Category: English

The year Chloe’s life imploded, she was sexually assaulted. Someone recorded it, then splashed the video all over the internet. I saved her when she was about to leap from a rooftop. I stayed by her side through her darkest hours. Five years later, she became a top lawyer and proposed to me. But just before our wedding, the man who’d assaulted her showed up, driving a fancy sports car. He wrapped an arm around Chloe’s waist, gave her a casual, almost possessive kiss. Then he lifted his chin toward me, a smirk on his lips. “Thanks, man. Couldn’t have asked for a better fiancée. As a reward, you can host the wedding.” My blood ran cold. I stared at Chloe. She didn’t look back. She just stared at the ground, her silence a deafening yes. Blake’s hand was still draped over Chloe’s waist, a blatant claim of ownership. I fixated on Chloe, remembering her standing on that rooftop five years ago. “Alex,” she’d said then, her voice a raw whisper, “if I’m going to live, I’ll live only for you, my entire life.” Now, she leaned obediently into her attacker’s embrace. She was still wearing the wedding dress I’d designed for her myself. Blake then pulled a stack of photos from his jacket pocket and flung them at my face. They were all intimate photos of him and Chloe in a hotel room. On the big hotel bed, Chloe wore a sexy slip dress, her face contorted into an expression of raw desire I’d never seen, kissing Blake passionately. My mind exploded, a deafening roar in my ears. I remembered last night. Chloe, who rarely drank, had gotten completely wasted. The moment she got home, she started kissing me, more fiercely, more desperately, than ever before. “Alex, I love you, I only love you.” She kept repeating it, as if trying to convince me, or maybe herself. Midway through, her phone rang. Her face went bone-white the instant she saw the caller ID, and she abruptly pushed me away. I grabbed her arm, my voice hoarse. “What’s wrong?” She avoided my gaze, her voice laced with panic. “We’re getting married tomorrow. I… I’m a little nervous. I just need some space.” With that, she fled the house as if escaping, and never came home that night. It wasn’t nervousness. She was rushing to meet another man. I bent down, picking up the photos one by one, then walked over to Chloe. She instinctively recoiled a step. I sneered, tearing the photos into tiny shreds. Then, I pulled a velvet ring box from my pocket, opened it. Inside was the diamond ring I’d spent three months’ salary on. As Chloe’s pupils constricted, I took two steps back and tossed it into the nearby storm drain. Plop. The sound was like a final period mark on our five years together. “Alex!” Chloe’s face finally went white. She screamed. “What are you doing?!” “What am I doing?” I echoed her words, feeling a crushing weight in my chest. Blake stepped forward, shielding Chloe, and pointed a finger at my nose. “Listen, punk. Don’t push your luck. If you dare ruin my day, I’ll make sure you don’t walk out of this street.” I ignored him. I just stared at Chloe, the girl I thought I’d pulled from hell. But she’d never left. She had only learned to survive in a different one, a hell of Blake’s making. I turned, reaching into my briefcase for another file. That was my wedding gift or Chloe, prepared long in advance. A heavy dossier of evidence: years of Blake’s bullying, corporate fraud, sexual assault, and bribery. For five years, while working multiple jobs to put her through law school, I had quietly gathered everything. I thought, once she became a lawyer, she could personally send this monster to prison. That it would be her fresh start. But now, she stood with the monster. I walked straight to a police officer who was handling a minor dispute nearby, clutching the file. I handed over the thick stack of documents. “Officer, I’m filing a formal complaint against Blake Sterling.” I pointed at Chloe. Chloe panicked. She lunged for the file, but an officer blocked her. When our eyes locked, I saw no guilt but hate. After one last venomous glare, she turned and threw herself into Blake’s sports car. The tires screeched, and she was gone without a look back. Sirens wailed. I was led to a squad car. Through the tinted window, I watched the red blur of the car carry my fiancée away until it dissolved into the dust and distance. My bride had run off with the monster who broke her. And on my wedding day, I found myself in handcuffs at the police station.

“The evidence chain is incomplete, and too much time has passed. It’s going to be very difficult to file a case.” Inside the police station, the young officer shook his head, looking through the materials I’d provided. I sat on the cold chair, unable to say a word. My mind replayed the last five years. To put Chloe through the best law school overseas, I worked three jobs a day. Daytime construction, dishwashing at a restaurant at night, and then late-night food delivery shifts. She suffered from severe PTSD, waking up screaming from nightmares almost every night. I would hold her, comfort her. I thought I’d pulled her from the abyss. I never knew she’d turn around and willingly jump back in. The interrogation room door swung open. Chloe walked in, followed by a formidable team of lawyers. Her face was perfectly made up, devoid of all emotion, her eyes cold as if looking at a stranger. She placed a document on the table before me, her voice icy. “Alex, I’m Mr. Sterling’s attorney. You must retract this false accusation and issue a public apology. This is malicious prosecution.” I looked up, my voice trembling. “Chloe, have you forgotten what you told me on that rooftop five years ago? You said you’d make sure men like Blake faced justice! That you’d use the law to protect others like you!” Chloe looked at me, a mocking smirk on her lips. “People have to move on, Alex.” She paused, a hint of pity even gracing her features. “Blake’s father has promised to invest thirty million dollars into my law firm if I make this problem disappear. Do you know what that means? It means I can instantly become one of the top lawyers in the industry.” I felt my blood slowly turn to ice. “So, your success means being his lapdog?” SLAP! A sharp, stinging slap landed hard on my face. My cheek burned. Chloe’s hand trembled, her chest heaving. My words had clearly enraged her. “What do you know?! This is a shortcut! A shortcut someone like you, who’ll spend their entire life struggling in the trenches, will never understand!” She pulled a black bank card from her designer Hermès bag and threw it on the table in front of me. “There’s half a million in there. Consider it payment for the last five years. From today on, we’re even.” I stared at the cold card and laughed. Then I forcefully snapped the card in two. I stood up and said. “Chloe. We’re not even. You owe me. And I’ll make sure you pay it back, with interest.” The officer, having finished his current task, walked over to me. “We’ve processed your report. Regarding your alleged malicious prosecution, there’s currently insufficient evidence. You’re free to go. We’ll contact you if needed.” I stood up, pushed my chair back, and walked out of the police station without a backward glance.

When I returned to our apartment, Chloe’s belongings were all gone, leaving behind only scattered debris and empty rooms. They silently mocked me, the abandoned fool. On the wall, our sweet photos still hung. I took down the picture frame, and along with every other trace of her in the room, I threw it into the downstairs trash can. I had planned to get married yesterday, then bring the marriage certificate to my father’s grave today, to surprise him. My father, a respected and incorruptible judge during his lifetime, had passed away too soon from overwork and illness. I carried a bouquet of white lilies to the cemetery. From a distance, I saw a few people gathered around my father’s tombstone. As I drew closer, my feet froze. It was Blake and Chloe. Blake held an expensive bottle of wine, slowly pouring it over the top of my father’s tombstone. Dark red liquid snaked down the cold stone, staining my father’s grave. He was muttering obscenities under his breath. “Stupid old man, had to make a big deal out of my dad’s little business hiccup back then, cost us a fortune. Now what? Your favorite student is still happily lying in my bed.” Blake continued to pour, spewing insults and dirty words. And Chloe just stood by, a document in her hand, her expression cold, her eyes vacant. She watched, unmoved, as my father’s tombstone was desecrated. In that instant, all the blood rushed to my head. I lunged forward like a madman. “Blake! I’ll kill you!” I shoved his bodyguards aside and punched him square in the face. He staggered back a few steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood. I lunged again, ready to fight him to the death, but his two burly bodyguards grabbed me, pinning me to the ground. The taste of dirt and grass filled my mouth and nose. I struggled, my eyes bloodshot, glaring at Chloe. “Chloe! Look closely! He’s insulting my dad! He helped you in your darkest hour, and he’s insulting everything you once believed in!” “Have you forgotten why you studied law? You said you wanted to be just like my dad!” Chloe finally moved. She walked to me slowly, then knelt. In her hand was a single document. It was a summary of withdrawal requests-name after name of the victims from the corporate fraud case involving Blake’s father years ago. My father, the presiding judge for that case, had faced immense pressure but insisted on a thorough investigation until his dying day. Now, Chloe had used every legal maneuver, every polished skill, to coerce and convince each victim to sign away their right to seek justice. With these signatures, the case my father died trying to solve was buried forever. Chloe wouldn’t meet my eyes. Her voice was barely a whisper. “We have to move on, Alex.” “Digging up the past helps no one.” Blake wiped the blood from his lip, a smug grin spreading across his face as he walked over. He let out a triumphant laugh. He strode over, pulled Chloe against him, and fixed me with a look of pure contempt. “You hear that? Your old man was just a stubborn fool who couldn’t read the room.” “Now, your girlfriend, using all the tricks your dad taught her, has perfectly helped our family close all the legal loopholes.” He leaned closer, whispering in my ear, a voice only we could hear. “You know, last night, she even went down on me.” “I’ll kill you!” I completely lost control, lunging at Blake again. But before my fist could connect, his two bodyguards had me pinned to the ground. My cheek pressed against the cold, rough earth. Blake put his foot on my right hand and slowly, forcefully, twisted. “Agh!” The sound of bones cracking, accompanied by my agonizing scream, echoed through the entire cemetery. Excruciating pain spread from my hand throughout my body. I convulsed in agony, cold sweat instantly drenching my back. In the moment before my consciousness faded, I used every ounce of strength to lift my head and look at Chloe. She just stood there, watching, utterly cold and indifferent. As darkness consumed me, I heard her say one last thing to Blake. “Don’t kill him. Keep him alive. He’s still useful.”

I woke to the smell of disinfectant in the hospital. My right hand was encased in a thick cast, immobile and throbbing with excruciating pain. Two men in black stood guard at the door of my room. Chloe had me imprisoned. When she pushed the door open, she was wearing a sleek business suit, her makeup flawless. She was back to being the brilliant, golden-girl lawyer. She placed a gilt-edged invitation on my bedside table. It was for her law firm’s opening celebration party. Tonight. “Alex, all you have to do is publicly apologize to me and Blake at the party, admit that everything before was a malicious accusation driven by your unrequited love.” She looked down at me, her tone condescending, almost charitable. “And we’ll let bygones be bygones.” She even offered a magnanimous smile. “For old times’ sake, I can arrange a quiet administrative position for you at my firm.” “Fifteen hundred a month, that should be enough for you to live on.” I looked at her, at the face I once adored, and suddenly felt utterly alienated. I slowly forced a smile, one that was submissive, even a little fawning. “Okay.” “I’ll apologize.” She seemed pleased by my “sensible” decision, a slight upturn of her lips. She turned and walked out, her heels clicking on the floor. She nodded in satisfaction. “Smart move. You’ve finally come to your senses.” On the night of the party, bodyguards “escorted” me to the venue. The city’s legal elite were all there, and the media’s camera flashes were blinding. Chloe and Blake stood on stage like a perfect, dazzling couple, basking in everyone’s congratulations and flattery. I, like a defeated captive, was “invited” by her assistant to the most inconspicuous corner of the hall. Finally, it was time for the highly anticipated “apology” segment. The host announced in an enthusiastic tone, “Now, please welcome a special guest, Mr. Alex Harper, to say a few words.” All eyes instantly focused on me. There was pity, disdain, and schadenfreude from those eager for drama. I calmly walked onto the stage and took the microphone. Chloe stood beside me, giving me a warning look, silently telling me to behave. I bowed deeply to the sea of faces and the countless flashing cameras below. Then, I pulled a hospital injury report from my pocket. “I, Alex Harper, am formally filing a lawsuit for intentional assault against Mr. Blake Sterling here today.” “Furthermore, I will be filing an indefinite lawsuit against Mr. Blake Sterling and all companies under his father’s name for tax evasion, corporate fraud, and all other illegal activities.” My voice, amplified by the microphone, echoed through the entire ballroom. The hall erupted in chaos! Reporters’ flashlights flared frantically. Chloe’s face drained of color. She lunged for the microphone, but I turned and stepped clear. I looked at her panic and made my second announcement. “Second, I have formally accepted an offer to join Morning Star Law Firm as a junior partner.” “My first case will be my own.” The hall exploded! Everyone knew Morning Star was the archrival of Chloe’s firm, locked in a bitter feud. As the crowd stared, a woman in a sharp white suit walked onto the stage, heels clicking with purpose. She came straight to my side. Her presence was commanding, her gaze razor sharp. “Hello, I’m Sierra Hunter.” Chloe went sheet white the moment she saw her. She rushed the stage. “Alex, you wouldn’t dare!” But before she could reach us, several of Sierra’s security personnel calmly blocked her path. Every eye in the room shifted from Chloe to the woman standing beside me.

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Just before our honeymoon flight, my wife turned. “I forgot my bikini. I’ll buy one. Wait here.” Six hours later, I received a steamy video. It was my wife in a red bikini, making out with a male intern in our ocean-view suite. I called her. “Where exactly did you go shopping?” Her voice was flat. “Work came up. I went back to the office. We’ll honeymoon later.” In the background, I heard the intern’s whistle. “Some arranged husbands really don’t know their place. They think money makes them untouchable?” A cold laugh broke from me. Did money make me untouchable? We were about to find out. I called the airline. “Block Celeste Vance from boarding any flights from Hawaii to New York.” If Celeste didn’t want to see me, then she wouldn’t be coming back. Ever. Ten minutes later, Celeste’s call came in. “Julian, have you lost your mind? The IPO is in three days! Do you have any idea what it will cost if I’m not there? Call them back right now and lift it!” I kept my voice even. “You told me you were at the office. Why would you need a flight?” Before she could answer, Caleb’s voice cut in from the background, tinny and pleading. “Celeste, it’s all my fault. Let me apologize to your husband.” Celeste cut him off, her voice strained. “I brought an intern to meet a client. I forgot to tell you. Stop making a scene.” I couldn’t help but sneer. “How convenient. Then I’ll extend your hotel stay. Indefinitely.” She finally snapped. “What do you want, Julian?” “Him gone, or the company burns. Your choice!” I said, then hung up. Thirty minutes later, Caleb’s termination notice hit my inbox. I called the airline. “Clear Celeste Vance for boarding.” Then, I sent Celeste a photo. It was the termination paperwork for her closest confidantes at the company. “Consider this a reminder of my terms, Celeste. Push me again, and you’ll learn what real consequences look like!” Celeste didn’t reply. I knew she must hate me fiercely right now. But my own rage burned even brighter. She had no idea how much I’d sacrificed for this honeymoon, canceling all my project meetings. I’d genuinely thought this trip would help us rekindle the initial sweetness and joy. After all, she was the one who’d pleaded with my Grandma Eleanor, insisting I marry her, claiming she’d secretly loved me for years. Grandma Eleanor, seeing her apparent sincerity, finally relented and told me to consider it. Otherwise, given her background, she would never have been considered a match for me if she hadn’t been so persistent. In our years of marriage, she kept the house perfectly organized and was always respectful and attentive to my parents. When I came home late from business dinners, no matter the hour, she’d keep the living room light on, and there was always a warm mug of honey water waiting on the table. She even went to every coffee shop in the city to find a specific blend I’d casually mentioned liking. Because of this, I gradually believed her claims of long-term secret admiration were true and slowly began to fall for her. For years, our life together was harmonious; outsiders often said we were a match made in heaven. I never expected she would now shatter that peace for some random guy who meant nothing.

The next day, I made sure to finish work early and drove to the airport to pick Celeste up. I leaned against my car, waiting patiently. I hadn’t received a reply from Celeste on my phone, but I just assumed she hadn’t gotten the message on the flight. Time ticked by. The plane had landed, but Celeste was nowhere in sight. I called, but she hung up after just a few rings. I’d been so certain she’d come home with me, but now doubt crept in, a surge of irritation bubbling up. My housekeeper called, her voice hesitant. “Julian, your wife… she brought someone home.” Sensing something was wrong, I rushed home. As soon as I walked in, I saw it: clothes scattered everywhere, and two people getting intimate on the sofa. The click of the lock startled them. Only then did Celeste see it was me. She frantically pulled down her sleeve, her hair disheveled, and blurted. “This is an accident.” I scoffed. “An accident? Then why haven’t I seen you accidentally streaking down the street?” Celeste’s face flushed with anger, but before she could react, Caleb behind her frantically grabbed for his scattered clothes. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be here. I’ll leave right away.” His voice was hoarse, still catching his breath. He clearly hadn’t recovered from their recent passion. But as he picked up his clothes, I saw it: the lucky charm around his neck. My heart leaped. When Celeste and I married, she’d complain about the late nights, how her work was wearing her to the bone. Worried, I traveled for days to a remote chapel, all to find a lucky charm for her. She’d hugged me then, beaming, and promised she’d never take it off. Now, I held my fury in a vise. My eyes fixed on him, my voice dropped to ice. “Take it off. Now.” But he just looked at Celeste, his face a picture of feigned innocence. I walked straight over, grabbing his neck, trying to pull off that lucky charm. Celeste shoved me away, glaring. “Julian, are you insane? Are you trying to hurt him?!” Unprepared, I slammed into the corner of the coffee table, a searing pain shooting through my shin. I stared at my wife, disbelief clouding my vision. “Tell me, why is my lucky charm on him?!” Her eyes darted away. She instinctively snapped back, “Why are you being so aggressive? Caleb hasn’t been feeling well, what’s wrong with letting him wear the lucky charm for a bit?” She glanced at me, her tone dismissive. “It’s just a trinket, right? Is it really worth getting so worked up over?” “A trinket?” I laughed, a bitter sound. “I endured a difficult pilgrimage for that! And you just gave it to some outsider?” “He stole it! I’m calling the police right now and reporting him for theft!” Celeste’s voice shot up. She ripped the lucky charm off and threw it hard at my face. “Are you insane? It’s just a damn piece of cloth! Who needs it?!” The rough edge of the charm grazed my cheek, a sharp sting. I touched it, and my fingertips came away with a smear of blood. I looked down at the tiny bead of blood welling up, and all I felt was a bitter laugh. Celeste saw the red, a flicker of panic in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself. She turned her face away, her voice icy. “Just stay here and cool off.” With that, she dragged Caleb out, not looking back.

The door slammed shut, leaving only a chilling silence in the room. I sat frozen on the sofa. Three years of marriage, and I had genuinely loved Celeste. But her? For an intern she’d known for less than a month, she’d trampled my sincerity again and again. This time, I wouldn’t forgive her. I wouldn’t look back. I contacted my lawyer and met him at a nearby coffee shop to draft the divorce papers. “Have you discussed the asset division beforehand?” the lawyer asked, handing me a form. My gaze lingered on the ‘Joint Savings’ column, a flicker of hesitation in my heart. Suddenly, a piercing alarm blared from my phone. It was the motion sensor from my pet monitor at home. I fumbled to open the surveillance feed, a rush of blood pounding in my ears. On the screen, Caleb stood in the middle of the living room, one hand clutching a bleeding arm, his face contorted in fury. He was cursing, “You damn cat, how dare you scratch me!” He grabbed a rope and tightly strung up Jasper, my cat. Jasper dangled, kicking futilely, a desperate, wheezing cry tearing from his throat. He was clearly suffocating. He seemed to notice the camera lens shift slightly and deliberately spoke up. “Celeste, I think it’s stopped breathing. What do we do? Julian won’t blame you, right?” Celeste, carefully bandaging his wound, didn’t even look up at his words. “As long as you’re okay. That little beast scratched you, it’s better off dead anyway.” I grabbed my car keys and stormed out, the lawyer’s shouts fading behind me. Jasper, wait for me, please wait for me. My hand was still trembling as I slid the key into the lock. The door swung open, revealing a terrifying silence in the living room. Caleb was gone. Jasper was curled into a tiny ball, his body already cold. His once fluffy, soft golden fur was matted and tangled, his body covered in dried bloodstains. Even his usually nimble paws were eerily twisted. I sank to my knees, my trembling hands reaching for Jasper’s stiff, cold fur. Tears fell freely. I couldn’t bear to imagine the torture he’d endured while I was on my way back. “You’re back?” Celeste’s voice drifted from the bedroom. She stood in the doorway, taking in my tear-streaked face without a flicker of feeling. “I know you’re upset about the cat. But he clawed Caleb. Caleb’s in the ER right now, getting it cleaned.” She then glanced at the cat’s lifeless body on the floor, her brow furrowed in disgust. “Clean it up. There’s blood all over the floor, it’s so dirty.” “Dirty?” My voice trembled. “That’s Jasper! You found her abandoned in an alleyway, and you said we’d treat her like our own child!” She just pursed her lips. “It’s just an animal, isn’t it? If it dies, we can just get another one.” Watching her cold indifference, my heart sank into a bottomless abyss. Suddenly, she handed me a stack of papers. “Sign these.” I glanced up, realizing it was a letter of recommendation. For Caleb. Seeing I ignored her, she spoke again, her tone flat. “You got Caleb fired, and he’s quite pathetic. Your main company’s General Manager position is open, so just let him have it!” I felt nothing but absurdity and a chilling disgust. I shoved the papers away, barely suppressing my rage. “I’m telling you, Celeste! As long as I’m a board member of this company, he will never get into the main office!”

With that, I stopped looking at her, scooped up Jasper, and quickly walked out the door. I found a secluded spot in the garden, Jasper’s favorite place to play, placed her favorite toy, and buried her myself. Staring at the small, slightly raised mound of earth, the tears I’d held back finally fell. My relationship with Celeste, like Jasper, was slowly, painfully, dying. Before I could even process the grief of losing Jasper, I opened my phone to a flood of breaking news. Celeste had actually used the company’s official account to release a statement, accusing me of abuse of power, mistreating employees, and even tax evasion. Every single accusation was baseless, yet they were written so convincingly. Instantly, the company’s stock plummeted, and a tidal wave of accusations and insults crashed down online. “A company this big dares to evade taxes? They must pay!” “I always knew the CEO of a major corporation like this couldn’t be good news. Thank God justice is being served; he needs to be locked up now!” Then came a message from Celeste. “Just agree to my previous demand, let Caleb into the main office, and I’ll suppress all these stories immediately.” I didn’t reply. She sent another message: “You have one night to think this through.” I stared at the words, my chest feeling as though it had been crushed by a massive boulder, suffocating me. For Caleb, she was willing to go this far, to destroy me, to destroy our company. If that’s how she wanted to play, then she couldn’t blame me for showing no mercy. She wanted to burn everything down? I’d oblige. But the cost… let’s see if she and Caleb could afford it! The next day, the company’s going-public ceremony was held as scheduled. I knew she’d be there, waiting for my answer. I took a deep breath, adjusted my suit, and drove to the ceremony. From a distance, I saw her, arm-in-arm with Caleb, standing at the podium. They looked intimately close, like they were soulmates. Caleb saw me too, his eyes filled with a provocative, arrogant glint, as if proclaiming his victory. Her gaze swept over me, and a confident, knowing smile touched her lips. She probably thought I’d finally come to my senses, ready to compromise. Celeste cleared her throat, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. “Distinguished media friends! Now, I have a very important announcement to make: Caleb will be taking over as General Manager of the company!” I walked toward them and stopped just out of reach. Reporters around me aimed their cameras, flashbulbs popping incessantly. “Julian, are the rumors true? That you abuse your authority?” “Is it over between you and Celeste? She’s holding his hand right now.” I ignored the whispers, the hungry stares. I looked only at Celeste. My voice, when it came through the microphone, was cold and absolute as a verdict. “Let’s get a divorce.” Her smile froze. Her pupils dilated. She was stunned. I didn’t wait. “Also, fabricating and spreading defamatory lies is a crime. I’ve filed a report with the police. All evidence has been submitted.” “All investments in Vance Holdings are now suspended. We’ll settle this in court.”

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The day I got into a car accident, my husband was busy rushing to comfort his assistant, Scarlett, who had bad cramps. I screamed at him, my voice raw. “Leo! Get the doctors in here now! My family will kill you all if you don’t!” He scoffed, utterly dismissive. “What family? The ‘poor orphan’ story was a lie I let you live. I picked you up. I married you. And now you dare drag me away from Scarlett over a fender bender? Do you have any idea what’s on the line? One wrong signature from her, and we lose fifty million?” He had no idea. I did have a family. And every single one of them was a psychopathic killer. That’s why I’d kept them away from him for five years. Watching him leave, despair swallowed me whole. With the last of my strength, I sent one text to my family. Leo didn’t know. That cry of mine? That was his final chance to survive. Now, he was already a dead man. For five years, he dismissed every word I ever spoke about my family. My veiled warnings, the subtle hints about my family’s darker side-to him, they were nothing but irrational games. The monitor’s beeps grew frantic, a desperate rhythm of my fading life. n the doorway stood David, Leo’s most loyal shadow. He had been mine for five years. Now, he simply watched, paralyzed, as the dark red seeped from beneath me. I knew, with injuries like these, I wouldn’t last until my family arrived. “David…” I forced his name out, each syllable a battle against the pain. “Please, get me a doctor. Any doctor.” He didn’t move. His voice was gravel. “Mr. Leo’s orders were explicit. The medical team is for Ms. Scarlett.” “Mr. Leo said your injuries weren’t fatal.” Not fatal. I looked down at the shattered glass shards embedded in my abdomen, feeling my life drain away, warm and insistent, with every drop. Right. His heart was occupied by someone else now. Why would he care about my injuries? My phone was still in my hand, the screen lit up with our family group chat. Julian’s last message glowed on the screen: “Riley, wheels up in five. ETA two hours.” Below it was a photo. Mom, at the airport duty-free, wasn’t holding perfume. She was testing the balance of a gleaming set of chef’s knives. The caption read: “Picked up a little something for Riley. She’s always saying her paring knife is dull.” My fingers trembled as I typed. “Hurry. I’m dying.” Just as the message delivered, Mr. Harrison’s phone rang. He answered it even as he kept pleading with me. “Ma’am, please, just apologize to Ms. Scarlett as Mr. Leo asks. He’s…he’s not in his right mind about her. You have to accept this.” I gave a slight shake of my head and motioned for him to take the call. I don’t know what he heard. But the old man’s one remaining eye, his right, snapped wide with pure terror. His head jerked up, and he stared at me. “You…you’re one of them. A Sullivan.”

The name Sullivan. It instantly dragged me back into memories of the past. After school, kids ran home. I stayed. Mom always smiled faintly when she picked me up, and the first thing she did when we got home was tell me to put on a mask. Our dining table hosted a rotating cast of strangers. The only thing they had in common? They were all out of breath. Permanently. “Riley, I’ll be carving this one up soon. Why don’t you go study? It might get messy. And the smell…it’s strong.” She’d explain the man had driven his wife and child into the sea. So she was delivering justice. I never saw Dad kill anyone, but in his studio, I saw all kinds of human anatomy. For fifteen years, it hadn’t changed: the doorknob was still adorned with a David’s left eye. That’s why our David only had one eye. If he heard someone was being bullied-no matter how small the slight-the bully would be found the next day. No witnesses, no struggle, just… gone. “Riley, I don’t want you to live in a world with that kind of trash.” Slowly, without meaning to, I began to carry that same cold, predatory stillness. No one ever wanted to be my friend. Except for Leo. When the whole class ostracized me, he was the first to step forward, help me carry my books, and say with a smile, “This is what I call unique charm.” When a dissection diagram accidentally fell out of my bag, he calmly picked it up for me. “Your brother’s comics are pretty hardcore, huh? Super detailed.” Back then, I thought he was the only one who saw the real me behind the Sullivan name. He asked once, curious. “What does your family do abroad?” lutched my shirt hem and gave the half true answer. “Import export business.” He never doubted it. “That must be tough.” “Don’t worry, you won’t have to shoulder it alone anymore. You’ll have me.” That day, beneath the sunset, he knelt on one knee and proposed, solemnly promising to protect me for life. I believed him. So, I defied my family’s warnings and eloped with him to this city. Mom had warned me, “Riley, never trust any man.” Dad had added, “You don’t have to inherit the family business, but don’t you dare shame the Sullivans.” And Julian, with that chilling smile, “Riley, if he doesn’t listen, I’ll make him listen.” But I just shrugged off their warnings. I thought Leo was different. Until Scarlett appeared, and his heart… it just shifted, so easily. He wouldn’t even investigate this car crash, all because Scarlett was the prime suspect! I nodded at David’s stunned expression. “If you don’t want to go completely blind, go get a doctor now!” Finally, just before I truly flatlined, a doctor pulled me back from the brink of death.

I lay in the ER, the heart monitor’s line finally stabilizing into a steady wave. The doctor had just hooked me up to an IV when the ER door flew open with a violent kick. Scarlett burst in, still in a hospital gown, her bandages haphazardly wrapped around her hand. Her voice was soft, yet every doctor instantly froze. “Everyone out.” “Scarlett, the patient just regained consciousness, she needs an immediate blood transfusion…” “I said, out.” She tilted her head, and two bodyguards immediately manhandled the doctors out. She walked to my bedside, staring at my face, and suddenly smiled. “Riley Sullivan, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day?” I spoke weakly. “Get lost.” “Get lost?” She raised her hand and slapped me across the face. My freshly stitched wound nearly ripped open, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “Did you really think Leo would believe your insane stories?” She threw her head back, laughing hysterically. “He just thinks you’re a lunatic!” “You orchestrated the car accident.” I stared at her, not a question, but a statement. She leaned close to my ear, whispering. “I did.” “I had someone cut your brake lines. The timing was perfect.” “I was hoping you’d die on the spot, but you’re surprisingly resilient.” My fingers twitched, wanting to grab her hair, but I couldn’t find the strength. “He’ll kill you… if he finds out.” “Who? Leo?” She swatted my hand away. “He’s busy getting my birthday present. Besides, dead people don’t talk.” David, hovering nearby, stammered, but finally managed to speak. “Ms. Scarlett, you can’t kill her!” Scarlett let out a chilling chuckle. “Who asked for your opinion?” I waved my hand, telling David to stand down. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through me. “Ah!” “Does it hurt?” Scarlett’s fingertip pressed into the wound on my side. “It’ll be over soon.” David lunged forward but was held back firmly by the bodyguards. Scarlett slowly, meticulously, untied my hospital gown, her eyes scanning me like a butcher appraising a slab of meat. “I actually secretly got a tissue match done.” “Three months ago, after your annual physical, Leo had your medical records sent straight to me.” “Your kidney, it’s a match for mine.” My pupils constricted. So that was it. This car crash, this whole grotesque farce… it had all been for this day. “You’re insane.” My breath was barely a whisper. “Illegal organ harvesting? You think you can get away with this?” “Illegal?” “Leo will arrange all the paperwork. They’ll say you died from your crash injuries, and that you voluntarily donated your organs.” “As for your family?” She leaned in closer to my ear. “They won’t even find a body to bury.” Several bodyguards pushed me into the operating room. Scarlett, wearing surgical gloves, stood by the doctor, staring at me with cold indifference. She wasn’t a nurse, just a monster in scrubs. But she was right. Leo would take care of everything for her. I felt the cold scalpel slice through my skin, heard her humming a tune, as if savoring a delicious feast. David’s mouth was taped shut, only muffled whimpers escaping. My wrists, strapped to the operating table, were chafed raw, but it was nothing compared to the gut-wrenching agony tearing through my abdomen. My phone, on a nearby table, vibrated frantically. My family’s group chat messages flashed one after another. “Riley, we’re in the city now.” “Don’t worry, Riley. Mom’s debating whether to go for one liter of blood, or two.” But they wouldn’t make it in time. I felt something forcibly ripped from inside me, and the world began to spin. The doctor placed the bloody organ into a cooler, and Scarlett patted my face. “Thank you for the gift.” She turned to leave, and the operating room door was kicked open again. Leo stood in the doorway, his face ashen.

Leo stood in the doorway, his gaze fixed on my blood-soaked abdomen. “Riley, who did this to you?!” “Who would dare!” I let out a shaky breath of relief and pointed a trembling hand at Scarlett. “Leo,” Scarlett’s eyes welled up instantly, her voice a faint whisper, as if she were barely clinging to life. “You’re finally here! I was so scared… Riley, she’s still trying to trick you!” She stumbled into his arms, her ‘fragile’ body collapsing perfectly against his chest. “She intentionally caused the crash to kill me! And just now, on the operating table, she threatened to make sure I disappeared without a trace.” “I just wanted to check on her injuries, but Riley went absolutely insane and started tearing at my hand! Look!” She raised her bandaged hand, tiny specks of blood seeping through the pristine white gauze. It was nothing but a slight graze from my struggles. But Leo’s expression instantly changed. He withdrew his gaze of concern for me. He wrapped his arms around Scarlett, his eyes overflowing with tenderness. “Don’t be scared, I’m here.” He looked up at me, and his eyes reverted to the same dismissive, disgusted look he’d give a piece of trash. “Riley Sullivan, you venomous witch!” I squeezed out the last bit of my strength, my voice hoarse. “Leo, she admitted it herself! She had the brake lines cut! She wants my kidney…” “Enough!” Leo cut me off, pressing his hand on the edge of my wound. “Riley, how long will you keep lying?” “Scarlett’s kidney pain flared up, she needs a transplant, and you just happened to be a perfect match? Is that a coincidence, Riley?” “You investigated her beforehand, didn’t you? You knew she needed a kidney.” “So you deliberately tampered with your physical exam results, all to blackmail me with this, right?” I was speechless. Utterly dumbfounded. Behind him, Scarlett flashed me a victorious smile. “Leo,” she suddenly whispered, her fingers gently tugging at his sleeve. “The doctor said one kidney might not be enough. My body’s been having a severe rejection reaction.” “If I had two, the success rate would be much higher.” The air instantly froze. Leo didn’t even look at me; he simply turned to the doctor. “Will she die?” Ignoring the pain from my recent surgery, I screamed instinctively. “Leo, are you even human?!” “How could anyone live without two kidneys? What’s wrong with your brain?” Scarlett suddenly pressed herself against Leo. “Leo, she won’t die.” “The procedure’s mortality rate sits at one percent. In exchange for the kidney, I can guarantee you a fifty-million-dollar contract.” Leo was silent for a long time. “Do it.” “Riley, if the surgery is successful, I’ll take you to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, just like you always wanted. Would that be enough?” My heart turned to ice. Hope was gone. I stared at the scalpel coming for me. I closed my eyes and screamed. “Mom!” The next second, the operating room door was kicked open. The heavy doorframe shattered like balsa wood, splinters flying weightlessly through the air. Three figures stood framed in the wreckage. My mother Vivienne stood in a sharply tailored black suit, holding an airport gift box of knives with a gentle, elegant smile. My father Arthur, also in black, casually spun a scalpel. The bodyguard at his feet was a bloody, shapeless ruin. My brother Julian wore a white lab coat and gold rimmed glasses, looking every bit the suave and innocent doctor who could never harm a fly. He adjusted his glasses. His cold, predatory gaze swept over me on the operating table before finally settling on Leo’s face. His voice was soft, like an invitation. “Leo. Sorry to drop in.” “Now…how would you like to die?”

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My dog, Dodo, suddenly came down with gastroenteritis. The vet said it was because he’d eaten chocolate. But neither Brandon nor I like chocolate. We’ve never had any in the house. The vet said, “A friend who visited your place might have fed Dodo chocolate.” I just smiled, said nothing more, and drove straight to Brandon’s company. In the break room, his new secretary, Brittany Clark, was showing off to a colleague, holding a cup of coffee. “I was at Brandon’s place yesterday, it’s so luxurious! He has a husky, and it just adores me. I fed that husky some chocolate, and it even licked my face!” Well, it seems she’s the “friend” my husband brought home. Stealing my cheap husband is one thing, but poisoning my dog? You’ll regret this! Sure enough, the moment she saw me, her eyes darted around in panic, trying to avoid me. Spotting her reaction, I deliberately called out, “Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you around.” Just then, a colleague passed by with a stack of files and helpfully introduced us, “Mrs. Davis, this is Mr. Davis’s new secretary, Brittany Clark.” Then he turned to Brittany and said, “This is our CEO’s wife, Scarlett Sterling.” Brittany lowered her head, her voice trembling, “Mrs. Davis, hello.” I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, a hint of mockery flashing in my eyes. She dared to go to my home and feed my dog, but now she can barely speak. With that little courage, she thinks she can be a mistress? My gaze slowly fell on the cup in her hand—a cup Brandon had bought. I asked nonchalantly, “Are you making coffee for Brandon?” She bit her lower lip and said, “Yes, Brandon said he loves coffee I brew myself… he doesn’t like anyone else’s.” But I distinctly remembered Brandon saying he dislikes coffee and only drinks tea. I let out a cold laugh, my eyes landing on the exquisitely designed diamond ring on her ring finger. “Your ring looks very special. Is it custom-made?” I had seen the design draft for that ring before. Brandon had always wanted to be a jewelry designer since he was little, but his father thought it sounded like a woman’s job and secretly changed his university major. In our third year together, he held my hand and promised he would personally design a unique ring for me, engraving our names and story into it. But the design was barely finished, before he even had a chance to make it, his father suddenly passed away from a brain hemorrhage. After that, he never mentioned jewelry design again. That ring became one of my regrets. I never imagined he would so easily give the ring he designed for me to a secretary. Brittany froze at my question, too scared to speak. She frequently glanced at Brandon’s tightly closed office door, clearly hoping he would come out to rescue her. Useless! I scoffed softly, not bothering to waste another glance on her, and turned, walking directly towards the company exit. As I stepped out of the company, I pulled out my phone and called my dad. He’s the richest man in New York, and Brandon’s company’s largest shareholder. “Dad, pull the investment from Brandon’s company. I’m getting a divorce.” There was silence on the other end for barely two seconds before my father’s calm voice came through, “What happened? Did he hurt you?” “Yes, he cheated on me.” My voice was devoid of emotion, as if I were talking about something trivial that had nothing to do with me. “Also, find me the best divorce lawyer. I want him to leave with nothing.”

It wasn’t long before evidence of Brandon’s infidelity flooded my inbox. I sat in my car, my fingertips cold as I clicked open the attachments. Video after video, photo after photo, meticulously arranged in chronological order, pierced my already scarred heart like ice-cold knives. December 31st, New Year’s Eve. A month earlier, I had rented out a riverside observation deck and prepared his favorite sparklers, planning a surprise. But that evening, he called, his voice weary, saying he had an urgent project at work and told me not to wait up. In the video, he was holding Brittany Clark’s hand, standing in the city’s most upscale revolving restaurant. Outside, fireworks exploded brilliantly across the sky, and he was leaning down, cutting her steak. Scrolling down, February 11th. That morning, I woke up with symptoms of a miscarriage. My abdomen was gripped by waves of pain, my limbs trembling with fear. I called him over a dozen times, but he never answered. I had to hold onto the wall to go downstairs and catch a cab to the hospital alone, terrified of losing the precious baby I had fought so hard for. But in the photos, he was with Brittany at a claw machine in the mall, patiently helping her win a pink bunny plushie. Brittany nestled in his arms, smiling sweetly and playfully. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. I fought back tears and continued scrolling, May 11th. It was my birthday that day. He came home and handed me a scarf. I was so thrilled that I posted a series of photos on Ins that night. But now I knew: that scarf was a freebie Brittany got when she bought a limited-edition bag at a luxury store. She thought it was ugly and casually told Brandon to get rid of it, so he just passed it off as my birthday gift. Yet, on Brittany’s birthday, he rented out an entire private estate, hosting a lavish dinner party and inviting all their friends. In the photos, those very people who used to flatter me, taking advantage of my resources through Brandon, and calling me affectionately. Now they were crowded around Brittany, raising their glasses, their faces full of fawning admiration. I slid through the screen, page after page, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. All the details I had overlooked in the past now flashed clearly before my eyes. His frequent business trips during that period, always returning with a strange perfume scent clinging to him. The suddenly encrypted photo album on his phone, the pearl hair clip in his study drawer that wasn’t mine… It turned out all those coincidences were carefully orchestrated lies. Until I saw photos of Brandon accompanying Brittany to her prenatal check-ups at the hospital. *Thump*. The last thread in my mind snapped completely. He was at the hospital that day, too. I clearly remembered that day: I was lying in bed, bleeding uncontrollably, crying as I called him, but his phone remained unanswered. It wasn’t until much later that I was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance. But it was too late; the baby couldn’t be saved. Only then did he call with apologies and rush to the hospital. “Don’t be scared, I’m here. I’ll stay with you.” In the days that followed, he meticulously cared for me through my postpartum recovery. But who would have thought that such a seemingly perfect husband was secretly building a family with another woman outside our marriage? Hatred surged wildly in my chest, almost incinerating all my reason. I leaned over the steering wheel, my shoulders shaking violently, tears falling like broken strings of pearls onto the cold phone screen. I even wanted to start the car immediately, rush back to the company, expose their ugly faces in front of everyone, and fight Brandon to the death. Just then, my phone flashed with a SnapChat update — it was Brittany, whom I’d added on my burner account. She had just posted a new story, with a chat screenshot and the caption: 【Thanks, Mom, for the special party you prepared for me! ~】 I tremblingly clicked on the screenshot. The avatar in the chat box was all too familiar: it was Brandon’s mother. In the chat history, she affectionately called Brittany “sweetheart” and said she had booked a banquet at the city’s most expensive hotel. Tomorrow, she wanted Brittany to meet her and the family, telling her to dress up nicely. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. So, it wasn’t just Brandon who betrayed me; his entire family had tacitly approved of all this long ago. Well, if it’s a party, how could I, his legally wedded wife, possibly be absent?

The next day, I drove directly to the hotel they had booked. Even though Brandon had already arranged my schedule for that day a full two weeks in advance: A hot springs resort in the suburbs. He had told me with a tender look, “You just lost the baby, and your body hasn’t fully recovered. I booked a room for you at the new hot springs resort in the city’s suburbs. You can bring your best friend, get some good rest, and relax.” Recalling the hypocritical concern on his face when he said those words, I gave a cold smirk. My phone vibrated. It was a message from Brandon: “Have you reached the resort? I told the hotel to save some soup for you, remember to drink it while it’s hot.” I stared at the text on the screen. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a minute, but in the end, I didn’t reply. The hotel owner was a friend of my mom’s. With his help, I easily gained access to the surveillance room. Almost all of Brandon’s relatives and friends were there. His mother was anxiously bustling about, Her attentive and thorough demeanor perfectly embodied an impeccable good woman. Once upon a time, she had also treated me with such dedication, expressing her high regard for me. When Brandon and I first got engaged, she remembered my mother’s birthday and prepared thoughtful gifts in advance. When my dad had a gout attack, she arranged for someone to bring back special medicine from abroad. Even when I casually mentioned I liked homemade cakes, she would personally bake a batch and bring them to me. I truly believed I was marrying into a warm and reliable family. But now, standing beside Brandon was a beaming Brittany Clark. She wore a light pink gown, a slight bump on her stomach, her face full of demureness and triumph. Behind them, relatives and friends clustered, each face radiating joyous blessings. Only I, sitting alone in the surveillance room, felt like an outsider completely excluded. It was only now that I realized I had long become the superfluous outsider in this marriage. The clock struck ten, and Brandon, holding Brittany’s hand, slowly walked onto the center stage. He took the microphone and passionately recounted their love story: “Brittany and I met during my most exhausting phase. It was her who offered me a warm drink when I worked late into the night, her who stayed by my side all night when I was sick. She’s like a beacon of light, illuminating my dull life.” Thunderous applause immediately erupted from the audience. Relatives and friends nodded in approval, as if celebrating a great love story. I sat alone in the surveillance room, watching the deeply affectionate man on the screen, almost amused by this absurd scene. If he weren’t my husband, if his “exhaustion” wasn’t just an excuse to hide at the company while I was on bed rest trying to save our baby, perhaps I would truly have been touched. Then, Brittany took the microphone, her eyes reddening. “Brandon is the best man in the world. Ever since I got pregnant, he’s been by my side constantly, making sure I don’t suffer any grievance. Meeting him is my good fortune.” Watching their hypocritical faces, I felt my stomach churn. The period when she first got pregnant was precisely when my pregnancy was most unstable. The doctor repeatedly advised me to stay on bed rest, but Brandon always came home late, or even stayed out all night, citing company business. I foolishly thought he was genuinely stressed and even forced myself to make soup for him. Now I knew all his time and tenderness were given to another woman. At this point, Brandon gripped Brittany’s hand, pulled out a velvet box from his pocket, and knelt on one knee, slowly opening it. Inside lay a massive diamond ring, sparkling blindingly under the lights. He looked up at Brittany, his eyes overflowing with adoration. “Brittany, I know you don’t care about these things, but I love you, and I only want to give you the best. Today’s party is just the appetizer. Once our baby is born, I promise I’ll hold the grandest wedding for you and bring you home in style!” The hall instantly erupted in cheers, gasps, and whistles. I distinctly heard Brandon’s uncle, who once tearfully begged me to help his son find a job, raising his glass and shouting, “Brandon is truly responsible! Brittany, this child is so lucky!” The relative who once made me use my family’s connections to get her daughter into a good school, clapped her hands and wiped away excited tears: “This is wonderful! Brittany looks like such a good woman!” And Brandon’s useless brother, Owen, excitedly stood up to toast: “Wishing you both happiness forever!” Every single one of them had genuinely received help from me, benefited from my kindness, and taken advantage of me. Yet, at this moment, no one remembered my existence, no one uttered my name. As if I had never even appeared. Just then, Brandon’s sister, Chloe, suddenly spoke up, cutting through the chorus of flattery. “She’s your wife? Then what about Scarlett?” Brittany’s face instantly paled, and she timidly looked at Brandon. Brandon himself clearly panicked for a moment but quickly recovered. He tenderly held her closer, while glaring coldly at Chloe, his voice suddenly stern, “Whoever I recognize as my wife, that’s who my wife is. As for those irrelevant people, there’s no need to mention them.” I sat in the surveillance room, listening to his words, my nails digging deep into my palms. All these years, I repeatedly covered his company’s deficits with my money, used my family’s connections to pave his way. I even willingly gave up my career, wanting only to stay home and wholeheartedly care for him. I poured out all my emotions and effort, only to become an “irrelevant person” in his eyes. My nails dug deeply into my palms, the sharp pain keeping me from completely losing control. Burning rage surged through me again and again, but I forcefully pressed it down. I couldn’t just storm in and make a scene. I would make them pay the most painful price for their betrayal and hypocrisy. Mrs. Davis quickly intervened with a forced smile, “On such a happy day, let’s not talk about such useless things.” “Actually, there’s more happy news to announce at today’s banquet: Brittany is pregnant!” The relatives once again raised their glasses in congratulation: “Congratulations! Brittany looks like such a good girl, unlike some people who haven’t had a baby after so many years of marriage, wasting my son’s precious youth!” “If you ask me, what good is money if you can’t have children? The key is being able to bear children!” Brittany, seeing all the relatives siding with her, immediately regained her composure. She smiled and nodded in response, then looked lovingly at Brandon and declared, “Thank you all for your blessings. I’m so happy to join this family, and I’m willing to bear Brandon’s child, our child. From now on, our family of three will be happy together forever.” Brandon also held her tightly, promising everyone, “I will give Brittany and our child the best life, letting everyone witness our happiness!” Just then, the large screen in the banquet hall suddenly went dark, and the bright lights dimmed in an instant. The guests murmured, and Brandon and Brittany looked on in confusion. I smoothed down my dress, and amidst the clamor and chaos, I walked step by step towards the center of the stage. A spotlight, I didn’t know when, landed on me. All eyes in the hall fixated on me. There was surprise, confusion, and the undisguised panic on Brandon and Brittany’s faces. I slowly curved my lips at the room full of familiar yet strange faces: “So lively a party, and no one invited me?”

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I’d just won five million dollars. I raced to the hospital, desperate to save my son’s life. My wife suddenly grabbed my arm. “Give me the password, I’ll handle the payment. Your colleague said there’s an urgent matter at the office, you need to go deal with it, fast.” In my past life, I believed her. She ended up stealing all the money, then colluded with a male colleague to frame me for embezzling company funds. My son died from his illness, and I took my own life in prison. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to this exact moment—the instant she asked for my bank card. This time, I still smiled and gave her the password. But she didn’t know, I had already set a trap. 1 “Honey, leave everything at the hospital to me. You should hurry to the office, don’t hold up work.” My wife, Vanessa, tightly clutched the bank card with five million dollars. Her words were sweet and understanding, but her eyes gleamed with the triumphant glint of a successful conspiracy. In my past life, I had trusted her implicitly. I never imagined she would take our son’s life-saving money and collude with my colleague, Kevin, to frame me for embezzling company funds! I was sentenced to ten years in prison, and my son eventually died in the hospital because there was no money for his surgery! Even my parents, unable to bear the weight of these tragedies, suffered heart attacks and died by the roadside, abandoned! Freshly reborn, a furious hatred churned inside me, making me want to kill the wicked woman standing before me with my bare hands! But doing that would only lead me back to prison, reliving the same tragedy. It wasn’t worth it. I would find another way to make Vanessa and Kevin, that despicable pair, pay their dues! I gripped her wrist hard, my voice laced with a hidden meaning. “Then I’ll be counting on you here at the hospital. This is our son’s life savings, so make sure you don’t transfer it to the wrong account.” After all, in my past life, Vanessa hadn’t transferred the money to the hospital’s account, but to a secret account Kevin had set up. Vanessa’s eyes flickered with a strange unease, her voice laced with guilt. “Don’t worry, I won’t be that careless.” I smiled. “Good.” With that, I turned to leave, the smile instantly vanishing from my face. Once I was out of the hospital, I pulled out my phone, a cold smirk playing on my lips, and dialed 91

“Officer, I need to report a crime!” “Just two minutes ago, I was defrauded. Five million dollars was transferred from my card. Please help me track the money immediately!” “What?! Five million dollars?!” The officer on the other end of the line immediately grew serious upon hearing such a large sum and opened a case. “The transfer happened very recently. Luckily, you reported it quickly. We’ll do our best to help you get the money back. Please tell us any clues you get immediately!” My voice sounded urgent. “Yes, yes, yes. That money was for my son’s life-saving surgery. Please, help me!” After hanging up, a slow smile spread across my face. I wasn’t worried about the money being untraceable; I knew it would soon be transferred *through a specific route* and eventually back into my account. This was the exact scheme Vanessa and Kevin used to frame me in my previous life. But this time, I would show them what true consequences felt like! My phone buzzed urgently. Kevin’s name flashed on the screen. 2 I deliberately let it ring. I knew Kevin was calling to rush me back to the company, eager for me to walk right into his trap. I let out a cold laugh, hailed a taxi, and instead of heading to the office, I told the driver to take me to the Lottery Commission office. “Hello, I’m the winner of today’s five-million-dollar jackpot. I need to get my lottery winnings officially notarized.” In my past life, I was too anxious to pay for my son’s surgery after winning, so I didn’t get it notarized. Later, after I was framed, when I tried to get it notarized, Vanessa and Kevin had already bribed the Lottery Commission staff. This time, I would not give Vanessa and Kevin even the slightest chance. My phone rang again. It was Kevin. With a swipe, I answered. “Arthur, why aren’t you back at the office yet? Don’t you know there’s a huge problem?! Listen… it involves you. Mr. Davies wants you back, now!” Kevin’s voice on the phone was frantic. I calmly replied, “Alright, I’ll be there in a moment.” I arrived at the office, unhurried and composed. Kevin, feigning disappointment, frowned at me. “Arthur, how could you do such a thing? You’ve been incredibly foolish!” I calmly said, “Just say what you need to say.” Kevin tried to suppress the triumph in his eyes, deliberately raising his voice. “Arthur, drop the act. The company knows you secretly embezzled five million dollars!” At his words, colleagues who had been quietly working in the office all looked up at me, their faces filled with shock. “Oh my God, Arthur always seemed so honest and hardworking! Who knew he had the guts to do something like this?!” “The company found irregularities in the funds last week, but I never imagined it was Arthur!” “He’s a great actor! All that innocent charm, and he was secretly a thief!” “Why would he need that much money? Is he cheating on his wife and kid, spending it on a mistress?” “Hard to say. But I heard his son is sick and needs surgery, so maybe he took a risk for his son!” “Surgery doesn’t cost *millions*! He must’ve done it for his own desires!” My colleagues’ contemptuous stares pierced me, and their hushed whispers filled the air. Kevin subtly smirked, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. My expression didn’t change a bit. I just calmly stated, “I didn’t embezzle any funds. I didn’t do it.” “Arthur, the evidence is overwhelming, and you still dare to lie?! I trusted you, I was even going to promote you next week! Is this how you repay the company?!” Mr. Davies, his face flushed with rage, slammed a stack of documents onto my desk. I looked through the pages. They detailed abnormal transaction records in the company’s financial system. My name and employee ID were listed as the operator. The most recent entry, from just ten minutes ago, showed five million dollars transferred from the company’s financial system directly into a bank account in my name. 3 Mr. Davies fumed, “Arthur, what do you have to say for yourself now?!” My colleagues’ eyes were even more contemptuous. “The evidence is right there! How can he still try to deny it?! Call the police and have him arrested!” The room erupted in a furious murmur. Everyone here worked hard, and the thought of one of us stealing from the company fueled their indignation. Kevin watched, a triumphant smirk twisting his lips. I looked at him meaningfully, but spoke to Mr. Davies. “Mr. Davies, don’t you think this is all a little too… convenient?” “I just walked through the office doors ten minutes ago, and suddenly five million dollars appears in my account? I’m guessing Kevin provided you with these ‘proofs,’ didn’t he?” Kevin’s face flickered with a strange unease. “What if I did? Even if we’re colleagues, I can’t tolerate your illegal actions!” I scoffed. “I’m not the only one with access to the financial system. And my login password? Didn’t you happen to see it last week?” Mr. Davies also seemed to find the situation too coincidental. The investigation into the company’s missing funds started last week, and until today, my name hadn’t even come up. Mr. Davies frowned, looking at Kevin. A flicker of panic crossed Kevin’s face, but he quickly composed himself. “Don’t listen to Arthur’s lies! The reason I suspected him, besides the system’s operation records, is that I have a witness!” “Yes, I can confirm it!” A collective gasp rippled through the office as everyone stared, dumbfounded, at Vanessa, who had suddenly appeared. “Isn’t that Arthur’s wife? Oh my god!” “If even his own wife is testifying against him, it has to be true!” Kevin’s smirk widened. “Arthur, your own wife is reporting you! How do you explain that?” I wasn’t surprised by Vanessa’s appearance. After all, in my past life, Vanessa was the one who delivered the final, crushing blow when the entire company already suspected me. Vanessa was a master of manipulation; her eyes welled up in an instant. “Arthur, I didn’t want to expose you, but my conscience wouldn’t let me rest!” I just gave a cold, humorless laugh. “Vanessa, if you had an ounce of conscience, you’d be at the hospital with our son right now, not here with Kevin, trying to destroy me!” A flicker of guilt crossed Vanessa’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, her voice rising in a shout. “I’m doing this for our son! I can’t let him have a criminal for a father!” Vanessa spoke with righteous indignation. “Arthur, it’s not too late to confess. It’s just prison, a consequence for breaking the law!” Kevin chimed in, “Vanessa’s right, Arthur. Just turn yourself in. You might even get a reduced sentence.” “Exactly, the truth is out. Being stubborn won’t help. Just turn yourself in.” “If you take what isn’t yours, you pay the price. Arthur, just surrender!” In an instant, everyone believed I had embezzled company funds, and a chorus of voices urged me to confess.

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My mom always said that to give my sister and me fair love, we’d use a lottery system. Whoever drew the long stick, my sister or I, would get what they wanted: favorite food, new clothes, even a hug and a kiss from our parents. But I always drew the short stick. I told Mom it wasn’t fair, but she sharply rebuked me. “If you can’t draw the long stick, you only have your bad luck to blame!” Then came my birthday. Chloe wanted to go to the amusement park, and Mom made us decide with the draw-sticks again. I secretly glued the two sticks together. But Mom slapped me hard, yelling that I was cheating and disobedient, then took Chloe to the amusement park. I fell to the floor, and those two sticks savagely pierced my neck. Warm liquid seeped from my neck, soaking into my hair. The floor was dirty. Mom would be even angrier. I tried to wipe it, but my body felt like air, floating in mid-air. It turned out I was dead. I knew what death was. When I was seven, Grandma Elsie also lay on the floor, just like this, and died. That day, she had a huge fight with Mom, calling Mom a conceited lunatic. “Love is love, and not loving is not loving. Why hide behind a draw-stick game? If you don’t want Mia, I’ll take her back to my place right now.” “Otherwise, throw away that damn draw-stick box and cherish both children equally!” Mom scoffed in return. “How I love my children has nothing to do with you. Of course, I cherish both of them.” “But there are always favorites, it’s uncontrollable. That’s why I bought this draw-stick box, to truly show no favoritism.” “They get what they want based on their own luck. David and I won’t interfere. If she can’t draw the long stick, it just means she’s unlucky!” Grandma Elsie was so furious she collapsed, unconscious, and never woke up again. Mom’s draw-stick system only grew worse after that. If there were two muffins at home, Mom would make Chloe and me draw. If I drew the short stick, the long stick was automatically Chloe’s. So, both muffins went to Chloe. We even drew sticks at dinner. I drew the short stick, so all the dishes cooked were Chloe’s favorites, even if I was allergic to some of them. Mom would just say, with a helpless sigh, “Rules can’t be broken. There’s nothing I can do. Why did you have to draw the short stick?” Even when I had a fever of 102 degrees and cried, begging her for a hug, Mom insisted I draw a stick. After I got the short one, she naturally hugged Chloe instead. “Mia, your luck really is terrible.” My entire life revolved around drawing sticks. Even in death, I was still thinking about it. Grandma Elsie’s coffin, when she was buried, was large and spacious. Mom bought it, and everyone praised Mom for how well she treated Grandma Elsie. I wanted Mom to be good to me too, because I’d slept in the same bed for five years, unable to stretch my legs. That, too, was the result of me drawing the short stick. I wanted to find Mom, to beg her to draw a stick for me. If I were truly lucky enough to draw the long stick, Mom would surely agree to buy me a big coffin. My soul drifted to the door, and suddenly I heard footsteps outside. My eyes lit up, and I saw Mom push open the door.

“Mom!” I excitedly floated closer. But Mom walked right through me. It hit me then: I couldn’t touch Mom anymore. I followed behind her, timidly stating my request. Mom couldn’t hear me, and she hadn’t returned out of worry for me anyway. She’d just forgotten her car keys. When Mom’s gaze fell on the bedroom door, I felt like a child who had done something wrong, anxiously explaining. “I didn’t mean to die, and I’ve made the house messy. I’m sorry, Mom, I’ll…” I said, crestfallen, “I can’t help clean up. I… I’m already dead…” Mom stopped at the bedroom door, her voice calm. “You’ve grown up so much you don’t even come out to greet me. Your temper’s gotten huge. You’re giving me attitude now.” “But let me tell you, sulking won’t help. You can only blame your own bad luck for drawing the short stick.” Seeing that I still didn’t open the door, Mom angrily twisted the doorknob. Just then, Chloe ran in. “Mom, hurry up! The amusement park is about to open.” Mom gave up on entering the bedroom, grabbing her car keys with a huff and walking out. “We’re going to play until night. We won’t be back for dinner. Eat the drumstick on the table for your supper. Don’t say I’m unfair.” “Chloe hasn’t even had any, and this time I didn’t even make you draw sticks. I’m practically playing favorites with you.” The drumstick on the table was Chloe’s leftover from yesterday. Mom had bought only this one drumstick when she came back from the supermarket, and made Chloe and me draw. I drew the short one again. I hadn’t eaten meat in a long time, and I was so hungry I just touched it. Mom had slapped my hand red and yelled at me in disgust. “You’ve forgotten all the rules, haven’t you? You drew the short stick, so the drumstick is Chloe’s. It has nothing to do with you. Touch it again and I’ll chop off your claws.” “I’ve never seen anyone as greedy as you. It’s like I’m starving you and never giving you food.” Today, she actually offered it to me. Mom was so good. I was so happy, but I forgot I was just a ghost now; I couldn’t even touch the drumstick. And a stray cat, Snowy, jumped in through the window and snatched the drumstick. It hissed at me, and I couldn’t stop it. I could only huddle sadly in the corner. I don’t know how much time passed, but Dad, Mom, and Chloe returned, beaming with happiness. “Mom, the pandas were so big and fluffy! I loved them so much! Mom, can you buy me one?” Mom dotingly kissed Chloe’s forehead, playfully chiding her, “Your mom isn’t that powerful.” Chloe hummed and took a step back. “Don’t kiss me! We haven’t drawn sticks yet. If Mia sees, she’ll start crying again about it being unfair.” “But maybe she’s already hiding in her bedroom, crying. It is her birthday today, after all.” Mom glanced at the table. The drumstick was gone. She let out a dry, indifferent chuckle, her tone utterly certain. “If she could draw the long stick, I’d kiss her too. Too bad she’s unlucky and didn’t draw it.” “Besides, she already ate the drumstick from the table. She’s just intentionally not coming out. Your sister is petty; don’t mind her.” No one could see me, and no one knew I had died in the bedroom. Mom started preparing supper. She called out to my bedroom in a strange tone, raising her voice. “Is someone *sure* they don’t want to come out and draw sticks? Then I’m making Chloe’s favorite dishes. Don’t come crying later about it being unfair.” Dad, watching TV, impatiently grumbled, “Why bother with her? If she doesn’t want to draw, just make Chloe’s favorite. Let her throw a fit!” “We raised her all these years, and she’s not even grateful. Instead, she holds a grudge against us. So ungrateful!” I stood nearby, thinking. What if I *had* drawn? For ten years, the dinner table had always been filled with Chloe’s favorite foods. I’d always just eaten plain, dry rice. But Mom and Dad hadn’t starved me. Had they?

Mom still ended up making Chloe’s favorite dishes. The three of them sat together, chatting and laughing, looking so happy and harmonious. Feeling a bit lonely, I floated closer to Mom. Suddenly, I noticed a cake box on the chair next to them. I proudly showed off to Snowy, who was crouched by the window. “See that? Dad and Mom bought me a cake! They didn’t forget it’s my birthday today!” Snowy eyed me, as if mocking me. Mom gave the cake to Chloe, saying she bought it especially for Chloe because she wanted it. As if afraid I’d hear, she even lowered her voice. “Take it to your bedroom and eat it secretly. Otherwise, your sister will find out and start crying to me again.” I’d only cried that one time, but Mom had mentioned it repeatedly for ten years. Actually, I wasn’t too sad, because I knew that even if I drew sticks, I’d only get the short one. I was unlucky. The cake would still go to Chloe. “I’ve never had cake before. Have you?” I asked Snowy. It suddenly jumped in, knocked the cake out of Chloe’s hands with a paw, and then darted back out. Chloe’s hand was scratched. She burst into tears. Mom, however, angrily grabbed a vase and smashed it violently against my bedroom door. “Mia, are you deliberately trying to hurt Chloe? Why didn’t you close the window?” Seeing that I still didn’t open the door, Mom was utterly enraged, but Dad held her back. “Enough! Forget about her for now. Let’s take Chloe to the hospital first. We’ll settle scores with her when we get back!” By the time they returned, it was already past midnight. Dad and Mom knocked on my door together. When there was no movement inside, they finally lost all patience, grabbing a hammer to break the door down. It was only when a neighbor complained that they stopped, shouting a stream of insults from outside. Mom bought Chloe a new princess dress. She twirled around, showing it off. “I cried when I got my shot, and Mom felt bad for me, so she took me to buy new clothes and delicious steak.” “You’ve never had it, have you? It’s your fault for being so unlucky. If you drew the long stick, Mom would take you to eat steak and buy new clothes too.” My blood seeped out from under the door. Chloe stepped in it and slipped. She shrieked, drawing Mom and Dad over. “What happened? Where’s all this blood coming from?” Dad looked at the crack under the door, shocked and panicked. “It looks like it’s coming from Mia’s room. Mia…” His suspicion was cut short by Chloe’s wailing. “I just wanted to show Mia my new dress, and she told me to get lost! That’s *my* blood! My head hurts so much!” Mom exploded. She furiously kicked the bedroom door. “Mia, get out here! You made Chloe bleed so much, and you still dare to hide inside!” This time, Mom was truly determined to open the door. Each kick was harder than the last. My corpse was repeatedly slammed by the door, becoming unrecognizable. I wondered if they would be scared when they saw me like this. The door didn’t break open, so Mom had to go bandage Chloe first, calling me a “wretched child” as she left. Actually, this wasn’t the first time Chloe had falsely accused me. Ever since we were little, whenever she made a mistake, she’d shriek and cry, then blame me. Mom was “fair.” She’d always say no matter who was right or wrong, we’d draw sticks first, and whoever drew the short stick would be punished. And every time, I was the one who got hit. If I were still alive, would I be locked in the attic without food or water this time, or forced to stand outside in the rain all night? I floated downstairs and suddenly noticed something. Tears welled in my eyes. And I finally understood why, for ten years, I had never drawn the long stick.

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I’d just given birth when I saw Julian Albright’s stepsister, Tiffany, snapping photos of me on her phone. “Stella, you look absolutely repulsive after giving birth. Julian will probably be scarred for life just seeing you like this, won’t he?” I shrieked at her to get out. My brother, Leo, snatched her phone and deleted my private photos. But she started wailing loudly outside the hospital room. “Those were my photos! What right do you have to delete them?” Julian’s face was livid. He threw a punch that sent Leo sprawling to the floor. “Get on your knees and beg Tiffany for forgiveness, or I’ll make you pay dearly!” Leo refused to apologize. So, Julian threatened to break my brother’s hand. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I stumbled out and slapped Julian across the face. “Julian, we’re done! I want a divorce!” Julian’s face instantly swelled red. He stared at me, his eyes wide with shock and disappointment. Just then, Tiffany charged forward and slapped me hard across the face. “Stella, don’t push your luck!” I lost my footing and fell heavily to the ground. The stitches from my delivery ripped open, and agony ripped through me, sweat chilling my skin. Crimson blood spread beneath me, staining the pristine white hospital gown. “Stella!” Leo screamed, his voice raw. He struggled, crawling clumsily towards me from where he lay on the floor. But Julian’s relatives dragged him back like a dead dog. Tiffany looked down at me, her voice sharp and venomous. “Stella, how could you do this?” “This is your husband! You hit him for your brother? Did you ever truly love him?” Julian glanced at me coldly, then pulled Tiffany into his arms, comforting her. It wasn’t until the nurse brought the baby out. I struggled to lift my head and saw Tiffany holding him, standing not far away. A cruel smile curved Tiffany’s lips. “Choose your precious son, and Leo loses both his hands. Choose Leo, and from today on, this child has nothing to do with you. I’ll raise him as my own.” “Stella, choose!” My newborn child had become their bargaining chip. No one around tried to stop them. Some even looked on, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Leo was already in so much pain he was on the verge of passing out, but he still screamed at me, “Stella! Don’t worry about me! Choose the baby! Choose the baby!” Julian looked at me, drenched in blood, without a trace of pity in his eyes. “Stella, stop making a scene. Tiffany just wants justice. Pick one, and we can drop this. Otherwise, you’ll face the consequences.” My breath hitched. On one side was the child I’d carried for nine months and given birth to. On the other was the only family I had left in this world. They were both my flesh and blood; I couldn’t choose. The baby seemed to sense the tension around him and suddenly burst into tears. That weak cry pierced my heart like a needle. On the other side, Leo was desperately calling my name, again and again. My body trembled violently, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Everyone covered their noses and recoiled in disgust. Tiffany gloated, “No time to hesitate! Three seconds! One, two—” I reached out, wanting to touch my baby, then wanting to comfort the injured Leo. But my gaze finally landed on Julian’s face, the man I’d loved for five years. And who was now hurting me at my most vulnerable. My lips quivered. Before I could even scream an answer, my vision went black, and I completely passed out.

“Leo!” I snapped my eyes open, struggling to sit up. But a strong hand pressed down on my shoulder. I looked up, meeting Julian’s deep-set eyes. He was sitting by my bedside, a hint of exhaustion in his gaze. “Julian, where’s Leo?” I grabbed his wrist, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “What did you do to Leo? Tell me!” Julian frowned, prying my hand away, his tone calm. “You’ve been unconscious for a day. Since you didn’t make a decision, I chose the baby for you. If Tiffany hadn’t been kind enough to plead, Leo would have lost both his hands.” “What?!” I stared at him in disbelief, roaring with fury, “Julian, you piece of trash!” I tried to get out of bed, to rush to my brother’s side immediately, but he held me down firmly. “You just gave birth, you can’t move! Stella, it’s done. Making a fuss won’t change anything now. You need to take care of yourself.” “Let go of me!” I shrieked, like a cornered beast pushed to its limits. “That’s my brother! My only family! How dare you make that decision for me? How dare you break his hand? Julian, I’ll kill you!” The hospital room door burst open with a bang. Tiffany walked straight to the window, carrying a thermos. With a flick of her wrist, scalding chicken soup splashed out the window. “You ungrateful viper! Who do you think you are, to even touch anything from our Albright family, let alone drink our chicken soup?” She turned around, her face filled with disgust. “Stella, your parents died early, so no one taught you gratitude, right? Julian has been pouring his heart out for you, and what do you do? You dare to blame him for hitting your uncivilized brother?” “I should’ve just let them cripple your brother completely. It would’ve saved everyone a lot of trouble.” Tiffany pulled out her phone and slammed it onto my bedside table. The screen lit up, showing a video of Leo being held down and beaten. A bodyguard swung a wooden club at his hand, the sickening crack of bone breaking clearly audible even through the screen. Leo was curled on the ground, groaning in agony, hoarsely and despairingly calling out for his sister. My whole body trembled. A surge of pure hatred welled up inside me. I violently shoved Julian away, using every ounce of strength I had. Unprepared, Julian staggered back two steps, hitting the wall. I didn’t look back, didn’t spare him another glance. Like a madwoman, I bolted towards the hospital entrance, desperate to find my injured brother. As soon as I burst through the doors, my steps froze. My blood ran cold. At the bottom of the hospital steps, Leo was curled on the ground, his left hand hanging limply, blood soaking his clothes. His face was ashen, his brows tightly furrowed. He was still murmuring, “Stella… my hand…” I stumbled forward, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “Leo, I’m here! I’ll get you help!” One hand clutching my intensely painful abdomen, the other I painstakingly threaded under Leo’s armpit, half-lifting, half-propping him up. We leaned on each other, struggling step by step towards the hospital entrance. Just as I used my last ounce of strength to push open the hospital door, Tiffany and her bodyguards blocked the way. A cruel smile played on her lips. “Stella, you want to save your brother?” “It’s simple. Get on your knees and kowtow ten times, until I’m satisfied.” “You’re dreaming!” Leo suddenly lifted his head, his voice hoarse. “Stella, let’s go! Don’t beg her! That woman isn’t worth bowing to!” “We’ll go to another hospital! Someone will help me! Stella, let’s go!” Tiffany looked down at us, her tone arrogant and unyielding. “Let me tell you, one word from the Albrights, and no hospital in this entire city will dare to admit him.” I looked past her to Julian. He stood there silently watching, letting Tiffany freely humiliate us. I managed a bitter laugh, tears welling in my eyes, but I stubbornly refused to let them fall. “Julian, that day you proposed to me, your promises… have you forgotten them?”

My voice trembled, but each word was crystal clear: “You said you’d treat Leo like your own brother, cherish him.” “But what happened?” Julian froze, as if struck by a heavy blow. The coldness on his face crumbled instantly, a flicker of panic in his eyes. Tiffany noticed and reassuringly linked her arm through his. “Stella, how can you say that about Julian? He’s been good enough to Leo! It’s Leo who was rude and disrespected me first. He did something wrong, so he deserves to be punished!” “Don’t emotionally blackmail Julian!” Julian stepped forward, his tall frame radiating intense pressure, his eyes filled with disappointment and disgust. “Stella, I thought you were a reasonable person. I never expected you to be so biased and ungrateful!” “You don’t have to kneel. Just abandon him, and there will still be a place for you in the Albright family.” “Which is more important, your child or your brother? I think you should understand.” I scoffed, forcefully pulling off my wedding ring. With a flick of my wrist, the diamond ring hit the ground hard. It landed at Julian’s feet, like his own shattered heart. My voice was as cold as ice. “Julian, we’re finished!” With that, I gritted my teeth, supported Leo, and walked away without looking back. We tried three major hospitals, but were stopped at the entrance of each. I knew in my heart that Tiffany had already made calls. She wanted to push us into a dead end. By nightfall, I finally found a small clinic. I grabbed the old doctor who came to meet us, begging desperately, “Doctor, please, look at my brother’s hand. We’ll pay whatever it costs.” Dr. Miles frowned as he carefully cut open Leo’s sleeve. His entire arm was severely swollen and bruised. He gently touched the wound, and Leo almost passed out from the pain. Dr. Miles sighed, his voice grave. “The injury is too severe. I can only do basic first aid here. You need to get him to a major hospital as soon as possible. If you delay any longer, the fractured bone pressing on the blood vessels for too long could lead to amputation.” Hearing those words, my body swayed, and I fell heavily to the ground. “Stella!” Seeing this, Leo struggled to get up from the bed. His movements were too quick, aggravating his injury, his face contorted in pain. But he still gritted his teeth and stretched out his hand towards me. “Stella, don’t worry. I still have my other hand.” “As long as you don’t think I’ll be a burden, a cripple.” The despair in Leo’s eyes pierced me. “Leo, don’t worry, I won’t let them amputate your hand.” Suddenly, the clinic door burst open with a bang. Tiffany looked down at us. “Stella, I thought you’d found some better place. So, you’re just hiding out in this dump?” She looked maliciously at Leo, trying to provoke him. “Leo, blame your sister. She refused to kneel, and now you’re going to lose your hand.” Dr. Miles frowned. “Ma’am, there’s a patient here. Please watch your language.” “Watch my language?” Tiffany scoffed, pulling a wad of cash from her bag and tossing it on the table. “Hey, this money is enough for half a year’s rent for your clinic. Now get them out. Otherwise, I won’t just shut you down; I’ll make sure you can never practice here again.” A bodyguard stepped forward, glaring menacingly at Dr. Miles. Dr. Miles hesitated for a long time, then finally sighed, quietly putting away his reduction forceps. “Miss, I’m sorry…” The word “amputation” still echoed in my ears. I scrambled up, my knees hitting the floor hard, and began to kowtow repeatedly to Tiffany. Ignoring the blood gushing from my forehead, I pleaded in a hoarse voice, “Tiffany, please take my brother to see a doctor. Don’t let him lose his hand. I’ll agree to anything you want. I’ll be your slave, whatever it takes!” Tiffany folded her arms, a look of disgusted, cruel amusement on her face. “Begging me? Stella, did you hit your head? When did I ever say I’d take your brother to the doctor if you kowtowed?” Her words were the final straw, utterly crushing the last shred of hope in my heart. I snatched a scalpel from the nearby tray and pressed it against her throat. “Tiffany, take my brother to the best hospital right now! Get the best orthopedic surgeon! Otherwise, I’ll make you pay with your life.” Tiffany shrieked and struggled, trembling all over. “Stella, are you insane?!” “Julian, Julian, help me!” Just then, Julian burst in, ignoring everything. His eyes instantly turned red, and he roared, “Stella! You’re out of your mind! How dare you hurt Tiffany!” Before I could explain, he kicked me hard in the abdomen. I fell heavily to the ground, feeling as if every bone in my body had shattered. “Julian, look closely! She’s the one refusing my brother medical help, she’s the one trying to kill us!” “She’s clearly in the wrong, yet you keep indulging her.” I clutched my stomach, struggling to lift my head, my eyes filled with accusation. But Julian didn’t care. He meticulously checked Tiffany for injuries. When he turned to look at me, his eyes held nothing but icy disgust. “I will never forgive anyone who harms Tiffany.” He barked at the bodyguards by the door. “Break her brother’s other hand! Let her taste what it’s like to wish you were dead!” In that critical moment, I fumbled for my phone in my pocket, my trembling fingers scrambling across the screen. The moment the call connected, I used every last bit of my strength to cry for help. “Is, is this Mr. Hayes from ‘The Ark’?” My voice was shaking uncontrollably, laced with tears and pleading. “I’m Arthur and Eleanor’s daughter. My brother is about to be beaten to death, they’re going to break his hands. Please, please save us…”

Julian impatiently snatched the phone from me. “Calling for help? I’d like to see who dares to interfere with my business!” However, the next second, a commanding voice boomed from the other end of the line. “I don’t care who you are, get your filthy hands off her right now! If you dare touch her again, you’ll face the consequences!” Tiffany scoffed dismissively. “Stella, do you really think a phone call can save you? Let me tell you, even if the King of Kings himself showed up today, he couldn’t save you!” With that, she smashed the phone to pieces. Just then, Julian gave a cold command. The bodyguards raised their steel pipes again. I picked up the scalpel and pressed it against my own throat. “Julian, if you dare harm my brother again, I’ll die right here in front of you! I’ll make you live with the shadow of having driven me to my death, with no peace for the rest of your life!” “Stella, are you threatening me?” I remained silent, simply glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. Julian was startled by the hatred in my gaze and stumbled backward. As we stood there, locked in a stalemate, Tiffany snatched the steel pipe. “Stella, you can threaten my brother, but you can’t threaten me.” “You dared to lay hands on me. Today, I’m going to break both your brother’s arms and legs. I’ll make sure he’s a cripple for life.” A triumphant smile played on her lips as she advanced. A wave of regret washed over me. When Julian and I first started dating, Tiffany thought I’d stolen her brother, and she constantly tormented me. At the time, I believed true love could overcome anything, never imagining I would bring such suffering upon myself and my brother. Just then, a booming sound came from outside the door. An elderly man in an impeccably tailored, classic suit pushed the door open, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. When he saw me and my injured brother, he sternly demanded, “Who did this?” Tiffany was startled by Mr. Hayes’s commanding presence. After sizing him up, her eyes filled with disdain. “All show and no substance!” “Who are you? Another one of Stella’s poor relatives? Get out of here!” Seeing Mr. Hayes didn’t react, her confidence grew, and she haughtily lifted her chin. “Let me tell you, this is Albright territory. If you don’t know your place, don’t blame us for being impolite. You’ll regret it!” Mr. Hayes countered with a faint smile, “Oh? Is that so?” The words had barely left his lips when a flurry of urgent footsteps echoed from the alleyway. A group of well-trained men in black suits rushed in. The leader walked directly to Mr. Hayes and respectfully bowed. “Sir, everything is ready.” Mr. Hayes nodded slightly, his kind gaze falling on me and Leo. “Children, don’t be afraid. With me here, no one can touch you.” The man in black understood and immediately waved his hand to those behind him. Two medical personnel swiftly approached with a stretcher, carefully securing Leo onto it. Another man in black helped me up. “Miss Reid, please don’t worry. We will do everything we can to treat your brother.” I nodded with difficulty, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. Julian and Tiffany’s faces turned pale, frozen in place. Seeing their craven, bullying nature, my heart filled with an overwhelming sense of sorrow. I had wasted so much precious time on people like this, and even worse, I had caused my brother such severe injury. Just as we were about to step onto the helicopter lift, Julian’s hoarse voice came from behind. “Stop!” Julian stumbled over, blocking our way. “How dare you? How dare you take them? Leo made a mistake and should be punished. This is our family business, and it’s none of your business, you stranger!”

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On our seventh wedding anniversary, my wife, Scarlett, drove us straight off a cliff. Just before the explosion, Scarlett screamed: “Liam! I’m here to die for you!” Only then did I realize she had never truly let go of her first love, Liam. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in college. I broke up with her immediately. Eight years later. She booked out a whole bar, planning to propose to her first love. But when she saw me holding another woman’s hand, she cried and asked: “Ryan, didn’t you promise you’d only ever love me?” I saw Scarlett again in that bar. Traffic from the theater had held me up, so I missed the class reunion. I went straight to our arranged meeting spot. But I ran into old classmates. They were dancing wildly on the floor. Scarlett, with her fair skin and tall figure, stood out in the crowd. Liam had his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, and the adoration in Scarlett’s eyes as she looked at him was unmistakable. “Scarlett is a total powerhouse, isn’t she? So young and already owns several fitness clubs.” “Of course. She booked this whole place tonight just for Liam.” “This is the most luxurious bar in the city. A private party here for one night? We’re talking at least a million bucks.” The music stopped. Liam’s face was flushed, a slight pant in his breath as he stood there. The giant screen suddenly lit up, playing a video montage of Liam and Scarlett’s relationship. The crowd began to cheer, pushing Liam onto the stage. Scarlett held a bouquet of roses, her eyes full of deep affection as she asked him: “Liam, will you marry me?” Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable force. Someone in the crowd asked: “Didn’t Scarlett used to date Ryan? When did they break up?” The voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear. Hearing my name, Scarlett’s eyes darkened, and her smile faltered. Liam’s expression stiffened, then he coughed lightly, took the flowers from Scarlett’s hand, and forced a smile: “Scarlett certainly has a lot of male friends, but who hasn’t made mistakes when they were young? What matters is a happy ending.” The crowd laughed, continuing to flatter them, saying how perfect they were for each other. I stood in the corner, watching their hands clasped together. Was I the “mistake” he was talking about? But he didn’t know that, in my previous life, Scarlett had pursued me. It was love at first sight for her, then she launched a fierce campaign. Who could say no to someone beautiful, wealthy, and utterly devoted to you? So I said yes. The day we made it official, Scarlett cupped my face, hesitating to kiss me. “Ryan, I’m not dreaming, am I?” “If I kiss you, will the dream end?” I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, then leaned in and kissed her. That night, she promised me: “Ryan, I’ll be good to you my whole life.” I believed her. But she lied.

I took a deep breath, heading towards the elevator through the dim light. Some old classmates spotted me and gasped: “Ryan, what are you doing here?” “Where have you been? You look a mess!” “Don’t tell me you’re still out of a job? Scarlett’s here, you know. For old times’ sake, why don’t you ask her to hook you up with a job that pays five thousand bucks a month?” Their mockery was undisguised. I didn’t care, just smiled politely and poured myself a glass of ice water. From the moment I walked in, Scarlett’s gaze had been locked on me. Seeing me get free ice water, she seemed to relax a little, speaking coolly: “Order whatever you want. It’s on me tonight.” I replied: “Thanks, but no need.” My tone was polite, yet distant. Scarlett’s step, moving closer, halted. Half her face was hidden in the shadows, her expression unreadable. After a long moment, she let out a scoff: “Ryan, it’s been years, and you’re still so stubbornly proud.” Liam’s eyes sharpened with警惕. His fingers were still intertwined with Scarlett’s as he looked me over with a possessive gaze, a sneer on his face: “Ryan, I’m not trying to be mean, but you’re a man, you should at least tidy yourself up before going out.” “Look at you, dressed so casually, your hair a mess. Who’s going to want to be with you like that?” “I’ve got a ton of clothes I don’t wear. If you don’t mind, you can have them. Scarlett buys me so much, my closet is overflowing.” Laughter erupted from the crowd. I turned to look at my reflection in the glass. After working on set for two days straight, I was exhausted. I didn’t have the energy to bother with my appearance. Standing next to Liam, who was meticulously groomed down to every hair, I did look a bit out of place. “No thanks.” I waved her off, grabbed a fruit platter from the bar, and started eating. I was starving, so my eating wasn’t exactly graceful. Scarlett suddenly walked towards me, holding her phone out. I looked up at her, confused. “Give me your bank account details. I’ll give you three hundred grand.” “This… this happened to you because of me.” “But we’re over now. Don’t cling to the past.” “Don’t wait for me. Live your life.” Scarlett’s phone wallpaper was Liam holding a huge bouquet of flowers. Watching his bright smile, I spaced out for a moment. In my previous life, let alone a wallpaper, Scarlett’s phone had no content about me whatsoever. She didn’t even save my number, because she never needed to call me. I arranged everything for her life and work. It was clear then, whether someone loved you or not. We started dating in college and got married right after graduation. She dreamed of becoming an athlete, and I wanted to study film. Two different dreams that rarely intersected. Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, I gave in. I gave up my chance to study abroad, spending my days trailing after her, carrying a toolbox. She didn’t have professional equipment, so I worked nights to save up and buy her the best sportswear. She didn’t have a support team, so I taught myself repair skills, taking on all responsibilities for her alone. But she still lost. Her second-hand equipment could never compete with others’ latest models. Even though I constantly tried to comfort her low spirits. She still pushed me away, her eyes filled with a disgust I’d never seen before: “I’m sick of this boring life.” “If I had chosen Liam back then, I would never have ended up like this.” That sentence shattered all my hopes. I didn’t even have time to dwell on the past before we both died at the bottom of that cliff. Since fate gave us a second chance, and we both chose the lives we wanted. There was no need for any connection between us anymore. I pushed the phone back. “We have no relation. No need.”

Scarlett frowned, a tremor in her voice that was hard to miss: “No relation? What do you mean? Am I just a stranger to you?” I looked up, meeting her gaze directly, and said calmly: “Aren’t you? Our lives don’t intersect. My well-being, good or bad, what does it have to do with you?” “If you have too much money to burn, you can go help those who truly need it.” Perhaps thinking I had publicly embarrassed her, Scarlett’s expression grew impatient, and she said coldly: “Ryan, what are you playing at? Didn’t you come here just to get my attention?” Liam, seeing this, gently soothed her: “Scarlett, don’t say that. Ryan will be sad.” He turned to me, his eyes full of contempt, yet his tone was gentle: “Ryan, I’m not trying to criticize, but Scarlett is just concerned about an old classmate. How about this, I opened a clinic on South Street, and we happen to need a cleaner. It pays seven thousand a month, plus room and board. If you’re interested, you can come.” Someone nearby gasped: “South Street? That’s prime real estate! Liam must be amazing to open a clinic there.” “Ryan, you’ve met a benefactor! Hurry up and thank Liam!” I rolled my eyes, calmly ate my fruit, and refused again: “No thanks. I really like my current job.” Seeing that I wasn’t playing along, those eager to curry favor with Scarlett immediately started blaming me: “Ryan, are you crazy? Scarlett and Liam are helping you like this, and you’re not grateful? You act like you’re too good for it.” “Everyone knows your real capabilities! Don’t miss out on an opportunity just to save face.” Only after he finished speaking did Liam feign concern: “Everyone, don’t talk about Ryan like that… Maybe he really does like his current life.” With that, he put on a wounded expression. Scarlett looked at Liam, threw her arms around him, and cooed softly: “Liam, you’re just too kind.” She turned to me and said: “Ryan, I can’t believe you’re still so selfish and hypocritical.” “You’ll never amount to anything! You deserve nothing but the worst life!” I was curious why Scarlett would say such things to me. In both lives, I had never harmed her. Why, after all these years, was she still spewing venom? I didn’t want to get tangled up anymore, so I stood up, intending to go to the private room upstairs, but a female classmate blocked my way. She held a drink, approaching me with ill intent. “Ryan, I always disliked you, and now look at you. You’ve had your day.” “Come drink a few with me. Five hundred a drink, how about it?” “If you let me touch your hand, I might even add more.” I looked closely and recognized Chloe, who had confessed to me at our graduation ceremony. Back then, I was focused on securing my study opportunity and rejected her. I didn’t expect her to still hold a grudge after all this time. Everyone was laughing, and no one helped me. I frowned. Attending this gathering wasn’t my intention. If I didn’t have an appointment, I would have left long ago. The security guards were nowhere to be seen. Just as I was about to push her away, Scarlett, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly threw her glass at Chloe. Her voice was icy: “Stay away from him.” Chloe was drenched in drink. She was about to erupt but, seeing it was Scarlett, she bit her tongue and just shot me a furious glare. The glass shattered on the floor. Liam’s smug smile froze. He looked at Scarlett in disbelief: “Scarlett, what are you doing!” Scarlett ignored him, her eyes fixed on me: “This is my party tonight. I don’t want any trouble.” I took two steps back, wiping the spilled drink from my pants. “The security here is terrible.” Liam looked at me, his face red with anger: “You’re still complaining!” “Do you even know where this is? This is a place owned by the famous celebrity Genevieve. If it weren’t for Scarlett, someone like you would never get in!” At the mention of Genevieve, several male classmates got excited. “Is that the Genevieve who won all those awards at such a young age and has been on the Forbes list for five consecutive years?” “I heard she’s married, but her husband has never shown his face.” Just then, the main doors swung open. A little girl, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, walked in. The girl looked around. A butler in a crisp suit followed behind her, saying carefully: “Luna, slow down, be careful not to fall.” The old classmates instantly got excited. “To be allowed in when the place is booked out, and to have a butler following her so attentively, she must be Genevieve’s daughter!” “Oh my god, she looks just like Genevieve!” I was about to step forward when the woman who had been splashed with drink earlier blocked me again. She didn’t dare provoke Scarlett, so she took her anger out on me: “Ryan, if it weren’t for Scarlett, you wouldn’t even be worthy of seeing her! Get down on your knees and apologize right now. If I’m happy, maybe I’ll still marry you.” “Good women like me, earning five grand a month, are hard to find. Be smart!” I ignored her, watching as the girl was surrounded by everyone. They barraged her with questions; some started taking pictures. Liam lost his arrogance, replacing it with a fawning smile: “Little sis, your mom is Genevieve, right?” The girl nodded, and Liam’s smile grew even more ingratiating: “What are you doing here? Do you want some fruit? I’ll get it for you?” As he spoke, he reached out to touch her face. The girl pushed Liam away and ran towards me. Under everyone’s stunned gazes, she threw herself into my arms, sweetly calling out: “Daddy!”

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I left when my girlfriend was diagnosed with kidney failure. I even took most of our shared savings with me. Three years later, Victoria not only recovered but became a formidable figure in the city’s business world. At her engagement party to her fiancé, Leo, Victoria publicly declared her feelings for him: “The only regret I have in life is missing out on you for three whole years during my youth.” As the man who was the male lead in those three years of her youth, I was hidden in a corner of the ballroom, agonizingly watching the woman I had personally abandoned. Victoria would never know that those three years, which she considered a stain on her past, were the best, irreplaceable time of my life. Victoria’s gentle yet distant voice drifted into my ears, bit by bit. It had been three years since we last met. Back then, in the early stages of her illness, her face was gaunt and pale, her body consumed by sickness. She was a completely different person from the radiant, elegant, and luxurious woman standing before me now. The engagement party was grand, with reporters swarming in circles outside the venue. Flowers adorned every corner—a setup I had once envisioned for my own engagement to Victoria. Now, everything was as perfect as in my dreams, except the man marrying Victoria wasn’t me. A nosy reporter, sensing Victoria’s good mood, tried to dig for a scoop: “Why did you and Leo miss three years? Could it be you had someone else you couldn’t forget?” The last part was meant as a joke, but Victoria, who had been smiling moments before, instantly turned cold. Leo, holding Victoria’s delicate hand, explained with a mix of sympathy and indignation: “Victoria did have an ex-boyfriend, but that man heartlessly abandoned her when she got sick.” “That incident has always been a scar on Victoria’s heart, so please don’t bring it up again!” Victoria reassuringly patted Leo’s hand, her voice growing colder when she spoke again: “That’s ancient history. Now I’m successful, and I have such a wonderful fiancé like Leo. That man can only regret his choices!” “If it weren’t for his cruel heartlessness, I wouldn’t have hit rock bottom and bounced back stronger.” I knew Victoria too well; even when she deliberately reined in her emotions, I could still sense the hatred in her tone. Just as I was lost in thought, a colleague nudged me suddenly: “Alex, hurry and take the cake knife up there! Alex!” With my colleague’s shove, I accidentally stumbled out from the crowd. The moment Victoria saw me, her pupils constricted. Leo also gasped in disbelief: “Alex, what are you doing here?!” He clung to Victoria’s arm, his eyes filled with wariness toward me: “Why are you here? You abandoned Victoria three years ago; why are you showing up now?” “Don’t tell me you saw Victoria’s success and want to try to leech off her again? Alex, how can you be so selfish!” With every word Leo uttered, Victoria’s gaze toward me grew colder. I scrambled up from the ground, looking disheveled: “No, I didn’t. I’m just working here…” Hearing my words, Victoria scoffed, her gaze dismissively sweeping over me: “Three years, and you’ve fallen to working as a server. How pathetic.” “Alex, do you regret leaving me now?” When she spoke of the past, Victoria’s voice tightened, her beautiful eyes filled with hatred, as if she wanted to burn a hole through me with her stare. After all, to her, that was probably the most humiliating period of her life. Not only was she diagnosed with a serious illness, but I, her boyfriend of several years, ultimately chose to take our money and leave. However, what surprised her was that I managed to pull off a perfect smile: “No regrets. I earn my living with my own hands; there’s no shame in that. You should go cut the cake with Leo now.” Victoria’s anger visibly faltered for a second, seeing my calm demeanor. She used to hug me whenever her startup faced setbacks, promising me: “Alex, I will succeed. Someday, I’ll make everyone respect you!” And I would wrap my arm around her shoulder: “No matter if you succeed or not, I’ll always be by your side!” Yet here I was, after all these twists and turns, respectfully standing here, witnessing her happiness. “Alex.” Victoria’s anger turned into a sardonic smile, a mocking smirk playing on her red lips: “You truly are unrepentant!” As her words fell, Victoria shoved the three-tiered cake, knocking it over. Sweet cream and chocolate splattered all over me. Like a clown, I stood center stage, enduring the amused, mocking stares of the crowd.

The sudden incident caught everyone off guard. No one expected a beautiful engagement party to end this way. The manager rushed over upon hearing the news, apologizing profusely. But Victoria didn’t even glance at him, her eyes fixed solely on me. I used to be so proud, but now, publicly humiliated, I didn’t utter a word. Instead, I instinctively blurted out: “Victoria, I’m sorry.” Victoria felt no satisfaction from this; instead, a knot formed in her chest. “This is my engagement party, and you let someone so irrelevant in here. If you want me to drop this, you must fire him!” Hearing Victoria demand my dismissal, I abruptly lifted my head, which had been bowed: “No! I… I need this job…” “Victoria, I apologize. I shouldn’t have been here. Please don’t let the manager fire me…” Seeing my reddened eyes, Victoria gave a cruel smile, her exquisite face filled with scorn: “A heartless man like you deserves nothing!” “If you’re so desperate for money, I can introduce you to some quick-money jobs. I guarantee you’ll be raking it in!” I looked at Victoria, who was humiliating me, in disbelief. The shame and indignation choked me: “Victoria, you’ve gone too far…” Seeing my tormented expression, Victoria, who had been so overbearing moments ago, showed a flicker of panic in her eyes. She almost instinctively reached out to touch my face, just as she used to three years ago. But the next second, Leo groaned, clutching his right eye: “Victoria, my eye hurts so much…” Hearing Leo’s voice, Victoria seemed to snap back to reality. She anxiously helped Leo up: “Is your old injury acting up again? I’ll take you to the hospital right now!” As she helped Leo past me, Victoria gritted her teeth and spat a harsh warning: “Alex, everything you owe me, I’ll get back, little by little!” After Victoria left, the engagement party quickly wrapped up. To avoid offending Victoria, the manager immediately fired me. No matter how much I pleaded, the manager just waved his hands: “Alex, do you know who you offended? That’s Victoria! We can’t afford to cross her. You’d better look for another job!” Clutching a crumpled three-hundred-dollar bill, I stumbled aimlessly down the street. The cold wind made me shiver, transporting me back to the cold operating table three years ago. As my vision blurred, my legs gave out, and I collapsed on the street. When I woke up again, I was in a hospital. My sister, Lucy, helped me sit up, her eyes filled with lingering fear: “Alex, what did you do to yourself? Didn’t I say you don’t have to worry about money? I can work extra jobs; you just need to focus on recovering.” “Alex, I heard everything. Victoria is beyond awful. Are you really not going to tell her the truth?” I weakly shook my head. Since I made my decision three years ago, I never intended to look back. Three years ago, Victoria was diagnosed with severe kidney disease, and only an organ transplant could save her. But the hospital had a shortage of organ donors, and Victoria couldn’t get on the transplant list. To save Victoria, I kept it a secret from her, underwent compatibility testing, and voluntarily became a donor. I knew her. If she knew I had made such a sacrifice for her, Victoria would never accept it. So I pretended I didn’t want to be burdened by her, disappearing after she was hospitalized. In reality, I was preparing for the surgery. However, due to my unique constitution, I developed severe complications after the surgery, leading to chronic organ failure. I didn’t want Victoria to live with guilt for the rest of her life, so after being discharged, I left town for three years. Because I needed continuous treatment, Lucy and I had been living frugally all these years, even working multiple jobs. That’s why I ended up working as a server at Victoria’s engagement party. After waking up, I insisted on being discharged, despite Lucy’s protests. After all, we simply couldn’t afford a private room at a top hospital anymore. However, just as Lucy was helping me, and we hadn’t gone far, we ran into Victoria and Leo in the hallway. Seeing me, Victoria immediately frowned: “Alex, you’ve even followed me here just to cling to me? You really are shameless!” Hearing Victoria insult me like that, Lucy immediately stepped in front of me: “Victoria, what are you talking about?!” Seeing the unfamiliar girl in front of me, Victoria’s eyes darkened, and the air around her turned icy. “What’s that in your hand?” Victoria noticed the medical report in my hand and reached out her delicate hand to take it. Fearing she would see the test results, I hastily stepped back. Victoria’s hand, suspended in mid-air, froze at my action. Just then, Leo suddenly spoke: “Since Alex came out of that examination room, could that be… a men’s health report?” Only then did I notice that not far behind me was a men’s specialist clinic. “I never expected this, Alex,” Leo feigned surprise. “Even though you wronged Victoria in the past, she’s not petty. If you’d told her sooner, she wouldn’t have treated you like that yesterday, right, Victoria?” Hearing Leo’s words, Victoria’s face darkened considerably. Her eyes blazed with fury, as if she wanted to shred Lucy, who was protecting me, with her gaze. I knew Victoria was the type to get to the bottom of things. To prevent her from pressing about the medical report, I could only remain silent. Seeing my silence, Victoria bit her lip, nodding repeatedly in anger: “Alex, you are really something!” “How could a heartless man like you not suffer retribution?!” “I must have been blind to be with you for so many years!” Watching Victoria’s angry departure, my eyes grew dimmer. Leo came closer, gloating: “Alex, don’t delude yourself into thinking Victoria still loves you like she did three years ago. Now, her heart only belongs to me!” “You’re a relic of the past; you should have been forgotten a long time ago!”

I thought Victoria and I, being worlds apart now, would never meet again. But fate had other plans. Half a month later, at a diamond exhibition, I unexpectedly ran into her again. Leo, who was beside her, deliberately chose me to serve him. A moment later, he exclaimed: “Alex, are you so desperate for money? You dared to steal the engagement ring Victoria gave me!” Hearing the commotion, Victoria came rushing over. Seeing the converging stares and Leo’s accusation, I retorted with a clear conscience: “Leo, are you done with your games?! I just want a job to make a living. Why do you have to target me everywhere I go?” Leo feigned grievance and grasped Victoria’s hand: “Victoria, I didn’t… It was Alex. I asked him to keep my jewelry box safe, but when I checked just now, the engagement ring was gone!” “Alex was the only one who touched my jewelry box. Who else could have stolen it but him?” Victoria’s gaze, full of disgust, swept over me, then she directly reached out her hand: “Give Leo his ring back.” Seeing her unconditionally side with Leo without a word, my heart sank once more: “I told you, it wasn’t me!” Victoria, however, wouldn’t listen to my explanation at all. Seeing me stubbornly refuse to admit it, she sneered: “Fine, if you won’t confess, then don’t blame me for not going easy on you.” “Take off your jacket!” Victoria’s words stunned me. Seeing me frozen, Victoria took a step toward me and reached out to tear open my suit jacket: “If you stole the ring, you could only hide it on your person. If you want to prove your innocence, I’ll give you a chance!” In a panic, I pushed her away, clutching my shirt tightly: “Are you crazy… Victoria, I didn’t steal anything. You know I’m not that kind of person…” “I don’t know!” Victoria’s voice suddenly rose. “Alex, I don’t know anything about you anymore.” “Since you won’t cooperate, don’t blame me for being ruthless. You, check his jacket!” The bodyguards, receiving the order, immediately surrounded me. I stumbled to the ground in terror, frantically dodging their outstretched hands. But no matter how much I struggled, I was outnumbered. With a “rip—” sound, my shirt was violently torn from the back. Just as I was about to be left with barely any clothes, Lucy burst through the bodyguards, throwing herself in front of me to shield me. “What are you doing! Let go of my brother! Stop it!” At the same time, a bodyguard suddenly handed something to Victoria: “Victoria, the ring has been found!” Seeing the recovered ring, Victoria looked down at me, trembling on the ground: “Alex, you’re truly unscrupulous for money. This ring is priceless; if I wanted to, I could make you pay a heavy price!” Seeing me shaking uncontrollably, Lucy roared at Victoria, unable to bear it any longer: “How can you treat my brother like this! My brother, for you, even donated his own organ to you!” As Lucy’s words fell, the bustling exhibition hall suddenly fell silent. After a long silence, Victoria’s voice came out rough, almost a whisper. “What did you say?”

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The Campbell Group’s celebration gala was handing out dividends. My husband, Julian, and his mother, Eleanor, publicly shamed me, calling me worthless, a failure who only dragged everyone down. They even forcibly gave my nearly completed project to his first love, Seraphina. “She’s claiming to be an heir to the Davies family! Do you know how much profit she can bring the company?” I didn’t get mad. Instead, I just smiled, then handed over my CEO position to him as well. Everyone in the company thought I’d lost my mind. But they had no idea, I am the true heir to the Davies family. And no, I don’t have any siblings! “Elara, the Campbell Group owes its success today largely to you. You’ve been instrumental.” “This year’s annual bonus rightfully belongs to you.” On stage, my husband, Julian Campbell, intimately held Seraphina Hayes’s hand, directly handing her a check for five million dollars. The audience erupted in applause. My mother-in-law, Eleanor Campbell, nodded in satisfaction, and colleagues swarmed them, showering them with praise and cheers. “With Ms. Hayes leading the way, our group’s prospects in the global high-end market are incredibly bright!” “Mr. Campbell and Ms. Campbell truly have an eye for talent. Mr. Campbell and Ms. Hayes’s collaboration is flawless, a synergy many professional strategic partners can’t even match!” I stood outside the crowd, watching the festive scene, the project proposal clutched in my hand, now crumpled and wrinkled. Today was supposed to be the group’s celebration gala and dividend distribution. But just as I arrived at the company’s banquet hall, Julian received an urgent call. He claimed there was a serious security issue with our project, insisting I personally go to the port warehouse to handle it. After years of marriage, I didn’t suspect a thing at first. The banquet hadn’t even begun when I sped off to the warehouse on the outskirts of town. Enduring scorching heat pushing past 100 degrees Fahrenheit, my team and I spent an entire day on inspection. But when I rushed back to the banquet and saw Julian hand the entire bonus to Seraphina — this “special consultant” who had only joined the group less than a month ago — I understood everything. The so-called “emergency” was nothing but a flimsy excuse to get rid of me. He just wanted to hand over the monumental achievement I’d poured three years of my heart and soul into, a deal I’d almost closed, to his long-lost first love. Seraphina seemed to notice me, feigning surprise as she raised her voice: “Oh, Ms. Davies, you’re just getting here? We thought you had an important engagement and couldn’t make it, so everyone started without you. You don’t mind, do you?” She spoke courteously, but her eyes held raw provocation, and she deliberately waved the check with its prominent numbers in front of me. Julian shot me an impatient glance: “Elara, what’s with that expression? Are you expecting the Chairwoman and all these important guests to wait for you? No wonder negotiations always dragged on. You’re simply incompetent, just a burden on the whole team. Since you’re here, perfect. Just hand this exhibition project over to Seraphina to handle entirely. It’ll save us from any further mishaps.” Hearing his condescending command, I clenched my fists, a chill seeping into my heart. The project he spoke of was an exclusive commission from Middle Eastern royalty, which my team and I had prepared for three years, enduring countless rounds of competition to secure. It represented the culmination of all my professional efforts. The Middle Eastern royal family was incredibly generous, paying five million dollars just for the initial setup. But to ensure the priceless antique jewelry was absolutely secure at every stage, I pulled countless all-nighters, traveling between the Middle East and Europe dozens of times, even ending up in the hospital multiple times from sheer exhaustion. Now, with the project at its final signing stage, Julian, with just a few dismissive words, intended to steal my hard work and hand it to his first love. I couldn’t help but feel a bitter laugh rise in my throat at my years of sacrifice. Ten years ago, the Campbell Group was on the verge of bankruptcy, unable to even pay its employees. Julian took over, determined to pivot into the high-end art market. I didn’t hesitate. I quit my job at a top international auction house, invested all my savings, and started from scratch with him. But he had a business management background and knew nothing about antique jewelry. All the company’s core client resources and connections over the years were built and maintained solely by me. Every critical partnership agreement was personally negotiated by me. Every thorny problem had to be solved by me. During the initial startup phase, when cash flow was extremely tight, Eleanor refused to provide more funding, believing my family background was too ordinary. It was I who leveraged all my connections and reputation to secure crucial working capital for the group. This is what allowed the Campbell Group to be resurrected and establish itself in this field. Only then did my marriage to Julian become a topic of discussion. But in this marriage, they always saw me as the one who married above my station. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, always looked down on my family origins. She felt it was a great favor for their Campbell family to accept me. Every time we met, she would subtly imply that I relied on my husband, and as a wife, I should be content and prioritize family. At the time, I didn’t care because I truly loved Julian. I loved him enough to dedicate everything to him and this family. But I never imagined that Seraphina, simply by accompanying Julian to a few overseas social galas, could effortlessly snatch all my achievements. Julian and I had been married for ten years. Yet, in the end, in his heart, I was worth less than his first love, who had abandoned him because of his family’s financial struggles. Today, he finally extinguished the last spark of affection between us. I stayed silent for a long time before speaking softly: “Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Seraphina practically couldn’t suppress her triumphant smile, yet she feigned modesty: “Ms. Davies, I’m just a beginner in this field. A project involving royal commissions and billion-dollar assets, how dare I just take it all over? I heard you’ve been working on it for almost three years without a final signing. I only wanted to help you relieve some pressure.” Julian gently patted her shoulder: “Seraphina, you’re claiming to be a future heir to the Davies family. If you can’t handle it, no one in the group can!” Eleanor imperiously echoed: “Exactly. Your capabilities are far superior to some people who occupy a position but fail to bring any tangible progress.” I almost laughed out loud. So, the Campbell family was so eager to promote her, paying her an exorbitant annual salary, all because she claimed to be an heir to the Davies family. But I had no idea when my family suddenly acquired another heir besides myself. After comforting Seraphina, Julian turned to me, sneering: “Elara, with your background and competence, would you have the status and resources you have today if you hadn’t married me? You’ve been living a good life for so long, you’ve forgotten who you are, haven’t you? You’re making excuses about handing over a project. If Seraphina hadn’t been constantly speaking up for you, Mom and I would have already considered removing you from management!” A cold laugh echoed in my heart. Julian seemed to have completely forgotten that in the beginning, the company couldn’t even draft a decent English letter, and every high-end client was personally contacted and maintained by me. I not only contributed all the core resources but also built the entire business team and processes from scratch. Now that the Campbell family was prosperous, they not only turned their backs on me completely but also saw me as a hindrance to their “further ascension.” They continued to chatter, as if I had become the Campbell family’s greatest disgrace. I took a deep breath, and under Julian’s scornful gaze, strode towards Seraphina. Everyone’s eyes darted between us, expecting this usually docile wife to finally lose her temper. But I just smiled calmly. I pulled out a pre-prepared resignation letter from my work bag and gently placed it on the table in front of Seraphina. “Spending all day staring at those projects must be exhausting. How about I just suggest you take over as CEO of the group?”

For a moment, everyone in the room widened their eyes, staring at me in disbelief. The Campbell Group executives whispered amongst themselves, all thinking I had been overly stimulated and was starting to ramble nonsense. After all, everyone in the company knew. My selfless dedication for ten years had laid the foundation for the group in this field. “Ms. Davies, you’re the co-founder and CEO of the company. It’s just one project; please don’t act rashly and destroy years of your hard work!” Hearing this, Julian seemed to think I was trying to blackmail him, and instantly bristled with anger: “Elara Campbell, what is wrong with you? Just because I said a few words, you dare to throw a tantrum in public? You’ve truly gone rogue! Let me remind you, you’re only CEO in name; I am the Chairman of the Group!” I laughed inwardly. I was handing over the CEO position on a silver platter; he should be thrilled. Wasn’t elevating his beloved first love precisely the outcome Julian and Eleanor dreamed of? Seraphina clutched the document tightly, a flicker of irrepressible greed in her eyes. Yet, she put on a show of selflessness: “Ms. Davies, are you saying you want me to be CEO just out of anger? Please don’t misunderstand, Julian is only trying to push the project forward and have me help you out. It’s all for the good of the Campbell Group. Besides, how dare I replace you? You’re the founder of the group; the CEO position isn’t something a newcomer like me can covet. Everyone knows how much effort you’ve poured into the company over the years; this position is yours alone.” With that, Seraphina made a show of pushing the document back to me. But her fingers remained firmly pressed against the paper, afraid I might actually take it back. Watching her hypocritical face, I smiled faintly: “Why would I be angry? The group needs fresh blood to bring more international perspective, and I’m happy to see it happen. I think you taking over as CEO is perfectly suitable. After all, you are ‘an heir to the Davies family,’ aren’t you?” Julian eyed me suspiciously, then scoffed: “Seraphina, since she’s ‘voluntarily stepping aside,’ don’t refuse any longer. With your talent and family background, taking this position is only a matter of time. There’s no question of whether you deserve it or not. Everyone here today is a witness.” As soon as he finished speaking, Seraphina immediately stopped “refusing,” clutching the document tightly to her chest, her triumph and desire practically overflowing from her eyes. My heart held only cold mockery. Julian, constantly by Seraphina’s side, had no idea that a Middle Eastern royal family wouldn’t even consider the Campbell Group’s scale. This project only ultimately gained royal favor because my father secretly used the Davies family’s credit as backing. I spent an entire year, in my capacity as a Davies heir, to build this framework of absolute trust for the Campbell Group. But Seraphina, with incredible audacity, had dared to impersonate my identity and steal that trust. Even if they secured the basic contract, without the continuous backing from the Davies family, they couldn’t even take the first real step. And I had just sent a discreet message to my family, requesting an immediate withdrawal of all implicit support for this project and formally notifying the Royal Office that the Campbell Group’s partner was involved in serious identity fraud. Without me, how would they fulfill their promise of absolute security to the royal family? The jewels they believed would bring boundless glory and wealth would only become a gigantic black hole that would swallow the entire group! Moreover, Seraphina probably didn’t realize that sitting in the CEO chair meant shouldering full responsibility. For this project alone, five million dollars in upfront funds had been received. Should anything go wrong, they would not only face astronomical compensation, but also directly provoke the royal family and be blacklisted from the entire elite circle. Since they viewed me as a useless burden, I naturally had no need to remind them. The day the news of the Davies family’s withdrawal became public and this project collapsed, that’s the day the Campbell Group truly faced ruin. Julian seemed somewhat surprised that I was so agreeable, and even showed a hint of negligible “guilt.” He cleared his throat dramatically and said in a patronizing tone: “Alright, Elara, don’t just stand there. Project documents still need to be handed over, and tonight we happen to be celebrating Seraphina’s birthday. Since you’ve been somewhat reasonable today, you might as well join us.” His condescending attitude almost made me burst out laughing on the spot. If this project succeeded, the commission split would be tens of millions of dollars. Yet, he excluded me from the bonus, and now he wanted to dismiss me with a single meal. What a shrewd game he was playing! The thought of forcing fake smiles across the table with someone as hypocritical as Seraphina filled me with disgust. Just as I was about to refuse, Seraphina spoke up again, feigning sincerity: “Oh dear, when I booked the private dining room earlier, I didn’t realize Ms. Davies would be coming. I completely forgot to reserve a prominent seat for you. It’s all my fault for not thinking it through. Even though I twisted my ankle earlier today, I still need to take responsibility. Please, you take a seat, and I’ll go outside in a moment to have a server bring another chair and order some better drinks.” I knew she was deliberately trying to appear vulnerable, aiming to solidify her image as a thoughtful but suffering woman in front of the Campbell family. Sure enough, as soon as Julian heard she was injured, he immediately pulled her close, his eyes full of concern, and helped her sit down. “Seraphina, you’ve already sacrificed enough for the group. How can I ask you to handle such a minor task when such an important project depends on you?” With that, he glared at me with disgust: “What are you still standing there for? Absolutely no situational awareness, wasted your time in the business world for years. Either go arrange the drinks now, or don’t bother attending tonight!” Watching his completely different demeanor, a cold laugh rose in my heart. Julian was always like this, taking my efforts for granted, yet doting on Seraphina. In the past, when I stayed up all night for projects, they never thought to invite me to their high-end social gatherings. Now, it was as if I was begging for this dinner. Seraphina, even more emboldened, smiled sweetly and said: “Ms. Davies, I’m truly sorry to trouble you. I’ll be sure to toast you properly later, to thank you for your… ‘generosity’…” Before she could finish, I sneered, lifted my foot, and violently kicked the leather chair beneath her, sending it crashing to the floor.

The next moment, Seraphina scrambled backward, tripping over the overturned chair. I watched her struggle to get back up, unable to suppress a cold laugh: “What’s this, the elite consultant’s ankle injury healed so quickly? Impressive reflexes, are you a former gymnast?” Julian looked as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on him, frozen in place. Then, he lovingly helped Seraphina, turning to roar at me: “Elara Campbell, have you lost your mind? Seraphina is claiming to be an heir to the Davies family! If anything happens to her, can you even afford to pay for it? I finally understand what’s wrong with you today. You just can’t stand Seraphina being more capable, more popular than you, and you’re deliberately trying to ruin everything, aren’t you?” I scoffed, my face full of disdain: “Me, jealous of someone who’s all show and no substance? And besides…” “I’ve already resigned. Don’t give me that patronizing attitude; I’m not playing along!” Julian’s face went pale with anger, but before he could say anything more, I strode out of the banquet hall without looking back. I let the commotion and Eleanor’s furious shouts fade into the distance. I tidied up my personal belongings in the office and glanced at the velvet gift box in my drawer, momentarily lost in thought. These were a pair of diamond cufflinks I had pre-ordered from an auction house. I had intended to give them to Julian as a gift for our tenth wedding anniversary. Now, it felt utterly ironic. Looking at the cufflinks, I couldn’t help but recall memories. I had noticed Julian in college. He was distinctly different from the spoiled rich kids I knew who relied on their family wealth. While others squandered their time, he was always in the library, the lab, or working several part-time jobs. I admired that pride earned through his own efforts. One day, I found his old fountain pen in the library. When I returned it to him, he paused, then tossed it into the nearby trash can. But then he asked if I would be his girlfriend. My classmates all said it was because his first love had just broken up with him, and he was simply acting out in spite of her. But I refused to believe it. I was doubly good to him, confident that one day he would be touched by my sincerity. For ten years of marriage, I remained this way. I knew he was always lukewarm towards me. But I always believed he loved me. Perhaps that was just his way of showing affection. It wasn’t until I personally witnessed his undisguised affection for Seraphina that I realized my ten years of devotion had been a lie to myself. Perhaps, from the very beginning, I was nothing more than a dispensable placeholder. Just as I was about to toss the gift into the trash, the office door was pushed open, and I bumped right into Julian and his entourage returning. “Well, Elara Campbell, weren’t you quite principled just now? Already packing up your things? Don’t be so childish, playing these sulky exit games.” In the doorway, Julian still had his arm linked with Seraphina, followed by several embarrassed executives. Ha, he wasn’t even bothering to hide it anymore. Seraphina gently tugged on Julian’s sleeve, feigning concern: “Julian, Ms. Davies might just be emotional right now. Look at the gift in her hand; maybe she specifically prepared it to reconcile with you.” Julian paused, then gave a mocking sneer: “Ha, she thinks buying something will make me change my mind? If Seraphina hadn’t talked me down today, I would’ve already had security escort you out…” As he spoke, he reached out to take the gift box from my hand. I frowned, snatched it away first, and directly tossed the velvet box into the wastebasket in the corner. “Pointless. Are you interested in trash? I suggest you break that habit of self-importance soon.”

With that, without waiting for Julian to react, I grabbed my work bag and left. I decided to head back to the Campbell villa to pack my personal belongings; it was time to definitively end this unequal marriage. But just as I was halfway through organizing, the bedroom door was violently flung open. Julian stormed in, livid, pointing at me as he snarled: “Elara Campbell, what exactly are you trying to do today? Making me lose face in front of all the executives and clients? Have you forgotten that everything you have today is thanks to the Campbell family?” Seraphina followed behind him, her face full of distress, gently persuading: “Ms. Davies, I wanted to explain a few things for you. But your behavior today was indeed a bit excessive. Is it because Julian and I have a lot of work contact that you’ve developed unnecessary misunderstandings? We truly are just professional partners. If you insist on thinking otherwise, then I… I’ll just have to withdraw from the project to avoid affecting your marriage.” Seraphina made a move to leave, but her steps were extremely slow. Julian immediately grabbed her wrist, his tone unusually gentle: “Seraphina, you’ve done nothing wrong. You’re not the one who should leave.” Then he spun to face me, gritting his teeth: “Elara, you’ve disappointed me so much. You’ve become cruel and unreasonable! If you don’t apologize to Seraphina for your disrespectful behavior right now, there’s no need for our marriage to continue!” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. This wasn’t the first time he had threatened me with divorce. Ever since Seraphina appeared, every time we argued because of her, he would throw out that line. Back then, like a fool, I thought it was a sign he still cared about our marriage, and I would back down again and again. I naively believed that if I just gave more, I would eventually become the irreplaceable wife in his heart. Looking back now, I was ridiculously blind. A man like this, I was better off without him! Julian saw my silence and assumed I would yield as before. He smugly adjusted his cuff, saying in a condescending tone: “Actually, I’m not completely unreasonable. As long as you sincerely apologize to Seraphina…” I cut him off directly: “No need to say more. I’m moving out. We’re getting a divorce.” Julian looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, his mouth open, unable to speak. Seraphina quickly tried to smooth things over: “Ms. Davies, even if you’re angry, you shouldn’t joke about your marriage.” I pulled out a pre-drafted divorce agreement from my file, placing it calmly on the dresser: “I’m not joking. Sign it. All asset division terms are already listed. From now on, we’re even.” Julian finally realized I was serious, pointing at me, his voice trembling: “Fine! Go then! Don’t come crying back later!” Seraphina’s eyes flashed with an almost imperceptible smugness, feigning distress: “Ms. Davies, you should reconsider. Once you leave the Campbell family, you won’t be Mrs. Campbell anymore. In this circle, who doesn’t respect Chairwoman Campbell’s influence? Without that status, how many of your former resources and connections will you have left?” I wasn’t deaf to the deeper meaning of her words. She was reminding me that a “lowly born” wife leaving a powerful family would be left with nothing. All my social prestige was dependent on Julian and the Campbell family. Julian, too, seemed to find new support in her words, his tone becoming arrogant again: “Exactly, some people just can’t face reality. You, a woman with no background, if it weren’t for our Campbell family giving you a platform, who would even notice you? The royal commission you couldn’t handle, Seraphina can easily revitalize. Once the Middle Eastern exhibition is a huge success, our group will finally join the top ranks!” I scoffed. Join the top ranks? They’d be facing total ruin! With Seraphina’s superficial connections, she wouldn’t even get the doors to the exhibits open. The Middle Eastern royal family wasn’t someone you could casually placate; the group would probably end up losing everything. As I was thinking, Julian’s phone suddenly rang. He gave me a provocative look, his face beaming with triumph: “Look, a call from the Royal Office. Once the first massive commission payment arrives, I’ll take Seraphina to Switzerland for a vacation. And you, you can go back to your tiny apartment and slowly savor the consequences of your impulsive actions!” He deliberately put it on speaker, waiting to gloat about his victory. The next second, a furious roar, mixed with Arabic and English, erupted from the phone: “You fools! You utterly deceitful swindlers! You dared to defraud the royal family with forged documents! If you don’t provide an explanation, I will use every power at my disposal to make your group disappear globally!”

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