Category: English

I was in a car accident and lost my memory. When I woke up, everyone around me told me that Elliott Wellington, who had taken care of me for seven days and seven nights, loved me dearly and was my husband of five years. I believed it. Through our gentle interactions, I fell in love with him again and even had a daughter. While recovering after giving birth, I accidentally logged into his social media account. Those chat records spanning over two thousand days cut through the truth like knives. When I was in a car accident on a cheap bus, Elliott was buying first-class plane tickets for his female friend, Rebecca Wilson, who was also traveling. When I was suffering from morning sickness to the point of dehydration and anorexia, they were discussing what delicious meal he would cook for her next. When I was breaking down with postpartum depression, he stayed out all night because she claimed she was afraid of the dark. Rebecca knew I was his wife, yet she still acted as a mediator whenever I argued with Elliott. [Stella has been a housewife for so many years, only knowing how to do housework. She’ll never understand your intellectual world.] [Her limited perspective restricts her. Don’t hold it against her.] What angered me more were his replies. [You’re truly the only one who understands me!] He pretended to be devoted, and she acted innocent, but together they were methodically driving me insane. ***** My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. I slammed the phone face-down on the table, afraid to look anymore. Two years ago, I lost my memory in a car accident. Elliott said we had loved each other for five years, built on unconditional trust. That’s why I never questioned his whereabouts or checked his phone. But now I understood that this so-called trust was nothing but a scam. I took a deep breath and dialed the number I had pinned at the top of my contacts. But after several attempts, no one answered. I looked down. The messages on my phone screen kept flashing: [She’s calling me again. Can’t I have any personal space? She’s so annoying!] [That’s just how Stella is. Bear with her a little longer. It’ll get better once she recovers.] [You’re so understanding. Come over to my place later. I specially ordered some fish oil supplements from abroad to boost your nutrition.] In the cold light of the phone screen, a photo showed several boxes of glucosamine neatly arranged, alongside some exotic fruits I’d never seen before. I suddenly remembered my severe anemia during late pregnancy. The doctor recommended expensive vitamins, but Elliott just bought me some cheap ones. “They’re all vitamins. They’re pretty much the same anyway.” During labor, I fainted repeatedly from the pain, but he told the nurses to cancel the epidural. “Just bear with it. The epidural isn’t good for the baby.” Thinking about how hard Elliott worked to earn money, I endured the excruciating pain of full cervical dilation. But in reality, all his careful calculations were just for another woman. Looking at the screen showing missed calls, anger and despair washed over me. Just then, a baby’s cry brought me back to reality. I got out of bed despite the pain and cradled my daughter from the bassinet beside the bed. In that moment, she stopped crying and grabbed my hand with her innocent eyes. Her grip was gentle, yet it made my heart skip a beat. I thought again about those chat records. I bit my lip so hard it bled. I knew I needed to confront Elliott immediately, for the sake of our shattered marriage and our daughter. Holding my daughter tight, I fought through the abdominal pain and walked out of the hospital, taking a cab home. As soon as I reached our front door, I heard faint laughter from inside. “Elliott, take down that wedding photo from the wall. It makes me sad to look at it.” I stood at the doorway. My fingers gripped the doorframe tightly, barely keeping my weak legs steady. I remembered how, when I woke up with amnesia, Elliott had held my hand and repeatedly told me sweet stories behind each photo. And now, he was violently dismantling the last picture with a screwdriver. Rebecca was lounging on the sofa, playing with her phone. Her toenails were painted with polish, and she was stepping on my face in the wedding photo. My daughter, sensing my emotions, burst into violent tears. Elliott saw me and looked surprised. “Stella, why are you suddenly back?” He instinctively shielded Rebecca behind him. I bent down to pick up the yellowed fragments of the photo at my feet. The pieces crumbled at the slightest touch, just like his casual promises. Elliott quickly explained, “Stella, this is my friend, Rebecca Wilson. She just got back from Iceland, and she’s having some serious withdrawal symptoms.” “She asked to stay at our place for a few days. Since you were recovering at the hospital, I let her come. You don’t mind, right?” He seemed to be asking for my opinion, but he had already made the decision without me. I thought I had prepared myself mentally, but when I personally confirmed everything, a wave of pain surged through my heart. I held my daughter tighter and said hoarsely, “Elliott, let’s get a divorce.”

Elliott frowned deeply. “I just invited my friend to stay at our house for a few days. Is that really grounds for divorce?” “Friend? Do friends say goodnight to each other at three in the morning every day? When she had menstrual cramps, you personally took care of her and gave her massages.” “She even moved into our home and directed my husband to take down our wedding photos. If I hadn’t come back, would you two have started having sex?” As soon as I finished speaking, he slapped me hard across the face. My cheek burned with pain. I stood there stunned, holding my face, looking at the man I once loved deeply. Now, he seemed like a complete stranger. “Stella, I’m sorry.” Elliott panicked instantly. He reached out to touch my face, but I dodged his hand. Rebecca also stood up, tears silently streaming down her face. “Stella, you’ve misunderstood. Elliott wanted to surprise you with a new wedding photoshoot after you were discharged from the hospital, so he asked me to come over as a consultant.” Then, she held up her phone to show me reference photos of wedding dresses. Elliott chimed in, “That’s right! Can you stop thinking the worst of people?” If I hadn’t seen those chat messages, I might have believed them. I let out a cold laugh, my gaze falling on the diamond necklace around Rebecca’s neck. Elliott had promised to buy me that necklace for my birthday. I had been looking forward to it, but on my birthday, all I received was a yellowed, withered rose. Yet now, this necklace worth thirty-eight thousand dollars hung proudly around Rebecca’s neck. At this point, I had nothing left to say. Without another glance at them, I picked up my daughter and headed toward the bedroom. Since there was no place for me here, there was no reason to stay. Elliott caught up and grabbed my wrist. “Stella, what are you doing?” I yanked my hand away forcefully but accidentally bumped into the cabinet behind me. Just then, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and I felt a warm wetness between my legs. The postpartum bleeding that had almost stopped now erupted along with my despair. “Stella!” The next moment, I closed my eyes and lost consciousness. When I woke up, I saw the stark white ceiling of a hospital room. I sat up frantically. Only after seeing my daughter still in the bassinet did I breathe a sigh of relief. “Stella, you’re awake.” I turned to see the worried faces of my parents. I felt a wave of sadness. Just as tears welled up, I saw Elliott acting as if nothing had happened, lovingly bringing a spoonful of pumpkin soup to my lips. “Stella, you’re finally awake. Have some soup while it’s hot.” For a moment, I was disoriented, as if transported back to two Christmases ago when I woke up after my car accident. Back then, he was just as gentle and attentive. But Elliott’s next words instantly pulled me back to reality. “Rebecca made this soup especially for you. You really misunderstood us.” I turned my head away, causing the spoonful of pumpkin soup to spill onto the pristine white sheets. “I told you, Elliott, I want a divorce.” The atmosphere instantly became tense. Elliott’s expression darkened, but still mindful of my parents’ presence, he patiently emphasized, “There’s nothing between Rebecca and me. If you don’t like her, I’ll limit my interactions with her.” He reached out to hold my hand, but I quickly pulled away. My mother suddenly put down the fruit she was holding, her voice carrying that familiar tone of reproach. “Stella, you’re a mother now. How can you still be so stubborn?” My father frowned. “Whatever happened, you and Elliott should talk it through. There’s no need for divorce!” Elliott hid behind them, acting as if he was the one who had been wronged.

The attitude of my own parents only made me feel more heartbroken. These past two Christmases, they’ve been constantly pressuring me to have children. I nearly died during childbirth, but when they heard I had a daughter, they all made excuses not to come help me. I had to take care of myself while also comforting my daughter, exhausting myself to the point of collapse. But they turned a blind eye to all of this. Instead, as soon as they heard I wanted a divorce, they rushed to persuade me to compromise. My mom held my hand, softening her tone. “Stella, couples need to learn to understand each other. This isn’t such a big mistake. If you just let it go, the whole thing will be over, won’t it?” My dad chimed in, “Exactly! You’re not getting any younger. Hurry up and give Elliott a son, in case something happens later.” They only focused on making demands, seemingly forgetting that I had almost lost my life giving birth. Elliott served pumpkin soup again, pretending to be considerate, “Stella, just focus on recovering. Don’t worry about making money, I’ve got that covered.” Watching him act so attentive in front of my parents made me sick. I knocked the plate of pumpkin soup to the floor, saying coldly, “Elliott, I will divorce you.” Elliott couldn’t dodge in time. His hand was scalded with several blisters, and his expression immediately darkened. “Stella, can you stop making a scene?” My parents exploded in anger, snatching away my phone and shouting, “As long as we’re around, you’ll never get a divorce!” With that, they stormed out, slamming the door behind them. Before leaving, they instructed the nurse to keep a close eye on me, not letting me wander around. Immediately after, Elliott’s attitude changed. He angrily threw the plate down and reached for our daughter in the cradle. “You’re emotionally unstable. Our daughter shouldn’t stay with you. I’m taking her away!” I stared in shock, lunging forward to take my daughter back. “Don’t touch my child!” But he pushed me hard, causing my lower back to hit the bed rail. I instantly felt dizzy. “Rebecca is a child psychologist. She knows better than you how to care for children. You just stay in the hospital and get better!” With that, he left with our daughter without looking back. I leaned against the bed for quite a while to recover. My whole body ached as if it would fall apart, but it couldn’t compare to my heartbreak. I had thought I could at least fight for my right to divorce, but now I couldn’t even protect my own child. Thinking about my daughter’s safety, I felt uneasy. That night, during the nurses’ shift change, I snuck out of the hospital. The early spring wind was still chilly, making me shiver all over. I was wearing only a thin piece of clothing. Without my phone, I could only run home against the cold wind. My sense of unease grew stronger. At the next corner, my steps suddenly halted. In a five-star restaurant in the distance sat two familiar figures. Elliott was attentively pouring red wine for Rebecca, while in the stroller beside them, my daughter was crying incessantly. There was also a gift box on the table. With my sharp eyes, I immediately recognized it as the heirloom diamond bracelet I had brought from my hometown when I got married. Elliott carefully placed it on Rebecca’s wrist, gently adjusting it for her. “Rebecca, Stella is being too unreasonable. I apologize to you.” Looking at that high-quality diamond bracelet, I clenched my fists tightly. Even if I had amnesia, I would still remember how incredibly important that bracelet was to me. But now, Elliott had casually given it to someone else. Rebecca suddenly burst into tears, saying weakly, “But Stella wants to divorce you. Maybe I should disappear for a while.” My daughter’s crying interrupted her performance. Annoyed, she pinched my daughter’s delicate little face and was about to pour wine into her mouth. Elliott quickly stepped forward to stop her. “Rebecca, she’s less than a month old. I’m afraid she can’t drink alcohol.” Rebecca flashed a sweet smile, saying lightly, “It’s fine. A little alcohol helps children sleep better. I know children best. I’m doing this for her own good. Elliott, don’t you trust me?” Her pitiful look softened his heart. He stopped trying to prevent her. My heart skipped a beat. Just before Rebecca could pour the wine into my daughter’s mouth, I rushed into the restaurant and pushed her away. “Let go of my daughter!” Rebecca stumbled, and the bottle of wine smashed hard against my head. Blood mixed with alcohol ran down my face. I’m allergic to alcohol, so half my face began to break out in red hives. But I couldn’t worry about myself; I was only concerned about my daughter, who had cried herself to dehydration. After confirming she was unharmed, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Elliott, behind me, instantly flew into a rage, shouting, “Stella, didn’t I tell you to stay in the hospital? Why did you run out again?” “Should I have stayed in the hospital so you could abuse my child here?” I was shaking with anger, instinctively holding my daughter tighter. My daughter stopped crying when she saw me, just looking at me with innocent eyes. Seeing her confused expression made me even more furious. “She’s less than a month old, yet you dared to force alcohol down her throat. Are you trying to kill her?!” The other diners’ expressions immediately changed, looking at Elliott and Rebecca with contempt. Rebecca stood helplessly to the side, acting as if she had been wronged. “Stella, you misunderstood. Look, we brought your daughter to dinner, worried something might happen to her. How could we possibly give her alcohol?” Elliott quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. “She’s right. Honey, your emotions are unstable after giving birth, you must have seen wrong. Rebecca was trying to feed her milk.” As he spoke, he waved the now-cold baby bottle in his hand, putting on a show of being a caring father. I felt sick and violently knocked the bottle to the floor. “Elliott, this is the last time I’m telling you. We’re getting divorced. I’ll see you in court tomorrow at eight!” The next second, I ran out with my daughter, hailed a taxi, and headed straight to the law firm. When the staff at the firm saw me disheveled and holding a newborn, they were all startled. I didn’t care about anything else and urgently said, “Hello, please help me draft a divorce agreement!” After hearing my story, the staff were filled with righteous indignation, eager to teach Elliott a lesson on my behalf. “Mrs. Edwards, don’t worry. The divorce agreement will be ready tomorrow. We’ll assign our best lawyer to represent you.” After days of exhausting running around, their caring words moved me to tears. “Good, I’ll come pick it up tomorrow.” After thanking the law firm staff, I left with my daughter. But just then, an angry roar like thunder exploded behind me. “Stella!” I trembled, instinctively holding my daughter more protectively. As I turned around, Elliott had already stormed up to me, looking furious. Behind him followed Rebecca, her face dark with malice. “Stella, why are you running around with our daughter this late? Come back with me now!” He grabbed my wrist so hard it made me gasp in pain. Rebecca quickly stepped forward, pretending to persuade me, “Stella, Elliott has been looking for you all night. Do you know how worried we were? “Even if you don’t think about yourself, you should consider your daughter and Elliott.” I struggled desperately, but Elliott’s grip made me stumble. His face was distorted with rage. “Stella, you want a divorce, right? I agree, but our daughter and property will be mine! “Once you’re without this family, you won’t survive!” My daughter woke up frightened in my arms and began to cry weakly. I lowered my voice, afraid of scaring her. “Keep dreaming! I’ve already applied for a restraining order. You won’t separate us!” With that, I bent down and bit Elliott’s wrist hard. He let go of me in pain. I immediately turned and ran toward the crowded area of the plaza. “Help! Someone’s trying to take my baby!” I hadn’t fully recovered, so after running a short distance, Rebecca caught up and grabbed me. She was frantic. “Stella, since you want to make a scene, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Blinding headlights illuminated Rebecca’s twisted face. I stared in horror. In the second before the vehicle was about to hit us, I tightly shielded my daughter in my arms. In the moment of excruciating pain, I heard Elliott’s heart-wrenching scream. Then, I lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I saw the stark white ceiling of the hospital. Elliott rushed to my bedside, his eyes bloodshot. “Stella! You’re finally awake. I…” I hoarsely interrupted him, saying distantly, “Elliott, I remember everything about what happened two Christmases ago.”

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My husband, Edward Murphy, after failing his SAT, took our family’s last three hundred dollars and went south to start a business. Three Christmases later, he returned broke, sobbing over my spaghetti. “Darling, I’ve failed you and our child. I’m in debt that I’ll never be able to repay in this lifetime.” I looked at our son, Aaron Murphy, burning with fever in my arms, then slipped the three hundred and twenty dollars I’d earned from selling my blood into Edward’s hand. “Take this for now. Aaron and I can hold on a little longer.” Edward nodded, tears in his eyes. He walked away unsteadily, his silhouette hunched as if crushed by the weight of our entire family. That day, I had just taken a stack of hundred-dollar bills from selling my kidney to buy special medicine for Aaron. However, I saw Edward holding hands with a woman and a child, shopping together. Only then did I realize he had already become the village’s first millionaire and had started a new family. ***** “Hey, Mr. Murphy, you’ve brought your wife and child shopping again?” The shopping center manager, Eric Davis, approached with a smile, clearly eager to make another big sale. Edward wore a crisp white cotton shirt and polished leather shoes, completely different from the man who had cried about being poor over my spaghetti three months ago. But his voice was unmistakably familiar. “Pack up everything Kelly just picked out.” Eric was delighted and couldn’t help but flatter him. “Mr. Murphy, as our county’s first millionaire, you’re so generous.” My husband had become a millionaire, and as his wife, I was hearing this news from someone else’s mouth. I looked down at my plain clothes, washed so many times they had faded, while the wound on my side burned like fire. My pocket held the money from selling my kidney. Besides buying Aaron’s medicine, I had planned to give Edward the rest to pay off his debts. Now, it all seemed like a cruel joke. I clenched my fists and called out hoarsely, “Edward!” Seeing me, Edward panicked instantly, instinctively hiding his son, Daniel Murphy, behind him. “Ma’am, you must have the wrong person.” His voice suddenly pitched higher. His tone felt completely unfamiliar to me. His mistress, Kelly Simmons, glanced at me sideways, then burst into a shrill laugh. “Now even beggars are coming to the shopping center.” “I’m Edward’s wife…” Before I could finish, Edward cut me off harshly, “Don’t talk nonsense! This is my wife. Don’t mistake me for someone else.” Then he pulled Kelly closer to him. She smugly clung to his arm. “Edward, is she one of those poor relatives from your hometown who heard you became a millionaire and came running to borrow money?” I stepped forward, and suddenly the wound on my waist felt like it was tearing open. “Edward, you may not recognize me. But do you not recognize your own son?” Aaron peeked out from behind me, tears in his eyes, timidly calling Edward “Daddy.” Edward narrowed his eyes. Before he could speak, Daniel jumped forward. “Don’t lie! This is my dad!” I stared at Daniel. He had dimples and looked exactly like Edward when he was younger at Christmas. Daniel seemed to be about two years older than Aaron. My heart sank. Edward said he went south to start a business, but he likely had another woman all along. I stepped forward, trembling. “Edward, all these Christmases I worked hard to earn money to help pay off your debts. Yet you treat me so cruelly.” Edward looked extremely uncomfortable and remained silent for a while. Kelly bit her lip and pushed me. “Stop acting! Edward is a millionaire now, and not just anyone can claim a connection to him!” I fell to the ground, causing the money I had exchanged with my life to scatter from my pocket. Kelly got excited and bent down to pick it up. “This is my hard-earned money. You can’t take it!” I struggled to grab it back, but she stepped on the back of my hand. “Wow, these bills even have sequential serial numbers. Maybe you stole Edward’s money. I’ll just take it back to buy Daniel a piano.” “Give my mom’s money back!” Aaron cried, lunging forward to bite Kelly’s wrist. She screamed in pain and kicked him. “Get away, you little bastard!” Her foot landed right in Aaron’s chest. I watched helplessly as he flew like a rag doll, the back of his head smashing hard against the corner of the counter. In an instant, blood spread across the floor, and his tiny body convulsed uncontrollably. I crawled over, bleeding myself, screaming in agony, “Aaron!” “Edward!” I looked up desperately, only to see Edward hurriedly leaving with Kelly and Daniel. “Please, save Aaron.” Edward’s steps faltered briefly. Just when I thought he might turn back, Daniel tugged at his sleeve. “Dad, I want honey cake.” “Sure. I’ll buy you some.” He walked away with Kelly and Daniel without looking back at us once. As the bloodstain grew larger, I trembled as I held Aaron, feeling utterly hopeless. Perhaps marrying Edward at all costs was a mistake from the beginning.

“Please, save my son.” I collapsed on the ground, desperately begging passersby for help. But they all cleared a path, as if trying to avoid misfortune. Aaron’s face was as white as paper, and his breathing was extremely faint. I tore off a clean piece of my clothing with trembling hands, but his bleeding wouldn’t stop. “Hang in there! I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” I tried to lift him, but my legs felt like cotton. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stand up. Just as I was about to give up hope, a pair of strong hands took Aaron from me. “Follow me.” In the end, thanks to Dr. Julian Foster who was out making house calls, I managed to get Aaron to the hospital. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. A nurse muttered while cutting gauze, “If you’d brought him in half an hour later, he would’ve either died or ended up brain-damaged.” “Remember to pay the thirty-dollar deposit and hospitalization fee.” I trembled. The money I’d gotten from selling my kidney had been stolen, and I only had a few coins left in my pocket. “I’ll go get the money right away,” I said, forcing myself to stand up before suddenly feeling dizzy. The nurse pulled back my blood-soaked clothing and screamed, “Are you trying to kill yourself? The wound on your waist is infected. Where’s your husband?” My husband… since the moment I discovered his affair, he might as well have been dead to me. I shook my head. “I’m fine.” Ignoring the nurse’s protests, I gritted my teeth and rushed out into the rain, enduring the excruciating pain. By the time I reached Edward’s dormitory, it was the middle of the night. Through the heavy rain, I could see Edward holding Daniel up high in his arms, while Kelly laughed happily beside them. They looked like the perfect family. I took a deep breath and pounded on the wooden door. The next second, someone yanked it open. When Edward saw me, his expression immediately darkened. “It’s the middle of the night! Audrey, stop making trouble.” I shouted, “Give me back my money! That’s Aaron’s life-saving money!” Kelly sauntered over and wrapped her arms around Edward’s waist, giving me a sidelong glance. “What life-saving money? That money was used to pay off debts. Besides, maybe your money was illegally obtained.” Furious, I reached out to slap her, but Edward caught my wrist. He forcefully pushed my hand away. “Audrey, don’t make a scene here!” “Edward, Aaron is your own son! He’s in the hospital now and needs money for surgery! Are you really not going to save him?” Finally, my tone turned to pleading. Edward frowned deeply, staring at me with scrutinizing eyes. “Wasn’t it just a minor injury? How could it be that serious?” During all these days he’d been gone, Aaron and I had suffered tremendously, yet here he was, making sarcastic remarks. I stared at the expensive Rolex on his wrist and suddenly laughed. “Edward, don’t forget that when your mother died, I was the one who sold my jewelry to pay for her funeral.” “Don’t bring up the past!” Edward looked embarrassed and glanced back at Kelly. “Fine, wait here for me a moment.” With that, he turned and went inside. Kelly glared at me fiercely before slamming the door shut. The cold rain seeped through my collar and into my clothes, making the wound on my waist feel like it was tearing open, but that was nothing compared to the chill rising from the depths of my heart. After what seemed like forever, the door opened again. Edward shoved a crumpled envelope into my hands. “This is all I have. Now go.” My heart skipped a beat. With trembling hands, I opened the envelope to find only a few crumpled bills inside. I jerked my head up. “8.6 dollars? Edward, aren’t you a millionaire?!” Edward frowned and impatiently cut me off, “Everything I’ve achieved today is thanks to Kelly’s support. Since you didn’t contribute, you should be grateful for what you get!” I was shaking with anger and threw the money in his face. “You bastard! If anything happens to Aaron, I won’t let you two off even if it kills me.” With no other choice, I stumbled to an illegal clinic and sold my blood to barely cover Aaron’s surgery costs. “This is for Aaron’s expenses…” I had just handed the money to the nurse when I passed out. When I woke up, I met Julian’s gaze. He seemed hesitant to speak. “If you keep damaging your health like this, you might lose your life first.” I managed a weak smile. “I have no other choice.” After eating a few bites of oatmeal, I wearily walked to Aaron’s hospital room. He was already awake. His thin little face turned toward me. “Mom, did Dad abandon us?”

“I dreamed that Dad took Daniel to the new amusement park, and they even had expensive ice cream at the entrance. “Now that Dad has a more obedient child, will he ever come see me again?” Aaron’s voice grew increasingly faint. I bit my lower lip, tears nearly falling. That day, when Edward showed up with Kelly and Daniel, it broke both Aaron’s and my hearts. Afraid Aaron would overthink, I could only offer a hollow explanation, “Your dad is just busy. He’ll come see you once he’s done with work.” I’d repeated this lie so many times that even I found it ridiculous. Aaron didn’t respond. He pulled out a half-eaten, stale cookie from under his pillow. “Mom, this is for you. The nurse gave it to me.” The cookie had already gone soft. Obviously, he’d been saving it for quite some time. Looking at his thin wrist, I shook my head, feeling tears well up. “I’m not hungry. You keep it.” Before I could finish, Aaron clutched the hem of my shirt, as if afraid I might disappear. “Mom, you’ll always stay with me, right?” At that moment, the grief I’d been holding back finally erupted. I pulled him into my arms. “I will never leave you, Aaron. When you get better, I’ll take you to the amusement park too.” Just then, the wooden door to the hospital room swung open. I looked up to see Edward standing in the doorway, holding a plastic mesh bag with two nearly rotten apples. He looked more energetic than last time. Clearly, Kelly was taking good care of him. With a forced smile, he strode over. “Aaron, I came to see you.” Aaron’s eyes lit up like stars. He struggled to sit up. I stood and positioned myself in front of his bed, saying quietly, “Let’s talk outside.” The hospital corridor was empty. I clenched my fists and said coldly, “Just tell me what you want.” Edward’s fake smile had vanished, replaced by a fawning expression. He wrung his hands, avoiding my gaze. “Audrey, I know I’ve wronged you and Aaron, but this is a matter of life and death.” My heart sank. An ominous feeling swept over me. “Daniel is sick and needs a kidney transplant. The specialist from Washington says Aaron’s kidney is a perfect match.” The world seemed to freeze, with only Edward’s broken voice continuing. “It’s just one kidney from Aaron, it won’t affect him at all. The specialist has arranged everything, we just need your consent…” I finally snapped back to reality and said sharply, “Edward, have you lost your mind? Aaron is still on penicillin. The doctor said…” Edward cut me off angrily, “I’m his father. You’re just a selfish hick who doesn’t understand anything!” I trembled all over. I thought he felt guilty and came to see Aaron, but I never imagined he wanted Aaron’s kidney! The doctor had said the worst thing for Aaron’s recovery would be any additional damage to his body. I wiped my face, the back of my hand wet with cold tears. “Am I selfish? I married you when I was eighteen and had Aaron at twenty. You were away working for three Christmases. Yet when you came back, you brought a mistress and an illegitimate son. “Now you want to sacrifice Aaron to save him?!” “Shut up!” Edward slapped me hard, making me dizzy. I leaned against the mottled wall, a trace of blood at the corner of my mouth. Seeing the bright red handprint on my face, he looked uneasy. “You shouldn’t insult Daniel…” I slowly turned my face back, wiping away the blood from my lip. “I want a divorce. We’re going to court today.” Edward froze for a moment, then sneered, “Divorce? You’re just a useless woman. If you leave me, are you planning to beg on the streets? Without me, you wouldn’t survive!” My voice trembled but remained firm. “I’d sell my kidney or my blood to pay back the money, but I will never let you hurt Aaron!” Just then, Kelly came running down the hallway in her plastic sandals. The concealer on her face couldn’t hide her dark circles. “Edward, how’s everything going?” she asked softly, completely ignoring me. Edward shook his head grimly. Only then did Kelly look at me, suddenly bursting into tears. “Audrey, everything is my fault, but Daniel is innocent!” I watched her performance coldly, unmoved. She suddenly lunged forward and grabbed my hands. “Is it because I was too harsh last time, and you resent me? I apologize, okay? I’m just begging you to save Daniel!” As she was about to continue pleading, Edward pulled her into his arms. He turned to glare at me and shouted, “Audrey, you don’t have a choice today! I will take Aaron’s kidney for Daniel!” Before I could react, four muscular men in blue uniforms suddenly emerged from the shadows of the hallway, quickly surrounding me. I backed away in terror, but one of them grabbed my arm. “What are you doing? This is a hospital!” Edward leaned close to my ear and said, “Specialists from Washington are waiting at the hotel. This surgery must happen!” I kicked hard toward his groin, but someone knocked me out from behind. The last thing I heard was Aaron crying out my name… I don’t know how long I was unconscious. Suddenly, I was awakened by excruciating pain in my wrists. Opening my eyes, I found myself in a dim storage room, my hands and feet bound with rough rope, unable to move. The wooden door creaked open. Kelly walked in with a cup, her face wearing an eerie smile. “Have some water.” When I turned away, she suddenly grabbed my braid and yanked me backward. “Who do you think you are? You and your son are worth less than a donkey!” Thinking of Aaron still in the hospital, I twisted in panic. “Please, Aaron is just a child. He can’t lose his kidney! I’ll divorce Edward. I won’t bother you anymore after that.” Kelly smiled triumphantly, “It’s too late to beg now. Come in, boys! Let’s give her a good time!” Three burly men ducked into the room, grinning maliciously. “What are you going to do?” I desperately shrank back, but the wall was behind me—there was nowhere to retreat. “Once you’re ruined, Edward won’t want you anymore!” With that, Kelly slammed the storage room door shut. When one thug’s rough hand touched my neck, I headbutted him hard in the nose. “Bitch, I’ll kill you!” I was slapped several times until my head was ringing. As I watched my clothes being torn, I felt utterly hopeless. Just then, a commotion erupted outside the storage room. While the thugs were distracted, I rolled toward a woodpile and found a sharp piece of wood. Despite my fingers being cut and bleeding, I felt no pain. After cutting through the rope, I charged at them wielding the wooden stick. I can’t remember how I made it to the cornfield afterward. All I could think about was Aaron’s pale face. I had lost my cloth shoes. The soles of my feet were cut and bleeding from the sharp stones, but I didn’t dare stop for a moment. When I finally reached the hospital, breathless, the red light above the operating room had just gone out. Edward leaned against the wall smoking a cigarette and sneered, “I told you Aaron would be fine, but you had to…” His words were cut off by the specialist coming through the door. “I’m sorry. Aaron suffered severe bleeding during surgery…”

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When my husband Patrick Hastings was having dinner with several colleagues, his childhood friend Hazel Walker, who had just returned to town, fell into his arms in a drunken state. “Patrick, you’ve done so well for yourself. If I hadn’t joined that rural volunteer program back then, I would be your wife now!” Seeing my face darken, she suddenly let out a flirtatious laugh. “What? Don’t tell me Olivia doesn’t know about the Christmases we spent together?” “Patrick, you’re so frustrating. Do you think I’m not good enough, or have you been in love with me all these Christmases?” I smiled and asked, “You just got divorced and you’re already looking for a man. Why don’t we get divorced, and then you two can discuss this in bed?” ***** Everyone in the living room laughed teasingly, “Wow, Mr. Hastings, you’ve got quite a past, haven’t you?” I walked out of the kitchen and slammed the porcelain plate down hard on the wooden table. Patrick immediately pushed Hazel away, looking nervous. “Hazel’s upset about her divorce. Try to understand her. Don’t be angry.” She wasn’t bothered at all and gently punched his chest. “It’s the truth. If we hadn’t broken up, our children would be in elementary school by now.” “Divorce isn’t a big deal. I’m not like those women who revolve around men.” Patrick completely missed her hint. “Make a couple more dishes. Fry an egg for Hazel too.” Looking at all the dishes we couldn’t even afford to eat at Christmas, I remained silent with a cold expression. Suddenly the landline rang. I wiped my hands and answered. An anxious voice came from the other end. “Mrs. Hastings, your daughter has a high fever. Come quickly!” I untied my apron and went to pull Patrick. “Come with me to pick up Ellie from kindergarten. She has a fever and needs an IV!” Hazel was displeased and grabbed his sleeve. “A fever isn’t a serious illness. Once Ellie sweats it out, she’ll be fine. That’s how country kids get through it. Olivia’s raising her to be too delicate, which isn’t good.” “Patrick, we rarely get together like this. If you leave, we won’t feel comfortable staying here.” Seeing Patrick not moving at all, I became angry. “Patrick, is your lover more important than your daughter? She—” He frowned and interrupted me, “Can you not speak so harshly? She’s not my lover.” “Hazel suffered a lot when she joined the rural volunteer program. Now she’s divorced too. What’s wrong with me taking care of her?” Hazel came to grab my arm. “Olivia, don’t be angry. We spent many Christmases together before, but our relationship isn’t inappropriate now.” In my anger, I shook her off and asked Patrick, “Are you coming or not?” Hazel stumbled and fell to the ground, knocking over the wine on the table. The wine flowed down her fashionable dress, revealing her red bra. She looked quite disheveled. But my faded, patched work clothes looked even more ridiculous. Patrick helped Hazel up, very angry. “Olivia, apologize to her!” Soaking wet, she blushed shyly and grabbed his hand, pressing it against her body. “Help me wipe it off. This is the dress you just bought for me!” He actually bent down to help her clean up. I laughed bitterly. “Patrick, your friend just got divorced and is throwing herself at you, and you’re willing to take care of her.” “Why don’t we get divorced, so you two can get in bed and talk about love?” I didn’t look at them again and walked out. Realizing his behavior was inappropriate, Patrick dropped the towel and followed me out. Hazel suddenly called from inside our house, “Patrick, my stomach hurts badly. Do you still have those pills you gave me last time?” Standing at the doorway, I watched Patrick go back, frantically searching through the cabinets. Those pills were ones he had stood in line all night to buy. I had always treasured them, never wanting to use them. Under the bicycle shed, I gritted my teeth as I unlocked my bike. At some point, it started raining, and the raindrops flowed down my face, making me feel cold and bitter. Patrick ran out, grabbing the handlebar with one hand and reaching for the key with the other. “Olivia, give me the bicycle. I need to take Hazel back to her dormitory.” The wind swept across my cheeks, making them sting, numbing the dull pain in my heart. I firmly held onto the bicycle seat. “Ellie has a fever of 102 degrees. Is she less precious to you than Hazel?” Patrick roared, “Stop being unreasonable! How serious can a fever be? Hazel is all alone. What if something happens to her?” He yanked the bicycle away and straddled the seat. I was pulled forward and fell into the mud. Hazel ran out, skillfully sitting sideways on the back of the bicycle, her arms wrapped around his waist. He pedaled hard, quickly disappearing into the rain.

I limped to the kindergarten to find my daughter, Ellie Hastings, standing under the eaves. Her little face was flushed red with fever. I couldn’t help but cry. I wrapped her in my arms and ran outside, shielding her from the rain with my clothes. The hospital was a mile away from the factory. Even cycling would take twenty minutes. Now my knee was in excruciating pain, and my water-soaked canvas shoes felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. I persisted halfway there, but suddenly Ellie began to convulse. Terrified, I ignored the danger and rushed into the middle of the road to flag down a pickup truck. The kind driver then went out of his way to take us to the hospital. The doctor on duty quickly gave Ellie an injection to reduce her fever and started an IV. He looked reproachfully at my soaked clothes. “If you’d brought her in any later, she would have developed pneumonia. Where’s her father? Why isn’t he here?” I shook my head, not wanting to say more. He sighed and took out a clean set of hospital clothes from the cabinet for me. “Change into these, or you’ll get sick too.” Ellie’s fever subsided a bit. She struggled to open her eyes and, holding my hand, asked, “Mom, does Dad not want me anymore?” My hand trembled. Then, noticing the sympathetic glance from the woman in the next bed, I quickly said, “Of course not. Your dad is busy at the factory. I’m here with you.” She was clearly disappointed, but she nodded and forced a smile. “Ellie, you need to finish your IV quickly. Your dad promised to take you to buy a new pencil case after school.” These past two Christmases, our lives had improved somewhat, but when Ellie was born, we were going through our most difficult time. That’s why she’s been so heartbreakingly mature from a young age. I’ve never deliberately deceived her because of her young age. But about everything that happened today, I could only keep her in the dark. I looked at the bag sewn from old clothes nearby and felt sad. “I can buy it for you too, Ellie.” Tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly tilted her head up. “Mom, but it’s always just you picking me up. The other kids say I’m a child without a father.” I was stunned. Ellie had never told me this before. “Ellie, I’ll do whatever you want. Your dad and I will pick you up together from now on.” I felt even more bitter, but I could only agree for now. After Ellie happily fell into a deep sleep, a nurse handed me a bill. “Please go pay this.” I searched all my pockets, but I usually spent all my money on necessities. Now I had less than ten dollars. This was money I’d saved for two months to buy Ellie a new backpack. The nurse noticed my predicament and sighed, “You can owe it for now. Just remember to pay tomorrow.” The rain was easing up. I leaned against the bed, my heart as heavy as a stone. When Ellie woke up, I was gently patting her back when I suddenly noticed a bruise on her lower back. “How did you get hurt?” Unexpectedly, she burst into tears. “Angela pushed me into the toy cabinet and called me a bastard. But the teacher didn’t see it, so I was afraid to say anything.” I was furious. Ellie’s school was specifically for factory workers’ children. Everyone knew each other well. I couldn’t understand how she could still be bullied. After further questioning, I learned that a new child named Angela Walker had joined her class and was always bullying Ellie under the guise of playing. I borrowed the hospital’s phone to call the kindergarten principal. The principal’s surprised voice came through. “Mrs. Hastings, children roughhousing is normal. Besides, isn’t Angela your relative?” “What relative?” “Angela was admitted with a recommendation letter from Mr. Hastings! He said she was his cousin’s child.” My hand holding the phone trembled, and my ears started ringing. When I returned to the hospital room, Ellie timidly tugged at my clothes. “Mom? Did I say something wrong?” Suppressing my anger, I knelt down. “No. Tell me, what else did she say?” “She said she would soon move into our house and told me to treat her like my sister.” The next second, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open. I whipped around to see Hazel leading a little girl in red shoes into the room. “Angela, why are you running off?” she pretended to scold Angela. When she looked up and saw me, she smiled slightly, “Hey, Olivia, you’re still here.” Angela broke free from her hand and rushed over to yank on Ellie’s IV tube. “You’re a faker pretending to be sick!” I pushed her away and held Ellie protectively in my arms. Then I saw Patrick hurriedly entering with a lunch box. “Daddy!” Two childish voices rang out simultaneously.

Ellie shrank in my arms, timidly looking at Patrick as he bent down to pick up Angela. He affectionately kissed her cheek and pulled out a handful of milk candies from his bag. “It’s okay, Angela. I’m here.” The expensive candies that Ellie only got one or two of at Christmas, Patrick generously gave to someone else’s child. Only then did he notice Ellie on the hospital bed, fishing out two hard candies from another pocket. “Here, Ellie, for you.” Just as she happily reached for them, Angela pouted and tried to snatch them, losing her balance in the process. Patrick quickly steadied Angela, letting the two candies fall to the floor, now covered in dust. I couldn’t help but shout, “Patrick, you don’t care about your own daughter, but you’re playing father to someone else’s child.” Hazel responded defensively, “Olivia, that’s a terrible thing to say. Angela lost her father, that’s why she sees Patrick as her dad.” Patrick looked uncomfortable. “That’s right, Olivia. Just let Angela call me dad. I’ll explain this to you later…” “Explain what? How you secretly deliver eggs and milk powder to her every month? Or how you gave her Ellie’s elementary school recommendation letter?” Patrick lost his temper too. “Olivia! Do you have to say all this in front of the children?!” Angela seized the opportunity to run over and yank the IV needle out of Ellie’s hand. “You’re nothing but trouble!” Blood flowed onto Ellie’s bed. She gasped in pain but bit her lip to keep from crying out. I grabbed Angela’s arm, but she immediately started fake crying. “Daddy! She hit me!” Patrick rushed over and shoved me hard. “Have you lost your mind? How dare you hit Angela?” I stumbled back against the wall, my back burning with pain. The nurse who rushed in hurried to stop Ellie’s bleeding, while Patrick held Angela, comforting her softly. Just then, a doctor’s voice called from outside. “Where are Hazel’s family members? Please come to the registration desk immediately!” “Coming!” Patrick quickly disappeared down the hallway. I closed my eyes, a self-mocking smile crossing my face. Ellie’s fever came and went. We stayed in the hospital for three days. During that time, Patrick only visited once. He dropped off some fruit and left without even touching her hand. When I asked about the expenses, I was told the hospital fees had already been paid in full. On the fourth morning, the doctor finally agreed to discharge Ellie. I had barely walked through the front door with her when we ran into Hazel. “Olivia, you’re back. Patrick said there’s a spare room, so we’re staying here for now. Please clean it up.” I looked toward that room and felt instantly furious. Ellie’s small wooden bed was broken apart. Her only doll was nothing but scattered cotton stuffing, and her treasured comic books were torn to shreds. The fabric I’d saved for by working overtime, which I’d made into a birthday dress for her, was now being worn by Angela. Ellie was sobbing uncontrollably. She broke free from my grip and rushed into the room. Hazel, leaning against the doorframe, suddenly stuck out her leg, deliberately tripping her. I dove forward to protect Ellie. My arm slammed into the cabinet, cutting a jagged wound. Patrick came over when he heard the commotion. By then, Angela was sitting on the floor wailing, and Ellie was also in tears. “Why do you start trouble as soon as you get back?” “Olivia, Patrick bought us lots of new clothes. She doesn’t need this one. She just wanted to try it on.” Patrick frowned, looking displeased. “Ellie, be good. Give the dress to Angela.” Hazel and Angela, dressed in their fine clothes, couldn’t hide their smugness. I pushed myself up from the floor, blood dripping from my fingertips. “I’ll get out of here!” I waited for Patrick to say something, but saw Angela glaring at us viciously. The next second, she vindictively pushed Ellie. Ellie’s forehead slammed hard against the corner of the coffee table. The glass panel cracked, and blood covered half her face. “Angela!” I shook with anger, raising my hand to slap her. Patrick grabbed my wrist tightly, shouting tiredly, “Olivia, haven’t you caused enough trouble?” I asked in disbelief, “Patrick, are you blind? She pushed Ellie!” “It’s all my fault for being so unlikable. You can hit or scold me. Angela is just a child. Don’t slander her!” Suddenly, Hazel collapsed in front of me, grabbing a fruit knife and cutting her own hand. “Olivia, I apologize to you!” As Patrick stopped her, he completely lost his patience and coldly said to me, “Will you only be satisfied when someone dies? Angela is only five years old. What bad intentions could she have? Your daughter lost her balance. You can’t blame others for that. “Olivia, this house is mine. If you keep making things difficult for them, you can get out!” Blood was flowing from Ellie’s head. I had no time to argue and rushed out the door carrying her. At the hospital, an elderly doctor shook his head. “Our county facilities are limited. The blood clot in your daughter’s brain can’t be completely removed here. You need to get her to the city hospital for surgery immediately.” I nodded repeatedly and anxiously asked, “How much will it cost?” The bill handed to me by the nurse clearly showed three hundred dollars. “Your daughter will stay here for observation. Go home and gather the money. The transfer vehicle leaves this afternoon.” I quickly agreed, wiped away my tears, and ran back home. Although three hundred dollars was a substantial amount this Christmas, I could afford it. Over these Christmases, Patrick and I had saved quite a bit for Ellie, precisely for emergencies like this. The house was empty. I rushed to our bedroom and pulled out the metal box where we kept our money from under the bed. However, all the bills inside were gone, along with the valuable items at the bottom. My body went cold as I frantically searched the entire house, my hands shaking with anxiety. But there was no trace of the money anywhere. I found Ellie’s bankbook and felt relieved when I saw the balance. This was the two hundred dollars I had saved through frugal living. If I could gather a bit more, it should be enough. I quickly ran to the bank, but the teller looked surprised after checking my account. “Ma’am, this account was reported lost last month. A new bankbook was issued, and this one is now invalid.” I stared at the remaining balance and had to lean against the wall to steady myself. “Who reported it?” “The account holder, Patrick Hastings. He came with his ID and marriage certificate.” My legs gave way as I collapsed to the floor, thinking, “This was Ellie’s life-saving money. What did he do with it?” I couldn’t reach Patrick, but his colleague answered the phone. “Patrick? Hazel was insisting on buying a house. He just went with her to look at one!” When I found them at the real estate office, Hazel was smiling with her arm linked through his. “Patrick, will Olivia find out?” “Don’t worry. She barely knows how to read and won’t understand bank statements.” “Olivia is just stubborn. Money sitting around only loses value. Buying this house now will secure Angela’s education in the future.” Patrick said tenderly, “Tomorrow I’ll withdraw more money to buy you an electric fan.” I was thunderstruck. It took me a moment to recover before I rushed over to them. Patrick pulled me aside, his smile radiant. “Olivia, what are you doing here?” I threw the bankbooks at him and asked with a trembling voice, “Patrick, where is our money?!” He was silent for a moment. Then, realizing what had happened, he calmly explained, “Hazel needed more money for the house. Of course I had to help her. When my Christmas bonus comes, I’ll replace it.” “I don’t agree. Make them return the money!” I laughed bitterly in my anger. I pushed my way to the counter and tried to grab the money, but several people held me back. “Olivia, weren’t you the one who forced them to move out? What are you making a scene about now?” “She’s struggling to raise Angela alone. As a woman, don’t you have any compassion?” Hazel cried, “Olivia doesn’t approve. Maybe I should cancel the house purchase…” Patrick frowned deeply, shoved a stack of money into the clerk’s hands, and gestured for him to take it. “I make the decisions in this family, and we don’t need her approval. Ignore her and continue with the process.” Soon, a purchase contract with Hazel’s name was handed over. Her crying immediately stopped as she smiled and winked at me. “Your own daughter is dying, yet you’re using all our savings to buy a house for another woman. We have nothing left!” “Patrick, do you realize this was her life-saving money?” Everyone in the room stared at me. Furious, I raised my hand to slap Hazel. Patrick stepped in front of her, angrily grabbing my wrist and twisting it. “Will you ever stop? Hazel already feels guilty enough and has been crying all day about this. Stop scaring them, will you?” He impatiently pulled out a few crumpled bills from his pocket and threw them at me. “She just scraped her skin a bit. Do you have to make such a scene? That’s enough! Stop embarrassing yourself here. If you continue, don’t blame me for being heartless.” I didn’t take the money, looking down at the five dollars while laughing through my tears. “Fine, Patrick. You’re such a good father.” After a moment, I wiped away my tears and said firmly, “I want a divorce!”

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My best friend Chloe Carter was dead set on taking a road trip to Colorado during Memorial Day weekend. I was hesitant. As a woman three months pregnant, the idea of sitting in a car for hours didn’t exactly sound “fun” to me. I tried to politely decline, but my husband Harland Jackson wouldn’t let it go. “Come on, Andrea, don’t be a killjoy,” he snapped, his tone clearly annoyed. “Chloe went through all this trouble planning the trip. You have to go.” Before I could protest, he was already throwing our luggage into the trunk, and by nightfall, we were on the road. Things quickly went south. Chloe swore she knew the way, but ended up getting us lost somewhere off the highway. We eventually found ourselves deep in the Rocky Mountains, in an area completely deserted. The night was pitch black and bitterly cold, the kind of cold that seeps into your soul. Then we heard it—wolves howling. A pack of hungry wolves surrounded our car, their eyes gleaming in the headlights. Our food and water were running low, but Harland suddenly yanked the door open, trying to push me out of the car. “Andrea, you need to buy us some time,” his voice as cold as the night air. “We’ll go find help and come back for you. I promise.” I clung desperately to the door frame, begging, crying, “Harland, please, don’t!” But Chloe—my best friend—didn’t offer a helping hand. Instead, she grabbed a knife, slashed the back of my hand, and kicked me out of the car. I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my body as she leaned out and said venomously, “Come on, Andrea, we’re friends, right? What’s a little sacrifice to save the rest of us?” The wolves were on me within seconds, tearing at my clothes, my skin. The worst was when one wolf clawed at my belly, and I felt my baby inside becoming their meal. In the distance, I heard the car engine roar as Harland and Chloe sped away. Chloe’s laughter echoed through the darkness, cruel and triumphant. “Pregnant women’s blood really does smell sweeter!” Then, darkness. When I snapped my eyes open, I was back in our living room. Chloe was sprawled lazily across the couch, her voice full of excitement. “So, Memorial Day—Colorado, here we come! The Rockies will be gorgeous, and we can hit the Denver Art Museum while we’re at it. Perfect!” She nudged me with her elbow, that playful jab making me stumble slightly. My heart jumped, a chill running down my spine. I suddenly realized I’d been reborn. I’d been given another chance to face that terrible day. I remained silent while Chloe worked her charm on my husband Harland. Her voice took on that sweet, wheedling tone she always used when she wanted to get her way. “Come on, Harland, you and Andrea have to say yes. It’s just a small favor—don’t tell me you’re going to disappoint me…” Harland frowned, clearly reluctant. “Memorial Day weekend is going to be packed everywhere, traffic will be a nightmare.” Chloe grinned smugly. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it all planned out. We’ll take the back roads, drive at night—nobody will be out slowing us down.” Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. A sickening sense of déjà vu washed over me. The last time—my previous life—it had started just like this. Chloe suggesting a road trip to Colorado. Me trying to politely decline. Harland not listening and dragging me into the car. Then Chloe’s “shortcut” getting us lost in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains.

I stared at the insurance policy in my hand, my mind spinning. Chloe’s Colorado road trip wasn’t a spontaneous idea at all. The detour into the uninhabited area of the Rockies, the wolf pack—all of it had been planned. If I hadn’t been given this second chance at life, I would have fallen right into their trap. I clutched the paper tightly, rage nearly consuming me. My best friend. My husband. The two people closest to me had conspired to kill me. My phone vibrated, pulling me from the whirlpool of my thoughts. It was Harland’s mother, Evelyn. I took a deep breath and answered. Evelyn’s booming voice exploded through the speaker. “Andrea, I’m bringing over some homemade corn chowder tomorrow—got to keep my grandson healthy!” She paused, adding with a sneer, “If you weren’t carrying Harland’s child, you wouldn’t even deserve this soup.” Her words triggered memories from my previous life. At this exact moment, she had called then too, while Harland was packing my luggage. He had snatched my phone, desperately trying to keep his parents away. Evelyn might have no affection for me, but she adored Harland as if he could do no wrong. And after my death? Those two, who had lived frugally their entire lives, suddenly started living luxuriously. My insurance payout must have funded their golden years. I swallowed my hatred and feigned a heavy tone, pretending reluctance as I said, “Thanks, Evelyn, but Harland is taking me to Colorado tomorrow. Looks like I’ll miss your corn chowder.” As expected, Evelyn’s pitch rose by several octaves. “Colorado? And he’s not taking me and Alfred? What’s going on?” I deliberately let a hint of complaint enter my voice. “I don’t know either, Evelyn. Maybe Harland thinks bringing you would be too much trouble. Oh, I need to pack—talk later!” I hung up before she could respond. Knowing Evelyn and her need to be the center of attention, she would never allow Harland to leave her behind. Step one, complete. I took photos of the insurance policy, then headed straight to a law firm to start divorce proceedings. The lawyer, Daniel Chambers, carefully examined the insurance policy and the hotel receipts for the “Couples’ Suite,” then looked at me cautiously. “Ms. Smith, if you want to leave your husband with nothing—or behind bars—this evidence isn’t enough.” I clenched my jaw, frustration washing over me. He leaned forward, lowering his voice, “Listen, you say they’re planning to stage an accident. If you’re right, go on this trip. Keep your eyes open, collect evidence—anything that proves their intentions.” My grip on my phone tightened. It seemed the road trip was back on. I had no choice. Half an hour later, I walked into my house and froze. Harland was in the living room, throwing my clothes into a suitcase. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice sharp. He didn’t even look up, his tone impatient. “I talked with Chloe, and we’re leaving first thing tomorrow. Don’t think being pregnant lets you throw tantrums.” I was about to explode when the front door suddenly swung open. Harland and I both turned to look. Evelyn and Harland’s father Alfred stood in the doorway, arms loaded with bags. Evelyn shot me a venomous glare, then began to wail dramatically, “Harland, you ungrateful boy! You forget your poor mother the moment you get a wife! Such a luxurious trip, and you didn’t even tell us?” Harland’s eyes widened, panic flashing across his face. “Mom, how did you find out about this?” Her face darkened, taking his question as proof of his deliberate secrecy. She collapsed dramatically onto the floor, crying so loudly the neighbors could probably hear. “I raised you, gave you my heart, and now all you care about is your wife! What’s the point of me even being alive?” Harland’s frown deepened, his shoulders tensing. I watched the scene unfold, a cold smile forming inside me. I stepped forward, affectionately linking my arm with Harland’s, my voice sweet as honey. “Harland, if Alfred and Evelyn want to come, why not let them join us? Make it a family trip.” I paused, then added, “And if they’re going, I’m coming too.”

Harland shot me a shocked look, but before he could speak, Evelyn got up from the floor and shoved me rudely. “Go pack your things,” she snapped, “don’t make my son do all the work.” The situation had completely spiraled out of control, and Harland had no choice but to comply. I took the suitcase from his hands and, while no one was looking, slipped a new backup phone into a hidden pocket. The next morning, Chloe arrived. Her eyes widened when she saw Alfred and Evelyn, but she quickly recovered, flashing her sweetest smile. “Mr. Jackson! Mrs. Jackson! How wonderful to see you!” Chloe had grown up in the same small town as Harland, so his parents were no strangers to her. Truthfully, Alfred and Evelyn had always preferred her over me. Evelyn’s face brightened. “Chloe, you’re so thoughtful to invite us on this trip.” She shot me a sideways glare. “Unlike some people—spoiled city girls who only think about themselves.” Chloe giggled behind her hand, her eyes gleaming with triumph when she glanced my way. “You’re too kind, Mrs. Jackson.” After the luggage was loaded, Chloe slid into the front passenger seat like she owned it. “Andrea, you’re pregnant—it’s safer for you in the back,” she said with fake concern in her voice. Harland nodded. “Chloe’s right.” I didn’t bother arguing. These two weren’t even pretending anymore, openly flaunting their game. We hit the road to Colorado, and I stared out the window at scenery identical to my previous life, down to the last tree. Anger, fear, and determination churned inside me. For days, Alfred and Evelyn, those penny-pinching misers, insisted we sleep at rest stops to save money. When I dared to complain, Evelyn whipped around, her face crumpling into a scowl, “What, you think you’re too good for this? My precious grandson isn’t complaining, but you want the red carpet treatment?” Evelyn, that iron-willed country woman, gripped like a vise when angry. Harland pulled me close and whispered, “Just bear with it, Andrea. You can rest when we get to Colorado.” I nearly laughed out loud. Rest? If I didn’t outsmart them, I wouldn’t live to see Colorado. The day arrived—the day I died in my previous life. At eight in the morning, my phone map showed we were just sixty miles from that damned wilderness edge. My heart racing, I pulled out my backup phone from my bag, clutched my stomach, and let out a gut-wrenching wail. “Oh God—my stomach! It hurts so bad!” I doubled over, my face pale, moaning in agony as if in extreme pain. Harland slammed on the brakes. “What the hell, Andrea? Can’t you just tough it out?” Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed, “Harland, what if the bumpy road did something to the baby? I don’t care about myself, but this is the Jackson family heir!” Evelyn’s eyes widened in panic. “Harland, find somewhere for her to rest, now!” Alfred chimed in, his voice tense, “I saw a clinic a few miles back. Take her there.” Harland stared at me, sweat beading on his forehead, but he didn’t seem suspicious. At the clinic, the doctor shook his head after examining me. “She’s exhausted. She needs rest and observation, or she might miscarry.” Harland frowned. “Can’t you just give her some medicine? We have a trip to continue.” The doctor’s face darkened. “This is about a pregnant woman’s health. She must stay, or you’re gambling with her life and the baby’s.” I put on a guilty expression. “Harland, you all go ahead. I’ll join you after I’ve rested. Alfred and Evelyn should enjoy their trip—don’t let me ruin it.” Evelyn waved impatiently. “She’s right, Harland. Let’s go to our destination. She can rent a car and catch up. The place is huge—she won’t get lost.” Harland hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the plan going off track. Before he could argue, I shoved my regular phone into his hand. “Here, Harland, take my phone, take my things, take everything. You know I’ll wait for you. Okay?” With Alfred and Evelyn nagging him to hurry up, Harland had no choice. He grabbed the phone, climbed into the car, and paused to call out, “I’ll come get you tomorrow.” I nodded, playing the dutiful wife. As their car disappeared down the road, a wave of relief washed over me. I wouldn’t be waiting until tomorrow. I pulled out my backup phone and made a call. “Hello, I’m at the clinic on Highway 287. Could you send a car to take me to the airport?” I didn’t look back. I caught the earliest flight and landed in my hometown at nine that evening. The taxi weaved through familiar streets as my stomach churned with anxiety. Years ago, during college, Chloe burst into my quiet life, insisting it needed shaking up. She was the one who introduced me to Harland. He was exactly my type—charming, handsome, the complete package. We dated for years, got engaged, and planned our life together. But my parents, Richard and Claire, didn’t approve. As their only daughter, they didn’t want me marrying a small-town man with no prospects. I was stubborn, though. I had a huge fight with them, stormed out, and barely contacted them after the wedding. Until my previous life—until my own death—I never realized they had seen through Harland from the beginning. When I knocked on their door, Richard and Claire were first shocked to see me standing there, then their faces lit up with joy. Their hair was grayer than I remembered, their faces etched with the passage of time. My throat tightened as I choked out, “Mom, Dad, I’m back.” Richard looked over my shoulder, noticing I was alone, and his expression darkened. “Andrea, where’s Harland?” I hesitated, not wanting to shock them too much. “He cheated,” I said softly. “I’m divorcing him. And… I’m terminating the pregnancy.” Richard’s face turned terrifyingly dark. “That bastard—” Claire’s eyes welled with tears, but she gripped my hand firmly, her tone resolute. “We’re here for you, baby. Whatever you need.” Tears spilled down my cheeks as I collapsed into their arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Two lifetimes of pain and betrayal poured out. I had expected anger toward me, or an “I told you so,” but all they gave me was love. The next morning, Richard and Claire took me to the hospital to arrange the procedure. When I emerged from the operating room, I was as pale as paper. I placed my hand on my now-flat stomach, feeling a hollow ache in my chest. “Find a better home, little one,” I whispered, fighting back sobs. Claire wiped away my tears, her voice gentle but firm. “What are you going to do next?” I clenched my fists. “I’m contacting a lawyer. I’m cutting Harland out of my life completely.” I didn’t know if Harland could make it back from the Rockies, but I couldn’t take chances. I had to act fast. Back home, I contacted my lawyer, Daniel, and sent him the evidence I’d collected. “Is this enough to leave Harland with nothing?” I asked. During each night of our road trip, I’d barely slept, constantly on edge, but it had paid off. I’d photographed Harland and Chloe sneaking off to rest stop bathrooms together. The night before last, while Harland was dead asleep, I went through his phone. The evidence was right there: text messages plotting to get rid of me, and photos of them embracing intimately. After reviewing everything, Daniel said without hesitation, “This is enough not only to leave him with nothing, but to send him to prison.” A wave of relief washed over me, like a beam of light piercing through the fog that had surrounded me for so long. When Richard and Claire saw the evidence, they were beyond furious. “Sue those bastards into oblivion!” Richard roared. “Those scumbags tried to hurt our daughter!” I was about to calm them down when my phone rang. I answered, and a deep, serious voice came through. “Ma’am, this is the Rocky Mountain Regional Police Department. We have an emergency. Your husband and his companion were attacked by wolves in a remote area and are in critical condition. Please come as soon as possible…”

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For Memorial Day weekend, I booked flights to take my family to Hawaii. But my dad, Richard Bennett, had other ideas. He grabbed my phone, smashed it on the floor, and kicked me hard, knocking me down. Then he grabbed his belt and started whipping me. “You ungrateful parasite!” he roared as the belt struck my skin. “Do you know how much those tickets cost? When I was your age, I jumped freight trains looking for work and got my head cracked open by cops without making a sound!” I screamed, my body covered in welts and bruises. My mom, Catherine Bennett, didn’t lift a finger to help me. Instead, she took out her phone, recorded my pitiful state, and posted the video to our family’s “Happy Together” group chat. Catherine: [Kids these days only think about pleasure. Can’t handle any hardship. Always flying somewhere for fun.] The group chat exploded immediately. My mom’s brother Thomas Whitman: [My daughter works her ass off even with a 103-degree fever.] My mom’s sister Elaine Holloway: [My son spends summer hauling bricks at construction sites to build character.] My dad’s sister Monica Ramsey: [My daughter’s husband takes the whole family to the dump to sort recyclables. While your spoiled daughter is here wasting money on vacations!] They took turns attacking my “spoiled” lifestyle, boasting about how their children thrived through toughness and sacrifice. So the next day, I canceled the tickets. With my beaten, limping leg, I printed out a registration form for “Back-to-Basics Boot Camp” and handed it over with a smile. If they wanted hardship, I’d let them taste the “good old days.” But five days later, they were crying and begging me to pick them up. ***** I opened the “Back-to-Basics Boot Camp” website, reading the program details line by line, each sentence more gut-wrenching than the last. Wake up at 4 AM for physical labor, rationed coarse meals, communal barracks for sleeping, and physical punishment for rule violations. My cursor hovered over the “Ultimate Hardship Package” for a long time. Then I decisively clicked “Confirm.” At breakfast, I slid the printed registration form across the table to Richard and Catherine. “Dad, Mom, choosing Hawaii was wrong,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “You’re right, we should all experience real hardship together.” Catherine’s eyes lit up. She snatched the form, took a photo, and posted it to the family group chat with a message. [Sophie signed us up for a “Taste of Tough Times” boot camp! Who else wants to join? Register now!] Richard smoked his cigarette, flicking ashes onto the stovetop I had just cleaned. He quickly replied to the group. [Like I’ve always said, kids today need a wake-up call. I gave her a good beating yesterday, and now she finally respects her elders.] Relatives swarmed in, flooding the chat with messages. Elaine was first: [We’re barely making ends meet. My son works hauling bricks in summer for extra cash. We can’t afford fancy vacations.] Monica’s voice message dripped with sarcasm. “Must be nice having the time and money to play around. Some of us have real responsibilities.” Richard and Catherine’s egos inflated from the provocation. Richard puffed out his chest and announced, “Since everyone’s so eager, let’s rent a bus and make this a family event. Everyone can taste the hard life!” Catherine hastily agreed, nodding vigorously. “Exactly! And Sophie will foot the bill—it’s time she showed some gratitude!” My heart sank. With over twenty relatives in the group, the cost would easily reach five figures. “Mom, I don’t have that kind of money,” I said with a trembling voice. “You can’t just—”

I caught my breath. I had only intended for the older generation—those who constantly droned on about the “hard times”—to experience this. Dragging the entire family into it wasn’t part of the plan. I carefully replied in the group chat: [Everyone’s busy, right? Probably don’t have time for a trip.] But Richard wasn’t buying it. My attempt to dodge Thomas’s proposal had clearly angered him. “Don’t tell us how to raise our children,” he snapped. “This is a rare opportunity for all of you to learn some resilience. No one is allowed to miss it.” Catherine immediately chimed in: [Missing this would be an insult to the entire family!] I watched as likes popped up one after another in the chat, then silently turned off my phone. These stubborn old folks wouldn’t budge no matter what I said. Then Thomas called, excitement evident in his voice. His son Ethan Whitman had come home, and he wanted us to stop by his house for a gathering to discuss the details of the training camp. Richard agreed on the spot. Catherine yanked open my closet, and the musty smell of mothballs hit me in the face. For many Christmases, whenever I used my own salary to buy new clothes, she would scold me for “wasting money.” Once, she even tore apart all the clothes I had bought right in front of me to “teach me a lesson.” Now, my closet contained only worn-out secondhand clothes. I rummaged through and picked out the least tattered shirt. Catherine nodded with satisfaction. “Better to keep it simple. We don’t want your uncle thinking we’ve gone soft and forgotten our roots.” I held back a laugh. How amusing that they didn’t hesitate to spend my salary on renting a bus, but now they were all about “staying humble.” At Thomas’s house, a decoration reading “Hard Work, Perseverance” hung in the living room. My aunt Linda Whitman bustled about, setting up two distinctly different tables. The large round table was laden with steaks, roast chicken, and wine. The small square table was pushed to the side, with only a few hard dinner rolls and a plate of watery vegetables. I frowned, but Linda beamed at me. “Sophie, come try the ‘Taste of Tough Times’ meal I prepared for you and Ethan!” Before I could respond, Richard pushed me forward. “Go on, tell your uncle about this project you’ve arranged.” I rattled off the details in one breath: waking up at 4 AM for physical labor, rationed food, communal dormitories. Thomas slammed down his wine glass. “You call that hardship?” he roared. “Back in my day, I was shoveling manure at three in the morning!” His outburst startled Ethan, whose hand jerked, dropping his fork with a sharp clatter. Ethan had grown up under Thomas’s iron fist, either being yelled at or beaten, constantly indoctrinated with the “Spare the rod, spoil the child” philosophy. The guy was terrified of his father. After a few bites, Ethan put down his utensils and muttered, “I have exams next week, might need to study…” Thomas smashed his plate to the floor, shattering it. “You want to sneak off while your elders are still eating? Sit back down!” Ethan shrank back into his chair, lowering his head. After dinner, I was assigned to wash the dishes. Ethan slipped into the kitchen, complaining in a low voice, “Sophie, what the hell? This training camp was your lousy idea, and now we’re all being dragged into it.” I remembered what my cousin Clara Whitman had told me. She had tried reasoning with Thomas, saying times had changed and there was no need to make children relive past hardships. But Thomas wouldn’t listen. He was determined to force Ethan—a kid preparing for his SATs—to “experience the struggles of our generation.” I turned on the faucet, letting the water noise cover our conversation, and pulled out my phone. I opened the “Ultimate Hardship Package” page and grinned. “You don’t want to go, right? They think it’s not tough enough? Well, I have a plan…” Ethan glanced at the training camp description. His expression shifted from fear to disbelief, finally settling on a strange, almost excited look. That night, I sent a message to the family group chat: [Due to high demand, the bus is fully booked. To ensure the elders get the full experience, I’ll lead the younger generation in a separate free hardship program. We’ll go our separate ways and meet at the destination after five days.]

The family group chat erupted with complaints from the elders. Thomas shouted the loudest: “Separate? No way! You kids need someone watching you, otherwise you’ll just slack off and fool around!” Richard glared at me, his voice low and suspicious: “What scheme are you cooking up now?” I was prepared and replied calmly. “The boot camp heard that the elders wanted an authentic nostalgia trip, so they upgraded it to the ‘Silver Years Special’ package. A five-stop journey, going back in time from the 90s Christmas era all the way to the 50s Christmas era. You’re practically going to time travel.” The group chat exploded instantly. Monica couldn’t contain herself: “I’m going to wear overalls and a headscarf—perfect for Instagram photos!” Thomas chimed in: “Sophie, keep an eye on those little troublemakers, and don’t forget to send video updates!” Watching the conversation shift, I smiled slightly and typed: “No problem.” On Memorial Day, the whole family met at the gathering point, dragging enough luggage to sink a ship. “Sophie!” Catherine yelled at me while hauling an enormous suitcase. “Come help! These are all essentials!” I glanced at the suitcase. Thermos bottles, bags of snacks, and even a portable massager. I held back my laughter. Bring whatever you want—it’ll all be confiscated soon anyway. After confirming everyone had arrived, a dilapidated bus puttered up. The paint was peeling, and faded “Hard Work, Perseverance” stickers covered the windows. Richard wrinkled his nose. “What kind of junk is this? No air conditioning?” I shrugged. “Dad, this is all my salary can afford.” He scoffed. “Then you should get a second job. What’s a little hardship in your Christmas generation?” I didn’t bother responding. Since I started working, more than half my monthly salary went to my family. The rest, I saved bit by bit. After everyone boarded, I approached Dale Ward, the boot camp coordinator. “My relatives are here to suffer. Please give them the VIP treatment.” Dale gave me a knowing smile. “Don’t worry, our ‘Taste of Tough Times’ travel agency specializes in this.” The door slammed shut. I stood outside, waving with a bright smile. “Have fun!” As the bus rumbled away, I took out my phone and opened the “Back-to-Basics Boot Camp” livestream. On screen, Dale was rallying the group through a loudspeaker. “Everyone, our first stop is a 90s-era bar to relive the good old days!” Upon arrival, Dale led them into a campsite decorated with flickering lights, yellowed boy band posters, and a clunky rotary jukebox. The elders went wild. “The 90s were the best!” Richard shouted, grabbing the microphone. “I was busy with business then, hitting the bars every night!” He belted out an off-key grunge rock song, his voice hoarse but refusing to stop. Thomas climbed onto a coffee table, attempting to dance disco, nearly splitting his pants. Catherine stared at her phone, posting dozens of Instagram stories: “This is real nostalgia!” The livestream comment section exploded. “This doesn’t look like a boot camp, it’s an old folks’ rave!” “Uncle Thomas is dancing like he’s being electrocuted, his pants are about to burst!” “‘Hard Work, Perseverance’? More like ‘1999 Party Madness’!” I chuckled, typing in the comments: “Just wait, the real show is coming.” Three hours later, Dale led them to a dilapidated farmyard. Faded slogans covered the crumbling mud walls, with rusty pitchforks piled in the corner. Dale’s voice changed, becoming stern. “Alright, everyone, the real lesson begins now. Hand over all your personal belongings—immediately!” Catherine was the first to break down, clutching her suitcase like a lifeline. “Impossible! I need these things!” Dale stood in the center of the farm, expressionlessly pointing at her snacks and massager. “These are decadent luxuries! Sugar-coated traps!” Richard reluctantly removed his watch, muttering, “It’s just a watch, why make such a big deal?” I stared at the livestream, holding back laughter. Richard actually said “just a watch.” When I once saved up for a basic calculator, he called me a hopeless idiot who would never amount to anything. “Richard! Step forward!” Dale’s voice cracked like a whip. “That attitude is the worst form of self-indulgence! Run ten laps around the yard—now!” Richard’s face froze. Under everyone’s gaze, he had no choice but to start jogging, his pride trailing behind him. Finally, all their phones, backpacks, and suitcases were confiscated. The staff even found the lighter Richard had hidden in his sock. Dale’s voice was ice-cold. “From now on, call me Mr. Ward. You will complete all five stations—no one gets to quit halfway. Those are the rules.” I sprawled across the leather couch in the living room—the one I was never allowed to touch—and propped up my tablet to watch the livestream. The comment section was exploding. [These folks love bragging about resilience, but when they actually face hardship, they all want to run.] [This is just the beginning. They’re complaining about losing their stuff, wait until things get really tough.] I stretched lazily, enjoying the rare opportunity to hog the couch. In the livestream, Dale waved a metal megaphone. “Work assignments! Men shovel manure, women take hoes to the field!” Thomas stared at the manure bucket, his face turning green. “I’m a retired executive of a global company!” Dale handed him the bucket. “Executives lead by example. Ten buckets before you eat.” Once they all went to work, I hummed a tune while raiding the refrigerator. Richard and Catherine’s stockpile of gourmet fruit? All mine now. I filled a plate with strawberries and wandered over to Catherine’s vanity, sampling her high-end creams one by one. My phone buzzed. Ethan messaged: [Sophie! Quick—they’re about to eat!] The livestream cut to the cafeteria. The elders lined up with metal trays, receiving portions of coarse bread and watery vegetables. Linda gagged after one bite. “This stuff? Even pigs wouldn’t eat it!” Dale slammed the table. “Wasting food? People starved to death in the 60s!” Linda argued, “But we’re experiencing the 90s! Why bring up the 60s?” Dale smirked. “The decade doesn’t matter. You’re here to taste hardship. Complain again and you’ll skip dinner.” The comment section exploded: [This isn’t a training camp, it’s a labor reform school!] [Hypocrisy alert! They call kids spoiled, but they can’t even swallow a piece of bread!] [Oh, now you care about “decades”? Then stop forcing your outdated lectures on others!] The elders sat with mud-stained faces, glumly gnawing on dry bread. Catherine muttered, “The spinning wheel gave me bloody blisters. Even textile factories aren’t this cruel.” Richard sighed, “Eating this stuff? How are we supposed to have energy to work? I paid good money to come here, surely there must be real food.” Catherine’s eyes lit up. “What do you have in mind?” I drifted to the liquor cabinet and took out Richard’s treasured whiskey—once when I accidentally knocked it over, he made me kneel for three hours as punishment. I raised the bottle toward the livestream with a grin. “To my dear elders. I’ll drink first. You enjoy your ‘fun’ at your leisure.” That night, I sank into the bathtub after pouring in half a bag of Catherine’s luxury bath salts. While soaking, my phone suddenly rang. I answered, puzzled. Richard’s voice came through, trembling and tearful. “Sophie, I was wrong. No more fake hardship, please. Come get us, or I’m finished!”

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Three years after our wedding, my husband Caleb Reynolds forced me to accept an open marriage. He casually tossed out the idea, his voice light, almost joking. “I gave you the ring, the vows, all the commitments. But my body? That’s free. Don’t you want to live more excitingly this Christmas, see what else is out there?” He knew perfectly well I couldn’t do that. I have a condition—lactating despite never having children. It’s not something I can casually mention to strangers. Every time my breasts engorge, I’m miserable—not just embarrassed, but in pain. Without someone to relieve that pain, I completely fall apart. I flatly refused him. Caleb was unhappy. He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. That night, the pain returned, sharp and merciless. My chest ached, I felt dizzy, barely able to think. Then I felt it—strong, warm hands, firmly placed on the soft curves of my waist. ***** Caleb’s palm struck my face hard, snapping my head to the side. The pain was hot and sharp, but I forced myself to look him in the eyes, tears welling up, stinging. “Caleb, I just want a normal marriage. Is that so wrong?” “Normal?” His gaze fell to my chest, his lips curling with contempt. “What’s normal about you?” As if on cue, my body betrayed me. A wet stain spread across my shirt, the rich scent of milk filling the air. I hurriedly covered my chest with my hands, my cheeks burning red, wishing I could disappear into the floor. “Why are you hiding it? You think I can’t tell you’re starting again?” Caleb’s sneer hit me like a punch to the stomach. He knew how shameful this was for me, this uninvited milk my deepest wound. His mother, Barbara Reynolds, spoke without hesitation, her voice full of venom. “If it weren’t for those wide hips of yours screaming ‘baby-maker,’ I would never have let Caleb marry you. Three years, and you can’t even produce a child.” She pointed at me, her words sharp. “Caleb is too good for you. We won’t let him waste his life being tied to you.” She grabbed his arm. “Come on, we’re going out to eat. I’ve arranged for you to meet several girls. You can pick one.” Caleb didn’t even look at me. He just followed her out, the door clicking shut behind him. I collapsed onto the floor, my heart as cold and hard as the tiles beneath me. It all started when I was barely out of my teens—milk leaking for no reason, no baby. Wherever I went, I could feel those stares, those whispers. I learned to wrap myself in layers, clothes upon clothes hiding my secret. When Caleb and I were dating, he discovered my secret by accident. His eyes lit up, not with disgust, but with something else—perhaps desire. “Serena,” he whispered, “I had no idea you were so… unique.” I curled against him in shame. “You don’t think I’m a freak?” He held me tight, so tight I could barely breathe. “A freak? This is a gift.” After that, he was obsessed with me. He showered me with affection, promised me the world. My body? He worshipped it, as if wanting to melt into me. But marriage changed him. As they say, people stop wanting what they have. My chest ached, not just from the memories, but from the pressure building inside. The milk was flowing faster now, soaking through my fingers. Panic rose in me. I stumbled to my feet, lurching into the bedroom, my heart racing wildly. In the past, when things got bad, Caleb would be there, helping relieve the pain. Now? I was alone, desperate. Trembling, I pulled out the small toy I kept hidden under my pillow, gritted my teeth, and positioned it, hoping to ease the pain. But it wasn’t enough. I felt my body’s heat growing even more intense, unbearable. I turned it to the highest setting, my body shaking until, exhausted, I passed out. In the haze between sleep and wakefulness, I felt hands—large and warm—sliding over my waist. The toy was yanked away, leaving emptiness and pain. “Caleb…” I murmured, pressing against his cool body. It slightly calmed the fire within me. He didn’t answer. His arm roughly pulled me closer, his breath hot against my chest, and he bit down, more roughly than ever before. It hurt, but God, I liked it. He was like a storm, releasing all his anger, working me over until dawn broke. When I woke up, Caleb was gone. The pain had disappeared too, leaving my mind clear, almost light. “Jerk,” I muttered, half-smiling. He was always like this—knocking me down, then bringing me back with moments like these. I climbed out of bed, cheeks flushed, picking up the scattered condoms from the floor and tossing them in the trash. I guess they’re right about arguments being the spark in a marriage. Last night, Caleb was… well, more than usual. Humming, I walked toward the kitchen to make him breakfast. But passing through the living room, I froze in my tracks. On the sofa sat three men, all strangers, each one completely different from the next, like day and night. I didn’t recognize any of them.

I looked around, searching for Caleb, but he was nowhere to be found. My stomach churned as uneasiness crept into my heart. The three men on the sofa stared at me in unison, their gazes heavy, as if I had wandered into a nest of vipers. I quickly tightened my robe, suddenly acutely aware of how thin the fabric was. This was probably just another batch of Caleb’s friends. He always loved bringing friends home without warning, making me play the dutiful hostess, running around like a maid. I cleared my throat and put on my well-practiced smile of a gentle wife. “Hey, can I get you—” Before I could finish, the front door was pushed open forcefully. Caleb strode in, his eyes narrowing when he saw me. He smoothly took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Serena, we have guests. Why are you wandering around practically naked?” My eyes caught the fresh scratch marks on his neck, and relief washed over me. Even though we had fought last night, he hadn’t left me alone. My heart softened, sweet as honey. I pulled his still-warm jacket tighter around me, my voice slightly teasing. “I thought it was just the two of us.” He simply pushed me toward the bedroom. “Go change into something decent.” I nodded, completely compliant, and slipped back to the bedroom to change. When I returned, the men were scattered on the sofa, drinking coffee and chatting like old friends. Caleb waved me over to sit beside him, directly facing the three men. He introduced them one by one, “Victor Harlan, a renowned lawyer. Samuel Trent, a doctor. And Leonard Finch—my college classmate I’ve mentioned before, he’s a professor.” I nodded politely in acknowledgment, remaining silent as they conversed. I mentally gave Caleb credit—these friends were clearly a cut above the rest. His previous friends were loud, filled the house with cigarette smoke, and bragged about things that never added up. These three seemed more sophisticated. I smiled to myself as I walked into the kitchen to prepare lunch. Just as I turned on the faucet, the door creaked open. Victor walked in uninvited. “Mr. Harlan, do you need something?” I asked, confused. He rolled up his sleeves, flashing a relaxed smile. “Can’t let you do all the work alone.” Before I could refuse, he took the vegetables from my hands and began washing them, his movements as practiced as if he owned the kitchen. He chopped with precision and confidence, like a professional chef. His controlling demeanor triggered a memory—last night, Caleb had been rough. After easing my pain, he wanted more, and when I begged him to stop, he pinned my legs down, each thrust harder than the last. My cries nearly shook the walls. I pleaded until he finally stopped… “Serena?” Victor’s voice pulled me back to reality, his hand waving in front of my face. I coughed, my cheeks burning as I stammered, “What is it?” “Your pot is about to burn.” I jumped, suddenly aware the stove was still on, and hurriedly poured oil into the pan. The oil sizzled, but I heard his soft laughter—gentle, almost intimate. My heart raced, and my face grew hotter. I shook my head, trying to focus on cooking, silently cursing myself for being so flustered. The men came in one by one to carry dishes to the table, with Caleb, as usual, sauntering in last and doing the least. Instead of apologizing, he grinned. “So, how do you think they’re doing?” I glared at him, annoyed at his laziness. “They’re great. Much better than you.” His laughter sent a chill down my spine, all teeth and no warmth. After lunch, the sky split open as torrential rain poured down. The weather forecast warned of thunderstorms for the next few hours. The men exchanged worried glances. Caleb, ever the king of the house, waved his hand dismissively. “The roads will be slippery. Serena, prepare the guest rooms. They’re staying tonight.”

I pressed my lips together, holding back a sigh. Caleb always put his friends before family. He knew perfectly well I was going through a sensitive period, when I’d rather hide away than deal with strangers. But my hints meant nothing to him. He patted the three men on their shoulders, grinning widely. “Order whatever you want, Serena will get fresh sheets ready for you.” I let out a small huff, resigned to playing the good wife role as I headed toward the guest room to prepare. The spare blankets were stacked on the top shelf, out of my reach. I climbed onto the bed, my legs slightly shaky—thanks to Caleb’s overzealous performance last night. I cursed under my breath, blaming him for my sore muscles. As I yanked down a blanket, my foot slipped. Before I could hit the floor, someone rushed in and caught me, strong arms steadying my body. Thinking it was Caleb, I complained without hesitation, “Oh, now you come to help? Were you waiting for me to break my neck?” After a moment of silence, a low chuckle came from behind me. “Hey, I’m helping now, aren’t I?” That wasn’t Caleb’s voice. I jerked back, my heart racing, to find Leonard standing there, grinning like a kid caught stealing cookies. I was mortified, realizing he’d heard every complaint. “I—I thought you were… I didn’t know it was you.” “Caleb, right? No worries, I don’t mind,” he laughed easily, waving away my embarrassment. His smile was bright and carefree, as if he never had a serious moment. It was hard to imagine him as a professor, lecturing in front of a class. I managed a terse “Good to know,” grabbing the blanket, eager to escape. My instincts told me we had nothing to talk about. But as I walked toward the guest room, I heard his footsteps following behind me. I gave him a questioning look. He shrugged. “They’re playing poker in the living room, getting pretty intense. I’m not much of a card shark. Thought I’d help you out.” I glanced toward the living room, seeing Caleb pulling out his worn limited-edition deck, laughing with Victor and Samuel like they were storming a battlefield. Irritation churned in my stomach, but with Leonard right there, I swallowed my anger to avoid embarrassing Caleb. Leonard proved surprisingly competent, focusing on making the bed with an attention to detail I hadn’t expected from him. He talked like a slacker but worked meticulously. I couldn’t help comparing him to Caleb and blurted out, “If Caleb were half as considerate as you, my life would be so much easier.” Without missing a beat, he responded, “Well, maybe you should trade him in for me then.” My eyes widened, and I laughed nervously. “Don’t joke like that. I’m Caleb’s wife.” I took it as a joke. I thought, “This must be guy humor, right? Friends don’t steal each other’s partners, and we just met. He can’t possibly be serious.” But as I busied myself with the sheets, I could feel his gaze, heavy and warm, drilling into my back. It didn’t feel like a joke. I froze, mumbled an excuse, and fled the room. I cornered Caleb in the bathroom, whispering, “You and Leonard—are you close?” He raised an eyebrow. “Why the sudden interest?” I hesitated, then forced myself to say, “He… he’s making passes at me!” Caleb burst out laughing, loud and unconcerned. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “That’s a good thing,” he continued laughing. “Means you’re attractive.” His nonchalance stung. No jealousy, no concern—just that dismissive shrug. I suddenly remembered his advocacy for open marriage, and my heart sank. Of course he didn’t care. A guy like him who fooled around probably hoped I would too. Why would he worry about me cheating? Angry, I pushed him out of the bathroom. “Fine! Keep laughing and see how I make a joke out of you!” I collapsed onto the toilet, my thoughts in chaos. My body, the traitor, began responding to the emotional turmoil again. A soft moan escaped before I could stop it. “Caleb…” I bit my lip, hating how much I needed him. That’s why he had control over me—he always knew how to make me come back. The pain in my chest intensified, my shirt already soaked through. I couldn’t face him like this. I stripped off my clothes and turned the shower to cold, hoping the icy water would extinguish the heat inside me. It didn’t work. In desperation, I began touching myself, letting out a cry I was sure would be covered by the rain and water noise. No one would hear. Lost in the haze, I didn’t notice until a warm, solid body pressed against me from behind. I screamed, lunging forward, but the figure behind me held me tight, keeping me firmly in place. His rough hands made me tremble all over. No one else could touch me like that—it had to be Caleb. Still stinging from his earlier coldness, I muttered, “Stay away from me…” But my body had other ideas, leaning into him as if craving his warmth. He didn’t respond to my half-hearted protest, just brushed his lips against the back of my neck, igniting a heat that made my knees weak. If he hadn’t held me up, I would have collapsed to the floor. Perhaps because of our earlier argument, he was different tonight—gentle, almost careful. Each touch was light and teasing, but not enough to extinguish the fire raging inside me. I turned impatiently to face him. “Caleb, what’s going on? Can you just—” He gripped my chin, preventing me from seeing his face. I let out an impatient huff. “Caleb, stop playing games. Hurry up.” His hand froze. A cool chuckle brushed against my ear, then his kiss came like a storm, fierce and unyielding. The water had turned warm, and I couldn’t tell if the flush on my cheeks was from the steam or his touch. The pain in my chest subsided, replaced by a bone-deep satisfaction, even as my back pressed hard against the tiles. Exhausted, I collapsed into his arms. He carried me out of the bathroom, and I curled against him, suddenly shy knowing his friends were still in the house. Back in the bedroom, I dove under the covers like a nervous teenager, my cheeks burning. His low laughter filtered through the blanket, and I felt him kiss my forehead before quietly leaving. I peeked out; the rain outside was still tapping against the windows, but my heart felt lighter than it had in days. I drifted into a satisfied sleep. A clap of thunder jolted me awake. I reached for Caleb, but the bed was cold—he hadn’t returned. “What’s wrong?” his voice came from across the room, and I sighed with relief, turning to answer. But there he was, lounging casually in the armchair, phone pressed to his ear. He chuckled softly, warm and intimate. “Want me to come over and keep you company? Hmm?” My heart stopped, a jagged crack splitting it open. Whatever the person on the other end said made the corners of his eyes crinkle with amusement. He whispered a few sweet nothings, then said, “Wait for me, I’m on my way.” He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door without hesitation. I couldn’t help calling out, “Caleb!” He didn’t even pause, just walked straight out. The door clicked shut, followed by a deafening thunderclap, as if the sky itself was mocking me. Tears streamed down my face, hot and unstoppable. Seven years together—our first love, our everything. He used to love my quirks, my differences. Now he despised them. I’d been blaming myself, wondering if I should have given in to his ridiculous open marriage proposal. But now I understood. He had someone else, someone he’d drop everything for at just a phone call. His so-called “freedom” was just an excuse for his unfaithful heart. What had these seven years meant? A joke? The passionate days we’d just shared only made me feel more like a fool. I cried until my chest ached, until I could barely breathe, until sleep dragged me under once more. I didn’t hear the door open, but someone was there, their weight pressing down on me. Hands roughly grabbed my chest, making me wince. A small gasp escaped me, and the touch immediately softened. Fingers lifted my chin, and a possessive kiss stole my breath, making me dizzy until I forgot to resist. Then lightning split the sky, the white flash jolting me awake. Caleb—he had left. So who was this? I forced my eyes open, staring at the person above me, head lowered, still moving. My breath caught as my eyes widened in shock.

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Dominic Reid is my stepfather’s brother, my uncle, and the entire city knows he loves me deeply. At least that’s what they think. The day he proposed to me with a diamond ring, a sonogram of his former lover Vivian Blake spread like wildfire across social media. She was pregnant. Despite my objections, he insisted on turning our wedding into a bizarre threesome. “Vivian needs me. I must marry her too.” Tears stung my eyes, but I nodded, my heart shattering into pieces. However, on our wedding day, Dominic didn’t walk me down the aisle. Instead, he made me lead a filthy mutt, leashed and panting, while I stood frozen in my wedding dress. The internet exploded, countless memes and mockery making me the laughingstock of Christmas. My mind crumbled under the humiliation. To salvage a shred of dignity, I exposed Vivian’s dirty secrets in front of everyone—every sordid detail laid bare. Vivian stormed out furiously. Hours later, news came that she had gotten into an altercation with some thugs. They beat her bloody, leaving her dead in an alley. Dominic disappeared for a week. When he reappeared, he clung to me tightly, his eyes hollow yet uncompromising. I thought perhaps he had returned to me. Then came the day I gave birth. In a cold operating room, Dominic loomed over me, his hands steady as he cut open my abdomen. No anesthesia. Just the cold blade. He removed the stillborn—our child—and replaced it with the freshly dead body of a Teddy dog. Then, he stitched my flesh closed with rough sutures, each one deliberate. “Vivian suffered a hundred times worse that night,” he growled softly, “you deserve this.” I screamed until my voice gave out, blood pooling beneath me, my vision fading. I died with my eyes wide open, staring at the man I once loved deeply. My soul didn’t rest. It lingered, watching Dominic address countless cameras at a press conference. “Evelyn Crowe gave birth to a deformed child,” he said flatly, “she deserves to be buried with dogs.” Then, somehow, my eyes snapped open. I was back on my wedding day. ***** “Vivian is afraid of dogs. She can’t handle this pressure. Take this dog and go in.” Before I could process his words, Dominic shoved the rough hemp leash into my palm. At the other end was a filthy dog, reeking and smearing dirt on my pristine white gown with its matted fur. A chill ran through my entire body. I was stunned—thrown back to that nightmare wedding. In my previous life, I had stumbled down this path, dragging this stinking dog, becoming their laughingstock. Not this time. Heaven gave me a second chance, and I wouldn’t waste it. Without hesitation, I threw the leash to the ground. “This wedding is canceled.” I looked Dominic straight in the eyes. “If you’re so eager to marry Vivian, then go ahead. The ceremony is yours.” With that, I tore off my veil, lifted my skirt, and strode toward the exit. Vivian’s eyes moistened, her delicate fingers clutching Dominic’s sleeve like wilting flowers. “Dominic, maybe I should leave…” “Evelyn!”

“I want to see Grandpa Silas!” I shouted, struggling to break free from Dominic’s grip. His fingers tightened, as if threatening to crush the bones in my wrist. He leaned in close, his voice low. “The wedding isn’t over yet. What’s wrong with you?” He stepped even closer, his eyes flashing with menace. “Walk out now, and I’ll make sure the Crowe family never holds their heads up again. You know what I’m capable of.” I held my breath, my gaze locked with his. A chill crept up my spine. I’d seen that look before—in high school, when bullies surrounded me. Dominic had flown in from overseas and forced each kid who tormented me and their parents to line up and apologize. By nightfall, their family businesses had collapsed, swallowed by Dominic’s empire. But now, I was the target of his threats. The man who once protected me was long gone. Vivian stepped forward, her eyes brimming with fake tears. “If Evelyn doesn’t bless our union, I…” Before she could finish, Dominic’s fingers tightened—a silent command. “Say it.” I bit my lip until I tasted blood, forcing myself to speak. “Congratulations on your marriage. May you have lasting happiness.” His hand loosened, but his eyes lingered on me with something unreadable in their depths. The reception dragged on, the buzz of toasts and laughter fading into dull background noise. As guests began to disperse, two burly men in black suits appeared behind me, shoving me toward a small storage room. A rough push sent me crashing to the floor, my knees slamming against concrete, pain shooting through my body. My hand touched something wet and foul—saliva from that filthy dog now crouching in front of me, the source of my public humiliation. I pounded on the door, my voice growing hoarse. “Let me out!” Dominic’s voice penetrated through, cold as winter wind. “Stay put and think about what you’ve done. After Vivian is settled, I’ll decide what to do with you.” Then, hurried footsteps broke the silence outside. “Mr. Reid! The hospital just called… they say the elder Mr. Reid won’t make it…” Dominic’s response came slow and deliberate, punctuated by the sound of a kick. “He was jogging in the garden this morning. You’re telling me he’s dying?” Fear surged in my chest. I pounded harder, blood seeping from my torn palms, but I didn’t stop. “Dominic, please… let me see Grandpa Silas!” Only receding footsteps answered me. Despair consumed me. I collapsed on the floor, time blurring into a haze. Finally, a janitor pried the door open. I rushed out half-crazed, racing toward the hospital. When I reached the second floor, muffled sobs pierced my ears. My legs weakened. A gurney rolled past, covered with a white sheet over a motionless figure. “Grandpa Silas…” My mother Clara lunged at me, slamming me against the wall. My head cracked against it, warm blood trickling down my neck. “If you hadn’t dragged us into your scandal, Mr. Reid would still be alive!” she shrieked. “You’re a curse on this family—get out!” I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. Relatives pushed me toward the exit, their stares more cutting than any blade. Outside, rain poured down, soaking my wedding dress until it clung to me like lead. Numbly, I pushed open the door to the home Dominic and I shared. Vivian’s sugary giggle greeted me. “I don’t want that,” she cooed. In the living room, Dominic was feeding her a spoonful of food, his eyes tender with a gentleness I hadn’t seen in years. Seeing me standing in the doorway, drenched and shivering, he froze, his smile vanishing. “Vivian will be staying here during her pregnancy. You’ll take on the role of housekeeper. After the child is born, I’ll consider fulfilling our engagement.”

Silas had just left, yet they acted as if nothing had happened. My throat tightened, tears blurring my vision. “Do you know that Grandpa Silas—” Dominic didn’t even look up, his tone as casual as if ordering coffee. “What about him? Oh right, Vivian hasn’t eaten. Go make her some soup.” I hadn’t eaten a bite since morning, my stomach aching with emptiness. But I swallowed my words and silently walked to the kitchen, where I prepared a pot of soup. When I placed the steaming bowl on the table, Dominic snatched the spoon from my hand, gently blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to Vivian’s lips. “Careful, it’s hot.” His voice was tender and affectionate—like a dull knife, slowly tearing my heart apart. Once, when I was sick, he had cared for me with the same attentiveness. But since Vivian appeared, all his warmth had been reserved for her. I took a shaky breath and turned to leave, but Dominic’s voice froze me in place. “Bring your violin.” I stood stunned, my fingers trembling. “That violin means a lot to me. I…” He cut me off, his brow furrowing with impatience. “The best obstetrics team in the country doesn’t come cheap. The hospital director’s grandson is learning to play, and your violin would be perfect for him. It’s just a violin. I’ll buy you a dozen more.” My ears buzzed as the world around me fell silent. That violin wasn’t just an instrument. It was an Italian antique that Silas had gone to great lengths to acquire from a European auction for my seventh birthday. Now that he was gone, it was the last thing he had left me. Vivian sobbed, her voice quivering, “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for keeping this baby… don’t make Evelyn uncomfortable.” Dominic’s expression darkened. He wiped away her tears, whispering reassurances, then barked at a maid, “Go to the music room and bring the violin.” I gripped the stair railing, my knuckles turning white. Moments later, the violin that held twenty Christmases worth of memories—its wood marked with the passage of time—was carelessly placed in Vivian’s hands. She smiled secretly, a flash of satisfaction I wasn’t supposed to see. “This violin is beautiful…” Then, she deliberately let it slip from her grasp. The violin crashed to the floor, shattering into jagged pieces. I fell to my knees, clutching the remains, my fingers trembling as they traced the broken strings. A heart-wrenching scream erupted from my throat. Dominic yanked me up by the arm. “Enough! It’s just a broken violin, is it worth this hysteria? Vivian didn’t mean to. What are you making such a fuss about?” Vivian cowered behind him, wiping her tears as she said, “Now that the violin is ruined, what about the hospital director…” Dominic gave me a cold glance, putting his arm around her as they headed upstairs. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Their figures disappeared around the staircase, leaving me to stare at the shattered pieces of my past. Even my last connection to Silas was destroyed, beyond repair. I dragged myself back to my room like a ghost, only to freeze at the sight before me. The swing in the corner—its ropes neatly cut—lay on the floor like discarded trash. My space, once a sanctuary, was now filled with brand-new baby items. Dominic had converted my bedroom into a nursery. That swing… he had made it with his own hands, promising this room would always be my castle. Yet in an instant, to please his new love, he had torn it down himself. The door was kicked open. Dominic burst in carrying Vivian, his face like storm clouds. “Evelyn, what did you put in the soup?” Vivian let out a shrill wail, her face pale as she clutched her stomach. “It hurts… my baby…” I instinctively moved toward her, but Dominic shoved me to the ground. My head hit the coffee table, stars exploding before my eyes. A small white bottle rolled out of my pocket, landing at his feet. He picked up the bottle, reading the label, his face contorting. “Abortion pills? You tried to kill Vivian’s baby?” “They’re not mine!” I grabbed his pant leg, shaking my head frantically. “I don’t know where they came from!” A slap silenced me, the stinging pain swallowing my words. Dominic carried Vivian out, giving me one last ice-cold glance. “Evelyn, you’ve gone too far. If anything happens to this child, you’re finished.” In the hospital room, I knelt in the corner, my knees long since numb. Dominic stayed by Vivian’s side all night, only breathing a sigh of relief when she finally woke up. “You’re okay,” he whispered, his voice gentle with relief. “The baby is fine too.” Vivian’s hand moved to her stomach, her voice trembling, “I thought we lost it…” His expression immediately hardened. He carefully adjusted her pillow, but when his gaze swept toward me, it was cold as steel. “Come here. Apologize to Vivian.” Just then, my phone vibrated, the screen lighting up with a message: [Sir Reid’s funeral is being held today.] My heart clenched. I gritted my teeth, struggling to stand, but my legs gave out and I collapsed back onto the floor. Dominic’s fists tightened, his jaw clenched. “Stop playing the victim. It won’t work on me. Apologize, or you’re not going anywhere.” Humiliation swept through me like a raging fire, hotter than any pain I’d ever felt. Tears slid down my cheeks. “I’m sorry,” I choked out. His hand paused for a moment, but he didn’t look at me. “Go to the church. Pray for Vivian and the baby’s safety.” With that, he sat back down beside her, gently feeding her soup with a spoon, his tenderness completely erasing my existence. Their world was all whispers and loving gazes, as if I had never existed. I staggered to my feet and stumbled into the biting cold of the street. My only thought was to get to Silas, to say goodbye one last time. My phone vibrated, jarring in the silence. I answered with trembling hands, my breath catching. “Ms. Crowe? I’m the Crowe family driver. Today is Sir Reid’s funeral. I’m here to pick you up.” Minutes later, a black sedan pulled up slowly in front of me. The driver handed me a bottle of water. “You look pale. Have some water.” I took it, tears welling up as I clutched the bottle tightly. Silas was gone. The person who loved me unconditionally would never come back. The cold water slid down my throat, but my vision blurred, my thoughts foggy. I vaguely noticed the scenery outside becoming unfamiliar, but my tongue felt too heavy to speak. When I opened my eyes again, before I could make sense of my surroundings, a heavy weight pinned me down. The stench of tobacco and alcohol hit my nostrils as hot breath grazed my neck. My clothes were half torn away. A rough hand covered my screams. The man grabbed my chin, grinning maliciously. “Mr. Reid said if you behave, I might go easy on you.” Cold terror washed over me like a tide, drowning me completely. For Vivian’s sake, Dominic had pushed me into hell. Tears blurred my vision. My hands desperately searched behind me until they gripped a rusty iron bar. I squeezed my eyes shut and swung the bar with all my strength, smashing it against his forehead. Once. Then again. He hadn’t expected me to fight back. Blood ran down his face as he collapsed to the ground, motionless. Clutching my torn clothes, iron bar in hand, I stumbled out the door. Blinding light greeted me, and I blinked in confusion. Not far away, the golden sign of Reid Group gleamed coldly in the daylight. Three Christmases ago, on a stormy night, I got lost in this factory. Dominic had searched the entire city like a madman to find me. I could still remember how he held me in his arms, soaking wet and eyes full of worry, swearing he would never let me go again. Now, he had deliberately trapped me here. I stared at the twisted old tree by the parking lot, a bitter laugh rising through my tears. With trembling fingers, I dialed a number. “Please… save me…” ***** Videos of the factory fire were already spreading wildly online. Dominic’s assistant Liam rushed in to report. “Mr. Reid, something’s happened! The factory’s on fire, and Ms. Crowe’s last location shows she was inside!”

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I told Quentin Palmer I was pregnant as soon as I found out—first month. I was over the moon.He wasn’t.Instead, he just frowned, all moody and weird. When I asked when we were getting married, he panicked and changed the subject.So yeah, I went to the hospital alone today for a checkup.And ran smack into Rainee Layton—his so-called childhood friend.That’s when I found out the real story: they were already married. And she was pregnant too.”You little rascal,” she cooed to her bump. “Be good and grow strong so Mommy doesn’t suffer. Or Daddy’s gonna punish you when you’re out!”Quentin stepped out of the exam room holding prenatal meds—for pregnant women.His face? All soft and glowing like some proud dad.He rubbed Rainee’s belly, smiling. “The baby doesn’t even get what you’re saying, and you’re already threatening it?”Then the machine called my name.I stood up from a corner. He turned. Our eyes met.He froze—totally caught off guard.Bet he never thought he’d run into me here, same day, same place.I’d asked him just yesterday to come with me. He said he was busy.And I bought it. No questions.Booked the appointment myself. Came alone.Turns out, “busy” meant playing perfect husband to Rainee, like I didn’t even exist.I walked over slow, staring at Rainee’s slightly rounded belly. My face? Blank. Dead calm.”How far along are you?”Quentin clamped his mouth shut, wouldn’t even look at me.Rainee, though? She smiled like she’d won. “Almost two months. It’s mine and Quentin’s baby.”I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.Same as mine. Two months.It felt like something cracked wide open inside me. Tears started falling, and I couldn’t stop them.I looked up at him, voice barely hanging on. “Aren’t you gonna explain?”Quentin’s face twisted. He rushed over, pulling me in. “I’m sorry. I lied. Yeah, I came with her—but the baby’s not mine. I just didn’t want anything to happen to her alone.”Behind him, Rainee smirked, then turned on the waterworks. “But Quentin, you promised you’d be this baby’s dad. We’re married. Once the baby’s here, you have to give it your surname.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it hit like a bomb in my chest.I snapped my head up and shoved him off me.Stared him down, hoping—begging—for something. Anything.But he just looked away, eyes on the floor. Guilty as hell.I pointed at Rainee, my voice shaking. “So it’s true? You married her? Then what about me? What about our baby? You’re ditching your own kid to play dad to one that doesn’t even know who their real father is?”Before I could even finish, Rainee started sobbing. “My baby’s not a bastard! He has a dad!”Quentin freaked out.Then—he slapped me.The crack echoed. My cheek lit up like fire.He looked at me like I was nothing. Pulled his hand back like it didn’t just hit me. His eyes were cold, disgusted. “Vivienne Watson, have you completely lost it? Do you even realize how much damage your words could do to Rainee?”I didn’t know how much it could hurt her. All I knew was Quentin wasn’t the guy I used to love.I wiped the blood off my lip, the metallic taste thick in my mouth.Every time it came to Rainee, he lost it.My voice cracked. “What do you want me to say? My fiancé ditched me and our baby. He’s playing house with someone else and raising her kid. You want me to throw confetti or something?”I couldn’t hold back anymore. My voice rose, raw and sharp.Quentin paused—just for a second. Guilt flickered in his eyes.Then he said, calm like this was some logical deal, “Rainee’s not like you. I’m all she’s got. She can’t handle the gossip. Just wait, Vivienne. After she has the baby, I’ll marry you.”He pulled me in like that was a promise. “Trust me. A year from now, I’ll give you the wedding you deserve.”I didn’t say a word.Then Rainee cut in, annoyed. “Quentin, the baby’s hungry. Let’s go home.”His body stiffened. But he didn’t hesitate.He let me go, patted my head, and walked off with her—leaving me standing there.Watching them disappear, it hit me. Love and indifference? They’re not that hard to tell apart.***After the checkup, I went home.Alone.The place felt like a freezer.I showered, crawled into bed, completely out of it.Then the door clicked. Quentin’s voice drifted in, tired. “Your hair’s wet. You’ll catch a cold.”I didn’t budge.He sighed, picked me up, and sat me in front of the vanity.The hair dryer whirred to life. He ran his fingers through my hair, drying it.Still, I said nothing.”What’s wrong? Still mad about today?” he asked. “Didn’t I say I’d marry you after this is all sorted?”He knew exactly where to dig.He leaned in, warm breath brushing my ear. Goosebumps.I bit back. “What if I say no?”His face shifted, all shadow. “I’m not asking—I’m telling you how it is.”Then came the switch—softer, like that made it better. “Rainee’s got no one. I’m all she has. I can’t just ditch her.”He grabbed a suitcase and started throwing stuff in.Didn’t take long before it was packed and ready.At the door, he turned. “Her morning sickness is bad. I’ll stay a few days. Call if you need something.”The suitcase clicked over the threshold.That’s when I felt the tears.So this was it.He knew I had no one. Knew I was sick, sleepless, wrecked.He just didn’t care.Next to Rainee, I was nothing.

After that day, Quentin gradually left my life.He was all-in with Rainee, only texting late at night with a half-hearted [how are you?].I ignored him, so the messages stopped.Then I hit three months.Ran into Quentin’s sister, Cecilia Palmer, at the hospital.Cecilia looked stunned, then snatched my report like it burned her.”You’re cheating on Quentin? Pregnant with some random guy’s baby?”I blinked. “This baby’s Quentin’s. I didn’t cheat.”She just laughed, sharp and cold. “Still lying? You look all sweet, but you’re trash underneath. Got knocked up and now you’re trying to scam your way into our family?”Yeah, I knew she didn’t like me.But I didn’t think she’d come at me like that.No filter. Just pure hate.A crowd started forming.Whispers. Pointing.I bit my lip till it bled, chest tight like I couldn’t breathe.Tried to leave. Over and over.But Cecilia blocked me every time.I finally snapped. “What do you want? I told you, this baby’s Quentin’s. Call him if you don’t believe me.”She scoffed. “Cut the act. Rainee’s the one having Quentin’s baby. He’s with her right now. “You think if this kid was his, he’d leave you here alone? You cheated and got pregnant. Now get ready—our family doesn’t let trash like you walk away clean.”She waved her hand.Bodyguards showed up like it was all planned.Heart pounding, I grabbed my phone.Didn’t even get to dial—Smack.Her slap lit my cheek on fire, my phone hit the floor.She yanked my hair, eyes icy. “Still think Quentin’s coming for you? Keep dreaming.”Next thing I knew, I was shoved into her car.Headed straight for the Palmer estate.***Quentin and Rainee were chilling in the living room—he was feeding her cream soup like some doting husband. She looked smug, glowing.I looked wrecked. Hair everywhere, blood at my lip, clothes wrinkled and stained.Cecilia marched in, full-on triumphant. “Quentin, she cheated on you. Knocked up with someone else’s kid. I caught her red-handed.”I lifted my head, lips pale, cheek still burning.I thought he’d say something. Anything.But he didn’t even glance my way.His voice was cold. “Lock her in the attic. No one opens that door unless I say so.” That was it. My heart just… snapped.I stared at him one last time.No begging. No hope left.Then I was in the attic, locked up like I was nothing.Night fell. Rats scratched in the corners.One of them waddled right up to me.Then—creak.The attic door started to open.The rat bolted.Rainee’s smug face popped into the doorway.No one else around, so she dropped the sweet act and went full venom.”Look at you now. I told you Quentin was mine. But you? You actually thought you could steal him? Marry him? Please. You were just his side project.”That grin lit a fire in me.I grabbed something off the floor—launched it at her.She screamed and hit the ground.Then I saw it. A rat.Footsteps thundered upstairs. Quentin and Cecilia stormed in.Rainee was on the floor, clutching her stomach, sobbing like she was dying.”Quentin! My belly—what if something happened to the baby? I was just being nice, offering Vivienne food, and she threw a rat at me!”She turned up the waterworks, sobbing louder, milking it.And just like that, they all believed her.Cecilia looked like she was about to lunge, but Quentin held her back.His eyes—pure ice.”I can’t believe you, Vivienne,” he said. “I let you stay here so it’d be easier to take care of you, but clearly, you can’t be under the same roof as Rainee.”I shut my eyes, drained. The hopelessness was crushing.”Live together? Please. Everyone thinks Rainee’s carrying your kid and I’m just the girl who ‘CHEATED’ and got knocked up. Why would I belong here?”His jaw tightened. Annoyed but trying to keep it together.”Just… focus on your pregnancy, okay? Keep the baby safe. Stop picking fights with Rainee.”I didn’t say a word. Just let out a cold, bitter laugh.He snapped. Slammed the door.”You’re staying in the attic. Maybe some time alone will help you think. I’ll have food brought up.”***I was stuck in that gross, airless attic for days—rats included.Rainee stopped picking fights, probably because Quentin warned her.But a month in, she walked by, and she made sure to say loud enough for me to hear, “Quentin’s taking me to my check-up tomorrow!”That night, I played it cool. When Quentin dropped off my food, I said, “It’s been a month. The baby needs tests.”He smiled, like I was finally the version of me he wanted.”If you’d been like this earlier, things wouldn’t have been so hard. Don’t worry—I’ll take you tomorrow.”He didn’t.He went with Rainee.I got stuck with Cecilia, who barely looked up from her phone the whole ride.At the hospital, she didn’t even catch when I asked about ending the pregnancy.The doctor helped me go through with it.Quentin showed up late. Rainee was already done.”Where’s Vivienne? She’s still not out?”He pushed open the door—froze.Blood-soaked sheets. Tissue on the floor.His face went gray. Lips shaking.”V-Vivienne, what did you do?”

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On the day Ethan Moore and I are supposed to marry, his adoptive sister, Hazel Moore, threatens to jump off a building. Ethan abandons me in my wedding dress and leaves me jilted for her. As the guests watch me mockingly, I boldly announce, “I’ll marry anyone who dares walk down this aisle to me!” Three years later, Ethan returns to the Moore residence with Hazel. I’m seated on the couch and enjoying some oatmeal while watching TV. Ethan stares at my baby bump and snarls, “Who’s the father of that child in your belly?” I sip my oatmeal and smile faintly. “A member of the Moore family, of course.” *** Ethan Moore stormed over, his face twisted with rage as he yanked me off the couch. “Shameless! I left with Hazel on our wedding day. I haven’t stepped foot in this place for three years. How could that child in your belly be mine?” I almost laughed. I never said it was his. He wasn’t the only man in the Moore family. “Of course, it’s not your child. You’re not even worthy of being his father,” I said. Hazel Moore’s face twisted in shock. “Audrey Smith, even if Ethan ran away from the wedding, he still left you with the title of Mrs. Moore. You’ve been living a life of luxury in the Moore family. How could you shamelessly get pregnant with someone else’s child?” I glanced at her. “You’re the adopted daughter of the Moore family, and you had the nerve to seduce your own brother. If we’re talking about being shameless, who could possibly beat the two of you?” Hazel’s voice turned pitiful as she looked at Ethan. “Ethan, for the past three years, we’ve kept things respectful. Yet, she’s carrying someone else’s child and cheated on you.” The moment he heard her words, Ethan’s fury exploded. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “You filthy woman! You get knocked up by someone else and still dare to drag me and Hazel into it? Get out now!” he shouted. The sharp pain bloomed across my cheek. My head went blank for a second from the force of the slap. Ethan ran off with Hazel three years ago, leaving me alone to face all the whispers and laughter at our wedding. Driven by rage, I called for a groom on the spot. It was his uncle, Jeremiah Moore, who stepped up and married me that same day. In Beverton City, Jeremiah was known as the Frost King. Everyone has treated me with the utmost respect ever since I married him. After I got pregnant, he spoiled me even more. He wouldn’t let a strand of my hair be harmed. Blood would have been spilled if he had known what Ethan had just done. To avoid a full-blown family tragedy and for the sake of the child in my belly, I said coldly, “If you both leave now, I’ll pretend this never happened.” However, they didn’t appreciate the offer. Hazel lunged forward and yanked my hair. “Ethan, this woman is scared. She wants us to leave now so she can use that child to take everything from the Moores!” Ethan snapped, “So that’s what this is about! Well, I’m not letting it happen!” I twisted away from Hazel’s grip and said coldly, “David disowned you the day you two ran off. You had nothing to do with this family from that moment on.” Hazel let out a scoff. “That was just Grandpa venting. Ethan’s the only grandson of the Moore family. Do you really think he’s going to stay disowned forever?” Ethan’s expression turned smug. “Grandpa already said everything belongs to me.” I placed a hand over my belly, my voice icy. “Not anymore. This child is also a member of the Moore family.” I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear. However, Ethan’s eyes flared with rage as he stared at me. “So you’re planning to pass that illegitimate child off as a Moore? I’ll teach you a lesson now!” His slap landed even harder this time. I clutched my belly as I collapsed to the floor. Upon seeing the twisted hatred on their faces, panic surged inside me. I couldn’t let them hurt the baby. I said desperately, “He is not an illegitimate child. He is…”

Before I could say another word, Ethan bent down and grabbed the shattered porcelain bowl of oatmeal off the floor. He shoved the shards and oatmeal straight into my mouth. “Hazel and I have struggled to survive for the past three years. Yet, you’ve been leeching off the Moore family, living in comfort with that child in your belly! Well, let me make sure you get your fill today!” he barked. I instantly choked, unable to speak. The sharp pieces of porcelain cut into the inside of my mouth, and blood gushed across my tongue. I raised a hand to resist, but Hazel stomped her stiletto heel down hard on my hand. Pain shot up my arm, and my hand trembled uncontrollably. I couldn’t even cry out. Ethan spat in my face after stuffing every bit of that oatmeal into my mouth. He then clapped his hands and stood up. Hazel’s stiletto heel shifted toward my swollen belly. Terror gripped me. I grabbed her ankle with all the strength I had, trying desperately to stop her from stepping down. Jeremiah has been infertile since birth. We finally conceived this child after we visited the best doctors across the country and abroad for three years. Hazel looked down at me with a sneer. “Audrey, you look just like a dog protecting her pup. Pathetic.” Ethan frowned at my belly. “If word gets out that I’ve been cheated on like this, how am I supposed to show my face in Beverton City? Step on it, Hazel. Crush that illegitimate child before it’s born!” I shook my head like mad. Blood and vomit spilled from my mouth as I choked out the words. “This baby… This baby is Jeremiah’s…” Ethan froze before bursting into a maniacal laugh. “Are you kidding me, Audrey? Everyone in Beverton knows my uncle has never touched a woman. He can’t even have kids! Right now, I’m the only one left in the Moore family to carry on the bloodline. That’s why Grandpa desperately wanted me to marry you and have kids.” Hazel chimed in, “Ethan is the only heir. Grandpa even cut off all his cards to force him back home and inherit the estate. Audrey, you’re beyond shameless. How dare you drag Uncle Jeremiah into it after we’ve exposed you?” Ethan had eloped with Hazel for three years and hadn’t contacted the family once. His grandpa, David Moore, had given up on him completely. He had frozen all Ethan’s accounts because he wanted to disown him. But now, clearly, neither of them was in the right state of mind. To avoid provoking them, I didn’t argue back. I repeated, “I’m not lying. This baby really is Jeremiah’s. I’ll call him right now if you don’t believe me.” I covered my belly with one hand and reached for the phone on the table with the other. My baby and I would be safe if I could reach Jeremiah. He would come immediately to save me. But just as I grabbed the phone, Ethan snatched it from my hand and smashed it. The screen cracked into pieces, and I felt my heart sink with it. He grabbed my chin and said, “My uncle’s temper is unpredictable. Everyone in Beverton fears him. If he finds out I can’t even handle a cheating wife, he’ll think I’m worthless. He’ll never hand the company over to me. Audrey, that’s why you were trying to call him, right?” I shook my head frantically. “No, the baby is…” Before I could finish, Hazel stepped on my belly with the tip of her high heel. “Why are you even wasting time on this woman, Ethan? Let’s kill that baby and go earn some credit with Grandpa.” A wave of searing pain shot through my abdomen. I could feel the baby twisting in panic inside me, and terror—unlike anything I’d ever known—flooded my chest. I looked up at them, pleading. “Please… Don’t hurt my baby…” Hazel lifted her phone and aimed it at me, saying, “Get on your knees, bark like a dog, and say you’re filthy. Do that, and maybe I’ll spare your baby.”

For the sake of the child in my belly, I could no longer care about my pride or dignity. I turned and dropped to my knees. I let out two barking sounds, my voice trembling as I said, “I’m filthy.” Hazel leaned down as she curled her lips into a triumphant smile. “Audrey, when I once kneeled in front of you and begged you not to marry Ethan, did you ever imagine you’d end up like this?” Hazel had come to plead with me back then, saying she and Ethan were in love, and asked me to call off the engagement. The marriage between the Moore and the Smith families had been arranged by our elders, bound by countless business interests. If I were to end it, the blame would fall squarely on my family—we’d be the ones suffering the consequences. So, I rejected her request. I never thought she’d hold that grudge for this long. But I had no strength left to argue about the past. I looked up at them, pleading, “Please call an ambulance…” Ethan stomped down hard on my back. “Audrey, you really are shameless! You’d do anything for that disreputable child!” I was crushed to the ground, my belly slamming against the hard floor. Pain exploded across my belly like wildfire. “You said you’d spare the baby…” I muttered. Hazel’s tone was nonchalant as she remarked, “I said I’d let the child go. Ethan didn’t say a thing, did he?” “You’ve got some nerve to use that child and my name to lie your way into the Moore family. Do you think I’d let you off that easily? Dream on!” Ethan snapped. Ethan kicked me square in the stomach. Pain shot through me like lightning, and bright red blood began to stream down my legs. I could feel the baby in my belly stop moving bit by bit. Despair surged through me, and the hatred in my eyes as I looked at them cut deeper than a blade. “Ethan, Hazel, you’re going to regret it!” I shouted. Hazel stood next to Ethan, her gaze full of venom. “Ethan, she still doesn’t know how to repent. Clearly, she still hasn’t learned her lesson.” Ethan sneered. “We’ll see who ends up regretting this. Hazel, go get a rope.” Hazel understood instantly. She rummaged in the living room, returned with a rope, and walked toward me. I dragged my bloodied body and retreated. My eyes were filled with terror as I asked, “What are you doing?” But all I got in return were their faces twisted with excitement. They tied my hands and feet together. They then dragged me out of the house by the rope. Blood smeared the floor behind me in a long, terrible trail. They dragged me to the edge of the pool. Ethan kicked me into the water. I couldn’t move with my limbs bound, so I sank straight to the bottom in despair. The pool water rushed into my nose and mouth—I was suffocating. Just when I thought I was going to die, Ethan yanked the rope and pulled me back up. “Have you learned your lesson, Audrey? Do you dare to cheat on me again?” I gasped for air, but the pain in my abdomen kept sinking deeper and deeper. I had taken prenatal classes with Jeremiah. I knew what was happening. The trauma had triggered early labor. Although I knew the chances of saving the baby were slim, I couldn’t give up hope. I begged Ethan again. “I was wrong. I’ll never do it again. Please, spare me and the baby. I’m going into labor. Please call an ambulance. I’m begging you…” Ethan spat at me. “Even now, you’re still thinking about that child? You clearly haven’t learned a lesson! There’s no way I’m letting that child leave the Moore residence alive!” With that, he raised his foot again, ready to kick me back into the pool. I closed my eyes in despair. Fear of drowning filled my heart. Just then, the front door of the villa slammed open. Jeremiah rushed over, panic written all over his face as he shouted, “Stop right there!”

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I’ve been married to Special Forces Commander David Miller for six years. He’s always been attentive to me, yet he did three things that shattered my heart. The first was when our son Jacob Miller died of illness. That day, David brought back a boy who resembled him from Texas. David said, “This is Ethan. He’ll be our son from now on.” The second was on the day of Jacob’s funeral, when David threw a lavish birthday party for Ethan Wilson. The third was during Jacob’s burial, when David took Ethan and his birth mother Jennifer Cooper to a restaurant, not even coming to see Jacob one last time. Holding Jacob’s urn, I felt utterly desperate. In the end, I used the Purple Heart medal my father had earned to exchange for divorce papers from the Pentagon. This marriage that began with gratitude was now over. ***** After getting the divorce papers from the Pentagon’s Personnel Department, I voluntarily applied for a transfer to a military base in Alaska. Even as he walked me out, Personnel Manager Owen Johnson was still trying to persuade me: “Sophia, you’ve been married to Colonel Miller for six years, and he’s about to be promoted to Brigadier General. Why insist on divorcing him and going to such a remote base? “Colonel Miller is deeply in love with you. After the divorce, finding another suitable partner won’t be easy!” Hearing his words, I tried to force a smile, but my heart was breaking. If I hadn’t gone to ask David to pull strings for a specialist when Jacob was critically ill that day, accidentally overhearing his conversation with his aide Quinn Smith, I might still think he was a loyal and honorable man. Quinn asked, “Sir, we’ve brought Jennifer’s child here, but how do we explain this to Sophia?” David frowned and said coldly, “Ethan is my child. I absolutely cannot let him grow up elsewhere! “Keep it from Sophia for now. Tell her Ethan is the orphaned child of my fallen comrade.” Quinn hesitated, “But if Sophia discovers the truth…” David sneered, “Even if she finds out, what can she do? Her parents are dead, and she has a sick child. She can only rely on me. “If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll remain my wife!” Those words stabbed into my heart like knives, making me wish I were dead. David had been having an affair all along, while I was still giving him everything. I was so angry that I coughed up blood. Looking at the blood in my palm, I suddenly remembered what happened three years ago. Back then, David was ambushed during an anti-terrorism mission in Texas. I was pregnant at the time, but I moved stone after stone with my bare hands, scraping them raw and bloody, to rescue him. After returning home, I went into premature labor. Jacob was sickly from birth. My health deteriorated too, and the military doctor said I could never have children again. At that time, David swore in front of his leaders and comrades that he would never betray me. His superiors admired his performance and devotion, promoting him to commander. I never imagined it was all an elaborate performance! David did all this for his career, so his mistress and illegitimate son could live well. Thinking of this, I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and said firmly, “Mr. Johnson, thank you for your concern, but my mind is made up.” Owen sighed, “Since you’ve decided, take care of Jacob’s affairs and leave as soon as possible.” Hearing Jacob’s name, I felt a stab of pain. He was only three years old. I still remember how he smiled at me just a while ago. Now, only his body remains. He will never smile at me again. David still doesn’t know that Jacob has passed away. He’s still with Jennifer and Ethan. I folded the divorce papers and put them in my pocket, then turned to leave. After Jacob’s cremation tomorrow, I can take him and leave this place.

I had just returned to the apartment when David walked in. Seeing my pale face, he frowned, took my hand and said, “Why are your hands so cold? I’ll have the chef make you some hot soup tonight.” His hands were still broad and warm, but that warmth could no longer melt my frozen heart. David looked around and asked, “Where’s Jacob?” Just when I thought he was finally going to realize Jacob had passed away, he continued on his own, “Is his cold still not better? Is he still in the hospital? Never mind. Do you still have that pure silver cross pendant your mother left you? I want to give it to Ethan.” He spoke in a calm tone, adding, “If it weren’t for his father Mark saving me last Christmas, I would have been dead by now.” I lowered my head, quietly withdrew my hands, and said, “I understand. I’ll go get it now.” Seeing my gloomy expression, David held my shoulders and reassured me, “Sophia, don’t misunderstand. I just want to help Jennifer and Ethan since they have no one to rely on.” My heart ached, but I forced a smile and said, “I understand, don’t worry.” Jacob was gone now, and none of this mattered to me anymore. Hearing this, David visibly relaxed. I turned and walked into the bedroom, retrieving the cross pendant from the deepest part of the drawer. The cold silver pendant lay heavy in my palm, carrying too many of my memories. The day Jacob left, I had taken it off and never dared to look at it again. And now, David wanted to give it to someone else’s child. When I returned to the living room with the pendant, I found David had already taken out several brand-new winter clothes. “These cashmere coats are good quality. Jennifer should like them.” I watched coldly as he collected the new clothes I had purchased with several months’ salary, laughing bitterly inside. In our six years of marriage, David had never shown such care for me. With heavy steps, I handed him the cross pendant and the newly processed adoption documents. I said, “Ethan’s adoption paperwork is complete. It will be convenient for his schooling and medical care from now on.” David froze, then exclaimed with delight, “Sophia, I knew you’d understand me best!” Seeming to realize his overreaction, he quickly cleared his throat to cover it up. “Regardless, I only love you and Jacob in my heart. Once I’ve settled them, I’ll focus on taking care of you both.” With that, he planted a routine kiss on my cheek. But this time, I no longer felt that flutter in my heart. After getting the pendant, David rushed off to Jennifer’s apartment. Watching his hurried silhouette disappear, I felt painful, recalling Jacob’s final moments. Back then, I thought David was truly busy with military duties when I took Jacob to the hospital alone. I stayed by Jacob’s side until he weakly said he wanted to see David, and only then did I hurry to find him. But I never expected to witness that scene. Jennifer holding David’s hand on one side and Ethan’s on the other, shopping. Ethan called David “Dad.” They looked like a happy family. Only when I called out to him did David hastily let go. I was disappointed but didn’t have time to question him, only urging him to go see Jacob at the hospital. But he made excuses again: “I’m busy right now. Let the doctor prescribe some medicine for him. I’ll go see him another day.” David never visited Jacob before he passed away. My trust and love for him collapsed in an instant. Before Jacob died, he held my hand and asked, “Mom, why doesn’t Dad come to see me? Does he hate me?” Before he could finish, he took his last breath. My heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I wanted so badly to tell him that his father already had a new family and didn’t want us anymore. But I couldn’t bring myself to say those words, I could only hold his gradually cooling hand and weep.

After composing myself, I began packing my belongings. I had only packed half of my things when David eagerly brought Jennifer and Ethan into the apartment. When I walked into the living room, I saw David directing workers to cut down the oak tree in the yard. That tree was planted together on our wedding Christmas, symbolizing that our love would flourish and endure like an oak. David saw me and hurriedly looked away, pretending not to notice me. Jennifer, however, walked over with Ethan under her protection. She was wearing the cashmere coat David had taken from me this morning. And around Ethan’s neck hung the cross pendant that should have belonged to Jacob. Jennifer smiled and said gently, “I just casually mentioned to David that Ethan has been allergic to oak pollen since he was little, and he immediately had the tree cut down. Sophia, please don’t be upset. I’m sorry.” Jennifer made herself sound innocent, making me appear unreasonable. David shielded her behind him before looking at me, saying perfunctorily, “Sophia, don’t misunderstand. Jennifer and Ethan moved in for convenience with school. We’re all family.” I thought, “For Ethan’s school convenience? What about Jacob? He didn’t even get to taste his father’s spaghetti before he died.” Looking at Jennifer and Ethan hiding behind David, I couldn’t help but smirk coldly. That Christmas, my parents sacrificed themselves to save David’s parents. At their grave, he swore to take care of me for life. Out of gratitude to the Miller family, I willingly married him. But now, for Jennifer and Ethan, he had discarded our past. Even Jacob had lost his life in this sham of a marriage. Seeing my silence, David added, “Why are you wearing black today? We’re having a birthday party for Ethan tonight. Remember to change into something nice.” I jerked my head up, staring at him in disbelief. Today was Jacob’s funeral, yet he wanted to throw someone else a birthday party. In that moment, David seemed frighteningly unfamiliar, as if I had never truly known him. “I’m not interested,” I said. As I turned to leave, David grabbed my wrist. He said impatiently, “Sophia, can you stop making a scene? I’m very busy lately and don’t have time to cater to your emotions. Tonight at eight, we’re having a party here. Remember to bring Jacob too.” My whole body trembled as I thought, “If he knew Jacob was gone and today was his funeral, would David still say such things?” Just as I was about to reveal this, Jennifer suddenly approached and grabbed my hand. She said, “Sophia, your bracelet is beautiful. Which jewelry store did you buy it from?” She smiled, acting friendly, but her eyes flashed with challenge and calculation. I coldly withdrew my hand and heard David say, “This bracelet isn’t worth much. I’ll take you to buy a better one another day.” Jennifer lowered her head and said softly, “But I really like Sophia’s.” David fell silent for a moment, looking at me tentatively. Before he could speak, I took off the bracelet and handed it to her. In that moment, I clearly saw David’s surprised expression. “Sophia, you…” Jennifer took the bracelet but “accidentally” dropped it, breaking it. She said, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.” I smirked without saying anything. This bracelet was personally designed by David as a Christmas gift to me. It was good that it broke now, marking the end of our six-Christmas marriage. I smiled bitterly, the last lingering attachment in my heart now gone. Seeing my expression, David quickly said, “If Jacob isn’t feeling well, he doesn’t have to come tonight. I’ll take you both out another day.” I didn’t answer and turned to leave. I thought, “There won’t be a next time. After today, we’ll never see each other again in this lifetime.”

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