said I had been “freeloading” at home after graduation, and it was only thanks to Lucas’s lack of disdain that we hadn’t broken up earlier. To be fair, the media can’t be fully blamed for getting it so wrong. When I was young, my cousin from my uncle’s family had shown off his wealth and nearly got kidnapped. It left a deep impression on my parents. So my family always told me to keep a low profile and not rush to reveal my identity unless necessary. Except for my longtime best friend, few people, including Lucas, knew that I, Lily Thompson, was actually the daughter of Thompson Real Estate. I had given Lucas all the opportunities to be in the spotlight, since he craved recognition from others more than I did. Who would have thought… I had wasted my time and money on an ungrateful dog. My parents saw the news too and rushed back in a panic. My mom wanted to find media bigwigs to ruin Lucas’s reputation. My dad was ready to blacklist him immediately. Seeing my usually calm parents so worked up, I actually felt more at peace. “Dad, I own shares in that company too. It’s not worth ruining it now.” “Honey, you’re not planning to stay involved with him, are you?” My parents crowded around me, faces full of worry. Ugh… I guess I really had been too blinded by love before. I sat my parents down and solemnly promised: “I won’t keep the company or the man, but I won’t let them shortchange me a single penny I’m owed.” “Ruining the company now would affect my shares… but after I get my money, do whatever you want.” Haha. Seeing that I was thinking clearly, my parents’ expressions improved slightly. “But sweetie, won’t you feel wronged? You were about to get married after all…” My mom had looked at a lot of wedding-related things with me. She understood how much I had been looking forward to my own wedding. “Oh, I’m still getting married. Just not to that Lucas guy anymore.” My parents looked confused. I mysteriously pulled out Samuel’s photo. “I’m going to marry this man, and make Lucas respectfully call me ‘Auntie’.” My parents exchanged bewildered looks. My dad even felt my forehead and muttered under his breath. “Oh no, our girl’s really been traumatized. She’s even starting to crush on some guy way out of her league!” My mom’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she pulled out her phone, wanting to contact the most authoritative psychologist. I snatched my mom’s phone away and solemnly declared once again: “I’m not crazy. I will definitely make Samuel marry me. Just you wait and see!”

Actions speak louder than words. This principle works even with your own parents. After extensive inquiries, I learned that Samuel would be returning to the country soon. Unfortunately, the paparazzi weren’t professional enough. They only knew the approximate time, not which specific flight. With no other choice, I had to camp out in the airport lobby every day to catch my “future husband”. After three days of staking out, the head of ground staff personally came to shoo me away. I tried explaining repeatedly that I wasn’t some obsessed fangirl, but he just wouldn’t believe me. Since I couldn’t get past the first line of defense, I decided to wait at the company instead. My family wasn’t exactly small potatoes, but compared to a multinational corporation like the Newmans that had long gone global, we were basically just a “high-end family workshop”. Even an illegitimate daughter could afford to study at the most prestigious private university in Canada – that showed the Newman family’s power. After battling wits with the parking lot security guard for the Nth time, I finally managed to intercept Samuel. His driver looked like he’d seen a ghost, stopping the car about 15 feet away from me. Ignoring the driver’s shocked state, I went straight for the back door and yanked it open. “You’re a tough one to catch!” I panted. Samuel remained very calm. “Would you like some water?” A freshly opened bottle of water was offered from the luxury car. The man’s lips curved in a smile. Just as I reached out to take the water, several long camera lenses popped out, snapping photos of Samuel and me. The LED screen across from the parking lot was playing the news, talking about Samuel’s upcoming new round of acquisitions. Damn, talk about bad timing! The reporters were originally there for financial news, but upon seeing me, they immediately switched to entertainment mode. “Who’s this girl? Is she from some wealthy family?” “Rich girls don’t ambush people in parking lots. Maybe she’s an employee from a company being acquired?” “Oh my god, I feel like something big is about to happen!” Samuel got out of the car too and apologized to the reporters. “I’m sorry everyone, but this young lady’s matter seems more urgent. Let’s reschedule the interview for another day.” The image of Lucas tying Sophia’s shoelaces suddenly flashed through my mind, and my mouth seemed possessed. In front of all those reporters, I blurted out the plan I had been harboring: “Samuel, want to get married?” After a brief pause, all the camera flashes went off. The man before me froze for a moment, then reached out his long arm to shield me from the commotion. His smile held a hint of “uninvited guest” conspiracy, perfectly complementing his refined bad boy aura. In that instant, he had me hooked. “Get in the car. We’ll discuss the details.”

Samuel’s bodyguards and assistant arrived just in time. I smoothly left the scene in his car. I had barely taken two sips of water when Samuel rattled off my entire family history. Most importantly, he even knew all about my relationship with Lucas! “Going from a breakup to wanting to be your ex’s elder… Miss Thompson, you play quite dangerously.” Samuel turned to look at me, a hint of admiration in his smile. Ugh! I had really been too arrogant. Samuel must have looked into Lucas because of Sophia’s return, and then stumbled upon me in the process. Wait, wasn’t I stopping his car to ask for repayment of a favor? How did I end up on the defensive? “Six years ago, at Holy Water Beach. Do you remember me?” I asked. “I’ve never forgotten,” his deep voice replied. I had felt like I was being led by the nose ever since I stopped his car. Samuel was truly unfathomable. I decided to put aside my petty schemes and be straightforward about being a “benefactor seeking repayment”. “A life-saving debt should be repaid in kind… I’m in trouble now and need you to act out a play with me.” I had told my parents it was “real marriage”, but I never actually thought that myself. I knew my own worth all too well. Samuel could have anything he wanted. He definitely didn’t need an “ill-matched” little girl like me as a wife. As for saving him back then, it was just a coincidence. That year, I had just graduated high school and went on a spontaneous trip with friends. While learning to surf at the beach, I happened to save Samuel from drowning. After pulling him ashore, I lectured him a bit and kept him company for most of the day until someone came to pick him up. Only then did I leave. I soon learned of his identity afterwards. Keeping a low profile, I had never actively mentioned it to anyone all these years. If it weren’t for that white-eyed wolf Lucas forcing my hand, I wouldn’t have thought of this “trump card”. “Marriage can’t be an act,” Samuel flatly refused. As expected, big shots aren’t easily fooled. Just as I was feeling disheartened, Samuel spoke up: “If you’re sure about this, come register our marriage tomorrow at 9:30 AM.” I was still dumbfounded when I got out of the car. After tossing and turning all night, I still decided to keep the appointment the next morning. And just like that, I got married. The giant diamond ring fit my finger perfectly. The man beside me held me with gentle strength. “Hello, Mrs. Henderson.”

Clutching the little red book, I rushed home to beg forgiveness. My parents flipped through it front to back and made several phone calls before finally confirming my marriage certificate was real. “How could you not discuss such a big decision with us?!” My parents crowded around me, one on each side, and began interrogating me furiously. “When Lucas had nothing, you didn’t mind his poverty either,” I retorted righteously. I knew my parents too well. They were total pushovers for their daughter. As long as it was my decision, they would support me fully. “It’s not that we won’t let you get married, it’s just this son-in-law…” He was quite the big shot, to be fair. I gave them an “I understand” look and hugged my parents. Faced with their concerns, I recounted the Holy Water Beach incident for the first time. “Six years ago… Samuel tried to drown himself?” My parents were skeptical and started furiously googling. Sure enough, after my dad scrolled through countless forums, we learned something. Samuel had indeed been through some incident six years ago, but the forums only mentioned it vaguely. We couldn’t figure out the details. What was verifiable was that Samuel’s older brother and sister-in-law had died in an accident that year. Their only child was left in Samuel’s care. Strangely though, that child was never seen again afterwards. Thinking back to how Samuel had walked straight into the ocean that day, I seemed to guess what had happened. Sigh, life in wealthy families isn’t easy either. But remembering that I had saved him still filled me with an indescribable sense of pride. Life is precious. The world could use one more handsome man to feast our eyes on. The information we found matched what I had told them, so my parents tentatively believed the Samuel story. Looking at the marriage certificate, my dad was still worried. “Honey, the Newmans are an enormous family, and Samuel’s even become the head. Your path won’t be easy in the future.” A parent’s love for their child makes them plan far ahead. Since I was little, my parents rarely restricted me in anything except my character. They hoped I would be safe and happy, and were willing to give me everything they had. I had never actively mentioned the incident with Samuel all these years, naturally because I had no intention of asking him to repay the favor. Now that I had suddenly eloped with him, my parents surely understood it was because of Lucas. My mom looked at me with heartache, her expression fierce. “Sweetie, if you regret this, we can go apologize to the Newmans right now and get a divorce. It’s your life – you can’t ruin it because of that bastard Lucas!” Oh, my dear mother! I wanted to tell her she was overthinking it. My grand plan to step on Lucas’s moment of glory wasn’t complete yet. How could I possibly get divorced? “Mom, I’m the one who lucked out in this marriage!” “Let’s be honest, you must think Samuel is way out of Lucas’s league too, right?” I nudged my dad’s shoulder. He smiled sheepishly. “Since Lucas was blind enough to let me go, he can be with whoever he wants. I really don’t care.” Through my “inside information” from Samuel, I learned something. The relationship between Sophia and Lucas wasn’t something they could decide for themselves. Although Sophia was of Newman blood, her current DNA wasn’t enough to legitimately enter the Newman family business. A powerful in-law family would be her best support. Lucas seemed decent enough, but that was only because the Newmans hadn’t forced Sophia to make a choice yet. As long as Samuel didn’t approve, Sophia wouldn’t even get a chance to “try”. Thinking about how I had married a man who held the “power of life and death” over that scumbag and green tea bitch, I felt a thrill from my head to my toes. I understood my parents’ worries, but I wasn’t afraid. I would erase their concerns one by one with my happiness in this marriage.

The Newman family’s luxury car stopped at the entrance. The driver who had been startled by me yesterday stood by the door, playfully giving me a thumbs up. I guess it was his first time seeing a bride who ambushed cars too! Most importantly, I had succeeded. Waving goodbye to my parents, I got in the car. Half an hour ago, Samuel had sent a message saying I didn’t need to bring anything, just myself. I knew he lacked for nothing, but proper etiquette was still necessary. Before I left, my parents asked me to inquire about any requirements for the dowry. They said they would do their best to fulfill whatever the Newmans wanted. I thought the Newman mansion would be far away, but the driver only took me to the most expensive area in the city center. “Ma’am, the boss is waiting for you upstairs.” The driver smiled warmly. I thanked him and got out. I was very familiar with this magnificent building. I often came here for afternoon tea. Was Samuel inviting me for afternoon tea? Just as I was puzzled, someone walked up to me. “Mrs. Henderson, I’m your personal assistant Mandy. Mr. Henderson has already given me your contact info. Please add me on SnapChat later.” The uniformed woman led me into a hidden elevator. How fancy! I had never thought of myself as poor before, which is why I was so generous in supporting Lucas financially. The closer I got to Samuel, the more I realized how arrogant I had been. The assistant began introducing our “property” to me. Only then did I learn that people actually lived on the upper floors of this building. They were the wealthiest families in the city, and also major shareholders of this building. This prime real estate office building was just a “small house” for some people’s convenience. Thinking back to how I used to envision the future with Lucas, I felt more and more like a nouveau riche. The elevator reached the top floor, and as the doors opened, I saw Samuel. The assistant’s eyes were full of envy, her expression screaming “I’m eating dog food but I accept it”. “I’ll leave Mr. and Mrs. Henderson alone then…” The assistant was about to leave when Samuel called her back. “Mandy, my wife’s full name is Lily Thompson… Lily as in the flower, Thompson as in Thomas’s son.” Oh my god, I’m going to faint. The assistant solemnly noted down my name before leaving. I had never been introduced so formally before. My vanity was greatly satisfied. When I was with Lucas, I was always the one eagerly trying to introduce him to others. I wanted to tell everyone how talented the man I loved was, and ask them to believe in and support him. Replaying that scene in my mind, I was most touched by the hidden meaning. Samuel was so far above me. Just being “Mrs. Henderson” was a blessing many could only dream of. But he specifically had someone remember my name. He was telling others that I was my own person, worthy of respect. The way big shots flirt is all in the details. Samuel gave me a “simple” tour. “There aren’t many areas I use. Some spaces are probably still empty. You can decorate however you like later.” Listen to how casually he said that! “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it here?” Samuel asked when I didn’t respond. I immediately shook my head like a rattle drum. “I love it here, but don’t we need to live with your parents?” My dad had said the Newmans were quite traditional and might have expectations about this. Samuel smiled faintly and affectionately rubbed my head. “Don’t forget, you’re an elder in the Newman family now.” How domineering! “There are too many rules at their place. You’d find it annoying.” “This location is convenient. I have an office in the inner area. You can see me anytime, and we can have lunch together.” Wow… how thoughtful. “Wait, you’re not going back to Newman headquarters?” From what Samuel was saying, it seemed he planned to live here with me. Not just “live”, but even “work” here. I couldn’t be a Daji who led the king astray. I couldn’t bear that blame. But his answer made me blush. “The woman who stopped my car and forced me to marry her – one of you is enough for this lifetime.” Great, he’s going to tease me about this for the rest of our lives. While Samuel was working, I took a good look around. The busiest street was right below, with all kinds of luxury brands and time-honored shops. The glass and curtains were all custom-made. Despite being in the heart of the city, there was no noise or light pollution. “The most dazzling night view, the gentlest sunset.” And the gentlest person. That evening, we had dinner at a restaurant downstairs. Samuel asked about some of my needs and shared some of his ideas with me. Apparently he had already arranged all the procedures, making sure not to neglect a single detail. “If you have any requests or new ideas, make sure to tell me in advance.” “This is our wedding. My only plan is to make you happy.” Oh my god! What kind of jackpot did I hit? They say saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Why do I feel like I’ve gained a 700-story treasure tower? Stay calm, stay cool.

When I returned to Lucas’s company, everyone craned their necks to look. Glancing around, I realized I didn’t recognize many people anymore. Some were comparing me to photos on their phones, whispering and gossiping. Back when the company was just starting, I had brought in plenty of clients. 80% of Lucas’s initial capital came from the Thompson name. I was so love-blind back then. To help the company grow, I even poached my dad’s business partners. Faced with his “unfilial daughter”, my dad could only pretend to be angry. At the start of the next quarter, he introduced even better clients to me. Everyone was supporting my “love”. Too bad I still chose the wrong person. Faced with everyone’s eagerness to watch the drama unfold, I walked straight into Lucas’s office without looking back. Sitting at the desk I had chosen, Lucas couldn’t take his eyes off Sophia across from him. “Lily, why are you here?” “Why can’t I be here?” Joke’s on him – I’m the company’s biggest shareholder. It would be weird if I didn’t come. Lucas was clearly shocked by my appearance. He even withdrew the hand holding Sophia’s. Sophia’s expression changed too, looking pitifully wronged. “Lucas, since Miss Thompson is here to see you, why don’t you two talk first…” Tsk tsk, what great acting. Seeing Sophia stand up, Lucas suddenly found his courage and started declaring his devotion. “Sophia, there’s nothing between me and her anymore. I swear you’re the only one in my heart now. Even if she wants something from me, I’ll definitely refuse!” Oh my god, do they really need so much drama? Before coming, my assistant had already scheduled an in-home spa for me. I just wanted to wrap this up quickly. “Save it, Lucas. Who wants to get back together with you? In the future, you’d better not even tell people you know me, got it?” Even through the glass door, I could see the onlookers’ eager eyes. Rather than be seen as the dumped woman, I’d rather show everyone my “past foolishness” all at once. I took out the notarized documents, equity distribution agreement, and previously signed contracts one by one. “Every document here is legally binding. I’m here today to settle accounts with you once and for all.” Lucas frowned. He probably never imagined I had an ace up my sleeve. Heaven knows, I never intended these for a “divorce” back then. My dad always said people’s hearts are hard to read. Lucas had no family background, and if the company got too big, it could all fall apart in an instant. I thought I should keep a closer eye on things for him, which is why I had these documents. Lucas put on airs and called the company’s legal counsel to examine them one by one. Crossing my legs, I sneered. The reports all said I was the one who benefited from him. Little did they know there would be no Lucas Miller today without me. “These documents are all valid,” the lawyer reported reluctantly. Faced with the facts, he didn’t dare say otherwise. Lucas nodded and had finance approve my payout. “Wait.” I raised my hand to stop Lucas from dialing. “Lily, there’s no chance for us anymore. I can give you the money, but my heart…” Lucas gazed at Sophia longingly. The look in their eyes was sickeningly sweet. “Your heart can stay right where it is in your body!” “What you owe me isn’t just the company accounts. There’s also every penny you spent while we were dating. I want it all back today.” I pulled out another thicker stack of bills listing various expenses I had paid through different apps. “Look carefully. Not a single transfer says ‘voluntary gift’.” “You always gave me the impression we would get married. This money was paid as a premarital investment fund.” “Since we’re no longer together, you need to return all the money that exceeded normal dating expenses.” Lucas’s face cycled between pale and flushed. The elite image he had painstakingly crafted would become that of a gold-digging freeloader from today on. Sophia stood by his side and gently held his hand. “She did accompany you for so many years. Now that she’s met such an outstanding man as you, her future love life will surely be difficult.” My temples throbbed. I swear, these two dramatic idiots deserved to be locked up together. Sensing Sophia’s “kindness”, Lucas became generous too. After calculating what I was owed, he even wanted to add a compensation bonus for me. “Lily, take this money and treat yourself. I believe you’ll find your own happiness.” Before he could sign the new check, I left with everything that belonged to me, not looking back. Taking the money that was rightfully mine, I quickly established a new company. Well, it wasn’t really new – I was just helping out with the family business. My dad insisted on having my back. With a wave of his hand, he invested $10 million in me. Feeling fully appreciated, I was bursting with motivation. “Dad, don’t worry. This time I’m definitely going to poach all our competitors’ talent back to our side.” With money, determination and strength on my side. Following the principle of “better the devil you know”, I rehired many of the original employees from the startup days. Talking to them made me realize what a petty person Lucas was. Just because they knew the true “financial relationship” between him and me, he found all sorts of excuses to squeeze them out after I stopped managing the business. He even misused my name, offending quite a few people. Fortunately, everyone was reasonable. They just took the money and left without causing trouble for me. “If even one of you had come to tell me, I wouldn’t have taken so long to wake up.” “Boss, back then you only had eyes for Lucas. Would you have listened to our truth?” Amidst the banter, my company officially opened for business. The path of entrepreneurship isn’t easy. But that’s for other people. As “Mrs. Henderson”, I was already soaring in the clouds. Every project Lucas had his eye on, without exception. Before he could even finish revising his proposal, we were already wrapping up our celebration dinner. After a few rounds, Lucas got so upset he ended up hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer. Some of Lucas’s old buddies came to play peacemaker, wanting me to give him a break. “You two were truly in love once. There’s no need to go this far…” “Whoa, stop right there.” “My relationship with him is long over. Now it’s just business. If he can’t hack it, that’s his own lack of ability. Don’t try to guilt trip me.” After hanging up, I blocked every single one of them. Back then, these guys clearly all knew about Sophia’s existence. But until Lucas came clean with me, not one of them spoke up to say anything fair. Now they have the nerve to accuse me of being ungrateful? The old Lucas got ahead of them all because of my support. After all, they were longtime friends. Lucas would throw them plenty of lucrative business. I knew exactly what they were thinking now – with Lucas, their big tree, about to fall, all the parasites living off him would go down too. “Ugh, that gold-digging bastard can go to hell!” “What’s wrong? Who upset my wife?” A large hand caressed my face from top to bottom, stopping at my chin to make a playful radish-pulling motion. Sometimes I felt Samuel treated me like a child. Teasing me, coaxing me, taking care of my every need. And secretly helping me too. I knew exactly how those contracts, those business connections, had been obtained. Without Samuel as my stepping stone, I wouldn’t have broken through so quickly on my own strength. “Thank you. I know you’ve been helping me behind the scenes.” I took his hand, sincerely expressing my gratitude. “So have you calmed down a bit now?” He tapped my nose. The cool tip of my nose touched the man’s warm finger, and I found myself craving his warmth. I nodded, my face inexplicably turning a little red. The handsome man smiled faintly and slowly crouched down in front of me. The ringtone of an incoming call broke the wonderful atmosphere. Thinking it was those self-important “parasites” again, I answered irritably. “Hello, who is this?” “It’s me, Sophia… I’d like to talk to you.”

An inverted V Hermès bag, a Cartier diamond bracelet, a custom Royal Oak watch from Vacheron Constantin. After breaking up with Lucas, I could finally be myself again. “Looks like you’ve made quite a bit of money lately.” Sophia smiled lightly, her light makeup and every gesture carefully cultivating that socialite lady image. Sophia had always seen me as just a girl with some money, not at all on the same level as an illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family like herself. If only she knew, we weren’t just on different levels – we were generations apart. This feeling of knowing something she didn’t felt so good. “If you have something to say, say it quick. I need to get back to ‘making money’!” “I’m sure you know I’m from the Newman family…” I nodded. That much was true. I did know, and I even knew she was my grand-niece. “A woman consumed by hatred after a failed relationship is truly pathetic. If you’re not good enough, there’s no need to cling to Lucas like a leech.” “As a fellow woman, I pity you.” Sophia took on a lecturing tone, completely different from the little white lotus act in the office that day. What range as an actress. “Whether I’m consumed by hatred or not is none of your business. But I know very well that you’re a gold digger who likes to eat leftovers.” Since she had dropped the act, there was no need for me, her elder, to hold back either. With Samuel’s help, I had become an all-seeing player. Sophia and Lucas’s little drama was too boring, not even enough to keep me entertained while snacking on sunflower seeds. It boiled down to this: Lucas was poor but handsome and smart. Sophia deliberately got close to him to improve herself. Later, Samuel’s parents found out Sophia kept carelessly revealing her identity. That’s when they funded her studies in Canada, keeping her under strict supervision. Driven by vanity, Sophia exaggerated, hinting to Lucas that she needed to return to the Newman family and that he wasn’t good enough for her. Then it was my turn to enter the stage as the unlucky one. Exposed by me, Sophia didn’t even bother maintaining her image anymore. She left without even paying for her $68 rose tea. Sigh, kids these days are so inconsiderate~ She didn’t even call me Auntie, and still mooched off me for an expensive tea. “I should tell her uncle about this. It’s time for her to go back to Canada for some more education!”

Educating the younger generation could wait, but introducing the elders needed to be put on the agenda. “Do we really have to go?” “Of course. You’re my lawfully wedded wife. You must attend these occasions.” Coaxed into the dressing room, I saw a gown so beautiful it left me gaping. “Do you like it?” The man’s murmur sounded in my ear. Lacking in sophistication, I nodded vigorously like a woodpecker. “It’s so beautiful! Let’s have another event after this one. I absolutely can’t wear such a gorgeous dress just once!” With Samuel, I could always be myself. He was so confident and strong that he didn’t need me to tiptoe around him. Once again, I silently marveled that saving him was the best thing I’d ever done in my life! At the Newman family’s anniversary celebration, all the guests were dignitaries and elites. Sophia, as a “Newman”, attended with Lucas, who was “striving to become a Newman”. “Sophia, will you let me go on stage with you later?” Lucas asked expectantly, his face full of eagerness to please. “I’m not sure how my uncle will arrange things. But it’s probably best not to for now.” Sophia rejected Lucas, leaving him looking dejected. “You know the Newman family’s rules. I’ll have many responsibilities to shoulder in the future.” “Lucas, just focus on your work. Our future is long.” Sophia’s promises were crisp and round. The Lucas across from her nodded repeatedly in agreement. I took off my earpiece, too lazy to listen to this useless drivel. That’s right, I had heard it all through a hidden microphone. Sophia didn’t know the jewelry she wore actually contained the latest miniature listening device. Samuel had told me the Newmans never intended to take Sophia back. He was the one who had insisted. “I suspect she’s connected to my brother and sister-in-law’s deaths. I’ve been monitoring her since she returned.” To destroy someone, first let them become arrogant. My husband Samuel was never someone to be easily manipulated. He had his own persistence when it came to the truth. “Haven’t you heard enough?” Samuel asked. Dressed in formal attire, Samuel looked even more handsome. My heart skipped a beat again. “Hehe, I’ve heard plenty.” It was just the same few empty promises over and over. I was already sick of it. Holding up my multi-million dollar custom gown, I bounded over to Samuel like an eager bunny. As the biggest VIPs, Samuel and I had our own private lounge. Standing at the inner door leading to the banquet hall, I took a deep breath. “Ready, my one and only Mrs. Henderson?” Geez, how could he still be flirting at a time like this! I hooked my left arm through Samuel’s right, my expression changing. The host took the stage as the music shifted dramatically. The moment the doors opened, Samuel and I captured everyone’s attention. “Let’s welcome our youngest CEO, Mr. Samuel Henderson, and his wife, Mrs. Lily Henderson, with the warmest applause.” Was it my imagination, or did they pronounce “Lily” even louder than “Samuel”? Under the spotlight, my mermaid gown covered in hand-sewn sequins perfectly enhanced my beauty. My sharp eyes immediately spotted the shocked Sophia. And Lucas, who was so frightened he collapsed right into his chair.

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I was once adored by many as the epitome of the perfect teacher, someone idealized like Eleanor. But the very student I was determined to help drugged me, and while I was drifting in and out of consciousness, calling out for my husband, he slipped his hand under my shirt. Afterwards, he shamelessly bragged about it, spreading our intimate video far and wide. “What’s so special about Eleanor? I’ve already had her, and she’s just average.” I fell from grace, from being praised by everyone to being dragged through the mud. Later, my husband divorced me, my parents endured the scorn of others, and I was fired from Jefferson High School. Unable to bear the online harassment, I jumped off the rooftop of the school. When I came back to life, it was the day that boy transferred into our class. 1 Once again, I stood on the podium in my senior year class, wearing a familiar Bohemian dress, my feet in white sandals, exuding grace. I was still that young, beautiful literature teacher. A new transfer student, who was economically disadvantaged, was assigned to our class today, his first day. The moment he walked in, everyone turned to look at him curiously, whispering. “Holy crap, how could someone be so ugly? My excitement just got doused.” “I’m not trying to bully the new guy, but he’s making me physically nauseous. Sorry, not sorry.” He hobbled in, with a noticeable limp on his left foot, his tanned face covered in acne scars, and a large, black mole the size of a nickel beneath his bulbous nose. “Hello everyone, I’m the new transfer student. Please take care of me.” At that moment, he greeted the class with a shy smile, but his gaze was fixed on me. I suddenly stopped breathing. Samuel Brooks—no matter how many lifetimes pass, I can never forget that name, the hatred simmering alongside my memories. In my previous life, I pitied him for being a low-income student, stood up to those who bullied him, bought him new clothes, and taught him how to carry himself with dignity. But on one stormy night, Samuel followed me as I walked home alone. I kindly let him in to escape the rain, only for him to secretly drug my water. I lay on the sofa to rest, groggily calling out for my husband as his trembling hands unbuttoned my shirt. But I lost consciousness, powerless to resist. The next day, I woke up covered in red and purple marks, panic-stricken. I reported it to the police immediately, but he had vanished without a trace. During the days Samuel was missing, I lived in constant fear. Until I saw the high-definition video circulating in every group chat, captioned: “Isn’t she Eleanor? I’ve already had her, and she’s just average.” The woman in the video, being violated, gasping and sobbing for mercy, was me. The internet exploded with discussions, as earlier candid photos of me had gone viral, with netizens praising my “prom queen face,” my “Eleanor aura.” #Prom Queen Teacher Fakes Drunkenness To Seduce Student, unfit to be a teacher. He didn’t step forward to admit what he had done. Instead, he hid in the shadows, sending me an anonymous text: “Mrs. Anderson, now you and I are both in the mud. Be with me, and I’ll treat you well.” In the end, unable to endure the online harassment, I jumped off the Jefferson rooftop, desperate. I was three months pregnant at the time. I had fallen from being revered as Eleanor to plunging into endless torment. But now, as I stood on this three-foot podium again, looking down at the students, I knew the gears of fate were turning. This was my chance to save myself. He lifted his head, speaking in broken English: “The spring flows silently, the tree’s shade reflects the calm. Mrs. Hale, my name is Samuel Brooks, from the spring.” The class erupted in whispers. “Did you say that on purpose or by accident? Do you know our teacher’s name is Shades Hale?” He paused, then looked up at me with a bashful smile. 2 Our eyes met, and I shivered all over, forcing myself to calm down. After all, in this life, he knew nothing, and I could still stop everything from happening. “The new student is here. Who would like to sit with him?” Since he started school late, he was older than his peers, already twenty, and still looked unattractive. The class fell silent; no one wanted to be his desk partner. Just then, Clara Mitchell, the class president, volunteered. “Mrs. Hale, I’m the class president. It’s my duty to unite our classmates. I’ll sit with the new student.” Looking at Clara’s kind and righteous face, so much like my past self, I coldly said, “I heard you had a poor academic foundation before transferring. I’m worried you might hold Clara back. It’s better if you sit alone in the last row.” There were plenty of empty seats without partners in the classroom, but I chose the most biased approach. He was puzzled, seemingly not expecting me to be so cold and even intentionally difficult. Samuel’s lips twitched slightly, murmuring to himself. “How could it be… Mrs. Hale looks so gentle. How could she discriminate against me too?” Every word he spoke sent chills down my spine. After finishing the lesson, I practically fled to the office, my back drenched in cold sweat. I drank a gulp of scalding tea, but felt nothing. My mind raced—should I resign now and avoid all this? Getting this teaching position hadn’t been easy; it took countless nights of studying late into the night. Senior year teachers weren’t allowed to switch classes, and I was responsible for students preparing for college entrance exams. Why should I give everything up because of him? I sat in a daze, my thoughts drifting until it was time to leave. Christopher Lane arrived to pick me up, waiting at the school entrance for half an hour. Seeing me come downstairs, he hurriedly opened the car door, pulling me into his arms. “Sweetheart, you’re not feeling well. Did something happen?” Smelling his warm, familiar scent, I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer and broke down in tears. My husband and I had a great relationship. In my past life, he divorced me temporarily to protect me from the online harassment, and we moved to another city under new identities. Later, seeing how much pain I was in, he even took a knife to find Samuel, only to have his grandmother shield him. Christopher was then outwitted and fell, never to rise again, in a pool of blood. Facing Christopher’s still-handsome face, I wiped away my tears and managed a smile. “It’s nothing, just not feeling well. Let’s go home.” Christopher, however, was deeply concerned, insisting on taking me to the hospital for a checkup. I couldn’t resist him. An hour later, the rushed blood test results came back—I was pregnant. It was at this moment that I realized I was already carrying Christopher’s child. When he discovered I was pregnant, Christopher joyfully picked me up and spun me around. “Sweetheart, this is amazing! We’re going to have our little baby!” “If it’s a girl, that would be perfect. I’ve always wanted a little Shades, just as beautiful and lovely as you.” I smiled through my tears, silently vowing. This time, I would protect this hard-won happiness. The next day, I went to teach as usual, though my voice was hoarse from the previous day, so I brought a voice amplifier. The sound was loud, drowning out all chaotic emotions. I didn’t look toward that corner but instead focused on teaching peacefully. A few days passed, and everything was calm. Until Thursday afternoon, after I had finished my last class and was heading back to the office, a few female students were supporting Samuel Brooks, blocking my path. He was evidently bullied, reeking of the bathroom, covered in bruises, and his limp even more pronounced. But I knew that this pitiful appearance was just a mask hiding his twisted nature. He was strong, yet never fought back, letting the bullies have their way with him. His fingernails were long, filled with grime, and his left hand was a bloody mess, with a chunk of skin missing from his index finger. The wound was terrifying. “Mrs. Hale, Samuel’s been bullied. His finger got smashed, and a piece of skin came off. What should we do?” The girls in my class were full of righteousness, standing up for him. Samuel looked at me pitifully, his nose scrunching up in pain, making his oily face even more disgusting. “Please help me, Mrs. Hale…” I didn’t want to care and asked the students to take him to the nurse’s office, turning to leave. But the class representative, Emma Parker, urgently called out to me. “Mrs. Hale, I remember you have a first-aid kit in your office. The nurse’s office is too far. Could you bandage him up first?” I stopped, looking at his pleading eyes and the blood still flowing from his finger. Just then, the class bell rang urgently. I suddenly nodded. “Alright, come with me. The rest of you go back to class.” Samuel’s lips curled into a barely noticeable, cunning smile. He followed me to the office, which was empty during class time. I casually opened the first-aid kit, taking out alcohol, tweezers, and gauze. “Sit down. I’ll bandage you up.” At that moment, the wind blew the curtains, causing the seashell wind chime by the window to sway gently. I carefully and gently stopped the bleeding for him. As I looked at him, his face suddenly turned red. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “Mrs. Hale, you… you’re so beautiful.” Samuel’s face flushed as he blurted out the compliment, his eyes suddenly fixated on my collarbone. Taking advantage of his distraction, I smiled and plunged his entire finger into the alcohol bottle. The exposed flesh of his finger, raw and deep enough to see the bone, was firmly submerged in the nearly full medical alcohol. “You need to be good and cooperate with the disinfection, okay?” He was terrified, trying to pull away, his face contorting in pain. “It hurts, Mrs. Hale, it really hurts!” But I continued smiling, gripping his wrist tightly, refusing to let go. The narrow bottle neck almost suctioned his finger inside. Until the alcohol turned red with blood. He bit his lip until it bled, his eyes bulging, staring at me in utter shock. For the first time, I saw clear hatred in his eyes. 3 But what he didn’t know was that in this life, I would be kind and gentle to everyone, but an absolute monster to him. Due to the severity of his injury, the school nurse sent him to the hospital. In the following days, Samuel attended class with his hand wrapped in bandages. He worked hard in literature class, always raising his hand to answer questions, but I ignored him every time. Even when he won first place in the school coding competition, bringing honor to our class, I didn’t say a word. His eyes, once full of hope, gradually grew dim. He finally came to me, asking: “Mrs. Hale, why can’t I earn your approval, no matter how hard I try?” I slowly swiveled in my chair, not even looking at him. If pity and compassion had brought betrayal in the past, then in this life, I didn’t mind being the villain. As long as I could protect myself. “Because you’re not worthy. Some things can’t be changed by effort alone, just like your disgusting heart, which is far uglier than your appearance.” Even now, I felt justified in saying these words. Just a few days ago, on my way home from work, I had caught him torturing a stray cat. When I found the poor kitten, it had already been scalded to death with boiling water. He smiled and said, “That little white cat was so arrogant. It scratched me. How can a cat be more valuable than a person?” At that moment, Samuel looked at me with hatred, his hand clenched tightly under his sleeve. I didn’t care and continued to treat him coldly. Even the head of teaching, Mr. Thompson, noticed and frowned, reminding me: “Mrs. Hale, as a teacher, you must treat all students equally. You shouldn’t be too harsh on any one student, especially those who need more care.” But I didn’t hold back, and right in front of Samuel, I said: “What’s so special about him? He has two hands and two feet and is mentally sound. If I give him special treatment, how is that fair to the other students?” He began to hate me, spreading rumors about my private life, claiming I was having an affair with the principal. But when he saw me in person, he still forced a smile and greeted me. As fall turned to winter, Samuel donned a shabby coat and ripped jeans, standing out from everyone else. I heard that his parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his grandmother, who spoiled him like a treasure. On my twenty-fifth birthday, I received the Outstanding Teacher Award at the city level, a double blessing. I had a great relationship with my students; this was a job I truly loved. Several students pooled their money to buy me a grand bouquet of vibrant flowers, which I accepted with a smile. “Clara, Emma, you two made it into the top ten in the whole grade on the midterms. You’ve always wanted to sit together, right? I didn’t allow it before because I was worried you’d talk too much and neglect your studies. But now, I’m okay with it.” “Lucas, you did well in literature this time. Why not spend a little less time on math and science and memorize more poems? Extra points are nice, aren’t they?” As I was chatting with the students, I noticed an uninvited guest in the crowd. Samuel had also come to give me flowers. Whether by accident or on purpose, he handed me a mangled white rose, the petals bruised and oozing sap. “Mrs. Hale, I saved my allowance for a week to buy this for you. Please don’t dislike it.” He handed the flower to me with hope in his eyes. But I dropped my smile, and in front of all the teachers and students in the office, I pulled out a tissue, picked up the flower, and threw it on the floor, wrinkling my nose in disgust. “Dirty.” Samuel’s lips trembled, but he silently bent down to pick up the flower and walked away. The gloomy look in his eyes sent chills down my spine. But I didn’t turn back because I wasn’t afraid of his hatred. He was used to targeting those weaker than himself while fearing those who were stronger. 4 Christopher Lane had earned a black belt in Taekwondo in his spare time. I had also learned a few moves for self-defense. When I got home, my husband was waiting for me with a large bouquet of blooming roses, his voice soft and tender. “Happy birthday, my dear, my exceptional Mrs. Hale!” Even though I was happy, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of melancholy. Sure enough, during our candlelit dinner, Christopher mentioned that he had an opportunity to study abroad. “This is an important chance for my career, honey. It’s crucial for my promotion. But it means I won’t be able to take care of you for the next two months,” he sighed. My firm refusal caught him off guard. I knew he wouldn’t believe in something like reincarnation, so I said: “Honey, I had a dream the other day. In it, you left, and someone broke into our home and tortured me. You tried to avenge me with a knife, but were killed instead.” “We lost everything, our family shattered, and the culprit walked away free.” “How could that happen? We live in a society governed by law. Are you feeling a bit off lately?” he asked, worriedly taking my hand. In the end, with my persistent persuasion, Christopher reluctantly decided to stay, giving up the study opportunity out of concern for me. I didn’t want to hold him back from his career, but that stormy night was approaching. The night when Samuel would break into our home, leading to tragedy. Even though I had treated him differently this time, I couldn’t prevent fate’s cruel joke. I clearly remembered it was a Friday. Samuel followed me after school, begging me to let him in to escape the rain. But tonight, Christopher was delayed by traffic and couldn’t get home in time. After several unanswered calls, I grew irritated. Soon, Christopher texted me. “Sweetheart, there’s been an accident due to the rain. The highway is blocked, and I can’t get back. They won’t let us use our phones. Just go to bed without me.” By 10:30 PM, there was no knock on the door. The rain grew heavier, drowning out my troubled thoughts. My previously tense nerves finally relaxed, and I felt a wave of drowsiness, my body sticky with cold sweat. I decided to take a shower and go to bed. The hot water felt soothing against my skin. In the bathroom, my slender figure was reflected in the mirror, my lips pink, my nose delicate, my almond-shaped eyes wide and bright, with long, curled lashes that gave me a touch of allure. I gently stroked my still-flat belly. Christopher always said I was beautiful, and he wasn’t bad-looking either. Our child would surely be a little gem. Lost in thought, I picked up a towel to dry off the water. Suddenly, through the foggy mirror, a shadowy face appeared, hobbling toward me. It was Samuel Brooks! A wave of terror washed over me—how could this be? This wasn’t a hallucination. He had somehow cracked the code to my door. In the past life, when I let him in to escape the rain, he had seen my home’s password. This time, to avoid bad luck, I had changed the lock and even installed a reinforced security door. Only Christopher and I could open it with our fingerprints. Had all my precautions failed to escape the grip of fate? A cold, muddy hand reached out. I gasped, my waist suddenly grabbed tightly, another hand sliding up. “Mrs. Hale, it’s raining outside, and I’m so cold. Could you… hold me?”

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The day my grad school entrance exam was over, Emily dragged me out to the Foxhole Pub for a night out. The next morning, I woke up to find that the 6’1″ guy I slept with was actually the librarian at NYU! At first, I thought I’d hit the jackpot with a hot guy. But later, when he pinned me to the bed and rasped, “Rachel, be good… one more time,” I realized this man had planned it all along. The day my grad school entrance exam ended, Emily practically dragged me out to the Foxhole Pub. After 168 days of suffering through test prep, I put on the most daring mini-skirt I owned. Paired with my killer curves and my innocent face, the contrast was irresistible. Heh, the guys at the bar won’t know what hit them! It was my first time drinking, and to be honest, the taste was worse than I imagined—like horse piss. I thought I could handle at least three drinks, but one shot in, I couldn’t even tell which way was up. Emily and the other girls had gone off to flirt with some younger guys, leaving me at the bar. A guy at the next table bought me a drink. Not knowing the bar etiquette, I sipped a little, and he smiled and left. Whatever—I had to pee! While washing my hands, a ridiculously handsome guy walked in. I stared at him in the mirror, wide-eyed. Oh my god, he’s gorgeous! My love-at-first-sight radar was going off the charts. He glanced at me, surprised, as he was about to dry his hands. And then… I somehow ended up throwing myself at him, completely wasted. He probably had a cleanliness issue because he tried to push me off. But I clung to him like a koala—no way I was letting go of this hot, clean-cut guy! He looked at me with a resigned expression and asked, “What are you doing here?” I grinned and said, “Haha, just looking for a guy with an eight-pack who knows how to handle things.” I couldn’t help but run my fingers along his smooth, perfect skin. It was so soft—I was in love. Heh heh… This guy smelled so good… But suddenly, I felt like I was going to throw up. I hadn’t realized that one drink could hit me so hard. And then… yep, I vomited. All over his pristine white shirt. Without a word, he took me back to his place. The second we got in, he threw me on the couch and went to shower and change. Still dazed and overheated, I stripped off some clothes and followed him into the bathroom. When he saw me coming, wrapped in a towel, he jumped. “Don’t come any closer.” I was already eyeing his abs. Damn, that body was to die for. In real life, I’m usually the good girl, but drunk-me had no problem getting handsy. Mmm, hard and smooth. His body felt amazing, cool to the touch, which made me cling to him even more, like I was on fire. Realizing something was off, he cursed under his breath, picked me up, and laid me on the bed. He headed to the closet, probably to find clothes and take me to the hospital. I held onto the bed for support, slowly crawling toward him. The heat in the room was unbearable, and my skin felt parched, like I was about to crack open. Even with my eyes closed, I could navigate my way behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I was so thirsty, my lips parched, my face burning. I leaned in, searching for his lips like they were my only source of water. He turned to avoid me. “Stop messing around. Let me get dressed so I can take you to the hospital.” I whimpered in his arms. To his ears, it probably sounded like a seductive, ghostly moan. 0

He opened a bottle of water and tried to pour it into my mouth, but I fidgeted like a child, spilling it everywhere. Water ran down my chin, neck, and soaked into my white tank top, making it cling to my chest. His temple pulsed as he gritted his teeth, clamping my mouth shut and forcing more water in. I sputtered, coughing and tearing up, a pitiful sight. Taking a deep breath, he carried me to the bed, tucked me under the covers, and went to get a cold towel. I kicked the blanket off, my body writhing restlessly. My pillow was soaked with tears as my chest began to itch. It started with a few stings, like bees biting here and there, striking all the sensitive spots—painful and itchy at the same time. But soon, the discomfort became unbearable, like a person wandering through the desert, desperate for water. In a daze, I yanked off my tank top, fumbling to unhook my bra. A hand grabbed my wrist and said, “No.” I was both frustrated and uncomfortable, blinking up at him through teary eyes. “I feel so bad…” I stared at him seriously, tugging at his clothes like a lost child pleading for candy. “Help me, please?” I could only repeat that one sentence over and over, clinging to him as if he were my lifeline. This man, Finn, was getting the full experience of what it meant to be in an overwhelming situation. He pulled me into his arms again, trying to peel me off. “You idiot, you’ve been drugged.” I could barely make out his frustrated yet helpless voice, tinged with concern. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” The word “hospital” faintly registered, but my foggy brain couldn’t comprehend it. Take me? Where? I wasn’t going anywhere. Was he really a male escort who only catered to rich women? He kept trying to pull me off, but I kept climbing back onto him. The room, now in the dead of night, was filled with an odd tension. His breathing grew heavier as I clung to him. Tears welled in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his neck, crying, “Kiss me… please?” He was still trying to pry me off, but his ragged breath betrayed him. With a reckless move, I yanked off the towel he’d barely managed to wrap around himself. I pressed closer, kissing his jaw. He tried to hold back, but my hot breath on his face made him falter. Thinking he was just holding out for money, I mumbled, “Please, help me… I can pay you.” With a sigh, I let out a stupid line, “You’ve already gotten my first kiss, what’s with the hesitation?” Finn’s brows furrowed, his forehead slick with a thin sheen of sweat. “What are you talking about?” He looked shocked, as if he couldn’t believe what I’d just said. The pressure from below was becoming unbearable. I didn’t stop—my lack of experience didn’t matter anymore. I kept kissing him. He finally gave in, his control snapping as he turned from resisting to taking the lead, pushing me down onto the bed. Even in the heat of the moment, he held back, asking, “Are you sure? No regrets?” I couldn’t stand it any longer. I pulled his hesitant lips down to mine and silenced him. 0

That night felt endless. By morning, my entire body was sore, like I’d been hit by a truck and shattered into pieces. I never expected this supposed male escort to be so skilled. He hadn’t stopped all night, murmuring, “Good girl,” while kissing me softly. When my cries became too much, he’d say “I’m sorry” before plunging deeper, each time wilder than the last. Eventually, I passed out. Honestly, I’d never felt better in my life! Totally worth it! Especially hearing someone so reserved and clean-cut say such… things. Hehe, I scored big time! I grinned as I turned to look at him. And then I froze, my expression twisting into shock. Holy crap! “Finn?!” I was so stunned that I yelled his name. This… this… wasn’t he the librarian from the second floor of the NYU library? The one who just started this semester?? Oh my god, I had slept with the librarian. Panic exploded in my mind like a thousand firecrackers. Girls, is it too late to play dead? I want to cry. So… Our school librarian is a male escort? Hahaha, this is the juiciest gossip ever! If I posted this on the university’s confession page, all the fangirls would lose it knowing their beloved librarian is a gigolo! I was still giggling to myself when I noticed Finn staring at me with a look that clearly said, “Where’s my money?” Wait… does he seriously not care that I’ve figured out his secret? Isn’t he embarrassed? How can he just openly ask a student for money like this? My hands were shaking as I opened my banking app, staring at my balance of 512 bucks. I transferred him 500. Our last chat was still from the time I messaged him, “You done for the day?” Back then, I’d been studying for the exam, trying to hide my books in the library shelves. I didn’t want them confiscated, so I shamelessly added him on social media, mostly because he was pale, quiet, and a bit shy, with just the right amount of cockiness—like a heartthrob straight out of a college drama. He hit all my weak spots. Since then, I’d used my sweetest smile to make myself unforgettable. I’d always be the last to leave the library, flash him a grin when hiding my books, and sit in spots where we could make eye contact. That way, I’d managed to snag his social media handle. But this guy? He was ice-cold. After we exchanged one awkward message, he never replied. Under his confused gaze, I hurriedly pulled on my clothes, ready to bolt. But before I could escape, his long fingers closed around my wrist. He stared at me, disappointed. “You’re really just going to leave?” I thought he was upset about the amount of money I’d sent. “I-I-I’m a broke student, okay? That’s all the money I have! Thank you, sir, for your excellent service! Wishing you continued success in business. I’ll be off now!” I tried to peel his hand away as I backed toward the door, barefoot. Finn stretched out his hand, pulling the blanket over me and rolling me back into his arms. “You—you—you… what are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to be a gentleman?” I tried to push against his chest, which, by the way, felt amazing. He leaned down, smirking. “What do you think?” Before I could catch my breath, he kissed me again. Desperately, I tried to protest. “I-I-I don’t have any more money!” After a couple of intense minutes, he pulled back just enough to chuckle. “Buy one, get one free.” That left me speechless. This guy was good—too good. I couldn’t complain. 0

When I woke up again, it was already noon, and my stomach was growling. Finn wasn’t in bed, but I could hear the shower running. If I was going to sneak out, this was my moment. I quickly threw on my clothes and made a dash for the door. After finishing my exams, I still had two final projects to complete, and my professor had been nagging me to choose my thesis topic. I couldn’t risk running into Finn again—too awkward. I switched my usual library spot to room 202, but I still couldn’t focus on studying. Then one day, while I was grabbing water, I ran into him again. As he walked by, I blushed furiously, wondering what to say. But he just passed me without so much as a glance. Seriously? Pretending we don’t know each other? I fumed silently. For several days, we acted like strangers at the library. It was exactly what I wanted, yet somehow, it bothered me. Then, on New Year’s Day, I was eating alone at a bistro when a cute guy, Jake, came over and asked to join me. He had big, bright eyes, and honestly, I was a little envious of his double eyelids. Feeling playful after finally finishing my exams, I decided to give this junior a chance. But fate has a twisted sense of humor—Finn happened to be sitting across the restaurant and witnessed the whole thing. I saw his face darken as he marched over and sat directly across from me, uninvited. It felt like I’d been caught cheating. Wait—cheating? Why would I feel like that? He’s just a male escort I hired! “He’s too young for you,” Finn commented casually as he ate his meal, clearly confident he was in control. “Hmph, younger guys are fun. Full of energy, and you can touch their abs,” I teased, smirking. I glanced up to see his expression darken even further. “Tonight. Movie. You’re coming.” It wasn’t an invitation—it was a command. Hmph, who does he think he is? Acting like a stranger for days, and now he orders me around? No way am I going! And yet… that evening, there I was, perfectly dressed, standing outside the movie theater. Why? Because this man knew me too well! He took me to see I Miss You. And seriously, who can resist a hot guy who’s that thoughtful? “You, a grown man, know about I Miss You?” I teased. I wouldn’t have expected someone as stoic as him to watch a romantic drama. “You don’t want to see it?” What?! I hadn’t even posted on social media that I wanted to see this movie, except for one TikTok where I’d mentioned, “Would love to watch I Miss You, but my friends don’t want to risk getting COVID.” And somehow, he’d found that! Oh no, has he seen all my silly TikTok videos? Save me! Did he catch me leaving comments on his Instagram too? That would be mortifying. By the time the movie ended, it was already 10 PM, and I seriously suspected that Finn had intentionally made sure I couldn’t get back to the dorm. He took me back to his place instead. The moment we stepped inside, without even bothering to take off his shoes, Finn started kissing me, hungrily, like a starved animal. In no time, I was breathless, my heart pounding like crazy. “Breathe, idiot,” he rasped, giving me a moment to catch my breath before diving in again, as if he couldn’t get enough. By the time I could think clearly, he had already pinned me down on the bed, his hands exploring my body with expert precision. I had to admit, the man had skills. No wonder I thought he was an escort.

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