Category: English

On my way home from work, I bought some oranges for twenty-two dollars. I was in the middle of asking the vendor if he could knock off two bucks when my boyfriend Ethan suddenly slapped me across the face. “God, you’re embarrassing. Making a scene over two dollars.” “Looks like Rena was right about you all along. You really did let her mom die just because you were short a dollar on her medication.” “If I’d known what kind of person you were, I would’ve chosen Rena when the kidnappers gave me a choice. I should’ve saved her, not you.” He grabbed the bag of oranges out of my hands and threw them on the ground. Then he walked away without looking back. I stood there watching him go. The vendor didn’t know what to do. He quickly scooped up another bag of oranges and held them out to me. I shook my head. I didn’t want the oranges. I didn’t want him either. Ethan didn’t come home all night. I sat staring at the oranges scattered across the table, feeling a hollow kind of sadness settle in my chest. The scene this afternoon had been loud enough to attract a crowd. Someone had filmed it and posted it to social media. “She’s a gold digger, plain and simple.” “Spent all his money and now she’s pinching pennies over a few oranges. Pathetic.” “Can’t blame the guy. Anyone would lose it.” The comments piled on, one after another. The video spread fast. I told myself it didn’t matter. Just gossip. It would pass. Then I saw Ethan’s account. He had liked every single comment attacking me. My heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I couldn’t process it. So that’s what he really thinks of me. Seven years together. Seven years of watching every dollar, cutting every corner. If Ethan hadn’t crashed his business and buried us in debt, I never would have haggled over two dollars in the first place. Everything I did, I did for him. And somehow, in the end, he decided I was the villain. My eyes filled with tears before I could stop them. Everything blurred. And without meaning to, my mind drifted back through all the years with Ethan. This morning he had pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before he left. At lunch he had gotten annoyed that I’d ordered cheap takeout, then turned around and cooked a proper meal and brought it to my office himself. And then, just a few hours later, he became someone I didn’t recognize. My cheek still throbbed where he’d hit me. I couldn’t make sense of it. That was when my phone rang. It was my best friend, Lily. I wiped my face fast and swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. She’d probably seen the post. And the likes. I was going to tell her I was fine. But she spoke first. “I just saw Ethan walk into a club with a woman.” “I think it’s… Rena.” The name hit me like cold water. I made her repeat it. Asked again and again, until I heard the certainty in her voice. “That can’t be right. Rena moved abroad years ago.” “And Ethan deleted all her contacts right in front of me. He even changed his phone number. He did it himself…” My voice trailed off without me noticing. I was running through every detail in my head, desperate to prove that Ethan and Rena had truly cut ties. But I couldn’t lie to myself. Lily had gone to school with Rena. She wouldn’t mistake her. When the truth finally landed, the strength went out of my legs. I slid down to the floor. Breathing became difficult. I forced myself up and stumbled toward Ethan’s home office. Ethan had always been particular about that room. From the day we moved in together, he’d made one thing clear: I was never to go inside. Looking back now, that terrified me. I didn’t care about his rules anymore. I tore through the entire room. I found it at the back of a cabinet. A box. My hands were shaking when I opened it. Inside were letters. All from Rena. Packed in so tight there was barely room for another. The dates were recent. The most recent one from just a week ago. “Ethan, I can’t take it anymore. I’m coming home.” The paper was stained with dried tears. Standing there reading it, I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. Their love was so intense they had gone back to handwritten letters just to express it. No wonder Ethan had always been so quick to hand me his phone to check. No wonder he’d always kept me updated on his schedule without being asked. No wonder he spent entire afternoons locked in this room, then came out smiling. It all made sense now. Including the slap. We were supposed to celebrate our seven-year anniversary today. He hadn’t been upset about the oranges. He was upset because Rena had come back.

I took every letter and went to find them at the club. The moment I walked through the door, I spotted Ethan at the center of it all. He looked drunk. He’d climbed up onto a table and was holding court, talking at full volume. An occupational hazard of being a public speaker, I supposed. Rena sat below him, gazing up at him like he was the only person in the room. I had seen that exact expression on her face back in high school, the first time Ethan gave an impromptu speech on stage. Someone in the crowd decided to egg him on. “What’s your biggest regret?” Ethan’s smile disappeared. He went quiet. His brow furrowed. He turned and looked at Rena, and his eyes went soft with guilt. “Years ago, when someone put a gun to our heads and told me to choose, I couldn’t choose Rena. That’s the one thing I’ll regret for the rest of my life.” “She told me to go find help while she stayed behind. I didn’t know she was going to call the police. Because of that, she almost got seriously hurt.” “If I could go back, I would choose her. Without hesitation.” Rena burst into tears. So did I. Seven years ago, we were kidnapped together. Ethan hadn’t brought enough money for the ransom. The kidnappers said they’d release only one of us. He gripped my hand so hard I thought his fingers would break the skin. After a long silence, his voice finally cracked through. He called my name. In that moment, I forgave Ethan for everything. I made a silent promise to love him with everything I had. So I quietly contacted the police. We worked together from the inside, and the kidnappers were taken down. When I handed Ethan the recovered money afterward, something flickered behind his eyes. Anger. I hadn’t understood it then. Now I did. He blamed me. In the chaos of the police moving in, one of the kidnappers had panicked and hurt Rena. Standing in that club, I finally felt it — how ridiculous I had been. How ridiculous all of it had been. The story seemed to sober Ethan up a little. He looked at Rena with even more tenderness than before. “Rena, we can’t go back. That was my fault. All of it.” “But I want to make it up to you. Starting now.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bank card. My tears dried up instantly. That was my bank card. “Ethan, have you lost your mind?”

I pushed through the crowd and got right in front of them. My eyes were fixed on that card. But just as I was about to grab it, Ethan stepped aside. He closed his hand around the card and turned on me, his face tight with anger. “Ethan, you can’t use that card. That’s everything we have saved.” I was almost shaking. Ethan just looked at me. Calm. Unmoved. Watching me fall apart like it was entertainment. “So what? You owe Rena that much.” “Holly, how long are you going to keep up this act? From the day we got together, I handed you every paycheck from every gig for seven years. And you still nickel-and-dimed everything. The numbers never added up.” When our eyes met, he felt like a stranger. Had he forgotten? He still owed a debt. “Ethan, that money was for paying off the —” He cut me off before I could finish. Without a second’s hesitation, he shoved me aside, turned, and pressed the card into Rena’s hand. Then he stepped in front of her like a shield. He looked at me like I was a threat. “Holly, don’t forget you still owe me for the money you skimmed. I expect that back.” “Rena and I have missed enough time. I’m done wasting more.” He said it like he was reading a verdict, then turned away. The music came back up. Ethan disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor. Like nothing had happened. I was the only one still standing there, frozen. It was all my fault. I had protected him too well. Every time a creditor showed up at the door, I was the one who faced them alone. I cut back on everything, worked myself down to the bone, all to pay off his debt as fast as I could. And in the end, I had nothing left. Not even the one thing I used to be most proud of. My love.

The girl I used to be never could have imagined things ending up like this. Ethan grew up without much. He was always hungry as a kid. From the time we were in elementary school, I used to split my breakfast with him every morning. Ethan loved to talk. He would climb up on the big rock by the river and use it as his stage, while I crouched below and played audience. Then when we were fourteen, Ethan hurt his throat. He stopped showing up at the river. After a few days I started to panic. I searched for him all day before I finally found him on the roof of an abandoned building. He said he didn’t want to be alive anymore. “My voice is gone. What’s the point of any of this.” I grabbed him and dragged him straight to my father, Dr. Carter. I promised, with everything I had, that my father could fix his throat. My father was the most respected doctor in the whole area. Several months of treatment. countless bowls of medicinal soup. Ethan’s voice came back, exactly as it had been. He came back afterward with money to pay for the treatment. I shook my head and refused to take it. That day, Ethan looked at me for a long time. There was something deep in his expression I couldn’t quite name. Finally he turned toward the sun and made a vow. He would take care of me for the rest of his life. He would never stop trusting me. In high school, he kept that promise. But once Rena developed feelings for Ethan, she decided I was her enemy. Rena was a little dumber than I had given her credit for. She didn’t even bother being subtle about it. She slipped a laxative into my drink so I’d embarrass myself in PE class. She organized a “ugliest girl” poll with her crew and put my name at the top. It was anonymous, but she used the notepads she’d been showing off to everyone just days before. When Ethan found out what she’d been doing to me, he gave a small, cold laugh. “I didn’t know people this stupid still existed.” The disdain was all over his face. But the corner of his mouth had curved up. I didn’t bother retaliating, so Rena thought she was getting away with it clean. Until she made the mistake of posting by name on a school forum. “My mom was really sick. I had all the money for her prescription, but Holly refused to fill it because I was one dollar short. Because of her, my mom almost didn’t make it.” It was a lie full of holes. But somehow, a lot of people believed it. I couldn’t walk down the hall without hearing people call me a murderer. Then Ethan stepped in. He walked straight up to one of them and slapped them across the face without saying a word. He said he believed me. I was so moved that day. So moved I didn’t notice the way his jaw had tightened, just slightly, at the corner of his mouth. Maybe everything had been wrong from the very beginning. Rena never let go of her hatred. Ethan never truly trusted me. How ridiculous. I dragged myself up and stumbled toward the bathroom. I needed to splash some water on my face. Clear my head. But when I looked in the mirror, I saw Rena standing behind me. “What do you want?” She gave me a smile. Strange. A little too pleased with herself. “Holly, I just feel so insecure.” “I want to know — if he had to choose between us right now, who would he pick?” I didn’t follow her right away. A second later, Rena twisted the lock on the door and set fire to the trash can.

Within seconds, flames had spread across the entire bathroom floor. Smoke swallowed the room. I moved toward the door. But Rena was already blocking it. She didn’t move. Then Ethan’s voice came from the other side. He pounded on the door, calling Rena’s name over and over. Rena smiled. “See, Holly? I win.” “Honestly, I always thought Ethan loved me just a little bit more. You were just a distraction. A temporary one.” “You must be crushed right now. Just like I was seven years ago.” I stared at her. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was choking on smoke. I might actually die in here. And she was standing there gloating about Ethan’s love for her. I used every ounce of strength I had and shoved her out of the way. But the door chose that exact moment to jam. Any chance of getting out on our own was gone. When the smoke finally hit Rena’s lungs, the confidence drained out of her face. “Ethan, help me! I just wanted to see who you’d choose. I didn’t mean for it to go this far.” “Of course I’d choose you, baby. Don’t be scared. I’m getting you out of there right now.” It felt like forever before Ethan finally forced the door open. He rushed in, scooped Rena up in his arms, and carried her out. He never looked at me once. At that point, I didn’t really care. I just needed to get out. What I hadn’t expected was for Ethan to turn around after stepping out, and kick the door shut behind him. The bathroom door jammed again. I couldn’t hold on much longer. Through the haze, the last image that kept surfacing was Ethan’s foot connecting with that door. So that’s how much he hates me. Enough to leave me here to die. If I could go back, I would go back to when we were fourteen. I would leave him on that rooftop. He never deserved to be saved.

When I came to, I was in a hospital room. A nurse came in to check on me. She glanced toward the door and asked, almost as an afterthought, “No family with you?” I shook my head. Ethan wasn’t coming. And I didn’t want him to. I had spent enough years squeezing every penny until it hurt. I checked myself out immediately and went home to pack. Ethan was still at the hospital with Rena. I was rolling my suitcase out the front door when Rena posted on her Instagram. “What’s meant for you always finds its way back. No one can take what’s yours.” That actually made me laugh out loud. She wasn’t wrong. What belonged to Ethan should go back to him. I pulled up a contact I had saved a long time ago and sent over Ethan’s location. Then I stopped thinking about it. I got on a train headed back to my hometown. As the scenery outside the window grew more and more familiar, something in me went quiet. Then Ethan called. “Holly, you cleaned out the whole apartment. What is wrong with you?” “Just because Rena came back, you pull this little stunt? I’m telling you, I’m not falling for your manipulation again.” The fury in his voice came through the phone like heat. I could even hear things being thrown and broken in the background. Go ahead. Everything he could throw was already his. Everything I’d bought, I’d taken with me. I waited until he ran out of steam before I said anything. “Didn’t I leave a few things behind?” “Someone will be delivering them to you shortly.” Ethan went quiet. He started to say something, but the door flew open before he could. No knocking. No warning. “Hey. You know why I’m here. Time to pay up.”

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It was the fifth year of my mate bond with Alpha Alexander Hayes. Our pack was under attack. As an enemy’s claws ripped across my abdomen, my mate, Alpha Alexander, was shielding another pregnant wolf. It was Vivian Wells, his former fated mate, who took Elder Eleanor’s money and abandoned him to move abroad. He didn’t know that moments ago, I had lost our child, and that I had already submitted an application to Elder Eleanor to leave this pack forever. A year later, on the day I finally awakened my ancient bloodline and became Luna Queen Amelia Clarke, Alexander appeared with our rings, begging me to look back at him. But I would never look back again. Amelia POV I was a wolf who couldn’t shift. I was also Alexander Hayes’ mate, bound to him in a forced alliance. I once yearned for us to have a happy life. But by the fifth year of our marriage, I no longer wished for children with Alexander, letting the nursery remain piled with clutter. I no longer waited for him for dinner, no longer dragged him to pack gatherings, and even on our anniversary this year, I just left the pack. When I was attacked and my abdomen was torn open, it wasn’t as painful as I’d imagined. It was only when the healer told me my injuries were too severe and suggested a hysterectomy. A bitter smile crossed my lips. “Amelia, don’t you want to be a mother?” I looked at the man’s reddened eyes, suppressing the turmoil within me. My face remained calm, like a still pond. Alexander seemed to be fighting some emotion. He turned to the healer and strictly instructed, “I will mobilize all resources. You must save her uterus.” As I was moved into the healer’s special treatment room, I vaguely recalled the last time I was here. It was for a miscarriage. Where was Alexander then? He was with his former fated mate, Vivian Wells, the wolf Alexander’s mother had ordered to leave. The treatment lasted nearly six hours. When I awoke, I faintly heard the healer’s assistants discussing outside the door. “Alpha Alexander is downstairs with his mate for a prenatal check-up. Even a tiny kick makes him so nervous he almost calls all the healers. That’s top-tier devotion!” These healers, who belonged to the Wolf Council, didn’t know us personally. So they easily identified who Alexander truly cared about. The door opened, and Alexander walked in, bringing with him a chill. He had clearly heard the discussion too. He opened his mouth to explain, but subconsciously glanced at me, lying on the bed. I just stared out the window, pretending I heard nothing. Alexander frowned, looking somewhat annoyed. He spoke in a cold voice to the healer’s assistant, “This is my mate, the Luna of Ironclaw Pack. The one downstairs… is a friend’s mate.” As he spoke, he kept observing my reaction. I simply kept my eyes lowered, my face showing no joy, nor any jealousy. In the past, I would always argue with him over Vivian, demanding he cut ties with her. Now, hearing his clarification, I no longer felt like showing happiness. He reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my ear, but a crisp knock on the door interrupted him. It was Vivian, her belly noticeably round. Her breathing was slightly rapid, and her eyes were filled with concern. “Alexander said Amelia was here too. I was worried, so I came to check.” Before I could react, Alexander quickly strode over, scooped Vivian up in his arms, and gently carried her to the sofa. “You’re in your third trimester, don’t run around so much.” The worry in his tone twisted like a silver needle, piercing deep into my heart. Alexander seemed to realize something and turned, attempting to explain, “Amelia, don’t misunderstand, Vivian, she…” But his words were cut off by my forced smile. “Vivian, carrying a child is tough. Michael is busy with work, so as a friend, it’s only right for you to be attentive.” Michael, my adoptive brother. He was also the current Alpha of my birth pack, Frostbane Pack. We used to be very close, but now I’d called Michael by his name, my tone polite yet distant. Alexander’s eyes darkened. At noon, Alexander’s order from the top-tier hotel across the street was delivered to the room precisely on time. Vivian also joined us for the meal. The table was laden with French seafood bisque, pan-seared sea bass, and garlic butter shrimp… Alexander first put a piece of fish on my plate, then another on Vivian’s. “These are all high in protein, good for your health.” I stared at the fish on my plate, my eyes blank. I’m severely allergic to seafood. Not just fish, but even touching seafood broth could send me into anaphylactic shock. Five years of living together, and he had never remembered. Vivian noticed I hadn’t touched my fork, so she stopped eating too, a look of grievance on her face. “I’m here, Amelia must be uncomfortable.” Her perfectly timed retreat made me look like the unreasonable one. She stood up, preparing to leave, but Alexander grabbed her arm, pulling her back. He put his arm around Vivian and frowned at me. “Amelia, don’t throw a fit.” But the moment he spoke, I had already dipped my spoon into the soup and took a small sip of the deadly liquid. Alexander smiled, satisfied, and explained softly, “This bisque simmered for over ten hours. This restaurant is very famous.” The next second, Vivian’s phone rang. After a few responses, she stood up and said, “My maternity photos are ready. The photographer asked me to pick them up.” Alexander rose with her, taking her hand. “I’ll drive you…” Halfway through his sentence, he turned to look at me, seemingly uneasy about leaving me alone. I could already feel my throat tightening, my breathing becoming difficult, my whole body felt like it was roasting over a fire. I wanted to tell Alexander I was allergic, that I might die. But as my gaze fell on his hand, tightly clasping Vivian’s, I finally shook my head, struggling to force out a few words: “I’m fine.” Alexander moved as if a switch had been flipped, walking swiftly to help Vivian out of the room. I heard the healer’s assistant exclaim, “Patient 26 is showing symptoms of shock! Prepare for emergency resuscitation immediately!” That was my bed number. Through the elevator doors, just before they closed, I thought I saw Alexander glance back. But the last image before my eyes closed was of him wrapping Vivian’s hand in his palm, carefully cautioning her, “It’s cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill.”

Amelia POV When I woke again, I felt a sense of surreal relief, as if I had narrowly escaped death. My mind hazy, I recalled the first time I met Alexander. He was the Alpha heir of Ironclaw Pack, and I was the adoptive daughter of Frostbane Pack’s Alpha. Everyone cheered for the alliance between the two packs. But I knew he had already found his fated mate. Only for this alliance, Alexander’s mother had sent that woman away. This mate bond tore apart two deeply loving souls, which was why he hated me. After that, he often met with various women and didn’t stop them from spreading rumors, just to make me feel humiliated. I never resisted, just quietly cleaned up the messes he left behind. Until that time I went to a bar to pick up a drunken Alexander and bring him back to pack territory. A tipsy Alexander suddenly found strength, pinning me against a cold marble wall. He slammed a fist next to my ear. “Amelia, aren’t you ashamed?” I just turned my face away, calmly saying, “You’re drunk. I’m taking you home.” His sharp features softened into a rare vulnerability, his voice hoarse and broken. “She took my mother’s check and went abroad… Amelia, no one will ever love me.” My heart ached for him. I pulled out a tissue and handed it to him, comforting him. “I won’t leave you…” Before I could finish, Alexander’s overwhelming kiss cut off my words. That kiss was like lighting a fuse, instantly consuming all of Alexander’s reason. I don’t remember how difficult that night was, only that my chin rested on his shoulder, and he repeatedly coaxed me to call his name. After that night, other women stopped appearing around Alexander. Even when he had business engagements, he would report to me. He bought a garden and filled it with roses. He said, “Amelia, my love for you is like these roses, passionate and eternal.” On the day of Michael’s formal mate ceremony, Alexander prepared a lavish gift. Mid-party, I went to the lounge to find him, only to accidentally walk in on Alexander pinning a woman down on the sofa. He roared like an aggrieved child. “Why did you abandon me to marry a cripple? Vivian, you’re truly something!” I stumbled and fell by the door, my blood instantly freezing. I was in agony and despair, yet I unexpectedly discovered I was pregnant. I started tracking his whereabouts because Vivian and Alexander were constantly arguing. As a woman, my heart was dead; but as a mother, I still wanted to keep this family together. But he always looked tired. “Stop it. We’re over. I just feel bad for Vivian, being pregnant and all.” Until the last joint hunting festival held by the two packs, when Vivian and I were both attacked by a beast. He, citing Vivian’s pregnancy, didn’t hesitate to shield her first and lead her away. And my child, before it could even fully form, was gone forever. In the hospital room, I broke down and demanded, “Didn’t you see the blood under me? Do you know…?” I hadn’t had a chance to tell him about the baby before he impatiently slammed the door shut and left. “Amelia, don’t make a fuss over your period. Do you know Vivian almost lost her baby because of you?” So… he thought I was responsible for that accidental attack? I knew no matter how much I argued, Alexander would never believe me again. Thankfully, I had no lingering affection for him either. A notification from my phone on the pillow brought me back from my memories. I slid open the screen. It was from Alexander’s mother, Eleanor. “I will agree to your departure. I can also help you break your mate bond, but it will take some time.” Normally, breaking a mate bond required Alexander to reject me. But Eleanor, as the pack’s Elder Luna, had certain privileges granted by the Moon Goddess. A clear tear slipped from the corner of my eye. Five years of mate bond, finally coming to an end.

Amelia POV Alexander had been constantly by my side lately. He would drive for hours to buy my favorite French pastries, peel oranges perfectly clean, and even feed me himself. My response to him was always a lukewarm “Thank you.” Alexander had recently bought a new villa. It was closer to Frostbane Pack. His public explanation was that it was for easier cooperation with Frostbane Pack. And: “I was worried my Luna would miss home, so I chose this house.” Outsiders praised his deep affection for me, unaware that directly opposite his study was the guest room where Vivian was temporarily staying. I wasn’t sure if he was worried about me missing home, or if he couldn’t bear to be far from Vivian next door. As soon as we returned home, the maid began to brew tea. While serving it, she accidentally spilled tea on the documents on the table. The servant apologized profusely, “I’m so sorry, Luna Amelia, I didn’t mean to.” I casually tossed the soaked documents into the trash can. “It’s nothing important, don’t worry about it.” Alexander, who was usually a neat freak, pulled it out of the trash and carefully wiped it clean. “Amelia, this is the nursery blueprint you designed yourself. I was just about to give it to the construction team. Why would you just throw it away?” I answered almost instinctively, “It’s not needed anymore.” Alexander gripped my wrist, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Taking Vivian to New York on our anniversary was thoughtless of me, but you don’t need to be childish about the baby.” I desperately wanted to say that I wasn’t being childish, that we would soon no longer be mates, and that I wouldn’t be having children with him. But before I could, Alexander’s phone rang. That familiar, soft feminine voice came through. “Alexander, I think someone’s following me…” “Send me your location. Try to go somewhere crowded.” Watching Alexander grab his car keys and rush out in a panic, I finally swallowed my words. I pushed open the nursery door and began to clear out everything I had prepared for a new life, the tiny clothes, the toys, all to be thrown away. As I tossed the last box, the night wind, carrying snowflakes, blew across my face. The heart that once eagerly awaited that new life finally settled into silence. The moment I turned, a sack was abruptly thrown over my head! Before I could struggle, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. My vision went black, and I lost consciousness completely. When I woke again, I found myself still inside the sack, my hands tied behind my back, my mouth tightly gagged with cloth. Behind me, a man’s rough voice reported, “Alpha Alexander, this is the one who hired us to kidnap Miss Vivian and threatened to kill the child in her belly.” Another person added, “That’s right, Alpha Alexander, we were just doing it for the money.” My heart instantly went cold. Alpha Alexander? Alexander? Vivian’s voice, timid and weak, spoke up. “Alexander, I’m fine, really. Maybe we should just let it go…” Alexander let out a cold laugh, his voice infused with a cruelty I had never heard before. “Let it go?” I couldn’t see, but I could imagine his expression at that moment. “He wanted your life and the baby’s. I have to get revenge for you.” “Take him to the pool downstairs. Let him learn his lesson.” As his words fell, my heart instantly trembled. Before I could resist, several men came forward, grabbed me, and dragged me like a dead dog to a pool filled with broken ice. The biting cold instantly spread from my toes throughout my body. The more I struggled, the faster I sank, the chill piercing my skin like needles. I lifted my head, trying to surface for a breath, but as soon as I took one, I was pushed back under the water again. After several repetitions, the air in my lungs dwindled, replaced by an intense feeling of suffocation. I coughed violently, water mixed with blood streaming from my lungs, until I no longer had the strength to struggle. Vivian, feigning concern, called out, “Enough! He’s going to die!” “It’s not enough,”Alexander’s voice rang out from above. Immediately after, I felt a leather shoe press down hard on my fingers, grinding them with force. “I want to make sure he can never harm anyone again.” With that, he delivered a brutal kick to my abdomen, right where I’d just had surgery. Before I could recover, my entire body slid back into the icy pool. A sharp object at the bottom of the pool tore through the sack. Through the hole, I struggled to float back up. Vivian, however, was looking directly at me, a mocking smile on her face. Then she conveniently collapsed into Alexander’s arms. “Alexander, I don’t feel so good…” Alexander immediately turned and embraced Vivian, his voice becoming incredibly gentle. “There, there. Were you scared? I’ll take you to the healer.” With that, he picked up Vivian and waved to the men behind him. “Don’t bother with that loser in the water.” Through the gap, I saw Alexander’s resolute back as he walked away. After countless attempts, I finally managed to crawl out of the pool. I rubbed the ropes against the stones at the edge of the pool until they broke, enduring the searing pain in my abdomen, and found my dropped phone in the grass. I unlocked the screen. It was a message from Alexander: “Working late tonight, get some rest.”

Amelia POV Staring at the screen, I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. His so-called “work”was to get revenge for Vivian, repeatedly pushing me into icy water, almost drowning me, and then spending the entire night by Vivian’s side? Clutching my phone, I called an Uber and headed to the hospital. All the way there, the cramping in my abdomen grew more intense. I could feel blood constantly seeping out. I bit my lip, making no sound. I dragged myself into the clinic, heading towards the emergency room. No healer came for a long time. “When will the healer be here?”I grabbed a passing nurse. The nurse looked troubled. “I’m sorry, our clinic’s two best healers were just urgently called away… I heard it was Alpha Alexander, for a pregnant friend of his…” My ears buzzed. Ironclaw Pack’s Alpha, Alexander, had done all this for Vivian. “Or… perhaps you could contact your own pack’s healer?” The nurse assistant suggested. I hesitated for a moment, then picked up my phone and dialed Michael. “Michael,”I said, “can you find me a healer?” On the other end, Michael’s voice was cold. “Now you remember to call me?” He continued, “Amelia, I want you to understand. From the day you insisted on marrying Alexander, you ceased to be my sister.” The nurse took the phone, speaking urgently. “Sir! This lady’s condition is critical, she needs immediate treatment! Otherwise, her life is in danger! Are you her family? Can you…?” But Michael, after hearing it, remained utterly unmoved. “She brought this all upon herself.” The call ended with a dial tone, and my last hope died completely. At the time, to repay Frostbane Pack for adopting me, I disregarded Michael’s objections and entered into an alliance with Ironclaw Pack, consolidating our pack’s interests. On the day we officially became mates, Michael, on his way back from abroad, had an accident and was saved by Vivian. To repay Vivian, he gave her high status and wealth. But after that accident, he completely ignored me, even hated me. He believed that if I hadn’t insisted on the alliance, he wouldn’t have had the accident, so even if I died outside, it was my own fault. I don’t know how long passed. My consciousness was already blurry. The bright, blinding light of the surgical lamp finally appeared, then I fell into a deep sleep. Vaguely, I heard the healer say, “Excessive blood loss, the original uterine injury has ruptured again, a complete hysterectomy is necessary…” The surgery was done by midnight. After the anesthetic wore off, a hollow, dull ache radiated from my abdomen. That night, Eleanor sent me a new text message. “I’ve secured temporary residency for you in a pack in Switzerland. You can go there to rest for a while after you leave.” During my recovery after surgery, I became unusually quiet. My body was healing, but something inside me was permanently empty. My friend Julia Davis came to see me. After waiting for a long time and not seeing Alexander, she pulled out her phone. “Amelia, where’s that busy husband of yours?” I quickly grabbed Julia’s hand before she could dial. “He’s busy with work. This isn’t a big deal for me.” “Not a big deal?”Julia looked exasperated. “Amelia, you can never have children again. How is that not a big deal? And he still has time for work?” “Julia, I’m leaving.” Under Julia’s surprised gaze, I calmly continued, “Soon, I won’t be Ironclaw Pack’s Luna, and perhaps not even Frostbane Pack’s Alpha’s sister.” “Is he going to reject you?!”Julia seemed never to have considered such a possibility, as to outsiders, Alexander appeared to be very much in love with me. Seeing I didn’t want to elaborate, she didn’t press further and left to buy me lunch. When she returned, her breathing was ragged, clearly very angry. “Amelia, do you know what I overheard in the hallway?”She slammed the lunchbox down. “The nurses outside said Alpha Alexander has been with Vivian in the next room all week! He even booked the entire floor for her!” I smiled, my eyes glinting slightly, silently acknowledging it. Julia hugged me protectively, indignant on my behalf. “Amelia, if you’re not up to it, I’ll go deal with that Vivian for you! She’s taking advantage!” I patted her shoulder, comforting her. “It’s fine. I no longer love Alexander.” As soon as the words left my lips, the hospital room door was pushed open, and a deep male voice came from behind us. “What do you mean ‘no longer love’?”

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My brother, Ethan Hayes, was born a total romantic. But even more so, he was the ultimate doting big brother, loving me, his sister Chloe, more than any woman. On my first day of kindergarten, I got into major trouble. Ethan immediately ditched his girlfriend, who was threatening to jump from somewhere, and rushed to school to clean up my mess. After that, Ethan was constantly busy solving my problems, leaving him no time for dating. Until one day, I got into a fight with a classmate, and our parents were called in. Ethan arrived, looking furious, but then froze when he saw the other parent. It was Eleanor Mitchell, his unattainable first love. I kept my head down, not daring to speak, terrified that their old flame would spark again. Eleanor elegantly ran a hand through her hair, speaking in a condescending tone: “It’s just two kids fighting, and I don’t think she’s too hurt. Considering our history, if Chloe apologizes, we can let it go.” The next second, Ethan’s face darkened. “Are you crazy? Who do you think you are, to even mention my sister in the same breath?”

The new transfer student introduced herself at the podium. Her voice was timid: “Hi everyone, my name is Daisy Mitchell. I hope you’ll like me.” The moment I saw her, alarm bells went off. When Ethan was younger, he was completely obsessed with a woman named Eleanor Mitchell. She’d threaten to jump from a building in the middle of the night during a breakup, and Ethan would spend all night on the rooftop with her. Turns out, she was just trying to make the guy she secretly liked jealous. That guy was an animal lover, so she suddenly wanted a cat. Ethan specifically found a gentle kitten and gave it to her. The moment she found out she was pregnant, she heartlessly abandoned the cat. Ethan brought it home, and it’s still living with us. Until I started kindergarten, I was constantly getting into trouble – small incidents every other day, major ones every third. Fighting and messing up the house became commonplace, and parents across the entire school united to complain. Ethan had to pull himself away from Eleanor and spent every day dealing with my messes. I’d seen Eleanor’s photo on Ethan’s phone, so the first time I saw the transfer student, I knew something was wrong. Especially when I heard her name was Daisy Mitchell, despair clenched my heart. Eleanor Mitchell’s daughter was named Daisy Mitchell. The homeroom teacher scanned the room, then looked at me: “Chloe Hayes, Daisy Mitchell, you can sit next to her for now.” I immediately stood up, stubbornly refusing: “Teacher, I’m usually too rowdy. It wouldn’t be good if I led the new student astray. You should pick someone else.” But the teacher, a bit impatient, waved her hand: “Just sit there for now; we’ll change seats in a couple of days.” Daisy walked over and sat down. I shuffled further away. “Slam!” “Clatter!” She took things out of her backpack and threw them onto the desk with loud thuds. I thought, How bizarre. Is this person crazy or something? I moved further away, not wanting to catch her bad mood. The next second, she suddenly slammed her backpack down, buried her face in the desk, and started crying. A classmate behind me whispered: “Hey, Chloe, did you bully the new kid?” I was stunned, still processing what was happening. Daisy suddenly lifted her head, her eyes red, glaring at me and demanding: “Do you hate me? Do you look down on me?!” I blinked: “Huh?” Daisy’s voice grew louder, shrill: “You do look down on me! You humiliated me in front of the whole class. How dare you treat me like this?” I frowned: “I said my personality was difficult and I didn’t want to affect you. Is that wrong?” If I can’t fight her, I can sure avoid her, right? Daisy cried and accused: “It’s my first day, and I made a mistake writing just now. You clearly saw I didn’t have an eraser, but you deliberately didn’t lend me one. You just wanted to see me embarrassed!” “And you intentionally rolled up your sleeve so I’d see that diamond bracelet on your wrist! Weren’t you just showing off?” “So what if your name is Chloe Hayes? Does that make you better than me?!” I was utterly shocked. When did I see she didn’t have an eraser? I hadn’t even looked at her! And my bracelet? It’s on my wrist, I can wear it how I want. What’s it to her? As for her name, if she hates it, she should ask her mom to change it! What’s it to me? Her string of accusations instantly reminded me of her mother, Eleanor Mitchell. Back then, Ethan took her to a fancy restaurant, and she claimed he was deliberately using money to humiliate her humble background. Ethan missed her call because he was working late, so she sent dozens of texts, accusing him of cheating, then blocked him. She only forgave him after he stood in the rain outside her house all night. These two, mother and daughter, were sensitive in exactly the same way. My anger shot straight to my head, and I rolled my eyes. “You’re crazy!”

Daisy froze, startled by my outburst, her shoulders shaking, crying so hard she gasped for air between sobs. It made me look like I’d just publicly bullied her. The other students couldn’t help but start whispering. “Isn’t the new student a bit sensitive? She cried just because no one offered her an eraser?” “Chloe can be hot-headed, sure… but what does that have to do with her name?” “And Chloe’s always worn that bracelet. I never even noticed if it was diamonds…” Daisy’s crying grew louder. The class monitor, seeing she couldn’t handle it, ran to the office to get the teacher. The homeroom teacher rushed in, looking at Daisy, who was on the verge of collapsing from crying, then at me, sitting there defiantly. She slapped the desk, pointing at me and yelling: “Chloe Hayes! Can’t you just be quiet for one day?” I was fuming, about to open my mouth to explain: “Teacher, it was her…” “Shut up!” The teacher completely ignored me. “Everyone in this grade knows your temper! You’re always causing trouble at school!” “Apologize to Daisy Mitchell right now!” I didn’t move. Why should I apologize to her? The teacher snapped: “You won’t apologize, huh?” “I can’t deal with you. I’m calling your parents right now!” Before, I wouldn’t have cared about calling my parents. Ethan was a regular at school; he was used to it, and so was I. But not now. I looked at Daisy’s face, so similar to Eleanor’s, and felt a surge of unease. What if Ethan saw her and remembered Eleanor again? I took a deep breath, swallowing my anger. I lowered my head and gritted out: “I’m sorry.” … Seething with anger, the moment the dismissal bell rang, I bolted out of the classroom. I sprinted out the school gates and dove into the passenger seat of Ethan’s car. Ethan jumped, nearly dropping his cigarette: “Chloe Hayes, is there a ghost chasing you?” “Drive! Drive now!” I urged frantically. Ethan looked bewildered: “What happened? Did you beat up another kid? Or did a dog chase you?” I was desperate: “Just drive, don’t ask so many questions!” Ethan frowned, still wanting to ask: “Chloe Hayes, tell me honestly…” But I didn’t answer, pretending to grab the steering wheel. Ethan, exasperated by my urging, stomped on the gas and started the car. Only after the car pulled away did I see Daisy just stepping out of the school gate. That was close. Ethan almost saw her. Ethan steered with one hand: “Alright, tell me. What kind of trouble did you get into at school today?” I guiltily looked out the window: “Can’t I just want to go home early and do my homework?” “You? Do homework? You’d rather the sky fall than do your homework.” Ethan ruffled my hair, his tone tinged with helplessness: “Chloe Hayes, when are you going to give me a break?” Back home, I was uncharacteristically quiet, neither teasing the cat nor messing up the house. Ethan was playing games on the sofa, and I pretended to reach for the remote, craning my neck to peek at his screen. Ethan noticed, flipped his phone face down, and raised an eyebrow at me: “What is it? If you need money, just say so.” I acted nonchalant: “Just checking what you’re up to.” “Busy saving up for your bail.” He retorted dryly. I walked behind the sofa, continuing my probing: “Ethan, do you have anyone you like right now?” Of course, I didn’t dare ask him directly if he still remembered Eleanor. What if he’d almost forgotten, and my question just made him think of her again? Ethan paused, then lightly flicked my head. “I’m too busy bailing you out; where would I find the time for anyone else?” I breathed a sigh of relief. As long as I kept them strictly apart, Ethan wouldn’t revert to his old self, right?

The next day, I made up my mind to stay far away from Daisy Mitchell. But she wouldn’t quit. After class, Daisy went to the water cooler for a drink. When she came back, her foot suddenly slipped. A cup of water spilled all over me. The water drenched my hair and clothes, and the books on my desk were wet too. Luckily, the school water cooler only had lukewarm water, so I wasn’t scalded. My anger shot straight to my head, and I kicked my chair back. “Are you blind?!” Daisy shrank her shoulders, looking innocent: “I just did it by accident. Why are you so mean… I know you’ve always had it in for me, but I really didn’t mean it.” I laughed in exasperation: “Not on purpose? Fine. Then I’ll throw you into the fountain downstairs and say I didn’t mean it. How about that?” Daisy froze, then squatted down and started crying: “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have bumped into you. I’m new, I don’t know the rules, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” The girl in the front seat tugged my sleeve. “Chloe, just let it go. She apologized, and she’s new.” “Yeah, look how she’s crying. She probably didn’t mean it.” I clenched my fists, furious. I was the one who got soaked, but now I was being called aggressive. I’ve always had a short fuse; in the past, I would have slapped her already. But now, thinking about the consequences of calling parents, I bit down hard and held back. I could only kick my desk, grit my teeth, and go back to my seat to dry my clothes. I thought if I just put up with it, things would be fine once we changed seats. But in the afternoon, the homeroom teacher walked into the classroom with a grim face. Behind her, wiping away tears, was Daisy Mitchell. The teacher’s voice was icy: “Chloe Hayes, stand up.” I was completely baffled. If Daisy was complaining about the water incident, my clothes were still wet. How could she possibly be in the right? But the teacher slammed her hand on the podium and demanded: “Daisy Mitchell’s tuition money is missing. Have you seen it?” I sneered: “Her money’s missing? Why are you asking me?” Daisy hid behind the teacher, looking as if she was afraid of me. “Teacher, I didn’t say she took it. I just said I put it in my backpack, and only my deskmate could have seen it…” She timidly glanced at me, then quickly lowered her head. I exploded on the spot: “What do you mean by that? I haven’t even looked in your backpack!” Daisy put on a pitiful act, crying and trembling: “I really didn’t say you took it. Why are you so upset?… That’s money my mom saved up for ages. Chloe Hayes, please, give it back to me.” The atmosphere around us completely changed. “Chloe Hayes is always fighting. I didn’t expect her to be a thief too.” “No wonder Daisy just spilled a little water, and Chloe looked like she wanted to kill someone. Was she feeling guilty?” “It can’t be, her family is pretty rich, right?” “Who knows? Maybe she just wanted to mess with someone.” I looked speechless: “My family needs your money? If I stole your money, are you crazy or am I?” The teacher roared: “Chloe Hayes! Fix your attitude!” Daisy cried even harder, still complaining. “Teacher, look at her. She’s been targeting me since the first day. Even now, in front of you, she dares to insult people…” A girl next to us also spoke up: “Exactly. I saw it with my own eyes just now, Chloe Hayes’s expression was terrifying, like she was about to hit someone. Everyone knows Chloe Hayes has a bad temper, deliberately bullying new students.” I was shaking with rage: “That’s bull! You were the one who deliberately bumped me and spilled water!” But the teacher’s suspicion grew, filled with disappointment. My reputation was so bad, no one believed me. I stared at Daisy, gritting my teeth and asking: “You say you brought tuition money, who saw you bring it?” “Are you just broke and trying to scam people at school for tuition?” Daisy was utterly humiliated by that comment, crying so hard she almost passed out. “You stole my money and then accused me of scamming! Are you trying to drive me to my death?!” The teacher looked at one girl crying hysterically and another seething with hostility. Our school’s tuition wasn’t a small amount. She frowned: “This amount is too large; I can’t handle it. Call your parents.”

My heart sank. Daisy Mitchell’s parent, that would be Eleanor Mitchell, wouldn’t it? If Ethan came to school, he’d run right into Eleanor. I pursed my lips, so annoyed. I said bluntly: “Teacher, no need to call my parents. I’ll pay for the money.” The teacher was stunned. “Chloe Hayes, do you know how much our school tuition is?” I said impatiently: “Isn’t it just a few tens of thousands of dollars?” “I’ll give her my allowance. Let’s just drop this.” But I immediately added: “I can cover the money, but I didn’t steal it.” This was my bottom line. I was willing to pay to end the trouble, but I wouldn’t admit to stealing. The teacher frowned, seemingly weighing her options. If I was willing to pay, it would save her trouble. But Daisy wasn’t having it; she shrieked. “Teacher! Look, she’s feeling guilty. If she didn’t steal it, why is she so eager to pay it back?” “And this is a matter of character! If there’s a thief in the class, today she steals my tuition, tomorrow will she steal more things?” She cried and called her mom. Not long after, Eleanor Mitchell arrived. She listened to the teacher’s brief explanation, then turned and grabbed Daisy’s ear, cursing: “You brat! You couldn’t even keep track of your tuition money! Don’t you know how long it took me to save that money? How many times have I told you to keep money on you? Do you have a brain?” I stood there, stunned. This was the woman Ethan had loved to death back then? The first thought that came to my mind was disappointment. Her? What was Ethan’s taste back then? Daisy covered her ear, pointing at me: “It was her, she stole it!” Eleanor turned to look at me, sizing me up. When she saw the designer labels on my clothes, her eyes changed. She looked down at me. “So you’re the one who stole the money?” “Where are your parents? Teaching their child to be a thieving brat?” I suppressed my anger: “I told you I didn’t steal the money.” “But if you need this money for tuition, I can pay for it upfront.” My words struck Eleanor Mitchell’s sensitive and fragile nerve. Eleanor exploded on the spot. “You didn’t steal it? If you didn’t steal it, why are you paying it back? Aren’t you just guilty?” “You’re a thief! So young and already learning to steal things!” Finally, she sneered, stating definitively: “It must be you who stole it; maybe the money is in your backpack right now!” With that, she snatched my backpack, spilling all its contents onto the floor with a clatter. I clenched my fists, watching my belongings get scattered, and held back. She turned it inside out, finding nothing, of course. Eleanor wouldn’t give up, narrowing her eyes at me: “You’ve hidden it on you, haven’t you?” I stepped back: “I told you, no.” She walked closer to me, disdainfully: “It’s on you, you’re just afraid I’ll find it, aren’t you?” What a joke! Of course, I wouldn’t agree! But her hand shot out, grabbing my collar, her mouth spewing obscenities. “If you don’t take it off, you’re guilty! You little brat, hurry up!” Her rough nails scraped my neck, burning. I’d never been so humiliated in my life. My temper instantly flared. To hell with old flames, to hell with enduring this. I lifted my foot and kicked her hard in the stomach. “Get lost! You crazy hag!” Eleanor looked utterly disbelieving. I fought back, scratching her. “Ah!” she cried out in pain, raising her hand and slapping me hard across the face. “You little brat! You dare hit back?” Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the classroom. I turned and saw Ethan Hayes, his face grim. I covered my face, saying nothing, feeling deeply guilty. Ethan had still come. He had still seen Eleanor. And Eleanor, who was still grabbing my neck, suddenly released me. She instinctively ran a hand through her hair, flashing a shy smile. Ethan strode in. He radiated an oppressive aura, with several men in black suits following behind him. Eleanor’s eyes lit up when she saw Ethan. She dropped her shrewish demeanor, acting as if she were weak and helpless. Her voice was sweet and delicate: “Ethan…”

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New Year’s Eve. Scarlett Hayes shivered, freezing in her short skirt while hiking. I casually remarked, “Maybe don’t wear a short skirt for hiking,” and her eyes immediately welled up. My boyfriend, Ethan Blackwood, instantly frowned. “Scarlett, why do you have to be so cruel?” “You’ll stay on the peak alone and reflect. You can come down when you’ve apologized to Chloe Davis.” Our friends were stunned, trying to talk him out of it. He leaned against his car door, looking at me with absolute certainty. “You’re too proud. It’s time you learned a lesson.” I looked at him and asked, “Are you sure?” He nodded, then drove off with Chloe. I stood on the peak for five minutes. Then I called my dad: “Dad, send a helicopter to pick me up.” Then I called my assistant: “Also, close the mountain. Effective immediately, no one goes up or down.” Half an hour later, the helicopter landed. Ethan’s phone calls came flooding in, but I didn’t answer. Finally, he sent a text message: “Chloe collapsed from the cold. Are you happy now?” I told my assistant, “Let them spend the rest of New Year’s Eve up there before they come down.”

New Year’s Eve, 4 AM, Skyridge Peak. The wind was fierce. I stood wrapped in my down jacket at the edge of the observation deck, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance. Chloe Davis stood beside me, shivering uncontrollably. She wore a short skirt with black stockings, topped with a thin-looking white cashmere coat. “Hiking really isn’t suitable for short skirts,” I casually remarked. It really was just a casual comment. The next second, her eyes welled up. “Scarlett, I didn’t mean to dress like this. I thought it wouldn’t be so cold on the mountain…” Her voice trembled, as if I’d been the one to upset her. Before I could even speak, Ethan started blaming me. “Scarlett Hayes, it’s her freedom to wear whatever she wants. Do you have to be so harsh?” “I was just reminding her,” I said, looking at him, my voice calm. “Reminding?” Ethan sneered. “That tone of yours was a ‘reminder’?” Chloe quickly pulled his sleeve. “Ethan, don’t blame Scarlett. I’m sure she was just concerned about me. It’s my fault for not dressing properly.” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Ethan’s expression grew even darker. He pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Chloe, then turned to me. “Scarlett Hayes, why can’t you ever be more gentle?” I didn’t say anything. The friends around us exchanged glances. Someone tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright, let’s not fight. The sunrise is almost here!” “Yeah, Chloe, don’t cry. Here, take my jacket.” Someone took off their waterproof jacket and draped it over Chloe. Chloe wiped her tears and thanked them, looking as sweet and innocent as could be. I just stood there, feeling like the villain. Ethan didn’t look at me again. He walked with Chloe to the other side of the observation deck, murmuring to comfort her, “Don’t take it to heart. She’s just like that, she speaks without thinking.” Twenty-three years I’d known him, and that’s how he described me. The horizon in the distance began to lighten. Someone yelled “Sunrise!” and a group of people gathered to take photos. I didn’t move. I stood still, watching them huddle together. Chloe was protected in front of Ethan. She looked up at him and asked, “Ethan, isn’t it beautiful?” Ethan looked down at her and smiled. “Beautiful.” I couldn’t tell if he meant the sunrise or her. Suddenly, I felt a little tired. The sunrise quickly ended. Everyone took photos on the observation deck, then discussed heading down for breakfast. “Let’s go, let’s go! I’m freezing! There’s a great diner at the bottom of the mountain; let’s grab some brunch!” When we reached the cars, I found Ethan’s car door locked. He leaned against the driver’s side door, looking at me, his expression indifferent. “Scarlett Hayes, you stay here.” I stopped. “What do you mean?” He raised his chin, gesturing toward the peak. “Go up there and be alone. When you’ve figured out what you did wrong, call me, and I’ll come get you.” Everyone around us was stunned. “Ethan, what are you doing?” “Stop messing around, get in the car. Scarlett, you too.” Ethan ignored them, just looking at me. His gaze was absolute, like he was watching a cat that couldn’t escape. He knew I didn’t have a car. He knew we were at the summit, and getting a ride was impossible. He knew I had no other choice but to give in to him. “Are you sure?” I asked him. “Sure,” he said. “You’re too proud; it’s time you learned a lesson.” I nodded. Then I turned and walked toward the peak. “Scarlett!” someone called after me. I didn’t look back. From behind me, I heard Ethan’s voice, “Don’t worry about her. She won’t go far, she’ll be back. She hates the cold.” Then came the sound of car engines starting. The convoy drove off into the distance. I walked back to the observation deck and found a sheltered spot to sit. I called my dad. Half an hour later, a roar came from the sky. A black helicopter slowly descended.

The sky was just beginning to lighten when the helicopter landed at the private helipad on the east side of the city. The car drove out of the helipad and through the still-sleeping city streets. I leaned back in the seat, staring out the window, lost in thought. My phone was still off. Twenty-three years. I knew Ethan too well. He’d get mad, I’d coax him. He’d push me away, I’d wait. He’d come back, I’d accept him. As if I was just supposed to stand there and wait for him. But this time. I didn’t want to wait anymore. “Scarlett, we’re here.” I snapped out of it. The car had already stopped at my house. The house was warm. Maria was bustling in the kitchen and looked surprised to see me back. “Scarlett? I thought you went to the peak to see the sunrise? Why are you back so early?” “It ended early.” I took off my jacket and sat at the dining table. “Maria, I’d love a bowl of soup.” “Coming right up, dear! It’ll be ready in a jiffy.” The steaming hot soup arrived. I took a bite, feeling the warmth spread through my stomach, making me feel a little better. Maria chattered beside me. “Oh, you poor thing, it must have been freezing up on that mountain, weren’t you?” “I’m fine.” “Where’s Ethan? Didn’t he come back with you?” I paused. “He had something to do.” Maria sighed and didn’t press the issue. After eating, I went upstairs and took a shower. The hot water streamed over me, slowly washing away the chill from the mountain. After my shower, I wrapped myself in a robe and sat on the sofa. After some hesitation, I turned on my phone. As soon as it powered on, it started vibrating wildly. 99 missed calls, 99 unread messages. I opened the messages. “Scarlett, where are you?” “The road down is blocked. They say the mountain’s closed. Was this your doing?” “Stop messing around, hurry up and get them to open the road. We’ve been freezing at the base of the mountain for almost an hour.” “Was that you, the helicopter? Did you take a helicopter?” “You’re really going too far.” “Scarlett, please stop playing games, okay? It’s really cold out here, Chloe’s shivering.” “Scarlett Hayes, you’re absolutely out of line!” “Scarlett, I’m sorry, okay?” “Chloe collapsed. We took her to the clinic at the base of the mountain. Are you happy now?” Seeing that, I raised an eyebrow. Collapsed? Such a princess? I didn’t reply, just scrolled down. The last message was: “I’m sorry.” Ethan Blackwood would say sorry? In twenty-three years, he had never once said sorry to me. When he messed up, he’d always buy gifts, take me to dinner, try to cheer me up, but he never actually said sorry. I put my phone down and lay back on the sofa. Outside, fireworks were going off. I suddenly remembered my childhood. Ethan and I were both seven or eight back then, neighbors. Once, he broke my favorite doll. My mom told him to apologize, and he just flushed beet red, then ran home. He emptied all the money from his piggy bank and brought it over to me. “Here, buy a new one,” he said. I asked him, “Aren’t you going to apologize?” He looked down, and after a long moment, mumbled, “I… I paid you back.” Eventually, I forgave him. Not because of the money, but because he’d given me a whole year’s worth of his allowance. Back then, I thought he wouldn’t say sorry, but he’d show he cared in his own way. At 3 PM, my phone rang again. Caller ID: Ethan Blackwood. On the fourth ring, I picked up. “Scarlett!” His voice was urgent. “Where are you?” I didn’t speak. “Scarlett, listen to me, this morning was my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone on the mountain, I just…” “Ethan,” I cut him off. He paused. “How’s Chloe?” He was startled, then said, “She got some fluids at the clinic, she’s fine now. She’s back home.” “Good.” “Scarlett, you…” “I’m home,” I said. “I’m fine, not cold, nothing happened.” He fell silent. “You told me to reflect, and I have,” I said. “You said I was too proud, that I needed to be taken down a peg. I thought about it all morning, and you’re right, I am pretty proud.” “Scarlett, I didn’t mean it like that…” “Then what did you mean?” He fell silent again. “Ethan, do you know what it feels like to be abandoned on a mountain on New Year’s Eve?” “I…” “Did it ever occur to you, what if I hadn’t had a helicopter to get down? What if I’d fallen on the mountain path? What if I’d gotten hypothermia?” “Scarlett, please stop…” “You didn’t care,” I said. “You only cared if I’d given in.” The phone line was quiet for a long time. Then I heard him say, “I’m sorry.” I said, “I heard you.” “Where are you? I’m coming to find you.” “No need,” I said. “Go back and be with your family.” “Scarlett…” “Ethan,” I paused. “Do you know who owns this mountain?” He was startled. “What?” “Skyridge Peak. Hayes Industries acquired it two years ago. It’s my property. So, I don’t need to beg you.”

After hanging up with Ethan, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for a while. My phone vibrated again. Not him. It was Chloe. A SnapChat message. A really long one. “Scarlett, I’m truly sorry about today. It’s all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have worn so little and made Ethan worry, and I shouldn’t have cried and made you misunderstand.” “Ethan was actually really worried, he waited for you at the base of the mountain for so long, his hands were red with cold. You two have so much history, please don’t let a small misunderstanding mess things up, okay?” Every sentence was an apology, but every sentence was also defending Ethan. If she sent that to Ethan, he’d probably think Chloe was so understanding and kind. But to me? I just found it laughable. I replied succinctly, “Ok.” Then I put my phone down and rolled over to sleep. I slept until six in the evening. I got up, changed my clothes, and went downstairs. My mom was drinking tea. “Well, hello sleepyhead, you’re up?” My mom glanced at me. “I heard you came back by helicopter this morning? What, the mountain wasn’t fun?” “It was alright,” I said, sitting on the sofa. “Just a bit cold.” “It’s winter, going to the peak for sunrise, of course it’s cold!” My mom handed me a hot mug of tea. “Where’s Ethan? Didn’t he come back with you?” “He’s busy.” My mom looked at me but didn’t press the issue. At 7 PM, during dinner, my dad asked me: “How’s Skyridge Peak? Is the management still up to par?” “It’s good,” I said. “But I closed the mountain.” My dad paused. “Closed the mountain?” “Yeah.” He looked at me, didn’t ask why, just nodded. “Alright, it’s your property, you call the shots.” My mom chimed in, “Closed the mountain? Why? Aren’t there still people up there?” “A few,” I said. “Let them stay up there for another day or two.” My mom was startled, then chuckled. “You, my dear, are starting to sound more and more like your father.” My dad smiled too, but didn’t reply. Around 10 PM, my phone rang again. This time, it was an unknown number. I hesitated for a moment, then answered. “Hello, Ms. Hayes? This is Chris, the administrator at Skyridge Peak!” His voice was urgent on the other end, mixed with the sound of wind. “Yes, that’s me. What’s wrong?” “Ms. Hayes, there’s a man at the base of the mountain. He’s been waiting there since this afternoon, says he needs to go up and find someone. We stopped him. He’s at the main gate now, and he won’t leave no matter what we say.” “What’s his name?” “He said his name is Ethan Blackwood.” I was silent for two seconds. “Let him wait.” “Huh?” “I said, let him wait. I’ll call you back in a bit.” Later that night, before bed. I picked up my phone, walked out onto the balcony, and called Chris. “Is he still there?” “Yes! He hasn’t moved! We told him to come warm up in the guardhouse, but he won’t. He’s just standing at the main gate, his face is pale from the cold.” “Is he alone?” “Yes, just him.” I looked at the fireworks in the distance, silent for a few seconds. “Put him on the phone.” Footsteps sounded on the other end, then Chris’s voice. “Mr. Blackwood, it’s Scarlett.” Then Ethan’s voice, a little hoarse. “Scarlett?” “Mm.” “Scarlett, I’m at the base of the mountain.” “I know.” “I just want to talk to you face-to-face.” “About what?” He paused. “To say you’re sorry?” I asked. “To say you won’t do this again? To say you actually care about me?” He didn’t speak. “Ethan,” I said softly. “How many times have you said those things before? Which time was real?” “This time it’s real.” His voice was rushed. “Scarlett, this time I truly understand I messed up. This morning, I didn’t mean to leave you on the mountain, I just… I just lost my temper for a moment, I thought you were speaking too harshly, and I wanted you to cool down.” “So you just left me alone on the peak?” He fell silent. “Ethan, when you were twenty-five, you also left me alone in a mall once. Remember?”

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Growing up, the game I hated playing most with my older sister, Chloe, was hide-and-seek. Chloe was absolutely terrible at hiding. I found it incredibly boring, no challenge at all. But one day, Chloe disappeared, and no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find her. My brother-in-law, David Miller, cried his heart out in court. “My wife and I were married for seven years, and we loved each other very much.” “She was seven months pregnant. That night, she said she was going for a walk. I never imagined she would commit suicide.” “I loved her so much, how could I kill her?” He wept so genuinely, so utterly devastated. The jury sighed with sympathy. Even my mom hugged him, crying, “David, I’m so sorry. It was my fault, I misjudged you.” Everyone in the courtroom was moved, and even the judge offered words of comfort. But in my mind, a pop-up text from our hide-and-seek games appeared: “She’s in the suitcase.” 1 “Given insufficient evidence, the declaration of death is not established. Court adjourned. Re-trial to be scheduled.” The gavel fell. David Miller stood in the defendant’s box, his shoulders still trembling. Tears clung to his chin, dropping one by one. He was an incredible actor. So good that even the judge told him, “Mr. Miller, please accept my condolences,” and the gallery was filled with soft sobs. I stood up. “Your Honor, Chloe didn’t commit suicide. I have proof.” I pulled a notebook from my bag and held it high. The cover was a soft apricot shade, Chloe’s favorite. The last sentence she wrote before she disappeared, I knew by heart. “He knows I found out. He’s going to kill me.” David Miller’s lawyer sprang to his feet to object. The judge raised a hand to stop him, instructing me to present the diary. David didn’t panic. He didn’t even glance at the diary. He just slowly pulled a document from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and handed it to the judge with both hands. “Your Honor, this is my wife Chloe’s psychiatric evaluation report from her pregnancy, indicating severe prenatal anxiety with paranoid delusions. Every word she wrote in her diary was a hallucination from her illness.” The judge took the document. He flipped through a couple of pages, then looked up at me. “Maya, this report is legitimate. Chloe’s attending physician has already signed off on it.” My hand hung in mid-air. The diary was still clutched in my grasp, but it had instantly turned into a stack of worthless papers. David gently sighed. He turned to me, his eyes still red, his voice raspy, like sandpaper: “Maya, I know this is hard for you to accept, and it’s hard for me too, but Chloe was ill. She needed help, not accusations.” Someone in the gallery whispered: “He’s such a good man.” “Is this woman crazy?” “Her own husband said that, and she’s still causing a scene.” My mom rushed from the back row. Her hand landed squarely on my face with a sharp smack that silenced the entire courtroom. “Maya! You’re coming home with me!” My face burned. I didn’t move. My mom then grabbed David’s hand: “David, our family owes you an apology. Maya’s just being difficult, don’t blame her.” My dad sat in his wheelchair, turning his face away. David shook his head, his voice as gentle as if he were soothing a child: “Don’t blame Maya. She’s still young, it’s hard for her to process.” His lawyer packed up his papers nearby, not even looking up. The bailiffs began clearing the courtroom. People in the gallery stood up and started to leave. As they passed me, some glanced my way. Their eyes held sympathy, and disgust. David was helped by his lawyer out of the defendant’s box. He paused as he passed me. He didn’t look at me, didn’t speak. But I saw it. A fleeting upward curve of his lips. The expression lasted less than a second, gone as quickly as it appeared. But I saw it. He was smiling. No one else noticed. I clutched Chloe’s diary, standing rooted to the spot. That line of text was still flashing in front of my eyes, it hadn’t disappeared since it first appeared. “Suitcase.” 2 I had to find the suitcase. The sunlight outside the courthouse stung my eyes. My mom was the first to rush out, grabbing my arm, her nails digging into my flesh. “What were you doing in court just now? Are you happy only when you’ve driven David to his grave?” My dad was pushed out in his wheelchair, turning his head away, not looking at me. Sophie stood on the steps, hesitant, her lips parted as if to speak. In the end, she only said, “Maya, David has been through enough.” “He killed Chloe.” My mom’s hand went up again. This time it didn’t land on my face; she grabbed my collar and dragged me to the corner. “I’ll say it again: Chloe left on her own! The doctor even said she had a mental illness! What has David ever done to you? He’s trying to find you a rehabilitation center, he said he doesn’t blame you, what more do you want?” The buzzing of microphones reached me from a distance. David stood on the courthouse steps, surrounded by reporters. He wore his dark suit, his hair meticulously combed, his face still streaked with tears. His voice was hoarse and low, every word trembling. “I don’t blame Maya. She’s in too much pain from losing Chloe. I’ll help her find the best therapist. Please don’t blame her.” A reporter pressed, “Mr. Miller, are you satisfied with today’s outcome?” He lowered his head, silent for three seconds. “I just want Chloe alive and back. The declaration of death was not established, so at least I still have hope.” Flashbulbs erupted in a continuous blaze. Someone applauded. His gaze swept over the crowd, landing precisely on me. Then he lowered his head again, wiping away a tear. Sophie sighed beside me: “Maya, just look at him.” I looked at the pop-up text. It was still there. “Suitcase.” I turned and walked away. Back home, I searched through every single one of Chloe’s belongings. Closet, nothing. Storage room, nothing. Under the bed, nothing. The old suitcase she used before she got married was still there, but it was empty. I squatted in Chloe’s room, staring at the pop-up text. “Suitcase.” It wouldn’t tell me more. Since childhood, it only told me where something was hidden, never how to find it. The doorbell rang. My mom stood at the door, with Sophie behind her. “Maya, David just called. The rehabilitation center is all set. Pack your bags, he’ll pick you up tomorrow.” “I’m not going.” “You have to go.” My mom walked in, saw the mess in my room, and her face darkened even more. “Look at the state you’re in! If Chloe saw you like this, would she rest in peace?” “She’s not resting in peace. She’s in the suitcase.” My mom burst into tears. Sophie hugged her, patting her back. The next day, David came. He stood downstairs from my apartment, holding a bag of fruit, with two reporters trailing him. “Maya, I brought you some strawberries. Chloe used to love them.” He handed me the fruit in front of the reporters. I didn’t take it. He didn’t get angry. He placed the fruit on the doorstep and told the reporters, “Maya is still grieving. I don’t blame her.” The reporters took their photos and left. My mom rushed out, holding David’s hand and thanking him. Passing neighbors stopped, some giving him a thumbs-up. “What a stand-up guy.” “He’s so patient, even with her acting out like this.” I stood at my second-story window, watching everything unfold below. David looked up, right at me. That night, I lay on Chloe’s bed, staring at the ceiling. The pop-up text was still there. It was like a curse nailed to my eyes. I rolled over, facing the wall. A photo of Chloe was taped to the wall, taken outside our old house. She was smiling so wide her eyes disappeared. Our old house. 3 I sat up abruptly. That was Chloe’s house before she got married. It had been empty ever since she moved out. All of Chloe’s belongings when she moved out came from there. The suitcase? Could that suitcase be in the old house? I threw on a jacket and ran out. The streets were empty at four in the morning. I hailed a cab. The driver kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, probably thinking I was crazy. The lock on the old house hadn’t been changed. I used Chloe’s key to open it. The house was full of dust, and the air smelled damp and moldy. I stood in the living room, my heart pounding. The pop-up text disappeared. Since childhood, every time I found something hidden, the pop-up text would vanish. It only disappeared at the exact moment I found it. Chloe was here. I pulled out my phone and dialed 91

“Officer, I need to report something. I found Chloe’s body.” Detective Sergeant Evans arrived. He gave me a look I knew too well: sympathy mixed with impatience, like he was dealing with a disruptive child. “Maya, it’s you again.” “Detective Sergeant Evans, Chloe is right here.” He didn’t speak, just led his team inside. The old house wasn’t big – a small three-bedroom place. They searched room by room. Nothing. Detective Sergeant Evans came out, taking off his cap. “Maya, Chloe isn’t here.” “She is.” “We’ve searched.” “Search again.” Detective Sergeant Evans sighed. Just then, a black sedan pulled up outside. David stepped out of the car, wearing pajamas underneath a jacket. “Maya! What are you doing here again?” He walked over, his tone still that soothing, child-like cadence, “I got a call from the property manager saying someone broke in. I didn’t expect it to be you. This place is empty, it’s not safe.” He turned to Detective Sergeant Evans, sighing, “Officer, I apologize. I haven’t been able to look after her properly. Her mental state has been unstable since Chloe disappeared. I’ve already arranged for a rehabilitation center.” A cab screeched to a halt at the door. My mom got out, her face deathly pale. “Maya! Are you calling the police with false alarms again?” “Mom, Chloe is right he—” “Shut up!” My mom rushed over and slapped my shoulder. It stung. “David wants to send you to the rehabilitation center, and I’ve agreed. You can’t keep doing this.” “Look at you, running out at four in the morning! Are you trying to kill me with worry?” Detective Sergeant Evans looked at my mom, then at David. “Maya, filing a false report can lead to arrest.” David quickly waved his hands, apologizing. “Officer, please don’t pursue this. Maya didn’t mean it. She just misses Chloe too much. I’ll take her home, we won’t cause any more trouble.” He walked over and reached for my arm. My mom also walked over, gripping my other hand. Detective Sergeant Evans told his officers, “Pack it up. Take Maya back to the station for a statement. False reports need to be handled.” An officer walked over, taking out handcuffs. I struggled free. “Detective Sergeant Evans, please, just one more search. Just one.” Detective Sergeant Evans looked at me. For a long time. “Maya, I’ve already searched twice.” “We’ve taken every possible measure. There’s no sign of murder or bloodstains on the premises.” “A third time.” “There’s nothing here.” “One last time, I’m begging you.” 4 I gripped Detective Sergeant Evans’ hand, pleading desperately. Detective Sergeant Evans paused, probably thinking I’d truly gone mad. David sighed, walked over, his voice soft as if soothing an infant: “Maya, come home with me. The doctors from the rehabilitation center will be here soon to pick you up. Someone will take care of you there. Please, no more scenes, okay?” The officer approached again, this time directly reaching for my wrists with the handcuffs. Gritting my teeth, I struggled, shaking off his grip. “Please, search again. I’m begging you.” Detective Sergeant Evans’ brows furrowed. He looked at me for three seconds, then raised a hand to stop the officer. “Search one more time,” he said. The officers went back inside. Behind cabinets, under the floorboards, they even checked the walls for false compartments. More meticulously, more carefully than the previous two times. The entire house was subjected to bloodstain detection. Still nothing. When Detective Sergeant Evans came out, he took his cap off, then put it back on. He didn’t look at me, but I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking this girl was truly being unreasonable. David gently patted my shoulder: “Maya, that’s enough. You’ve put the police through enough.” He walked over to take my arm. My mom also came over, and both of them held me tight. Detective Sergeant Evans told his officers: “Pack it up. Take her in.” The officer walked over, this time without hesitation. The cold metal of the handcuffs clicked shut on my left wrist. My tears finally fell. I still hadn’t found Chloe. My mom clutched her chest nearby, scolding me furiously, while David tried to soothe her. “Chloe was such a good person, and you’ve learned nothing from her! Now you’re treating calling the police like a game!” David sighed and bowed to Detective Sergeant Evans. “Again, I apologize, Officer. She just misses Chloe too much. I apologize on her behalf.” Detective Sergeant Evans waved his hand, signaling the officer to take me away. The officer pulled on my handcuffs, dragging me towards the door. I was pulled two steps, my eyes scanning every corner of the room. Suddenly, I noticed something. I lunged fiercely in that direction. The handcuffs clanged against the doorframe, leaving a red mark on my wrist. The officer pushed me, struggling like crazy, onto the floor. “What are you doing?!” My mom shrieked. Detective Sergeant Evans yelled, “Hold it!” He wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to everyone. He stared in the direction I was looking, walked quickly over, and squatted down. A few seconds of silence. David opened his mouth to say something, saw Detective Sergeant Evans’ expression, and closed it again. Then he stood up, his face utterly changed. “Secure the scene. No one leaves. Call in the CID, forensic team, and K9 unit.” I lay on the floor, looking at that corner. Chloe, I found you.

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On Christmas Eve, I braved the heavy snow, hurrying home. On the way, I scrolled through a trending post. [My family’s parasite insists on coming for Christmas dinner, but we just want a cozy holiday as a family of three. How do we subtly tell her to get lost?] I remember thinking, *seriously? In this day and age, people still have such freeloading relatives? They totally deserve to be shunned.* The top-voted comment was particularly nasty: [Just change the front door code, pretend you can’t hear the knocking. After she freezes for two hours, she’ll leave.] I chuckled, shaking my head at my phone, and texted Brenda, my mom, that I was almost there. She instantly replied with a warm “Waiting for you,” and my heart swelled. Half an hour later, I stood at my front door and entered the code three times. The lock’s cold voice prompted: [Password incorrect.] Thinking the lock was broken, I was about to knock when I heard laughter from inside. Through the crack under the door, I saw Kevin, my brother, snapping photos of a lavish spread of food. The next second, a new update popped up on my Ins feed from Kevin. [Christmas dinner without outsiders is true family bonding! Merry Christmas, everyone!] In that photo, Mom and Dad were smiling more relaxed than I’d ever seen them. On the table, there were only three place settings. My hand, raised to knock, froze in mid-air. The chill in my heart was far more biting than the wind and snow.

In this house, I paid the mortgage. I covered the utilities. I sent money for living expenses every single month. Yet, on Christmas Day, I was the superfluous “outsider.” I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the bitter ache welling in my chest. *Maybe it’s a misunderstanding?* *Maybe Kevin’s “outsider” referred to some other unwanted guest?* My hand trembling, I dialed Mom’s number. The ringtone chimed a few times from inside the house, then was abruptly hung up. Immediately after, a SnapChat message arrived. **[Olivia, we’re watching TV, and it’s loud, so we can’t hear. How much longer until you arrive? Drive safely, no rush.]** A lie. A complete and utter lie. I was standing right outside the door. From inside, I distinctly heard energetic rock music, not a Christmas special. And they definitely heard the phone ring; they just deliberately hung up. My knuckles turned white as I clutched my phone. Still unwilling to give up, I pounded hard on the door. “Dad! Mom! I’m home! Open the door!” The music inside abruptly cut out for a second. Then, Kevin’s cracking voice rang out. “Seriously? Why is that freeloader here so early? Such a buzzkill.” Mom’s hushed voice followed. “Shh! Lower your voice! Don’t let her hear you.” “Who cares if she hears! She just *had* to come back and annoy everyone on Christmas. She never considers if she’s even wanted.” Kevin complained carelessly, but his footsteps were coming toward the door. A sliver of hope sparked in my chest. *At least they’ll open the door now, right?* However, the footsteps stopped right at the door. Through the thin wood, I heard Kevin’s sneering laugh. “Olivia, the password changed. You know how forgetful you are.” “What’s the new password?” I asked, struggling to control my anger. “The new password, huh…” Kevin drew out the words. “It’s the sum of our family of three’s birthdays. You can figure it out.” *A family of three.* Dad, Mom, Kevin. Sure enough, there was no place for me in this family. My mind buzzed. “Kevin, stop messing around. It’s snowing heavily out here, and I’m freezing. Open the door!” “If you’re cold, just jump around a bit to warm up.” Kevin smirked. “Besides, Mom said the lock is a bit finicky; it takes a while to open. Why don’t you stand outside and think about why you always have to come back and be annoying during the holidays?” My eyes widened in disbelief. *Reflect?* *What did I do wrong?* *Because I worked hard all year and just wanted to come home for a warm meal?* Just then, my phone vibrated again. The trending post had a new reply. **OP: [That parasite knocking at the door is annoying, but listening to her shiver outside while we eat king crab inside feels amazing! Thanks for the tips, everyone!]** The post included a photo taken through a peephole. In the picture, I was covered in snow, looking disheveled, like a stray dog. At that moment, all the blood in my veins turned to ice. *It turned out the person who posted about a “parasite” in the family was my own brother, Kevin!* *And that “parasite,” mocked by the entire internet, with suggestions to freeze her for two hours until she leaves?* *That was me.*

I stared at the photo, my eyes burning, yet unable to shed a single tear. *Who was the real parasite here?* I paid the down payment for this house. I paid the $12,000 monthly mortgage. I covered Kevin’s tuition and living expenses for all four years of college. Even the king crab they were eating right now? I’d specifically ordered it on Amazon and had it shipped home last week! Now, the real parasites were sitting in *my* house, eating *my* food, trying to freeze *me*, the owner, to death outside? Fury broke through my reason. I suddenly lifted my foot and kicked the door hard. “Kevin! I know you’re in there! Open this door!” “This is *my* house! What right do you have to lock me out?!” The loud bang startled the neighbors. Mrs. Davies, from across the hall, poked her head out, looking surprised. “Oh, isn’t that Olivia? Why are you shouting outside on Christmas?” A flurry of commotion erupted inside the house. Perhaps worried about looking bad, the door finally opened. Mom appeared in the doorway, her face grim. There wasn’t a hint of concern in her eyes, only reproach. “What are you shouting about! Are you trying to make sure everyone knows you’re back? You’re an adult, act like it! No manners!” I was stiff from the cold, my hand clutching my suitcase trembling. “Mom, why did the password change? Why didn’t you answer my call? What’s with Kevin’s post?” Mom’s gaze flickered, and she stepped aside. “Come in first, we’ll talk inside. It’s Christmas, don’t make a scene out here.” I dragged my heavy suitcase into the entryway. A rush of warm air hit me, mixed with the scent of seafood. But this warmth didn’t belong to me. In the living room, Kevin was sprawled on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, a crab leg still dangling from his mouth. Dad sat next to him, picking a succulent piece of crab meat and placing it on Kevin’s plate. On the dining table, there were indeed only three place settings. My usual spot was piled high with clutter and delivery boxes. When I entered, Dad didn’t even lift an eyelid. “Now that you’re back, shut your mouth. Don’t bring your bad vibes into the house.” I froze. “Dad, I’m part of this family too. Is me coming home for Christmas considered ‘bad vibes’?” Dad slammed his forks onto the table. “Look at all that snow on you! You’re getting water all over the floor! Can’t you even clean yourself up?” “And kicking the door the moment you arrive! What kind of behavior is that? Is this what you learned in the big city?” I looked down at myself. My puffer coat was soaked with melted snow, my shoes completely wet. Kevin, meanwhile, was wearing a brand-new Adidas tracksuit—the Christmas gift he’d cried and begged me for last month. Over three hundred dollars. I gritted my teeth and pushed my suitcase aside. “Where are my slippers?” The shoe cabinet was empty. My pink fluffy slippers were gone. Mom emerged from the kitchen, carrying a steaming plate of dumplings. “Oh, those old slippers were worn out. I threw them away a couple of days ago. Haven’t had time to buy new ones. Just use those shoe covers for now.” She pointed her chin towards a blue plastic shoe cover nearby. They were for the plumber. Kevin burst out laughing. “Mom, look at her in those blue shoe covers! Doesn’t she look like she just stepped out of surgery?” “Hahahaha, Olivia, your outfit is so unique. Want me to take a picture for Ins?” With that, he actually raised his phone to snap a photo of me. I rushed over and slapped his phone out of his hand. “Kevin! Haven’t you had enough?!” The phone landed on the carpet, unbroken. But Kevin reacted as if he’d suffered a massive injustice, letting out a wail. “Dad! Mom! Look at her! She hits me the moment she comes home! And she tried to smash my phone!” Dad abruptly stood up, grabbing the ashtray from the table and hurling it at me. “You damn brat! You’re out of control!”

The ashtray grazed my ear, smashing into the mirror in the entryway. With a *CRASH*, the mirror shattered, glass shards flying, one slicing my cheek. A sharp sting. I touched it, and my fingertips came away stained with blood. The living room fell silent. Dad seemed surprised that he’d actually hit me. He paused, then defiantly yelled again. “What are you looking at! It’s your own fault for not dodging! Useless!” Mom gasped and rushed over, not to check my wound, but to frantically pick up the phone from the floor. “Oh no, this is the latest model! It cost over a thousand dollars! If it’s broken, you couldn’t pay for it even if we sold you!” I stood amidst the shattered mess, watching this absurd scene unfold. My face was bleeding, and my heart was bleeding. “Mom, that’s my face. I’m hurt.” I pointed to the bloodstain on my cheek, my voice hoarse. Mom glanced up at me, then impatiently waved her hand. “What’s the big deal about a scratch? Just put a band-aid on it! Stop being so dramatic!” “If Kevin’s phone is broken, that’s real money! How much is your ugly face even worth?” Kevin got his phone back, checked it, and confirmed it wasn’t broken. Then, triumphantly, he made a mocking face at me. “Exactly, you’re already ugly, a broken face just means you can get plastic surgery. Maybe then someone will actually marry you.” “And if you hurt me, don’t you think my millions of followers will come for you?” Millions of followers? I scoffed. “Those followers of yours, aren’t they all from talking trash about having a ‘crazy older sister’?” “What? Are you done playing innocent now that you’re sucking blood from the source?” Kevin’s face changed. “You snooped through my phone? You invaded my privacy!” “You locked your sister out and posted it online for clout. Is that ‘privacy’?” I advanced toward the dining table, step by step. The plate of king crab, barely touched, its red shell gleamed mockingly under the light. I reached out and flipped the table over. “Since I’m a parasite, since I’m an outsider, then nobody gets to eat this meal!” A *CRASH* and clatter. Plates, forks, king crab, dumplings—everything crashed to the floor, sauce splattering everywhere. That lavish Christmas dinner instantly became trash. “Ah—! My king crab!” Kevin shrieked as if he’d been physically wounded. Mom screamed and rushed over, shoving me. “Are you insane! Olivia! Have you lost your mind?!” “That’s money! You wasteful brat! If you don’t want to eat, then leave! Why flip the table?!” Dad’s face was livid with rage. He grabbed the nearby solid wood chair, ready to throw it at me. “I’ll kill you today, you ungrateful daughter!” I dodged, and the chair slammed onto the floor with a dull thud. “Go ahead! If you have the guts, kill me!” My eyes red-rimmed, I stared at them intently. “Kill me, and see who pays your mortgage after this! Who buys Kevin designer brands! Who takes care of you in your old age!” That sentence seemed to hit their Achilles’ heel. Dad’s raised hand froze in mid-air. Mom also stopped her cursing, her eyes flickering. Kevin, however, scrambled up from the floor and pointed his finger at my nose. “Don’t threaten us with the mortgage! This house is in Dad’s name! What does it have to do with you?!” “Besides, you make so much money, what’s wrong with spending a little on family? You *owe* us!” “Mom and Dad raised you, isn’t it your duty to give back?” *I owe them?* From childhood, the best food went to Kevin, new clothes went to Kevin. I wore my cousin’s hand-me-downs and ate leftovers. I earned my college tuition by working part-time, and my living expenses from odd jobs. After graduation, I worked my butt off. As soon as my paycheck arrived each month, more than half of it went to them. For this house, I drained three years of savings and took out online loans just to scrape together the down payment. All because Mom said Kevin needed a house for his wedding, or his girlfriend’s family wouldn’t agree. To get my name added to the property deed, they made a huge scene, eventually forcing me to sign an agreement. The agreement stated that although the house was in Dad’s name, I would pay the mortgage. Once Kevin got married, half the house would be transferred to me. Now it was clear this was a complete and utter scam.

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Everyone knew Ethan and I loved each other to our very core. To save me, he’d given me the only bottle of antitoxin, ready to die himself. To protect him, I’d used my body to shield him from a kidnapper’s knife, taking a fatal blow for him. Everyone thought we’d be together forever. But the day after he proposed, I dumped him cold-turkey and married Liam, who had been pursuing me for ages. Even after my betrayal, Ethan held no grudge. He still loved me like before. Later, when my daughter had a car accident, he even sacrificed his leg to save her. Even Liam, who despised Ethan to his very core, was eventually moved by Ethan’s unwavering love for me and became his good friend. When Ethan was unexpectedly diagnosed with a terminal illness, Liam even insisted on donating a kidney to him. But when I heard the news, I acted completely out of character. I gave Liam the cold shoulder. I insisted, “Liam, if you insist on giving a kidney to that Ethan, then we’re getting a divorce immediately!” Liam tried to reassure me, telling me not to worry about him. My daughter, Lily, also cried, begging me to save her Uncle Ethan. But I stared into Ethan’s deep, loving eyes, gave a cold laugh, and my voice was absolutely resolute. “Who’s worried about you? What I want is for Ethan to die a miserable death!” “If you dare to give him even half a kidney, I’ll divorce you completely, even if it means losing custody of Lily!” “Save him or choose me. You decide!”

The hospital room fell silent. Liam stared blankly at Ethan, then at me, pleading, “Summer, now’s not the time for games.” “I know you’re afraid I’ll misunderstand our relationship. I admit I used to think the worst.” “But he broke a leg to save our daughter. It would be heartless to just let him die!” Grandma Betty, who was sharing the room with Ethan, also nodded, looking at me with some reproach. “Exactly.” “Summer, we all saw how good Ethan was to you.” “Even if you married someone else and don’t like him, there’s no need to be so cruel and doom him to die.”

After delivering my harsh words in the hospital room, I drove straight home. The moment I walked in, I saw my parents, David and Brenda, and Liam’s parents, Robert and Carol, sitting in the living room, their expressions extremely serious. Brenda was about to speak when Carol stopped her. She sighed, looking at me with a touch of helplessness, and said calmly, “Summer, we know about Ethan’s situation.” “My dear, are you still worried that we’ll think something’s going on between you and Ethan, which is why you won’t let Liam help him?” “If that’s the reason, please don’t overthink it.” “After all, we’ve watched Ethan grow up since he was a child. Even if you two were together before, we wouldn’t misunderstand.” “Besides, Liam doesn’t mind, so why are you so set against it?” Seeing Carol’s understanding expression, I didn’t say a word and turned to leave. But Brenda rushed over and grabbed my arm, her face thunderous. “Summer, how did you become so cold-blooded?” “You broke up with Ethan cold-turkey back then, and less than a month after dumping him, you married Liam. Any other man would have hated you to death!” “But Ethan not only didn’t hate you, he’s been so good to you and Liam all these years. Where can you find a good man like that?” “Do you know that both your kidney and Liam’s are a match for Ethan, but he absolutely refused to use yours!” “Even if you don’t like him anymore, considering his feelings for you all these years, you shouldn’t doom him to die!” I coldly pushed Brenda’s hand away, glanced at her anxious expression, and smiled slightly. “So what? Did I force him to be good to me?” “All these years, because of him, Liam and I have argued countless times. He knows that better than anyone!” “A menace like him, if he dies, good riddance! I can finally live a quiet life then!” “You want me to save him? Dream on!” The moment my words fell, I received a harsh slap from Brenda. Her eyes red-rimmed, she pointed at me, trembling and yelling, “You beast, you’re an animal!” “How did I give birth to such a callous and ungrateful wretch! Instead of appreciating others’ kindness, you want to kill your benefactor!” I clutched my face, suppressing the sting in my nose, and was about to retort when Carol, who had come to mediate, pulled me aside. She sighed, comforting Brenda while trying to persuade me. “Summer, I watched you grow up and I know you’re a good child.” “Tell me honestly, do you have some unspoken difficulty? Or did Ethan hurt you by being with another woman, making you so ruthless?” I glanced at Carol and sneered, “Other things I can’t say, but when Ethan was with me, he absolutely never dated another woman.” Carol looked puzzled. “Then why do you hate him so much? Even after he broke a leg to save Lily, you still won’t forgive him?” I suppressed the emotions surging within me and said calmly, “Forget breaking a leg. Even if he died for Lily, it would be what he deserved!” “As for the kidney donation, my stance has always been clear.” “If Liam donates to him, I will divorce him.” “If any of you find a suitable kidney donor for Ethan, I will retaliate to the end!” “If you don’t mind being my enemy, then try me!” With that, I stormed out. After all, I run the family business now. No matter how much my parents objected, they wouldn’t dare completely fall out with me. As for Liam’s family, I control several key businesses, so they wouldn’t dare cross me. But as I got into the car, Sarah, my assistant, who had been following me, couldn’t help but ask, “Summer, I’m really curious, why are you so determined?” “Because before, I thought you and Mr. Ethan had a great relationship, and Mr. Liam doesn’t even mind, so why are you so…” I looked at Sarah and said, word for word, “Precisely because I once truly and deeply loved Ethan, I now have to watch him die!” Sarah looked bewildered. “Did Mr. Ethan do something to wrong you in the past?” I suddenly froze, as if struck by something, an aching emptiness in my chest. After a long while, I lowered my head and gave a self-deprecating laugh. “No, Ethan truly loved me deeply and never betrayed me.” “When I accepted his proposal before, I was genuinely sincere, wanting to spend my life with him.” But now, everything has changed. Now, I only want Ethan. To die.

It wasn’t until late at night that I returned home alone. But the moment I entered the bedroom, the smile on my face froze. Liam was sitting on the bed, staring at me intently. Everything in the room had been changed. Books Ethan liked to read were on the desk, and the flowers in the vase had been replaced with Ethan’s favorite roses. In front of Liam was an empty medicine bottle. I remained silent, but Liam didn’t give me a chance to ignore everything. He slowly said, “Summer, have you truly forgotten these things?” “Even if you’ve forgotten everything else, you can’t have forgotten this, right?” He tapped the medicine bottle, sighed, and said with a solemn expression, “I really hated Ethan before, especially right after we got married.” “It sounds ridiculous, but I wrongly thought you two were still seeing each other and even confronted him.” “But no matter how much I hit him, he didn’t fight back, and finally he showed me this.” “That’s when I found out that when you two went on that expedition into the Amazonian rainforest, both of you were bitten by venomous snakes, but there was only one bottle of antitoxin.” “He gave the only bottle to you, and almost died from the snake venom himself…” “After that, I understood. He truly loves you. I can never compare to him.” “But I also know that without him, you wouldn’t be who you are today, so now, I truly see him as a benefactor.” As he spoke, he stood up and wrapped his arms around my waist, sighing into my ear, “Summer, I don’t know why you broke up with him cold-turkey back then, but believe me, I’m genuinely willing to save him.” “I swear, I won’t tamper with the surgery to harm him.” “You don’t have to worry about our marriage being ruined by him, nor do you have to worry about me doing anything to him.” “Let’s help him together, okay?” Liam’s words were so sincere that I was almost moved. But I remained silent, just staring intently at that small medicine bottle, almost in tears. I never forgot how much love and pain I felt when I thought I was going to die and saw Ethan give me the chance at survival. So I didn’t hide my feelings. “Liam, I admit, even today, I haven’t completely forgotten Ethan.” “His kindness to me, every moment we shared in the past, I still remember.” “I can even say that I still love him.” But the next second, I fiercely pushed Liam away and said coldly, “But precisely because of that, I *must* send him to his death!” “Only when he’s dead can my life return to normal, and our marriage can continue!” Liam looked at me with a complicated expression. After a long while, he slowly said, “Summer, to hide your guilt, you’d actually want someone who loves you to die.” “I’ve lived with you for five or six years, why did I never realize how malicious you are?” “Will you treat me the same way if I ever get in your way?” I couldn’t be bothered with him and was about to leave. But four-year-old Lily suddenly pushed open the door, her eyes red, and sobbed as she rushed into my arms, asking in a baby voice, “Mommy, please save Uncle Ethan, okay?” “Uncle Ethan got so badly hurt saving Lily. Lily doesn’t want Uncle Ethan to die!” I stared at my once beloved daughter, my smile icy cold. “Oh really?” “Well, too bad. Your Uncle Ethan is going to hell very soon.” I turned to leave, but accidentally bumped into Lily as I walked past her. My daughter fell to the floor, instantly crying out in pain. Liam immediately picked up Lily, glaring fiercely at me. “Summer, Lily is just a child, why would you say such cruel things to her!” “Ethan and I must have been blind back then, to have fallen for a woman like you!” “You don’t deserve to be Lily’s mother!” Lily huddled in Liam’s arms, crying her heart out. Her eyes, looking at me, also became filled with rejection and disgust, and she cried out, “Mommy’s bad! Lily doesn’t want a bad mommy!” “Uncle Ethan is a million times better than Mommy! Lily wants to go find Uncle Ethan!” Listening to the child’s shrill, piercing voice, all my previous annoyance suddenly surged up. I simply turned my head and said fiercely to Lily, “Fine, you can go find him now.” “Once I freeze all your bank cards, you and your Uncle Ethan can starve together!” Lily immediately fell silent, but her red eyes still glared at me fiercely. Liam looked utterly disappointed. “Summer, do you have any humanity left?” “Even to your own daughter, you’re this cruel?” I gave a cold smile, completely unfazed. “I told you, anyone who stands with Ethan is my enemy, and Lily is no exception.” “Liam, are you that eager to play the cuckold? To the point where you’d fall out with your own wife just to save a man who used to pursue her?” “Or do you have some unspeakable癖好 (secret fetish)?” Liam’s face instantly changed, and a flicker of guilt passed through Lily’s eyes. I didn’t bother with them anymore and simply went to a hotel. On the way, Sarah told me that the last bit of Ethan’s family assets had also been completely devoured by my company, Su Group. Seeing my triumphant smile, she still looked puzzled. “Summer, do you really have no feelings left for Ethan?” I shook my head. “No. From beginning to end, the only person I loved was Ethan.” Sarah looked even more confused. “Then why are you so against Mr. Liam donating a kidney to Ethan?” “After all, it’s Mr. Liam’s body that’s being harmed, not yours. Why do you care so much?” My eyes suddenly turned sharp and ruthless, and I sneered, “My love for Ethan doesn’t conflict with my desire for him to die.” “Now that all of Ethan’s family assets are in my name.” “It’s time to unveil this grand scheme.”

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My mother always said that people don’t learn from being told; they learn instantly from experience. When I was little, I reached for a kettle of boiling water, and she just stood by and watched coldly. I screamed and cried when I got burned. “Good, it hurts,” she said. “If it doesn’t hurt, you won’t remember.” I didn’t know how to read traffic lights, and she didn’t warn me; instead, she urged me to walk faster. I got hit by an electric scooter and was thrown flying, needing seven stitches. But she told me, “Getting hit once will teach you a lesson for life. It’s a good thing.” I became cautious and composed. To escape my toxic family, I studied hard and got into a top university. My mother, however, believed it was a testament to her successful parenting. She’d tell everyone that this was how you had to raise kids – talking sense was useless; they’d understand once they suffered a loss. Later, when she made a spectacle of herself in our upscale neighborhood, I stayed silent. When she got completely taken in by a scamming group, I watched her fall right into their trap with cold eyes. Doesn’t she love learning from experience? Then let her have her fill!

After my dad passed away, my mom packed up bags and bags, saying that after raising me for so long, it was time for her to come enjoy the good life in the big city. But she didn’t even make it into the complex before security mistook her for a thief and detained her. When I arrived, my mom was being pinned against a wall by a security guard. Her hair was disheveled, and she was flailing wildly. “Let me go! My daughter lives here! What right do you have to grab me?!” People around us were holding up their phones, pointing and whispering. “That lady was climbing over the fence just now, acting so shady. She definitely looks like trouble.” “No decent person would do that. I heard thieves these days target fancy neighborhoods.” “She’s pretty quick on her feet, probably a veteran.” “Bullshit! I’m not a thief!” My mom struggled violently, spitting on the ground. “Get my daughter! I want my daughter!” I walked over. The security guard saw me and looked like I was his savior. His neck and face were covered in bleeding scratches; she’d clearly put up a fight. “Are you family?” the guard asked me. I nodded. “She didn’t have an access card and insisted on forcing her way in. I told her visitor registration was an option, but then she refused when I asked for her ID!” The guard’s face was flushed with anger. “She took a detour to climb the fence and was mistaken for a thief by patrol. Not only was she foul-mouthed, but she hit me!” “So what if I hit you! You worthless security guard, who do you think you are! How dare you stop me? I’m going to report you!” My mom yelled, her face pressed against the wall, twisting her head back. The guard’s face darkened. “Call the police,” I told the guard. “You shouldn’t have to put up with this for nothing.” The guard was stunned. “After all, experience teaches you instantly.” I shrugged indifferently. “So let’s make sure she learns her lesson.” That’s when my mom finally spotted me. “You little brat, say that again?!” Her voice shot up, piercingly sharp. “Your own mother is being bullied like this, and you’re siding with an outsider! Do you have no conscience?” “Do you know how hard it was for me to raise you? Your dad just died, and you treat me like this? If you’d come out and picked me up earlier, would I have had to climb the fence? Did you even give me an access card?” “I did.” My mom didn’t react immediately. “I gave it to you on Dad’s funeral day. It was on your nightstand.” She opened her mouth, her eyes blank, then a look of sudden realization dawned on her. “You ungrateful girl! You didn’t even remind me! I thought it was just some useless ad flyer and already threw it away!” “Remind you?” I chuckled. “Mom, don’t you always say that you only learn when you suffer a loss? I was just trying to help you develop your organizational skills. Experience teaches you instantly; next time, you’ll remember to put things in their proper place.”

Some people around us snickered. “That lady is something else, so unreliable and still blaming her daughter.” “Poor girl, stuck with a mom like that.” My mom’s face flushed then paled, her lips trembling for a long time before she finally managed to blurt out, “Don’t give me that nonsense! Just make them let me go!” “Alright, two choices.” I pulled out my phone. “First, you apologize to the security guard and pay for his medical expenses. Second, the police take you in, and you face detention and fines. You choose.” “You ungrateful wretch! I gave birth to you, I raised you…” “Choose.” She glared at me, her eyes bloodshot. More and more people gathered to watch the scene. The security guard lowered his restraining device, also waiting. Seeing her delay, I lost patience and started dialing numbers, ready to call the police. “Wait!” She finally lowered her head, squeezing out through gritted teeth: “I’m sorry.” The security guard didn’t say anything. She gritted her teeth, pulled out a handful of crumpled bills from her pocket, and shoved them into the guard’s hand without counting. “That’s all?” I frowned, turning to the guard. “If that’s not enough, maybe you should scratch my mom a couple of times too. Otherwise, she won’t learn her lesson.” “I’ll get it! I’ll get it, alright?!” My mom shrieked, shooting me a furious look, and pulled out a few more bills. I nodded, and only then did the security guard accept it. I swiped my access card, and my mom dashed inside as if escaping. Once inside the apartment, she started yelling obscenities. “You unfilial daughter! You sided with an outsider to make your mother suffer! And you made me apologize to that worthless security guard? Does he deserve it?” “That rotten security guard looked down on me! This isn’t over; I’ll make him pay!” I nodded. “Go ahead and do whatever you want. After all, you learn your lesson when you suffer a loss.” She was choked into silence by my words and stormed back to her room in a fit of rage. The next day, I was at work, my phone bombarded with messages. My mom sent a pile of photos, all of the persimmon trees in the complex. “Can I pick these?” she asked me. I ignored her. “If you don’t answer, I’m picking them.” A while later, she added, “Watch how I get back at that rotten security guard. I’ll make sure he loses his job.” I smirked coldly. Go ahead and cause more trouble. Let’s see how big a fall you take this time. When I got home that evening, I opened the door and froze. The living room was completely filled with persimmons; there was nowhere to even step. My mom sat on the couch, legs crossed, happily munching on snacks. Several empty persimmon peels were on the table. “You’re back.” She beamed with triumph. “Today I finally got my revenge.” “You picked all the persimmons?” “Yes! Not a single one left!” My mom gloated. “Today I saw that security guard watering the trees, so these persimmons must be his. I’ll let him grow them! I’ll let him act all smug! I picked them all bare, I’ll infuriate him!” I was silent for two seconds. “These are ornamental persimmons. You can’t eat them.” My mom’s hand, cracking snacks, paused. “And he didn’t plant them; it’s his job to water and maintain them.” “Bullshit!” She slammed down a snack peel. “His job? Why would he be so dedicated, watering them so carefully? I’m telling you, he planted them!” “Rich people are so stuck up! They look so good, but you can’t eat them? Who are you trying to fool?” She grabbed a persimmon, rubbed it on her clothes, and took a big bite. “These are all pretty sweet, aren’t they?” Chewing on the persimmon, she grew smug again. “Even if he didn’t plant them, with the persimmons gone, his boss will definitely chew him out. That’s called increasing his workload!” I looked at her, saying nothing. “You little brat, why are you staring at me?” “The complex has surveillance cameras,” I reminded her. She paused, then waved a dismissive hand. “So what about cameras? What’s the big deal about picking a few rotten persimmons? Are they going to arrest me?” No sooner had she spoken than the doorbell rang. I went to open the door. The property manager stood at the entrance, next to a police officer in uniform. “Hello, Officer,” the officer said, flashing his badge. “Is your mother home?”

My mom heard the commotion and sprang up from the couch. Seeing the police, she panicked. “What’s wrong?” Her voice trembled. The officer walked in, saw the floor covered in persimmons, and frowned. “Did you pick these persimmons?” My mom’s face instantly went white. “I… I just picked them for fun.” “For fun?” The property manager scoffed. “Those are Japanese Sweetheart Persimmons, a valuable ornamental variety. One plant costs over four hundred dollars! They finally bore fruit, and you picked every single one, not a single one left!” My mom’s legs went weak, and she leaned on the couch to steady herself. “The surveillance cameras clearly captured everything,” the property manager pulled out his phone. “You were picking from one in the afternoon until five, running back and forth over a dozen times!” “Destroying other people’s property, a significant amount, constitutes a criminal offense. You’ll have to come with us.” The officer pulled out handcuffs. “I didn’t know!” My mom’s voice was shrill and piercing. “I really didn’t know! I thought they were just ordinary persimmons!” She sharply turned her head and glared at me. “You! You knew all along, didn’t you? I asked you if I could pick them, why didn’t you answer me?” I said nothing. “You did it on purpose! You deliberately set me up!” She lunged at me, trying to hit me, but the officer quickly intervened. “No hitting!” A crowd of neighbors had already gathered at the door, craning their necks to look inside. “Isn’t that the one who climbed the fence yesterday?” “It really is her. Now she’s picking ornamental persimmons? That’s wild.” “Take her away, take her away, stop her from causing more trouble here.” My mom’s face turned a deep crimson, and she roared, “You dare lay a hand on me?! Taking someone away just for a few rotten persimmons? What kind of world do we live in?!” No sooner had she finished speaking than her face suddenly changed. She clutched her stomach and slowly bent down, squatting. “Ow…” Her face was pale. “Stop faking it!” The property manager frowned. “You were just trying to hit someone, and now you’re putting on an act again?” “I’m not faking it, my stomach hurts so bad…” Her body went limp, and she collapsed directly to the ground, writhing and clutching her stomach. Then a terrible stench filled the air. The neighbors covered their noses and backed away. “Oh my God!” “What is that awful smell?!” “She had an accident!” A puddle spread on the floor, and my mom was curled up in it, her face pale and yellowish, forehead covered in sweat. “Eating seven or eight persimmons in one go, and ornamental ones at that,” I looked down at her. “It’s a miracle she didn’t get sick earlier.” She gasped for air, her mouth open. “Quick… take me to the hospital.” The officer also covered his nose and retreated to the door. “Let’s call an ambulance first.” The property manager made the call. My mom lay in that mess, in pain and reeking, trembling all over. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with hatred. “Mom,” I leaned against the doorframe, “didn’t you say that experience teaches you instantly?” She glared at me, her lips trembling. “This time, that should be enough to remember for a lifetime, right?” The ambulance arrived. As the stretcher was carried out, everyone in the hallway tried to get out of the way. When she was lifted into the ambulance, she was cursing. “You heartless monster, you conspired against your own mother, may you be struck by lightning! Ow… you just wait, I won’t let you off…” My mom was taken to the emergency room. She had her stomach pumped and was put on an IV drip. Because I insisted on not paying for her, saying it would help her learn her lesson, she had to use her own retirement savings to cover the cost of the persimmons and medical bills. After this incident, my mom was quiet for a few days. But soon, I noticed she seemed to be plotting something. A few times I saw her whispering with Linda, the neighbor from the next bed. Both of them immediately stopped when they saw me. I knew Linda; she lived in our complex too. Her daughter supposedly ran some investment business and was always dressed in flashy jewelry. Every time she came to the hospital, she carried bags and bags of tonics, and my mom’s eyes would light up.

One day, I came home from work and found she had already been discharged. My mom stood in the middle of the living room, dressed neatly, with a suitcase beside her. Linda had her arm linked with my mom’s, and they were as close as sisters. “You’re back?” My mom’s face held a smug, triumphant smile. “I’m not living here anymore.” “I raised you all this time, only to raise an ungrateful wretch.” She took two steps forward, pointing her finger at my nose. “Let me tell you, I’m not relying on you anymore. I’ve found a way to make money, and when I get rich, don’t come crying and begging me!” Linda chimed in, “Exactly, relying on yourself is better than relying on anyone else. It’s never too late for a strong woman to start her own business! I told you, this kind of daughter, we can just pretend we never had her!” I almost laughed out loud. “What kind of opportunity could you possibly have?” My mom, however, became even more smug. She pulled out her phone and shoved it in front of my face. “See? Invested a hundred bucks yesterday, cashed out a thousand today! Linda’s daughter is a big boss, helping people get rich, a 10x return on investment!” I looked at the phone, then at my mom’s excited face. “10x return?” “Yes! With a little effort, it can even double!” She grinned, her eyes narrowing into slits. “I’ve finally figured it out. What’s the point of all that education? Still unmarried at your age, nobody wants you. Look at Linda’s daughter, how capable she is!” Linda patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t rush, dear. I’ll introduce you to a wealthy businessman later; you can start a new chapter in life. You look so young, not like you’re over fifty, someone will definitely want you.” My mom was grinning from ear to ear. “Alright,” she picked up her suitcase. “I’m leaving. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” I stood at the door, watching her walk out. “Mom.” She turned back. “If you keep this up, you’re going to regret it.” Her face darkened. “Bullshit! You’re just jealous, aren’t you?” Linda pulled her along. “Don’t mind her, let’s go.” The two of them stepped into the elevator. Before the doors closed, she was still smiling. After moving out, my mom seemed like a changed person. My Ins feed was flooded by her posts every day. Yesterday, she posted her bank balance: fifty thousand dollars. Caption: Follow the right people, do the right things, and money will practically throw itself at you. The day before yesterday, she posted photos from a fancy party. She was wearing an ill-fitting evening gown, arm linked with an old man’s, smiling with a face full of wrinkles under the crystal lights. Caption: Happiness, it’s never too late to pursue. Three days ago, she posted gifts. A pile of fake designer bags and watches, obviously bought wholesale, with flashy, sparkly packaging. Caption: Linda is too generous! I told her not to, but she insisted. This is a true friend! Below every post, she’d leave comments mocking me: Some people’s education went to waste, they don’t know how to respect their parents! People with narrow vision are like this, making a meager salary every month, they’ll never get rich in their lifetime! So laughable! A couple of days later, the HOA called me. “Your mom brought someone to look at the apartment today, saying she wanted to sell it urgently, even twenty thousand dollars below market price was fine. I asked her where she’d live after selling, and she said in a mansion. Is… are you aware of this?” I said, “Don’t worry about her. Let her sell it.” The person on the other end paused. “You’re not going to try to convince her otherwise? That’s your family’s old apartment.” “I can’t convince her,” I said. “Besides, she’s determined to self-destruct, and I can’t stop her.” Three days later, the apartment was sold. My mom sent me a voice message, background noise loud, like she was at a celebratory banquet. “You little brat! The money’s in my account! This time I’m investing two hundred thousand, and in a couple of days, it’ll be two million! Then I’ll buy a mansion and hire a maid, and you can get on your knees and beg me, I still won’t let you in!” I didn’t reply. I blocked her. My cousin, Taylor, called. “Chloe, your mom told me to tell you that she’s hosting a dinner at a five-star hotel the day after tomorrow. She’s invited all the relatives and said you absolutely have to come. She wants to publicly embarrass you.” “Tell her not to worry; I’ll definitely be there.” Taylor’s tone was worried. “You’re really going? Aren’t you afraid she’ll cause a scene?” I chuckled. “How else can I watch the show?” After all, the police were also ready to make their move. Not only was I going, but I was also preparing a big surprise for her. Since she loved having experience teach her, I would give her a lesson she’d never forget.

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My father was a raging alcoholic. Every time he got drunk, he’d abuse me and my brother, Leo. Afterward, he’d always throw a few hundred dollars at me as compensation. I accepted it calmly, sometimes even buying him his favorite greasy burger and a cheap bottle of whiskey. The neighbors tried to call the police for me, but I shook my head. I touched my bruised arm and smiled faintly. “If he hits me twice more, Leo will be hit twice less.” Until that night, when he got drunk again and pushed Leo off a tall building at a construction site. Robert’s slap landed, and I heard the crisp snap of teeth colliding. One side of my face burned. My mouth filled with the taste of iron. A banknote fluttered to my feet. “Take it! Take the damn money!” “This is your old man’s generosity, go buy something good to fix yourself up!” Robert’s neck was thick and red, his chest heaving, spittle flying onto my face. I said nothing, bending down to fumble for the money on the ground with fingers still swollen from being stepped on. The money was stained with my and Leo’s blood. But I knew, money was the only thing that could buy us what we needed. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with my sleeve, lifted my eyelids, and stared fixedly at him. “What are you staring at?! Stare at me like that again, and I’ll gouge your eyes out and pickle them in booze! Now, go get me my alcohol!” He roared, then slumped onto the blackened wicker chair. The chair groaned under the strain. In the corner, Leo cowered behind the old kitchen counter, trembling. His arm was red and swollen, covered in purple belt marks. I walked over, squatted down, and touched his burning wound with my cold fingers. Leo flinched sharply, lifting his head. His eyes were filled with hatred. “Sarah… it hurts…” he squeezed out a groan. “Bear with it,” I whispered into his ear, my voice icy. “It will be over soon.” I stood up, clutching the fifty-dollar bill in my hand, and walked out into the dusty wind. The convenience store had a strange smell. I slapped the money onto the counter. “Mr. Henderson, I need a gallon of the nastiest rotgut.” “The kind that feels like it’s burning a hole through your gut.” The owner looked at the slap mark on my face. “Oh, Sarah, child, why do you put yourself through this?” “Your father beats you like this, and you still serve him?” “Yeah, that Robert is an animal.” “If I were you, I’d have put rat poison in his drink long ago.” The men hanging around were just spitting and talking loudly. I ignored them, watching expressionlessly as Mr. Henderson poured the murky liquid into a plastic jug. Next door, I bought two pounds of fatty cuts of pork. When I returned home, Robert was already passed out on the table, snoring like a freight train. I slammed the jug of liquor onto the table. The dull thud startled him awake. He suddenly sprang up. “My booze! Where’s my booze!” “Did you, you wretched girl, steal my liquor?!” He snatched the jug, pulled off the cap, and guzzled it down. The murky liquid streamed down his stubble, wetting his greasy undershirt. “Dad, here’s some braised pork, eat it while it’s hot.” “It’s all fatty, smells delicious.” I pushed the plate of pork in front of him, my voice submissive. Robert grabbed a piece of fatty meat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing until his chin was dripping with grease. “Mmm… Sarah’s so devoted… much better than that bastard brother of yours…” “That bastard is nothing but a burden…” As he spoke, he suddenly raised a hand and slapped himself hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the empty shack, making Leo in the corner flinch. “Dad’s at his wit’s end… Dad truly is at his wit’s end…” “Sarah, don’t blame your old man…” He burst into tears, snot and tears smearing his face. I stood in the shadows, watching him with cold eyes. I pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from my pocket – an accident insurance policy. In the dim light, I checked the effective date over and over, a cold smile playing on my lips. Three more days. Just three more days, and his life would be worth something. Robert cried enough, then took another large gulp of alcohol, letting out a burp that sprayed onto my face. “Sarah… you drink too… it won’t hurt anymore if you drink…” “You’ll see your mom if you drink…” He held the bottle out to me, his bloodshot eyes staring. I quietly watched the vein in his neck throbbing wildly. I calculated in my mind how much longer that vein would beat. “I won’t drink, Dad. I don’t hurt.” I said softly. The shack was damp and stuffy, filled with a foul smell. I rubbed balm on Leo’s back wounds. With each stroke, his muscles tensed, but he bit his lip and didn’t utter a sound.

“Sarah, I want to kill him.” Leo suddenly spoke, his voice cold. My hand froze, the balm dripping onto the sheet, spreading a dark red stain. “Don’t be silly,” I reprimanded in a low voice. “Murder means prison, we still need to live our lives.” “Then how much longer do we have to wait?” He turned his head, his eyes fixed on mine. “Soon.” I pulled up his shirt, covering his scars. “Once that day comes, we’ll be free.” Outside the shack, Robert’s loud voice drifted in, him bragging to his coworkers. “I tell you, having a daughter is like having a goldmine!” “When she gets married, the dowry will be at least fifty grand!” “Robert, you’re full of it. Your girl’s as skinny as a rail.” “Who’d pay that much money?” “Bullshit! My girl’s slender!” “Besides, she’s obedient! If I tell her to go east, she won’t dare go west!” A burst of laughter followed. My heart remained unmoved. That evening at dinner, I crushed a bottle of disulfiram, an alcohol deterrent, and mixed it into Robert’s blood pressure medication bottle. The book said disulfiram, if consumed with alcohol, would trigger violent psychotic episodes within 5-10 minutes. Robert suspected nothing, grabbing a handful of pills and shoving them into his mouth, washing them down with a large gulp of the rotgut. “Why does this medicine taste a little bitter?” He smacked his lips, frowning. “Good medicine tastes bitter, Dad. This is imported, it works really well.” I lied without batting an eye. After a few more drinks, the medication kicked in. Robert became agitated, pacing around the room, his eyes bulging. “Ghosts! There are ghosts! That dead bitch is back!” “She’s here to claim my life!” He pointed at the empty corner, screaming and waving an empty liquor bottle. Leo and I huddled in the corner of the bed, watching him go mad with cold eyes, calculating that the medicine was indeed working! The next morning, Mr. Jenkins from the neighboring village came knocking. He was a local contractor and also a pimp. “Robert, Sarah’s not getting any younger, I see.” “That limp Mr. Davies from the next town is offering ten thousand dollars as a dowry…” My hand, washing clothes, abruptly stopped. To my surprise, Robert suddenly flew into a rage, smashing the bottle of liquor Mr. Jenkins had brought. “Get out! You old scumbag!” “Who said I’m selling my daughter?! My daughter is going to college!” He grabbed a shovel and went after Mr. Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins scrambled out of the shack. I was stunned. Late that night, I was woken by grinding teeth. I saw Leo sitting on the bed. Moonlight shone on his face. He held a rusty pair of scissors, hovering them over Robert’s head. I scrambled up, snatched the scissors, and clapped my hand over his mouth. “Are you crazy?! Didn’t we agree I’d be the one to do it!” I hissed into his ear. Leo turned his head to look at me, his face full of grievance. “Sarah, I don’t want to wait anymore. I’m afraid he’ll sell you again.” “I don’t want to be separated from you.” I hugged his frail body, tears streaming uncontrollably. “It won’t happen. I’ll never abandon you.” The next day, Robert sobered up. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at a photo of Leo and me. We were smiling happily in the picture; it was taken when Mom was still alive. A tear dropped onto the photo, landing on Mom’s face. “Sarah… take good care of your brother from now on… Dad’s a piece of trash…” “Dad’s sorry for you both…” He mumbled, his voice hoarse. I stood outside the door, listening to his repentance, my mind solely on that spiked bottle of liquor. The sky was gloomy, storm clouds gathered. On the construction site, the wind howled through the scaffolding. A thirty-story building, with only a few steel pipe railings. Robert was on the night shift today, guarding building materials on the rooftop. I used the excuse of bringing him food, and with Leo, slipped into the construction zone, avoiding all cameras. After climbing thirty flights of stairs, my legs were trembling. “Sarah, it’s here.” Leo pointed to the railing near the edge, his voice calm. Leo pulled an adjustable wrench from his backpack and handed it to me.

“Sarah, do it. Just two turns.” “No one will ever find out. It’ll just be an accident.” I took the wrench, my palms slick with sweat. I squatted down, gritting my teeth, and jammed the wrench onto the nut fixing the railing. The nut was rusted solid. I used too much force, and my fingernail snapped, bleeding. “My turn.” Leo pushed me aside, picked up a crowbar, and inserted it into the steel pipe’s connection point. With a soft “CRACK,” the weld snapped, and the steel pipe wobbled. We then poured a layer of used engine oil onto the steel pipe. Leo looked at the trap, a faint smile on his face. After all this, we packed up, ready to head back the way we came. As we reached the second-floor stairwell, a cough suddenly came from a dark corner. “Cough, cough… Who’s there! Trying to steal my rebar, huh?! Stop right there!” It was Robert’s voice. I grabbed Leo’s hand and was about to run for the exit. “Sarah? Leo? What are you two doing here?” Robert emerged from the shadows, holding a flashlight. The bright light blinded me. I instinctively tried to hide the backpack behind my back. “Dad… I… I saw it was going to rain today, so I brought you some warm clothes.” I stammered an explanation. Robert looked at us suspiciously, his gaze lingering on our muddy shoes. “Why didn’t you call me if you were bringing clothes?” “This construction site is full of hazards, what if you fall?” He grumbled, pulling a plastic bag from his pocket and stuffing it into my hand. “Take it! These are calcium supplements, for Leo.” “The kid’s too short.” I clutched the bag of calcium, still warm from his body heat. “Thank you, Dad. You… be careful up there, the wind’s strong.” “Don’t drink too much.” “Alright, alright, now hurry home and do your homework!” “You two just annoy me! You two burdens!” He waved a hand, turned, and walked upstairs, his back stooped. I watched his silhouette disappear, the cold wrench in my backpack digging painfully into my back. Late that night, the heavy rain arrived as expected, lightning tearing across the sky. Thunder shook the construction site, all sounds drowned out by the rain. Leo and I, wrapped in raincoats, climbed to the top floor. In the shack, Robert sat by the railing, holding a liquor bottle. I had spiked that bottle with half a bottle of disulfiram, and with the liquor’s strong taste, he hadn’t noticed. After drinking half a bottle of the doctored liquor, Robert’s eyes bulged, his face contorted in madness. “Drink! All of you, drink!” “Tonight, us two men won’t stop until we’re drunk! Hahaha!” Seeing us enter, he slammed the bottle onto the table. “Sarah! Leo! You’re just in time!” “Look, your mom’s here to pick us up! She’s flying in the sky!” He pointed at the night sky outside, a twisted smile on his face. Suddenly, his expression changed. “No! You bitch! How dare you bring another man here!” “You’re making a fool of me!” He grabbed a wooden stool and smashed it fiercely into the air. Wood chips flew. He turned, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Leo. “It’s you! You bastard!” “You’re the one who led your mom astray! You must be her and that other man’s bastard! You want to hurt me, don’t you!” He lunged forward, clutching a broken stool leg. “Run! Run!” I shouted, pushing Leo toward the railing. Leo screamed, turning to run, his steps faltering. “I’ll cleanse this family today!” “I’ll kill you two dogs! Die, both of you!” Robert ran wildly on the muddy ground, chasing Leo. Leo reached the railing, stopping abruptly. He turned to look at Robert, then leaned backward. Half his body instantly hung in the air. “Ah! Help!” Leo let out a scream. Robert reached him, saw Leo falling, and his expression froze. The murderous intent in his eyes instantly turned to terror. “Leo!” He roared, threw away the stool leg, and lunged without hesitation. He grabbed Leo’s collar tightly, trying to pull him back. The railing couldn’t bear the weight of two people. “CRACK!” A muffled snap. The steel pipe came loose, and the railing instantly collapsed. Robert lost his balance and tumbled over with the railing. Leo, however, using Robert’s push, flipped back onto the platform. He lay on the ground, panting, his eyes calm. Robert didn’t fall immediately; he grabbed onto the rebar at the edge of the platform. He hung suspended in mid-air, the heavy rain washing over his face. “Sarah… save me… pull your old man up…” “Please, pull your old man up…” He saw me, and desperation exploded in his eyes. I walked to the edge of the platform, looking down at him. Rainwater ran from my hair into my eyes, stinging. I slowly squatted down, reached out my hand, and placed it over his. “Dad, didn’t you say living was too tiring?” I said softly. Robert was stunned: “Sarah… what are you doing… I’m your dad…” “I’m your own father…” “I know.” I nodded, forcing a smile. “So, I’m sending you to see Mom. She’s been waiting for you down there for a long time.” With that, I exerted force, one by one, prying his fingers open. Just as he was about to fall, a sudden chill ran down my spine. Behind me, in the rain, I heard extremely faint footsteps. Robert stared intently at the shadow behind me, his face contorted with terror. “Run!!” The next second, before I could act, he actually let go of the hand he was using to save himself!

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For ten agonizing years, I was stalked by my former middle school classmate, Aria. She had absolutely zero concept of boundaries. She would show up uninvited to my basketball games with sports drinks, or wait outside in the freezing winter snow just to hand me a thermos of hot soup. She single-handedly ruined two of my relationships. Worse, she somehow brainwashed my coworkers, my friends, and even my own family with her sickening brand of “deep devotion.” They constantly lectured me, saying no one in this world would ever love me as much as she did. They told me I should just man up and put a ring on her finger. Finally, after I rejected her confessions for what felt like the millionth time, she turned around and started dating my buddy, Liam. “Derek, I don’t want to have a crush on you anymore,” she told me. My friends secretly placed bets on how long it would take for me to realize my true feelings and start crawling back to her on my hands and knees. They had absolutely no idea that I was thrilled. I was practically throwing a party in my head. I was finally free from that suffocating nightmare. 1 Aria and I went to the same middle school. We were in different grades and different classes, so we rarely ever crossed paths. But one afternoon during my eighth-grade year, I was walking home and stumbled upon Aria being harassed by some local street punks. I had inherited my dad’s genes and was already hitting six feet tall. Just standing there with a heavy scowl was enough to scare off those scrawny losers. Back then, Aria didn’t even look like a middle schooler. She was tiny, frail, with dull, stringy blonde hair. She was crying so hard her knees were buckling, so I figured I might as well just walk her to her front door. Later, Aria would tell me, “No one has ever been that nice to me.” I didn’t think much of it. It was just a random act of kindness. I had no idea I had just planted a ticking time bomb that would blow up my entire life. After that day, every time I glanced over my shoulder on my way home, I would see Aria trailing silently behind me. I figured we were walking in the same general direction anyway, and maybe she was just terrified those punks would come back. So, I silently allowed it. I even chased off a few creeps who tried to bother her again. When high school hit, I moved into the dorms at a prep academy across town. I thought my paths with Aria had permanently severed. I was dead wrong. On the very first day of my sophomore year, Aria materialized right outside my homeroom door. She had grown taller. She looked entirely different. She shoved a sickeningly sweet-scented pink envelope into my chest and sprinted away down the hall. Over the roaring cheers and catcalls of my classmates, I chased her down, shoved the letter back into her hands, and looked her dead in the eye. I told her I only cared about my GPA and getting into a good college. I had zero interest in dating. I thought I was being brutally clear. I thought a rejection that blunt would instantly sever whatever romantic delusion she had cooking in her head. It didn’t. She began weaving herself into every microscopic crack of my existence. If I played ball, she was on the bleachers with water. If I went to the cafeteria, she was fiercely guarding a seat for me. Even on holidays, she would stand like a statue outside my classroom, waiting to walk to the bus stop with me. I told her over and over again. I told her I didn’t need a stalker. I told her she was suffocating me. At first, she would just stare at the floor in silence. Then her eyes would turn bloodshot, and heavy tears would splash onto the back of her hands. “But I have feelings for you. I want us to be together. I want to do these things for you.” But I didn’t want it! Since polite declines and harsh warnings bounced right off her, I resorted to throwing the water she brought right into the trash. I treated her like she was invisible in the cafeteria. I started taking massive detours through town just to shake her off my trail before going home. But barely half an hour after I arrived, Aria would magically appear at the front doors of my apartment complex, her knees scraped and dripping blood from tripping on the pavement. She had actually tracked down my exact address and apartment number. My dad brought her upstairs and chewed me out relentlessly. My mom cleaned her wounds, applied bandages, and demanded to know why I was bullying a defenseless girl. I was practically screaming in frustration. “I didn’t touch her!” “Then why did she drag herself all the way here looking like this? If you didn’t do this, who did?” I was completely defenseless. Aria just sat on my family’s couch, letting the tears stream down her cheeks in silence, allowing my parents to rip me to shreds without offering a single word to clear my name. I stopped caring about saving her pride. I spilled the entire twisted truth right then and there. My dad just burst out laughing. “Damn, son. You’ve got some serious charm.” My mom just sighed in exhaustion. She pulled Aria aside for a private chat, and then she and my dad drove the girl home. When my mom got back, she told me Aria had promised never to pull a dangerous stunt like that again. I exhaled a massive breath, genuinely believing the nightmare was over. But I was naive. She just stopped coming to my house. At school, she was still a parasite, constantly finding ways to latch onto my side. It was impossible to describe the sheer disgust I felt during those years. The entire student body knew Aria was obsessed with me. My buddies would poke me in the ribs, joking about how relentlessly devoted she was, asking when I was finally going to cave. And those were the nice comments. Aria, on the other hand, became a prime target for severe bullying. When someone tipped me off and I pulled her out of a pitch-black gym storage closet, she buried her face in my chest and sobbed hysterically. I didn’t want to give her even a sliver of false hope. I physically pried her fingers off my shirt, ignoring her pathetic weeping, and shoved her an arm’s length away. “Aria, stop obsessing over me. Stop doing things that only ruin your own life. It’s embarrassing. It’s pathetic.” I glared at her. “Put all this psychotic energy into your grades, alright?” It was like she was physically incapable of understanding human speech. “If I get my grades up… if I get accepted into the exact same college as you, you’ll finally date me, right?” I stared at her tear-drenched, desperately hopeful face, and I felt sick to my stomach. I spun on my heel to walk away, but I stopped, whipped back around, and spat out the harshest words I could find. “Get this through your head. I will never have feelings for you!” “I don’t care what you do. I don’t like you! I will never, ever be your boyfriend!” “Do you understand me?” Aria stared at me like I had just shot her. She collapsed onto the gym floor, wailing. I pulled out my phone, called the dean of students, and walked away. When it came time to apply for colleges, I guarded my list like a state secret. Everyone around me finally started to realize that I genuinely despised this girl. When I finally moved out to the East Coast for a prestigious university in the city, I tasted the first breath of pure, unadulterated freedom. That freshman year was the absolute best year of my life. Then sophomore year started, and my personal hell resurrected. Aria had actually gotten accepted into my university. She even declared the exact same major. During the fall welcome ceremony, I was on stage giving a speech as a student representative. The second the crowd broke apart, Aria darted out from the masses and blocked my path. “Derek! You promised me back in high school. You said if I got into your college, you’d let me be your girlfriend.” “Well, I’m here now. So are we making this official?” She was grinning from ear to ear, staring at me like I was the center of the universe. My entire body went rigid. I was in full panic mode, turning to explain the situation to the girl standing next to me. But my girlfriend’s face had already turned to stone. She ripped her hand out of mine and walked away without looking back. 2 Yeah. I had a girlfriend. When Aria realized I was already taken, she started sobbing like I had committed some ultimate betrayal. “You promised me! You said you would wait for me!” “I love you so much! How could you do this to me?” I swear to God, I was losing my mind. When did I ever utter those words? I denied it repeatedly. I told everyone in earshot I never said anything remotely like that, and I never would. But Aria refused to listen. “I spent all these years studying just to keep my end of our promise! How can you just back out?” I forced my voice to stay level. I asked her exactly when, where, and how I had supposedly made this promise. If I said it, there had to be context. Aria just clammed up. She dropped into a crouch on the campus lawn, hugging her knees, crying so violently her shoulders shook. I felt the burning stares of dozens of students. I heard their whispers. For a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I knew my peaceful college life was officially dead and buried. My girlfriend dumped me that very night. I really liked her. I didn’t want my first real relationship to end in a fiery trainwreck, and I definitely didn’t want Aria destroying the peace I had fought so hard to build. I tried to explain the stalking to my girlfriend. I swore on my life I never made any pact with Aria. She said she believed me, but the damage was done. “I just wanted a normal college romance. I don’t want to be dragged into this insane toxic drama, and I definitely don’t want people calling me a homewrecker.” Her eyes were red when she apologized and handed back every gift I had ever bought her. I was completely hollowed out. I went to a dive bar off-campus and drank until my vision blurred. When the nausea finally hit, I opened my eyes and realized the blurry figure wiping my face with a damp towel in the booth was Aria. I stared into her obsessively infatuated eyes, and a flood of pure, unfiltered malice breached my sanity. Since she was so desperately obsessed with me, why not just date her? Everyone on campus already thought I was a toxic trashbag anyway. Why not lean into the role? I could date her, use the title of ‘boyfriend’ to completely shatter her, and inflict every ounce of pain she had caused me right back onto her. Maybe once her heart was entirely pulverized, she would finally leave me alone. But the twisted thought vanished as quickly as it came. I didn’t even understand the root of her delusion. If it was because I scared off some punks years ago, my endless cruelty since then should have snapped her back to reality. The only thing I knew for sure was that Aria was dangerously relentless. I had rejected her a thousand times, and she still lived in her own warped reality where her sacrifices mattered. If I actually gave her the title of a girlfriend, she would just dig her claws in deeper. The thought of spending my future chained to someone I violently resented made my skin crawl. When I sobered up, I sat her down. I told her I didn’t like her. I would never like her. I told her to stay the hell out of my life. I had recited that exact script countless times over the years. Her reaction was identical. She sat completely still. Her massive, hollow eyes stared at me with sickening sorrow as the tears dripped off her chin. “Why can’t you just like me?” “I’ve tried so hard. I’ve spent years doing everything for you. Why can’t you just give me a chance?” “Even just a tiny bit.” She looked incredibly pitiful. But all I felt was a raging inferno tearing through my chest, making me want to physically shatter her pathetic facade. What did she mean, ‘why’? You either click with someone, or you don’t. You can’t just forcefully grind your way into a romance like it’s a video game achievement. But Aria was immune to logic. She possessed a terrifying, infinite stamina when it came to stalking me. No matter how many times I broke her down, she would lick her wounds and throw herself right back into the fire. I stopped trying to reason with a psycho. I treated her like she didn’t exist. Thanks to my ex-girlfriend clearing the air, the rumors about me being a manipulative jerk slowly fizzled out. Aria’s reputation shifted, too. In less than six months, she went from being the tragic victim of a broken promise to the campus laughingstock, a desperate girl with zero self-respect. “She’s having a hard time. She’s a good girl, Derek. Even if you don’t want her, you don’t have to stomp all over her feelings.” That was Liam. He had been my closest friend back in high school. He went from understanding my misery to suddenly being completely captivated by Aria’s “undying loyalty.” He had tried to lecture me multiple times back then, telling me to go easy on her because she was a girl. I had distanced myself from him before graduation specifically because of that. But I never expected him to take a bus all the way to New York just to advocate for her. I looked at his deeply disappointed expression, catching the faint flicker of frustration and jealousy buried in his eyes. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces snapped together. “Liam. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” He didn’t panic. He just hesitated for a split second before owning it. “Yeah. I like her. She’s amazing. She…” “You’re the one who told her I promised to date her in college. Aren’t you?” Liam’s face hardened. “She was getting bullied every day because of you. Her grades were tanking. I just needed to give her a reason to keep fighting.” I drove my fist straight into his jaw. “If you wanted her to fight, you should have manned up and asked her out! Why the hell did you use my name?” “Do you have any idea that your little motivational lie cost me my relationship?!” Liam staggered back, then lunged at me, swinging wild. “So what?! You owe her!” Aria came sprinting out of nowhere to break us up. When she grabbed Liam’s arms, I used the opening to land three solid hooks to his face. Liam roared and tried to charge me again, but Aria threw herself right in front of me, shielding my body. “Liam! Don’t you dare touch him!” I saw the absolute heartbreak shatter Liam’s eyes, and I actually burst out laughing. What an absolute circus. I shoved Aria out of my personal space and laid it out bare. “I never said I’d date you. Ever. Liam made that up to motivate you, using my name as bait.” Aria froze. I chuckled bitterly. “Aria, he’s in love with you. Are you blind?” “I genuinely hope you two end up together. Go ruin someone else’s life. Really. Best of luck.” I turned and walked away. Aria screamed after me, sobbing, “Derek! You’re a monster!” And Liam just muttered, his voice cracking, “Aria…”

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