Category: English

In a luxurious hotel, a couple was carried out, stuck together like conjoined twins, and loaded into an ambulance. And all of this was orchestrated by me. When I calmly called my husband, he was desperately trying to control his pain. “Honey, I’m in a meeting.” I gently reminded him, “Since you two love each other so much, why don’t you stay together forever?” I first noticed something was off with Frank when I was on a business trip to South Korea. He posted a photo on Instagram with the caption: “Clear skies, gentle breeze, the Maldives sea is especially blue today.” He was on his annual leave while I was away, visiting the Maldives he had been dreaming of. The photo was a group shot with his colleagues and friends. The seemingly ordinary group photo caught my attention for an unusual detail. My husband was originally wearing a pair of swim trunks I had given him, but they had mysteriously disappeared in the group photo, replaced by a new pair. After some searching, I found a dining photo he posted five days earlier, where half of a woman’s bottom was in the frame, wearing the exact same swim trunks. They were even pinned with a safety pin due to being too large. Could my husband be cheating? To verify my suspicion, I asked him about it when he returned. Instead of stammering, he smoothly told me that he had lost the trunks. “Honey, this is so embarrassing. You know those trunks? Guess what? While I was swimming in the sea, I didn’t tie the drawstring tight enough, and they got washed away!” He slapped his thigh as he spoke, using a tone as if he was telling a funny story, which he often did to joke with me before. But now, I coldly watched his performance. This day was our fifth wedding anniversary, which he had completely forgotten. Seeing that he hadn’t made me laugh, he fell silent and voluntarily put his arm around my shoulder. “Honey, I’ll take better care of the things you give me in the future. Don’t be angry, okay?” He pouted and made a face at me, something I used to love when we were dating. But now, looking at Frank’s greasy face, I suddenly felt a wave of regret. When he was pursuing me, he was the least attractive among all my suitors, but he had a gentle temperament and his career was on par with mine. I thought choosing an unattractive man would ensure loyalty and faithfulness. I didn’t expect that men’s inherent flaws have nothing to do with looks. That afternoon, the company notified me of overtime work. I went to the underground parking lot to get my car. My husband and I each had a car, but mine was being serviced at the dealership, so I took his. Relying on a woman’s keen sixth sense, I detected an unusual signal – the passenger seat had been moved, reclined at least 15 degrees more than usual. Someone had sat in our private car. We bought this comfortable Mercedes SUV when we decided to try for a baby, thinking of our future child’s comfort. I have a sensitive nose, and a faint fishy smell in the air subtly reminded me: they had made love in this car. And to make it convenient, they had adjusted the seat angle. My eyes scanned the car seat, and sure enough, I found a small section of black fabric peeking out from the gap in the passenger armrest. I pulled it out – it was a pair of panties, with particularly sexy and eye-catching lace trim. I tucked away this evidence, pretending nothing had happened. A few days later, a bikini was stuffed in the same place. I coldly gripped it, but this time I noticed something different. I caught a faint whiff of perfume on the bikini. It was a new light fragrance from LV’s early summer collection, which I had tried on by chance while shopping at the mall. For this clue, I specifically met with many suspicious individuals, including my husband’s female colleagues and classmates. Finally, I discovered that only my goddaughter, Mia, wore the exact same scent. When she saw me, she was as affectionate as ever, snuggling up to my arm. “Godmother, did you miss me? I’ve been looking for a job recently. When should we have dinner together?” It was then that I noticed the once skinny high school girl I first met had grown into a tall, curvaceous young woman. I heard she had even undergone breast augmentation surgery earlier this year to enhance her beauty. Judging by the size, it should be about the same as the bikini I found. Mia was a student we had sponsored for four years, and she had just graduated from university. In my eyes, she was excellent in both character and studies, and should have been able to find a better future. Could it be that she was also confused, thinking she could climb the social ladder and transform from a sparrow to a phoenix by being my husband’s mistress?

I deliberately teased her with a smile: “You’ve become even prettier in the few months we haven’t seen each other. Those breast enhancement pills really work well, your figure is even more amazing now.” She seemed a bit embarrassed, coyly pushing me away, “Oh, godmother, you’re so naughty~” Mia’s lips flashed a hint of cunning, but she proudly told me: “Yes, I used breast enhancement pills. You can see the results yourself, godmother. A celebrity figure.” I nodded silently, thinking this was probably the ideal body type that men love most in adult films. Men are all visual creatures. Who could resist a pure and busty college girl? Compared to her, my well-maintained figure from years of Pilates seemed so ordinary. “Let’s have dinner together sometime.” “Sure!” She nodded excitedly, constantly praising my good taste, saying that the clothes and bags I matched were particularly stylish. It was then that I noticed the gemstone ring on her finger and the luxury brand clothes she was wearing. It seemed she had been doing well recently. “Godmother, you’re becoming more and more charming. Uncle Frank must love you very much. This is called the charm of a mature woman!” Mia, being a business major, was indeed skilled in both flattery techniques and tone. After returning home, I expressionlessly threw away all the car accessories and replaced them with a new set. Coincidentally, Frank had just returned from “working overtime.” Seeing that I had prepared a late-night snack, he gave me a hug and said with a smile: “Honey, you’re so considerate. Thank you for your hard work.” His suit was spotless, with a deliberate attempt to cover up with chewing gum and men’s cologne, making me even more suspicious. At that moment, I really wanted to sarcastically ask him: “You’re back? Have you showered? Is the smell of women still on you?” But I held back. Years of workplace experience had taught me the importance of restraint and calmness. I still smiled and replied, “Okay, honey. I picked up your documents from the security guard and put them on the computer desk.” “Thank you, honey.” That night, he seemed eager to be intimate with me. I pretended to go along with it but noticed that his enthusiasm was actually low. So that’s it. After having an affair outside, he naturally lacked energy. So I directly said I was tired and would just browse my phone for a while before sleeping. He sneakily came closer to me and patted his shoulder confidently, “Do you want to lean on my shoulder for a bit?” I turned my back to him without responding, but my lips moved silently: I don’t want to rest my head where another woman has placed her legs. “By the way, I ran into Mia today. She said she wants to have lunch with us the day after tomorrow,” I probed. “She’s really grown into a beauty now, quite the transformation.” Frank seemed to hesitate for a moment but still answered calmly, revealing nothing. “Hmm, I haven’t seen her in a long time either.” I smirked, thinking I’d like to see how long you two can keep up this act. The next day at noon, Frank and I took time off and invited our goddaughter to a Chinese hot pot restaurant for a “reunion.” Mia wore a low-cut black cocktail dress that accentuated her fair skin, creating a striking visual contrast that made her look both alluring and delicate. While ordering, Frank casually instructed: “Waiter, we need a split pot. Mia is on her period these days and can’t eat anything too spicy.” Seeing my displeased expression, Mia quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile, “Don’t misunderstand, I just told Uncle Frank about my period earlier.” Only then did Frank realize his mistake and hurriedly said, “Yes, honey, your stomach isn’t good, so you shouldn’t eat anything too spicy either.” Love or lack thereof can easily be seen in the details. That night, I deliberately got myself drunk, but actually secretly spit all the alcohol into a trash can under the table. Seeing that he couldn’t move me, Frank gently covered me with his jacket and quietly sent me to a room upstairs in the hotel. I didn’t sleep at all that night. The jacket covering me had a faint scent of perfume, seemingly mocking me for his lack of love. The next day, I lied about items being stolen from the car and contacted the property management to check the surveillance footage in the underground parking lot. Sure enough, I found that they had left home by car in the morning. The car wasn’t enough, they dared to bring the mistress into our home now, right? If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I might have still liked this goddaughter of ours, being fooled by my husband’s sweet words.

I spent a hefty sum to hire a private investigator to look into Mia. After marrying Frank, we managed our salaries separately, so he didn’t know how much savings I had. In fact, I had earned quite a bit through investments over the years. Originally, I planned to buy an apartment in the city center for our child after getting pregnant, which would be convenient for schooling. Now it seems that won’t be necessary. A few days later, the private investigator came to tell me, “There was a famous socialite at the University of Cambridge, and that was Mia. Fellow students said they often saw her going out to dinner with various men…” No wonder Mia could afford LV perfume and was dressed in designer brands when I saw her last time, even though she had just graduated and hadn’t found a job yet. “According to her classmates, she was previously expelled from school due to her private life issues, and she even tried to seduce the vice-chancellor, but failed.” “Moreover, Mia’s academic performance was actually at the bottom of the class, teetering on the edge of being asked to leave.” When I heard the private investigator say these things, my heart was bleeding. When we chose to sponsor her, she was still a thin, sallow-faced little girl, but her eyes sparkled with determination. Because of her good grades, she once earnestly told me that she believed “knowledge can change destiny.” She would sweetly call me “godmother,” and dance happily when she first wore the new dress I bought for her… I never expected that after struggling to get into the University of Cambridge and seeing the world, her values would change to believe that being a rich man’s mistress was better than studying. I heard that her current profession is modeling, and her next step is to enter the entertainment industry to make money, which explains the plastic surgery and breast augmentation. I remembered that Frank’s work was related to the entertainment industry. She probably wanted to enter the entertainment industry through Frank, and then dump him to hook up with other wealthy men. After all, what face does a girl who was so promiscuous in school have left to give up? Besides this, the private investigator also gave me a fund flow statement, which was Frank’s payment details. We manage our finances separately, and most of his income comes from salary and stocks. Another part is clearly shown on the bill – nearly 100,000 yuan spent on Mia! How long have they been together? And he’s already spent so much money! I asked the private investigator for one thing: a listening device that could be installed in the car. He hesitated and reminded me that eavesdropping is illegal, and evidence obtained through eavesdropping would not be accepted by the court. I said I knew that and wouldn’t use it as evidence. I just wanted to see if this pair of scumbags was really that disgusting. He then nodded and handed the device to me. A few days later, I used the excuse of a business trip to not return home. Sure enough, I discovered activity in the car. It seems they really like this SUV. “I want a hug,” Mia’s seductive voice came through the earphones. “My sweet baby, did you miss me today?” This was Frank’s naughty laugh, very different from his usual reserved and mature professional demeanor. “I did, you’re so bad.” The rest was just the sound of the seats creaking. Listening to those sounds, I smirked and clenched my fists, then immediately dialed Frank’s number without hesitation. He hung up several times, but seeing my urgent calls, he was forced to answer. “Hello, honey, where are you?” I asked. “Honey, I… ah… I’m in a meeting,” he tried to keep his voice calm and gentle. But I could still hear the sound of a zipper being pulled down, as well as his suppressed gasps. You know, I’m only eight years older than Mia, just turned thirty this year, and I take good care of myself. I don’t look old at all. Frank is average-looking, and his overall financial situation is not as good as mine. When we first got together, relatives and friends jokingly called us “Beauty and the Beast.” Many men wanted to pursue me. Since Frank doesn’t cherish what he has, he deserves to be abandoned by me. I smirked. Since they like being naked so much, I’ll grant their wish!

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After Saving the Obsessive CEO, I Embarked on My Journey Abroad With my studies completed, I secretly returned home, eager to surprise him. However, I was shocked to hear from a friend about the rumors spreading in my absence. They said I had died in a car accident. When I saw Xavier Cooper again, he was furiously kicking a girl in the stomach. His breathing was heavy, his voice filled with restrained fury. “Haven’t I told you all already? No one can ever replace her!” I stood at the entrance of the Cooper Estate, completely dumbfounded. I looked around, blinking in disbelief. Has it really been only a few years? How has he managed to move into an entire estate? I glanced at the driver again, confirming for the second time if this was really Xavier Cooper’s place. Only when he nodded did I gather the courage to step forward. As I approached the large house, I noticed two maids standing by the door. One of them was Fiona, someone I had known since childhood. I was just about to greet her with a smile when she looked at me without any surprise, her expression unchanged. Before I could speak, Fiona rolled her eyes and beckoned me closer. “Oh, seriously, aren’t you all tired of this game yet? Every day, another replacement shows up. Master Cooper has made it clear – he’d never marry anyone but Miss Lucy. Now that Miss Lucy is dead, all these lookalikes just keep coming in. It’s exhausting.” She gave me a quick glance, her eyes narrowing in surprise. Before I could ask her anything, she nudged the other maid beside her and whispered, “Look, this one really resembles her. Eighty or ninety percent at least. Maybe this time the Master will finally take an interest.” “Enough already,” the other maid muttered, disinterested, “it’s not for us to decide whether he likes her or not. Just take her inside.” Fiona, clearly bored, waved at me to follow her into the house. The large, dark door loomed in front of me, sending an ominous shiver down my spine. Sweat dampened my grip on the handle of my suitcase. Fiona turned back to me with a hint of annoyance in her voice. “What are you standing around for? Come on. Why on earth are you dragging a suitcase? Don’t tell me you think the Master would actually fall for you?” I ignored her taunts because my mind was racing. What on earth was going on? What happened in the years I’ve been away?

Fiona led me into a room that resembled a bedroom. But honestly, it was as big as a regular living room. It was dark, everything coated in a greyish mist like it hadn’t been touched in a while. I was just squinting to make out the details when the door slammed shut behind me. I jumped, rushing to the door, only to find it locked from the outside. I swallowed hard. The bad feeling in my gut was quickly turning into full-blown panic. Suddenly, the silence of the room was shattered by a heavy thud, followed by a woman’s desperate cries. “Mr. Cooper, please spare me! I was a fool to try and pretend to be Miss Lucy. I won’t do it again, I swear!” My eyes adjusted to the dark, and I could make out two shadows. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood over a woman who was kneeling at his feet, pleading desperately. But he didn’t give her time to beg. With one swift kick, he knocked her to the ground. I flinched as something flew past me. The woman clutched her face, but Xavier wasn’t finished. He kept kicking her, each strike landing with a thud. “You think you can impersonate Lucy?” he spat. “She’s a thousand, no, a million times better than any of you. And don’t think I don’t know what you’re after. I’ve warned you all before.” His kicks grew harder, fiercer. The woman’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. She stretched out her hand toward me, as if pleading for help. Paralyzed by fear, I sank to the floor, clasping my hands over my mouth to keep myself from screaming. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter. Xavier had already noticed me. He kicked the woman aside and began striding towards me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I scrambled towards the door. Xavier looked down at me with disdain. “Well? Who sent you this time? You’ve got a pretty weak stomach for a spy.” The word spy caught my attention, but I didn’t have time to think about it. Survival came first. My back hit the wall, my last escape route cut off. He walked over, humming a little tune like a cat playing with its prey. I pressed against the wall, desperately thinking of a way to save myself. Clearly, in the years I’ve been away, Xavier had completely lost it. He’s become some kind of sadistic lunatic. My brain, already slow under pressure, completely shut down. I stared blankly as he reached me, trapping me against the wall. I felt his gaze sweep over me, cold and heavy. He leaned in, and I instinctively shrank away, but before I could beg, his strong hands wrapped around my throat. His grip was tight, and within seconds I couldn’t breathe. I tried to twist my neck free, but his hold only grew stronger. He leaned in close, his breath icy against my ear. “Let’s see just how much you look like her, shall we?” I turned my head away, avoiding his gaze, but he laughed coldly. Grabbing my chin, he forced me to face him. Our eyes met. For a moment, everything was silent. His long eyelashes trembled, his lips pale and quivering. There was a strange glimmer in his dark eyes, almost as if he was about to cry. Then, after a moment, he shook his head, muttering to himself. “You look just like her. But…you can’t be her.” His eyes filled with a complicated emotion as he stared at me. He pressed his lips together, deep in thought. The grip around my throat loosened slightly. “I’ll give you one chance,” he said, his voice cold and detached. “Tell me who sent you, and I might just spare you. But don’t ever show your face here again.” I had no idea what he was talking about. Who sent me? No one sent me. I came here on my own. He released my throat, expecting me to speak. I coughed a few times and then blurted out that I truly didn’t know what he was talking about. Xavier’s anger flared once more. His grip tightened again, his eyes flashing with danger. “Speak. Who sent you? My patience is running out.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I cried. “No one sent me. Are you deaf?” Tears began to roll down my face as I spoke. Xavier’s expression faltered for a moment, but he steeled himself, tightening his hold once again. Everything was growing dark. Just then, a thought flashed through my mind—his weakness. Did it still work? Using every ounce of strength I had left, I jabbed my thumb into the space between his second and third ribs. I remembered that spot well. He got that scar while protecting me from a human trafficker.

I jabbed as hard as I could. Xavier hissed in pain, his grip loosening for just a moment. I gasped for air, finally able to breathe again. Taking advantage of the moment, I struggled to get up, trying to make a break for the door. But before I could move far, his hand shot out and grabbed me by the wrist. My heart sank. This was it. I’d hurt him, and now he was going to kill me for real. I turned to face him, expecting to see pure rage on his face. But instead, his expression was one of pure confusion, as if he couldn’t quite understand what had just happened. He gingerly touched the small scar on his rib, his eyes wide with shock. “How… how do you know about this?” His voice cracked, his tone more frantic than ever. “Who told you about this? Do you… do you know Lucy?” Xavier’s gaze turned desperate, and he reached for me again, his voice trembling as he begged. “Tell me where she is! Please, I’ll give you anything. A million… ten million… no, a hundred million pounds! I’ll give you one hundred million, just tell me where Lucy is!” I stared at him, completely stunned. He was losing it. After hesitating for a moment, I forced myself to speak, my voice coming out more awkward than I’d hoped. “I am Lucy Ward, remember? It’s been a long time. Five years, actually. You’ve upgraded to an estate since then, huh? By the way, about that one hundred million pounds… is that offer still good?” Xavier froze, blinking at me as if he couldn’t process what I’d just said. He looked me up and down several times before slowly opening his mouth and reciting the words we had jokingly agreed upon all those years ago. “One… two… three… four… five.” I couldn’t help but respond, my voice weak. “And Cooper is… five foot five.” We had made that joke when we were younger, back when he really was just five foot five. Now, though, in just five years, he’d grown so tall I couldn’t even reach his shoulder. Xavier’s lips quivered, and then, with a sudden burst of movement, he slapped himself hard across the face. “I’m not dreaming, am I?” His voice trembled. “It’s really you. Lucy, you’re alive.” The look in his eyes sent a wave of unease through me. Surely he wouldn’t try to use the dream excuse to get out of paying the one hundred million, right? I quickly spoke up. “No, you’re definitely not dreaming, so don’t even think about backing out on the one hundred million you promised.” Xavier’s mouth twitched slightly, then he lifted my hand, resting his head against it. “One hundred million isn’t nearly enough. How about this—I’ll give you myself instead. I’m worth five billion.” I stared at him in disbelief. Five billion? Was it really that easy? Before I could fully process his words, he scooped me up effortlessly, lifting me into the air. I was stunned, staring at his face, which was now much too close to mine. His warm breath tickled my cheek, making my thoughts sluggish. I snapped back to reality and began to struggle. “What are you doing? Put me down right now!” Xavier smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Lulu, since I’m offering myself to you, shouldn’t you give me something in return?” Without another word, he carried me toward the bed. Realizing his intentions, I started thrashing in his arms, but before I could stop him, he had already thrown me onto the mattress. He climbed on top of me, beginning to undo his shirt.

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After losing passion with my husband, I asked my best friend to help me relax. Little did I know, she would take me to a very different kind of club, and that night became an unforgettable turning point in my life… Yesterday, my husband Tom Bennett and I had a huge argument. The reason? His inappropriate closeness with a colleague. Tom works as an executive at Harper & Sons, a young and successful man, tall and handsome. Naturally, there are plenty of women with ulterior motives around him. This isn’t the first time we’ve fought over this. Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to surprise him at work with lunch. I walked in just in time to see a curvy woman leaning over his shoulder under the pretext of delivering documents, her low-cut blouse leaving little to the imagination. Rage bubbled up inside me, and we ended up having a fight right there in his office. Needless to say, it didn’t end well. That night, Tom didn’t come home. Every time we have a fight, he uses this tactic. I was shaking with anger and had no one to turn to. On a sudden impulse, I decided to visit my best friend, Rania Collins. Little did I know that this decision would change my life. Rania and I are very close, and we know each other’s door codes. I called her first, but there was no answer. Thinking she must have gone to bed early, I decided to head over anyway. When I arrived, I let myself in easily with her door code. But as I walked into the living room, I was met with the unmistakable sounds of passion coming from her bedroom. I was puzzled. Isn’t her husband, Lee, supposed to be away on a year-long business trip? How could he be back so soon? Then a strange thought crossed my mind. Rania was cheating! Without even thinking, I walked to her bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I saw two bodies entwined. The man’s body was young and muscular, his strong arms gripping Rania’s slim waist tightly. Her smooth, pale skin was pressed against his dark, toned physique, their bodies colliding with such intensity that I stood there, red-faced and frozen. Rania was indeed cheating! And with a younger man! It was the kind of thing I only ever fantasized about in my lonelier moments. But beneath my embarrassment, I realized something more. I was envious. After all these years of marriage, I had never truly experienced pleasure as a woman. Our marital life had always been rushed and unfulfilling. Deep down, I too had longed for a young, strong man who could release the tension I’d been carrying for so long. Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard the bathroom door creak open behind me. A voice of surprise called out. “Who’s there?” My mind snapped back to reality. The sounds in the bedroom immediately stopped, and both Rania and the man turned to look at me. … “I… I didn’t mean to… I tried calling, but you didn’t answer, so I…” I stammered, embarrassed, trying to explain to Rania. But to my surprise, she waved it off nonchalantly, dismissing the two young men in the room before casually pulling me over to the sofa for a chat. “Another fight with Tom?” She didn’t seem fazed at all. Relieved that she wasn’t bothered by me seeing her earlier, I let out a deep breath and started pouring out my frustrations. But after hearing everything, she simply rolled her eyes at me in annoyance. “He’s out there flirting with other women. Why don’t you just find someone else?” I was shocked by her words. Then, without hesitation, she started telling me about the two young men from earlier. She said they were personal trainers. I’d heard of that sort of thing—personal trainers who, in reality, offered more than just fitness coaching. So naturally, I declined. But Rania wasn’t the least bit concerned. Instead, she casually showed me a video she had taken. In the video, she was lying on a soft hotel bed. At her feet, several shirtless, muscular men were kissing her legs… As her moans grew louder in the video, I looked away, blushing. … It was impossible not to feel tempted. But as an educated adult, I struggled to reconcile such morally questionable behavior. “I can’t… I’m married. What if Tom finds out…” “You’re still worried about Tom? Has he ever considered your feelings?” Rania interrupted, clearly frustrated, and pulled me up from the sofa. “Emily, I can’t stand your hesitation. You’re coming out with me right now!” That very night, I reluctantly put on the outfit Rania had chosen for me, and she took me to a club in Croydon Central.

Rania gave her name at the front desk, and we were escorted to a private lounge. The lighting was soft and suggestive, the decor luxurious—like a five-star hotel. In the dim glow of the large TV screen, I could make out several oversized sofas that looked more like beds, and three men dressed in minimal clothing. As soon as they saw us, they approached with warm smiles, politely taking our bags. “Good evening, ladies.” Their physiques were impressive, clearly the result of years of training. Their faces were handsome too, obviously carefully selected. I guess that was the specialty of this place. They wore only tight shorts, showing off their broad shoulders and firm abs. Seeing their bodies and the outlines beneath their shorts made me blush uncontrollably. Youth is truly something special. Rania had been quietly watching my reactions, and when she saw my flushed face, she smiled in satisfaction. “Oh, stop with the theatrics and get on with helping this lovely lady relax.” She gave me a playful push toward one of the men, winking suggestively. “Don’t be shy. You’re here now, so just let loose. No point wasting time over an unfaithful husband. From now on, you can both do your own thing!” “And what about you, Rania?” As she spoke, a dark-haired man came forward, grinning at her. His skin was a deep tan, and I recognized him immediately as the man I had seen in Rania’s bedroom earlier. His name was Luke Evans, according to Rania. Luke wrapped his arm around Rania’s neck and asked, “The usual?” “Of course, the usual.” Rania wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes filled with desire. “I didn’t quite get enough earlier. Let’s pick up where we left off.” “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied tonight.” Without a second thought, they started kissing passionately. Rania boldly pushed Luke onto the sofa and began undressing, her body moving sensuously. She’s really fearless. Luke was clearly aroused, his eyes dark with desire as he grabbed her, pulling her underneath him. The two of them had no qualms about engaging in their passion right in front of us, and soon the lounge was filled with the sounds of their pleasure. As their intensity grew, Rania’s legs stiffened, and her moans became uncontrollable. I could feel the man in front of me breathing heavily, his body reacting to the scene. “Aren’t you getting more excited with an audience?” “You seem to be too. I’ve never seen you so into it…” Though I’d been married for years, our physical relationship had always been…ordinary. Watching this explicit scene unfold in front of me, hearing the sounds of their bodies colliding, made my breath hitch. This was going too far… Rania, now flushed and delirious, turned her head towards me, panting as she whispered, “See, darling? There’s nothing to be afraid of. After all, Tom cheated on you first. Don’t you deserve to do the same?” With that, she wrapped her legs tightly around Luke’s waist. “Darling, let’s go to the back room. I want to try the new toys.” “Whatever you want, babe.” Luke lifted her into his arms, giving a knowing look to the young man beside me, and the three of them disappeared into the adjacent room. Soon, Rania’s excited voice could be heard through the walls. Hearing the noises from the other room, the man holding me, Ryan James, couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Would you like to relax here first? Or shall we head straight in?” As he spoke, his hands slid naturally onto my hips, the heat of his body sending a shiver down my spine. “I… I don’t know.” I lowered my head, too nervous to meet his gaze. Ryan chuckled softly at my hesitation. “You’re so sweet. It’s your first time here, right? You must be shy. How about we go straight to the private room?” Even a fool could understand the implication behind his words, and once again, my face flushed. But this time, I didn’t resist. “Alright.”

The private room was set up with an intimate ambiance. Soft, golden lighting illuminated the round, canopied bed in the center of the room. Across from it was a large mirror, tall enough to reflect everything that happened on the bed. A few lace lingerie pieces were laid out on the bed. This kind of sensuality was something Tom had never introduced into our marriage. As I imagined what was about to happen, my heart pounded with anticipation. Noticing this, Ryan smiled and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re nervous, aren’t you? No need to be. Just think of me as your boyfriend.” I turned around and threw my arms around him, letting myself melt into his embrace. His body was firm and muscular, reminding me of my first love, the nervous excitement of touching someone so fit. Since getting married, I hadn’t felt this youthful energy, this rush of adrenaline, from being with a man. “So, you like my chest muscles, huh?” Ryan whispered teasingly in my ear, planting a soft kiss on my neck. “But I’ve got some pretty solid abs too. Want to feel them? Or maybe… somewhere else?” His voice grew more seductive, and his breath on my neck sent shivers through me. His hands started to roam, caressing my body with a deliberate slowness that made me feel like I was about to lose control. I felt overwhelmed, not knowing how to respond. My brain was screaming that this was wrong, that I was married, but my body had a mind of its own. My heart was pounding, my thoughts spinning as Ryan’s hands continued to explore. “But… I’m married,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Isn’t this… isn’t this wrong?” Even as I said the words, I could feel my resolve crumbling. I had already come this far. The memory of Tom’s distant, cold face flashed in my mind, making it hard to concentrate. My head was a mess of emotions, confusion, and guilt. “Is your husband good to you?” Ryan asked suddenly, his tone a bit more serious as his hand slipped to one of my more sensitive spots. I gasped at the sensation. My mind flashed to Tom’s indifference, the way he barely paid attention to me anymore, treating me like an afterthought. “I… I don’t know,” I replied, my voice faltering. “You do know, Emily,” Ryan said softly, “if he was treating you right, you wouldn’t be here. Would you?” His words hit me hard. In that moment, something inside me snapped. I began to cry softly, the tears falling against Ryan’s chest. Years of loneliness, frustration, and unmet desires seemed to pour out all at once. “Let me help you relax,” he whispered. “You’re so tense.” “…Okay,” I whispered, finally letting go of the last bit of resistance. I let him undress me, piece by piece, until there was nothing between us. His hands moved across my body, but instead of easing my tension, they only heightened the desire I had been suppressing for so long. It wasn’t long before I was lost in the sensation, everything else fading away as Ryan took me deeper into the moment. Just when I thought I had fully surrendered, I heard voices from the next room. It was Luke and Rania. “Babe, can you put this on?” I heard Luke’s voice through the thin walls. “I want to try the largest size.” Moments later, Rania’s voice followed, breathy and excited, “Yes, do it! I can’t wait.” I couldn’t believe it—they were using toys in there. I had known Rania was adventurous, but this was beyond anything I had imagined. She had always been more open-minded than I was. After all, she had spent years studying abroad, dating men from all sorts of backgrounds, including her ex, a blonde, blue-eyed European. Her open attitude toward sex didn’t surprise me, but the level of their play did. The sounds from the room were impossible to ignore. Rania’s moans, mixed with Luke’s gruff commands, filled the air. The wall between us was so thin, it felt like we were in the same room. Meanwhile, Ryan’s hands continued their work, and before long, I could feel my own body responding. The combination of his touch and the sounds from next door soon had me trembling.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I turned and kissed Ryan deeply, pulling him closer. The tension, the guilt, the uncertainty—it all melted away as I let myself fully indulge in the moment. We became a tangle of limbs, lost in each other, and soon, I was completely consumed by my desire. Just like Rania, I had given in. Ryan was incredibly experienced. His moves were smooth and confident, his hands knowing exactly where to touch. His stamina was something I hadn’t experienced in years. At first, I was able to keep up with him, even take the lead now and then. But when he reached over and pulled out a blindfold and some toys from the bedside drawer, I knew I was out of my league. The things he had were on another level. I started to panic, trying to back away, but he was too strong. His body was overpowering, and soon, I was under him again, my mind surrendering to the overwhelming sensations. “Don’t think about anything, Emily,” he whispered in my ear. “Just enjoy.” Eventually, I lost track of time, and everything became a blur. Ryan was relentless, and before I knew it, I had lost all sense of reality. At some point, I felt him lift me up, and I opened my eyes, realizing he was carrying me out of the room. “Where… where are we going?” I asked, still dazed and confused. He didn’t answer. Instead, I felt a sudden chill on my back, and I realized he had placed me on a cold surface. I looked around and saw that he had carried me out of the private room and into the main lounge area. I was lying on a large table, right in front of the glass window looking out into the corridor. Ryan didn’t stop. He positioned himself over me again, a playful smirk on his face. “Exciting, isn’t it, Emily?” he asked. I bit my lip, too overwhelmed to answer, as my body gave in once again to the intensity of the moment. “I wish my husband was half as passionate as you…” I admitted, my voice trembling. Hearing that seemed to fuel Ryan even more. His grip on me tightened, and soon, I was swept up in another wave of pleasure, oblivious to everything around us. But just as I was about to reach my peak, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned my head to see Rania and Luke entering the room. They had clearly finished, their faces flushed and satisfied. Rania’s hair was tousled, and her smile was one of pure contentment. To my surprise, they weren’t the only ones. In the other corners of the room, more couples were entangled in their own pleasures. The lounge was now filled with the sound of multiple people, all lost in their own world. My gaze locked on Rania, who was now completely caught up with Luke, their bodies moving together again. Compared to Ryan, Luke was more intense, more aggressive. Watching them, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to be with Luke instead. He had been eyeing me earlier, and I knew he was attracted to me. The way his eyes lingered on me when I first walked into the lounge had sent a thrill through me. He looked like a predator eyeing his prey. And although I seemed reserved on the outside, I secretly longed for something more intense. Tom had never been able to satisfy me like that. But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I pushed it away. No—I couldn’t let myself go that far. However, Ryan, who had noticed the way I was staring at Rania and Luke, paused. He leaned in closer, whispering in my ear, “Do you want to try something new?” “What do you mean?” I asked, suddenly alert. Ryan’s eyes met Luke’s across the room, and without a word, they exchanged a knowing glance. I immediately knew what they were suggesting. But this was too much. I couldn’t possibly… could I? I turned to Rania, hoping she would intervene, but instead, she seemed excited by the idea. She even encouraged them to go ahead and start. “Come on, Emily,” she coaxed. “You’re already here. Why not live a little?” I hesitated, my mind a whirlwind of fear and temptation. And after a few moments of gentle persuasion, I found myself agreeing, drawn deeper into the dangerous thrill of the night.

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Just one month after my parents’ unexpected passing, my husband proposed a fake divorce. He claimed he was fighting for an inheritance and didn’t want me to get caught up in it. To protect my safety, he said we’d remarry once he secured the inheritance. I agreed on the surface but laughed coldly inside. He thought I didn’t know, but he and his mistress had already planned everything on his backup phone. There was no inheritance – what he really wanted was the $2 million my parents had left me! At 1:30 AM, after sorting through my parents’ belongings, I returned to our apartment complex. Seeing the lights on in our unit, I felt a warmth in my heart. During this difficult time, even though I tried to stay strong on the outside, I longed for a moment to quietly lean on someone for support. “Yale, I thought you said you’d be away on a business trip for a week. Why are you back already?” I asked as I opened the door, spotting Yale sitting in the armchair by the floor-to-ceiling window, playing on his phone. He seemed to be looking at something amusing, his smile growing wider. Hearing my voice, he locked his phone and walked over, taking the suitcase from my hand. “The trip was originally planned for three days, but something came up at the company, so I came back early,” he explained. “You probably haven’t eaten yet. There’s a sandwich I brought back on the table. Eat up, and then I need to talk to you about something.” “I’m not hungry. What did you want to tell me?” I grabbed a glass of warm water and sat on the living room couch, waiting for him to put my things away in the bedroom. After setting down the suitcase, Yale sat next to me and pulled me into his arms. “Honey, I need to go back home to fight for my family inheritance.” Leaning against his chest, feeling the warmth he provided, I asked, “Do you need my help?” Yale straightened my posture and looked into my eyes intently. “No need, I can handle it myself. But to protect your safety and prevent other competitors from using you to threaten me, I need to pretend to divorce you for a while.” Hearing this, I was stunned. I shifted away from him slightly. Confused, I asked directly, “Pretend to divorce? What do you mean? Do we really need to get divorced?” “Honey, listen to me. The divorce would just be for show. We’d only get the divorce certificate, but we’d still live together,” Yale explained. “Abby, you have to trust me. I swear on our eight years together, as soon as I get the inheritance, we’ll remarry immediately. I promise.” Yale held my hands, his eyes full of sincerity. “Let’s forget about it. We don’t need that money anyway,” I said. Yale’s after-tax monthly income was $1,000, and I made $1,500. It wasn’t a lot, but we lived in an apartment my parents had bought for me before our marriage, and my car was also a gift from my dad. When they were alive, my parents often helped us out financially. Besides Yale’s monthly car payment of $450 and $200 he sent to his parents, we didn’t have many big expenses. “Plus, after my parents passed away, the inheritance I received is enough for us to live comfortably just from the interest in the bank. You don’t need to do this,” I added. Yale lowered his head and remained silent for about three or four minutes before speaking again: “Abby, you know that my parents married against my family’s wishes years ago, which led to them living in poverty all these years. They’ve always felt guilty that they couldn’t buy us anything when we got married. Now that there’s finally a chance to divide the family assets, they just want to help us out a bit.” “The neighbors keep saying that they finally had me, only for me to become a live-in son-in-law to a rich family. They feel like they can’t hold their heads up high.” “Abby, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for not being capable enough, making you and my parents lose face.” I opened my mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say. Should I tell him his parents wouldn’t feel guilty about him being a live-in son-in-law? After all, they often asked me for money behind Yale’s back. Or should I say that I wouldn’t feel ashamed because of him? Even when others teased him, no matter how much I argued in his defense, it was still his pride that got hurt. “Honey, can you give me some time to think about it?” Considering his feelings, I lowered my head.

Yale and I were college classmates. I majored in nursing, while he studied accounting. We shouldn’t have had any connection, but a friend of mine in the kickboxing club was his classmate. That’s how we met. He pursued me for a whole year after that, and I was moved by his sincerity and agreed to be with him. I had told him that I wanted to return to my hometown after graduation. As an only child, I couldn’t move far away. He joked that I shouldn’t worry, he could move in with my family. When we graduated, he received an offer from a prestigious company, and I became a nurse at a hospital. In our fourth year of working, we naturally held our wedding ceremony. After knowing each other for nine years, perhaps I should trust him. Yale went on another business trip. After considering for a week, I decided to agree to his request for a “fake divorce.” Thinking that he would return from his trip tomorrow afternoon, which happened to be my day off, I rarely felt motivated to do a deep clean of our home. We had a housekeeper who regularly cleaned the house, but Yale and I cleaned the study ourselves because it contained company documents. While cleaning, I noticed Yale’s backup phone sitting on the desk next to a potted plant, in danger of falling if bumped. I knew this backup phone was the one he usually used for gaming. Afraid it might fall and break, I picked up the phone intending to put it in the drawer. Then I remembered the game he had recommended to me recently, so I set down the cleaning cloth and decided to take a break. As I was logging into the game, a SnapChat message popped up. I meant to swipe it away, but accidentally opened it instead. Looking at the dense, intimate chat history, I finally understood. He didn’t want a “fake divorce” – he wanted a real one. If I were the protagonist in a tragic novel, I might ask on Twitter: “My parents passed away unexpectedly just a month ago, and I discovered my husband is cheating. Do I not deserve love?” Unfortunately, I’m not. So after the initial anger and heartbreak, I quickly pulled myself together. I ordered a new phone of the same model as Yale’s backup phone, smashed it into two pieces, and placed it on the computer desk along with the fallen potted plant. I opened my phone’s camera, recorded a video of the scene, and sent it to Yale with the message: “Honey, I’m so sorry. While cleaning, I accidentally knocked over the potted plant and your phone fell to the ground. Was there any important data on your phone? I’ll take it for repair right away, but I don’t know if the data can be recovered. I’m really sorry, honey.” I cleaned up the remains of the potted plant and the new phone, then took the intact backup phone to see my best friend, Summer. Summer is my childhood friend who studied law and opened her own law firm after graduation. Since he wants a divorce, let’s make sure he leaves with nothing. As I was driving, Yale replied to my message. He told me to just throw away the broken phone, saying there was no important data on it. He asked me not to feel guilty and said he would bring me a gift when he returned from his business trip. I don’t know when the person sleeping next to me became so shameless, or perhaps he had always been shameless and just hid it well before.

After reading the chat history, Summer cursed loudly in her office. If she wasn’t worried about alerting Yale, she would have called him directly to curse him out. As for me, perhaps the shock was too great, and my body activated its self-protection mechanism, allowing me to deal with the situation calmly. Summer hugged me in anguish, hoping I would cry and not keep it all bottled up inside. But I really couldn’t cry. Seeing her cry so miserably, without her usual polished city woman look, I felt Yale truly deserved to die. Leaving him with nothing was too lenient; he should be beaten up. I hired a private investigator to follow Yale, hoping to find something that could ruin his reputation. I called Yale and told him that Summer was going through some issues, so I needed to stay with her for a couple of days. I agreed to the divorce and said we’d discuss the details when he got home. I moved into Summer’s place. Summer held back her anger, and I suppressed my disgust as we stayed up late reviewing all the chat histories and transfer records from Yale’s SnapChat account. Fortunately, our efforts paid off. In Yale’s conversations with the other woman, there were descriptions of him accepting bribes from business partners. I felt a surge of excitement. I knew Yale was finished! On the third day, when I returned home after work, Yale was already busy in the kitchen wearing an apron. Who would have thought that a man with such a down-to-earth, family-oriented image would start cheating just six months into our marriage with a recent college graduate from his company? “Abby, go wash your hands first. Dinner will be ready soon,” Yale called out from the kitchen without turning around when he heard the door open. “Okay.” I washed my hands and sat at the dining table, trying to compose myself. Before seeing him, I could still remain calm. But face-to-face, my anger surged, and I just wanted to tear off his mask. After dinner, Yale brought over a divorce agreement. “Abby, we need to make this look real, so I’ve drawn up a divorce agreement. But don’t worry, it’s just for show,” Yale explained nervously as he watched me flip through the contents. He had the audacity to split my parents’ inheritance with me?! “Honey, why did you include my parents’ inheritance in this? Isn’t that a mistake?” I glared at him, wanting to kill him on the spot! “Sweetheart, your parents passed away without leaving a will, so legally this is considered marital property. Most of our assets are from before our marriage, so if we don’t split this $2 million inheritance, people might get suspicious. Don’t worry, it’s just on paper. All of this is yours, and I’ll transfer it back to you as soon as we remarry,” Yale hurriedly came over to embrace me, expressing his sincerity. Hah, believing he’d return the money was as likely as believing a meat bun stolen by a vicious dog would come back intact.

“Honey, you’re not planning to turn this fake divorce into a real one and take the money, are you?” I pulled away from him and continued flipping through the agreement. Yale moved closer and patted my hand. “Honey, what do I need to do for you to trust me? How about I transfer my car to your name?” I rolled my eyes, thinking to myself that who knows if the car would be seized when his ill-gotten gains are confiscated. Pretending to go along with it, I said, “Honey, I believe you. After all, you swore on our eight years together. If you can’t keep that promise, you’d be ruined and deserve a miserable death, right?” I noticed his body stiffen for a moment, though he quickly recovered. “Honey, I can sign the agreement, but we’ve always had such a good relationship. People won’t believe we’re suddenly getting divorced, will they?” I nestled into Yale’s arms and spoke softly. “There’s no way around it, the timing is tight,” Yale said, stroking my hair. Disgusted, I sat up straight and pouted at him, “Honey, I have a good idea.” “How about this: we’ll have a fight later, and I’ll accuse you of having an affair. Then I’ll beat you up a bit. I’ve trained in kickboxing and have medical knowledge, so I’ll avoid vital areas.” “When the neighbors hear us fighting, they’ll definitely call the police. Since we’re married, and it’s not a severe case of domestic violence, the police will just give a warning. You can say you forgive me. If we do this two or three times, everyone will sympathize with you, and they’ll understand when you ask for a divorce.” How wonderful to be able to beat him up openly. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Yale hesitated. “Then let’s forget about the divorce. Otherwise, people will start rumors if I get divorced right after my parents passed away,” I turned away, ignoring him. “Don’t be angry, we’ll do it your way,” Yale quickly pulled me close to comfort me. “Okay, let’s go to the entrance. We’re about to start. Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you.” I led Yale to the foyer and began shouting. “Yale, do you have any conscience? My parents just passed away, and you want to divorce me!” “When my parents were alive, they even gave you money to help support your parents back home, and you dare to cheat on me so soon after we got married! You’ve lost your heart to a dog!” “Yale, people like you deserve to be ruined!” I shouted out all my true feelings and vented my anger through physical force. Yale yelped and cried out, and every time he tried to explain, I silenced him with my fists. The neighbors who watched the commotion kindly called the police and stood at the stairway trying to persuade me to talk things out calmly. I chased Yale from the entrance to the hallway and back into the apartment. When I stopped, his face was bruised and swollen, looking quite pitiful. “Honey, I’m sorry. There were too many people watching, so I couldn’t go easy on you. Otherwise, they might have thought we were just acting. Are you okay?” I apologized while tending to Yale’s wounds. Yale was groaning in pain, even flinching as I applied medicine. “Honey, I’m so sorry. Why don’t you slap me twice? It breaks my heart to see you like this.” My tears fell on cue – the Academy owes me an Oscar. Yale was about to scold me, but seeing me cry so heartbrokenly, he quickly came over to comfort me. “Abby, it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt that much. You did this for me, don’t cry.” Seeing Yale grimacing in pain while trying to comfort me, I felt a pang in my heart. Yale, this is just the interest on your deception.

The police arrived quickly, but since Yale and I had already reconciled, they just gave us a warning and left after we explained the situation. “Honey, let’s not get divorced. How could I bring myself to hit you again next time…” I cried, my eyes red and swollen. “Huh? There’s going to be a next time?” Yale’s eyes widened. “At least twice, right? Otherwise, how will people believe us after just once? Honey, let’s forget about it. Let’s just live our life together. You know I don’t mind that you don’t earn much,” I secretly provoked Yale, afraid he might not want to be hit again. “Fine, I’ve already been hit once, so one more time is okay. But that’s really the last time, alright?” he said. It seems the temptation of the inheritance and the other woman was quite strong if he was willing to be beaten again. After this injury, Yale stayed home for a week to recover. The injuries weren’t severe, but his bruised face made him too embarrassed to go out. I also took good care of him, attending to his needs. You have to fatten the pig before slaughtering it, right? Meanwhile, the private investigator uncovered some news: Yale’s family had no plans to divide any inheritance. Instead, his younger brother owed a large sum to loan sharks!

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My wife and her “male best friend” were fooling around in a car out in the suburbs when a truck came out of nowhere, sending them crashing down a hill. The doctor said, “If you want to save her leg, you need to come up with $30,000 for the surgery.” Hearing that, I, a grown man, broke down in tears. “My wife is the best dancer in this city! She makes a living and her reputation with those legs!” “If she loses them, she won’t want to live!” “So please, when you amputate, just be gentle, okay?” When I arrived at the hospital, I quickly tried to wipe the grin off my face that I’d had since the drive over. I rushed to the bedside, dropped to my knees, and started crying my heart out. “Emily, what were you thinking?” “If you’re going to have an affair, at least pick a safer spot! I wouldn’t have cared as long as you’re safe!” “Please, don’t think you owe me anything just because you did something so… disgraceful. Don’t go and do anything drastic, alright?” Even the nurse nearby was moved, probably not used to seeing such a “devoted” man. But the doctor pulled me aside and said firmly, “Quit stalling. You need to raise the money. Her leg can still be saved.” I stood up right away. “Right, I’ll get on it. I’ll call my mother-in-law.” I dialed Linda’s number. “Mom! Send me $30,000! Annie needs it for surgery!” “What kind of surgery needs 30 grand? Do I look stupid? I’m not giving you a penny! You’re useless! Get lost!” “But Mom, it’s serious…” “Serious my ass! I’ll deal with the next hand! You’re busted!” Click — she hung up. Everyone in the room heard her loud and clear, thanks to my phone’s speaker mode. The last beep beep sound of the disconnected call echoed through the room. I struggled to keep the smirk off my face and looked at the doctor helplessly. “I’m sorry, Doc. I’ve got no money.” “My wife cherishes those legs more than anything.” “So when you amputate, just… be careful, okay?” The doctor nodded toward my wife’s lover and asked, “What about him? Are we saving him?” “Of course! My wife really likes him. She can live with prosthetic legs, but if he dies, well, there’s no replacement for that. You have to save him!” I wiped my tears and added, “But, you know, I don’t think I’m really in a position to sign his consent form.” The doctor rolled his eyes and pushed my wife into the operating room. The nurse shot me a sympathetic glance before following. As soon as they disappeared, I sent a message to Jim, my father-in-law: “Annie’s leg is gone. Mom refused to help. This is unbearable.”

By the time Linda arrived at the hospital, Annie had already been wheeled out of surgery. “Annie! My baby, what happened to you?” “Mom, Annie just got out of surgery,” I whispered, “you should keep your voice down. It’s not good for her.” Linda shot me a look filled with venom. “Why wasn’t it you in the crash? How can you stand there, you worthless man? Annie’s in this mess because she married a loser like you!” “If you’re so capable, why don’t you get the money for her treatment?” I raised my hands. “Mom, I asked you for money, remember? You wouldn’t give it to me. Something about ‘beating the hand?’” Linda suddenly remembered and sprang up, her face flushed with rage, spraying spit everywhere. “You liar! You’ve never told the truth in your life!” Before she could finish, I played the recording from my phone. “Mom, Annie needs money for her leg…” “Money, my ass! Busted!” There was an awkward silence in the ER. “Mom, after my business went under, you took all the money we had left. Without your help, how could I save her?” “I told you about the situation first thing. You’re really going to act like it’s not your fault?” “You… you did this on purpose, didn’t you?!” Linda’s face turned bright red as she lunged at me, but two quick-thinking nurses stepped in to hold her back. One of them scowled, “Can you keep it down? The patient needs rest! What kind of mother are you, anyway?” After my earlier emotional performance, the nurses had clearly become my biggest fans. They glared at Linda like they couldn’t believe such a good man had to deal with someone like her. Linda sneered, “What, are you two his girlfriends? Standing up for him like that? Where’s your shame?” “Who are you calling shameless?” “You! You’re the shameless one!” “Say that again, I dare you!” Just as things were about to get physical, a weak voice came from the hospital bed. “Mom…” My wife was awake.

Linda rushed to the bed and took Annie’s hand. “Annie, are you okay? Are you still in pain? Mom’s here now.” Wiping her tears, she turned to me and spat, “You just had to marry a deadbeat like him! If he hadn’t crashed the car, would you have had to Uber to your student’s house for lessons?” “My student… wait, what about Brandon? Is he okay?” “Brandon? Who’s that?” Linda asked, confused. I stepped in helpfully. “He’s the one who was driving Annie to her lesson. I heard they were pulled out of the wreck pretty easily since neither of them were wearing clothes.” “You!” Linda’s hand trembled as she pointed at me. “How dare you humiliate my daughter like that! I swear, I’ll make sure you regret ever opening that mouth of yours!” “Enough! I want to see Brandon!” Annie tried to throw the blanket off, but underneath, her legs were gone. “My legs! Where are my legs?” Annie screamed, her voice filled with despair. I quickly covered my face, pretending to weep. I didn’t want them to see how happy I was. “Annie’s legs, where are they?” Linda shrieked, frantically searching the bed. Annie, meanwhile, started smashing everything in sight. “I knew it! You did this to her, didn’t you?” Annie’s bloodshot eyes locked onto me, filled with accusation. I waved my hands. “Annie, when you were unconscious, I already explained the situation to Mom. The doctors heard it all, too.” “You know the state of our finances. After the business failed, you told Mom I wasn’t cut out for it, and she took control of everything. All the money is with her!” “When they said they needed $30,000 for the surgery, I had to ask her for it. She refused. She’s the one who didn’t save you. Not me! I couldn’t get the money!” I played the recording again, and that damning busted echoed through the room. Annie’s face turned dark, and she glared at Linda. Anyone could tell Linda had spent more time playing cards than taking care of the family. She’d taken all the money under the guise of ‘saving it for Annie,’ and now, Annie’s chance for recovery was gone. Linda dropped to her knees, wailing. “Annie, you’re my flesh and blood! How could I not care? It’s your husband, this good-for-nothing, lying to both of us!” “Enough!” Annie was shaking with rage. She pointed at her mother. “Get out!” “How can you talk to me like that, sweetie?” Just then, Jim barged into the room, out of breath. “Annie!” “Dad…” Jim’s eyes fell on the empty space where Annie’s legs used to be, and his face froze. He’d spent years bragging about his daughter’s talent, how many awards she’d won. His comfortable life was all thanks to the income she brought in with those legs of hers. All the city officials who’d sent their kids to Annie for dance lessons, those gifts and favors they’d received—everything was over now. Her legs were gone, and so was everything else. “Jim, thank God you’re here! You’ve got to stop Adam! He’s ruining our family!” Linda cried. Slap! Jim smacked Linda across the face, hard.

My name is Adam Cooper. I used to be a successful business owner, a rising star in the tech world. Five years ago, I met Annie at a dinner party. She was still in college. I had dropped out of high school to start my business. I was totally mesmerized by her—smart, cultured, and beautiful. She seemed so innocent, like a delicate flower. I fell head over heels for her. I thought she was the most talented, gentle, and pure woman I’d ever met. I pursued her relentlessly. Her family didn’t want her to go to art school. They wanted to use the money to put her brother, Tyler, through college. The night she found out, she came to me crying. We had a few drinks and ended up sleeping together. From that moment on, I paid for her to stay in school. Basically, I became her sugar daddy. She went on to win awards, became a state-level dance teacher, and eventually married me. At first, I thought her parents were just petty and tightfisted, but out of respect for Annie, I tolerated them. But then I realized—Annie wasn’t any better than they were. She was just better at hiding it. When my company was struggling, I found out I’d been blackballed. One of my competitors got drunk and spilled the beans. “You know why everyone’s out to get you, right?” “Because you stole the big boss’s side chick!” That night, I checked her phone and found out she was still seeing other men—one of them was even her student! She had sent him photos and videos, driving him crazy. Every time she went to his house for “lessons,” it wasn’t about books. It was about something else entirely. She never acted that way around me. Furious, I was about to confront her when the hospital called… “That bitch! It’s all because of you!” Jim growled at Linda. Linda was still seeing stars from the slap, but she managed to sit on the floor, wailing. “Oh God, I can’t take this anymore!” She wasn’t exactly a refined woman—more of a backwoods type who always resorted to drama and screaming when things went south. “How the hell did this car accident happen?” Jim was livid, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. “Who was driving the car? Who caused this mess? Annie’s lost her legs, and now I’m going to find the bastard responsible and tear his arms off!” “Yeah, Annie! You need to tell us who was driving that car! We’ll sue them for all they’ve got!” Linda added, still hoping to get some kind of payout. I watched Annie’s face flush red, her lips pressed tight. She couldn’t even bring herself to speak. I clapped my hands together, unable to hide my amusement. “If Annie doesn’t want to tell you, I will.”

“Jim, Linda, you both know Annie is a truly dedicated teacher, always looking after her students, right? She goes above and beyond, making sure they have everything they need. Well, this time, she decided to help one of them… a little too much.” Jim was starting to lose his patience. “Just get to the point!” I paused for effect, raising my eyebrows. “That is the point, Jim. Annie took her student, Brandon, into the car for a little, shall we say, extra tutoring session. They were getting real close when that truck came out of nowhere.” “You’re saying what, exactly?” Jim barked. “That our sweet, innocent Annie was… well, let’s just say, ‘educating’ her student in the back seat when they got hit.” “You’re lying! You filthy liar!” Jim roared, swinging his arm, trying to punch me. I dodged him easily, and he nearly stumbled into the bed. “He’s been spewing lies from the moment he got here! He’s just jealous that Annie’s more successful than he ever was. Marrying our daughter was the best thing that ever happened to this scumbag!” Linda joined in, her voice shrill and furious. “Yeah! Annie’s pure and kind! If she ever did something like that, I’ll jump out of this window right now!” Jim added, pounding his chest like a righteous man. Jim and Linda were so worked up, they could hardly see straight. They couldn’t believe their precious daughter could be anything but perfect. I watched them closely. They had always been a family that valued their son over their daughter. Annie’s brother, Tyler, had been kicked out of college for fighting, and now both parents relied on Annie’s dance career to fund their cushy lifestyle. No matter how much money I made, I was never good enough for them. They pretended I didn’t exist when things were good, but when things went bad, they all turned to Annie to bail them out. When my business was doing well, I didn’t let it get to me. I figured, hey, it’s family. But after my company crashed, they treated me like a stray dog. Tyler used to offer to park my car; now, when I go to dinner, I can feel the disdain rolling off of him in waves. That’s what this family is: opportunistic parasites. “Who here is Annie Cooper?” a stern voice called from the doorway. Jim and Linda’s ranting came to a halt as two police officers stepped into the room. “Officers! Finally! Arrest this lying scumbag! He’s been slandering our daughter this whole time, and he’s the one responsible for her accident! He’s the reason she lost her legs!” Linda screamed, jumping up and pointing at me like I was public enemy number one. The officers didn’t bother acknowledging her theatrics. They walked straight up to Annie’s bed and pulled out a stack of photos. “Mrs. Cooper, we’ve got surveillance footage from the crash site. Is this you?” One of the officers held up a photograph.

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After three years of secret marriage to movie star Olivia, I gave up hope. I released albums, acted in TV shows, and appeared on variety programs. My career was on fire. Later, Olivia cornered me in my car and demanded to know why I wouldn’t acknowledge her status. I asked her back: “What status?” Olivia was trending again. A blurry photo showed two people holding hands and running in the rain. I would have called it beautiful if the woman wasn’t my wife. And if I hadn’t recognized the man as my wife’s ex-boyfriend. I switched to my main Instagram account and commented: “What a handsome couple.” Soon after, some of my old fans from my reality show days welcomed me back. One fan with the username “WillCrashWallsForBrother” caught my attention with their reply: “Isn’t Olivia my brother’s girlfriend? How could she do this to him!” This comment immediately sparked hundreds of question marks from others. Confused, I replied to them: “She’s not.” Indeed, she wasn’t my girlfriend – she was my wife. “WillCrashWallsForBrother” stopped replying publicly and sent me a private message instead: “Brother, did you break up with Olivia? That’s great! I never liked her. She was always flirting around despite having such a good boyfriend like you. She’s pure trash! What are your plans now? If you don’t mind, why not join our family’s Pinnacle Entertainment? You’re so talented, with great musical sense, good looks, and a nice personality. You’ll definitely become famous! Plus, my sister… I really like you, brother!” They rattled off a long string of messages, not waiting for my reply. They even said they had already contacted a manager for me, just waiting for my agreement. I chuckled, thinking it was a prank. I just replied “Thank you for your support” and logged off. After all, Pinnacle Entertainment was the biggest entertainment company. They had countless A-list celebrities and swept awards across all categories. It was the place everyone in showbiz was dying to join. And I was just a nobody who debuted through a reality show years ago, only to immediately retire. I didn’t even have 10,000 Instagram followers. I picked up my polished bass guitar and started tuning it. Twang— “What I want is tomorrow, it can’t fit in an email, memories stranded by time, should we still meet…” “Just forget it, just let go, in those rejected emails, in those days waiting for dawn, I only have myself, not yet doubting…” With a pencil in one hand and plucking strings with the other, I immersed myself in my own world. By the time it was completely dark outside, I finally put down my pencil and massaged my shoulders, taking a deep breath. For three years, I never gave up on music for a moment. Whenever I had free time, I wrote songs, composed, and practiced singing. Music accompanied me through three years of lonely waiting. When I checked my phone again, Olivia’s manager Mei had called me over 30 times. But Olivia herself hadn’t contacted me at all. That’s right – even though we were married, I couldn’t even call her directly. We could only communicate via email as a married couple. Because she didn’t want me to enter her life in the slightest. It turned out my reply this morning had led people to dig up the connection between Olivia and me. “Rising movie star suspected of secret marriage, yet spotted strolling in rain with internet celebrity.” In an instant, Olivia became the target of criticism. The Instagram comment sections of both our accounts were filled with fans arguing. Although I had few fans, my status as the victim led many bystanders to speak up for me. I was puzzled – they were actually pretty nice. Mei called again. I answered but didn’t put the phone to my ear. “Jack! What are you doing?! You don’t reply to emails, you don’t answer calls. Do you know how swamped I am here? Now, immediately, delete that comment! And post a statement saying you have no relationship with Olivia!” The other end was furious, her tone condescending, as if I had to do what she said or else. Although I hadn’t meant to cause this, I wasn’t some pushover anyone could bully. “If Olivia has anything to say, she’ll tell me herself. Who are you?” “I’m Olivia’s manager! I can make decisions about everything for her! Do as I say quickly!” “Oh really? Then how come you couldn’t decide when Olivia married me?” I sneered and hung up the phone, then opened my email. I deleted the pile of emails from Mei without reading them. Olivia still hadn’t contacted me. I counted the emails between us. I had sent her the most – over 20,000 in my inbox, excluding the ones I had deleted early on. Most of the time she didn’t reply. When she did, it was just simple “Mm”, “Okay”, “Fine”, “Whatever”. A new email notification popped up from Olivia. “Jack, just listen to her. I’m sorry.” I smiled bitterly and sent a tentative reply: “Let’s get divorced.” While waiting for her response, I made a bet with myself.

“Okay.” Something crumbled inside me. I wanted to laugh, but found I couldn’t even force a smile. Slowly, something slid down my face. In the three years I’d been married to Olivia, I’d gone from being full of love to feeling numb and cold. I knew she married me to prove to Mei that she wasn’t a puppet, that she didn’t want to be controlled. I knew she married me because I resembled the person she loved but couldn’t have. But I still married her. Because I liked her – the person who gave me a coat during my darkest time. Even though I was very reluctant to leave the stage. I logged into Instagram, deleted my previous comment, and posted a statement confirming I had no relationship with Olivia. How could two people who hadn’t appeared together once in three years possibly be married? The trending topic cooled down and disappeared at an extremely fast speed, as if someone had pressed a retract button. Mei was quite capable. I sighed, about to log off, when that fan “WillCrashWallsForBrother” sent another private message. “Brother, you’re online! Come on, join us! As a fan, I really don’t want to see you buried. You should be shining on stage! Are you worried we’re not legitimate? Wait, I’ll have someone call you. Make sure to answer!” I was infected by this person’s lively mood, and felt a glimmer of anticipation growing inside me. No call came. For a long time. Just as I was dozing off waiting, my phone finally rang. I eagerly answered and put it to my ear, nearly blowing out my eardrum. Mei snapped “Smart choice” and hung up. I threw my phone away and cursed. Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking, my phone rang again at an ungodly hour. “Hello? Brother, this is ‘WillCrashWallsForBrother’ from Instagram. It was too late last night after I contacted Aunt Kim, so I didn’t call you. Quick, check Pinnacle Entertainment’s official Twitter now!” A clear, sweet female voice came through, instantly soothing my grumpiness at being woken up. I opened Instagram and found Pinnacle Entertainment in my new followers list. I clicked on their profile. The pinned post read: “Welcome brother @Jack to Pinnacle Entertainment.” Top industry manager Kim Ming commented below: “Nice to meet you, looking forward to working together @Jack”. It was the official account! I was so excited I lost my words, my hands shaking as I held my phone. I rolled around on the bed in joy. “Brother? Brother? Are you still there? Aunt Kim wants you to add her contact info.” “Oh, oh okay, got it. What’s your name?” I snapped back to reality, trying to calm my excitement. “I’m Lily! Brother, I originally contacted someone else to manage you, but my sister insisted on Aunt Kim… Aunt Kim is just a bit serious, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you!” After finishing the call with Lily, I specifically searched for information on Pinnacle Entertainment’s owner. Surname Lin, in his 50s, happily married with one son. I felt slightly relieved. You can’t blame me for being so cautious. I had been badly burned during my reality show days and didn’t want to get involved in any shady business again. Kim Ming asked me to post on Instagram responding to Pinnacle, confirming I had officially joined and would release a new song within a week. “I don’t care who you were before or what you did. Now that you’re with me, your career comes first. If anything happens, come to me immediately. I can solve everything. Don’t try to be clever on your own.” Kim Ming handed me a stack of documents right off the bat, speaking coldly before disappearing. She was indeed serious, but that was exactly what I needed. I didn’t want to be held back by love anymore. I wanted to become a huge star, the center of attention. Standing in a recording studio again after three years, my heart was racing. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I was certain that every step I took from now on would not be in vain.

“I start to put you behind me, trying to return to the time before you, I stand at the other end of time, smiling goodbye, actually not in love…” Kim Ming handed me some water, nodding slightly – a rare show of approval from the usually stern woman. My nervous heart felt reassured, but her next words sent it racing again. “It’s passable. But I demand the best. This only proves your talent is still there. The company will promote your new song. For the next three months, you’ll be filming a drama.” “Acting? I…” “You’ll have an award-winning actress guiding you, what are you afraid of? Don’t be timid. If you want to stand on stage, don’t hesitate. Opportunities don’t wait for anyone.” Kim Ming patted my shoulder, cutting me off impatiently. “You’re right.” That competitive spirit inside me was instantly ignited. Compared to love, putting in effort for my career was much more likely to pay off. Then, Kim Ming waved her hand. A sweet-looking girl with a bun hairstyle ran in from outside, smiling and winking at me. “This is Lily Lin, the assistant the company arranged for you. You can go to her for anything from now on. I have other business, so I’ll be leaving.” Lily circled around me several times, her eyes sparkling. She immediately latched onto my arm. “Brother, I’m Lily! The one who’s ‘WillCrashWallsForBrother’! Brother, you were so great just now. I cried listening to you. You wrote it so well! I have a feeling this song will definitely be a hit!” I burst out laughing, my nervousness around strangers dissipating. “Well, thank you in advance then.” “Hehe, just give me a signed copy of your single album when it comes out. Oh right, you start filming tomorrow. It’s in a pretty remote location. Do you want to go home and pack first?” Back home, I couldn’t help opening my email again. Even though I knew Olivia would never initiate contact, I still felt a spark of hope. I loved her so much that letting go would be a gradual process of detachment. To my surprise, Olivia had actually sent me an email! My heart started racing. I opened it: “Jack, how did you join Pinnacle? And Kim Ming is managing you? Since that’s the case, can you help Ethan? You know how much Ethan wants to enter showbiz, but Mei won’t let me help him. Ethan is a good kid, he can’t keep wasting himself as an internet celebrity. Besides, we owe him.” Ethan Song, Olivia’s ex-boyfriend. An internet celebrity who had been on the same reality show as me. She sent me more words for his sake than she had in the past three years. My excitement died instantly. “He has plenty of ways to get in if he wants. I’m not Pinnacle’s owner, I can’t help him. And I don’t owe him anything.” This time the great Olivia replied quickly, not with her usual “I’m busy, don’t contact me unless it’s important.” “Jack, how can you talk like that! You know how dirty the entertainment industry is. Ethan is so timid, what’s wrong with protecting him a bit? If you don’t help him, we’ll have nothing more to say to each other. Who knows how you managed to get into Pinnacle anyway!” “Olivia, are you serious?” I felt sick to my stomach. For three years, I had guarded this empty house, hoping time and again, only to be disappointed time and again. But I had never felt as disgusted as I did now. She said she was busy with work. She was a movie star after all, I understood. She said she had to play along with others for show. She was a movie star after all, I understood. But she absolutely should not have tried to manipulate me morally or make assumptions about me. You’re a big star, are you? I’ll make you fall from grace.

During the three months of filming, I turned off my phone and focused solely on learning from the award-winning actress, oblivious to the outside world. “Your gaze – it needs desire. You’re trying to climb the ranks, not commit murder. Why so cold!” “Your movements – don’t be so stiff. You’re trying to seduce the female lead. Be alluring, have that relaxed feeling of being in control. You’re not playing a corpse!” “Thank your face, or I’d be scolding you to tears!” … Thanks to the actress’s uncompromising standards for acting, I was berated constantly and had to reshoot countless times before barely passing muster. Lily pouted for a long while nearby. When “Cut!” was finally called, she jogged over. “Brother, I didn’t know beforehand that the female lead was my sister. Otherwise I wouldn’t have let her guide you. My sister is a demon king, even stricter than Aunt Kim. With her around, I don’t dare say a word.” Lily looked around furtively before whispering in my ear, sticking her tongue out at the actress afterwards. I put on the down jacket she handed me, smiling as I ruffled her round face teasingly. “Not protecting me anymore?” Lily shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum, denying it repeatedly. “No no, Brother, just you wait. I’ll get revenge for you!” “I’m just kidding. I’m grateful the award-winning actress is willing to guide a nobody like me! I really feel like I’ve learned so much.” I demonstrated the seductive moves I had just learned for Lily, draping one arm over her shoulder and stroking her hair bun with the other. Lily burst out laughing. The actress waved me over, indicating I should come look at something. “You, come watch this. Isn’t your little gesture here a bit off? Wouldn’t touching the ear be better?” “You need to immerse yourself in the character’s emotions, let the character guide your actions.” For three months, I was run ragged on set. Besides the award-winning actress playing the female lead, the rest were also veteran actors – all heavyweights in the industry. So to better hone my acting skills, I not only focused on my own scenes, but also carefully observed others’ performances. Even though I was only playing a bit part with less than three minutes of screen time total. Finally, filming wrapped. Kim Ming came to pick me up. I clutched my notebook filled with three months of notes like a precious treasure, grinning stupidly in the car from time to time. “Good news and even better news. Which do you want to hear first?” Kim Ming glanced at me in the rearview mirror as she drove. “The good news?” “Getting even an ‘acceptable’ from Linda Lin is pretty good. Your acting has improved. I dare to give you this S-class production I have on hand now.” “Then what’s the even better news?” My expectations soared. I set down my notebook and listened attentively. “You’re famous! To be precise, your song ‘Email’ is a hit! Why don’t you check Instagram?” “Actually, for me right now, the S-class production is the better news. Haha, but they’re both good news.” After spending time together, I discovered Kim Ming was someone who valued ability above all else. As long as I did my job well, she was quite pleasant to work with. So I felt comfortable joking around with her now. I happily turned on my phone and logged into Instagram, but my face instantly went pale when I saw the trending topics. Kim Ming noticed something was wrong and turned to ask what happened. I was about to speak when Lily called. “Brother, have you… logged into Instagram yet? Don’t be afraid, it’s okay. It’ll be dealt with quickly. You don’t need to do anything. Is Aunt Kim with you? Go home first, don’t come to the company.” The usually bubbly Lily was carefully trying to soothe me while calmly arranging things. Kim Ming took the phone and inquired about the situation. “It’s nothing major, we’re already handling it. I’m just worried it’s Brother’s first time facing such malice, he might feel upset. Aunt Kim, please take care of him for me.” Then Lily hung up. I scrolled through my phone screen, tears falling without me realizing. “#The truth behind a male singer’s reality show debut!” “#Is ‘Email’ about love or transactions?” I was instantly transported back to that dark night. Three years ago, Ethan Song and I were the twin stars of the stage. He was the lead vocalist, I was the bassist. One night, Ethan asked me to go with him to meet some big shots. He said just meeting those people once would guarantee our debut. I went. But I didn’t expect it was a trap, a trap specifically set for Ethan. And I was forced to take Ethan’s place. Those people made me drink bottle after bottle, grabbing my hair to stop me from leaving. I huddled in the corner, secretly hiding a fruit knife up my sleeve. Someone approached me. I shook my dizzy head and stabbed out with the knife. It was a suit jacket. I vaguely heard those people rush over, calling her “Miss Yang”. At that time, Olivia had just won an award for playing a female mob boss. When I sobered up, I cut ties with Ethan and threatened him to leave the industry using evidence of his dealings with those people. Fearing the so-called evidence I had, Ethan never dared enter showbiz. But as time passed, Ethan was getting restless again. The post had over a million views. The comment section was a mess. “So white and sexy!” “Ugh, I’d pay anything for ears that haven’t heard ‘Email’. Wuwuwu—” “Why did you do this to me! I just became a fan and now this happens! Ahhhhh—” I clicked to open the photos, but got a message saying they had been deleted. At the same time, Pinnacle Entertainment posted supporting me, along with a police report they had filed. To my surprise, Linda Lin, who rarely used social media, also spoke up for me. “Stupid but resilient @Jack. Looking forward to having you in the new drama.” I felt a warmth in my heart and replied to Linda. “Stupid people have stupid luck @Linda @PinnacleEnt” I was about to dig up the evidence of Ethan’s dealings with those people, but Pinnacle had already released it. It was even more complete and explosive than what I had. In an instant, public opinion online did a 180. “I knew it. Someone who could write a song as good as ‘Email’ couldn’t do those things.” “Case closed, folks. Jack is still the only good guy in showbiz!” “Haters speak up! Let’s hear you now!” … Kim Ming tossed me some tissues, smiling. “It’s nothing. The internet is like this – some people like you, some hate you. No need to pay them any attention. Remember, never put others’ opinions before your own, at least not until you become powerful enough.” I clutched the tissues tightly and opened the email Olivia had sent.

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My daughter is dead, and my wife is on vacation abroad with my son. I called her to ask her to come back for our daughter’s funeral, but she flat-out refused. On the phone, she insulted our daughter, saying that something worthless like her dying was no big deal. After saying goodbye to my daughter for the last time, I jumped from the building. The police called my wife to come and identify my body. She was leaning against a man, saying, “Why didn’t you die sooner? You’re just giving me more trouble.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back before my daughter died. This time, I would send them both to hell! “Chris, Mommy is taking you to Europe. Are you happy?” Sarah asked as she packed her suitcase in the bedroom, and our son ran in. Chris, only six years old, nodded his head. I stood at the door, watching this warm scene, and couldn’t help but feel a deep anger boiling inside me. That’s right, I was reborn. After seeing my wife leave with another man, I returned to the time before my daughter’s death. “What are you doing?! Standing there like a ghost?” Sarah was startled when she saw me. I had been taking care of our daughter, Lily, at the hospital for so long that my dark circles were severe. So, it was no wonder she was scared. I smiled and suddenly thought, if I showed up while Sarah was with that man, she would probably faint from shock. “What’s so funny?” Sarah snapped. “You’re being creepy.” I put on a serious face and asked her, “Do you really have to take a vacation right now? The doctor said Lily doesn’t have much time left.” Sarah refused me. “If she’s dead, she’s dead. Going to the hospital won’t bring her back, will it?” She said the same thing in my previous life. I slapped her, and she immediately took Chris and ran away. I didn’t know where they went. The next evening, when I returned home, all her luggage was gone. Looking back now, she probably went to find that man. This time, I didn’t hit her; I just walked away silently. Chris ran after me, asking, “Dad, what’s wrong with Lily? I haven’t seen her in so long. I miss her.” I stroked Chris’s head. “Do you want to see your sister?” Chris nodded. I knew Lily and Chris had always had a good relationship. In my previous life, before Lily died, she kept asking why Chris didn’t come to see her. This time, I picked up Chris. “Daddy will take you to see your sister right now, okay?” Chris nodded obediently. As we reached the entrance, Sarah came rushing out. “You can’t take Chris!” I was putting shoes on Chris. “Why not? Lily is Chris’s sister, and he wants to see her. You, as his mother, don’t want to go, but why can’t he?” Sarah said, “There are so many viruses in the hospital. What if Chris gets sick?” “I’ll take full responsibility!” I declared, and then I carried Chris out the door. Sarah rushed over, trying to grab Chris from my arms. “I told you not to take Chris!” “Get away!” I shouted at her. After ten years of marriage, I had never raised my voice at Sarah before, and she froze in shock. I added, “The viruses in Europe aren’t any less than in the hospital.” With that, I took Chris to the hospital. Lily was still asleep. I could only take Chris to the door to look at her. Chris started crying and asked, “Dad, what’s wrong with Lily? She has so many tubes on her.” I comforted him, “She’s just sick, Chris. It’s okay. How about I record a video for you to talk to her? When she wakes up, I can show it to her. She misses you too.” Chris nodded repeatedly. After recording for over ten minutes, Chris cried himself to sleep in my arms. I took a strand of Chris’s hair, planning to get a paternity test. Sarah’s attitude toward Lily and Chris was completely opposite. I now seriously doubted that Chris was my biological son. If he were truly mine, Sarah would hate him. I felt guilty toward Lily because of me; she never got to see her mother before she died. Poor child, suffering because of the conflict between Sarah and me.

I took Chris home, grabbed some clothes, and prepared some food before returning to the hospital. In the living room, Sarah was checking Chris’s body as if she was afraid I would hurt him. I couldn’t help but say, “Sarah, Chris is my child too. I won’t hurt him. You may hate me, but there’s no need for this.” Sarah ignored me and shot me a glance. I was used to it as I grabbed my things and left the house. At the hospital, Lily was still unconscious. My heart ached for that little girl. God, why did I have to be reborn at this stage, watching my child suffer and die again? The doctor issued another critical condition notice. After several days, Lily finally woke up. “Dad, where are Mom and Chris?” she asked. I couldn’t bear to tell her the truth, so I said they were busy. Lily looked disappointed but bravely held back her tears. “Okay, when will they be done? Can you call them to come see me? I haven’t seen them in so long. I really miss Mom and Chris.” I couldn’t help but wipe my tears away and pulled out my phone. “Chris came to see you while you were sleeping, but he was very considerate and didn’t want to wake you. Here, look.” I showed her the video, and she smiled. But I only felt heartbroken. Luckily, Lily didn’t ask, “Where’s Mom?” I didn’t know how to answer that. Ultimately, Lily left me, and I arranged her funeral just like I did in my previous life. I then called Sarah on an international line. “Lily is gone. Bring Chris back for the funeral.” Sarah was indifferent. “She’s gone; it doesn’t matter. She was a burden anyway. Chris and I are having fun, can’t you just stop ruining it?” I couldn’t take it anymore. “Lily is also your daughter! Do you even realize what you’re saying as a mother? Don’t you have a heart?” Sarah got angry that I dared to yell at her. “David Lin, you really have some nerve! Don’t call me again; I don’t want to hear from you or Chris.” I ignored her and said, “Put Chris on the phone. I need to talk to him.” Sarah refused. “Don’t you dare tell my son such bad news; get lost!” She hung up on me. I called her several times, but she didn’t pick up. I guessed she had blocked me. I changed my number and called her again. “Sarah, if you come back tomorrow, we’ll get a divorce. Otherwise, you’ll never leave me; I’ll haunt you and never let you go.” Sarah hung up. I knew this time she would definitely come back. From the day I married her, Sarah wanted to divorce me. We met through a matchmaking service; she was a teacher, and I had started my own test-prep company. My parents were very satisfied with Sarah, thinking she was a rare good daughter-in-law. As we spent time together, we got closer, and eventually, we discussed marriage. I thought Sarah wanted to marry me; she seemed happy on our dates and smiled at our wedding. Even after marriage, as we grew more discordant and argued more frequently, I still thought it was my fault. Surely I had done something to upset her. Until the education budget cuts shut down my test-prep company, my income sharply declined. Sarah’s insults towards me increased; she called me a loser and said she regretted marrying me. I thought about divorce, but we had two children, and I wanted to provide them with a complete family. My parents also disagreed; they were convinced that there was no better woman than Sarah in the world. But only I knew what kind of person she was. I had hired a private investigator long ago to look into Sarah and that man. Sarah’s trip to Europe was with him.

When Sarah returned, she threw her suitcase on the floor with a loud thud. I looked up from the couch at the entrance. “You’re back?” “David Lin, stop pretending and acting all high and mighty,” Sarah said as she turned on the living room lights and walked over, sitting at a distance from me. She asked, “Where’s the divorce papers?” I looked at her, remaining silent. Sarah scoffed, “You’re not thinking of just going to the courthouse to get a divorce, are you? What about the assets? You really don’t want to give me a dime?” I also scoffed. She had the nerve to mention money when I had spent all of it on Lily’s medical bills. Oh right, and on Sarah’s vacation to Europe with that man. “All the money is gone,” I said flatly. Sarah got up and yelled at me, “You really are a loser!” I didn’t care and asked her, “Where’s Chris? You’re not leaving him alone in Europe, are you?” “Chris is somewhere else. I won’t let you see him; I can’t let him be influenced by you. What if he turns out like you, a loser?” I asked Sarah, “Am I a loser?” Sarah rolled her eyes at me. I continued, “After we got married, you said teaching was too exhausting, so I let you stay home as a full-time mom. But what have you done?” “I buy groceries, I cook, I clean with a robot vacuum, and I occasionally hire a cleaning service. What about you? You just go out and spend money.” “Who’s the loser here, you or me? Can’t you look in the mirror?” Sarah countered, “I didn’t realize you harbored so much resentment against me. But I’m the one raising the kids.” “Hahaha,” I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I laughed for a long time before I looked at her again and continued, “Lily was sick for a year. Did you ever take care of her? She’s dead now, and you wouldn’t even come back to see her unless I forced you with a divorce!” “Sarah, you have no heart.” Sarah hated me, and she hated Lily too. She simply said, “Stop talking nonsense; I came here to get a divorce.” I pulled out a document from behind me and threw it in front of her. When she saw the A4 paper, she quickly picked it up, but her expression turned pale when she read it. “What do you mean by this?” she questioned. I clapped my hands, as if to applaud her. “Who is Chris’s father?” Sarah fell silent; if Chris wasn’t my child, then she had cheated on me. Legally, she wouldn’t get a dime. Mark was waiting to divorce her so they could go abroad together. I watched her face turn pale and pressed her further, “Sarah, who were you cheating on me with?” “You think that if I show this to your parents and mine, they’ll just accept it?”

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I was stabbed three times in the stomach. And my boyfriend? He was busy protecting his ex-girlfriend. This police academy student, who claims to serve and protect the citizens, decided his ex was more important than me. I was stabbed three times in the stomach. And my boyfriend? He was busy protecting his ex-girlfriend. This police academy student, who claims to serve and protect the citizens, decided his ex was more important than me. So, I found someone who would prioritize me. But that person? He’s now on his knees, swearing he’s done nothing wrong. I flipped him off. “Yeah, you did nothing wrong. You and your trashy ex-girlfriend can keep playing your little game. To hell with you both!” “Claire, I had nowhere else to go,” Chloe Daniels said with her fake little voice. “Jason said he’d take me out to clear my head. I didn’t mean to intrude on you guys. I’m really sorry.” Jason Foster arrived 30 minutes late, dragging this piece of work along with him. I smiled at Jason and asked, “Jason, do you remember what you said yesterday? Do you even know what’s going on in that head of yours?” Jason’s face changed. He grabbed my hand and said, “Don’t be unreasonable. Whatever happened with her before, it’s over. Besides, she’s just the neighbor’s little sister. I had to look out for her. It’s only right.” “Little sister? The kind of sister you share a bed with? How many times have you ditched me for her?” “There were reasons! Stop making this a thing!” I pulled my hand back and wiped it with a tissue. “This is the last time.” After today, we’re done. I’ve been holding on so long I’m about to turn into a ninja turtle from all the restraint. But Jason thought I was giving in again. Excitedly, he called Chloe over and took her bag, completely ignoring mine. “Ryan,” Chloe chirped, “buy this lady in the white dress a flower. You’ve gotta keep your girlfriend happy!”

Meanwhile, I was standing there in my black pants like a total joke, watching Jason fawn all over Chloe as if she were his pregnant wife. “She’s not my girlfriend,” Jason said nervously. “That’s my girlfriend.” He gestured toward me, finally acknowledging I existed. “Oh, silly me! I’m his little sister,” Chloe giggled. The little girl standing nearby glanced between me, Jason, and Chloe and then muttered, “So weird… Some people are just meant to end up alone.”

“Don’t move!” I felt the sharp tip of a knife pressing against my side. My brain froze, wrapped in a cold, terrifying panic. I stiffened, desperately looking toward Jason, hoping he would help. But no. Chloe was also being held hostage, and Jason rushed over to save her, getting into a fight with the attacker. “Jason! Jason!” I screamed. “Claire, wait! I’ll save you in just a second!” I laughed bitterly. I’ve never wanted someone to tell me to wait or just hang on. “Didn’t I tell you not to move, you stupid bitch?!” “You all look down on me, don’t you? None of you ever listen!” The attacker’s mood shifted, and I froze, hoping the emergency call I managed to make while screaming Jason’s name would work. But it was clear Chloe had no interest in me surviving this. She screamed, “Claire, don’t call the cops! If they come, someone’s going to get hurt! I don’t want to die!” Jason heard her and immediately turned toward me, eyes red with anger. He didn’t say a word but went back to fighting off the guy who was holding Chloe. At that moment, the attacker behind me snapped. The knife was suddenly in front of me, stabbing me three times, his hand clamping over my mouth to keep me from making a sound. I crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll, bleeding out, unable to scream. Jason was so busy protecting Chloe, and that’s when it hit me—Chloe didn’t want me to call the cops because she knew she’d be fine. She had someone protecting her. Not me. When I could call for help, even with my boyfriend right there, all I got was “just wait.”

I heard the sirens approaching. Jason was standing there like some hero, holding Chloe in his arms, accepting everyone’s praise. Then a man stepped out of one of the police cars and, without missing a beat, punched Jason square in the face. It was my brother—Ryan Mason. “Jason, what the hell are you doing? Why are you holding your ex-girlfriend? Are you kidding me?” “Where’s Claire? Don’t tell me you’ve spent all this time protecting your ex!” The murmurs around us made Jason’s face turn ghostly white as if he’d only just remembered I existed. “It’s not what it looks like,” Jason stammered. “I told her to wait—I was going to save her too!” Just then, the little girl pointed at me and screamed, “That lady’s bleeding so much! So much blood!” In that instant, Jason looked at me with disbelief and regret on his face. I turned to Ryan, “Ryan… it hurts so much.” “Ryan, please… help me!” His eyes filled with tears, and the paramedics rushed forward, lifting me onto a stretcher. But the moment they moved me, I started bleeding even more. Ryan clenched his fists and carefully lifted me himself onto the stretcher. As I cried, I whispered to him, “It hurts so bad…” Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he turned and punched Jason in the gut. Chloe timidly stepped forward to try to stop him, but Ryan slapped her across the face. “I don’t hit women, but I’ll make an exception for a homewrecker. What the hell were you taught at home, seducing someone else’s boyfriend?” Jason clutched his stomach but still shielded Chloe. “Ryan, don’t drag her into this.” “Don’t call me Ryan! You brought your ex-girlfriend to meet up with my sister, got her caught in this attack, and now she’s bleeding all over the place? Where the hell is your conscience?” Jason gasped, shaking his head. “No, Claire’s my girlfriend! I’m a future cop—I have to protect the citizens first.” “I did nothing wrong, Ryan. Isn’t it my duty to protect the citizens first?” Ryan, about to jump into the ambulance, scoffed, “Citizens? There are plenty of people here. Why is your ex the only one you’re protecting? Your girlfriend’s the unluckiest person on earth.” Around us, the injured and shocked onlookers started muttering, their eyes red, staring daggers at Jason. “Trash!” someone yelled. The only one capable of fighting off the attacker, and he only protected his ex. He didn’t even want to call the cops because he was worried Chloe might get hurt. What a joke.

I woke up two days later. Ryan and my parents sat by my bedside, looking like they’d just come from the police station. “Mom… Dad… Ryan…” I croaked. Ryan was the first to react, gripping my hand with red-rimmed eyes. “Claire, thank God you’re awake. We were so worried.” “You know, what did you ever see in that Jason guy? If I hadn’t shown up, you might not have made it.” Mom nudged him, and Ryan immediately shut his mouth. “Claire, you really scared us this time. Seeing you lying there in that pool of blood…” I held my mom’s hand, just like when I was little, and she’d comfort me to sleep. “I hate him so much. Jason… he’s a piece of trash who put me through hell.” “Ryan, did you know that when the knife was pressed against my back, I called out for him? And all he said was, ‘just wait.’” “Chloe told me not to call the cops, and when the attacker realized I had, he stabbed me three times.” Ryan kept his head down, fiddling with his shirt buttons, refusing to look me in the eye. “That idiot’s outside. I stopped him from getting in. Do you want to see him?” I shook my head. Staring at the corner of the doorway, I said quietly, “I hate him. These three scars are enough to remind me of him forever.”

Chloe Daniels showed up while my family was at work and I was recovering. She hadn’t suffered a single injury and had the nerve to show up wearing bright orange lipstick. “Thanks for taking those three stabs for me,” she said, smiling. “Otherwise, I might’ve gotten hurt. Really appreciate it.” “But, Claire, don’t you get it yet? Jason has always loved me. He was only with you because he was lonely.” “Third parties are the ones who aren’t loved. He’ll always choose me over you. All it takes is one phone call, and he’ll come running. Isn’t that right?” Yeah, ever since Chloe came back, Jason had stood me up five times. Every single date, Chloe was always there. I was never his first choice. It made me sick. I remember when Jason met my parents for dinner. Everything was perfect until he got a phone call, then without saying a word, he just got up and left the table. I heard Chloe on the phone saying she’d cut her hand, and Jason told her to wait for him. It was laughable. Her “wait for me” was so different from the “wait” I always got. What kind of “citizen” needs someone to drop everything and leave their girlfriend’s family dinner just because they cut their hand? I looked at my phone, which I had secretly started recording, and then said to Chloe, “If you love Jason so much, why did you break up with him? Do you enjoy stealing other people’s boyfriends?” Chloe smirked as she fiddled with her perfectly manicured nails, chuckling. “Of course, I was just playing around. Jason doesn’t have money or status—he only has his love for me. But you see, when I came back, he still loved me, didn’t he?” She glanced up at me with a wicked grin. “Honestly, it’s kind of fun, don’t you think? Even though he’s your boyfriend, he still saved me.” I nodded, holding back my disgust. “You two really are perfect for each other. A homewrecker and a guy who claims he’s just doing his duty by ‘saving citizens.’”

I pressed the call button for the nurse, and when she came in, I said, “Can you please get this homewrecker out of here? I didn’t invite her, and all she’s doing is rubbing it in my face.” The nurse didn’t waste any time. She moved to escort Chloe out. But Chloe raised her voice, “I’m in the VIP suite! You better watch out, or I’ll report you!” The nurse paused, glancing at Chloe with a strange look in her eyes. “Well, honey, that suite is being paid for with my money,” I interjected, enjoying the shift in power. “Now, please—get her out.” The nurse, now fully understanding the situation, nodded and swiftly showed Chloe the door.

As soon as the door shut behind Chloe, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I picked up my phone and called Ryan, asking him to cancel the VIP suite. “What’s going on?” Ryan asked, confused. “Jason put Chloe Daniels in that suite, and she’s been strutting around without a scratch. Oh, and she charged it to my card.” “She even came here just to gloat,” I added, my voice dripping with annoyance. Ryan was silent for a moment before muttering, “I’ve never met someone so shameless. I’ll handle it.” “Thanks, Ryan. You feel like cooking some corn and pork rib soup today?” “Sure, sure. Just boss me around, why don’t you?” “Well, you are my brother—Ryan!” I teased.

fter Chloe got kicked out, Jason finally had the nerve to call me. Of course, I had already blocked him, so he started spamming me with text messages, even using different numbers. I remember one message in particular that said: “Claire, this is all my fault, but I was just trying to protect citizens. Why are you so mad at Chloe? Why did you kick her out?” “She’s not in a good place mentally. Please, I’m begging you. Let her stay.” I calmly typed out my reply: “If you care so much about your ex, why don’t you spend your money on her? It’s my card, my money. Who gave you the right to use it?” “And do you seriously still think you did nothing wrong? There are homeless people everywhere—why don’t you go and ‘care’ for them too, Mr. Citizen Protector? You’re ridiculous!” There are always fools telling me to be the bigger person. Well, maybe I’ll forgive him when he’s six feet under.

On the day of my discharge, Jason showed up. I knew he had been hanging around the hospital the entire time, hoping to see me. But Ryan had kicked him out, so he’d been spending his time setting Chloe up with a place to live—again, trying to use my card for it. I sat in a wheelchair, with Ryan standing behind me, ready to intervene if Jason pushed too far. Jason looked nervous, his eyes filled with regret and fear. “Claire, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were hurt that badly. I messed up…” “I was trying to get Chloe out of the way so I could save you, but the guy kept targeting her. I couldn’t do anything about it.” “I figured you were my girlfriend, and Chloe didn’t have anyone else. So yeah, I took care of her. But I swear, I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.” I looked down at him, lightly touching the bandages covering my stab wounds. “I was stabbed three times, Jason. I almost didn’t wake up. You couldn’t help me because you were too busy protecting Chloe, and yet you watched while I was held hostage and stabbed.” “What did I do to deserve being your girlfriend? Do you have any shame?” Jason mumbled under his breath, “I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry…” “Can you ever forgive me?”

“Not a chance. We’re done. Stop making my life hell.” Jason turned pale, his whole body shaking. “You really can’t forgive me? I didn’t do anything except save someone… I was just doing my duty.” “I was wrong, I know that.” Behind me, Ryan gestured toward a woman begging on the sidewalk, her face disfigured and missing a leg. “See that woman over there? Isn’t she more pitiful? Why don’t you go hold her at night and find her a place to stay for the rest of her life?” Jason’s eyes welled up, but he stayed silent. “What’s the matter? You can’t? Isn’t she also one of your ‘citizens’? You’re such a hypocrite. Disgusting.” “And let me guess—you’ve forgotten how your dad left your mom for some perfect little sweetheart, driving her into depression? How are you any different from him?” “Looks like being trash is genetic.” Jason clenched his fists and shook his head, muttering, “It’s not like that… It’s not…” I looked toward the trees and spotted Chloe peeking out from behind one. “Chloe Daniels, you can come out now. Clean up your mess and take your trash with you. I don’t need it cluttering up my sight.” Chloe suddenly rushed forward and dropped to her knees in front of my wheelchair. “Claire, please don’t blame Jason. It’s all my fault—I’m the one who shamelessly clung to him.” “I deserved it when you took the house back and kicked me out of the hospital. It’s my own fault.” Hearing this, Jason shot me a dark look as if I were the unreasonable one. “Claire, it’s all my fault. How can you take it out on Chloe? There’s nothing between us anymore.” “Come on, be reasonable. I’ll treat you right from now on. You only went after Chloe because you still care about me, right?” Chloe nodded vigorously, her head hitting the ground twice. I smiled coldly. “The house? I paid for it in full because Jason couldn’t afford it. The hospital bill? Charged to my card. So, tell me—what right do either of you have to hurt me and still spend my money?” “Jason, get some dignity. We’re done!” “You know how I am.”

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The Day of My Daughter’s Birthday I received pictures of my husband, Cole Adams, cheating. Cole had not come home because of a work dinner. After putting my daughter, Lily, to bed, I sat on the couch, repeatedly scrolling through the photos on my phone. Buzz— A text message popped up. Unknown Number: “Interested in having a conversation?” My fingers trembled as I typed out a reply. “Who are you?” Unknown Number: “We could meet up to talk. It’s about your husband’s affair.” Immediately after, they sent the address of a café. Looking at the location, I forced myself to stay calm. When Cole finally stumbled in, reeking of alcohol, I acted normal, helping him take off his coat and handing him his slippers. He hugged me from behind, grinning like usual. “Did you miss me?” Before, I might have playfully bantered with him, but not tonight. I had to know if my husband was really cheating. While he was in the bathroom, I checked his clothes in the laundry bin, from his shirt to his socks. I left nothing untouched. Then I saw it—lipstick on his zipper. The sight made me sick to my stomach. I pulled out my phone and replied to the text. “I’ll be there at 3 p.m. tomorrow.” Not three minutes later, they responded: “Good.” That night, I clutched my phone, unable to sleep, with only one thought in my mind. Divorce! But I wouldn’t let Cole get away unscathed. I’d make sure he walked away with nothing, and I was going to ruin him, too. To be honest, I never thought Cole would cheat. When he proposed, he had nothing. He only got his position at Skyline Investments because he married me. My family had set him up with everything he had in Chicago. His friends all thought it was impressive that he married me, and even his difficult mother—Mrs. Evelyn Adams—was proud of him for it. At 3 p.m. the next day, I arrived at Madison Coffee House, as agreed. Sitting by the window was the stranger who had texted me. A woman—nothing extraordinary, but she had a certain maturity about her. She introduced herself as Vivian Kingsley, but told me I could just call her Vivian. As soon as I sat down, she pushed a folder toward me. Vivian said, “You’ll need these if you’re filing for divorce.” Though her words sounded helpful, the certainty with which she assumed I’d divorce Cole rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t open the folder. Instead, I asked, “Why are you helping me?” “No particular reason. I just don’t want him to have it easy,” she said, stirring her coffee casually. “And there’s one more thing—you were the other woman. You came between me and him.” My grip on the coffee spoon tightened, and for a moment, I almost threw the drink at her. The other woman? What a joke! I had never been anyone’s mistress. Cole and I were legally married. How could I be the other woman? “Don’t misunderstand,” Vivian said with a smile. “You were lied to. You didn’t know, but you were the other woman. Cole and I were college sweethearts. Right after graduation, he made up an excuse to break up with me. Later, I found out it was because he met you.” My nails dug into my palm as I thought back to all the sweet things Cole had told me over the years. I wanted to storm into his office and strangle him. Vivian wasn’t wrong to use the word climb. Cole had climbed his way up thanks to my family—our house, his car, even his job. But arguing with her wouldn’t help me. If I wasn’t careful, it might even play into that scumbag’s hands. “So why contact me now?” I asked, taking a deep breath. “Did he get back in touch with you? Or are you trying to win him back?” Vivian lit a cigarette and gave me a cryptic smile. “You can think bigger,” she said. “Maybe he’s secretly seeing both of us—or more. Who knows? Maybe I’m not the only other woman here.” I let out a bitter laugh. She wasn’t wrong. Otherwise, why would she suddenly show up like this? More than anything, I felt a deep sadness. Five years of marriage, and it was all just a joke.

Vivian told me that Cole wasn’t just seeing her—her private investigator had already found evidence of three different women. She wanted us to work together to bring him down. She wasn’t willing to give this sleaze a chance. That afternoon, we exchanged Instagram details, agreeing to keep in touch. Just as I was leaving the café, Cole called. He started by asking what I was doing and then sweet-talked me, completely unaware that I had just met with one of his mistresses. Suppressing the bile rising in my throat, I told him I was out with a friend for coffee. “Okay, no worries. Mom’s coming over tonight. She bought a ticket to visit Lily. You know she can be a bit difficult, so try to be patient with her,” Cole said. I rolled my eyes, not bothering to respond. His mother wasn’t difficult—she was a nightmare. Every time she visited, it was just to ask for money. The fact that I hadn’t thrown her out of the house with a broom was already a favor, and now he wanted me to be patient? Who did he think he was? Before leaving, Vivian promised to send me the contact information for her private investigator. I didn’t refuse, but I didn’t accept either. I didn’t refuse because anyone who could get those photos must have some skills. I didn’t accept because this was all starting to feel like a game of Werewolf, and I didn’t want to be the next one caught by surprise. At 6:30 p.m., I picked Lily up from preschool. When we got home, Mrs. Adams was already sitting on the porch, her face sour as ever. “Always running around, never staying home! What’s the point?” she scolded. “Can’t that little girl walk herself? You still need to pick her up? If you’re so bored, you should go have a son for Cole!” I ignored her, taking Lily inside. Mrs. Adams, of course, got even more upset. She started yelling through the door, “What kind of attitude is that? I’m your mother! Who are you showing that face to?” If I wasn’t planning to confront Cole about the affair soon, I would’ve marched out there and ripped her a new one. But she was quick. As soon as I opened Instagram, Cole’s messages started flooding in. Cole: “Babe, don’t fight with Mom. She’s still your mother-in-law. Apologize, okay?” To hell with that! I almost typed out exactly what I was thinking. This man, who was out there sleeping with God knows how many women, and his mother, who treated me like a walking ATM, thought I was supposed to be grateful? I was so angry that I didn’t even read his syrupy love messages. They only made me sick now. I asked him, “Are you coming home for dinner?” Cole: “I’ve got work tonight. I won’t be back.” Work? That word made my skin crawl. Who knew who he was really working with? I knew he was lying, but I still replied the way I always did. “Be safe. Come home early.” After helping Lily with her homework, I opened the door to find Mrs. Adams standing there, clearly eavesdropping. She nearly fell when I opened the door, and immediately started her usual rant. “What’s with all the secrets? We’re family! You’re not allowed to talk without me listening? You’re probably bad-mouthing me, aren’t you?” I frowned, noticing that she was wearing the brand-new slippers Lily had just bought. “Mom, there’s a pair of slippers for you in the cabinet,” I said, already knowing how this would end. She didn’t care. She never did. “What about it? I’m her grandma. Everything in this house belongs to my son. Why can’t I wear what I want?” I held my tongue and went to the kitchen to start dinner. I wasn’t in the mood to argue, not when I knew what was really going on with Cole. I had barely opened the fridge when she started again. “Do you think my son’s money grows on trees? Why are you buying so much fruit? You can’t even eat it all! What a waste!” My fists clenched, but I calmly replied, “I bought it with my own money.” Mrs. Adams wasn’t about to let it go, though. “Oh, your money isn’t my son’s money? And what’s with the ribs? We don’t need something so fancy. Just make some vegetables!” She reached for the ribs, but I slammed them down on the counter before she could take them. She stared at me, shocked. Without saying a word, I pulled out the biggest knife we had.

I started chopping the ribs, each swing of the knife harder than the last. “You listening to me?” Mrs. Adams shrieked. “I’m calling Cole! What kind of wife are you? You’ve been married for years and haven’t given him a son! You just spend money like it’s nothing!” If murder wasn’t illegal, I would’ve cut her right there. But I smiled instead and said, “You’re right, Mom. I’ll just put the ribs away. Why don’t you go rest in the guest room?” She huffed, clearly pleased with herself, and shuffled off, thinking she’d won. I calmly went back to preparing the ribs, ignoring my phone as it buzzed with messages. I said I wasn’t going to cook them, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t stew them. By dinnertime, Mrs. Adams was fuming. I didn’t care. I served Lily a bowl of rib soup and then checked my phone. Ninety-nine unread messages. All from Cole. Probably begging me to apologize to his mother. I ignored them, grinning as I called out, “Mom, aren’t you going to eat? The rib soup smells delicious!” She glared at me. “Eat? Are you crazy? No man’s home and you’re making this fancy stuff? What’s wrong with you?” She lunged for the pot, but I swatted her hand away with my chopsticks. I had been playing nice long enough, but now she was crossing the line in front of Lily. I couldn’t stand for that. Mrs. Adams screamed. “You hit me?! You’ve lost your mind!” Without a word, I ladled a bowl of soup for myself, picking out the biggest pieces of ribs. Her face turned bright red with rage. “Mom, if you’ve eaten enough, maybe you could go for a walk. Lily and I still have dinner to finish,” I said, smiling sweetly. “I bought those ribs, so how I eat them is my business.” She wasn’t about to back down, though. In her mind, only her son was allowed to enjoy good food in this house. But I didn’t stop her when she reached for the pot this time. The burner was still on, and she yelped as the heat burned her hands. Realizing she couldn’t win, Mrs. Adams shifted to playing the victim, wailing dramatically about what a terrible daughter-in-law she had. Lily was scared, running off to her room without finishing her meal. I ignored the old woman’s theatrics, cleaned up the table, and went to check my messages. Cole’s video call came in just as I opened Instagram. I declined it immediately. Vivian had sent me a few photos. In them, Cole was drinking with his buddies at a bar, sitting next to a girl I didn’t recognize. She was young and pretty. Vivian: “Did he tell you he had a work dinner tonight?” I replied, “Yes.” Vivian typed quickly. Vivian: “Funny. He told me he was at home, complaining about how you and his mom were fighting.” I didn’t acknowledge that, only asked where the photos came from. Vivian: “Private investigator. He’s at Eclipse Lounge with his buddies right now.” “Who’s the girl?” I asked. Vivian: “New intern at his company. Comes from a poor family, but she’s cute and knows how to sweet-talk him. Notice she’s the only woman at the table?”

Thanks to Vivian’s message, I saw the truth in those photos. Cole might not be model-material, but he looked good enough to fool me into falling for him—and apparently a few others, too. Vivian sent a few more rapid-fire messages. I didn’t reply. Instead, I pulled up Cole’s chat. I couldn’t even sigh anymore at his constant stream of messages. He was just a mama’s boy who liked to sleep around. What else was there to say? After thinking for a second, I typed a message to him. “How’s work going, honey? Is it exhausting?” Whether he was on his phone or distracted by his “work,” he replied quickly. Cole: “It’s fine. My boss keeps making me drink. I might not make it home tonight. I’ll probably crash at a coworker’s place.” How convenient—he had already lined up his excuse for not coming home. I stifled my anger and responded the way I always did, “Take care of yourself. Come home soon.” Cole, ever the suck-up, even sent a photo to prove his “innocence.” The photo matched the background and number of people in Vivian’s pictures, minus one key detail: he didn’t include the girl sitting next to him. “Don’t drink too much. Look after your stomach,” I replied. His next message was about his mother, telling me how hard she worked and that I should apologize. I didn’t even bother reading the rest. I knew I would vomit if I continued. At the end of the day, Cole was just a man caught between his mother and his lies. It was almost comical how blind he was to the truth. I scrolled through Instagram, ignoring him, before texting Vivian. “Can we meet tomorrow?” “Sure.” She replied almost instantly. “Same place.” I didn’t think much of it after that. I wasn’t interested in forming a long-term alliance with someone like Vivian. People who could be mistresses weren’t the kind of people I trusted. Morality wasn’t something everyone had. Neither were proper values. Cole didn’t come home until nearly dawn. I could hear his mother filling his ears with complaints about me, practically declaring war from the other side of the door. But I had to give her credit. Mrs. Adams stayed up all night just to make sure she could complain about me to her precious son. “Wifey,” Cole whispered as he slid into bed, his hands wandering under the blanket. “Missed me?” Miss your mom! I barely stopped myself from snapping at him. Before I realized he was cheating, I hadn’t noticed how selfish he was. Now, every little flaw in his behavior was painfully clear to me—especially the way he disturbed my sleep. I pushed him off. “Stop.” But he quickly tried again, laughing as he tugged at my clothes. At that moment, one word popped into my head: duty. But I wasn’t about to subject myself to that. I wasn’t going to let him have his way. I flipped over, stiff as a board. “Your mom’s listening outside.” He froze. Then I asked, “How long is your mom staying this time?” Cole didn’t answer right away, but his shocked expression said everything. Of course, he wondered why I was asking—before, I’d practically worshiped his mother. Now, I was finally standing up to her. Before he could respond, Mrs. Adams banged on the door. “This is my son’s house! I’ll stay as long as I like! Now, hurry up and give me a grandson! My boy can’t be the last in the family line!” I laughed bitterly. “You hear that? Your mom wants a grandson. After all, your family needs an heir, right?” This was the first time I’d thrown barbs at Cole, but it wouldn’t be the last. “Wifey, my mom didn’t mean—” “Sleep,” I interrupted him. The next morning, I used taking Lily to her tutoring class as an excuse to leave the house. Mrs. Adams made her usual jabs, criticizing me for spending so much money on our daughter’s education. Once in the car, I contacted the private investigator Vivian had introduced. I needed proof of Cole’s affairs. My demands were simple: First, I wanted to know how many women Cole had been with, for how long, and I needed photographic evidence—ideally, with recordings. Second, I wanted to know if he had given these women money or gifts of any significant value. With those in hand, I could make sure Cole walked away from our marriage with nothing. The private investigator wasn’t cheap, but I could afford him. However, I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t trust Vivian, and I didn’t trust him. We met at the same café as before, but this time, it was a young man in a trench coat. I wasn’t sure why, but my intuition immediately told me something was off. There was a faint, almost imperceptible smell of perfume on him. His mannerisms didn’t match what I expected from a private investigator. He cheerfully ordered me a coffee, and when he handed it to me, he made sure to brush his fingers against mine. I’ve done plenty of housework over the years and raised a daughter. Even though I spend money on skincare, my hands are far from delicate. But this man’s hands? They were softer than mine—either he was young or he had never worked a day in his life.

“Mrs. Wagner, you look far too young to have a child. You’re beautiful,” he complimented, but I didn’t respond. He then dove into the details of Cole’s affair, going on for a while before I interrupted him. “How do you know Vivian?” He paused for a moment but quickly recovered, flashing a smile. “Mrs. Kingsley? A client referred her to me.” That one sentence was all I needed to know. Every time this so-called private investigator said something, his phone buzzed with a notification. In less than three minutes, it had buzzed seven or eight times. I glanced over at his phone. His chat list was filled with brightly colored avatars—all women. “Business seems good. Are all these women clients hiring you to catch cheating husbands?” I asked, smirking. He quickly pocketed his phone and nodded eagerly. “Yes, Mrs. Wagner. I’ve seen cases like yours before. You should start preparing for divorce. Men like your husband forget all about their wives once there’s a new flame.” I nodded. “I understand. How long will it take for you to gather photos, recordings, and everything else I need?” Caught off guard by my quick change of topic, he stammered, “T-Two weeks?” “Okay. We’ll be in touch.” I stood up to leave. “Not staying for more coffee?” he asked, surprised. “Why would I? Haven’t we said all we need to?” Maybe it was my sudden cold demeanor, but he didn’t say anything else. I glanced back at his clean-shaven face and smiled to myself. How interesting. Vivian had definitely sent me a fake detective.

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Emily and her sister both fell into the water at the same time. Their parents chose to save Ashley, letting Emily drown. When she awoke again, she had been reborn into the body of Emily Johnson, the daughter of the Johnson family who had drowned. Originally, she thought their lives would never intersect again, but when college started, she saw Ashley once more. Ashley was boasting about how her parents favored her, abandoning her sister. Her sister’s existence was merely a backdrop for her. She was a strong swimmer, and her parents knew it. Given that, Emily realized she had nothing to cling to anymore. So this is what drowning feels like. The water slowly covered her mouth and nose, flooding her nostrils, stripping her of the right to breathe, while her consciousness remained clear, feeling the pain. The instinct to survive made her struggle incessantly. However, the lack of oxygen rendered all her efforts futile. In this extreme agony, her consciousness began to blur. In the final moments before death, she felt a strange sense of relief. It was finally over; she no longer had to suffer so much. The current blurred the last traces of her vision. Not far from her, on the shore, her parents and sister were embracing, crying and laughing as they savored the joy of surviving the ordeal. … She had died. Then she was alive again. After her consciousness returned from the darkness, she saw the excited faces of unfamiliar men and women around her. “Emily, you finally woke up! Don’t scare your mom!” “Are you feeling okay? Don’t do this again. Whatever it is, Mom will help you get through it.” A woman rushed over and hugged her, sobbing as she repeated these phrases into Emily’s ear. Emily was bewildered, letting the woman hold her without understanding what had happened. Who is Emily? Where is this? Hadn’t she died? Her gaze scanned the hospital room, landing on a man standing aside, restraining his emotions. She was certain she didn’t know these two people. They claimed to be her parents, but her real parents would never have been overjoyed or tearful at her rescue. An absurd thought began to form in her mind. The woman who claimed to be her mother finally let go of her. She looked a bit haggard; although her demeanor and attire were once gentle and refined, now she appeared somewhat disheveled. Emily looked at her, silently keeping her mouth closed. Fortunately, the two assumed she was silent due to physical reasons, so they didn’t respond intentionally. Following the principle of “say less to avoid mistakes,” Emily spent the day merely responding politely or smiling. During a break to use the restroom, she quickly glanced in the mirror. Sure enough, she had been reborn. But not into her own body; instead, she was in the body of a completely unfamiliar person. She raised her hand and touched this strange face, feeling uneasy and restless. That night, lying on the bed, she thought all night long about her current situation. The next day, upon meeting the Johnsons again, she decisively smiled and said, “Um… I think I might have amnesia.”

When the Johnsons heard that she had amnesia, they were quite surprised. They seemed unwilling to believe it, asking her several questions while she was completely baffled. They called in doctors, who after examining her could only say it was a side effect, and that it might pass with time. Emily cooperated obediently throughout the entire process. She followed the principle of “speak all she knows.” After all, she really didn’t know anything; even if they suspected something was wrong, they wouldn’t have guessed that the core of this body had been replaced. After various tests and probes, they finally believed that she truly had “amnesia.” The couple likely felt deep guilt toward their daughter. Although she didn’t know what exactly had happened to them, she could definitely sense their kindness and attempts at making amends. Thus, under the pretense of amnesia, she gradually got to know this family bit by bit. The Johnson family was quite wealthy and prestigious; they ran a Global Trade Corporation and were prominent figures in their circles. Fortunately, Emily’s previous family wasn’t too bad either; otherwise, suddenly stepping into such a social class might have made it years before she could fully adapt. After being discharged from the hospital, she immediately followed the Johnsons back to their home. During this time, they introduced her little by little, and she gradually became familiar with her new living environment. The girl she had replaced was named Emily Johnson, and she was still a high school student, the same age as her. Only after being discharged did Emily realize that the SATs were just around the corner. After discussing with the Johnsons, they decided not to return to school and instead do private tutoring at home until the SATs. She insisted on taking the SATs that day as well. In her original body, if she hadn’t drowned, she would have been at the age to take the SATs. Under the arrangement of the Johnsons, she picked up her textbooks again. Those unchangeable pieces of knowledge finally made her feel alive in this world once more. She threw all her energy into studying; this time, no one was obstructing her, and she could finally do what she wanted to do. After finishing the SATs, she successfully got into her desired university and major. Just when she thought everything was starting to improve and she would begin a completely new life, she met someone at university whom she never wanted to see again. Her own sister, Ashley Campbell. 3. Coincidentally, Emily and Ashley ended up as roommates. Under Emily’s insistence, she didn’t let her parents send any housekeepers to the dorm; making the bed and tidying up were all done by herself. Her parents were pleased to see how orderly she had arranged her dorm, their faces filled with satisfaction. The other two girls in the dorm also did everything themselves, seeming quite friendly. Emily quickly became close with them, chatting and laughing, and they agreed to go get a water card and stroll around campus together later. It was at this moment that Ashley arrived. She came in with bags and suitcases, filling the dorm hallway, and because she arrived late, only the bed near the door was left for her. “You, give me your bed.” Emily had already told her parents to leave, and now, while still tidying up her bed, Ashley singled her out. Seeing her acting bossy as usual, Emily gave a slight smile. Did she still think Emily was still Emma (Jiangya)? “No way.” She glanced at Ashley coolly, not missing the other two roommates’ inadvertently furrowed brows. Anyone who sees a new troublemaker in the dorm would not be too happy. “You won’t give it?” Ashley looked quite stunned; after all, she had always been attention-seeking in front of Emily from childhood, never having experienced rejection. But the sister she had bullied, Emma, was already dead in the water. Now she was in the body of Emily Johnson. Ashley didn’t argue with her; instead, she turned and threw herself into the arms of the Johnsons, sobbing softly, “Dad, Mom, I just want to live in that bed…” “It’s okay, Dad and Mom will decide for you.” The Johnsons hadn’t changed at all; whenever Ashley cried, they rushed to support her. At this moment, after comforting Ashley, Dad Johnson looked at Emily with a stern face, “Young lady, my daughter likes that bed, you need to give it to her quickly.” “Am I your daughter’s great-aunt? Why should I accommodate her?” Seeing Dad Johnson’s so-called entitlement, the suppressed anger inside Emily surged uncontrollably, “I like your daughter’s eyes so much, should I gouge them out for her?” “How can you talk like that!” Mom Johnson scolded her harshly, “My daughter has her eyes on your bed, that’s your blessing. Just give it to her quickly!” “Sorry, I don’t deserve such a blessing.” Emily gave a cold glance at the Johnsons, having no interest in saying even half a word. If she had known Ashley would come to this university, she would have no hesitation in changing schools to avoid the Johnsons. Being disgusted by them in her past life was enough; she didn’t want anything to do with them in this life. “You unreasonable brat!” Mom Johnson was an amplification of Ashley’s personality. Instead of reflecting on the Johnsons’ arrogance, she turned around to hurl insults at Emily. One of the roommates frowned and said, “First come, first served. How can you bully someone?” “What’s it to you?” Mom Johnson shot back with a sentence, making the roommates laugh out of frustration, while she arrogantly stared at Emily, “It’s just money, isn’t it? Tell me, how much will you accept?” “In that case, I won’t let go unless it’s eighteen million.” Seeing Mom Johnson wanting to scold her again, Emily preemptively said, “It’s your business; whether you want to change it or not.” “Mom, forget it.” At this moment, Ashley opened up sadly, “It’s just a bed, I won’t exchange it. It’s not worth that much.” Mom Johnson looked pitifully at Ashley, clutching her tightly as she angrily glared at Emily. “My daughter is the most understanding one.” Dad Johnson smiled with satisfaction, while Emily looked at the two roommates’ expressions, which were as if they had swallowed flies—she felt like vomiting. She couldn’t even bother dealing with that strange family; as long as they stayed out of her way. 4. Ashley settled into the bed by the door. All the tidying up was done by housekeepers, while Ashley bid farewell with reluctant words to the Johnsons. Emily watched the happy and harmonious scene of the three of them with a cold eye, feeling a pang of coldness in her heart. Although the Johnsons were her parents, they had never treated her so gently before. At the Johnsons’ home, the most she heard was that, right or wrong, she always had to accommodate Ashley, the sister. Sometimes, she even doubted whether she was truly their biological daughter. Since they chose to give birth to her, and she had never shown any disobedience, why did they treat her so harshly? Just because she was the older sister? The housekeepers had already arranged everything perfectly, and the Johnsons finally left. The two roommates hesitated and looked at Emily, eventually calling out to Ashley, “We’re going shopping. Do you want to come?” “No.” Ashley rolled her eyes, completely losing her usual polite and gentle demeanor in front of her parents. The two roommates didn’t seek any more trouble, called Emily along, and left together. Throughout their walk, the most discussed topic was their new roommate, Ashley. Emily listened quietly without commenting. Having interacted with Ashley for eighteen years, she knew Ashley’s two-faced nature all too well. She just didn’t expect that after she and her roommates went shopping and returned to the dorm, her bed was in total disarray as if it had been robbed, with organized things scattered everywhere. Meanwhile, the two roommates’ beds remained perfectly intact, showing no signs of tampering. Such obvious targeting made her laugh with anger. She violently pulled open Ashley’s bed curtain; Ashley was lying down playing with her phone. Upon meeting eyes, Ashley quickly sat up, “What are you doing!” “I also want to ask you why you messed with my stuff?” Emily tightly pinched her palms, afraid she might unintentionally slap Ashley in the face, “Ashley, don’t go too far!” “Do you have evidence?” Ashley stared at her provocatively for two seconds, then showed a pitiful expression, “Emily, I really haven’t done anything. We’ve just met, why are you being so harsh with me…” “There’s only you in the dorm.” Emily looked at her coldly as she acted, “If someone stole your stuff, they would all suffer. Can’t you spare me? Do I need to spell it out?” “But I really don’t know anything.” As Ashley continued, she started crying, “Emily, why are you bullying me?” “Emily, stop it.” The two roommates whispered to her, giving her glances. She knew what they wanted to say; without surveillance in the dorm, no matter what she said, Ashley could always deny it. But this situation was like lice on a bald head, who did it is clear as day. She bit her teeth, tossed her sleeves and turned to start packing her things, already thinking about installing security cameras in the dorm. But Ashley kept crying persistently, “Emily, why are you slandering me?” “I haven’t done anything, but you came running and started yelling at me. It’s about the roommates, how can you bully me like this?” “If you bully people like this, don’t you feel guilty?” “Wah, I want to go find a teacher!” Ashley’s crying became even more intense, making Emily’s temples throb. She couldn’t help but angrily shout, “Shut up!” Just like before, she was infuriating! But Ashley cried even harder, adding a huge accusation, “Emily, this is campus bullying. I can sue you!” “Then go sue me!” Emily was so annoyed; her stuff was crashing loudly, maybe she should consider changing dorms? If it continued like this, she wouldn’t be able to study at all; battling with Ashley would drain all her energy and passion. “Cut it out.” The roommates quickly tried to mediate, helping her pack her things. She angrily glanced at Ashley, seeing her with tear-filled eyes but with a provocative smile raised in her eyebrows. She squinted her eyes. Is this because they had a grudge over the bed issue? 5. Putting Ashley’s issues aside, she still longed for college life. New classmates were quite friendly. However, the campus gossip group was very powerful; everyone in the Economics and Management department knew each other’s backgrounds and who was the most attractive. This information quickly spread on the University Bulletin Board. Unfortunately, the Johnson family wasn’t as famous as the Jiang family, and Ashley’s looks were inferior to Emily Johnson’s. Emily became the beauty of the Economics and Management department, leaving Ashley ten miles behind. A few days after the semester started, a group of followers surrounded her; although she kept a cold face every day, those people still couldn’t be driven away. But privately, she had a good relationship with the two roommates; they were happy to hang out with her. The three of them went in and out together, with many people swirling around her. Every time they went somewhere, it was a lively group, whereas Ashley’s side was much quieter. Every time Ashley looked at her, her eyes shimmered with jealousy, and Emily couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge her. Nothing matched her, so why bother with the clown? “She’s just a peacock.” Everyone brought dinner back to the dorm to eat. Emily and her roommates were chatting when Ashley unexpectedly threw out a comment. After saying that, she glanced at Emily with an implied meaning. Emily made a ‘muah’ sound towards the newly installed security camera in the corner, “Don’t blame me for not warning you.” With such a troublemaker around, when she consulted her two roommates for opinions, they both raised their hands and legs in agreement, with no objections whatsoever. She couldn’t afford to provoke her, so she decided to find ways to defend against her. “Hmph, I’ll sue you all for invading my privacy without asking for my consent.” Ashley angrily jabbed at her food, her eyes extremely hostile as she looked at Emily. Emily didn’t bother to respond, instead turning to her roommates and saying, “Didn’t we just talk about your sister? Let’s continue our conversation.” “My sister is so strict; when I didn’t do my homework well as a kid, she would yell at me.” “My sister was the same. I took plenty of her hits.” Though the two roommates were complaining verbally, their faces were still filled with smiles, radiating a strong sense of sisterly affection that even a blind person could see. Emily was momentarily stunned. Her relationship with Ashley was poor; was it because she never hit her? But if she dared to be harsh to Ashley, there would be no need for Ashley to do anything. The biased Johnsons would beat her up severely. “Don’t your parents tell your sister to be accommodating to you?” Curiously, she asked, and the two roommates exchanged glances, then smiled, “No, whoever’s wrong gets punished. Although my sister hits me, whenever there’s something good or fun, it’s all given to me first. I love my sister the most.” “Me too.” The roommates smiled sweetly, but Emily felt bitter inside. All the good and fun things were given to Ashley first; why did Ashley need her care? After all, it was bias that created the fiercely combative Emma and the domineering yet pretentious Ashley. Emily and the Johnsons didn’t have that familial bond. 6. “Emily, are you an only child?” The roommates asked curiously. She glanced at Ashley, who had a face full of resentment, and nodded, “Yes, I don’t have any brothers or sisters.” There used to be, but with Emma’s death, it all disappeared. “Then from now on, we’ll be your sisters.” The roommates smiled kindly, scooping their favorite dishes into her bowl. She felt moved, but before she could respond, Ashley snorted coldly, “Don’t think about your backgrounds or anything. Ashley doesn’t care about you two.” The two roommates’ smiles stiffened, awkwardly shifting. They were both from ordinary families, having worked hard to get into this prestigious university, without any boastful family backgrounds. But Emily didn’t care about any of that. Scooping food into their bowls, she earnestly said, “I do.” The two roommates smiled gratefully at her. Ashley snickered nearby, “Emily, you’re just pretending. You just want to trick them into running errands for you.” “I don’t have sisters; I just like having many sisters for the fun.” She responded indifferently, but Ashley laughed, tears welling up in her eyes, “Do you think I don’t have a sister? Let me tell you, having a sister like mine is just to be bossed around!” “You!” The roommates were annoyed, while Emily simply nodded, “Then your sister is truly pitiful.” In Ashley’s heart, what was Emma? “Your sister having a sister like you is the worst curse in eight generations!” The two roommates, who had always been mild-mannered, couldn’t help but start cursing, “Sisters are supposed to support each other, share blessings, and bear hardships together. You’re the only one who thinks this relationship is so rotten!” “Your sister is so pitiful. You should cut ties with her as soon as possible.” “Hurry up, stop ruining her life!” They angrily cursed, and Emily felt her palms tighten in her heart. After so many years, someone was finally speaking up for her. The feeling of genuine care was indeed wonderful. “She’s already dead.” But Ashley giggled coyly, looking quite pleased, “She and I fell into the water at the same time, but my parents favored me, abandoned her to save me, so she drowned in the water.” Emily, “…” She just wanted to ask, can she curse this bastard to death? The two roommates were shocked, staring dumbly at Ashley, “Are you even human?” “Hmph, she was never likable. It was perfect that she died.” Ashley disdainfully poked at her food, her fork and knife sharp as blades, as if poking directly into her soul, making her feel excruciating pain. How could she say such joyful news of her death so easily? Is she even human! 7. “Wash my bowl, I’m ordering takeout.” Ashley naturally pointed at the roommates, but the roommates, who still held some fear of her, directly coldly refused with stern faces. No one paid her any more attention. But Ashley took her frustration out on Emily. Emily’s things started disappearing intermittently again or acquired strange smells, and every time she lost something, the security cameras would go black. Everyone knew who was doing it, but they couldn’t get evidence. The two roommates privately worried and suggested Emily change dorms, fearing she would end up like Emma. Little did they know, she was the very sister their parents had abandoned. And she didn’t want to retreat anymore. Ashley’s grades were as bad as ever; she had been taking classes for quite a while, her books still new as ever. But between her and the two roommates combined, none of them had as broad a social network as she did. She dressed up flamboyantly every day, either to meet her brother or to look for her little brother. Moreover, since that day the topic of sisters was discussed, rumors about her began to spread in the department. They said she had a bad reputation, using her looks to secretly hook up with boys. They said she was arrogant and liked to bully others. They even claimed her background was fake, that her family was actually poor, her parents worked odd jobs, and she bought luxury goods every day. For a time, the way classmates looked at her became odd and suspicious. The roommates tried to explain on her behalf, but ended up being cursed as her lackeys, being gossiped about wherever they went. They were so angry their heads seemed to be on fire, while Emily remained calm. She didn’t have much interaction in the department, and the only person she held a grudge against was Ashley. Ashley was trying to use these petty tricks to defame her, but Emily didn’t care. What kind of person was she, that Ashley could ruin her image with just a few words? However, photos began to appear on the University Bulletin Board. An anonymous account had somehow taken pictures of her chatting with Tyler Smith under a tree and posted them online. She thought Tyler would clear things up, but instead, Tyler posted a little essay condemning the account owner in the thread, without clarifying her relationship with him. Ashley’s glances at her became increasingly strange, and many girls began to casually or intentionally probe, asking if she was dating Tyler. For heaven’s sake, Emily and Tyler weren’t even close. However, every accidental encounter with Tyler was blown up on the campus forum, causing many girls to attack her en masse. She was overwhelmed. What’s more bizarre, when she was deep in the whirlwind of rumors, Ashley released so-called evidence of her bullying her. In photos, Ashley had tear-stained eyes, looking pitiful, and the posts included a segment of a recording, which was from the day school started, when Emily found her things being thrown around and got angry at Ashley. At that time, she had been in a fit of rage, and the phrase “You go sue me” had become the point of intense criticism. Moreover, the sound of her things crashing was also being portrayed as her violently beating Ashley. The roommates had already been cursed as accomplices and couldn’t show their faces anymore. Every day, girls were curious, banging on their dorm door to watch the drama, some consoling Ashley, saying Emily wouldn’t have a good retribution. Meanwhile, Ashley was pretending to be innocent and pitiful, coming up with different ways to annoy her and her roommates. Then she saw a picture of Tyler holding Ashley.

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