Category: English

During the onboarding training for new interns, my boyfriend Ethan was assigned as the training group leader. He utterly despised that rebellious girl who refused to follow the rules. He said she showed up late and left early every day, wearing heavy smoky makeup, with none of the professionalism expected of an intern. I comforted him with a smile: “The training only lasts a month anyway. Just bear with it and it’ll be over.” Until a month later, at the farewell dinner marking the end of training, I had planned to go with Ethan. But he refused. “They’re all just new hires. If you come, they’ll definitely make a fuss. You should just rest at home.” I nodded in agreement, but coincidentally that evening a friend invited me to dinner at a location very close to Ethan’s farewell party. After the meal ended, I suddenly wanted to see him. Through the glass window, I saw that amid the jeering and cheering, that intern girl he supposedly disliked the most was straddling his lap. “Ethan, everyone’s shipping us as an enemies-to-lovers couple. Have you considered dumping your girlfriend and being with me?” Ethan fell silent for a moment, then raised his hand as if to push her away. “She and I have been together for five years. I could never hurt her for anyone.” But unexpectedly, the girl flashed a bold smile and pulled him by the collar, offering her red lips. And Ethan didn’t refuse. I stared at this scene in a daze. Beyond the heartache, I suddenly felt like laughing. So Ethan’s germophobia could be easily cured by a girl he’d only known for a month. Five years together, and we’d done everything intimate couples do—except kiss. All because he found it disgusting. I’d always been accommodating, thinking that someday he might accept me. But now, I suddenly didn’t want to accommodate him anymore.

Amid wave after wave of cheers, the kiss lasted a full three minutes. When it ended, Ethan’s pale lips were already smeared with Harper’s lipstick. “How was that, Ethan? You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?” “I’m a good judge of character. Even though you say you hate me, you really can’t resist me. You’re physically attracted to me.” Watching her smug expression, Ethan pressed his lips together, feeling a subtle embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed. “Think whatever you want, but I already have Nina. We’re getting married soon.” Harper let out a scornful laugh, completely unconcerned. “That’s fine. As long as there’s love, I don’t care about titles like ‘girlfriend.’” “When we were kissing just now, your heart was racing and your movements were clumsy. Ethan, was that your first kiss?” Ethan froze for a moment, tacitly confirming it. The people around immediately started jeering. “Ethan, you’re not lying to our Harper, are you? You’ve been with your girlfriend for five years and you’re saying you’ve never kissed? Who’s going to believe that?” “Exactly! Harper, watch out—you might be getting played!” Harper glared at them angrily, also thinking she’d been deceived, and got up indignantly. But Ethan pulled her back into his arms. “I’m not lying to you. It really was my first kiss.” “I have germophobia. At home, I won’t even touch her plates and forks… Kissing her, I find it disgusting.” My heart trembled uncontrollably. Ethan was taciturn by nature, not someone who liked to explain. Every time we fought or had a misunderstanding, he was a man of few words, leaving me to process my emotions alone. But now, with Harper, whom he’d only known for a month, he was willing to lower himself. Harper’s expression visibly brightened, her eyes full of mockery. “You can’t even stand kissing her, yet you’ve been with her for five years? You really can endure!” Ethan didn’t refute it. He just lowered his eyes and said with a sigh, “If I’d met you earlier, I definitely wouldn’t have gotten together with her.” Harper was delighted by his words, grinning as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. Watching them lost in each other, I clenched my fists, my stomach churning. Forcing myself to calm down, I took out my phone and called Ethan. My special ringtone played. Ethan instinctively tried to push Harper away. But Harper wrapped herself around him again, dissatisfied. By the time Harper finally ended the kiss, I’d already called four times. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. Once his breathing steadied, he answered. His voice was the same as always—cold, but tinged with the unique gentleness he reserved for me. “What’s wrong, Nina? The music was too loud just now. I didn’t notice you calling.” A mocking smile tugged at my lips. I didn’t expose his lie, instead saying softly: “Ethan, I came to surprise you.” “Turn around.”

Through the glass door, Ethan and I locked eyes. The smile on his face froze abruptly, and his complexion visibly paled. Before Harper could react, he strode away, walking toward me. “Nina, when did you get here?” I smiled, lying casually: “Just now.” Ethan visibly relaxed. Behind him, Harper walked over step by step. “Ethan, so this is your girlfriend?” “She’s not bad looking, but she seems pretty old.” Ethan frowned, reprimanding her: “Don’t talk nonsense!” Harper’s expression immediately darkened, and she turned and left. Watching her retreating figure, regret flashed in Ethan’s eyes. The next moment, he handed me off to two male colleagues who were watching the drama unfold. “Nina, let them keep you company for a bit. I need to use the restroom.” With that, he took off in the direction Harper had gone. Half an hour later, Ethan finally returned. Harper followed behind him. Her dress was wrinkled and her makeup smudged. My heart sank, the nausea intensifying. “Sorry about that, Nina. I was in a bad mood earlier and neglected you.” “Since you’re here, let’s play some games together.” Harper looked at me with a smile, her eyes full of provocation. Before I could refuse, Ethan had already spoken for me: “She can’t hold her liquor. Don’t go too hard on her.” More than just “can’t hold her liquor”—I’m allergic to alcohol. Ethan knew this full well, but he’d just finished placating Harper and didn’t want to upset her over something so trivial. My heart felt like it was being crushed by a rock. I could barely breathe. I knew nothing about drinking games to begin with, and with Harper leading the charge against me, I quickly lost. She poured a full glass and handed it to me. “Nina, everyone else who loses has to drink three glasses, but since it’s your first time playing, one glass is fine.” Watching her act so magnanimous, an indescribable anger rose in my chest. “I’m allergic to alcohol. I can’t drink.” Harper acted surprised: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?” “How about we let Ethan drink it for you? You two are a couple—he shouldn’t mind, right?” She flashed a malicious smile and handed the glass to Ethan. Ethan pressed his lips together and didn’t take it. He looked at me, his tone apologetic but also slightly reproachful. “Nina, I have germophobia. I can’t use the same glass as someone else. You know that.” “It’s just one drink. Have it yourself. Don’t make things difficult for me.” The string that had been stretched taut in my heart suddenly snapped. I looked at Ethan, my nose stinging uncontrollably. Then, gritting my teeth, I took the glass and drained it in one gulp. The alcohol made my eyes water, and my stomach burned painfully. Ethan instinctively moved to support me, but I shook him off. “You all keep playing. I’m heading home.”

I went to the hospital first to get an allergy shot before returning home, where I tossed and turned all night. Ethan didn’t come back until the next morning. Seeing my haggard face, he was obviously panicked. “What happened? Are you still feeling bad from drinking last night?” “I’m sorry. I should have stayed with you, but I called you over a dozen times and you didn’t answer. I thought you were still angry…” Right. He thought I was angry, so instead of comforting me, he just left me alone. But when Harper got angry, he immediately chased after her to placate her, even with me right there. A bitter smile crossed my lips, but what concerned me more was something else. “Did you really call me? Then why didn’t I receive any calls?” Ethan looked confused at first, then thought of something and stiffened. “I drank too much last night and accidentally blocked your number.” His face was full of apology as he reached out to hug me. “I’m sorry, Nina. I promise it won’t happen again.” Smelling the sickly sweet perfume on him, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. Accidentally? What a coincidence. Harper must have taken his phone and blocked me on purpose. Ethan was someone who valued his personal space immensely. Just like he wouldn’t kiss me, he also never let me touch his phone. He considered it privacy, a boundary that even the closest person couldn’t cross. But I couldn’t touch it—Harper could. A mocking smile tugged at my lips. I suddenly felt utterly exhausted. Pushing Ethan away, I turned and walked into the kitchen. Half an hour later, Ethan sat at the dining table, staring at the plate in front of him, his expression growing darker. “Nina Smith, what’s gotten into you today? Just because I didn’t take that drink for you last night, you’re deliberately retaliating?” “Why did you use your plate to serve me food? Don’t you know I…” “I don’t know!” I looked up and cut him off. “Ethan, if you’re sick, go get treatment. Don’t expect me to accommodate you forever.” “Or if you really can’t handle it, we should just break up.” This was the first time I’d mentioned breaking up with him. Ethan was obviously panicked. “Nina, that’s not what I meant… I was wrong. I shouldn’t have snapped at you over something so small.” “But you should understand me too. Germophobia is a psychological condition. It’s not that I don’t want to overcome it—I genuinely can’t…” Can’t overcome it? I don’t think so. When he was kissing Harper so passionately, where was his germophobia then? I lowered my eyes to hide the sarcasm in them. I didn’t want to say another word to him. “Whatever. If you can’t eat it, just order takeout.” Seeing that I had no intention of giving him an out, Ethan lost his temper too. He stood up abruptly. The plates and forks on the table scattered across the floor with his movement. “Nina Smith, what’s your problem? Are you giving me the silent treatment now?” “I used to think Harper had a bad temper, but now I think a bad temper is actually good. At least she voices her needs.” “Unlike you—you never say anything, making people guess all day long!”

My eyes immediately reddened. More than anger, what I felt was heartbreak. I used to cry and make a fuss too. Like Harper, I’d deliberately show my displeasure and act out, hoping he’d comfort me. But how did he treat me? He found me annoying and dramatic. He said I was too emotional to solve problems properly. So to avoid escalating conflicts, I could only choose to shut up. He was the one who turned me into this, yet now he was using another woman to reminisce about how I used to be. How could such a shameless person exist in this world? “Get out! Ethan, get out!” “Since you think Harper is so great, go find her! I feel sick just looking at you now!” Ethan’s expression instantly turned ugly. He clenched his fists, turned around, and left without looking back. The room fell silent. Looking at the mess all over the floor, I suddenly felt drained of all strength. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke through, dropping onto the floor one by one. I don’t know how long passed before my phone suddenly dinged. Ethan had sent me a video. In the video, the same man who’d just been furious at me for using the wrong plate was now looking adoringly at Harper as they shared an ice cream cone. My hands trembled. I realized this video couldn’t possibly have been sent by Ethan—Harper must have taken his phone again. A bitter smile crossed my lips. Perhaps because I was too disappointed to have any expectations left, my heart felt as still as dead water. I closed my phone, took out my suitcase, and started packing my things. I couldn’t continue with Ethan anymore. Halfway through packing, Ethan suddenly called, his voice full of urgency. “Nina, I remember your parents are both massage therapists. You must know a bit too, right?” “Harper accidentally hurt her back. She can’t stand the smell of disinfectant at the hospital. Can you come help her?” I almost laughed in anger. These two really had thick skin. “I don’t know massage, and even if I did, why should I help her?” “Figure it out yourselves!” I hung up directly. Before long, the phone rang again. This time it was my mom calling. “Nina, your dad and I are already in the car heading over. We’ll get there as soon as we can.” I was confused for a moment, not immediately understanding what my mom meant. “Ethan told us that a friend of yours accidentally injured her back and needs massage therapy, so he asked us to come over as soon as possible.” “What’s wrong? Didn’t you know?” Ethan’s shamelessness exceeded my imagination. For Harper’s sake, he actually used my name to summon my parents! But my parents weren’t even in the same city as us. It would take them at least three hours to drive over! What’s more, my dad had a heart condition. He’d just had bypass surgery recently, and the doctor had told him to rest well. He’d even taken a month off work! Ethan knew all of this. He just didn’t care! I wanted to tell my parents not to come, even wanted to tell them the whole truth. But Ethan and I were already at the stage of discussing marriage. I was afraid that revealing everything without warning would be too much for my dad’s heart. In the end, I said nothing, only told them to drive safely. When my parents arrived, I immediately went with them to the address Ethan had given. As soon as we entered, Harper was lying on the bed, her face full of irritation as she complained. “Finally! It’s been over three hours. Anyone would think you died on the road!” My parents’ expressions stiffened. Ethan quickly tried to smooth things over: “She’s young and doesn’t know better. Please don’t take it to heart.” Watching his obvious favoritism, my parents’ faces flashed with suspicion. “Nina, is she your friend or Ethan’s friend?” I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. “Ethan’s friend, but I know her too.” With that explanation, my parents finally relaxed. After an hour of massage therapy, both my parents looked exhausted. I’d planned to take them out for a meal and some rest, but they insisted on bringing along Ethan, their “future son-in-law.” Ethan agreed, but Harper immediately said sarcastically: “Go ahead. Good riddance. Turns out what the guys in our class said was right—some people just aren’t worth committing to!” “He got his fun and now he’s abandoning me! And he made me hurt my back!” Ethan’s face went pale with shock. He hadn’t expected her to pull this stunt. Looking somewhat panicked, he scolded: “Harper, what are you talking about?” Harper pouted, not caring whether he could save face. “Ethan, you don’t really think I’m willing to be your mistress, do you?” “I already sent your girlfriend that video of us sharing ice cream! I didn’t expect her to be so tolerant—she’s still pretending not to know!” My parents finally understood. Their faces immediately turned ashen. “Ethan, you cheated and you still had the nerve to make us give this homewrecker massage therapy? Do you have no shame?” My mom’s voice rose sharply. My dad was so angry his chest heaved. Looking at Harper’s smug face, I finally snapped. I walked over and slapped her hard across the face. “Harper!” Ethan’s expression changed drastically. He rushed over to shield Harper, shoving me hard. Seeing his daughter being mistreated, my dad immediately tried to help, but before he’d taken two steps, he clutched his chest and collapsed. “Dad! Dad!”

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Five years ago, Ethan knelt for three days and nights to marry me. That wedding of the century is still talked about today. For five years, even if I asked for the moon, he would give it to me. I thought I was the happiest woman in the world. Until I came home early and caught him holding his mistress, saying the same sweet words he’d once said to me on our bed. “Ivy, I love you more than I ever loved Charlotte.” In that moment, I finally understood. A tycoon’s love has a shelf life of only five years. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I quietly signed the divorce agreement, sold the old house my parents left me, and wiped my identity clean. In twelve days, Charlotte Thompson would cease to exist in this world. And Ethan, only after I disappeared, went crazy searching for me everywhere. Too bad. It was too late. Charlotte POV Ethan was ruthless in business, but he gave all his tenderness and affection to one person. I was an ordinary person with no power or influence. Five years ago, to marry me, Ethan knelt at home for three days and nights before his family agreed to let me marry him. That wedding that shocked New York is still remembered today. For five years, Ethan doted on me constantly. If I casually mentioned wanting cherries, he’d have his private jet fly overnight to bring me the freshest cherries from Chile. When I caught a cold and had a fever, he canceled a billion-dollar acquisition and stayed by my side at the hospital for three days and nights. But this man who loved me like his life brought his mistress back to our home and had sex with her on our bed. Three days ago was supposed to be our fifth wedding anniversary trip. I’d planned it for so long, arranging everything I could think of. Excitedly, I dragged my suitcase to the airport with Ethan. Then his phone rang. He answered, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. Finally, he looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. There’s a major problem with a company project. I have to go back and handle it.” I didn’t want to make things difficult for him, so I smiled and pushed him toward the exit. “It’s okay. I’ll go ahead by myself. Next time you can come with me.” Ethan kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.” A solo trip is inevitably lonely. The more I walked those streets I’d been looking forward to, the more I missed Ethan. Every time I saw some novel little trinket, I couldn’t help thinking how wonderful it would be if Ethan were here. On the third morning, I changed my flight on impulse, wanting to come home early and surprise him. But what awaited me was this scene. The bedroom door was ajar, and muffled panting and the sound of the bed shaking came from inside. I froze outside the door. Through the crack, I could see everything clearly. On the nightstand, our wedding photo sat right there. The photo of us smiling sweetly seemed to have become a prop to enhance their pleasure. Ethan’s hand gripped the slender waist of the woman beneath him, his other hand tangled in her long hair as he flipped her over and pressed her down beside the wedding photo. The woman was thoroughly ravaged by him, panting and moaning while tears streamed down her face. Ethan leaned down to kiss away the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Let me hear your voice.” “Can’t bear to let me go?” “Don’t cry. Tell me if it hurts, and I’ll be gentler.” I stood frozen in place, my entire body ice cold. These tender words. Ethan had said them to me on countless nights. So his tenderness wasn’t reserved for me alone. In a daze, many images flashed through my mind. On our wedding day, Ethan held my hand and looked seriously into my eyes. “Charlotte, in this life, I’ll only love you. That will never change, even until death.” One year on my birthday, he went to a snowy mountain to bring me a bouquet of fresh avalanche lilies. His lips turned purple from the cold, but he still smiled and said, “As long as it’s something you want, I’ll get it for you.” Last year on our fourth anniversary, he held me on the balcony watching fireworks and swore in my ear, “Charlotte, we’ll always be together. When we’re eighty, I’ll still hold you like this.” I believed it all. I never imagined he was lying to me. Ethan’s promises had a shelf life of only five short years. Back then, my parents didn’t agree to me marrying Ethan. My mother held my hand and said a tycoon’s love is harder to sustain than an ordinary person’s. I didn’t believe it then. Now, watching those two entwined bodies on the bed, I had no choice but to believe. I wanted to rush in and confront that man, confront that woman. But I didn’t want to cry in front of them both, to become a clown. In the end, I bit my lip and silently backed out of the house. I walked down the street feeling lost, my mind completely blank, unable to make sense of anything. I dialed Ethan’s number. The call was answered, but it wasn’t Ethan who spoke. “Charlotte Thompson, you came home just now. I saw you.” It was that woman’s voice! I stopped in my tracks, unable to say a word. But Ivy didn’t give me a chance to catch my breath. “A man like Mr. Sterling. Who wouldn’t want him?” “You’ve occupied the position of Mrs. Sterling for too long. It’s time for a change.” The call was disconnected. I wandered the streets and randomly found a hotel to check into. In the past two years, both my parents had passed away. Before he died, my father gripped my hand tightly and said, “If you’re wronged at the Sterling house, just leave. Keep that old house of ours. It’s your last safety net. If worse comes to worst, sell it. It’ll be enough for you to start a new life.” I didn’t sleep all night. The next morning, I did three things. First, I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. Second, I listed my parents’ old house for sale. Third, I processed the paperwork to close my accounts. Closing the account would take twelve days. After twelve days, there would no longer be a Charlotte Thompson in this world.

Charlotte POV “Charlotte, when are you coming back? I’ll pick you up.” I stared at the message Ethan sent on my phone, dazed for a long while. If I hadn’t witnessed that scene last night, I’d probably still be immersed in the sweet anticipation of coming home. Excitedly sending him my flight information, planning to throw myself into his arms the moment I saw him. Now, all I could do was stare at that message and feel the dull ache in my chest. “Six-thirty tonight.” I knew Ethan too well. He wouldn’t let me go easily. I had to leave without a sound. “Okay, I’ll come early to pick you up.” At six-thirty that evening, I stood at the airport exit with my suitcase again. I kept waiting, but never saw the man’s figure. Dark clouds gathered overhead, the air thick and heavy, just like my mood at that moment. My phone buzzed. An email from a stranger’s address. The email contained only one photo. In the photo, a woman’s delicate finger had a small cut, and a hand with distinct knuckles was carefully putting a bandage on it. I knew that hand all too well. It was Ethan’s hand. With one line attached: “He won’t be picking you up.” I clutched my phone, staring at that glaring photo, my chest aching more and more. I didn’t want to believe it. I could accept that Ethan had physically cheated, but I didn’t believe he would abandon me for that woman. The next second, Ethan’s message popped up. “Charlotte, something came up at the company last minute. I can’t make it for now. Take a taxi home yourself.” This message landed on my face like a resounding slap, making my heart bleed with pain. Thunder crashed in the sky with a boom. Dark clouds churned and gathered, and raindrops began to fall. In an instant, a torrential downpour enveloped the entire airport. The day my mother passed away, there was also a rainstorm like this. I cried until I nearly fainted. Ethan held an umbrella, holding me tightly in his arms. The rain soaked half his shoulder, but he didn’t care at all. Back then, his eyes were red as he told me, “Charlotte, from now on, I’ll be with you every rainy day. I’ll never let you get caught in the rain alone again.” That promise was made just a few hundred days ago. And now I had to stand alone in the pouring rain. Except this time, Ethan had personally orchestrated this rain. I took a taxi home. The house had been cleaned spotless. Not even a single strand of hair remained. My period happened to start today. After getting caught in the rain and catching a chill, the pain made me break out in cold sweat. I couldn’t be bothered to eat. I hastily peeled off my wet clothes and collapsed onto the bed. In the middle of the night, I groggily felt a warm hand pressing on my lower abdomen. I opened my eyes to see Ethan’s anxious face. “Charlotte, you’re awake?” The man leaned down to kiss me. Instinctively, I turned my head slightly and dodged. Ethan froze, thinking I was still angry. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. There really was an emergency at the company today. I couldn’t get away.” His voice was full of apology and exhaustion. “I made you get caught in the rain. It’s my fault.” I stared at him blankly. The anxiety and self-reproach in his eyes seemed so genuine, his tone so sincere it didn’t seem fake. That’s when I realized lies could be told with such apparent sincerity. “Charlotte? Don’t be angry. Did you not eat? I made you warm milk.” Ethan got up and left, quickly returning with a cup of milk. “Charlotte, drink it.” He handed me the cup, his large hand naturally covering my lower abdomen again. Every time my period pain was severe, Ethan always took care of me like this. When the pain was at its worst, he would even warm my belly with his hand all night long. But now, all this attentiveness had turned into blade after blade, cutting at my heart. I wished he would be cold to me now. That way I could leave without any lingering attachment. I drank the milk irritably, catching a glimpse of his phone lighting up from the corner of my eye. He didn’t move, still steadily warming my belly. But the phone rang again. Ethan frowned and rejected the call. Less than a minute later, the ringtone sounded once more. Ethan finally picked up the phone impatiently, walked to the window and spoke in a low voice for a few moments, then looked at me with difficulty: “Charlotte, the company matter isn’t resolved yet. Something else came up…” The warmth left my lower abdomen, and the pain instantly intensified. I instinctively curled up. A flash of heartache and guilt crossed Ethan’s face. He struggled for a moment but ultimately didn’t change his mind. “Charlotte, I’ll be right back.” With that, he turned and left as if escaping. As the door closed, I finally let my tears fall. On the nightstand, the two people in the wedding photo smiled brightly. Now it all seemed like mockery. On this bed beneath me, the scenes from last night tore apart the love I’d held unwaveringly all these years. So-called lifelong companionship. In the end, someone broke their promise early after all. The milk had gone completely cold. Ethan, if you knew our time together had entered its final countdown, would you regret leaving tonight?

Charlotte POV The “live updates” in the emails were too timely. I knew exactly what they did last night. The woman slipped and fell in the shower, scraped herself a little, and Ethan took her to the hospital in the middle of the night in the rain. Not only that, he used his connections to summon the best specialist overnight to examine her injury, staying busy until almost dawn before returning. I don’t know how long I cried before falling asleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside. The bedroom door opened, and Ethan walked in looking apologetic. “Charlotte, you’re awake?” Seeing my swollen red eyes, Ethan’s own eyes reddened with heartache. “It’s my fault. I didn’t stay with you last night. I didn’t take care of you. Are you upset?” He leaned down and kissed my hair. “I’m not going anywhere today. I’ll spend the whole day with you and make it up to you, okay?” That day, Ethan truly didn’t leave my side. He didn’t answer any calls from the company. Even when his assistant came to deliver documents, he turned them away at the door. He cooked for me himself, watched my favorite movies with me, massaged my abdomen. Impeccably gentle. Yet I only felt increasingly bitter. For me, he could throw aside the entire company without hesitation. For that woman, he could abandon me without hesitation. The ranking in his heart was already very clear. I never wanted him to put me before his career. But no one could accept that there was such a woman in his ranking. And this woman had now risen to first place. In the evening, Ethan had a business association gala he absolutely had to attend. I said I wasn’t feeling well. The first time I didn’t accompany him to an event. Late at night, the door lock clicked. But it wasn’t Ethan who pushed open the door. It was that woman. The woman supported the drunk Ethan, the man’s tall frame leaning crookedly against her. She walked right in supporting Ethan, smiling smugly. “Mr. Sterling had a few too many drinks tonight. I brought him home.” Then she skillfully helped Ethan into the master bedroom, took off his shoes and socks, changed his clothes, tucked in the covers. Completely ignoring my presence. I sat in the living room watching all this, neither moving nor speaking. In the days I didn’t know about, this woman must have come to my house more than once. The woman came out of the bedroom and expertly turned into the kitchen, took out honey and began brewing tea. Before long, she came out carrying a cup of tea and set it on the living room table. “I’ll leave the rest to you. Remember to give Mr. Sterling this tea. The alcohol was strong tonight. His stomach will hurt.” She seemed to be ordering me around. In five years of marriage, no one had ever dared speak to me like that. Without a doubt, this courage was fed to her by Ethan himself. I looked at her expressionlessly. “Your name?” The woman laughed. “I thought Miss Thompson was magnanimous enough to accept even this. Ivy.” With that, she turned and left. I walked into the bedroom, looked at the sleeping Ethan for a while, then turned and went to the study. I took the divorce agreement from the drawer, returned to the master bedroom, and shook Ethan. “Mr. Sterling, there’s a document that needs your signature.” Ethan thought it was Ivy. He didn’t even open his eyes. “Ivy, don’t drink. Let me drink it.” He thought he was still shielding Ivy from alcohol. I bit my teeth, suppressed my anger, and urged him, “Sign it first. The document is urgent.” Ethan was heavily drunk and couldn’t see clearly who was in front of him. Perhaps he trusted Ivy too much. He took the pen and signed his name on the divorce agreement. Looking at the signed agreement, the anger that had been stuck in my chest for two days finally dissipated a bit. I took the blanket and went to the guest room alone. I didn’t want to sleep with him. The next morning, as soon as I woke up, Ethan called. “Charlotte, I left a contract in the second drawer of the study. I need it urgently. Can you bring it to me?” I brought the documents to Sterling Group, but it wasn’t the former assistant who greeted me. It was Ivy. “I said I’d go get it myself, but Mr. Sterling was afraid I’d work too hard, so he had to trouble you to make the trip.” Ivy smiled and reached out to take the documents. I dodged to the side, my tone turning cold. “Move.” Ivy pouted, seemingly prepared for my coldness. “Mr. Sterling is in a meeting. Let me take you to the reception room to wait.” I laughed coldly. “What’s your position?” Ivy raised her chin defiantly. “I’m Mr. Sterling’s personal assistant.” “Since you’re a personal assistant, don’t you know that when I come to the company, I always go straight to Ethan’s office?” As I spoke, I unceremoniously strode past Ivy and went straight to Ethan’s CEO office. The office was empty. My gaze fell on Ethan’s desk. On the desk sat a small pot of succulents blooming beautifully, pink and tender, very cute. Obviously this thing was placed by Ivy. Ethan never allowed anyone to place anything unrelated to work on his desk. On his desk, there wasn’t even a photo of us together. Before long, Ethan finished his meeting and pushed open the door. “Charlotte, thank you for your trouble.” He smiled and walked over to pull me into his arms. I dodged to the side, but my gaze remained on that pot of succulents. Ethan followed my gaze. He coughed unnaturally. “A plant from an employee downstairs. I haven’t had time to throw it out yet.” I raised my hand and threw the pot of succulents directly into the trash can. “Since you didn’t have time to throw it out, I’ll do it for you.” Ethan chuckled softly, his large hand circling my waist. “Okay.”

Charlotte POV Ethan applied a bit of pressure, pulling me into his embrace. “Don’t be angry. What do you want to drink? I’ll pour it for you.” I laughed lightly. “Since when does Mr. Sterling have to pour water for me himself? Is your assistant that useless?” Ethan just assumed I was angry. He called toward the door, “Ivy, come in.” Ivy pushed open the door and entered. The moment she saw us embracing, her expression darkened instantly, then quickly recovered to an obedient, gentle appearance. “Mr. Sterling, what do you need?” “Go pour her a coffee. One sugar.” Ivy reluctantly agreed and turned to leave. I spoke unhurriedly. “So she’s your assistant. I made this trip today specifically to deliver documents to her?” Ethan froze. “Why would you say that, Charlotte?” “She just said you were afraid she’d work too hard, so you made me make this trip. She even told me to wait in the reception room.” I looked up at him. “I almost thought I’d walked into the wrong company and that Sterling Group had changed CEOs.” Ethan’s expression darkened abruptly. Just then, Ivy came in carrying coffee. “Mrs. Sterling, your coffee.” “If you don’t know the rules, get out of the secretarial department.” Ethan’s voice was cold and cruel. “At Sterling, anyone who makes my wife unhappy will be fired immediately.” Ivy’s eyes immediately reddened. She stood there with her head lowered, not saying a word, looking quite pitiful. Ethan was about to tell her to leave, but I spoke first. “You can’t say that. She cares about you very much. Last night when she brought you home, she even went to the kitchen to brew tea for you.” Ethan’s face had turned ashen. It seemed he hadn’t planned to deal with Ivy initially. But I kept bringing these things up. “Ivy, go to HR immediately and process your resignation. You’re fired.” Ivy’s head shot up. She looked at Ethan in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. “Mr. Sterling…” I didn’t miss the flash of heartache on Ethan’s face. I looked straight at him without speaking. Ethan had no choice but to continue. “Don’t you understand? You’ve been terminated.” Ivy slammed the door and ran out. Ethan immediately held me tightly in his arms. “Charlotte, as long as I’m here, I won’t let you be wronged.” “She’s just a new assistant. She’s inexperienced and offended you.” “I’ll never let her bother you again. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?” He said it very casually, as if he’d really just fired a rude assistant. But I clearly saw that when he mentioned Ivy, even though he said she was “inexperienced,” his expression involuntarily softened. He had her in his heart. I pushed against him but couldn’t break free, so I stopped struggling. His parents still didn’t like me. On one hand, they looked down on my humble origins. Mainly, after all these years I hadn’t gotten pregnant, and they wanted Ethan to have an heir as soon as possible. Ethan naturally knew this, so he never let me go to his parents’ house alone. Once we entered their home, he’d protect me closely, afraid I’d be wronged. But tonight, just as we reached his house, Ethan’s phone rang right on time. Ethan walked a few steps away to answer. I stood there watching his back. Ethan returned with a furrowed brow, looking conflicted. “Charlotte, something urgent came up at the company. Can I…” Even he couldn’t say it himself. I nodded. “Go ahead.” Ethan froze. I used to be most afraid of coming here. Without him accompanying me, I didn’t want to take a single step inside. But he walked toward the exit while instructing me, “My parents won’t make things difficult for you. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done.” I didn’t respond further. I turned and walked into the villa. When his parents saw I’d come alone, they kept mocking me. “You should know your status and position.” “Take good care of Ethan, and only then can you secure this position.” “All these years you two don’t even have a child. Ethan married you, and your status already doesn’t match him. Are you going to leave him without an heir too?” “Don’t think that just because Ethan dotes on you now, you’ll always be his wife. If Ethan finds another woman and you don’t even have a child, just wait to be thrown out!” I listened silently to it all. “You’re right. If Ethan finds someone else, I’ll divorce him immediately.” They fell silent for a moment. “That’s not what we meant.” His mother continued, “I’m saying you should have a child quickly. Only with a child can you truly secure your position as Mrs. Sterling.” But I no longer wanted the position of Mrs. Sterling. I didn’t care what else they said. I got up and left the villa. When I returned home, Ethan wasn’t back yet. My inbox happened to have a new email. It was a photo of Ivy’s new company onboarding notice. It was a store under Sterling Group. The position was senior sales representative. So Ethan couldn’t keep her by his side, so he arranged for her to go to a company under Sterling and kept her there.

Charlotte POV When Ethan came home that night, he was still full of apologies, apologizing one sentence after another. Listening to those practiced apologies, I only felt like each sentence was a knife gouging at my heart. Since when had our time together consisted of nothing but apologies and forgiveness? Ethan’s shirt was still wrinkled, and the faint scent of perfume on his collar reminded me of who he’d abandoned me to see tonight. I looked at him steadily. “Mom and Dad said when you have another woman, my good life will be over. I said I’d divorce you then.” Ethan’s expression changed immediately. He pulled me into his arms. “Charlotte, what are you talking about? What other woman? There’s no other woman. Only you. In this life, there’s only you.” My heart ached so much it felt like it would explode. The urge to tell him I knew everything had never torn at my reason as crazily as it did now. But in the end, I swallowed all those words. I couldn’t say it. In just over a week, I’d be gone. If I said it, I wouldn’t be able to leave. Ethan once said that unless he died, he would never let me leave. That night, I lay on the bed with my back to him, hiding far away on the edge. The gap between us could fit a grown man. Ethan looked at that empty space in the middle of the bed, seeming to sense something was wrong. He moved closer, holding me tightly in his arms, his chin resting on top of my head. I didn’t respond, but I didn’t refuse either. Who knows, this might be the last time we’d fall asleep embracing like this. The next day, the real estate agent called saying a buyer was interested in my old house and wanted to meet with me. The price I’d set was quite a bit lower than market value, so our negotiation went very smoothly. On the drive back after signing the contract, the sky was overcast and thick fog had risen on the road. Visibility was less than sixty feet. As my car reached an intersection, a car that came speeding around the corner crashed into me. The violent impact made my forehead hit the steering wheel, and everything went dark. My arm was also trapped in the car. Blood trickled down from my temple. I didn’t have the strength to get out and deal with the hit-and-run driver. I could only use what little energy I had left to call the police. After calling the police, I instinctively wanted to call Ethan. I dialed several times, but the line was always busy. My vision grew increasingly blurry, the light gradually fading. In a daze, I seemed to see Ethan’s anxious figure running over from not far away. I wanted to call out to him but couldn’t make a sound. And Ethan wasn’t running toward my car. He was running toward the other car, the one that had hit me. He reached in and carefully lifted the person inside out, looking heartbroken, anxiously negotiating something with the police. I saw clearly. The person in his arms was Ivy. My world plunged into darkness. When I woke up again, I was already lying in a hospital bed. My forehead and arm were both wrapped in bandages. My whole body ached. I picked up my phone. The screen was empty. No missed calls, no unread messages. Of course. His mistress had been in a car accident. How could he have time to care about me? I laughed at myself mockingly. I shouldn’t have had any expectations of him. I kept reminding myself. When the time comes, just leave. Absolutely no wavering, no lingering attachment. He wasn’t worth it. Ethan’s call didn’t come until the afternoon of the next day. “Charlotte, why aren’t you home?” More than a full day had passed since the accident, and Mr. Sterling only just noticed I wasn’t home. “I was in a car accident. I’m at the hospital.” My tone was calm. “What? Which hospital? When did this happen?” I pulled at the corner of my mouth. His first concern was the time and place, not how badly I was hurt. “Yesterday morning. Central Hospital.” The sound of a phone dropping came through the receiver. Soon the phone was picked back up, and Ethan’s voice trembled slightly. “Charlotte, how badly are you hurt? I… I’ll be right there!” I didn’t answer. I simply hung up. I opened my email. Sure enough, there was another new message. This time it was a video, from the next room over. Ethan had stayed with Ivy all night, very attentive to her. The man leaned down by Ivy’s ear, his voice hoarse and frightening. “You’re pregnant. Why were you driving? Wherever you want to go, I’ll have the driver take you!” I closed my eyes tightly. So they had a child. No wonder that night he’d rather leave me alone at his parents’ house than stay with his mistress. No wonder when he heard I’d been in an accident, he was so anxious he didn’t even check whose car had been hit. I thought I’d have tears. But strangely, this time not a single tear fell. Good thing I’d processed the divorce with him. Otherwise this child would have to be a bastard. I laughed coldly to myself. Before long, Ethan burst into the hospital room. The man’s hair hung messily over his forehead, his suit and tie were askew, his eyes bloodshot. His expression looked worried, guilty, and panicked all at once. “Charlotte, how are you? Where are you hurt? I’m sorry, I…” The excuse “there was an emergency at the company” had been used too many times. Clearly, even Ethan himself couldn’t keep up the pretense this time. I lifted my eyes and looked at him quietly. “The one who hit me was Ivy, wasn’t it?”

Charlotte POV Ethan’s face instantly turned deathly pale. “You didn’t answer my calls because you were on the phone with Ivy the whole time, right?” I continued. Ethan shook his head desperately, his eyes full of panic, his lips trembling but unable to form a complete sentence. “Do you know how to handle this?”Ethan was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. “Don’t worry, Charlotte! I absolutely won’t cover for her!” “I just felt sorry for her struggling alone in the big city. She reminded me of you from before. She doesn’t know anyone here. She called me, so I went. I really didn’t expect the person she hit would be you!” “Don’t worry! There’s absolutely nothing else between us, I promise!” Ethan kept explaining. I could no longer hear him, nor did I care. Before Ethan arrived, I’d already called the lawyer and had them contact a private investigator to look into this accident. I didn’t believe this was just a coincidence. Even less did I believe Ethan truly wouldn’t cover for Ivy. For the next two days, Ethan put off all his work and stayed at the hospital taking care of me full-time. He didn’t go to the next room even once. That day, I was eating the grapes Ethan had peeled for me when my phone suddenly rang. It was the real estate agent. The house had been successfully sold. All procedures were complete, and the full payment had been transferred to my account. Ethan overheard part of the phone conversation. He immediately became tense, his brow furrowing. “Charlotte, what house? What agent? You’re selling a house? Which one?” My expression didn’t change. “An agent asking if I had any houses to sell. They said the market’s good right now, could get a good price.” Ethan let out a long breath, then immediately objected. “They’re talking nonsense. The market’s bad right now. Lots of people are lowering prices to sell.” “Just keep the house your parents left you. That’s your home.” My heart ached. I no longer had a home. To leave him, I could only leave my home behind. On the other end, Ivy finally lost all patience. She sent me several emails a day. One moment saying Ethan thought I was old. The next saying I couldn’t get pregnant. Then showing off the luxury apartment Ethan bought her near the company. Ivy seemed very anxious but never dared appear in front of me. It seemed Ethan didn’t allow her to appear before me. Ethan’s phone kept ringing those days too, but he never answered once. He was determined to maintain his image as a devoted husband to the end. On the day I was discharged, Ethan specially threw a small celebration party for me. I didn’t have many friends in New York. Those who came were all Ethan’s friends. Because of Ethan, everyone had always respected me. At the party, they competed to congratulate me on my safe discharge. I smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries. Midway through, I got up to use the restroom. When I returned, the door to the private room was ajar. I walked to the door, about to push it open, when I heard clear conversation coming from inside. “What were you thinking? You obviously love her so much, can’t bear to leave her. Why did you have to cheat?” Ethan was silent for a moment before speaking. “Ivy reminds me of Charlotte from before. Back when Charlotte first came to New York to make it on her own, no one helped her. She had it rough. I wanted to compensate her.” He wanted to compensate me, but the one who got the compensation was Ivy. I laughed bitterly. Someone else asked, “Aren’t you afraid Charlotte will find out and divorce you? That car accident was so dangerous. She almost discovered the truth!” “She trusts you, that’s all!” Ethan’s face looked somewhat dazed. He must have been thinking of my trust in him. “Yeah, Charlotte trusts me. I won’t hurt her. But Ivy is also wonderful. I can’t give her up.” “Charlotte won’t divorce me. Not unless I die.” That person lowered his voice and continued probing. “Tell me, is Ivy… more tempting in bed than Charlotte? Otherwise I can’t believe even a devoted man like you would cheat.” Ethan glanced at him with displeasure. “Why are you asking so many questions?” But then he added, “Ivy is indeed more tempting. Charlotte can’t compare to her in that regard.” I stood outside the door, trembling with rage. This whole group of his friends actually knew about Ivy’s existence! And he was discussing bedroom matters in front of so many people! Just then, someone got up to leave. The door was pulled open, and the person came face to face with me standing in the doorway. “Charlotte…?” That person’s face instantly turned deathly pale. The private room immediately fell silent. Ethan shot to his feet, his face ashen. “Charlotte, when did you get here?” I looked at him and suddenly smiled. “I just arrived.” “What, were you all talking about some secret? Afraid I’d hear?” Everyone immediately covered for Ethan. “We were all praising Ethan for having such a wonderful wife!” I laughed bitterly to myself. Even at this point, they thought I didn’t know anything.

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The first thing my foster brother Joey did after getting his driver’s license was ask to borrow my sports car to pick up girls. I said no, so on my wedding day, he drove off with my wedding car. Amidst the roar of the engine, he sent me a voice message, sounding carefree. “William, I’ll take your bride to the wedding venue first. You can just grab an Uber.” The scene fell silent. I turned to look at Mia’s father, Carter, standing at the back of the crowd. He avoided my gaze and simply said, “William, don’t misunderstand. Joey and Mia already know each other well. It’s just a car ride, nothing serious. Let’s not delay the wedding.” I nodded, then spoke directly to my assistant. “Call the police. Someone just stole a car in broad daylight and is suspected of kidnapping.” “Also, notify the bank. I’m withdrawing my guarantee on that two hundred million dollar loan for the Carter family.” The moment I finished speaking, Carter’s expression changed instantly. He rushed over to stop me, his tone full of negotiation. “William, let’s talk this through. It’s our wedding day—let’s not make a spectacle for outsiders.” I replied with a cold laugh. “So you do know it’s a wedding. The bride just ran off with some other guy, leaving the groom to Uber to his own wedding. You’re not worried about being a laughingstock?” The smile on Carter’s face completely collapsed. “This is indeed Mia crossing the line. I’ll call her right now and tell her to come back!” But after three consecutive calls, Mia didn’t pick up. Just as Carter was sweating bullets, Joey sent me a message. In the video, he had Mia, disheveled, pinned against the passenger seat. “William, look—Mia’s so excited she’s hyperventilating. I’m just giving her mouth-to-mouth.” I held my phone right up to Carter’s face. “Is this what you call ‘nothing serious’?” “Since she has Joey, I’ll make it easy for both of you.” As soon as I finished speaking, police cars surrounded the Rolls-Royce in the distance. Mia hurriedly got out of the car, her face still flushed. “William, what’s the meaning of this?” “Joey was just joking with you. We’re all family here. You really want to send your own brother to jail?” Joey stood beside her looking utterly wronged. “Don’t blame William. It’s all my fault for not knowing my boundaries. Don’t fight because of me.” Hearing this, Mia got even angrier. “See how understanding Joey is? Besides, I gave him the car keys. I was the one who asked him to take me for a ride. If you’ve got the guts, have the police arrest me too.” Since she was defending Joey so adamantly, I’d grant her wish. I yanked out the dashcam and handed it to the police. “Officer, you just heard them. One’s the principal offender, the other’s an accomplice. Not only did they steal the car, they were speeding and parked on a non-motor vehicle road.” “Please handle this according to the law.” Seeing I was serious, Mia completely panicked. Her voice carried a barely detectable tremor. “William, I’m your wife. Are you really going to send me to jail?” I waved my phone at her. “The wedding’s been canceled. Didn’t you know?” Carter stood beside her, frantically gesturing for her to apologize. Mia froze for a moment, her face instantly losing all color. After a pause, she came before me and took my arm proactively. “William, are you jealous?” I didn’t respond. She pressed the car keys into my hand. “What happened just now was my fault. I promise you, I’ll never do something so thoughtless again. Please don’t be angry, okay?” “The wedding’s about to start. Let’s hurry to the venue.” I pushed her away roughly. Staring at her ingratiating smile, my voice was ice-cold. “If you want me to drop this, it’s not impossible.” “The police are right here. Tell them what really happened just now. You know what I want to hear.” Mia frowned deeply, trembling all over. Under everyone’s gaze, she slowly spoke. “Just now, Joey stole the car keys. I was tricked into getting in the car with him.” Since she stepped forward to identify him, the police wasted no time and took Joey away directly. The police car drove off with its sirens blaring. Carter also cautiously approached me. “William, are you satisfied with this resolution? Then about our two families’ wedding…”

I straightened my cuffs and glanced indifferently at Mia, who looked like she’d lost her soul. “The wedding will be postponed. As for the two hundred million guarantee, I’ll communicate with the bank.” With that, I turned and got in my car to leave. After this fiasco, Mia settled down considerably. For the first time ever, she made a lunch box herself and brought it to my office. I knew she was trying to make me happy, to keep a tight grip on this cash cow. But I didn’t care. After all, Mia and I had been together for seven years. Back when my grandmother was critically ill, Mia stayed by her bedside to care for her. The night before Grandma passed, I held her hand and swore I would treat her well for the rest of my life. As long as she didn’t court death, I could let bygones be bygones. But then I saw Joey’s new social media post. That’s when I realized how laughable my previous thinking had been! In the photo, Joey—who should’ve been in detention—was standing in the garage of the wedding house I’d bought. Behind him, my limited-edition Rolls-Royce was covered in green paint. The dozen or so sports cars in the garage, each worth millions, hadn’t been spared either. Joey had even added a cheeky caption. “Now this is living!” Rage instantly flooded my brain. I called Mia directly. “Why is Joey at my house?” She was silent for a moment. “William, Joey is your brother. After something this serious happened, he didn’t dare go home. He’s just staying at our place for one night. Don’t be so petty.” I was petty? I laughed in disbelief. I sent her the photo from Joey’s social media directly. “Since you’re so generous, your family can cover all the damages.” Mia’s displeased voice came through. “William, you’re so rich. Why do you care about such small matters?” “I know you’ve always looked down on Joey, but you’ve really gone too far this time.” I couldn’t be bothered arguing with her and simply hung up. It seemed I’d given Mia too much kindness lately, so much that she’d forgotten her place. Now she was bringing an outsider into my home and actually expecting me to pretend I didn’t notice? As if! After I hung up, Mia didn’t send messages to soften up like before. I knew she was using this method to resist me. But I didn’t care. I called the police directly. “911? Someone broke into my private residence and deliberately damaged my personal property. Initial estimates show my personal losses exceed one hundred million dollars!” Soon, I followed the police back home. Only then did I discover it wasn’t just the garage. Joey was standing in front of my wine cabinet with his delinquent friends playing drinking games. Those precious wines I’d collected from around the world—they’d taken a few sips, then smashed the bottles all over the floor. I pulled out my phone and started recording them. I also notified my assistant to bring people over for appraisal. Joey looked at the living room full of police and waved dismissively with a smile. “It’s all a misunderstanding. This is my brother’s house. We’re brothers—we can settle this ourselves.” I let out a cold laugh and called him by name directly. “Joey, you’re just a driver’s son. You’ve been riding on the fact that your dad once saved my dad’s life. Our family raised you all these years—that debt was paid off long ago!”

I pointed at the two empty rows on the wine cabinet. “You guys really know how to pick. These bottles were ones I bought at a European auction for eighty million dollars. If you can’t pay up today, I’m sending you all to prison!” Seeing this, Joey’s drunk friends instantly sobered up. They waved their hands frantically, trying to distance themselves. “This has nothing to do with me! Joey said to treat this place like our own home and invited us to hang out!” “We didn’t touch those cars either. I have video proof. Joey did it all by himself. He lied and told us he was the heir to the Jones family fortune, and said the Jones family wouldn’t care about this small amount of money!” Before he could finish, Joey punched him. “You bastards, you’re selling me out?” Several of them got into a brawl until a police officer shouted them to a stop. Perhaps realizing things couldn’t be salvaged, Joey knelt before me with a black eye. “William, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong.” “Could you please, for my dad’s sake, let me off just this once?” I said nothing. Since childhood, Joey had always competed with me. Competing over grades, over the number of awards. Later in college, it became about stealing everything from me. Stealing gifts, stealing recommendation spots—I didn’t care about any of that. Even on my wedding day, when he drove off with my luxury car and my bride, I didn’t really do anything to him. But now, all the resentment accumulated over the years finally erupted. This time, I absolutely wouldn’t let him off! “Can’t pay? Then I’ll contact my lawyer to file a lawsuit.” “The sports cars and wines are worth over a hundred million. Looks like you’ll be spending the next twenty years in prison.” I patted his shoulder, my tone light and airy. Watching his face turn deathly pale, I felt immensely satisfied. At the same time, Mia had already rushed to the villa. When she saw Joey’s black eyes, she pushed me hard without asking any questions. “William, you actually hit someone in broad daylight? Do you have any respect for the law?” “The law? This is my house. He broke in, smashed my cars and wine, and now in front of the police, who’s the one without legal awareness?” Mia was stunned. At this moment, Joey grabbed her clothes like a drowning man clutching at straws. “Mia, I really didn’t mean it. I just wanted to show my friends around, but William not only wants to sue me, he wants me to go to prison for twenty years. Please save me!” Hearing this, Mia looked at me again, her tone no longer as harsh as before. “Joey’s just a bit playful. These material possessions—we can just buy more. Why make such a big deal out of it?” “Fine. You compensate for all the damages at market value, and I’ll let him go.” Meeting my gaze, Mia hesitated for only a second before gritting her teeth and agreeing. “I’ll pay.” With her commitment, the police left after having both parties sign documents, citing private mediation. I instructed my assistant, who’d arrived late. “Renovate the entire villa from top to bottom. As for the compensation, once the lawyer determines the total amount, transfer it directly from Carter Group’s accounts. If that’s not enough, liquidate company shares until it’s covered.”

After all, three years ago, Carter Group was on the verge of bankruptcy due to failed financing. That’s when Carter came to me for help. I agreed to support Carter Group. But the condition was that I had to be the largest controlling shareholder of Carter Group. Over three years, I invested a lot of money into Carter Group. Including recently when they wanted to buy land in the east district to enter real estate development—I was the one who guaranteed their bank mortgage loan. Now, Mia wanted to swallow such a huge compensation payment for another man. I could make her go bankrupt! Behind me came Mia’s disdainful laugh. “William, whether you have the ability to touch my family’s company accounts remains to be seen!” She pulled out a document from her bag and threw it in my face. “Open your eyes and look clearly—who exactly is the controlling shareholder of Carter Group now!” The sharp edge of the paper cut a bloody mark across my cheek. The contract actually stated that Mia had transferred all my shares to Joey’s name a week ago. Not only that, she’d also transferred over a dozen of my subsidiary companies to Joey. The seal on the signature was my grandmother’s private seal. I suddenly remembered—before Grandma died, she’d given her private seal to Mia. Back then, she treated Mia as family, so she entrusted her with the seal that could influence major company decisions, hoping Mia would work with me to grow the Jones Group. I never expected she’d exploit this loophole and turn it into leverage against me! “I endured your foul temper all this time because the paperwork hadn’t been finalized. But now everything’s settled. William, you’re nothing but a penniless bum now!” Mia surveyed the mess in the room, speaking lightly. “As for the compensation, we’ll just process it through those subsidiaries of yours. You’ve made quite a bit of money over the years, but in the end, it’s all been a wedding dress for us!” “Consider this your apology gift to Joey.” Joey, looking like a petty villain who’d just won, came before me. “William, the wheel of fortune turns. You’ve been the heir for so many years—it’s time for a change. But given our relationship, I won’t let you sleep on the streets. Carter Group happens to need a security guard. You can start right away.” I stared at the two of them without speaking. Mia waved her hand, and several bodyguards entered from outside. “I can give you one chance now. As long as you kneel here and repent for three hours, our wedding can proceed as scheduled.” The floor was covered with broken glass from wine bottles. Kneeling for three hours would probably cripple both legs. Mia was deliberately trying to humiliate me. Seeing I didn’t move, she smiled disdainfully. “Don’t worry. Even if you become disabled, I can support you for life.” Joey pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to kneel. He even pulled out his phone and started a livestream, pointing the camera at my face. “William, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and kneel!” I couldn’t hold back anymore and punched him in the nose. Mia screamed, about to stop me. But the bodyguards who’d been standing around suddenly surrounded her instead. In her bewildered gaze, I shook my slightly numb right hand and said coldly: “Mia, you’ve misunderstood something.” “Grandma’s private seal can indeed authorize shareholder transfers, but only if we’re officially married. But you’re an outsider who hasn’t even entered the Jones family. Your actions constitute commercial theft, and I have the right to pursue all your illegal activities.” “As for Carter Group, the moment it lost me as its backer, it was already being carved up. I didn’t even need to lift a finger.” As I finished speaking, her phone vibrated frantically.

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To earn medical expenses for my six-year-old autistic son, my wife Anna took on the high-risk job of river dredging through my brother Brandon’s introduction. During a flood season, she and my brother accidentally fell into the water and drowned. Three months after they left, my son also died from prolonged refusal to eat and stress-induced exhaustion. To prevent others from repeating my son’s tragedy, I took care of my wife’s parents while burying myself in study. I developed a specialized treatment plan for severe autism, and later opened a charity clinic to help autistic children free of charge. Until that day when I suddenly received a call for help. “Is this Dr. Smith speaking?” “My daughter also has severe autism. Can you save her?” I froze, because on the other end of the line was the voice of my wife who had been dead for ten years. On the phone, the woman pleaded almost humbly: “Dr. Smith, please, you’re our last hope.” A man’s voice came from beside her, tearful: “Dr. Smith, my daughter’s name is Lucy. She’s four years old with severe autism, and she’s contracted uremia. She refuses medical treatment—she’s terrified of doctors. Now she has multiple organ failure, and the hospital has issued a critical condition notice.” “We’ve asked everywhere. In the whole country, only you can save her!” I’d received no less than a hundred such calls in ten years. My charity clinic was the last lifeline for countless families with autistic children. Every time, my answer had been yes, and I never charged a penny. But this time, suppressing the chill rising from my very bones, I interrupted her directly: “The child’s name, age, and parents’ names.” The phone went quiet for a moment before the woman spoke: “The child’s name is Lucy. She’s four years old. My name is Anna, and her father’s name is…” “Brandon.” I finished for her. The line went dead silent, as if surprised I would know. Anna, Brandon. These two names, after ten years, stabbed viciously into my heart once again. I felt instantly transported back to that funeral ten years ago. The venue was packed with people. The coffin sat beside an open grave as people stood in silence, holding black umbrellas. Anna’s mother collapsed on the coffin, crying until she could barely breathe: “Anna! My daughter! How could you die—” Anna’s father stood beside her, eyes red, supporting her, his voice trembling: “Don’t cry, don’t cry… let Anna leave this world in peace…” Several relatives reached out to pull Anna’s mother back, some offering tissues, some patting her back, murmuring: “I’m so sorry for your loss.” I stood to the side holding three-year-old Lorne, feeling completely hollowed out. Lorne, uncomfortable from my tight grip, patted my face with his small hand: “Daddy, hurts…” Anna’s voice took on a tentative tone. “Dr. Smith, you… you know us?” I didn’t answer, only heard Anna urgently whispering to Brandon on the other end, then promising me again: “Dr. Smith, money is no object. We’ll give you whatever we have!” “As long as you’re willing to help, we’re willing to donate… no, to pay you one million! Please!” One million. Back then, when Anna abandoned our son who also had autism, she took the two hundred thousand dollars in death benefits—my son’s lifeline—and faked her death to escape. How resolute she had been then. Now, to save her daughter with Brandon, Anna was truly generous. My fingers gripping the pen turned white from the pressure as I spoke, word by word. “I’m sorry, this child—I won’t save her.” “Why?!” Anna’s voice suddenly shot up, full of disbelief. “We can pay more! Two million! Dr. Smith, you’ve always been…” Anna couldn’t finish her sentence. I hung up directly. The phone slipped from my trembling palm and hit the desk with a dull thud. Finally, the whole world was quiet.

When I pushed open the front door, the aroma of food hit me, but my stomach only churned. In the dining room, Anna’s parents were already seated at the long table. Across from them, as always, was an empty seat with a clean place setting. Anna’s mother carried a casserole, carefully spooning creamy mashed potatoes onto the plate in front of that empty seat. She cut up a piece of gravy-covered steak and placed it there, murmuring: “Anna, time to eat. I made your favorite roast beef today.” Ten years, rain or shine. They believed Anna had died heroically in flood relief efforts ten years ago, her body never recovered. A hero. So for these ten years, at every meal, they left a place for Anna, with food set out. As if she were still alive, just away on a trip. I stared at that plate of steaming food, hatred churning inside me. The daughter they worshipped day and night was actually living well in another city at this very moment. And Anna and Brandon were humbly begging me to save their daughter. I changed my shoes and walked over step by step. “Smith, you’re home? Hurry and wash your hands for dinner, today…” Anna’s mother looked up at me with a kind smile. But her words cut off abruptly. Because I walked straight to that empty seat, and under their shocked gazes, I picked up the food left for Anna, turned around, and threw it—plate and all—into the kitchen trash. The crash of breaking dishes exploded in the silent air. “Smith, have you lost your mind?!” Anna’s father shot to his feet, trembling with rage. Tears instantly streamed down Anna’s mother’s face as she looked at me in disbelief: “Smith… what are you doing? That’s… that’s food left for Anna…” I turned around and looked coldly at them, at these pitiful old people who’d been kept in the dark for ten years. I couldn’t tell them that their proud daughter wasn’t dead at all. Anna just found my autistic son and me to be burdens, so she and my best friend planned a fake death and ran away together. I couldn’t say a single word of it. I could only vent my ten years of accumulated resentment in the cruelest way. “Dead people don’t deserve to eat.” That night, I didn’t return to my room. I sat in my son’s room. Everything in the room remained exactly as it was when he left. His crooked drawing of our family still sat on the desk. I picked up the worn, matted stuffed toy from the bedside. This was a birthday gift Brandon had given my son. My son loved it. In his final moments, he clutched it tightly in his arms, calling over and over: “Mommy… Mommy…” I held that toy and sat there all night, until dawn squeezed through the curtain cracks and shone coldly on my face.

The next day at the clinic, Eve made me a cup of hot tea. As she handed it over, her slender fingers paused on the white ceramic cup. Her expression was gentle as always, but her tone carried a trace of concern: “Dr. Smith, yesterday’s call… you really refused?” “I’ve never seen you like this.” Eve was my deputy and my most capable partner. She knew how much I’d sacrificed for this charity clinic, and she knew I treated every patient like my own child, never giving up before. I picked up the teacup without answering. The warm liquid slid down my throat, but couldn’t warm that frozen heart. “Take it slow. There’s always hope.” Seeing my pale face, Eve habitually tried to comfort me. I forced a slight smile in response. Hope? My hope died ten years ago. Before I could speak, the office door burst open. A young rehabilitation therapist rushed in frantically: “Dr. Smith, Miss Eve, something’s wrong—someone’s kneeling outside!” Eve and I exchanged glances and immediately headed out. The afternoon sun was vicious as fire, baking the ground until white heat rose from it. Outside the clinic entrance, a large crowd had gathered, mostly parents picking up their children. In the center of the crowd, a woman knelt upright on the scorching cement. Behind her stood a man, helplessly holding a child, his face full of anxiety. It was them. Anna and Brandon. I put on a mask and slowly walked through the crowd to stand before them. “Dr. Smith! You’re finally willing to see us!” The moment Anna saw me, she crawled forward on her knees two steps, crying, her voice pitiful: “Please, save my daughter! As long as you’re willing to help, we’ll give you any amount of money!” Brandon also chimed in with red-rimmed eyes and a hoarse voice: “Dr. Smith, we’ve asked around. Only you can save her. Please have mercy!” My gaze fell on the child in their arms. Lucy. She wore soft, comfortable cotton clothes. Her face was pale, but she still showed signs of careful nurturing. Her features resembled Anna’s. But my son Lorne… When he died, he wore faded old clothes, washed until they were white. He was so thin he was just bones. His tiny body curled in my arms, his last weak breath still stubbornly calling for the woman who’d abandoned him. “Mommy…” My heart felt like someone had torn it open with a dull blade, blood pouring out, the pain almost making me unable to stand. The surrounding parents began whispering. “Dr. Smith has always been so soft-hearted, why this time…” “Right, what a pitiful child. They’ve been kneeling here so long.” I took a deep breath, suppressing the metallic taste rising in my throat. Under everyone’s puzzled gazes, I looked down at Anna kneeling on the ground and said coldly: “Stop dreaming.” “I’ll save anyone else, but not this child.”

The moment those words fell, the entire scene went dead silent. Anna, kneeling on the ground, jerked her head up, her eyes full of disbelief. Brandon behind her also froze, his lips trembling, unable to speak. “Why?” Anna’s voice shook. “Dr. Smith, how have we offended you? As long as you save the child, money is no problem!” “One million! No, five million! We’ll transfer it to you right now!” She thought I was demanding a higher treatment fee. The surrounding parents exploded in discussion, voices surging like a tide. “Five million! Why won’t Dr. Smith agree?” “Exactly. Dr. Smith never charges us anything to treat our children. What’s wrong today?” “Still, you can’t gamble with a child’s life…” These people who had once received my kindness now looked at me with reproach. I ignored them, my gaze still coldly fixed on Anna’s face. Seeing me unmoved, Anna seemed to have all her strength drained. She collapsed to the ground crying, her voice shrill: “You have no heart! How can you be so cruel!” “She’s just a child! You’re refusing to save her! This is murder!” Brandon also stepped forward with red eyes, pointing at my nose and roaring: “Do you have any medical ethics at all! We came seeking medical help, not charity! If you won’t save her, we’ll call the police!” He actually pulled out his phone and dialed emergency services. Soon, a police car came roaring up. Two officers listened to Brandon’s embellished accusations, looked at Anna crying her heart out on the ground, and finally approached me with difficulty: “Um… Dr. Smith, is it? Given this situation…” Eve immediately stepped forward, blocking me, calmly presenting the clinic’s charity certification documents: “Officers, we’re a charity organization. All assistance is voluntary and doesn’t fall under medical dispute jurisdiction.” The police looked at the documents and immediately understood. They sighed and shrugged at Anna and Brandon: “We can’t get involved in this. Providing help is a favor, not an obligation. We can’t force it.” With their last hope shattered, Anna’s face instantly turned deathly pale. In the deathly silence, I suddenly let out a low laugh. I walked back in front of Anna and looked at that face—both familiar and strange—asking word by word: “Anna, do you really not know why I won’t save your daughter?” Under her incredulous gaze, I slowly pulled down my mask.

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Before the holiday break, my colleagues swarmed around me, pleading persistently: “I heard you got a new car. Can you take us to the West Coast for vacation?” “You’re the steadiest driver! We trust you! We definitely won’t let you lose out on gas money!” Soft-hearted as I was, I gave in and drove all nine people in our team on a thousand-mile road trip—for free. The entire journey was over a thousand miles. I drove nonstop, alone, until my hands were trembling from exhaustion. Everyone in the car just ate, drank, and had fun. No one ever offered to take over. On the day of the carnival, a few drunk men rushed over from the roadside, wrenched open my car door, and dumped two huge buckets of water directly into the driver’s seat. Water flooded into the control panel. The car started billowing white smoke. Trapped inside, I screamed for help: “Don’t leave! Pull me out!” But my colleagues—who’d been thanking me profusely just moments before—all fled without a shred of mercy. I spent over forty days in the ICU. My parents sold our house to save me and destroyed their health in the process. Yet this group of people never came to visit. Instead, they viciously slandered me in the company group chat. Savannah even sent a voice message: “I warned him not to drive long distances, but he just had to play the hero and show off!” My colleagues chimed in one after another: “He almost got us all killed. So selfish!” “Who’d dare go anywhere with him again!” No matter how I tried to explain, no one would listen. The company fired me outright, citing unauthorized organization of activities. I died filled with resentment. When I opened my eyes again, I’d returned to one week before the holiday. Looking at these people surrounding me with fake smiles and flattery, my eyes turned ice-cold. In this life, I will never be soft-hearted again. For every betrayal and injury, I will repay them double!

The pothos plant on my desk was still alive. There was no scar on my left hand. Savannah walked over from the break room in her high heels, holding a latte. She bent down and leaned close to my ear: “Adrian, didn’t you request annual leave to go on vacation to the West Coast? It’s right during the carnival festival too. Why don’t you take us along? We can split the gas!” I saved the email I was typing as a draft and closed the screen. “I’m not going anymore.” Savannah blinked. “What? But your leave was already approved. Didn’t you book a hotel too?” I picked up the water glass on my desk and took a sip. “I canceled it.” “I canceled everything.” I stared at the blinking cursor on my computer screen. I couldn’t type a single word. All I could see were scenes from my previous life. I remembered every second of those three minutes when the fire burned up from beneath my feet. After the seatbelt buckle got soaked with water, it wouldn’t release no matter how hard I pressed. I yanked at it until my nails flipped back, until the flesh on my fingers was rubbed raw, but I still couldn’t get it undone. The smoke came first, choking me so badly I couldn’t even open my eyes. Then the heat rose layer by layer. I screamed until my voice went hoarse, until I couldn’t make any sound at all. The car door was open. Savannah had left it open when she ran. I could see the road outside. People were running on the road, filming videos, screaming. But no one came to pull me out. In the end, it was a DoorDash delivery guy who happened to ride by on his motorcycle. Without a word, he rushed in, used a blade he carried with him to cut the seatbelt, and dragged me out of the driver’s seat by force. That guy’s arm got burned too. Later, when I was in the ICU, I asked my dad what his name was. My dad shook his head. He said the guy left right after putting me down. Didn’t even leave a phone number. Eight colleagues. Two thousand miles. Free rides, food, and lodging. In the end, the one who saved me was a stranger. I pulled my thoughts back and glanced around the office. Twelve desks, nine people seated. Savannah sat diagonally across from me. She was looking down at her phone. After I rejected her just now, she went back to her seat without another word, but I knew what she was thinking. It was the same in my previous life. After being rejected the first time, she stayed quiet for about half an hour, then started round two. Sure enough. She put down her phone, turned to look at me, and changed her expression. “Adrian, are you under too much work pressure lately? I think you really need to get out and relax. Look at those dark circles under your eyes.” “Yeah, I’m a bit tired,” I said. “Then you should definitely go out and have fun.” Savannah stood up and walked to my cubicle, resting one hand on the back of my chair. “The West Coast is great. The carnival is so lively. You’d be so bored going alone. If we all go together, we can take turns driving so you can rest too.” Take turns driving. In my previous life, she’d said the same thing. Two thousand miles, eight people, and I was the only one who ever touched the steering wheel throughout the entire trip. Eight people, eight excuses, each more ridiculous than the last. “I’m really not going,” I said. “I withdrew my leave request too. I’ll just stay home this weekend.” Savannah’s hand slid off my chair back. Her mouth fell open. “You… you withdrew your leave too?” “Yeah.” “But that was your annual leave. If you don’t use it, isn’t that a waste?” “I’ll save it for later.” Savannah looked at me for a few seconds, then smiled. “Alright then, rest well.” She turned and went back to her seat. I knew this was just the beginning.

At lunchtime, the break room started getting lively. I sat alone at a small table in the corner with my lunch box. I used to eat with Savannah. She said she didn’t like eating alone, so I waited for her every day. Now that I think about it, in three years, when did she ever wait for me? Voices drifted over from the microwave area, intermittent but clear enough for me to hear every word. “What are you guys doing this weekend?” It was Maya, the youngest in our team, who’d just graduated and joined last year. “I want to go to the West Coast for vacation. It’s right during the carnival, but plane tickets are so expensive—over three thousand dollars round trip.” “Didn’t you say Adrian was driving there? Just ride with him,” Marcus chimed in. Maya lowered her voice, though not by much: “He said he’s not going anymore. He even withdrew his leave.” “Huh? Why’d he suddenly cancel?” “No idea. Savannah asked him but he didn’t say why.” “Then what do we do? Plane tickets are too expensive, and the train takes forever.” “Driving would be the most economical, but he’s the only one in our team with a car.” “And it’s a brand new car too. If we split the gas money, we could save a lot over two thousand miles.” At this point, several people glanced in my direction simultaneously. I pretended not to notice and kept eating. The lunch box contained fried chicken pieces and baked mac and cheese my mom made last night. The chicken was crispy, but I couldn’t taste anything as I chewed. In my previous life at this time, I was excitedly sending everyone the trip itinerary, wishing I could plan every day’s route and every meal’s restaurant. I’d even bought sunscreen and waterproof bags for everyone in advance. Eight sets. Cost me nearly a thousand dollars. Savannah had said: “Adrian, you’re so thoughtful. Whoever marries you will be so lucky.” Followed by a string of laughing and heart emojis. Thoughtful. Thoughtful enough to nearly burn to death in a fire. After finishing lunch, I washed my lunch box and put it back in my bag. As I passed Savannah’s cubicle, she was talking to Maya. When they saw me coming, both fell silent at the same time. The air went quiet for about two seconds. Savannah spoke first: “Adrian, finished eating? What was in your lunch today?” “Fried chicken.” “Smells so good. Next time have your mom make me some too.” In my previous life, she’d said the same thing. My mom really did make it for her. For three years. Every time Savannah came to my house, my mom treated her like half a daughter, making a whole table of food, and insisting she take home two containers when she left. Savannah said she’d had no mother growing up. My mom felt sorry for her. Later, when I was lying in the ICU, Savannah posted in the employee group chat saying I’d insisted on driving my new car to take her to the carnival and nearly got her killed. When my mom saw that message, she was at the ICU entrance signing a critical condition notice. “Maybe some other time,” I replied flatly and walked back to my cubicle. Behind me, Maya said something quietly. I didn’t turn around.

At 2:30 PM, our manager held a brief meeting. It was supposedly to discuss wrapping up the second quarter projects, but it was really just a formality since most of the work was done. Only some finishing touches remained. Halfway through the meeting, Manager Mr. Smith casually asked: “What are everyone’s plans for the weekend? Is the on-call schedule set?” Savannah raised her hand: ” Mr. Smith, I’ve arranged the on-call schedule. I’m on duty this weekend. Maya and Marcus will rotate the other days.” The manager nodded. Then Savannah’s tone shifted, becoming very natural: “By the way, Mr. Smith, a few of us in the team wanted to go to the West Coast for vacation and catch the carnival, but plane tickets are too expensive, and so is renting a car. Adrian was originally going to drive there, but suddenly he’s not going anymore, so we’re stuck.” As she said this, her eyes swept over me—quick, but I caught it. Everyone else’s gazes drifted toward me at the same time. Mr. Smith glanced at me: “Didn’t Adrian request annual leave? Why aren’t you going now?” “I changed my mind. I want to rest at home.” “Young people shouldn’t just rest at home. Take advantage of your time off and go out.” Mr. Smith smiled and didn’t say more. But Savannah didn’t stop. “Exactly, Adrian. If you don’t go, none of us can go. Your car is so spacious—it can easily fit eight people. Splitting the cost over two thousand miles would be way cheaper than plane tickets.” The way she said it, she wasn’t asking me—she was deciding for me. Kiera immediately chimed in: “Right, right! Adrian, your car is so big. Take us with you. Plus, it’s not safe for you to drive that far alone. With more people, we can look out for each other.” Look out for each other. In my previous life, when the car caught fire, all eight of them ran faster than rabbits. Look out for what? Watch me burn? “I said I’m not going.” My voice came out louder than I’d intended. The conference room went quiet for a moment. Savannah’s smile stiffened briefly, then quickly recovered. “Alright, alright. If he doesn’t want to go, don’t force him.” She waved at everyone, her tone light as if discussing something trivial. But I saw Kiera’s mouth twitch downward. Marcus leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen on the table. He didn’t say anything, but his expression clearly read: Fine, so you won’t help us, huh. Less than an hour after the meeting ended, Savannah posted a message in the employee group chat. “Everyone! Regarding the weekend trip, I’ve organized the details. Colleagues who want to go to the carnival, please reply below. I’ll figure out transportation, don’t worry.” A string of names immediately followed. Maya, Marcus, Kiera, Helen, Leo, Peter, Nathan. Seven people. Plus Savannah herself made eight. Exactly the same as my previous life. The only one who didn’t reply was me. Savannah posted another message in the group: “Adrian, do you want to reconsider? It’s more fun with more people. You’d be so bored at home alone.” I didn’t respond. About half an hour later, Savannah stood up from her seat and walked to the conference room doorway, tapping on the door frame. “Everyone, come in for a minute. Quick meeting, won’t take long.” She called it a “quick meeting,” but she stood in front of the projection screen with a marker in hand. The whiteboard already had a title written on it: “Weekend Carnival Trip Plan.” The handwriting was neat. Clearly prepared in advance.

I sat in the back row, watching her. “I checked, and plane tickets are sixteen hundred to two thousand one way. Round trip would be three to four thousand. Too expensive.” Savannah wrote a number on the whiteboard and crossed it out. “I also checked buses, but there’s no direct route. You’d have to transfer twice, and just the journey alone takes over thirty hours. Total waste of time.” Another cross. “For renting a car, an eight-seater van costs twenty-eight hundred one way, fifty-six hundred round trip. Split among us, that’s seven hundred per person. Cheaper than flights, but still not cheap.” She paused, tapping her marker on the board twice. “The most economical option, actually, is a self-drive. Gas plus tolls for two thousand miles would be about a thousand dollars. Split eight ways, that’s only a bit over a hundred per person.” At this point, her gaze moved from the whiteboard and naturally settled on me. Not just her—everyone was looking at me. I was the only one in the team with a car. Everyone knew that. I sat in my chair, twirling my pen, my face expressionless. “But the problem is,” Savannah put down her marker, “Adrian is the only one in our team with a car, and his is electric. Charging is even cheaper than gas. If he could take us, splitting the charging fees among everyone, it might not even cost a hundred dollars.” Kiera was the first to speak: “Less than a hundred dollars! That’s such a steal!” “Exactly,” Maya followed up. “Buying plane tickets myself would cost thousands. Adrian, please take us.” Marcus said, “Your car fits eight people comfortably anyway. I saw it once—the back row can fold down into a bed.” “Adrian, you’re the best. Please help us out.” “We’re all colleagues. This little favor is nothing.” “You’re not even paying for gas. You’re just giving a few people a ride.” One after another, talking over each other. I waited until they finished, placed my pen on the table, and slowly straightened up. The conference room fell silent. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m not going to the West Coast anymore. And I’m not lending my car either.” Savannah’s hand holding the marker froze. Kiera’s mouth gaped open. Marcus leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from expectation to shock. “Why?” Savannah asked. Her voice was taut. “No particular reason. I just don’t want to go.” “What about the car? Can’t we drive it ourselves? We don’t need you to drive.” “No.” Savannah bit her lip. After a long moment, she spoke: “Adrian, you weren’t like this before.” I looked at her. I wasn’t like this before. Right. Before, I would have smiled and agreed, then driven two thousand miles alone, booked hotels alone, made all the plans alone, and taken all the blame alone. “People change.” After saying that, I picked up my phone and walked out of the conference room. I’d barely sat down at my desk when my phone vibrated. It was the department group chat. Savannah had posted a message, @-ing my name. “Adrian, I don’t know what you’re upset about, but everyone has been preparing for this trip plan for a long time. You’re the only one with a car but you’re unwilling to help everyone. I respect your decision. But I want everyone to know—it’s not that I didn’t try.” Silence for about ten seconds. Then Marcus posted an emoji: a thumbs-down. Kiera followed with a sighing emoji. Maya didn’t post an emoji, but she liked Savannah’s message. I stared at that message for five seconds. In front of the whole team, Savannah had pinned me in the position of being “unreasonable.” In my previous life, she’d done this after I got burned. In this life, she’d done it early. But in my previous life, I hadn’t taken screenshots. This time I did. I was about to lock my screen when Savannah sent another message. Not in the group this time—a private message. “Adrian, I don’t want our relationship to sour. But think carefully. I’m the one who arranges the on-call schedule. Next month’s project assignments go through me too. Do you really want to oppose the entire team?” I looked at that line of text, my finger hovering above the screen. This wasn’t a request anymore. This was a threat!

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My best friend Sophia’s pregnant with my husband Ethan’s child. She’s already three months along. Meanwhile, I’ve just been beaten by him until I miscarried, now lying in a hospital bed. Ethan told me that as long as I accept it, Sophia’s child can call me Mom. I smiled and nodded, then turned around and married the most dangerous man in River City. Everything they’ve inflicted on me—I’ll make them pay back tenfold, a hundredfold. My best friend Sophia posted on Ins that she’d decided to put herself up for sale tonight, going back to that life. Cassandra panicked and rushed to the Blue Baron, determined to pull Sophia out of that hellhole again. When she hurried over, she saw a room full of familiar faces outside the private room door. Including her husband of three years since their remarriage—Ethan. He was gripping Sophia’s arm, demanding answers. “Sophia, you’ve got some nerve coming here! Isn’t the money I give you enough? Why would you degrade yourself like this!” In an instant, Sophia’s eyes turned red. “Ethan, I told you I don’t want you involved. Can’t you understand that?” “I don’t want to be entangled with you anymore. I don’t want to be the other woman! I don’t want to hurt Cassie anymore!” She trembled as she cried. Ethan forcibly pulled her into his arms. “It’s my fault for putting so much pressure on you.” He looked down at her, his usually cold eyes now filled with deep affection. “Let’s tell her the truth, okay?” “No! I won’t!” Sophia pushed him away violently, shaking her head in panic. “Please stop trying to take care of me. I can’t hurt Cassie! Just go!” Ethan stared at her. “Tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll leave!” She looked up, her voice firm. “Ethan, listen carefully. I don’t love you anymore. Not at all—mmph.” The next second, the man pulled her forcefully into his embrace, dominating her lips with a kiss. Sophia cried while trying to push him away, but she couldn’t. Gradually, she stopped struggling and kissed him back even more intensely. When the kiss ended, Sophia leaned against him, gasping for breath. A friend nearby spoke up. “Sophia, Ethan loves you so much. Can’t you feel it?” “Three years ago, you said you were afraid of hurting Cassandra and insisted on breaking it off with Ethan. If he hadn’t stood outside your building all night a year ago, you probably wouldn’t even agree to see him again!” “Ethan loves you so much. If you keep degrading yourself in places like this, he’ll go crazy.” “Listen to Ethan. Tell her the truth. Cassandra’s pregnant anyway—she can’t leave Ethan! At worst, Cassie can be the first wife and you the second. You two sisters serving one husband—what’s wrong with that?” Sophia refused. “No, don’t tell her. Ethan, I’ll do what you say. I’ll stay by your side and stop degrading myself.” Ethan looked down, gently wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. “You’ve suffered so much, Sophia.” Outside the private room. Watching this scene, Cassandra felt like someone was choking her throat. She even forgot how to breathe. In the dazzling lights, she remembered her past with Ethan. She and Ethan were neighbors, from age five to thirty. Ethan had protected her for a full twenty-five years. The Wilde and Hart families were well-matched. They’d had an engagement since childhood. Ethan was dark and rarely smiled, but he gave all his tenderness and favoritism to Cassandra. She loved eating scrambled eggs with locust flowers. Every season, the germaphobic Ethan would personally climb trees to pick them for her. She loved dancing. He hated it, but still learned for a whole month before her birthday ball, just to dance the first dance with her. When she was bullied, he could appear out of nowhere, fight five people at once, and shield her behind him so she wouldn’t get hurt. Sophia was a poor student she’d met in her junior year of high school. Her parents worked away from home year-round. She lived with her elderly grandmother. Even her tuition depended on school aid, and she barely scraped by for three meals a day. Cassandra felt sorry for her and took the initiative to befriend her, bringing her into her social circle. Later they became good friends. Ethan’s attitude toward Sophia also changed from initial distance to eventually sharing his favoritism with her for Cassandra’s sake. After college graduation, when Sophia was about to sell her body for money, it was Cassandra who rushed in to save her regardless of everything. Later she arranged work for Sophia, keeping her by Ethan’s side as his secretary. On Cassandra and Ethan’s wedding day, Sophia held the train of the wedding dress and cried her heart out. But in the first year after marriage, Ethan cheated. Cassandra didn’t know who the woman was. When she arrived, Ethan had locked that woman in a room. No matter how hysterical she became, he refused to let her in. She could only break down and seek comfort from Sophia, saying she wanted a divorce. It was Sophia who convinced her to let it go since it was in the past. Later, she forgave Ethan. For the next three years, everything was calm. Ethan also treated her better and better, not daring to hurt her in the slightest. This morning, after getting the ultrasound results and learning she was pregnant, she’d wanted to tell the two most important people in her life this good news. But she never imagined that the woman Ethan cheated with three years ago was her best friend! Three years later, they were at it again! Sadness surged over her like a tide. She staggered back a few steps and accidentally knocked over a vase nearby. “Crash!” The vase shattered on the floor. The private room door was yanked open. “Who’s there!” Seeing it was her, the person froze. “Mrs. Wilde…” Everyone in the private room looked toward her. One by one, until finally, Ethan looked at her too.

“Cassie, you saw everything.” Ethan instinctively shielded Sophia behind him. “I couldn’t control myself. On our wedding night, I said something came up at the company and didn’t come home. Actually, it was because I saw Sophia crying so sadly at the wedding. I couldn’t let her go, so I went to her apartment.” “I took her three times that night. That’s why I had a hickey on my neck the next morning. I told you it was a mosquito bite, but it wasn’t.” Cassandra froze. Before she could speak, Sophia had already broken down. “Enough! Stop talking! Ethan, if you say one more word, I’ll never speak to you again!” After screaming, she turned and grabbed Cassandra’s hand, crying and trembling. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I didn’t mean to. I couldn’t help myself. I really didn’t want to hurt you!” Cassandra could no longer suppress her anger and slapped her across the face. “Why would you do this to me! I treated you as my best friend! I gave you everything, and you even had to steal my husband! Why!” “Cassie, we truly love each other… We just can’t control it…” As soon as she finished speaking, Cassandra slapped her again. “You truly love each other? Then what do these ten-plus years between him and me mean!” This slap was harder. Sophia fell to the ground. Ethan rushed forward and shoved Cassandra aside. “Enough, Cassie. If you’re angry, take it out on me. Sophia’s health isn’t good. Don’t touch her again.” Cassandra fell to the ground, sharp pains shooting through her lower abdomen. But he turned to pick Sophia up. “Sophia, are you okay?” “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Go check on Cassie!” “Why do you still push me toward her at a time like this! You’ve yielded for so many years. Don’t push me away again!” Watching the boy who had once protected her growing up now protecting someone else. Cassandra finally understood everything. Actually, all the signs had been there. Later, when he made locust flower cakes, there was always a portion for Sophia. He remembered she liked sweet things and would add extra sugar. When going out shopping, he knew Sophia got cold easily and always kept a jacket in his bag. He said it was for Cassandra, but she never wore it because she was afraid of heat, not cold. That jacket was always on Sophia. She loved steak. Sophia didn’t. So every time they went to a Western restaurant, Ethan would arrange for someone to bring Chinese food specifically for Sophia to enjoy alone. Sometimes Cassandra would get jealous. He’d just pinch her cheek. “Silly girl, they say your best friend is like a second mother-in-law. If I want to marry you, don’t I have to win her over?” Cassandra had believed him. Now she realized she’d been a fool. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “No need to keep pushing each other away. Since you truly love each other, Ethan, I’ll fulfill your wishes. Let’s divorce.” “Cassie, I love you too. You know I won’t divorce you.” Ethan grabbed her arm, his eyes cold, his tone even colder. “As long as you apologize to Sophia, I’ll forgive what you did today. Sophia has depression. She can’t handle stress. If you don’t forgive her, she’ll do something to hurt herself again tonight!” “I should apologize?” Cassandra laughed. “She stole my husband, and you want me to apologize to her?” “Ethan, she’s the mistress. I will absolutely never apologize to a mistress!” Hearing the words “the mistress,” Sophia suddenly pushed Ethan away and grabbed a bottle from the table, smashing it hard against her own head. “I’m the mistress! I was wrong! I shouldn’t have been the mistress! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Bright red blood flowed from her forehead, but she didn’t stop. She grabbed another bottle and continued smashing it against herself. “Cassie, I was wrong, Cassie! Please forgive me.” Again and again, her forehead became a bloody mess. Ethan grabbed her hand, his eyes full of heartache. “Stop! Sophia, stop! You’re not the mistress. You’re not! I love you, so you’re not!” This statement dealt Cassandra a fatal blow. She never imagined that the Ethan who had announced at his eighteenth birthday coming-of-age ceremony in front of everyone that he would marry Cassandra when he grew up. Now said he loved her best friend Sophia. Seeing this scene, their friends couldn’t help but speak up. “Cassie, things have already come to this point. Why don’t you just let them be together?” “Yeah, we’ve brought up divorce before, but they both refused. They didn’t want to hurt you.” “Aren’t you two best friends? Can you bear to see Sophia suffer like this? She’s been wronged for three years too, forcing herself into depression.” Their friends looked at Cassandra with indignation, as if she were the only culprit behind everything. “Since you all think this way, I have nothing to say.” She turned to leave, but Ethan immediately had someone block her path. “Stop! You think you can just walk away after doing this to Sophia?” Cassandra bit her lip, tears blurring her vision. “Then what do you want?”

“Sophia smashed herself four times. I want you to pay back tenfold.” Ethan carried Sophia out of the private room. She trembled in his arms. “Do it. Forty bottles. Not one less.” Leaving those words, he walked away without looking back. Sophia tried to say something. “Don’t do this… Ethan…” “Don’t plead for her anymore. Otherwise, I’ll make it a hundredfold.” Hearing this, Cassandra couldn’t help but laugh. But as she laughed, she started crying. The man who’d sworn to protect her for life now wanted to hurt her! Seeing her cry, their friends didn’t comfort her. They all left one by one. Only she and two bodyguards remained in the private room. The bodyguards looked at each other, reluctant to act. Cassandra knew Ethan too well. Whatever he decided, no one could change. If she didn’t finish these forty bottles today, she wouldn’t be able to leave the Blue Baron. So she accepted her fate. “Do it.” “We’re sorry, Mrs. Wilde.” After apologizing, the bodyguard picked up an empty bottle and smashed it hard against Cassandra’s head. “Bang!” The glass bottle exploded, shards cutting her face. The second time, her head was bleeding! The third time, shards pierced into her scalp, the pain multiplying! The fourth, the fifth… After being hit countless times, she could no longer feel the pain. But something seemed to be flowing down her thighs. She looked down in a daze and saw blood. In that moment, she didn’t feel sad. She only felt relieved. The bodyguard quickly stopped and called Ethan in panic. “Mr. Wilde, Mrs. Wilde, she—” “Begging for mercy? Tell her—forty times, not one less! I’m with Sophia at the doctor right now. Don’t call me again!” The call was cut off. The bodyguard froze. Just as he was hesitating whether to continue, the woman in front of him collapsed to the ground like a broken doll. “Mrs. Wilde!” When Cassandra woke up, the first thing she felt was pain from her forehead. Everything else seemed not to hurt anymore. The doctor was checking her IV drip. “Mrs. Wilde, you’re awake? Don’t be too sad. You can have another child.” Cassandra didn’t answer. Her dark eyes shifted around. The doctor thought she was looking for Ethan and quickly explained, “Mr. Wilde will be here soon. We’ve already told him about your situation.” “How long have I been at the hospital?” “About six hours.” Six hours? Ethan hadn’t come. In his heart, she wasn’t that important at all. Cassandra’s nose stung, but she held back her tears. The hospital room door opened. Ethan walked in. The doctor left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him. Seeing the injuries on Cassandra’s forehead and her pale face, Ethan’s heart ached. He choked up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” “I wanted to tell you this morning. Didn’t get the chance before you beat the child out of me.” Cassandra’s tone was flat, as if talking about something unrelated to herself. “Now it’s fine. No need to say it anymore. The baby’s gone anyway.” “Cassie!” Ethan reached out to hold her, his voice still gentle. “If I’d known you were pregnant, I wouldn’t have done that to you!” “You saw it yourself. Sophia really is sick. I’ve thought about not dealing with her. But all these years she’s been between us. I can’t ignore her. You understand, right?” “She’s always loved me silently without asking for anything in return. Her life was hard enough before. I don’t want her to suffer. You’re her good friend. You should understand!” Cassandra had miscarried. The child was beaten out of her by Ethan. He came to the hospital to see her, yet every word was about how much he felt for another woman. Cassandra should have felt pain. But perhaps because this was her second time being betrayed, she didn’t feel any pain at all. “I know. I understand.” She pushed him away and asked softly, “How is she? Is she okay?” “You still care about her? Does that mean you accept her?” The hope in his eyes pierced her heart, but Cassandra still nodded. “Yes. You’re right. She’s sick. You should be with her.” She turned away, giving him only her back. “I’m tired. Go be with her.” “Cassie, you’re so wonderful! My love for you isn’t wasted. I’ll go tell Sophia. She’ll be so happy!” Ethan walked toward the door. When he reached it, he left one more sentence. “Oh, Cassie, don’t be too upset about not having a child. Sophia’s pregnant too, already three months along. She said as long as you accept it, her child will be your child.” He left. The hospital room door closed. Inside was deathly silent. Learning that Sophia was pregnant with Ethan’s child, Cassandra thought she would be shocked, heartbroken. But her heart was already like stagnant water, feeling nothing. She picked up her phone and called her lawyer. “The divorce papers I left with you three years ago can take effect now.”

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In the third year of our long-distance relationship, I stumbled upon Ethan’s alternate account. In his post, he shared a story about being saved during his youth. At the end, he asked in distress: [What should I do if I can’t forget my first love? It’s seriously affecting my feelings for my girlfriend.] The comments section had criticism and mockery. Some offered advice too. One comment said: [Sleep with your first love once, and you’ll realize she’s nothing special.] Ethan didn’t reply, but he liked the comment. 0 When I received Ethan’s message. My mind was still stuck on the post I’d just seen. My heart felt like it was blocked by a stone, heavy and suffocating. Ethan sent me several photos. “Had a team dinner today, happened to come to that trendy restaurant you mentioned before.” “The food’s pretty good. I’ll bring you here next time.” Coming back to my senses, I called Ethan. His voice carried a smile. “Serena? What’s up?” “There’s a long weekend coming up. Are you coming back?” Ethan hesitated for a few seconds. “I have work commitments this holiday. I won’t be able to keep you company.” My heart sank a little more. I changed the subject. “Who are you having dinner with?” He paused on the other end. “Company employees, three or four people.” The dishes in the photos looked exquisite and delicious. The portions weren’t much—not enough for one person to finish, but too little if there were many people. Just right for two. I asked jokingly, “Is that enough food? You’re not on a date with someone else, are you?” Ethan sounded a bit helpless. Even without seeing him, I could imagine him frowning. “What are you overthinking now?” “Do you need me to put someone on the phone to prove it to you?” Long-distance relationships severely lack security. Over these years, no matter how much I checked up on him, I never involved other people. As long as Ethan said something, I believed him. But this time was different. I picked up my cold tea and took a sip. “Sure.” The phone went silent. A light, cheerful female voice came through, growing closer. “Ethan, I won a couples bracelet in the lucky draw. Help me put it on.” Ethan coughed uncomfortably, his words coming fast and urgent. “Didn’t you want to go to the beach? You can go with friends. I’ll reimburse you.” “I’ve got something to deal with here. I’ll contact you later.” The implication was clear. He wasn’t coming back, and he didn’t want me to visit him either. Ethan had always been generous with me. Almost as soon as he hung up, he transferred money to me. I stared at the dark screen for a while. Suddenly I remembered that when I saw restaurant recommendations recently, one mentioned giving a mystery box gift for good reviews. My fingers moved, opening a review app. The latest review was from ten minutes ago. [My boyfriend took time out of his busy schedule to bring me here! Love it.] The photos matched the ones Ethan sent me exactly. The last picture. It was a girl’s selfie, smiling brightly, intimately holding onto an arm. I couldn’t sleep that night. Following that review’s user ID, I found her account on another social platform. There wasn’t much content, but the contrast was stark. In the past, everything was full of complaints. Rent was too expensive, neighbors too noisy, working part-time was exhausting, her boss was always picking on her. In the photos she posted, you could vaguely see peeling, moldy walls in her place. Crumpled dresses piled on a worn-out sofa. Until a month ago. She moved into a high-end apartment, spacious and bright, elegant and grand. Her closet was filled with all kinds of clothes, plus several expensive handbags. The boxed lunches from before became various Japanese cuisine, Western food, and specialty restaurants. In the scattered comments, someone asked if she’d struck it rich. [I ran into a neighbor boy from before. He’s doing really well now.] [Wow! A reunion romance with a younger guy?] She replied with a shy emoji. As dawn approached, I booked a ticket on the earliest flight. 0

In the departure lounge. My best friend called, her tone dejected. “What do you think someone’s doing when they don’t reply to messages? Are there still people who don’t check their phones all day?” I looked at my chat window with Ethan. The screen full of green bubbles, occasionally getting a few words in response. I thought for a moment and said, “People have a desire to share. If they’re not sharing with you, they’re sharing with someone else.” “If he can resist contacting you, it means you’re not that important.” The airport announcement happened to come on. My friend asked where I was going. I told her the truth. Her emotions came and went quickly, her tone teasing. “You and Ethan are so far apart, north and south, and you still want to stick together during a two-day weekend. I’m kind of jealous.” I opened my mouth. My explanation turned into a lie. “I’m not going to see him. It’s a last-minute business trip.” From freshman year until now, a full seven years. This relationship took up a huge part of my life. Even at this moment, I was still covering for Ethan. Even trying to convince myself. Attributing all suspicions to coincidence. I’d been to Ethan’s place many times. But this time I stood at the door for a long while before entering the passcode. Very subtle changes, but I noticed them at a glance. There was a small succulent on the balcony, a blanket on the sofa. The refrigerator that was always empty whenever I visited was now filled with vegetables and fruit. Plus several boxes of yogurt in different flavors. I sat in the lounge chair on the balcony, scrolling through chat records with Ethan. They seemed endlessly long. In my heart, the process of falling in love was extremely precious. In our second year together, my phone mysteriously went black. After getting it fixed, I discovered that more than half our chat history was gone. I tried many methods but couldn’t recover it. I was so sad and heartbroken. Ethan held me and comforted me for a long time. “If it’s lost, forget about it. We see each other every day anyway, and we’ll always be together in the future.” That’s what he said. But from that day on, he sent hundreds of messages daily, as if to make up for what was lost. Later, when I got a new phone, the first thing I did was back up our chat history. Back then, every line was filled with obvious love. From far away, it gradually, bit by bit, became shallow. All those overlooked things suddenly surged into my heart. Ethan’s initial active updates, squeezing out time during busy moments to video call. His endless sharing turned into “I’m busy,” “in a meeting,” “eating,” “sleeping.” Perfunctory. Mechanical. Recently, our contact had been sparse. The waiting time felt exceptionally long. Two hours later. Sounds came from the entrance. The curtains were half-drawn. I didn’t make a sound, quietly watching the two people entering. Ethan was carrying several shopping bags, bending down to change his shoes. The girl kicked off her shoes carelessly and jumped onto his back. “I’m exhausted from shopping all morning. My legs are so sore. Help me massage them.” Ethan held one hand behind him, steadily setting her down on the sofa. The motion was so natural, as if he’d done it many times. “You’re the one who wanted to go shopping, and you’re the one complaining about being tired.” He sat down next to her. “Where does it hurt?” The girl raised her hand and pointed, smiling as she placed her feet on Ethan’s lap. Her skirt rode up. Ethan lowered his head, gently kneading and pressing. He’d ask from time to time if it hurt, his expression full of affection. The silver bracelet on his wrist gleamed painfully bright. “I don’t want to go home today. Will you let me stay?” From my angle, I could see the fondness and attachment in the girl’s eyes. The ambiguous atmosphere gradually fermented. Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips parting slightly. I finally couldn’t help but speak. “Ethan.” 0

Time seemed to freeze. The girl looked over in shock, meeting my gaze without any evasion. Ethan stiffly turned around slowly, forcing out a smile. “Serena, how did you get here?” After saying it, he probably realized his tone was stiff and softened a bit. “Why didn’t you tell me in advance? I would have picked you up.” I didn’t say anything. The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment. Ethan walked over, grabbing my hand to explain. “Don’t misunderstand. This is Tara. She helped me pick out gifts for business partners today.” I smiled. “Being a boss isn’t easy for you. You even have to give your employees massages.” Ethan looked at my expression, maintaining surface composure as he told Tara to leave. “Thank you for today. You can go home now.” Tara bit her lip, her tone dejected. “Alright, Mr. Miller. I won’t disturb you two then.” Only the two of us remained in the room. Ethan crouched in front of me, his words sincere. “Tara’s used to being casual. I forgot myself for a moment. Even if you hadn’t come today, I wouldn’t have let her stay.” I stared at him for a few seconds. “I’m a bit hungry.” Ethan exhaled, relaxing considerably. He ruffled my hair. “Then I’ll take you to eat. What do you want?” “Hot pot.” When we reached the entrance, Ethan’s footsteps suddenly stopped. “Let me change clothes. Can you wait a moment?” I nodded. Ethan quickly walked into the master bedroom. Click—a soft sound as the door locked from inside. I suddenly realized that changing clothes might just be an excuse. There was probably something he needed to hide that he didn’t want me to see. Twenty minutes later. Ethan came out changed, the bracelet on his wrist gone. He was as considerate as ever. The dishes he ordered were all my favorites, and the sauce he mixed for me suited my taste perfectly. Ethan barely ate, several times probing my intentions for coming. He thought my sudden appearance was due to distrust. What used to be a pleasant surprise was now suspicion. “We’ve been together for so many years. Do you really think I’m that unreliable?” Seeing my silence, his patience ran out. “Serena, I think we need a different way of getting along.” “Like when we’re apart, we can be like friends. That way everyone will be more relaxed.” I heard this less than an hour after we met. After staying up all night and traveling over two thousand kilometers. Actually, I was very tired, physically and mentally exhausted. Ethan said the daily check-ins and video calls made him feel very tired. The occasional missed contact, the screen full of messages and missed calls made him feel oppressed. He even felt love was being worn away bit by bit. “Serena, I love you. I want to marry you and start a family. Life is still long. Can’t we save our love for later?” Ethan’s gaze was very calm. A kind of helpless yet unavoidable weariness. It made me feel like my love was a burden, that even loving him was wrong. “Okay.” Ethan didn’t react. I looked into his eyes and repeated, “I think what you said makes sense.” Just like that, we seemed to reach some kind of consensus. But I knew clearly this relationship should end. That night, I made up a random excuse to sleep in the guest room. Ethan didn’t ask much. At the crack of dawn, I was woken by some commotion. Opening the door, Ethan was on the phone in the living room. “Don’t be nervous. We’ll see each other soon.” “If you’re not used to wearing heels, you can hold them and change at the hotel.” In a suit and tie, refined and elegant. Hearing the noise, he hung up. “Did I wake you?” “A friend’s getting married today. I’m a groomsman, so I need to head over early.” An unexpected kiss landed on my forehead. “Get some more sleep. I’ll come back to keep you company once things are done there.” 0

“I’ll go with you. Soak up some wedding joy.” Ethan froze, his expression somewhat unnatural. I lowered my eyes, adjusting his tie. “Not convenient? Or do you not want people to know you have a girlfriend?” Ethan sighed, probably thinking I was being unreasonable again. “I might not have time to keep you company. You don’t know any of those people. I’m afraid you’ll be uncomfortable.” “It’s fine. Do your thing, don’t worry about me.” We didn’t speak the whole way. Ethan drove, lips pressed tight, fingers constantly tapping the steering wheel. This was his tell when he was irritated. The groom’s house wasn’t far. I waited in the car. Close to the bride pickup time, a group of people came out from the stairwell. Ethan walked at the back, typing on his phone. He handed me a warm breakfast. “It’ll take some time at the bride’s house. You can take a nap in the car.” I acknowledged and said nothing more. The bride’s house was on the tenth floor. I didn’t take the elevator, slowly climbing the stairs. The main door was wide open, decorated with festive red double happiness characters. You could hear the commotion inside even from the hallway. “Today’s three pairs of groomsmen and bridesmaids are all couples. The final game is a passionate three-minute kiss, or you’re not taking the bride!” I could faintly hear Ethan’s voice. “Tara and I aren’t what you think. Can I drink instead? You decide how many glasses.” The jeering continued nonstop. “What do you mean ‘what we think’? Is Mr. Miller shy?” “Last time I went to your office, I personally saw her coming out of your lounge wearing your shirt.” “What’s embarrassing about kissing your own girlfriend? Hurry up, don’t delay the auspicious time!” Standing in the corner. Watching the person I’d been with for seven years being pushed together to kiss someone else. Every long-distance meeting was especially precious. We just wanted to be together, even doing nothing felt happy. Only now did I realize belatedly that distance doesn’t just divide feelings and hearts. It divides lives too. Without me noticing, I’d already been excluded. When Ethan got in the car, there was still a smudge of lipstick at the corner of his mouth. I pretended not to see it. After arriving at the hotel, he arranged a seat for me then hurried away. I’d also fantasized about wedding scenes. It seemed we were just one step away from school uniforms to wedding dresses. Many people asked me, when will you and Ethan end the long-distance? You’ve been together seven years, time to get married, right? I always instinctively made excuses for Ethan. No rush, too busy, waiting until things are more stable. Pulled from my thoughts, on stage it had already reached the bouquet toss. The blue bouquet had several white ribbons hanging from the bottom. When Ethan caught it, even he looked surprised for a moment. Everyone shouted for him to propose to Tara. Ethan instinctively looked at me, unconsciously taking a step forward. Tara tugged his sleeve, her face full of pleading. Just a few seconds. Ethan turned and gave the bouquet to Tara. The moment he turned his back, I got up and left the hotel. I had to admit, people do change. We’re all rushing along our paths. Spending a lifetime together is luck; drifting apart is the norm. Distraction and detachment in a relationship don’t deserve forgiveness. Not even for a second.

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In my past life, Ethan fell into ruin because of me—imprisoned, his family destroyed. Before he died, he spat blood and begged me: “In the next life, please don’t cling to me anymore.” Reborn back to senior year before everything went wrong, I decided to grant his wish. I distanced myself from him, endured bullying, and quietly planned to leave for a distant land. Yet when I was humiliated, he watched coldly from the sidelines. When I was slandered, he kicked me while I was down. He said: “An ungrateful wretch—I’m sick of her.” But when I finally boarded the plane to leave, he came chasing after me like a madman. The day Uncle Wilson brought me home, he said to Ethan: “Lily is a hero’s daughter. From now on, you must take good care of your sister.” Because of that one sentence, Ethan took care of me for ten years, from age eight to eighteen. I suffer from selective mutism—emotionally closed off, learning difficulties, lacking even basic self-care abilities. When I was ten, classmates locked me in the equipment room while Ethan wasn’t around, watching me break down. When Ethan found out, he blinded one of the perpetrator’s eyes. For this, the academically excellent boy not only received disciplinary action but was also made to kneel all night by Uncle Wilson. At twelve, I got my first period during the school sports meet. Face flushed, he bought me my first pack of sanitary pads and stammered through asking the school nurse to teach me about it. At fifteen, I was tricked by bad people to a hotel and nearly assaulted. He rushed in desperately and pulled me out from those thugs who carried knives and guns. Back then, his voice trembled with urgency as he struck my palm: “Will you ever follow strangers again?! Running off like that! Never listening!” He hit hard. I cried from the pain, but I didn’t blame him. Because that hand of his was covered in injuries from saving me. He was so good to me, yet I distanced myself from him when I turned eighteen. All because at a class dinner, drunk, he said: “Lily’s such an idiot. When she was little, I thought she was cute and was willing to take care of her. Who knew she’d still be this ‘cute’ at eighteen? If her parents hadn’t died saving my dad, I wouldn’t bother with this burden!” From that day on, I woke up an hour earlier every morning, took the bus to school alone, avoiding his schedule. At school, I ate lunch by myself, no longer joining his group. When Morgan, the girl pursuing him, cornered me in the hallway to bully me, I no longer looked to him for help. Instead, I kept my head down and silently endured Morgan’s malice. I became even more silent and obedient. Whether at school or home, I stopped causing him any trouble. But now he blocked my bedroom door: “Lily, how long are you going to avoid me?” I gripped my backpack straps and ducked under his arm. He suddenly pinned me against the wall: “Just because I said something stupid when I was drunk, you’re going to hold a grudge this long?” I knew his drunken words weren’t genuine resentment—it was because we’d argued that day. Despite my mutism, I also cared about beauty. That day I’d shortened my school skirt like Morgan did and happily showed it off to Ethan. His face darkened: “Who said you could wear such a short skirt? Change it back!” After all, I’d painstakingly altered the uniform myself, and he wouldn’t let me wear it. I clutched the skirt protectively: “Why can Morgan and the others wear it but I can’t?” “Can you compare yourself to her? Don’t you know your own situation?” Actually, I knew he meant that my mental state wasn’t fully developed, I couldn’t protect myself properly, and a short skirt would attract bad people. But in that moment, emotions got the better of me and I scratched three marks across his face. Feeling depressed, he vented with those harsh words while drunk. Returning to the present, I whispered: “Yes, because of those harsh words.” Then I pushed past him and walked out. He pounded the wall behind me: “Lily, you’re really heartless! I’ve taken care of you like a slave for ten years! If I really thought you were a burden, why would I act like your dog? Isn’t what you’re doing now breaking my heart?” Bang. Uncle Wilson’s bedroom door opened. He yawned and said: “You two leaving this early? Ethan, drive slowly and take good care of Lily.” Ethan and I stopped arguing abruptly. Neither of us wanted the adults to notice, so we had no choice but to leave the house together. At the door, Morgan greeted Ethan cheerfully: “Ethan, good morning.” Morgan had been chasing Ethan for three years. After learning they lived in the same neighborhood, she waited at his door every morning. But Ethan always treated her like she was invisible. Of course, except when she was bullying me—then Morgan also treated me like I was invisible. Seeing both our faces tense, Morgan’s lips couldn’t hide her excitement: “Did you two fight?” Ethan ignored her, steadying his bicycle and asking me: “Lily, you’ve decided. Continue this cold war, or ride with me to school?” I said nothing, head down as I walked past him. He didn’t try to stop me either, gritting his teeth: “Fine, don’t regret this!” Then he looked at Morgan: “Morgan, get on.” Morgan gasped with delight and climbed onto Ethan’s bike. The boy rode past me quickly, the puddle water splashing and dirtying my school skirt hem. I watched his cold, retreating back and Morgan’s smugness, suppressing the deep ache in my heart. Ethan, don’t worry. This lifetime, I won’t hold you back anymore.

He didn’t know—I’ve been reborn. In my past life, Ethan married me out of responsibility. After marriage, my mutism grew worse for certain reasons. During episodes, I became paranoid and violent, attacking Ethan with fists and scratches multiple times. A perfectly good professor, his face covered in scratches from me. Yet toward me, Ethan never uttered a word of complaint. Unexpectedly, Ethan’s rivals reported him for raping a mentally ill woman under the guise of marriage. Just like that, the prestigious Northbridge University professor was arrested on rape charges. Uncle Wilson and his wife begged me to testify in court, but with my severe illness, I couldn’t even speak, which only further confirmed the charge that he violated my will. After Ethan was imprisoned, I entered a psychiatric hospital for treatment. When my condition improved slightly, I went to court to clear his name. But by then, his reputation was destroyed, his job lost, and all his pride had been ground away in prison. The night I picked him up from prison, he drove in silence. With his shaved head and ill-fitting old clothes, those eyes that once shone with youth were filled with exhaustion from being dragged down. Filled with guilt, I asked him for a divorce. Then, a car out of control came speeding toward us. Before impact, Ethan instinctively shielded me with his body. He died. Before dying, spitting blood, he said: “Lily, if you truly feel sorry for me, don’t cling to me in the next life. I’m so tired.” His parents lost their only son. Within half a year, they both passed away. And I, this burden, destroyed Ethan and ruined Uncle Wilson and his wife who raised me. After burying Ethan’s parents, I found a deserted place and quietly left this world. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at eighteen, senior year. Ethan wasn’t imprisoned, wasn’t dead. He stood vividly on the table, drunkenly spouting harsh words. In my past life, I was heartbroken for a long time after hearing those words. But after rebirth, I smiled and called my mom’s nominal younger brother—my uncle. I just had to wait one month, then leave the country with my uncle. …… When I arrived at school, first period hadn’t started yet. Morgan sat on Ethan’s lap, the two sharing a cookie, incredibly intimate. Classmates around them teased: “Congratulations to campus beauty Morgan—after three years of pursuit, you finally caught the top student.” “I always said Lily was bad luck—killed her parents and cursed Ethan. Now that the idiot’s away from Ethan, he and Morgan finally got together!” “Ethan, you won’t protect Lily anymore, right?” “Then we…” Morgan’s girlfriends glanced at me with sinister glee, their intent to torment clear as day. Since freshman year, Morgan had been jealous of my relationship with Ethan, constantly undermining me openly and covertly, even bullying me when Ethan wasn’t around. Their malicious stares pierced me. I couldn’t help shrinking back, instinctively looking toward Ethan. But Ethan’s words were brief and cruel: “Don’t go too far. I have to answer to my parents.” I kept my head down and quickly passed through that crowd of malicious gazes, only to see my desk piled with garbage—sticky soy sauce mixed with moldy bread firmly stuck to the surface. People around me snickered. I felt lost, frozen for a long time before starting to clean it up. I heard Morgan say: “Ethan, you don’t feel sorry for her, do you? You always protected her before. Now you’re my boyfriend. I won’t allow you to be soft-hearted toward other girls, even an adopted sister!” Ethan said indulgently: “What adopted sister? Just an ungrateful wretch who can’t even speak properly. I’m sick of her.” My hand paused. My heart felt a faint numbness. Morgan’s beautiful, delicate shoes appeared in my vision. Crash! Dirty, sticky garbage was swept onto my head. Frightened, I fell to the ground, helplessly wiping at my hair covered in soy sauce and mold. The surrounding students laughed louder. I looked up indignantly, but what awaited me was Morgan’s heavy slap. “Try looking at me like that again.” Morgan’s delicate face filled with mockery. “Lily, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let your sister-in-law treat you to breakfast.” Two male classmates pinned my hands behind my back. I knelt humiliatingly in that pile of garbage, sharp glass shards piercing my knees. “Ah, it hurts…” Morgan grabbed that ball of black moldy bread and tried to shove it in my mouth. I struggled but couldn’t break free, biting my lips tightly, my face covered in the garbage’s soy sauce and mold: “Mmph!” Years of habit made me instinctively look toward Ethan. A flash of reluctance crossed the boy’s brow. He mouthed: “Just give in and I’ll save you.” He permitted Morgan to hurt me, waiting for me to beg him for help. I withdrew the tears from my eyes and suddenly rammed into Morgan’s stomach. “Morgan!” Ethan caught the off-balance Morgan in alarm. Just then, the homeroom teacher’s voice rang out: “What’s going on here?”

The homeroom teacher seemed like a lifeline to me. Seeing the filth on my face, she asked sternly: “Who’s openly bullying a classmate in class? Morgan, was it you?” Morgan rolled her eyes, clutching her stomach: “Teacher, you can’t favor Lily just because she’s sick. She’s the one who rammed into me.” Seeing Morgan’s pain didn’t seem faked, the teacher looked at me critically: “Lily, you explain.” But I’m naturally mute. Except when facing Ethan and his parents when I can communicate normally, when interacting with others, being able to say ten words in a sentence is already good. I stammered: “It’s not, I… I…” The powerlessness of being unable to defend myself made me anxious. Just then, Ethan stepped forward and said: “Teacher, let me explain.” Like a beam of light shining on me, I looked at Ethan hopefully, thinking he would give me justice. But Ethan said: “Lily had an episode this morning and made a mess of her own desk. Morgan kindly tried to help, but she not only wouldn’t listen, she rammed Morgan with her head.” His tone was lazy: “That’s what happened. No one bullied Lily. She attacked someone while sick.” In an instant, my mind went blank. He knew full well that when facing false accusations, I had no ability to defend myself. Yet now, he cruelly threw dirty water on me. The teacher was disappointed: “Lily, you’ve let me down! Go stand in the hallway and reflect on yourself!” The teacher’s criticism stung. I stared blankly at Ethan, lips trembling: “Why?” He didn’t give me any look, carrying Morgan to the infirmary. Only when passing me did he raise his eyes: “The teacher told you to go stand in the hallway. What, didn’t understand?” My heart throbbed with dull pain. Ethan, my knees are bleeding. Can’t you see? After class, the crowded hallway was full of malicious stares. “Look at her face, so disgusting!” “Doesn’t it look like a pile of shit stuck to her face?” The mockery was endless. Someone even picked up the disgusting bread from my desk and threw it at me. I trembled all over, completely breaking down. My condition felt like a flood about to breach the dam, ready to become hysterical any moment. I didn’t want to hurt others during an episode, so I shakily fumbled through my bag for my medicine. Finally finding it, someone snatched it away. “Give it back!” I looked up sharply to see Morgan’s mocking expression. And Ethan stood beside her, not stopping her. I stood up and rushed toward Morgan, only wanting to get the medicine back. But Ethan instinctively kicked me away, as if I were some uncontrolled wild dog: “You want to hurt people again?” His force wasn’t great, but that kick shattered my heart. Seeing me fall, Ethan looked away with reluctance: “Lily, if you apologize to Morgan, I’ll have her return your medicine. After all, you were in the wrong first. She’s doing this just to get your apology.” He wasn’t someone who couldn’t tell right from wrong. Who was at fault—he knew perfectly well. Ethan was doing this just to force me to give in. He was so excessive, yet I didn’t even have the right to hate him. After all, I truly owed him my life. Thinking of what I owed him in my past life, I stood up and left dejectedly: “I won’t take it.” The boy’s footsteps moved forward unconsciously, but ultimately pride won out and he didn’t chase after me. I went to clean the filth from my body, trying to make myself somewhat presentable. Just as I’d finished washing my face, Morgan came over twirling her delicate hair. “What spell did you cast on Ethan to make him care about you so much? Eagerly sending me to bring you medicine.” I didn’t want conflict with her, but she blocked my way: “Hey, you’re usually so quiet, but today you dared to ram me with your head?” Morgan was angry about my resistance today. I looked up, meeting her eyes directly: “I’m not afraid of you anymore.” In my past life I feared her, endured her bullying without telling anyone, because I didn’t want to cause trouble for the Wilson family. Morgan sneered: “Is that so?” She handed me the medicine: “I’m done teasing you. Here.” I reached for the medicine, but in the next moment, Morgan suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged it across her own face, falling to the ground pitifully: “Lily, I kindly brought your medicine back to improve our relationship. Why did you hit me?” Absurd. I didn’t understand why she did this and was about to leave when I suddenly saw Ethan’s disappointed gaze.

“Lily!” Ethan stood at the bathroom door, fists clenched: “You’re angry at me—why hurt someone else?” I panicked, finally understanding I’d been set up by Morgan. “Ethan, is this who I am in your eyes?” Being wrongly accused by others, I felt nothing. Being misunderstood by him, my heart felt like it was being cut. Yet I didn’t even have the right to blame him. I walked past him. He grabbed my wrist: “Illness isn’t an excuse for immunity. Apologize to Morgan.” His grip was strong. I couldn’t break free, my heart covered in grievance: “She slandered me. Why do you only believe her and not me?” “Whether it’s slander, you know in your heart!” Ethan’s voice was warm with anger. “Besides me, no one will indulge you!” He turned his head. On his fair neck remained the scratches from our previous argument, confirming the evidence that I liked to scratch people. Reminding me of the past life’s Ethan, who would always hold me tightly during my episodes, constantly apologizing, saying he hadn’t taken good care of me. Yet I would frantically drag my sharp nails across his face, again and again. Outsiders all laughed that Professor Wilson was henpecked, married to a fierce wife. But he never spoke a bad word about me to outsiders. “I won’t apologize.” I could apologize to Ethan, even kneel and kowtow. But I wouldn’t apologize to Morgan. Ethan gritted his teeth: “Fine, you asked for this.” He restrained both my hands behind my back: “Morgan, however many times she hit you, you pay back tenfold.” Boom! Prolonged ringing made my consciousness hazy. I looked at the boy before me in shock. His expression was serious, not joking at all. Until Morgan’s slaps fell like sudden rain. One, two… “Ah!” The burning pain on my face and the humiliation of being slapped left me breathless. Morgan hit even harder. After ten slaps, Ethan didn’t give me another glance. He tenderly took Morgan’s hand: “Does your hand hurt?” Morgan smiled and linked arms with him: “It doesn’t hurt.” “That’s good.” I stood there for a long time before forcing my injured mouth into a smile: Ethan, you didn’t need to restrain me. Because I wouldn’t have fought back. After school that day, Ethan and I went home separately. Uncle Wilson anxiously watched at the door. Seeing me finally return with injuries on my face, he criticized Ethan: “What dinner? You didn’t even notice your sister was being bullied?” Aunt Wilson asked with concern: “Lily, did you fight with your brother? Why haven’t you been coming home together these past few days? Is someone bullying you at school?” Ethan said coldly: “She had an episode and hit herself. She’s so fierce—who would dare bully her?” “Kneel down!” Uncle Wilson was furious. “I told you to take good care of your sister. Is this how you take care of her?” Ethan threw down his chopsticks and walked to the living room to kneel: “She doesn’t need me. Stop being presumptuous!” He rarely defied his elders like this. It made Uncle Wilson raise his hand to slap him. I spoke up to stop him: “Brother’s right. I hit myself. I’m tired and want to go upstairs to rest.” Hearing this, Ethan’s bowed head lifted, his gaze complex as he looked at me. Aunt Wilson sighed: “Ethan, you know Lily’s condition. When there are conflicts, you need to accommodate her more.” “Haven’t I accommodated her enough? Can’t she feel sorry for me even once?” Uncle Wilson said helplessly: “Stubborn boy! If you don’t treasure your time with Lily now, you’ll regret it eventually! Do you know she’ll soon…” “Uncle Wilson!” I stood at the stairs, interrupting him. Uncle Wilson held it in uncomfortably, but ultimately didn’t tell Ethan I was leaving. But how smart was Ethan? That night, he came into my bedroom carrying hot milk. This had been his habit for ten years—heating me a cup of milk before bed. But since we started our cold war, I hadn’t drunk hot milk. “Lily, you’re hiding something from me.” A declarative sentence. My tone was stiff as I turned away: “No.” He turned my face back, leaning close: “How long are you going to keep this up with me? You think I felt good treating you like that today?” His intimate breath brushed my face. I blushed and dodged: “I need to sleep.” Ethan’s throat moved. After looking around, his gaze landed precisely on a suitcase. He walked over. I panicked—inside that suitcase were all my documents for going abroad! I grabbed his hand. Ethan’s face darkened as he met my eyes: “Move.” I knew if he was determined to look, I couldn’t stop him. Fortunately, Morgan’s voice came from downstairs: “Ethan! Ethan!” Without thinking, he turned and left.

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1 The Metro Emergency Dispatch Center was hosting its live broadcast for the annual Dispatcher of the Year award. The host turned to Luke, asking for the secret behind his flawless eight-year record of zero dispatch errors. Facing the cameras, Luke spoke with calm, absolute composure. “Maintaining absolute rationality. I never let personal emotions compromise emergency resources.” The host seized the opportunity to follow up. “Have you ever encountered any absurd calls where people tried to maliciously block the emergency channel?” Luke’s eyes instantly turned cold. “Three nights ago, during that torrential storm, my ex-girlfriend wanted to stop my upcoming engagement.” “She pretended her car was trapped under a flooded overpass and called the dispatch line 143 times, trying to block our emergency channel.” “I blacklisted her number on the spot.” The comment section erupted with praise for his unwavering dedication to duty. But just as the host was about to transition, the guest caller, forensic pathologist Audrey, broke onto the broadcast with bloodshot eyes. “Luke, Grace is dead!” “Three nights ago, during that storm, she drowned inside her car after struggling for six hours.” “And when we found her, her hand was still clutching her phone, showing those 143 blocked calls to you!” The feed cut to static immediately, and the internet erupted. … “Audrey, has your professional ethics as a medical examiner gone out the window just to help Grace force me into a marriage?” Though the live stream had been cut, the reporters and media in the studio remained. Dozens of cameras were aimed squarely at Luke. He did not look panicked at all. He just looked coldly at the screen. “Tell Grace that this desperate cry for attention is pathetic.” “Tomorrow is my engagement party with Melanie. Even if she paid you to pull off this fake-death stunt, I won’t spare her a second glance.” Audrey, on the other end of the screen, was trembling violently. She held up an evidence bag containing a bloated, water-damaged phone. “Luke, do you honestly think this is a joke? Her body is lying right here on the autopsy table at the county morgue.” “You are listed as her emergency contact. Do you even have the guts to come down here and identify her?” I hovered near the ceiling of the studio, watching this play out in silence. Luke and I grew up together. He was the only bright spot in my otherwise miserable life. We only drifted apart when he went abroad to study medicine, while I stayed behind to scrape by. But eight years ago, when my parents passed away from illness, leaving me utterly alone and helpless, he appeared like a savior. He took charge of everything, making sure the funeral went smoothly. Ever since that day, Luke had been my designated emergency contact. “Nice props,” Luke sneered. “Grace is so desperate to win me back that she’d actually write a script cursing herself to death.” “Doctor, making false reports to the police is a crime. For the sake of our past, I won’t file a complaint.” “But tell her to stop making an absolute fool of herself.” Across the screen, Audrey’s tears fell freely. “Luke, you are a monster!” “When Grace died, her fingernails were torn to pieces. There was blood smeared all over the inside of the car windows.” “While you were busy dispatching an ambulance to rescue Melanie’s spoiled little dog, did you once think about Grace suffocating in the rising tide?” Luke’s brow finally furrows. The harsh words seemed to pierce his armor, making him uncomfortable. “Enough! A coward like Grace would never have the guts to die.” “If she is actually dead, I’ll buy her a headstone myself and throw her a mock funeral tomorrow!” With that, he tore the power cord of the monitor from the wall. The screen went black. The reporters in the studio looked at one another, none of them daring to speak. His assistant, Carter, ran over, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. “Luke, the social media backlash is getting out of hand. Everyone is asking if Grace actually died.” Luke let out a cold laugh. “Put out a statement. Say it is just a cheap stunt by an obsessive ex.” “Grace cares too much about her pride. Once the internet starts ripping her apart, she will crawl back and apologize.” Hearing his absolute certainty, I felt as though I never truly knew him. Years ago, when I nicked my finger while cutting vegetables, he would panic and run to the pharmacy in the middle of the night for bandages. He would hold my hand, his eyes red with worry as he blew gently on the cut. “Grace, from now on, I do the cooking. I can’t bear to see you get even a scratch.” That was the Luke from six years ago. The Luke of today believed my death was nothing but a clumsy act to ruin his engagement. Carter hesitated. “But Luke… the police department actually called earlier. They need you to sign the release forms…” Luke stopped in his tracks. “I said, it’s just one of Grace’s games.” “Ignore it. Let her play dead in the morgue for as long as she wants.” He strode out of the TV station, his posture tall, proud, and entirely unbothered. I floated behind him, drifting out into the open air. The sun outside was blindingly bright. I instinctively raised a hand to shield my eyes. But I felt no warmth. I guess the dead don’t have to worry about sunburns. I watched him slide into the back of his sleek, black Mercedes-Maybach, feeling a sudden wave of detachment. The passenger seat of this car used to be mine. But then Melanie complained that my scent lingered on the upholstery, so he had the entire interior refitted. Luke pinched the bridge of his nose, looking tired. His phone rang. It was Melanie. Instantly, his harsh expression melted into a gentle, soothing tone. “Melanie, what’s wrong?” A whimpering, tearful voice came through the speaker. “Luke… Coco’s paw is hurting again. He won’t stop crying, and I’m so scared.” 2 Coco was Melanie’s tiny toy poodle. Three nights ago, during that catastrophic rainstorm, this dog had sprained its paw. “Don’t cry. I’m on my way.” Luke hung up and urged the driver to speed up. “Luke, thank goodness you’re here.” Melanie threw herself into his arms, her eyes red and puffy. He rubbed her back gently, taking the dog from her arms. He knelt, pulling antiseptic and gauze from the medical kit, wrapping the dog’s paw with tender, practiced ease. Floating above them, I watched him tie the final knot. I was the one who taught him how to tie that specific bow. One freezing winter, when he had a high fever, I ran out into a blizzard to get his medicine and ended up taking a nasty fall. While waiting in the emergency room, I watched the nurses bandage a wound and learned the technique, teaching it to him when I got back. I told him, “Luke, if I ever get hurt, you have to bandage me up just like this.” He held me close back then, swearing he would never let me get hurt. Now, he used that very knot to tend to Melanie’s dog. “Luke, I saw the live broadcast.” Melanie looked at him, her voice tentative. “Is Grace… really dead?” Luke’s hands did not hesitate for a single second. “A woman like her? She loves herself too much to die.” “She would do anything for money. This is just a pathetic attempt to extort me before the wedding.” Melanie bit her lip. “But the medical examiner sounded so sure. What if…” “There is no what if.” Luke cut her off. “Melanie, you are too soft-hearted. That’s why she is able to manipulate you.” “Back then, she took a million dollars from your mother and walked away from me without a single regret. You can’t trust a single word that comes out of her mouth.” Hearing this, I did not even have the energy to smile bitterly anymore. Years ago, when Luke was still a medical intern, he made a mistake that threatened to cost him a massive settlement. If he could not pay, his license would be revoked, and he would face prison time. Melanie, who was actively pursuing him, had her mother approach me. They offered me a million dollars. The condition was that I had to leave Luke forever. I did not take their money. Instead, I signed up for a high-risk, unregistered clinical trial to earn the money, paying off his settlement anonymously. But when Luke was cleared, Melanie told him that I had taken the money and run. And he believed her. From that moment on, in his eyes, I became a mercenary wretch who sold her soul for a paycheck. Carter’s voice broke through the silence over a phone call. “Luke, the police are calling again.” “Audrey says if you don’t come down to sign the papers, they will have to file Grace’s body as unclaimed.” Luke sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Then let them.” “Tell Audrey that the act has gone on long enough. If she keeps pushing this, I will personally see to it that her department’s funding gets pulled.” Carter stammered over the line. “But… Audrey sent over a photo.” “Luke… the girl in the photo… she looks exactly like Grace.” Luke’s breath caught for a fraction of a second, but his voice remains cold and steady. “AI filters can recreate anything these days. What does a photo prove?” “If you have nothing better to do, go down to the morgue and see her little show for yourself.” He cut the call. Melanie leaned in, wrapping her arms around his. “Luke, the tailor sent over your suit for tomorrow. Why don’t you try it on?” Luke nodded, the tension leaving his shoulders. “Sure. Whatever you want.” 3 The bespoke suit fitted Luke perfectly. He stood before the floor-to-ceiling mirror as Melanie adjusted his tie. “You look incredible, Luke.” I hovered near the ceiling, staring at their perfect reflection. Once, I used to dream about adjusting his wedding suit. Back when we lived in that cramped basement, he wore a cheap, off-the-rack shirt, and I used safety pins to taper the waist. He had told me, “Grace, when I make it big, I’m going to buy you the most expensive wedding dress in the city.” Now he had the money, but the dress was for someone else. The doorbell rang. Carter stood in the doorway, panting, his face entirely drained of color. “Luke… I went… I went to the morgue.” Luke frowned, annoyed by his assistant’s hysterics. “Why did you go there? Didn’t I tell you to ignore it?” Carter was trembling, clutching a manila folder tightly against his chest. “Luke, it’s real.” He swallowed hard, his voice shaking. “Grace… she really is dead.” A heavy silence stretched for ten seconds before Luke let out a dismissive snort. “Carter, you’ve worked for me for five years.” “How much did Grace pay you to play along with this ridiculous lie?” Carter thrust the folder forward with trembling hands. “Luke! I didn’t take any money!” “I saw the body on the table with my own eyes. It’s her.” “The water bloated her face, but the scar on her wrist… there’s no mistaking it!” The scar. It happened years ago when Luke tried to cook for me for the first time. He accidentally started a grease fire, and when the kitchen cabinets collapsed, I threw myself over him, taking the scalding metal to my wrist. “Absurd!” Luke walked over to the sofa, crossing his legs and lighting a cigarette. “Grace is clever. She knew exactly how to get to you.” “She draws a fake scar on her wrist, lies down on a slab, and you fools fall for it hook, line, and sinker.” Through the rising smoke, his eyes were freezing cold. “Does she honestly think that playing victim will make me crawl back to her?” Carter looked at him with sheer desperation. “Luke, it’s a corpse! There is no breath, no heartbeat, and her skin is already pooling with lividity…” “Enough!” Luke snapped, his voice echoing through the room. “I said she isn’t dead! She’s alive!” “A selfish woman like her would never have the guts to kill herself!” Melanie shrank back, startled by his sudden outburst. Luke took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. “If she wants to play this game, fine. I’ll play.” “Get the car. We’re going to the morgue.” “I want to see the look on her face when I stand right in front of her. Let’s see how long she can keep her eyes closed then.” I watched him storm out the door. He was moving so fast that he had not even noticed he buttoned his coat unevenly. Was he afraid? No. He was just angry. He was furious that I would push his boundaries with such an extreme stunt, utterly convinced that this was a performance and that I would break the moment he arrived. I drifted above the car, following him all the way to the precinct. The rain began to fall again. A dark, oppressive downpour, just like the night I died. Audrey stood outside the examination room, her white lab coat looking stark against the dim hallway. When she saw Luke, her eyes held nothing but a profound, empty sorrow. “You finally decided to show up.” Luke glared at her. “Where is she? Tell Grace to get her ass out of here.” 4 Audrey did not bother replying. She simply turned and pushed open the heavy double doors of the autopsy room. The sharp, stinging scent of formaldehyde, laced with the faint, sweet stench of decay, hit us instantly. Luke pinched his nose, letting out a sharp scoff. “Pathetic dramatics.” In the center of the room lay a table. On it was a shape covered by a white sheet. Peeking out from the bottom was a pale, swollen ankle. Luke stopped two paces away, a cruel sneer on his lips. “Grace, drop the act.” “Do you honestly think that lying here will make me cancel the wedding?” “Get up. Let’s talk like adults. How much money do you want to end this little circus?” The figure beneath the sheet remains perfectly still. Luke’s patience snapped. He strode forward and tore the sheet away. I hovered near the ceiling, staring down at my own body. It was truly hideous. Having spent three days submerged in water, my skin had turned a ghostly, mottled grey, with patches of epidermal peeling. My fingernails were completely torn and split from clawing at the car windows, exposing raw, dark-red flesh underneath. And there, stark against the ruin of my arm, was the deep, thick scar on my wrist. Luke’s gaze landed on my face, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. But a moment later, a cold laugh escaped his lips. “The special effects makeup is impressive. Must have cost a fortune.” He reached out, his fingers stretching toward my cheek. “Let’s see how long you can hold your breath under this mask.” Audrey lunged forward, slapping his hand away with a vicious crack. “Are you insane, Luke? She’s dead! Have you no respect for the deceased?” Luke glared at his reddening hand, his expression darkening with rage. “Audrey, assisting a civilian in faking a death is a federal offense. I can have your license revoked by tomorrow morning.” Audrey let out a bitter, hollow laugh, staring at him as if he were a monster. “You still think this is fake?” She reached onto a metal tray, picking up the evidence bag containing my ruined phone. “Fine. If you won’t believe your own eyes, listen to this. The tech department just recovered the audio logs.” I desperately reached out, trying to tell Audrey to stop. Please don’t play it, Audrey. Please don’t. You’ve done more than enough for me. My parents only helped put you through college, but you’ve already repaid that debt tenfold by finding my body. Please, just let it go. The living need to move on. A moment later, the sound of my ragged, desperate breathing echoed through the sterile room. “Hello… is this dispatch? I’m trapped under the Southside Viaduct… the water is rushing into the car…” Luke’s face froze. That was the first call. Audrey skipped forward, pressing play on the fiftieth recording. “Please… send help… the water is up to my chest… I can’t open the doors…” My voice on the recording was trembling, thick with the terror of impending death. Luke’s chest rose and falls rapidly, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. Audrey did not stop. She dragged the timeline all the way to the very last call. The 143th call. The voice that came through was barely a whisper, drowned out by the terrifying sound of rushing water filling the cabin. “Luke… why… why won’t you pick up…” “It’s so cold…” “I didn’t take the money back then… I just… I just wanted to hear your voice one last time…” The line went dead with a harsh, flat beep.

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He took her ditching class, taught her to smoke and drink, and sent her grades plummeting. I couldn’t bear to watch her spiral, so when her parents asked, I told them everything. From then on, she was kept under strict watch by her folks. The night she and the school rebel planned to elope, her parents stopped her. She couldn’t make it to him. And that same night, he tragically died in a freak accident. Years later, set up by our families, we got married and had a child. During a terrible car crash, to protect her and our daughter, I pushed them away and took the brunt of the impact. Just before my consciousness faded, she leaned in close to my ear: “She isn’t your daughter. I never loved you. I only married you to get revenge.” Under her resentful glare, I took my last breath. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my senior year of high school, right on the day the bad boy asked her out. “Ethan, Caleb asked me to hang out with him tonight. Do you think I should go?” I stared blankly at the young, pretty face in front of me. Suddenly, I realized I had been reborn. I was back in my senior year. Seeing me space out, Chloe waved a hand in front of my face and complained, “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Chloe Davis was my childhood sweetheart. She was a dancer, banking everything on getting into a performing arts conservatory. She was slender, had an incredible presence, and her dance routines were top-tier. Her only flaw was that her academic grades were a disaster. Meanwhile, I was in the AP Honors track. With my GPA, I was guaranteed a solid state university, but I was gunning for the Ivy League. At her parents’ request, I spent three evenings a week tutoring her, trying to help her get the scores she needed for her dream dance academy in New York. Once upon a time, I thought this was a perfect arrangement. I thought we would go to the East Coast together, that I’d find the perfect moment to confess my feelings, and that we’d get married, have kids, and become the perfect couple our parents always hoped we’d be. Our future was laid out right in front of us; all it took was a little effort to reach it. But right at that crucial moment, Caleb Vance showed up. Just like Chloe, Caleb was a notorious figure at our school. He was ridiculously good-looking, and his family background was a mystery. Countless girls threw themselves at him, though they tried not to be too obvious about it. After all, Caleb had a terrible temper. He was rebellious, violent, slacked off constantly, and had zero respect for anyone. Rumor had it that just this week, he made an English teacher quit in tears. Even the principal couldn’t do anything about him. Yet, this was the guy who successfully caught Chloe’s eye. “I know he has a bad reputation and everyone’s scared of him. But last time I got cornered by some creeps off-campus, he saved me. He’s nothing like the rumors. He’s actually a really good guy, just tough on the outside but soft on the inside.” Chloe rested her chin on her hands, her cheeks flushed pink. Whenever she talked about Caleb, her eyes lit up like they held a sky full of stars. It was completely different from how she looked at me. In my past life, on the day of our wedding, even her bridesmaids were crying, begging me to treat her right. But Chloe, the bride, just maintained a shallow, perfectly polite smile the entire time. From start to finish, her emotions barely fluctuated. It was only later I realized that because she didn’t love me, she could stay as calm as an outsider. When she truly loved someone, even if she covered her mouth, the love would still pour out of her eyes. “Ethan, why are you being so quiet? You can’t just judge a book by its cover, you know. Don’t think I’m just trying to make excuses for Caleb; I’m telling the truth!” Chloe already had her answer. Asking for my permission now was just her way of dragging me down with her. If her parents found out, she could smoothly shift the blame to me, claiming I let her go, making me the scapegoat. She had been like this since we were kids. I was six months older, so I always played the protective older brother. Every time she caused trouble, I stepped up and took the fall. And she happily enjoyed my sacrifices without a second thought. But now, I was done with that. Seeing I wasn’t responding, Chloe compromised, “Okay, fine, I admit it, I want to go. Just do me a solid, please? You don’t even have to do anything, just don’t rat me out to my parents. If they ask how tutoring went, just say it was great.” She suddenly leaned close, pressing her hands together pleadingly, looking at me with big doe eyes. “Please, please, please?” She always knew exactly how to manipulate me. I was about to speak when a commotion erupted outside the classroom. Classmates started whispering loudly, “Whoa, it’s Caleb! What’s he doing here?!” Caleb stood in the doorway, tall and easily standing out from the crowd. Even as a guy, looking at his face, I had to admit he was incredibly handsome. Handsome enough to make anyone else feel inadequate. Caleb leaned against the doorframe, lazily asking Chloe, “Have you made up your mind yet? Are we going or what?” The whispers grew louder. “So he’s here for Chloe. Wait, wasn’t Chloe supposed to be studying with Ethan tonight?” “Are you stupid? Between Caleb and Ethan, who would you pick?! Caleb, obviously! He’s gorgeous!” “Whatever, slacking off in senior year for a guy is just setting yourself up for regrets later.” Caleb looked annoyed. He swept his gaze over the room and kicked the door loudly. “You guys tired of having teeth?” The whole room fell dead silent instantly. Chloe shot me a begging look. I said flatly, “Go if you want. It’s not my place to manage you.” After everything I went through in my past life, I had learned a deep truth: Drop the savior complex and respect other people’s destinies. Chloe jumped up with joy and even gave me a quick hug. “I knew you were the best, Ethan!” The class let out a collective gasp. “Whoa!” But Chloe quickly let go, though her faint perfume still lingered in the air. Usually, Chloe was quiet and reserved, widely seen as the untouchable, ice-queen goddess of the school. She rarely acted this bubbly and proactive. If this were the old me, I would have been ecstatic, feeling like I’d just been handed the greatest gift on earth. But now, all I wanted to do was get back to figuring out the final calculus problem on my practice test. Caleb’s expression shifted slightly. He walked right between us, smoothly forcing us apart. “Let’s bounce, then. Nerd, don’t you dare snitch to her folks, or you’re dead meat.” He casually snatched my glasses off my face and tossed them onto my desk, clicking his tongue. “Tsk, you look even uglier without them.” Getting involved with him only led to bad endings. I had no reason to invite trouble. I put my glasses back on and told Chloe, “I won’t be your shield. If you don’t want me tutoring you anymore, you can explain that to your parents yourself.” Chloe nodded distractedly, pulling a Tupperware container from her backpack and shoving it at me. “Eat both of these. Don’t waste them! My mom worked hard cooking this!” Mrs. Davis was grateful for the tutoring, so whenever she packed dinner for Chloe, she packed a portion for me too. Before I could say another word, Chloe ran off toward Caleb, shouting, “Hey, wait up!” In my past life, she ignored my warnings and went out with him anyway. He took her ditching, causing her already poor grades to tank further. When Mrs. Davis asked me what was going on, I couldn’t stomach the lie and told her everything. Furious, her parents pulled her out of our school and sent her to a strict, lockdown-style prep academy to keep an eye on her. Right before graduation, she and Caleb planned to elope. Her mom caught her, so she never made it. And that very night, Caleb died in an accident. Chloe threatened to end her own life over it. Desperate, her family sold their house and moved abroad with her so she could study there. When I saw her again six years later, she was a somewhat famous dancer—beautiful, elegant, captivating with every smile. When we talked about the past, she laughed and said, “I was just too young and foolish back then. You were just looking out for me.” Pushed together by our parents, we grew closer, fell in love, married, and had a baby. Until a massive truck came barreling toward us, and instinct took over as I shoved her and our daughter out of the way. But as I was being loaded into the ambulance, Chloe leaned into my ear and whispered the truth. “The kid isn’t yours. Every time you went on a business trip, I brought men home. “I never loved you. I only married you to ruin you. Do you have any idea what these past years have been like for me? Every time I think of him, my heart hurts so much I want to die. “Trading your life to save someone else’s kid—you deserve this, Ethan! You killed the love of my life, and this is your karma!” I died looking into her eyes, which were filled with nothing but pure hatred. Worse, in my previous life, trying to save her had dragged me through hell. Caleb brought his crew to the AP classrooms constantly to corner me. He wrote ‘SNITCH’ on my desk and exams, and tried to force me to crawl between his legs. When I refused, he pinned me against the teacher’s podium and beat me. I tried to fight back, but he had too many guys with him. Any resistance just meant a worse beating. The harassment only paused when a teacher intervened. It was endless. Back then, I was just a sensitive, inexperienced teenager. The bullying wrecked my focus. When Caleb died, Chloe blamed the entire tragedy on me. I took the most important exam of my life drowning in guilt, pain, and anxiety. When the results came out, I had dropped out of the top thirty in the school for the first time ever, landing in a mediocre, bottom-tier state college. It was the biggest regret of my life. But this time, I was getting into the Ivy League. God had given me a chance to hit the reset button, and I was going to give it everything I had. The next time I saw Chloe was in the stairwell of the gym. I had just finished P.E. and was sent by the coach to put the equipment away. Chloe was wearing a cheap faux-leather jacket, a row of metal cuffs up her ear, and heavy, exaggerated smoky makeup. I hadn’t seen her in a while. The arts track classrooms were two floors away from the AP track. If she didn’t come looking for me, we naturally never crossed paths. Besides, I was busy studying. I had zero interest in the school rumor mill. Seeing me, Chloe expertly put a cigarette to her lips and blew out a cloud of smoke. She looked no different from the sketchy dropouts hanging around street corners. How could I have forgotten? She always thought this stuff was cool. As an only child, her parents had kept her on a very short leash. She was raised to be the perfect, obedient daughter. But sometimes, when she heard the roar of street racers outside her window, she’d lean out, watch them, and sigh, “So cool. That’s what being young is all about.” Deep down, she had always harbored a rebellious streak. Caleb’s arrival was like dropping a chunk of sodium into still water—it exploded with fire and light. That intense reaction scrambled her brain and gave her permission to unleash her true self. Seeing this group of delinquent-looking kids, Maya, our class monitor who was walking next to me, froze and shrank behind my shoulder. Our conversation about the math decathlon problems abruptly stopped. I gave her a reassuring look and said, “Maya, why don’t you head back to class? There isn’t that much stuff left. I can carry the rest to the equipment room myself.” Maya looked at me gratefully, then glanced at the hostile-looking group in front of us. After a brief hesitation, she said, “It’s fine. Let’s just go together.” Chloe clicked her tongue in annoyance. One of the guys behind her immediately barked, “Can’t you see our girl has something to say to him? Get lost if you know what’s good for you!” Chloe smirked, clearly enjoying the tough-guy act on her behalf. I told Maya, “It’s okay. Head back. I’ll have that decathlon problem solved for you before study hall.” Once Maya scurried away, Chloe raised an eyebrow and asked, “Ethan, I heard you’ve been getting awfully cozy with some girl lately. Was that her?” They rearranged the seating chart last week, and Maya ended up next to me. She had squeaked into our AP class with the lowest qualifying score. She lacked a strong foundation, but she worked incredibly hard. Hard work always pays off eventually. Since I was doing better in class, she often asked me questions. Sometimes, even if we bumped into each other in the cafeteria, she’d come over with a textbook. But I didn’t owe Chloe an explanation about my life. So I said, “None of your business. Tell your friends to move. I have to get to class.” Chloe sounded almost whiny as she said, “What do you mean, none of my business? We grew up together! How could you get a girlfriend and not tell me?” “No offense, but your class monitor is kind of chubby. If you date her, it’ll be embarrassing to take her anywhere! I don’t know what you see in her.” She scrunched up her nose, looking utterly disgusted. “Of course, if you found a girlfriend as pretty as me, I definitely wouldn’t stop you.” She blew a smoke ring right at my face, a teasing smile on her lips. Caught off guard, I inhaled the harsh smoke and doubled over, coughing violently until tears streamed down my face. I had asthma. Strong chemical smells or smoke easily triggered it. Chloe knew this perfectly well, yet she did it anyway. She and the guys behind her burst out laughing. It suddenly hit me: Chloe had known all along that I had a crush on her. That was exactly why, in my past life, she used my feelings as a weapon to destroy me. And like an idiot, I thought she had actually fallen for me and recognized my worth. I was so incredibly wrong. It took me a minute to catch my breath before I stood up straight. “Maya is a great person and she’s incredibly smart. Looks aren’t the only way to judge someone’s value. “She and I are just classmates. Not everyone makes high school entirely about who they’re dating.” I didn’t hold back. Chloe’s expression darkened, and she tossed her cigarette onto the ground. “Ethan, you’re so boring!” She kicked over the plastic bin I was carrying, sending shuttlecocks scattering all over the floor. As if that wasn’t enough, she deliberately stepped on several of them as she walked past me. The guys with her mimicked her, stomping on the shuttlecocks as they followed. I stood there, looking at the crushed plastic and feathers on the floor, feeling a strange sense of emptiness. What kind of person had I been in love with all those years? Senior year flew by, and midterms were right around the corner. Soon, I’d be able to test exactly how much my hard work had paid off. I scarfed down my dinner, trying to save time. But just as I stepped out of the cafeteria, I ran into Chloe. She grabbed my arm. “I knew you’d be here! Ethan, you have to help me!” My first instinct was to pull away, but she gripped tighter. “Exams are coming up and I haven’t studied at all! If I bomb this, I’m dead! My mom will definitely ship me off to one of those lockdown prep schools! “Then how am I supposed to see Caleb? I’ll die without him. “Ethan, please, please help me. Let me borrow your notes. I swear I’ll actually study them!” The same pitiful, damsel-in-distress act. She assumed I’d never say no to her. I gave it to her straight. “Didn’t you say you didn’t need me to tutor you anymore? I haven’t been taking detailed notes lately.” It was the truth. I kept the key concepts in my head and reinforced them by running practice drills. Writing out pretty notes was a waste of time. Besides, the notes I did jot down for myself were shorthand, skipping basic steps. She wouldn’t understand them anyway. A flash of relief crossed her face. “That’s fine, as long as you’re willing to help. I need the notes ASAP. Stay up tonight and organize them for me. Pulling an all-nighter should be enough.” “Give them to me tomorrow, got it? Otherwise, I won’t have enough time to memorize everything.” She had planned out exactly how to use me before she even walked over. I shook my head. “I can’t help you. If I pull an all-nighter, I’ll be a zombie all week. It’ll ruin my focus for the exams.” Looking completely shocked that I had refused, Chloe furrowed her brow, her voice growing shrill. “What do you mean you can’t stay up?! When you agreed to tutor me, you stayed up all night making study guides! Why can’t you do it now?!” She looked so entitled. As if I existed solely to take her orders, as if I owed her endless, unconditional indulgence. I made it crystal clear. “That was before. Back when you actually wanted to learn. The way you are now… I’m not wasting my time.” Chloe glared at me furiously, pointing a finger right in my face as she screamed: “Fine! You think you’re so great just because you can read a damn book! Let me tell you, valedictorians don’t become the bosses in the real world! “With your garbage social skills, if you think you’re going to make it big, keep dreaming!” Her words meant nothing to me. What could she possibly say that would hurt more than what she said to me in my past life? She spat her venom, but as she walked away, she purposely slowed her steps. She was waiting for me to chase after her. Waiting for me to apologize and cave, to say I’d stay up and write the notes. Just like I had done so many times before. I did call out to her. Chloe turned around, crossing her arms, wearing a triumphant smirk. I continued, “Oh right, you haven’t told your parents that we canceled tutoring, have you? If you don’t tell them, I will.” “I’m a terrible liar. If they ask me why, it’s highly likely I’ll let the truth slip.” Hearing this, Chloe’s face turned livid. “Damn it, Ethan, you’re gonna pay for this!” She looked at me like she wanted me dead. But I really didn’t care anymore. Between her and my future, I was picking my future. I should have woken up a long time ago. After evening study hall, the second I stepped out of the school gates, a deafening motorcycle engine roared. Caleb, with Chloe on the back of his bike, stopped right in front of me, blocking the sidewalk. A whole gang of colorful-haired delinquents pulled up behind them. I asked, “Can I help you?” Caleb just sneered at me. He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, and one of his guys immediately rushed forward to light it for him. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke, tilting his chin up. “You pissed off my girl? Pretty brave for a four-eyed nerd.” Chloe wrapped her arms around his waist, looking incredibly smug. “Ethan, apologize right now. And write up those study notes for me tonight. If you do, I’ll tell my boyfriend to let you off the hook.” What a blatant shakedown. I never realized she could be this shameless. Or maybe she had been this way all along. It was just my crush on her that had painted her in a golden, flawless light. I let out a slow sigh. “I don’t want any trouble. But Chloe, I’ve kept my mouth shut about everything you’re doing. If I tell your parents, do you really think you’ll still be living this carefree lifestyle?” The smirk froze on Chloe’s face. I kept going. “You know exactly how fiercely protective your parents are. If they find out you’re running around with a gang and dating this guy, will they ever let you leave the house again?” Caleb looked entirely dismissive. “So what if they know? Worst case, I show up at their front door to meet the in-laws. With a son-in-law as awesome as me, they should consider themselves lucky!” The delusion was almost impressive. Chloe, humiliated and enraged, threw an empty cigarette box at my head. “You really think I give a crap about your stupid notes?! Keep your nerd crap! I have my own ways, just you watch! “Let’s go, babe!” Caleb threw a mock punch in the air at me before revving his engine and speeding off, his entire crew trailing noisily behind him. That night, Mrs. Davis called me. “Ethan, sweetie, thank you so much for tutoring Chloe lately. You have excellent grades, and with college applications coming up, you really need to spend more time focusing on yourself.” Chloe had definitely spun a story. No doubt she painted it like I was too obsessed with my own grades to bother helping her anymore. She was the one slacking off, yet she pinned the blame squarely on me. But whatever. At least now, whatever happened to her going forward, her parents couldn’t blame me for it. Her life was officially none of my business. Midterms wrapped up, and the school gave us a rare half-day off. I went home, caught up on sleep, ate dinner, and headed back to school for evening study hall. As soon as I walked into the classroom, I heard the gossip. “Did you guys hear? Chloe and Caleb got caught cheating on the exams! The school is calling their parents in!” So this was the “own way” Chloe had bragged about. “And guess what happened next? Chloe literally dropped to her knees in front of the dean, begging him not to tell her folks! Caleb thought she was being embarrassing, kicked a desk, and just walked out on her!” “Then what? What happened?” “Then—get this—the dean actually let it go!” “No way, seriously?” “I mean, look at her. She’s gorgeous, great body, crying her eyes out like a damsel in distress. What guy wouldn’t cave? The dean’s only human.” I couldn’t stand listening to it anymore. “Watch your mouth.” The guy who was talking scoffed. “She doesn’t even like you, why are you still defending her? Ethan, you’ve played the pathetic lapdog for so long you actually think it’s romantic, huh?” He was being completely aggressive, making the people around him snicker. “I’m not defending anyone; I’m just stating facts. Just because it’s the 21st century doesn’t mean you can spew garbage rumors like that.” The guy thrived on attention, so getting called out made him snap. “Ethan! You looking for a fight?!” “Gentlemen use their words. Resorting to fists just because you can’t win an argument is pretty pathetic.” Having worked in corporate America for years in my past life, dealing with sarcastic passive-aggression was second nature. These high school kids couldn’t touch me. Right then, Maya shouted, “The rankings are out!” Instantly, the tension evaporated. Everyone swarmed Maya. It was completely packed. Maya sighed. “Give me some space, guys! Let me tape the sheet to the wall first, then you can look.” I really wanted to see my score, but there was no way I was fighting that crowd. Might as well review some vocabulary while they finish up. Maya walked over to my desk and handed me a slip of paper. My grades were written on it. “I copied them down for you. No big deal. Ethan, you killed it! Ninth in the whole grade!” Ninth in the grade! Even at my absolute best in my past life, I only ever made it to eleventh. It was true: when you put your head down and shut out the noise, the hard work pays off. I stretched my arms over my head, took a breath, and dove right back into my textbooks. The semester blew by. Time felt like it was on fast-forward, moving almost too quickly to catch my breath. My dad looked at my final report card, beaming. “Sixth in the grade! Awesome job, son. Keep this up, and the Ivy League is in the bag.” I nodded. “I’ll keep pushing.” My goal was a top-tier Ivy, so I still had work to do. My mom chimed in with a sigh, “It’s such a shame about the Davis girl. She was just diagnosed with depression. She has absolutely no interest in school anymore, and her grades have completely tanked. Her parents are stressing out, wondering if they should have her take a gap year and try for college next year.” Depression? She really knew how to find an excuse for herself.

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