Category: English

My Boyfriend’s Junior Was Cornered by Debt Collectors Ryan’s junior was cornered by debt collectors. I tried to stop Ryan from getting involved, but I never expected the junior would attempt suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. Ryan acted nonchalant and prepared to marry me. Until one drunken night, he caressed the junior’s photo lovingly and forced me to swallow a bottle of sleeping pills. He said if it weren’t for my cold-heartedness and selfishness, his junior wouldn’t have committed suicide. If I could live again, I would never interfere in their affairs. “Babe, how much money do you have left? Bella’s family has come again. You know we’re close, and those people said if the debt isn’t paid today, they’ll take Bella and sell her off.” I was momentarily dazed, the lump in my throat yet to dissipate, when a large hand tightly gripped my sleeve. I had a vivid dream, reliving the day when Ryan was desperately trying to borrow money for Bella White. Bella was his junior in college, and as her name suggested, she was gentle and beautiful, with exquisite features. However, she had a gambling-addicted father who had reportedly borrowed a lot of high-interest loans over the years. Unable to repay, he committed suicide, leaving his beautiful daughter to be constantly harassed by debt collectors. To be fair, Ryan had always been good to me, and everyone knew he loved me dearly. So when he was borrowing money everywhere for Bella in my dream, saying she was like a sister to him and he couldn’t bear to see a girl in such a predicament, I didn’t think much of it. But Bella’s father owed over $8 million in total. It wasn’t easy to come up with such a sum, especially when the debt collectors were involved in illegal activities. Getting involved could easily cost one’s life. Naturally, I didn’t want my soon-to-be-married boyfriend to be entangled in such affairs. So in my dream, I gave Ryan all my savings, with the condition that he would no longer interfere in Bella’s matters and focus on preparing for our wedding. But unexpectedly, Bella overdosed on sleeping pills and committed suicide. When I heard the news, I felt deeply sorry for her – a young girl in the prime of her life, burdened with such a father. Ryan only showed a moment of sadness but didn’t say much to me. However, I never imagined that he would kill me for Bella. Now, looking at the anxious Ryan in front of me, my mind was filled with the words he said to me before I died in my dream. “I told you Bella and I weren’t what you thought! Why, why wouldn’t you help her!” “Isn’t your family quite wealthy? You rich people will never understand this kind of desperation. Amelia Young, how can you be so selfish and cold-hearted!” “You could watch her die, and still expect me to marry a viper like you!” “You rich people are all the same, not a single good person among you!” Thinking of this, I smiled bitterly. My family had an annual income in the millions, and I was their only child. So my parents didn’t approve of Ryan, who came from a rural background. They hoped I would marry someone of equal social status, but they couldn’t resist my genuine fondness for Ryan. They could only cut off my financial support, hoping to force me to compromise. Yet Ryan harbored such malice towards me because I didn’t ask my family for money to save his dear junior. Over $8 million – did he expect me to sell everything I owned to fulfill his wishes with his sweetheart?

Seeing that I didn’t respond, Ryan tenderly cupped my face. The gesture I once loved now seemed utterly disgusting. “Babe, trust me, I just want to help her because I feel sorry for her. You know we’ve known each other for so long. Bella is a good person, and she even said she likes you a lot.” I pushed his hand away and said coldly, “My parents cut off my money long ago because I wanted to be with you. Where would I get money to give you?” Ryan seemed not to hear the sarcasm in my words: “Babe, you’re your parents’ only child. If you explain the situation to your aunt and uncle, they’ll surely help you, won’t they?” I asked in return, “Do you like Bella?” Ryan’s eyes clearly flashed with guilt, but he quickly covered it up. “How could that be, babe? Everyone knows you’re the one I love most. She’s just a junior I’m close with. I just feel sorry for her and want to help. Don’t overthink it, babe.” I stood up, not even looking at him: “That’s your friend, not mine. I have no obligation to help you solve their family problems.” Ryan frowned: “Amelia, weren’t you always the kindest and most understanding? Why have you become so unsympathetic now? Your family has money, your parents are still alive and have income sources. What about Bella? She lost her mother at a young age and ended up with such a father. You’re really… really out of touch with reality!” Saying this, he went into the room and dug out his bank cards, then left for Bella’s house without another word to me. I didn’t know how Ryan could say such shameless and morally manipulative words, as if I was the root cause of all Bella’s suffering. I quickly packed some of my belongings and sent Ryan a text message: [Let’s break up.] Then I blocked and deleted him. In this life, I’ll see how long he can last without my wholehearted support. Right now, Ryan is at a crucial stage in his startup. In my dream, I knelt before my parents for his company, drank until I had a gastric hemorrhage at business dinners, and wholeheartedly helped him. And him? Did he really like me? In every intimate night we shared, was he thinking of me or his deceased junior?

I carried my luggage back home. My parents were visibly surprised to see me. My dad said irritably, “If it’s for him, you might as well not come back. Your mom and I are tired of seeing this.” Seeing my middle-aged parents still healthy, I immediately teared up. In my dream, after Ryan killed me, how desperate must my parents have been when they saw my body? Thinking of this, I burst into tears at the doorstep. My mom nudged my dad, frowning, “It’s all your fault, why speak so harshly? Look how our daughter is crying.” I buried myself in my mom’s embrace and cried my heart out. Regret, resentment, all emotions poured out at once. “There, there, our precious daughter. What’s wrong? Did that Ryan bully you?” my mom asked, comforting me. I nodded: “I… I broke up with him. I don’t like him anymore. I want to come home.” The expression on my parents’ faces was like they had finally seen the light at the end of a long tunnel, a bit funny and a bit amusing. As if afraid I might change my mind, my dad tentatively asked, “Is it the kind of breakup where you won’t get back together?” I laughed through my tears, nodded, and then explained the whole situation. My parents’ faces were filled with anger: “That Ryan, I always said that boy had ulterior motives. A perfectly good company, yet he needs you, a girl, to go out and socialize for him. You even stopped coming home for him, and he dares to turn around and blame you?” Hearing this, I looked at my parents with a guilty expression. How could I have been so bewitched in my past life to abandon my parents for a man? “It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back,” my mom said, gently patting my back, comforting me like when I was little. Perhaps because too much had happened in one day, I was indeed tired and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up the next day, it was already noon. I opened my phone to see twenty missed calls from Ryan and Bella’s SnapChat story. In the photo, she was sitting in Ryan’s passenger seat, with Ryan wiping her tears intimately. The caption read: [No matter what happens, you’ll always be by my side.] Even though I was mentally prepared, seeing it with my own eyes still made my heart ache. Ryan and I had been together for six years. He loved me so much that people joked if we didn’t get married, they would never believe in love again. Yes, feelings do change, don’t they? My phone rang, and I picked it up to see it was Bella. [Sister Amelia, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to post that SnapChat story. You know my family situation is complicated right now. Ryan… Ryan just felt sorry for me and stayed with me all night. I heard you broke up with Ryan. Please don’t let it be because of me. I would feel so guilty.] I didn’t reply. This low-level manipulation didn’t even deserve a response. Posting that kind of story and then saying these things to me, what did she hope to achieve? Did she want me to kneel and beg Ryan not to leave me, or to rush to her house and beat her up in a rage? People who play innocent while stirring up trouble are just as disgusting as ungrateful people like Ryan.

I once accidentally saw Ryan and Bella’s chat history. [Ryan, you’re so kind. I envy Sister Amelia for finding a boyfriend like you.] [Sister Amelia is so lucky, with a happy family and a loving boyfriend. I wish I could be like that too.] And Ryan actually fell for this act, insisting on treating her like a sister, sending food when she was hungry, water when she was thirsty. When my best friend Zoe heard I had broken up with Ryan, she insisted on taking me out to celebrate. Seeing her vibrant smile, I couldn’t help but feel in a good mood for once. “You don’t know how much I hated that Ryan. Ever since you got together with him, you hardly ever had dinner with me. Love-brain syndrome is the beginning of misfortune, and that’s exactly what happened to you, forgetting your friends for a man!” Hearing Zoe’s scolding, I hugged her shoulders and kept agreeing. “You’re right, I was wrong. I was blind and couldn’t see people clearly. Are you satisfied now?” Zoe finally nodded, then dragged me into various luxury brand stores. I felt a bit emotional. Ever since I got together with Ryan, I seemed to have lost my former self, becoming a woman who only revolved around him. Plus, his business was just starting, and he was short on money, so I never came to browse these boutiques I used to love. “Hey, isn’t that Ryan?” Zoe suddenly turned her head and exclaimed. I followed her gaze and saw Ryan and Bella with a suitcase, looking a bit sneaky, not knowing what they were up to. Originally, I didn’t want to have any more contact with them, but Zoe is a very curious person and insisted on going over to take a look. We saw them enter a second-hand bag recycling store. I had a vague guess in my mind. “Isn’t that the bag I gave you for your birthday two years ago?” Zoe pointed at a limited edition designer bag inside and said to me. I frowned. A few days ago when I was packing to leave, there were still some things I didn’t have time to pack. I was planning to call a moving company to bring them back to me in the next few days. I never expected Ryan would try to secretly sell my bags for Bella. I walked in. When Ryan saw me, his first reaction was guilt, which quickly turned into joy: “Amelia, why are you here? Why didn’t you answer my calls? I… I was planning to explain everything to you after I finished here, you…” “Slap!” I raised my hand and slapped him. Ryan’s eyes were full of disbelief. Bella quickly came forward to check the mark on his face: “Sister Amelia, how could you hit Ryan? You…” “Slap!” The second slap landed on Bella’s face. “Hitting you was just an afterthought.” Zoe cheered from the side, finding it extremely satisfying. People in the store gathered around, wanting to see what was happening.

“Amelia Young, you shrew, why did you hit Bella? What did she do wrong for you to target her like this?” Ryan pulled Bella behind him, looking like a mother hen protecting her chick. I pointed at the pile of bags on the table. “Did you get my permission to sell my bags?” Ryan’s face immediately turned red: “I… I was just borrowing them, not like I wasn’t going to return them to you.” “Borrow my bags? How come I don’t know about it? We’ve already broken up. Doesn’t this count as theft of someone else’s property?” I retorted. “Amelia Young, how can you be so vain? They’re just bags. So what if they’re sold? You can always buy more. But a life can’t be bought back. Do you really want to watch someone be forced to death before you’re happy?” Ryan became more and more agitated as he spoke, as if I was the one who cheated, not him. I marveled at how he could say such shameless things. “Are you trying to guilt-trip me? Too bad I have no morals,” I shot back sarcastically. The onlookers had started whispering among themselves. “First of all, we’ve broken up. Secondly, these are my bags. And lastly, you wanting to help your dear junior has nothing to do with me. Are you expecting me to raise the children you have with your future wife too?” Ryan was left speechless by my retort. Knowing he was in the wrong, and seeing people around starting to take out their phones to record videos, he knew dragging this out wouldn’t do anyone any good. He could only say reluctantly: “This one, this one, and that one, these three bags were bought by me. I have the right to sell them.” Both Zoe and I were shocked. What kind of logic was this? Gifts given to a girlfriend during a relationship can be taken back? “Fine, fine, do whatever you want,” I said, not wanting to get further entangled with him. I turned to the store manager and said, “Those few are mine. Can you estimate how much they’re worth for buyback and transfer the money to my card?” I figured Ryan also knew his company had just started and funds were tight, so he couldn’t spare extra money to help Bella pay off her debt. To think he would resort to such a despicable method – truly a scumbag who wants to have his cake and eat it too. “Amelia Young, do you really want to break up with me? Have you thought it through? You’re already 28 this year, don’t you know how old you are? Who would dare to want you if you break up with me now? Considering that I truly loved you before, why don’t you ask your parents for $500,000 to pay off Bella’s debt first, then we can talk about everything else.” Ryan spoke very seriously, as if breaking up with him would immediately leave me with nothing. “Ryan Shaw, has your brain stopped working? With Amelia’s conditions, she was the one who lowered herself to be with you,” Zoe interjected angrily. “Besides, my brother is 32 and single, 6’2″, a golden bachelor, handsome like a movie star. Our Amelia will live a much better life without you. Go be with your little green tea b*tch!” With that, Zoe pulled me away, not sparing them another glance. [Translator’s note: “Green tea b*tch” is a Chinese internet slang term for a woman who pretends to be pure and innocent but is actually manipulative.]

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The scorching heatwave was approaching, and I had stocked up on all the necessary supplies. However, my husband, concerned about our weak female neighbor, invited her to stay with us. “We have plenty of supplies, and how much can a frail woman eat? What’s wrong with helping out a neighbor?” he said. Later, I caught them having a steamy session in my bathroom. The neighbor girl blushed, saying shyly, “Your ‘big popsicle’ is the best way to cool down in this heat, honey.” When I caught them in the act, they panicked and locked me out on the balcony under the scorching sun. In the end, I died from heat stroke and dehydration. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the first day of the terrifying heatwave. My phone was pushing out a high-temperature warning: [Tomorrow, our city will reach a new high temperature of over 107°F (42°C). All citizens are advised to stay indoors and avoid going out.] When I saw this message, my whole body shuddered. There was no pain from dehydration or near-death experience, and I was casually holding an iced Americano. I tilted my head back, trembling, and gulped down the iced Americano like a person about to die of thirst. In my previous life, I did indeed die of thirst. I’m a well-known risk assessment expert in the industry. Before the terrifying heatwave hit, I had already noticed the drastic effects of global warming. So, I stocked up my luxury mansion with supplies and cooling measures. The house even had its own internal circulation system and power supply box. Even if doomsday came, we could be self-sufficient for over a year. Originally, this was supposed to be the perfect shelter for me and my husband. But in my past life, Samuel Song suddenly had a moment of inspiration and insisted on being charitable. He felt sorry for our single neighbor living next door, Molly, who was frail and couldn’t withstand the high temperatures alone. He proactively suggested bringing her to live with us. “It’s just an extra set of cutlery, really. Her husband is overseas and can’t take care of her. We’re neighbors, what’s wrong with lending a helping hand?” he said. At first, I strongly disagreed. Although Molly was our neighbor, she had only moved in a few months ago, and we weren’t close. Secondly, as a married woman, it wasn’t convenient for her to stay in someone else’s home. “Honey, if you’re worried about her frailty, I can go check on her every day,” I said. But my husband directly pulled Molly in front of me, crying like a fragile flower. “Aria, I know I’ll be a bother, but I have fainting spells and can’t handle the extreme heat. If I faint alone at home, I’m afraid I’ll die without anyone even knowing,” Molly said. Even Samuel frowned: “Yeah, honey, why are you being so stingy? We have so many supplies, and plenty of rooms. It’s just for a few days!” I had no choice but to agree. Before the terrifying heat hit and the power and water were cut off, we welcomed Molly to live under the same roof. Until that day, Samuel said he wanted to eat some fresh vegetables and asked me to go buy some. By then, the outside temperature was already close to 122°F (50°C), and you had to wear protective gear to go out. Samuel had a nosebleed and claimed he was lacking vitamins and might get sepsis. I had no choice but to brave the scorching sun and drive to a national cold storage facility dozens of miles away to buy vegetables. But when I returned, I caught my husband and Molly together, with the air conditioning set to a cool 75°F (24°C), taking a bubble bath in my bathtub. Molly was completely naked, her delicate hands resting softly on Samuel’s chest. “Where’s my cucumber? I still need to make a cucumber face mask!” she said. Samuel carelessly wrapped his arms around her smooth arms. “I’ve already asked Aria to go buy it. She shouldn’t be back so soon. That woman is madly in love with me, she’s just my lapdog. We can stay here comfortably and treat her like a maid.” They were living in my house, enjoying my supplies, and yet they were rolling around together right under my nose! I was instantly overcome with anger and rushed into the bathroom to catch them in the act. But this pair of scoundrels panicked and jumped at me, stripping off my protective gear and locking me out on the north-facing balcony. In the terrifying heat of over 122°F (50°C), I collapsed on the ground, parched and desperate. Before long, I was literally steamed into a mummy! After my death, Molly even persuaded my husband to dismember my body and throw it into the sewer, taking over all my property. At this moment, my phone rang again with a call from Samuel. I calmly answered. It was Samuel’s breathless voice: “Honey, come to 3044 quickly and give me a hand. Bring me a valve stem wrench!”

3044 was where Molly lived. Today, with temperatures soaring to 104°F (40°C), my husband wasn’t resting at noon but was helping our female neighbor fix her air conditioner. When I arrived, Molly was wearing a skimpy crop top, leaving little to the imagination. She was sucking on a banana-flavored popsicle, not biting it, letting it melt and coat her lips with a glistening sheen. Meanwhile, Samuel was standing on a chair, sweating profusely as he fiddled with the central air conditioning unit. “So cool! But it doesn’t really beat the heat. Though with you here fixing my AC, I don’t feel hot at all,” Molly said with a dazzling smile. She turned and saw me, feigning surprise and sticking out her tongue playfully. After experiencing my past life and this one, I finally understood that her carefree act was just a ploy to seduce men. I walked past her and looked up at my husband, whose back was soaked with sweat. “What are you doing?” I asked. He scratched his head sheepishly. “Honey, I grew up in the countryside. My dad used to fix appliances, so I’m used to doing this stuff. It’s a piece of cake.” Samuel was too lazy to even change a light bulb at home, always calling the housekeeper to do it. But now he was enthusiastically exploring new territory from scratch. It seems beauty really can make men more diligent than a lapdog. “Did you bring the valve stem wrench?” he asked. I shook my head. “You’ve never done this kind of work at home. We don’t have the wrench you mentioned.” “Oh well, forget it then, Sam. You should go back with Aria. I’ll call a professional to fix the AC. Don’t trouble yourself,” Molly said, hugging her arms. Her thin fabric was almost see-through, and from Samuel’s angle, he could perfectly see her enticing curves. After years of marriage, based on my understanding of him, I noticed Samuel was actually getting aroused. He quickly turned away, trying to hide it. “Alright then, call me if you need any more help,” he said. I looked around, taking in the messy state of the room. On the large table were instant noodle cups that had been left out for a long time, while the window table displayed an elaborate dessert stand. On an old plastic hanger hung a pair of GUCCI’s latest black stockings. The contrast between slovenliness and sophistication was perfectly embodied in one person. Molly was a boudoir model. She normally couldn’t afford to live in our neighborhood, but she had rented this house for a photoshoot. Her Instagram was full of posts showing a luxurious lifestyle and artistic poetry. And my husband would comment “Admirable!” on every single post, consistently liking them rain or shine, his excessive care almost spilling off the screen. I had never noticed these thoughts of his before because I didn’t use Instagram. She looked at Samuel standing next to me with a sour expression: “I’m so envious of Aria! Financially independent, with such a good husband by her side every day. Not like me.” Molly had been married for three years, but her husband worked overseas and only came back a few times a year. At this moment, I suddenly noticed a brand new Hermès bag on the table. Without even thinking, I knew Samuel had bought it for her. She saw me staring and proudly lifted her chin. “Isn’t it pretty? A big fan bought it for me!” “You know, as a woman, you have to be independent. You can’t just rely on your husband. The real skill is making other men willingly spend money on you.” Samuel’s expression didn’t change a bit. “Honey, do you like this style? I’ll buy you one someday.” I almost laughed out cold. He really was a hypocrite through and through, using my money to play the generous and gallant man. When I first met Samuel, he was still a vibrant college student on the green football field. I was already working at a research institute and had made a name for myself. Occasionally, when I went back to my alma mater as a guest lecturer, I would see him on the basketball court. When he dunked, the wind would lift his tank top, revealing his pumping abs. His waist and abdomen would contract, his eyes blazing with passion. Whenever he saw me, his ears would turn bright red as he called me “big sis.” There was a six-year age gap between us. Although I was moved, I didn’t really entertain any serious thoughts. Later, he took a part-time job at the gym where I had a membership, volunteering to be my diving instructor. One thing led to another, and we naturally got together. In adult relationships, I didn’t shy away from what we were both after. Before we got married, I made it clear to him that as long as he maintained his abs, I could support him financially. He wouldn’t need to worry about making money. Besides working at the research institute, I also invested in the US stock market and had a considerable income. I would give him $200,000 in pocket money every month. My only requirement for him, apart from maintaining his physique, was fidelity. Yet he still fell for someone else. Unfortunately, once a man is tainted, there’s no reason for him to exist anymore.

These past few days, the temperature on the streets at noon had reached a frightening 113°F (45°C). Just like in my previous life, I had stocked up on various supplies and was calmly facing this natural disaster. All outdoor work had completely stopped, switching to online remote work. Only personnel in certain special positions were still gritting their teeth and persevering. The internet was constantly filled with anxiety. Even a one-hour water outage could cause widespread panic. The recent trending topic was about an elderly scavenger who collapsed on the street. His skin stuck to the asphalt surface, causing severe burns that led to his death. Netizens were praying and mourning, but no one used the candle emoji anymore because it was just too hot. As the high temperatures persisted, power systems in many places experienced problems, and news of heat-related deaths became more frequent. But in my little mansion, I remained vigilant, conserving electricity and not daring to let my guard down. Fortunately, my parents lived in a colder northern city, where the terrifying heatwave hadn’t spread yet. “Aria, it’s only in the 80s (30s°C) here, and we have enough supplies. Don’t worry about us, just take good care of yourself!” my mom said. I reminded my parents to use the air conditioning without hesitation, and then transferred $10,000 to them for electricity bills. This allowed me to focus on devising a perfect hunting plan to get revenge on the cheating couple. As the heatwave descended, Molly had already fainted several times at home, each time calling my husband to take her to the hospital. I didn’t stop him, still calmly eating ice-cold watermelon on the sofa while watching TV. Samuel finally couldn’t hold back and made the same request to me. “Aria, why don’t we invite Molly to stay with us?” “We have plenty of supplies, and how much can a frail woman eat? What’s wrong with helping out a neighbor?” This time, I didn’t even think before agreeing. “Sure, honey. Of course we should help our neighbors.” I smiled and went along with Samuel. He seemed surprised that I agreed so readily, nodding appreciatively. “I knew my wife was the most kind-hearted and generous. Please don’t feel bothered by this.” But he didn’t know that I had already upgraded the whole-house system of the mansion. Dear husband, how could I feel bothered? I can’t wait for you both to come and deliver yourselves to death. On the first day Molly moved in, she secretly wore clothes from my walk-in closet. When I called her out for dinner, Samuel’s eyes were filled with undisguised admiration. “Why are you wearing Aria’s clothes?” he asked. Molly said, “I saw so many beautiful clothes in Aria’s closet, I couldn’t resist trying them on.” My husband couldn’t help but praise her again. “I think it suits you very well. Aria has so many clothes anyway, this one can be yours.” He didn’t even ask for my opinion, clearly treating me like thin air. But I just shrugged indifferently. It was just a piece of clothing, I didn’t mind at all being the most patient hunter. Even while staying home to avoid the heat, Molly claimed to be career-minded and wouldn’t give up her modeling work. Samuel enjoyed photography as a hobby, so Molly asked him to help her shoot a set of photos, even coming up with a title: #HotandSpicy! Goddess Street Style in the Heatwave. She said proudly: “I plan to send it to the editor of a fashion magazine. I have a feeling this set will definitely go viral.” I glanced at Molly’s new outfit. It turned out she had cut up my $20,000 dress, transforming it from its original simple home style into a revealing, tattered look. In my past life, as they were taking photos like this, they ended up rolling into the bathtub together. Samuel knew that I always had a regular schedule, going to bed early at 9:30 PM. Today, I even made an excuse that I wasn’t feeling well due to my period, telling him to sleep alone, conveniently creating the perfect opportunity for him. As night fell, I coldly stared at the computer screen. Sure enough, Samuel and Molly went to my largest bathroom. While countless people outside were dying from the heat, they turned on the air conditioning to a cool 75°F (24°C), not cherishing the precious electricity resources at all, and started taking a bubble bath together. Samuel hugged the woman in his arms, gently massaging shower gel onto her body. Seductive moans could be heard from the bathroom. Molly looked at him with bedroom eyes. “If your wife finds out, she’ll definitely kill me. Your wife is so scary.” Although she said this, she showed no fear at all, giggling flirtatiously. Samuel frowned: “That old hag? I’m just putting on an act with her. She’s after my looks, I’m after her money. She’s crazy about me, no need to worry about her.” He cupped the woman’s face, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “Tonight, why don’t you be on top? I’ll be at your mercy.” Molly playfully hit his chest. “You tease! Only you know how to sweet-talk me like that.” I felt sick to my stomach. How could I ever have fallen for such a despicable man? Meanwhile, I acted like the sleeping husband in those Japanese movies, completely oblivious. Fifteen minutes later, they finished, not realizing the bathroom door had automatically locked. Samuel grinned mischievously, “Still feeling hot?” Molly blushed, mumbling something indistinct. “…Your ‘big popsicle’ is the best way to cool down in this heat, honey.” Afterwards, they turned on the overhead shower, embracing under the water. Through the surveillance, I watched their entangled bodies. My bathroom was also a sauna room, with remotely controlled temperature and shower settings. When the sauna mode was activated, the dry heat could reach over 167°F (75°C), potentially going as high as 212°F (100°C). However, the human body can hardly withstand such extreme heat and sweating. If the time isn’t controlled, it can easily be fatal. Remembering how I was literally roasted to death in my past life, I shuddered, my teeth chattering from the cold in this scorching weather. Since they were seeking thrills, why not indulge them? With that thought, I pressed the temperature control button without hesitation.

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During my post-abortion checkup, Adrian once again made an excuse to suddenly leave. This had become a familiar occurrence, so I was used to it. I had to admit that I was stung with a sense of abandonment at first, but slowly, I no longer cared. I took the medicine after the checkup and went back by myself. As I made my way home, I could not shake the feeling of loneliness that seemed to echo within me. I opened Twitter once I arrived, and saw someone named Lovely One tagged Adrian in a post. It read, [Just had a sore throat, but he insisted on dragging me to the hospital and has been accompanying me since. After all this time, you’re still the best!] I did not bother to ask Adrian why he kept lying to me, nor did I lose my temper like I used to. Looking back, I should have felt betrayed and confronted him, but it just felt like another exhausting chore, another hurdle in a race I no longer cared to win. Later, he took this Lovely One to the company’s team building event, and I received intimate photos of them. Was I angry? No. On a different occasion, I ran into him holding Lovely One’s child on the street, looking like a family of three. I had to admit that I was surprised to find myself smiling calmly and said, “The child needs a father figure. You should spend more time with them, Adrian.” Adrian, however, grabbed me in a panic and asked anxiously, “Madeline, why don’t you care at all?” ***** I had a miscarriage because someone accidentally collided with me on my way home from work. Today was the second month after my abortion surgery, so Adrian accompanied me for a checkup. I did not stop him as he left in a hurry after making an excuse. No longer did I cling to him, pleading for his company as I once did. Watching Adrian’s back as he slowly walked away, an unexpected wave of detachment washed over me. I suddenly realized that his presence or absence held little effect over my emotions. I did not seem to be that sad anymore when he was not around. A nurse called my name, and I quietly accepted the test results before gathering my things and heading home. Not long after, I received a message from Adrian, which read, [Madeline, you can go home on your own, can’t you? I still have things to do.] In the past, I would have refused desperately and replied with something like, [But I need you to come get me.] Now, it just felt pointless to do so. With a resigned acceptance, I simply typed, [Ok.] I put away my phone and hailed a cab. As I settled into the backseat, a familiar sight caught my eyes. It was Adrian’s car. Well, that was odd. Why would he return to the hospital? Did he not he say he could not pick me up? As soon as I got home, I saw Lovely One tagged Adrian in a post on Twitter, which read, [Just had a sore throat, but he insisted on dragging me to the hospital and has been accompanying me since. After all this time, you’re still the best!] Unsurprisingly, Sophie posted a photo in her WhatsApp status with the same exact words. A corner of Adrian’s shirt was visible in the picture. It was the one I had picked out for him on his birthday. Yes, the Lovely One was Sophie Davis, Adrian’s childhood sweetheart. A few years back, Sophie had moved with her wealthy husband out of town. However, fate had taken a harsh turn last year when her husband went bankrupt. Following their divorce, she returned with a four-year-old child. In Adrian’s eyes, I was nothing more than a replacement for Sophie after she left. However, I had been deeply in love with him at the time, foolishly choosing to marry him. At one time, I had even wanted to get pregnant and bear his child. The following miscarriage was probably a sign, having a child with Adrian would not be good for me or the baby. After taking the prescribed medication, I drifted off to sleep. The creak of the door woke me up in the middle of night. “What did the doctor say today?” Adrian came to my bedside and gently stroked my head I caught a foreign scent on him, a woman’s perfume. My head shook in a silent refusal as I avoided his hand. “Nothing important.” I forced a smile and continued, “Everything’s fine.” Adrian nodded and offered a hurried explanation, “Work just got hectic and I’ve been kept very busy lately.” Instead of calling him out on his lie, I rolled over and went back to sleep. “Well, maybe you should take a shower before going to bed.” He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he said nothing. I then heard the bathroom’s door being opened and the trickles of the shower.   The next day was a pre-dawn shift, so I went to the hospital early. After the morning meeting ended, I received a call from Adrian. His voice was dripped with a subtle annoyance when he said, “Madeline, why didn’t you wake me up? You left early without telling me and I overslept.” I used to take care of him in every possible way and even more so after we got married. Clothes laid out, breakfast prepared with love and a gentle morning call, a routine I meticulously followed. His tone now suggested that he took those things for granted. It was as if my acts of love were mere obligations, a chore I was simply expected to perform. However, I was never his caretaker, I was his wife. I had the right to refuse. “Well, since you’re going to be late, you’d better get up soon.” He asked again, “What am I going to wear today?” “Just choose whatever you want to wear. It’s all in the closet,” I replied. “But I can’t find it….” Adrian tried to say. My colleague called me over for some help, so I hurriedly said, “I have something else to attend to, I need to go. Just find your clothes yourself.” Barely a moment later, Adrian’s message pinged on the screen. It read, [The shirts are wrinkled! You haven’t ironed them yet? I can’t show up in the office wearing them.] It did not stop there. Another one came, saying, [You haven’t prepared breakfast either?] Just then, the department head happened to call me over, so I did not have time to reply to Adrian. “Madeline, good news!” he boomed, “After assessing your performance, it looks like the hospital wants to discuss your further training. Oh, look, you’re fully recovered now, too.” I had initially planned to marry Adrian and have children, so I declined the hospital’s offer before I was pregnant. But now I figured it out. Marrying him, building a family, those naïve aspirations had lost their charms. Staying with Adrian felt not just pointless, but foolish. “I’ve thought about it, sir. I’ll go,” I replied with a newfound conviction. “Excellent choice!” The department head was practically beamed. He then asked me to prepare everything and said he would notify me when the date was set. His enthusiasm was infectious. I agreed that the time was indeed right. This was my ticket to a future I could finally design on my own terms.

Time seemed to melt away as I dove into work. Before I knew it, the world outside the window had turned to dark. However, just as I settled in with another stack of documents, Adrian called me. “Why aren’t you home yet? Where’s dinner?” I found the very thought of returning to Adrian was somehow revolting. That was why I stayed in the office preparing documents until late. “My colleague had something urgent coming up and had to switch shifts with me. Takeout’s probably your best bet tonight,” I said, casually found an excuse. “Takeout?” Adrian sounded surprised. Back then, eating out was not even an option for us. I practically catered to every meal, three times a day. “Is there anything wrong?” I asked him. “No.” Adrian hesitated before continuing, “Just take care of yourself and don’t get too tired.” “Thank you,” I replied flatly. Adrian was silent for a while, then asked again, “Madeline, are you angry?” The question, so slow to come, sparked a flicker of something akin to anger. But mostly, it was a disappointment. Was he truly this oblivious, or simply did not care about my feelings? However, it did not matter. I would not be angry anymore.   In an apologetic tone, Adrian took the initiative to explain, “Madeline, it’s not easy for Sophie to raise a child alone. She doesn’t know anyone else here. She only has me.” His words felt like a slap. He conveniently forgot sometimes that, I too, only had him. “Of course, I understand. She must’ve been through a lot,” I answered calmly. “Madeline, what’s that supposed to mean? What’s your attitude?” He lost his temper all of a sudden. “I said I understand,” I repeated, my voice losing its lightness, “Is that a problem?” “Do you have to talk to me like that?” he snapped. “Then what do you want me to say?” I countered, frustration creeping in. Silence fell between us, heavy and suffocating. Finally, he mumbled a defeated, “Do as you wish,” before hanging up. Wasn’t it ironic? He once said I was annoying when I questioned him visiting Sophie. And when I called him to ask when he would be back from Sophies’s, I was also the annoying one. Now, even trying to understand him earned me his frustration. With a sigh, I tossed my phone aside. Dwelling on it would not change anything. There was more important thing to do, like a stack of documents in front of me. The night shift ended and I deliberately lingered after cleaning up my desk. The thought of returning home, held no appeal. When I arrived, Adrian had already left for work. I took a shower and went off to sleep, but just as I began to drift off, had the tranquility was shattered by the insistent ringing of my phone. It was Adrian. “Madeline,” he sounded like he was holding back pain, “my… my stomach hurts.” I mumbled a response, but I was too tired and fell back asleep. In a dream, I seemed to hear Adrian calling my name, but the sound felt distant, so I pushed the dream away. After some time, I was completely awakened by the sound of the door opening. Adrian stood by the bed, his face a mask of hurt. “Madeline, why don’t you care anymore? You used to be worried when I was sick and you would even make porridge and give me medicine.” That was indeed the old me. I remembered it only too clearly. Once, Adrian had a stomachache, so I asked for leave to bring him medicine at his office. As luck had it, I got caught in the rain on my way there, leaving my hair soaked and me looking quite a mess. However, things just got better when his colleagues laughed at my appearance and Adrian did not even try to stop them. To top it off, he told me never to come to his office again because, in his words, I was an embarrassment. “Are you feeling better now?” I rubbed my eyes. “We might be out of medicine, though. Maybe you can grab some yourself.” Adrian was speechless, then frustration boiled over. He grabbed my arm and shouted, “Madeline, how long are you going to keep fighting with me about Sophie? I told you, there’s nothing between her and me!” “Oh, okay,” I said, my calm a stark contrast to his anger. In a fit of rage, Adrian slammed the door and left. The silence that followed was liberating.   Days bled into each other. After leaving, Adrian did not go home for several days and I did not bother to ask where he went. On the third day, my phone screen flickered with a message from him. He said that he was on a business trip and shared his location. [Okay, stay safe,] I typed. A sardonic chuckle escaped my lips. Just after sending the reply, a picture Sophie posted on Twitter taunted me from my feed. The caption read, [First holiday in what seems like forever. I never thought I’d miss cotton candy! Someone insisted on buying it for me.] The accompanying picture showed Adrian’s hand, with our wedding ring still on his finger. Moreover, the location on Sophie’s tweet matched the one Adrian had sent me. The ring on my own finger felt like a searing ember, so I took it off and threw it into the drawer. Since then, work became my refuge. I busied myself to push aside the churning emotion within. When Adrian would return became a question lost in the whirlwind of activity, a question I no longer cared to answer. Unexpectedly, he came to the hospital one day to pick me up after my shift. A wave of surprise washed over me as I saw a familiar car parked across the street. “Why are you here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. That day was particularly exhausting. “Did you forget that today is our wedding anniversary?” he answered after opening the door for me. “Oh,” I mumbled, “sorry. I’ve been really busy and it slipped my mind.” “Madeline, you used to care about this the most, didn’t you? How could you forget?” Adrian was stunned for a moment before replying.

In the past, whether it was a wedding anniversary or his birthday, I never forgot. Dinners meticulously planned, decorations painstakingly chosen, all fueled by a need to celebrate and enjoy our time together, to show him how much he meant to me. But, those efforts, once met with smiles and anticipation, were later dismissed as “over the top” and “embarrassing.” I still remembered his words when I decided to throw a surprise party in a restaurant. He said, “Madeline, you’re making such a big deal out of this. Everyone’s looking at us. It’s very uncomfortable, you know?” I thought he would be happy, but instead, he dragged me away in front of colleagues and friends. So, now, there was really nothing to celebrate. The spark had died out. “Come on, let’s go have dinner and celebrate,” he said, ushering me into the car. As Adrian drove, the silence stretched between us. He stole glances at me, searching my face for a flicker of the old enthusiasm. “Madeline, what’s wrong? Are you upset?” he finally blurted out. “No.” I shook my head. “No?” he echoed, his voice rising in frustration. “Then why the attitude? Here I am, putting in the effort, picking you up for dinner. Can’t you at least pretend to appreciate it?” “I’m not angry, Adrian.” “Fine!” He let out a long sigh. “I promise, no more contact with Sophie again, Okay?” I stared at him. Did he really think a simple gesture could erase months of lies and betrayal? “Are you happy now?” he asked again. I did not answer and remain silent for the rest of trip. The car drove all the way to a fancy restaurant. Apparently, Adrian had gone all out, reserving a table and even arranging for flowers and a gift. The scene was a picture of romantic bliss, complete with envious glances from other diners. However, before I opened the gift, Adrian’s phone rang. “Fever? Do you have any medicine?” he asked, answering the call. “I can’t take you to the hospital today, I have something to do. What? That high? Okay, wait for me. I’ll be right over.” Hanging up, Adrian turned to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of awkwardness and something I could not quite decipher. “Madeline, it’s Sophie. Her child has a fever. I need to….” I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat. “It’s fine,” I managed, my voice a monotone that surprised even me. “You should go. The child’s important.” He stood up and hesitated for a moment before looking at me again. “Wait for me to come back and pick you up. I’ll be back soon.” With that, he hurriedly grabbed his coat and left. I was left alone, staring at the half-eaten cake. Rain lashed against the windowpanes, mimicking the tears I refused to shed. After a sigh, I finished the cake, then got up and left. A cab passed by and I hailed it to go home. However, I did not bring an umbrella, and there was still a bit of a walk from the entrance to our apartment building. The drizzle hit my face, making it very cold. After I got in and took a shower, I saw Sophie’s tweet with a picture. It was Adrian accompanying her and her child. The warm yellow light in their room was a stark contrast to the coldness of the rain outside.   Adrian did not come home until the next morning. As soon as he came back, he started explaining, “Jesse had a high fever all night. It wouldn’t go down.” Jesse was Sophie’s child. To my ears, the name felt like a foreign word. “Is everything okay now? Why didn’t you stay longer? It must be hard for Sophie to handle a sick child alone,” I asked after offering a curt nod. Adrian paused mid-motion when taking his coat off, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. “Are you being sarcastic again?” He sighed, the sound heavy with weariness, real or feigned, I could not tell. “Look, I didn’t sleep all night. I’m very tired.” “Then you should get some rest. I’m going to work.” I turned around and reached for my bag. “Madeline….” He pulled me and spoke. “What is it?” “We’ll make it up for the anniversary celebration next time, okay?” A ghost of a smile played on my lips, devoid of any feeling. “I’m not mad.” He looked at me inquiringly and hugged me, a gesture that felt as empty as his promises. “There’s a company team-building event this weekend,” he mumbled into my hair. “Let’s go together.” Adrian’s family background was much better than mine. He was a local, and I stayed here after graduation because I married him. His colleagues and friends did not think much of me. Despite their loathing to interact with me, however, they often asked Adrian to have me help them with simple sniffles or coughs because I worked at a hospital. In the past, I would frequently bring Adrian meals or medicine whenever he had stomachache at his office, but he never introduced me to his colleagues. I snapped back to reality and replied, “No, I might have to work overtime next weekend.” “Well, suit yourself.” Adrian gritted his teeth and hissed. I did not go, but I did not expect him to take Sophie instead. My phone buzzed incessantly when I was writing medical records in the office. I had to open it and found out that someone had added me to the group chat for Adrian’s company’s team building event. The pictures from different activities in the event streamed in, and a lot of them featured Sophie. She was having a great time with Adrian’s colleagues, blending right in. During one of the activities, Adrian carried Sophie in his arms like a princess, lifting her from one end of the lawn to the other. Meanwhile, Sophie held onto Adrian’s neck, pressing her cheek against his chest. If she lifted her head just a bit more, she could have kissed his chin. Everyone in the group chat was cheering them on, tagging the two and saying they were a perfect match. Given Adrian’s high position in the company, people were eager to flatter him. One after another, they lined up to comment on how well-matched they were. Since I had been added to the group, it would not look good if I pretended not to see it. So, I followed the crowd and typed two words in the chat, [Perfect match.] I also added a clapping emoji. With a click, I exited the digital charade and put my phone on silent mode. By the time I finished writing the medical records, it was already dark. I took out my phone and found that Adrian had called me dozens of times. One WhatsApp message after another popped up.

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My roommate claimed to be the daughter of a famous CEO. Just as I was wondering which company it was, I heard the name of my mom’s firm. I rushed to the bathroom to make a phone call to my mom, asking excitedly: “Mom, do you have a secret daughter? Does Dad know?” She was even more excited than me: “Yes, your dad knows too.” My face immediately fell, only to see my mom send me a photo of my brother in drag. On the first day of college, I was the last one to arrive at the dorm. I had gotten dirty rescuing a stray dog on the way. When I entered, the previously lively chatter in the room suddenly went quiet for a moment. All five roommates turned to look at me, as if I was an intruder in their territory. Sensing their not-so-friendly gazes, I simply nodded and went in. They quickly resumed their discussion, but as I looked at the bed labeled with my name, I couldn’t help but frown. There were six beds in total in the dorm. My assigned bed was the upper left bunk in the middle, but that bed was already made up. “Did anyone get the bed assignments mixed up?” I asked in a neutral tone, interrupting their conversation. The room fell silent again. After a while, Chloe, wearing a white dress, smiled at me and said softly: “It was me. My bed is below yours, but I’m not used to having someone sleep above me. I wanted to switch with you, but you hadn’t arrived yet, so I went ahead and made the bed.” I nodded in understanding and said: “Then let’s switch back. I’m not used to it either.” Chloe paused for a moment, her smile faltering: “But I… I’m allergic to dust mites…” My eyes lit up and I smiled: “What a coincidence, I’m allergic to dust mites too.” Chloe’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. Her friend Zoe, who was standing next to her, couldn’t bear to watch and said with a sneer: “How can you compare yourself to Chloe? Do you know who she is? Look at how dirty you are, your mom must be a garbage collector or something.” Emily, who was nearby, rolled her eyes at me and said sarcastically: “Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It’s just switching beds. You came late anyway…” “Eager to defend her? Why don’t you switch with her then?” I looked at Emily as I said this. “You…” Emily was left speechless by my retort, her face turning red as she couldn’t find the words to respond. She could only glare at me angrily along with Chloe, who also looked aggrieved. In an instant, the three of them showed a united front against me, as if I was some kind of heinous villain. I had given up a prestigious private school to come to University A just to be with my online boyfriend. Who would have thought that on the first day of school, I’d run into a nest of mean girls and their lackeys? I decided to lean into the villain role they’d cast me in. I put on a stern face and tapped the bed frame: “Hurry up and move. Either find someone willing to switch with you or rent a place off-campus. Just get out of my bed.” In the end, Chloe moved to the lower bunk with a dejected look on her face. As I was unpacking, my roommates started getting ready for bed. Suddenly, Zoe called out: “Chloe, how can you use that expensive black face mask as hand cream?!” Emily also gasped: “As expected of the daughter of Legate Group’s CEO. Even though I’ve seen you use Hermès scarves as cleaning rags before, I still can’t help but feel bad seeing you do this.” Hearing Emily’s words, I paused what I was doing and glanced over. Legate Group? My mom’s company? Does my mom have a secret daughter?! Chloe graciously accepted their flattery and said generously: “It’s not a big deal. If you like them, I’ll give you some later. I have unopened ones in my suitcase.” The two roommates let out shrill screams of excitement. Zoe hugged her enthusiastically and said: “Chloe, I sleep in the upper bunk. Why don’t you switch beds with me? So you don’t have to deal with certain people’s attitude.” Emily chimed in: “Yeah, or just ask the counselor to have her moved out. I heard your mom is a major shareholder of the university and donates money every year. Switching beds should be no problem, right?” Emily’s words were true. My mom does donate money every year because she’s an alumna of University A and wants to give back. Even if you are my mom’s secret daughter, you can’t just do whatever you want, right? My mom donates, not bribes, okay? Chloe pursed her lips and said softly: “Actually, Mom bought me a villa near the university, but she said I should be low-key when I’m away from home. Plus, I want to live with you guys.” I nodded inwardly. A secret daughter should indeed keep a low profile. “See? Rich people just have better manners. Unlike some people,” Zoe said, shooting a pointed glance at me. Chloe followed suit, looking at me smugly. I rolled my eyes and hurried to the bathroom to call my mom and find out what was really going on. When I asked if she had a secret daughter, my mom scolded me and even docked half a month’s allowance. I pouted. Whatever, it’s not like I spend all of it every month anyway.

After Freshman Orientation Week, there was a welcome party where Chloe performed a dance of indeterminate style. During the free socializing time, she used her status as the Legate Group heiress to steal the spotlight. Many guys actively approached her, asking her to dance. I didn’t have time to bother with her. I was busy searching the crowd for my online boyfriend. I had been in an online relationship since high school. He had seen my face, but never showed me his. He was always asking to borrow money from me too. What he didn’t know was that I had long figured out who he was. His name was Lucas, and he had been quite popular with the girls in high school. When I finally spotted Lucas in the crowd, I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. He didn’t look as clean-cut and handsome as he had in high school, and his figure had gotten a bit out of shape. But I’m not shallow about looks. Even though he wasn’t as handsome as before, he had always treated me well. Plus, he had sworn that he would only love me from now on. To give him a surprise, I pretended to bump into him by chance. I went up to chat with him, asking if his username was “Beyond the Years”. Lucas looked at me for a moment, then said with an odd expression: “No, that’s my roommate’s username.” I was taken aback. I hadn’t changed that much, had I? We had been video chatting all summer, how could he not recognize me? “Sorry, I have something to do,” he said abruptly, hurrying away before I could respond. I saw him walk up to Chloe and extend his hand gentlemanly, inviting her to dance. That’s when I understood. He was dumping me, right? He must have set his sights on Chloe’s status as the Legate heiress. Noticing my gaze, Chloe raised an eyebrow at me triumphantly, then took Lucas’s hand. I spat in disgust. A liar and a gold digger – a match made in heaven! After the party ended, Lucas and Chloe had disappeared. When I got back to the dorm, Chloe and the other two roommates were there. Seeing me, Zoe deliberately raised her voice to ask: “Chloe, you must have gotten a lot of confessions today, right? Did anyone catch your eye?” Chloe smiled shyly, but her words were far from modest. “They’re all worth getting to know. That senior Lucas wasn’t bad. He helped me carry my luggage at the start of the semester. He asked me out to a trendy restaurant tomorrow.” The room fell awkwardly silent for a moment. Zoe was the first to cheer: “Senior Lucas is the campus heartthrob in his junior year, and he’s the student council president too! Some people shamelessly tried to chat him up earlier, not knowing their place.” As she said this, she shot me a sideways glance. I was pretty annoyed, but could only silently curse Lucas for being such a two-faced jerk. Originally he said he would come pick me up when school started, but that day I waited for him at the station for half an hour without seeing him. The last school bus came, so I had to leave. It wasn’t until I got to the school gates that I received a text from him. Just a brief message: “Too busy, no time to come. See you another day.” So that day he was busy picking up Chloe?

It would be too easy to just let that jerk off the hook. At the very least, I needed to get back the money he had borrowed from me. Hearing the restaurant location Chloe mentioned, I followed them there the next day. When I went in, the atmosphere in the restaurant was lively. In the crowd, I saw Lucas holding a bouquet of champagne roses in one hand and a necklace box in the other, gazing lovingly at Chloe sitting at the table. “The meaning of champagne roses is that falling in love with you is the greatest happiness of my life. Just like my feelings for you, Chloe…” “Will you be my girlfriend?” Hearing these all-too-familiar words, I felt a bit nauseous. The exact same confession, different flowers. The value of the flowers probably represented the different prices Lucas put on us in his heart. People around started cheering. Chloe’s face showed a mix of surprise and emotion as she opened her mouth, about to accept the confession. “Wait!” I pushed through the crowd and walked up to the two of them. Seeing me, both Lucas and Chloe were surprised, though Lucas’s expression held a hint of nervousness. I looked at him calmly and deliberately said: “Lucas, since you’ve found yourself a big corporate heiress, why don’t you pay back the money you owe me? It’s a total of $10,000.” Lucas tried to keep his composure but couldn’t meet my eyes. He spoke in a distant and disdainful tone: “Excuse me, miss, take a good look at yourself. How could I possibly know someone like you?” I didn’t bother arguing with him. I just dialed a number, and his phone immediately started ringing. Lucas’s face turned pale. I hung up the call and raised an eyebrow at him: “Still want to deny it?” Lucas lowered his head, his face a mix of anger and shame. Chloe seemed to realize something and glared at me before storming off. Lucas saw this and wanted to chase after her, but I grabbed him: “Either you admit you’re not a real man, or I’ll consider this measly amount as money wasted on feeding a dog.” He clenched his fist and shot me a gloomy look, then reluctantly spoke: “I don’t have that much money right now. Can I pay you back in installments?” “Fine, I’ll give you two weeks. If you don’t pay up by then, I’ll go to the police and you can forget about staying in school.”

When I got back to the dorm, I overheard Chloe talking to Zoe. I’m not sure what Chloe said, but Emily indignantly exclaimed: “I can’t believe Senior Lucas is that kind of person. He hasn’t even dealt with his loose ends outside and he’s already chasing our Chloe. Isn’t that disgusting?” Chloe sighed: “Lucas told me he doesn’t like Alice at all and never borrowed money from her. He only chatted with her a bit because she’s a junior. Alice just misunderstood.” “Huh? I knew it. How could Senior Lucas like that kind of poor girl? She doesn’t even wear branded clothes.” “Forget it. My boyfriend isn’t any worse than Lucas anyway. If Alice likes him, she can have him. It’s not up to me whether Lucas wants her or not.” Emily sighed: “Chloe, you’re too nice. Why are you even considering her feelings?” I couldn’t listen anymore. I pushed open the door and walked in, smiling at Chloe: “That’s right, don’t bother considering my feelings. You have a hobby of sorting trash, but I don’t have a habit of collecting garbage. After all, trash belongs in the trash can.” “What do you mean?” Chloe’s face flushed red with anger. Emily patted her and comforted her: “Don’t get upset over a poor girl. She’s just jealous of you.” I couldn’t help but laugh and asked her: “What am I jealous of? Her fake goods? Or her collecting trash?” “What nonsense are you spouting? Are you crazy? What fake goods?” Emily looked baffled. I glanced at the skincare products on her and Emily’s desks and kindly reminded them: “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you’ll find out when your faces break out and you end up in the hospital.” “How dare you curse me?!” Emily got emotional. Chloe held her back: “Forget it, don’t bother with her. She probably just hasn’t seen the real thing before.” “Right, sour grapes because she can’t have it.” Although angry, Emily still had some sense and didn’t use Chloe’s skincare products that night. When Chloe asked, she just said she had already used them. Two mornings later, a scream rang out from the bathroom. Everyone was woken up by the noise. I drowsily pulled back the curtain to take a look and almost fell out of bed in shock. Zoe’s face was covered in dense clusters of pimples, and her neck had a rash-like patch of bumps. “Help! Am I going to be disfigured? It’s so itchy…” She kept scratching until her whole face looked awful. “You should go to the hospital right away,” suggested one of the roommates. “I’ll go with you. Chloe, why don’t you come along?” Zoe glanced hopefully at Chloe’s bed. She was the only one who hadn’t pulled back her curtains and seemed to still be sleeping. Usually she would complain if I so much as rolled over in bed, but today she was sleeping so soundly? In the end, only Emily went with Zoe to see the doctor. When they came back, I had just used the bathroom and was about to go out. I overheard Zoe saying dejectedly: “Why did you stop me earlier? That quack doctor actually said I used substandard skincare products. Those were all from Chloe, how could they be substandard?” Emily was silent for a moment before saying hesitantly: “Maybe she didn’t know the stuff was fake. Anyway, you should stop using it for now. And don’t tell Chloe, so she doesn’t overthink it.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. These two lapdogs were practically Chloe’s brainwashed fans. To my surprise, Chloe actually took the initiative to tell the two of them that she had been scammed with fake goods. Zoe had stopped using Chloe’s products on Emily’s advice, and her skin gradually recovered. A few days later at a class meeting, our counselor suddenly announced some big news. “As you all know, Mrs. Johnson from Legate Group is an alumna of our school and has donated several buildings. Recently, she donated another dormitory in her daughter’s name. You should all know that her daughter is in our class…” At these words, everyone turned to look at Chloe.

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I had a task system bound to me. I had been by Adrian’s side for eight years when he accidentally overheard my conversation with the system. I lied to him, saying I was here to win his heart. From then on, he stopped coming home at night, completely abandoning his former image as the model boyfriend. He kept me trapped by his side, letting his friends humiliate me, forcing me to watch him being intimate with other women. But winning his heart was just my lie. My real mission was already complete, and it was time for me to leave. According to this world’s timeline, I had been with Adrian for eight years. Today was my birthday. It was already 8 PM, and Adrian still hadn’t come home. However, I saw traces of him on Instagram. He was surrounded by women, looking like he was having the time of his life. Even though I knew the truth, I still sent Adrian a message asking if he was coming back. Adrian replied quickly with a video call. In the video, Adrian adjusted the angle to show everyone in the private room. I saw several sleazy-looking men among the scantily clad beautiful women. Adrian then turned the camera back to himself and said teasingly, “Kiss me.” Immediately, two women leaned into the frame and planted a kiss on each of Adrian’s cheeks. One of the women even greeted me, “Hey sis, don’t worry about Adrian. We’re taking good care of him!” Adrian smiled contentedly. He went out of his way to send me this video just to upset me. Just half a year ago, Adrian was still praised by everyone as the model boyfriend. Now, when his friends saw me, their eyes were filled only with pity.

Adrian was the CEO protagonist of this world. My task was to help Adrian accumulate wealth before he met the female lead. But when I first met Adrian, he was still a poor college student living on scholarships. Adrian’s original family background not only left him in poverty but also affected his personality, making him insecure and stubborn. Back then, in that tiny 100-square-foot rental apartment, I already predicted that the future Adrian would definitely be a dark and obsessive CEO. Adrian’s feelings for me came suddenly. To maintain our relationship and ensure the smooth completion of my task, I became Adrian’s girlfriend. Last month, Adrian accidentally overheard my conversation with the system. Afraid of exposing my real mission, I lied to Adrian, saying my task was to win his heart. After that day, Adrian’s attitude towards me changed 180 degrees. He started bringing all sorts of women home and deliberately showing intimacy in front of me. It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt. I had been with him for eight years; even if I were made of stone, I would have developed some feelings. I didn’t understand why eight years of feelings could change so suddenly. Even if Adrian felt that I had betrayed his feelings, considering how I had helped his career progress step by step, he should have at least parted ways with me amicably. But he insisted on bringing women to upset me, to humiliate me. I also deeply realized that developing feelings was a big taboo for the mission. Fortunately, I had the foresight not to tell him my real mission. Otherwise, I didn’t know if I could leave smoothly. After watching the video Adrian sent, I couldn’t accept it for a moment and hesitantly reminded him: “Today is my birthday.” Adrian’s response was, “So what if it’s your birthday?” I laughed self-mockingly. I can’t believe I still fantasized about him changing. I turned off my phone and looked at the dishes I had prepared on the table. I picked up my fork. I had barely eaten a few bites when Adrian messaged again: “I’ve been drinking and can’t drive. Come pick me up.” I didn’t want to face that room full of women, but knowing that none of his friends were reliable, I was worried something might happen. As far as I knew, Adrian had an important project recently. Once Adrian secured it, my task progress bar should be full. Just bear with it a little longer. Adrian probably looked forward to my departure too.

As soon as I opened the door to the private room, I saw a haze of smoke. At first glance, I thought everyone in the room was practicing some kind of mystical cultivation. As soon as they saw me, someone shouted, “The sister-in-law is here!” This was followed by meaningful laughter. These were all Adrian’s drinking buddies, who only gathered to flatter him. Previously, when they saw me, they would still compliment me a bit. Now, knowing Adrian’s cold attitude towards me, they just teased me when we met. “Sister-in-law is so generous, not even getting angry seeing so many women around Adrian.” How could I not be angry? But showing anger would only make Adrian laugh at me. In the dim light, I couldn’t see Adrian’s expression clearly, but I heard his cold laugh. Adrian had asked me to come pick him up, but the gathering showed no signs of ending. They were still as noisy as ever. With no place to sit, I could only stand to the side. Their gazes swept over me, either mocking or teasing. Did Adrian call me here just to embarrass me? I didn’t want to put up with this nonsense anger, so I reminded Adrian: “When are you leaving? I don’t want to wait too long.” Although the room was noisy, Adrian glanced at me. He should have heard me speak, but he turned his head to talk to others, ignoring me. With his attitude, I bet even if I whispered in his ear, he would pretend not to hear. I directly picked up the microphone used for singing, making sure the entire room could hear my voice: “If you’re not coming back now, I’m leaving!” Everyone was startled by my action. After a brief silence, someone finally spoke up: “Don’t be in such a hurry. It’s still early! Waiting a bit longer won’t kill you.” With this, everyone started criticizing me: “Sister-in-law, why are you so impatient now? No wonder Adrian doesn’t care for you!” “Don’t be so petty. We’ve barely started having fun!” Adrian let them stab at me one by one before slowly speaking: “You’re so boring. What’s the point of going back?” This sentence seemed to have a hidden meaning, causing another round of laughter. I gritted my teeth, not daring to meet their eyes, staring fixedly at the floor. The woman to Adrian’s left was charming and coquettish. She softly collapsed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck: “I’m much more fun, right, Mr. Adrian?” Adrian allowed the beauty in his arms to touch him freely, but he stared fixedly at me. Adrian seemed to enjoy seeing my discomfort. I wanted to pretend not to care, but I couldn’t help looking at the person in Adrian’s arms. Why did I do so much, only to end up like this? I immediately comforted myself, saying that my task was almost complete, and I would soon forget Adrian after leaving this place. Amidst the sneers, someone suddenly spoke up: “Adrian, if you find your sister-in-law boring, can I borrow her for a couple of days?” The man was drunk and swaying as he approached me from not far away. His words plunged the whole room into a deathly silence. The others were probably wary of Adrian. In their hearts, I was trying to please Adrian, and I was his property. But I wasn’t Adrian’s possession, so how could I be casually given away? I stared at the man, ready to hit him with a bottle when he came closer. Suddenly, someone stood in front of me, blocking the swaying drunk man. He broke the silence: “We shouldn’t joke like this in the future.” I was about to tilt my head to see who this kind person was when I was suddenly pulled into an embrace. Adrian’s cold, suppressed voice exploded above my head: “You don’t need to protect what’s mine!” The next second was the sound of glass shattering, accompanied by Adrian’s fury: “You, get out!” I turned my head to see the drunk man with blood flowing from his forehead, looking dazed. He was completely sobered up now. After Adrian’s outburst, everyone was breathing carefully, not daring to make a sound. For a moment, I mistakenly thought our relationship had returned to the past, that Adrian was still that considerate and thorough man. Adrian had lost interest and led the dazed me out of there. Didn’t he hate me? Why did he defend me? “What are you staring at? Have I mesmerized you?” I was lost in thought, staring at Adrian, and he took the opportunity to tease me. His mood seemed to have stabilized a bit. “Adrian, since you’re already tired of me, I’ll leave tomorrow.” I thought Adrian defended me only because that drunk man had challenged his face. Hearing my words, Adrian furrowed his brows again, gripping my hand tighter. “Impossible!” Adrian only said these three words, not even giving me an explanation. But I felt my suggestion was beneficial for both of us. Why wouldn’t he agree? After walking a couple more steps, Adrian suddenly seemed to realize something. He turned around and came close to me: “Haven’t you been by my side all this time for your mission?” “Now you want to give up on the mission too. Are you hiding something from me?”

I was startled. Had Adrian discovered something? Seeing that I didn’t speak, Adrian guessed on his own: “Or are you playing hard to get?” Hearing this, I felt relieved. Adrian wasn’t as smart as I thought. But I pretended to be seen through, turning my head away awkwardly. Adrian sneered, “I’ve seen all your tricks. Don’t bother.” Then he grabbed my wrist again and threw me into the car. “Cassandra, I won’t let you complete your mission easily. I’ll make you stay by my side and watch me fall in love with someone else.” I laughed coldly, “What deep grudge do you have against me that you’d rather disgust yourself just to hurt me?” Adrian slowly fastened my seatbelt, his voice low: “Everyone who has hurt me must pay the price. You should know this best.” This wasn’t untrue. All of Adrian’s apparent enemies and those who had backstabbed him hadn’t met good ends. I argued, “Even if my feelings for you were fake, all my help was real. You’re being ungrateful!” I don’t know which word struck a nerve with Adrian, but his expression grew colder: “All your clothing, food, housing, and transportation have been paid for by me. Isn’t that repayment enough?” “I don’t need it! I’d be eternally grateful if you just let me complete my mission and leave!” I wasn’t even from this world. All these things he mentioned were useless to me. I wanted to argue more, but seeing the moving scenery outside the window, I suddenly remembered that Adrian’s excuse for calling me over was that he had been drinking and couldn’t drive. But he clearly had a driver, right? Did he call me over just to let that group of unsavory people humiliate me? Adrian had such a vicious heart, completely disregarding our past relationship. Had I spent these eight years devoted to a dog? “I drove here. My car is still parked there!” All my anger was condensed into these two sentences. I swallowed all the curses I wanted to say. The personality of this character couldn’t be changed with just a few words. After all, I hadn’t changed anything in eight years. Adrian was taken aback by my sudden outburst about the car. He paused for a moment, then shouted: “What are you yelling about? That piece of junk won’t get stolen. Don’t worry about it!” There was nothing left to talk about with Adrian. He was dead set on not letting me go. Fortunately, the task was almost over. At worst, we’d just have to disgust each other for a while longer. I turned my head and pretended to doze off, occasionally hearing Adrian arrange tasks with his subordinates. “Thank you for the tip, Mr. Adrian. Remember to come find me next time you miss me, mwah~” Adrian seemed to have deliberately turned on the speakerphone. This affected voice startled me. I saw Adrian’s smiling face in the reflection of the car window. I heard Adrian clear his throat, his tone dropping an octave: “I’ll remember, baby.” So greasy, it made my scalp tingle. I stared at Adrian in the car window, unable to believe that this was the same person who used to hesitate even to hold hands. How could a person change so much in just one month? I felt a lump in my throat, as if a tree I had nurtured for years had been taken away and grown crooked. The woman on the other end spoke again: “Mr. Adrian, won’t you give me a kiss?” It felt like a bolt of lightning struck my head. I couldn’t describe my inner feelings with words. I sat there dumbfounded, waiting for Adrian’s reaction, but he suddenly turned his head and stared at me. I couldn’t see Adrian’s expression clearly in the car window reflection, nor could I understand his thoughts. Adrian stared for a long time, then suddenly spoke: “Come with me on a business trip next week. There’s an important contract.”

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My twin sister attempted suicide and was hospitalized. Her tormentors followed her to the hospital, mocking her for bringing it upon herself. Later, I went to school wearing an identical face to my sister’s. The bullies were excited, but I was even more so. Because I am a born monster, and the only one who could suppress my evil thoughts was my sister. This was my sister’s second suicide attempt. Our parents didn’t hesitate to call the police this time. But even when faced with law enforcement, the main bully remained smug and defiant. “How can you say I bullied her? I could say she bullied me!” she protested. “That’s right, my daughter is such a sweetheart. She wouldn’t even hurt an ant,” her mother chimed in. I watched this mother-daughter duo defend themselves from the other side of the security camera feed. Meanwhile, my sister – who had greeted me cheerfully just this morning – lay weak and pale in her hospital bed. Zoe, the ringleader of the bullies, raised an eyebrow and smirked. “If she acts like a b*tch, I’ll treat her like one. Simple as that. What are you going to do about it? Throw me in jail? I dare you!” She then made a mocking face at my sister, showing not a shred of remorse or fear. Zoe’s mother met my mom’s gaze, her eyes filled with contempt. She quickly looked away, clicking her tongue. “Tch, like mother like daughter. Cut from the same cloth, I see.” My mom let out a casual laugh. I knew that laugh – mom was angry. Mia, Zoe’s little sidekick, seemed to have found her courage. She glared at my sister with disgust. “Cutting your wrists? That’s nothing. If she really wanted to die, she should’ve jumped from the 18th floor. That would’ve turned her into mush for sure. Why bother with wrists? She didn’t even die. I bet she just wants to extort money from us. Right, Zoe?” “Hmph! Ugly people always make a fuss,” Zoe sneered. Due to lack of concrete evidence and the fact that they were all minors, the incident ended with Zoe giving a verbal apology. Back home, our little princess – the one we had cherished and protected – lay motionless in her bed. Bruises of various sizes covered her body. My parents and I finally noticed some things we had missed before. After a long silence, I said, “I’ll go to school in my sister’s place.” My parents understood what I meant. They knew what I was going to do. I turned and went into the bathroom. In the mirror, I saw a face identical to my sister’s staring back at me.

My sister and I are twins. Most people can’t tell us apart. Even our parents have almost mixed us up a few times. Lily loves pink. Her backpack, stationery, and even her bedding are all pink. I, on the other hand, prefer black. Mom often teases Lily, “If I hadn’t given birth to you myself, I’d think we picked you up somewhere!” Mom’s joke isn’t without reason. In our family, Lily is the special one. She’s different from us. She’s naturally pure and kind-hearted, carefully protected by me and our parents since childhood. I, on the other hand, was born with a “condition”. I’m a monster in the eyes of others. Since childhood, only Lily would play with me. To protect others, our parents had me study at home. I didn’t complain because with Lily around, I never felt lonely. Our parents said Lily was our family’s top priority for protection. So, from a young age, I’ve always protected her from the shadows. But we never imagined that after just one year of high school, Lily would end up like this. The doctor said we needed to be careful with Lily’s emotions. I stroked Lily’s forehead and whispered, “Lily, big sister will definitely avenge you.” Just then, a jarring phone ringtone broke the silence. Lily’s face turned ghostly pale. She covered her ears and started screaming. I picked up the phone and opened the message. It was a video. In it, Lily was being held down under a faucet in the bathroom, her wet hair plastered to her cheeks. Her face was red from choking on water. The perpetrators were laughing hysterically in the background. “If I catch you talking to him again, I’ll scratch up your face. See how you like seducing boys in our class then!” The video ended with this threat from the bully. Rage nearly burst through my chest. I closed my eyes for a moment and turned off the phone. Lily’s teeth were chattering. She stammered, “They… they took so many videos of me… without clothes.” I stroked Lily’s hair, looking at her tenderly. “Do you trust your big sister?” Lily nodded. I opened the door and walked into the backyard, where I dug another small patch of fallow ground with a hoe. Soon, there would be another addition here. Nearby, curses and pleas could be heard. “You’ll be struck by lightning! You’ll die a horrible death!”

I put on my sister’s backpack. From now on, I would be Lily, no longer Emma. As soon as I entered the classroom, a book flew towards my face. I dodged it easily. “Where’s Zoe’s breakfast? You want to die?” It was Mia, Zoe’s lapdog. She had been laughing the hardest in the video. It seemed bullying others gave her a sick pleasure. I ignored her and walked straight to my sister’s desk. The wooden desk was covered in insulting words carved into its surface – “btch”, “slt”… “Still admiring those words made specially for you? Can’t get enough? How about we carve them on your face instead?” Mia approached me, looking down with a sneer. Her narrow eyes narrowed further, a malicious smile spreading across her face. “I think that’s a great idea. Zoe would love it.” Something began to swell in my veins, gradually boiling and spreading throughout my body. It was uncontrollable, and I didn’t want to control it. Seeing Mia’s smile made me even more irritated. I stepped forward quickly and swung my right arm. A loud slap echoed through the classroom. Clear fingerprints appeared on her face. “You dare hit me? Just wait until Zoe gets back. You’re dead meat!” Her voice suddenly became shrill, as if her vocal cords had been struck by lightning. “Tsk tsk tsk…” The other classmates seemed surprised that I had hit her. Their smiles quickly froze on their faces. I narrowed my eyes. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you laughing anymore?” When she finally reacted and raised her hand to hit me back, the bell for class rang. She glared at me viciously before returning to her seat. I stuffed my backpack into the desk. It felt wet and sticky inside. It was full of oily residue from various snacks, emitting a nauseating smell. Soon, the homeroom teacher came in. She looked at me first, then said, “Lily, class has started. Why aren’t you sitting down?” “My desk is full of garbage that Zoe and her gang stuffed in there. The chair is also covered in glue.” I watched her expression gradually stiffen. She slowly raised her eyes and snorted coldly. “Are you saying Zoe is targeting you?” I didn’t speak, just stared at her silently. She sneered, “How is that possible? Zoe is the top student in our grade. Why would she target you? Even though Zoe is absent today, I won’t allow you to baselessly accuse her!” Mia looked at me smugly, nodding slightly with a small smirk. “Ms. Lee, I think she’s just jealous of Zoe’s good grades. All the teachers know Zoe is a good student in our class.” “Sit down. If you don’t want to listen to the lesson, that’s fine, but don’t disturb other students,” Ms. Lee glared at me. I pushed the desk over, spilling its contents onto the floor. The garbage was exposed, and oil stains spread across the floor, causing gasps from those around us. Mia glared at me fiercely. “Maybe you’re just a glutton and a slob. You ate snacks and didn’t throw away the trash. Now you’re trying to frame me!” Ms. Lee nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t think Zoe is that kind of person. If she really is targeting you, you should think about why. Why doesn’t she target anyone else? As they say, it takes two to tango…” I rushed forward in one swift motion. A crisp slap echoed through the classroom. I looked at the homeroom teacher contemptuously. “Ms. Lee, do you hear how loud one hand can clap?” No one had expected me to be so bold. Even the homeroom teacher was stunned. My action inevitably infuriated her. Her face turned red, her neck swelling as if about to explode. “Lily! How dare you… how dare you lay hands on a teacher! I see you don’t want to study anymore! I’m calling your parents right now. They can take you home. I don’t think you need to continue your education here!”

Soon, my mom arrived at the school. When she saw me, she gave a slight smile, as if to say “well done.” In the office, the homeroom teacher poured out a litany of complaints to my mom, emphasizing how unruly and disrespectful I was. “As a teacher, I just said one word to her, and she dared to hit me? I’ve been teaching for most of my life, and I’ve never encountered such a disrespectful student!” My mom tilted her head slightly, glancing at her with deep disgust in her eyes. “Ms. Lee, that’s where you’re wrong. Why did Lily only hit you and not other teachers? Have you considered that it might be your problem?” These words sounded familiar. I smiled. The homeroom teacher couldn’t utter a word in response to my mom’s smiling-yet-not-smiling face. In the end, she said, “Let’s go see the principal. We’ll see if they want to keep this worthless student or me, a teacher.” “Fine,” my mom agreed. As soon as we saw the principal, my mom rushed forward to shake his hand. “To think such a small matter would trouble the principal. Our Lily is really inconsiderate. How about this – my husband and I have discussed it. For any student from a poor family with good character, we can sponsor them all the way through graduation.” The principal’s eyes lit up at this. “Really?” My mom nodded. When she looked at the homeroom teacher, her eyes flashed with a challenging light. “We wouldn’t joke about such an important matter, of course.” “That’s good, that’s good. Actually, this isn’t a big deal. Children, you know, are at a mischievous age. She just accidentally hit Ms. Lee once. Ms. Lee has been teaching here for so long, she’s seen all kinds of students. Apart from being a bit naughty, Lily doesn’t have any other problems, right, Ms. Lee?” The homeroom teacher was shaking with anger, her face ashen. After a long while, she nodded. The words she had prepared to expel me stuck in her throat, neither able to come up nor go down. Her face turned an iron blue. I chuckled lightly. This was just the beginning. I believe my sister must have reached out to the homeroom teacher before, begging her to pull her out of the mire. But she chose to turn a blind eye and even aided the bullies. My foolish sister, don’t you see? The very methods you despise are often the most effective in manipulating people. Even when pushed to the brink of suicide, she never told me or our parents about what was happening at school. Whenever we asked, she always brushed it off, saying the teachers were good, the classmates were nice. Even now, she’s still protecting those demons. Because my sister knows that if those people fell into my or our parents’ hands, death would be a mercy for them.

Zoe came back. She seemed to have heard about my story from other classmates. For example, “Lily’s personality has changed dramatically. She even hit a teacher and caused a scene with the principal.” She kicked over my desk. “I was away for two days and you’ve become so tough? Which hand did you use to hit Mia? Let me see.” I smirked coldly, not even bothering to lift my eyelids. I slapped her across the face. “See? I used both hands.” Zoe’s fingers clenched into fists, her knuckles cracking. “You b*tch, how dare you hit me!” She charged at me, and we tumbled into a fight. Her little tricks were nothing new to me. It was just hair-pulling and arm-pinching. She quickly found herself at a disadvantage. I dragged her into the bathroom and shoved her head into the sink. This scene reminded me of my sister. She too had been held under water, unable to breathe. Mia seemed scared stiff. She stood at the bathroom door, hesitating to come in. It wasn’t until Zoe let out a yell that she finally entered, holding a mop. “Mia, what are you standing there for? Strip her clothes off. I’m going to post her video online today and make her famous!” Zoe’s eyes suddenly turned vicious as she was held down in the sink. Her features twisted into a grimace of extreme anger. “If you had the guts to fight me fair and square, I might have some respect for you. But you resort to these dirty tricks. It’s disgusting.” Mia took advantage of my distraction and hit me hard on the back with the mop. In that moment, Zoe broke free from my grip and pinned me down. “Btch, slt, how dare you hit me.” Her nails raked across my face. Only then did the anger on her face give way to pleasure. “You filthy sl*t, let’s see how you seduce men now!” The taste of blood spread in my mouth. Thinking about this, I suddenly laughed. “You target me so much just because I’m prettier than you? You’re jealous that all the boys in class revolve around me, right?” I guessed right. As soon as I said this, Zoe’s face changed. “Who told you to look like such a seductress? Are you so desperate for men? Huh?” My sister’s beauty was undeniable, everyone could see that. Our family had always put a lot of effort into maintaining our appearance. Because… we have our own methods. Looking at Zoe and Mia in front of me, I laughed so hard I could barely stand up straight. People like them should have an even better effect on our beauty regimen. “What are you laughing at, you b*tch!”

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I, Calvin Gibson, started an online romance with our company’s Vice President, Miriam Wilson. There’s no way I could meet her in real life. She doesn’t know yet that the guy she’s dating online is actually a company employee. ***** Miriam’s been in a terrible mood lately. Everyone who’s picked up on this has become extra cautious, not daring to slack off at work. Miriam’s been working crazy overtime, and we don’t dare leave before she does, so we end up working until eleven or twelve every night. I’m so exhausted I’ve got dark circles under my eyes, and my skin’s looking pretty rough. Honestly, I’m probably the only person in the entire company who knows the real reason behind Miriam’s foul mood, but I can’t say anything. Because Miriam just went through a breakup. And her “ex” is me. She just doesn’t know it yet. It all started when my online girlfriend and I decided to meet in person. We met online.

“Ms. Newman, are you certain you want to change your name? Once changed, your diplomas, various certificates, and passport will all need to be updated accordingly.” Anne nodded. “I’m certain.” The clerk continued trying to dissuade her. “Changing your name as an adult is actually quite troublesome, and your original name sounds lovely. Why don’t you reconsider?” “No need.” Anne signed the name change consent form. “Please go ahead and change it.” The clerk said, “Alright, the name you want to change to is Marina Bennet, correct?” Anne nodded. “Yes.” She would use her new name to fly far away. This was the direction she had set for her future. She was going to leave this place completely. Anne asked, “Can I go change the name on my passport now?” The clerk replied, “Yes, this is your name change receipt. Take this downstairs to process your passport name change.” Anne completed the passport information update as quickly as possible. As for other documents like her diploma, she left everything untouched. After all, she would be leaving with her new passport in a week. Her past identity could stay here—she no longer needed it. Walking out of the administrative building with her new passport, she faced New York’s iconic skyline. On the large screen covering the building’s exterior wall, an interview with Jonathan Graham, CEO of Graham Group, was playing. The interviewer keenly noticed his subtle gesture and asked with a smile, “Mr. Graham, I notice you keep touching your ring. It’s just an ordinary silver ring, isn’t it? Does it have special meaning?” Jonathan smiled warmly and raised his hand to show her. “This is my wedding ring.” The interviewer said, “Oh? I’m sorry, I assumed someone in your position would have at least a diamond wedding ring, and a substantial one at that.” Jonathan replied, “I crafted this wedding ring myself, polishing it bit by bit, and even engraved my name and my wife’s name inside the band.” The interviewer exclaimed, “Wow, there really are two sets of letters—JG and…” Jonathan said, “And AN. My wife is Anne Newman.” The interviewer gushed, “Wow, I really envy your wife. How lucky must she be to marry you?” But Jonathan said, “Actually, I’m the lucky one for being able to marry her.” The surrounding crowd was making envious sounds. Only Anne, the person in question, smiled sarcastically. She and Jonathan had truly loved each other deeply once, from their school days until now—they had walked together for fifteen years. In the eyes of classmates and teachers, they were the most enviable couple on campus. Until two months ago, when she received photos from a strange woman. The girl in the photos looked barely twenty, wearing sexy stockings and a nightgown, with purple and blue marks covering her from neck to chest. Without much thought, it was obvious she had just experienced intense sexual activity. She made a provocative gesture at the camera. On her index finger was a silver ring, slightly oversized—clearly a men’s style. Inside the ring band was engraved a line of English letters: JG&AN. Later, she saw that girl in Jonathan’s office. Her name was Maeve Hicks, a recent college graduate, twenty-one years old, Jonathan’s newly hired personal assistant. At that moment, Anne’s mind went blank. She desperately wanted to storm into the office and ask, “Personal assistant—does that include your sex life?” But she never asked. The marks all over Maeve’s body in that photo had already explained everything. Amid the surrounding gasps of amazement and envy, Anne quietly left and walked into a jewelry processing shop. When she removed the ring from her left ring finger, her heart ached so much she could barely breathe. The shop owner asked, “Miss, what jewelry would you like to have processed?” She said, “This ring—please melt it down.” The shop owner looked puzzled. “This ring has engraving on it. It must have special meaning, right? Are you sure you want it melted down?” She nodded. “Yes, please do it as soon as possible.” Half an hour later, Anne returned home with an elegantly packaged jewelry box. When Jonathan came home, it was already past ten at night. He held a bouquet of flowers. “Sorry, Anne, I’ve been too busy with work lately and haven’t had time to spend with you. I brought your favorite freesias—do you like them?” As he leaned closer, Anne caught a whiff of perfume on him that wasn’t hers. Glancing sideways, she spotted a faint bite mark below his Adam’s apple. At his shirt collar, there was an obvious lipstick stain, glaringly red. Anne let out a cold laugh. Were you busy with work, or busy getting carried away with Maeve? Jonathan looked puzzled. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Anne pushed him away. “I’m a bit tired.” He said, “Should I carry you to bed?” With that, he bent down, preparing to sweep her up in his arms. Anne pushed him away again. “You’re tired too. Take a shower and get some rest.” Jonathan reached out to take her hand but suddenly noticed something. “Anne, where’s your wedding ring?” Anne said, “I took it off.” Jonathan frowned and asked, “But I made that with my own hands. It’s proof of our love. Why did you take it off?” Anne replied dismissively, “I’ve gained some weight recently. It doesn’t fit properly anymore.” Only then did Jonathan’s expression soften, and he smiled again. “Then I’ll take it to the jewelry store to resize it sometime.” Anne said, “We’ll talk about it later.” “By the way, what’s that on the table?” Jonathan pointed to the exquisite jewelry box on the table and asked with some surprise, “Is this a gift for me?” Anne nodded. “Yes.” Inside it was a small silver piece. She had melted down their wedding rings and placed them inside. But Jonathan looked delighted. “What’s the occasion? You actually prepared a gift for me?” Anne’s heart grew cold again. “Today is our wedding anniversary.” Jonathan’s expression instantly turned panicked. He coaxed her almost pleadingly, “I’m sorry, Anne. I’ve been really busy with work lately. How about we go out for dinner tonight? I’ll make a reservation right now…” Anne said coldly, “No need. I already ate.” Jonathan suggested, “Then let me take you out to see the night view? We could take a walk by the river?” Anne said, “I’m tired. I want to sleep.” Jonathan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his tone coaxing, “Come on, Anne. We haven’t taken a walk together in so long. I feel like you’ve been a bit cold toward me lately. If this continues, I’ll start wondering if you’ve fallen for someone else.” Have I fallen for someone else? Your heart left me first. And this time, I’m going to take back my heart completely, along with myself. Everything. On the way out, Jonathan drove while enthusiastically sharing recent happenings. Anne sat in the passenger seat, turning her head to look out the window, ignoring everything he said. Because when she was fastening her seatbelt, she had felt a woman’s stocking in the seat crack—clearly worn. She quietly pushed it back and pretended nothing had happened. Since she had already decided to leave, she didn’t want to argue about anything anymore. Besides those useless lies, she would get nothing. Since she couldn’t have it, she wouldn’t want it anymore. When they reached the river, Jonathan got out first and walked around to open her door. “Anne, we’re here.” Anne didn’t really want to come, but this used to be their favorite place when they were dating. If it started here, then let it end here too. “Wow, isn’t that Mr. Graham from TV today? The one who made the wedding ring himself!” “I remember—what a perfect husband!” “He’s even shielding Mrs. Graham from the car roof so she won’t hit her head getting out. He’s so thoughtful!” Suddenly, Jonathan’s phone rang. He said somewhat apologetically, “Sorry, Anne. Wait here for a moment. It’s work-related. I’ll take this call and be right back.” Anne said, “Go ahead.” Jonathan instructed, “Just wait here for me. Don’t wander off.” The people around them exclaimed again. “Mr. Graham loves his wife so much—he’s even worried she’ll get lost.” “He spoils her so much!” Only Anne remained expressionless throughout, standing by the river, gazing at the shimmering water in the night. When Jonathan saw the caller ID earlier, he couldn’t suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth. That smile carried affection, sweetness, and a hint of intimacy. So how could that call possibly be about work? But she was too lazy to expose Jonathan’s lie. The wind from the river was a bit cold, so she simply returned to the car to wait. On the car’s display screen, Jonathan’s social media account was still logged in, synced with his phone. Chat messages were appearing one by one. The other person’s nickname was “Greedy Cat.” Jonathan: Missing me? Greedy Cat: I’m a bit lonely on nights when you’re not here. Jonathan: Greedy Cat, wasn’t seven times with you today enough? Greedy Cat: Not enough. I want more. Jonathan: Alright, tomorrow at work, in the office, I’ll satisfy you. Greedy Cat: Then I’ll wear black stockings to work tomorrow. The content that followed became increasingly explicit, full of crude flirtation and vulgar language. Anne felt cold all over and turned off the screen. Her whole body was trembling—whether from cold or anger, she didn’t know. Her nails dug into her palms. Jonathan returned quickly, about fifteen minutes later. He got back in the car and patted his chest with relief. “When I finished the call and turned around, I didn’t see you. You scared me to death. Thank goodness you’re okay.” Anne no longer wanted to look at that hypocritical face and kept her head down, looking at her hands. She said, “It was cold outside, so I came back to the car.” Jonathan said, “Good. You can be wherever you like.” Anne suddenly looked up. After seeing their chat records, this statement took on another meaning for her. Wherever you like. The stocking in the passenger seat crack… Could it be that they had done it in the passenger seat too? Anne suddenly felt nauseous and pushed open the car door to vomit.

Jonathan panicked and rushed forward to check on her. “Anne, what’s wrong?” Anne was violently sick, and it took her a long time to recover. She couldn’t understand why Jonathan, who loved her so much, would cheat on her. Wasn’t he afraid she’d find out? Or did he think he was being discreet enough to keep it hidden from her forever? The evening breeze cleared Anne’s mind considerably. Jonathan asked with concern, “Anne, are you okay? If you’re not feeling well, I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” Anne said, “No, I probably just had something bad at dinner.” Jonathan said, “Then come to the office tomorrow and find me. We’ll have lunch together.” Anne let out a cold laugh, thinking to herself, “Go to the office to watch you and Maeve having sex in your office?” She suddenly felt mischievous: “Sure, I’ll go to the office with you tomorrow morning, keep you company while you work, then we’ll have lunch together, and come home together in the evening.” Jonathan hadn’t expected her to agree at all, and his expression immediately became somewhat strained: “But I’ve been pretty busy with work lately. I might not be able to stay with you the whole time.” Anne said, “You do your work. I’ll just wait for you in your office.” Jonathan had no choice but to say, “Alright then.” After returning home, Jonathan offered to run a bath for Anne and went into the bathroom, but unusually closed the door behind him. Anne went downstairs alone and got back in the car. After starting the engine, the latest chat messages immediately popped up on the screen. Jonathan: [Plans have changed. We can’t use the office tomorrow.] Greedy Cat: [So disappointed.] Jonathan: [Don’t be disappointed. I’ll take you to the rooftop. It’ll be more thrilling.] Greedy Cat: [Wow, you’re the best.] When Anne returned to the bedroom, Jonathan had just come out of the bathroom: “Anne, your bath is ready. Go soak for a while.” Anne said, “No thanks, I want to rest.” Jonathan nodded: “Alright, sleep if you’re tired. By the way, that gift you left on the table—can I open it now?” Anne said, “Wait another week.” Jonathan asked, “Why wait another week? I want to see what you got me right now.” Anne said, “Because…” She thought to herself, “Because in a week, I’ll be gone from your life forever.” She said, “Because the gift will only be meaningful in a week.” Jonathan kissed her gently on the forehead: “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” Early the next morning, Jonathan’s phone started ringing after six. He turned it off and pulled Anne closer: “Ignore it. Let’s sleep a little longer.” But the phone rang persistently again. Jonathan frowned, getting annoyed: “It’s not even work hours yet, and they’re calling non-stop this early. I’m going to fire all these useless executives sooner or later.” He turned off the phone again. When the phone rang for the third time, Jonathan finally got up impatiently: “Anne, sleep a little longer. I’ll go see what’s so urgent.” Anne softly hummed in acknowledgment and turned away from him. Jonathan took his phone and left the bedroom. Soon after, his figure appeared outside the front door downstairs. A delivery person in a yellow uniform was standing outside, handing him a package. Jonathan took it, but when he returned inside, his hands were empty. Anne asked him, “Is the company situation serious?” Jonathan said, “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Rest well, and I’ll make you breakfast.” Whether from guilt or genuine concern about her stomach upset, Jonathan made an exceptionally lavish breakfast. Milk, eggs, bread, jam, and her favorite oatmeal. He said, “You can’t eat just anything anymore. I’ll find you a housekeeper to come cook for you every day.” Anne said, “That’s not necessary.” Jonathan said, “Be good and listen to me, or I won’t have peace of mind at work.” Anne said, “Jonathan, can I ask you something?” Jonathan said, “Go ahead.” Anne put down her knife and fork, her tone calm: “The seven-year itch—do you think there’s truth to it?” Jonathan immediately showed a look of disgust: “That’s just an excuse other men use when they fall out of love. I’m different. I’ll only love you for the rest of my life.” Anne frowned: “Only love me for the rest of your life?” Jonathan nodded: “Yes.” Anne asked, “What if you fell in love with another woman?” Jonathan said, “Then may I die a horrible death.” Anne smiled sarcastically: “Such a heavy oath—aren’t you afraid it might actually come true?” Jonathan said, “I’m telling the truth. Why should I be afraid?” Anne picked up her knife and fork again and spread jam on her bread. Jonathan said earnestly, “Anne, you have to trust me.” Anne simply said, “Let’s eat.” Jonathan said, “You still don’t believe me? Do I have to cut out my heart and show it to you before you’ll believe me?” Anne said, “People at the company are waiting for you. Don’t be late.” Jonathan finally relaxed and sat down across from her: “Let them wait. They’re a bunch of useless people anyway. I’m going to fire them all sooner or later.” Anne asked, “Fire her? Could you bear to do that?” Anne said “her,” not “them.” She didn’t know if Jonathan caught it, but she heard him say, “Besides you, there’s nothing I can’t bear to part with.” After breakfast, the two headed to the company together. Anne really didn’t want to sit in the passenger seat and insisted on sitting in the back. “I get carsick. The back seat’s more comfortable, and I can get some fresh air,” she explained. Jonathan didn’t push her. “Alright then, I’ll try to drive as smoothly as possible.” When they arrived at the company entrance, Jonathan quickly got out and walked around to open the rear door for her. As Anne stepped out, she was once again surrounded by employees during the morning rush hour. Several executives even jogged over with beaming smiles. “Mrs. Graham, you’re here! Mr. Graham always says you love coffee—I’ll go buy some for you right away.” Another chimed in eagerly, “I’ll get the snacks! Mrs. Graham, you like little cakes, right?” Jonathan laughed and teased, “You guys better stop buying her food. She’s put on a little weight lately—can’t even get her wedding ring on anymore.” “Mr. Graham, that’s not right to say,” one executive quickly interjected. “Mrs. Graham looks perfectly slim to me. If the wedding ring doesn’t fit, the ring must have shrunk!” “That’s some pretty obvious flattery, don’t you think? How could silver shrink?” “You don’t understand, Mr. Graham. You care so much about Mrs. Graham—as long as she’s happy, you’re happy, and we all get to live the good life too!” Jonathan shook his head with a smile. “Alright, you’ve figured out exactly what I like to hear.” Everyone burst into laughter. Anne was practically escorted into his office by the crowd. Fruits, snacks, coffee—everything was there. Jonathan even used his computer to find her a TV series. “Anne, I need to get to work. Just watch your show here, and if you need anything, have Zac outside help you out.” Anne deliberately asked, “What about your personal assistant Maeve? I haven’t seen her today.” Jonathan frowned slightly. “I’m not sure either. I’ll have HR call and check later.” Before leaving, he affectionately ruffled her hair and said softly, “Wait for me to come back, and we’ll have lunch together.” After Jonathan left, the executives gradually dispersed as well. Anne noticed his phone was still on the desk and was about to chase after him when she accidentally overheard a conversation between several executives. “The rooftop? Mr. Graham and Maeve are getting bolder and bolder.” “Who knew Mrs. Graham would suddenly show up at the company today? They had to change locations at the last minute.” “Should we still send condoms up there today?” “No need. When Mr. Graham went up just now, I saw he had several boxes stuffed in his pocket.” “Haha, Mr. Graham’s really something—managed to get condoms right under Mrs. Graham’s nose.” “Delivery apps, obviously. So convenient these days—you can buy anything.” Anne suddenly understood. Those phone calls this morning were from delivery drivers. Jonathan had placed an order early in the morning for condoms, clearly preparing well in advance for today’s “rooftop rendezvous.” “Wonder if a few boxes will be enough. Last time Mr. Graham and Maeve went at it in the car for a whole day and night—Maeve was walking funny the next day.” “If it’s not enough, we’ll just send more! As his subordinates, we’ve got to take good care of Mr. Graham.” “Didn’t you just say we should take good care of Mrs. Graham too?” “Ha! What does she know? A few snacks and she’s completely fooled. With Mr. Graham’s status, how could he possibly have just one woman? Anyway, he’s got money and power—playing around with women is totally normal, as long as we keep it from Mrs. Graham.” “True. She seems pretty naive—shouldn’t be hard to keep her in the dark.” Just then, Jonathan appeared. “Don’t talk nonsense in front of Anne, got it?” The executives nodded repeatedly. “Understood, Mr. Graham.” One couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you bring Mrs. Graham today? Now you and Maeve have to hide on the rooftop, and we have to watch every word we say.” Jonathan shot him a cold glare. “Anne is my wife. If she wants to come, she comes. Who are you to question that?” The man laughed awkwardly. “You’re absolutely right…” Jonathan issued another stern warning: “Take good care of Anne. She had an upset stomach yesterday, so don’t give her anything cold. And if anyone dares to mention what’s going on between Maeve and me, they’re out immediately. Clear?” The executives nodded and voiced their agreement with smiles. Anne didn’t listen to the rest of the conversation. She hurried back to the office and quietly placed his phone among the pile of snacks. After a while, Jonathan returned. He maintained that same gentle, caring demeanor. “Greedy Cat, what are you eating?” The nickname “Greedy Cat” made Anne feel nauseous. Fighting back her discomfort, she asked, “Didn’t you go to a meeting? Why are you back already?” Jonathan said, “I left my phone here. Did you see it?” Anne shook her head. “No.” Jonathan rummaged through the pile of snacks and pulled out his phone. “Found it mixed in with the snacks. Take your time eating—I’ll head out now.” This time it was Anne’s phone that rang. She answered it. The voice on the other end asked, “Hello, is this Marina Bennet?” Anne replied, “Yes, that’s me.” The person continued, “Ms. Bennet, your flight to Norway scheduled for next week has been successfully ticketed. Please bring your passport for boarding.” Anne asked, “Do I need to bring any other documents besides my passport?” The person answered, “No, just your passport will be sufficient.” Anne said, “Alright.” After hanging up, Jonathan asked with slight confusion, “Passport? Anne, what do you need a passport for?”

Anne said, “It’s a friend of mine. She lost her passport and asked me how to get it replaced.” Jonathan hurried toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “You scared me to death. I thought you were going abroad without me.” Anne turned her head away and threw up again. He carried a heavy, sickly sweet scent mixed with some woman’s perfume. Jonathan gently patted her back with concern. “What did they feed you? I specifically told them you’ve been having stomach issues these past few days and to take good care of you. Just wait—I’m firing all of them right now!” This time Anne pushed him away with all her strength. “Fire whoever you want, but stop using me as an excuse, okay?” Jonathan was caught off guard by her sudden outburst. “Are you mad at me? Is it because I was busy with work today and didn’t spend time with you?” He said, “How about this—tomorrow I’ll cancel all my meetings and spend the entire day with you. Sound good?” Anne laughed bitterly. “Spend the entire day with me?” Jonathan said, “Yes, I’ll be with you all day.” Anne took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I hope you can keep your word.” That night, it suddenly began to pour. From the moment Anne got home, she couldn’t stop throwing up. Jonathan tried to get close to her, but she firmly refused. “Don’t come near me. The smell on you just makes me throw up even more.” Jonathan sniffed his sleeve and said, “Maybe you don’t like this cologne. I’ll switch to a different one next time.” Anne said, “You know damn well the problem isn’t the cologne!” Jonathan said, “Okay, don’t be angry. I won’t wear any cologne from now on. That should work, right?” Anne splashed cold water on her face and looked up at her pale reflection in the mirror, and at Jonathan standing outside the bathroom door, anxiously holding a cup of hot water. She just couldn’t understand why, even today, he still carried that sickly sweet scent of intimacy with Maeve and her perfume, yet could so naturally pretend to love her. She couldn’t understand why Jonathan seemed to care about her, yet still betrayed their relationship without any regard. Maybe that executive was right: “Men fooling around outside is no big deal, as long as they keep it from the woman at home.” She had misjudged him. She wasn’t that naive or easily fooled, and she wouldn’t compromise herself or abandon her principles anymore. If love was no longer pure, she’d rather have none of it at all. The next morning, Jonathan took her to the hospital. After a series of tests, the doctor gave his diagnosis. “She appears to have stress-induced gastritis.” Jonathan asked, “What’s stress-induced gastritis?” The doctor explained, “It’s when a patient experiences severe emotional trauma recently. The impact is so significant that it disrupts gastrointestinal function, causing vomiting.” Jonathan turned to Anne. “Have you encountered something upsetting lately? Tell me about it—maybe I can help you solve it.” Anne turned her face away, avoiding his approach. “You can’t solve it.” He said, “Just tell me. There are very few things in this world I can’t solve.” Yes, this was indeed something only he could solve. For a moment, Anne wanted to ask him: if she and Maeve were both drowning, who would he save first? But then she thought better of it. She shouldn’t place her fate in someone else’s hands. She could swim. She could save herself. She no longer needed Jonathan. She had applied to art school in Norway under the name Marina Bennet. She had given up her dream of painting to marry Jonathan, but from now on, she would live for herself. Jonathan suggested, “Anne, let me take you to see a movie this afternoon. There’s a new comedy out that you’d probably enjoy.” Anne asked, “This afternoon? Don’t you have to work?” He said, “We agreed that I’d spend the entire day with you today. I keep my word—I don’t go back on my promises.” The next second, his phone rang. He was about to decline the call, but after staring at the caller ID for a few seconds, his expression grew hesitant. Anne watched his face transform from initial irritation to resignation. She smiled coldly. “Go ahead and answer it. Company business is more important.” Jonathan said, “I’ll make it quick. Give me five minutes.” Anne nodded. “Okay.” Jonathan was about to leave with his phone when Anne suddenly called out to him. “Just take it here. I don’t understand your company business anyway, so there’s no risk of leaking secrets.” Jonathan stopped awkwardly. After hesitating for two seconds, he answered the call, his voice tinged with anger. “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t call today? What’s going on?” Anne could vaguely hear a woman crying on the other end. In front of her, Jonathan’s tone became cautious. “Fine, I got it. Hold on.” After hanging up, Jonathan said to Anne with slight embarrassment, “The company has an important document that needs my signature. The manager is already here at the hospital, downstairs. I’ll sign it and come right back—thirty minutes tops.” Anne nodded. Jonathan practically ran out of the examination room. The doctor smiled at her. “Mrs. Graham, Mr. Graham really loves you. He’s even willing to put aside work for you.” “Yes.” Anne forced a smile. “Excuse me, doctor, I need to use the restroom.” The doctor smiled back. “Of course.” As soon as she stepped out of the examination room, Anne saw Jonathan, too impatient to wait for the elevator, running down the stairs. He did go downstairs. But that floor was the maternity ward. Her phone buzzed. Maeve: [Ms. Newman, I’m so sorry, but he probably won’t be able to spend time with you today. One call from me, and he comes running to my side immediately.] Maeve’s messages kept flooding in. Maeve: [Oh, and check this out. This is my ultrasound report—I’m pregnant.] Anne enlarged the image and finally made out the line at the top of the report: [8-week embryo, threatened miscarriage.] Maeve: [Yesterday we did it several times on the rooftop, tried all kinds of positions. Maybe we got too rough—the baby’s showing signs of threatened miscarriage. Ugh, it’s all his fault. He said he was like a dead fish with no energy around your pasta, but with me he wanted to try something exciting.] Maeve: [The doctor said that whether we keep the baby or terminate, the father needs to sign the papers, so I had to call him down here. After all, compared to his stomach bug, his child is more important, don’t you think?] Anne took a cab home from the hospital alone. She went to Dave Jacobs’ law firm. She said, “Hello, I’d like to retain your services to draft a divorce agreement.” She asked for nothing, and Dave was reliable. Half an hour later, she had the complete divorce agreement in hand. Dave told her, “No signature from the husband required. As long as you two live separately for two years, this agreement will automatically take effect.” As Anne walked out of the law firm with the agreement, Jonathan called. He said, “Anne, where are you? I’ve searched the entire hospital and couldn’t find you.” Anne said, “I waited for you for a long time and you didn’t show up, so I went home.” Jonathan said, “Good, I’m glad you made it home safely. Sorry, there really was an emergency at the company that I had to handle personally. I might need to go on a business trip for a few days. Take good care of yourself at home. Next week, I’ll definitely clear my schedule to spend time with you.” Anne sighed softly. When a lie is told ten thousand times, no one will ever believe it again. Now, she felt no emotional turmoil whatsoever. She said flatly, “Okay, go ahead.” Jonathan said, “You’re so understanding. I’ll bring you some freesias when I get back tomorrow.” “Understanding?” Anne asked. “Jonathan, do you prefer women who act cute and clingy, who won’t let you go? Am I too understanding, so I’m boring?” Jonathan paused. “How could that be? Of course I love you most. Whatever you’re like, that’s what I love.” Anne asked, “Would you ever fall in love with another woman?” Jonathan assured her, “Of course not.” Anne said, “If you change your mind, I’ll leave you forever.” Jonathan chuckled. “Go ahead and run. I can shut down airports and train stations. As long as you’re still called Anne Newman, I’ll never let you leave me.” But my passport no longer says Anne Newman. I’m now Marina Bennet. Anne emphasized again, “I’m serious. I have ways to leave you, and ways to make sure you can’t find me.” Jonathan still laughed, as if coaxing a cat. “Fine, run first then. I’ll give you three days, then I’ll come find you. Like I said, as long as you’re still called Anne Newman, no matter where you run, I can find you. You can’t shake me off.” Can’t shake you off? Anne smiled. Well, we’ll see about that.

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On the fourth anniversary of my secret relationship with my brother Noah Geller, I, Bailey White, had carefully prepared a surprise and was waiting at home for his return when I received his phone call. The background was noisy, but I could still hear every word clearly. “If it weren’t for my fight with Evelyn, how could I possibly be with Bailey? “Just thinking about being with her makes me sick. How could someone be so despicable, actually liking her own brother? Absolutely shameless! “But Evelyn’s back now, and I’ll marry her right away. Even if we don’t get married, I don’t care. I can keep playing around with her since she truly loves me.” The call ended amid a burst of laughter, and I couldn’t stop trembling. So our four years together had been nothing more than the product of his momentary spite. Heartbroken, I finally agreed to marry another man. On my wedding day, I calmly addressed Evelyn James as “Mrs. Geller.” Noah, who was always composed, completely lost his composure in that moment. ***** On our fourth anniversary, I cooked a whole table of Noah’s favorite dishes at home. I kept imagining his surprised expression when he walked through the door, but I waited for a very long time. I called him over and over, but no one answered. Just when I was getting anxious, the phone rang. It was Noah calling. I excitedly answered, asking urgently, “Where are you?” However, his cold and disgusted voice came through the phone. “If it weren’t for my fight with Evelyn, how could I possibly be with Bailey? “She actually likes her own brother—how disgusting!” In that instant, I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave. I had imagined countless possibilities for his call. Maybe he’d be sweet-talking me, or saying he was almost home, or at least explaining why he was late. But I never expected to hear those words. After he hung up, it suddenly started pouring outside. I threw away all the food and stood by the window in a daze. Noah saw me standing by the window looking lost as soon as he got out of his car. The rain outside had soaked half of my clothes, but I seemed completely unaware. He immediately ran over to close the window and draped his coat over my shoulders. He said with concern, “Why are you standing by the window? Go take a hot shower and change into dry clothes.” He skillfully prepared my bath water and laid out my pajamas. “I’ve got the hot water ready at just the right temperature. Go wash up quickly so you don’t catch cold.” After my shower, Noah naturally took the hair dryer from my hands and dried my hair. Looking at that gentle man in the mirror, I couldn’t connect him with the voice on the phone. “Do you find me disgusting?” I asked softly. His hair-drying motion paused. “Why would you ask that? What happened? Did someone say something to you? Don’t listen to their nonsense…” Seeing his anxious and caring expression, I forced a smile. “It’s nothing, I was just asking.” Noah put down the hair dryer and gently hugged me from behind. He nuzzled his head against my neck, half apologetic and half playful. “Bailey, I was wrong today. I was too busy. I’ll definitely spend quality time with you tomorrow, okay?” If this had been before, I would have softened and patted his head, saying, “I forgive you.” But now, I just gently pushed him away and said quietly, “Noah, don’t do this.” Noah chuckled softly and held me tighter. That night, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, his warm breath falling on my neck. “Bailey, I want you…” I suppressed the emotions rising in my heart and interrupted him, “I’m not feeling well today.” Noah’s restless hand paused, then he sighed. “Alright, then rest well tonight.” I quietly closed my eyes in the silence.

I had once been the sole heir of the White family, but an accident took my parents’ lives, and I became an orphan overnight, sent to an orphanage. It was Noah who took me out and brought me away from there. I was eleven then, and he was eighteen. He was also an orphan, but he gave me a home. From then on, I became Noah’s little shadow. He took me everywhere, saying I was his only family. Young as I was, I didn’t understand emotions and mistook my dependence and gratitude toward him for love. On my eighteenth birthday, emboldened by alcohol, I confessed to Noah. “Noah, I like you.” He froze for a moment and tried to push me away, but I held him tightly. Taking advantage of his surprise, I planted a kiss on his face. Noah turned his face away and said quietly, “Bailey, you’re drunk.” I clung to him. “I’m not. I just like you, Noah.” That night, he rarely lost control, pulling me into his arms and kissing me for the first time. From that day on, we secretly became a couple. He took even better care of me, handling every aspect of my life, big and small. Back then, I was intoxicated by the sweetness of love, thinking that as long as we liked each other, it could last forever.   The next day, Noah surprisingly didn’t go to the office. He took me to an amusement park, watched a movie with me, and brought me to my favorite restaurant. Everything seemed so perfect—well, it would have been if not for that phone call. Halfway through dinner, Noah excused himself to the restroom. That’s when I saw the message from someone labeled “Babe”: [Noah, I’m not feeling well. Could you come keep me company?] Such a cheap trick, yet Noah fell for it completely. When he returned from the restroom, he glanced at his phone and hurriedly prepared to leave. “Bailey, something urgent came up at the office. Go ahead and finish eating, don’t wait for me. I’ll make it up to you next time, okay?” he said. Before I could even respond, Noah had already walked out of the restaurant. I looked down at the friend request that popped up on my phone and accepted it. The person using the same couple’s profile picture as me sent a message: [Like the profile pic? I picked it out.] Then came a photo—two people kissing in what looked like a nightclub setting. Though I couldn’t see the face clearly, I recognized Noah instantly. The bracelet on his wrist was one I had personally braided and put on him. I’d never seen him take it off. Yet here he was, holding another woman. Tears splattered onto my phone screen as I stared at that photo in shock, the last shred of hope in my heart completely shattered. I wiped the tears from my eyes and dialed a number I’d never called before. “Ivan Stewart, I agree to marry you.” There was a long silence on the other end before he responded excitedly, “Really?” I nodded. “Really.” Ivan was the heir to the Stewart family fortune and had been my classmate from elementary school through college. I knew he’d always liked me, which was why he’d specifically asked his father, Jared Stewart, to propose an arranged marriage between us. At the time, I was completely devoted to Noah, so I firmly refused. But Ivan didn’t give up. Instead, he chose to wait patiently. He once told me, “Bailey, I know you don’t like me, but I can wait—wait for you to turn around, wait for you to like me. If you ever change your mind, I promise to marry you with all the grandeur you deserve.” I always thought I’d never agree to marry Ivan, but reality hit me like a freight train. After hanging up, I took a cab back to the villa alone.

  During the ride, I couldn’t help but check Evelyn’s social media. The moment I saw her profile, I felt like I’d fallen into an ice-cold abyss. I used to think everything I had was because Noah loved me. But reality slapped me hard across the face. Evelyn’s social media was filled with photos of various gifts Noah had given her. Some she kept, while others she didn’t want—and those unwanted gifts had somehow ended up with me. In that moment, I felt nothing but bitter irony. The things I had treasured were actually someone else’s leftovers, things she couldn’t be bothered with. Through Evelyn’s posts, I pieced together their entire love story. She and Noah had fallen in love at first sight, quickly becoming inseparable. Noah would pause important meetings for her, and when she said she “wanted something,” he’d spend millions at auctions to buy priceless collectibles for her. When she was sick, he’d cancel everything to stay by her side, personally cooking for her. Their love was like something out of a movie—the domineering CEO and his precious little wife. And me? I guess I was the evil supporting character. Every time Noah went to take care of her, he’d lie to me about working overtime at the office. Ridiculously, I believed him every single time. I’d even feel sorry for him working so hard and would rack my brains to make him delicious meals. And all of that food ended up in Evelyn’s stomach. She bragged on social media that it was made by Noah’s house cook. [Noah’s house cook makes pretty good food, though I prefer it spicy.] Reading this, I suddenly understood why Noah’s taste had changed. Someone who used to hate spicy food had suddenly developed a taste for it. When I asked him about it, he said, “Because you like spicy food, I want to feel closer to you, so I thought I’d try to appreciate spicy flavors too.” I was so moved by those words at the time, thinking Noah truly cared about me. After all, he was willing to change for me. It was all lies! All that talk about wanting to understand me—complete bullsh*t! He used my love for him as an excuse to trample all over my feelings! He used the food I made to please another woman! I was shaking with rage and couldn’t help but send Evelyn a message: [Do you know who actually makes Noah’s food?] She replied instantly: [Of course I know. What other housekeeper would make love-filled lunch boxes for her employer? But since Noah calls you the housekeeper, I naturally won’t blow his cover.] I was trembling with fury. So in Noah’s eyes, I was nothing more than a free housekeeper. How utterly ridiculous!

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The moment my SAT scores came out, I, Anna Barnes, took the bottled water my mom Ella Barnes handed me and the beaded bracelet my friend Lionel Murphy gave me, and passed them both to Ryder Carter—the guy who’d been bullying me for ages, someone with AIDS and terrible grades. Because in my past life, I drank that water, and my SAT score ended up becoming my adopted sister Aubrey Barnes’, while her score became mine. Within days, my body began deteriorating rapidly for no apparent reason. I started coughing up blood, running fevers, and eventually the pain was so intense I could barely get out of bed. Meanwhile, Aubrey, who had been suffering from stomach cancer, miraculously recovered. I begged Ella to take me to the hospital, but she not only refused—she mocked me, saying I was faking it, cursing at me before locking me in the basement. While I endured the agony of illness, they were outside throwing a lively celebration party for Aubrey. In the end, I died alone in that basement. After my death, Aubrey used my scores to shine at a prestigious university and even got together with Lionel. Only then did I realize that the water Ella had given me was a swap potion—once I drank it, my grades would be stolen. And the beaded bracelet Lionel gave me would transfer Aubrey’s illness to me if I wore it for three days, completely draining my life away. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we checked our scores. ***** “What are you spacing out for? Take it!” The familiar voice snapped me back to reality. Realizing I’d truly been reborn, I stared intensely at the water and beaded bracelet before me, a chill rising in my heart. In my past life, it was because I accepted these two items from Ella and Lionel. Three days later, my grades had swapped with Aubrey’s. Not only that, but my body began rapidly deteriorating—constant high fevers and frequent coughing up blood. At the same time, Aubrey, who had been tormented by stomach cancer, suddenly regained her health. Her complexion was rosy, her condition excellent—nothing like someone who’d been ill. I was in agony, grabbing Ella’s hand and begging her to take me to the hospital. She shook me off and coldly scolded, “You’re just being dramatic! Aubrey got better, so now you’re pretending to be sick? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to!” Then they dragged me into the basement. After that, they threw a celebration party for Aubrey, completely ignoring whether I lived or died. Eventually, I was tortured to death from prolonged lack of water and food. After my death, I watched helplessly as Aubrey took the acceptance letter that should have been mine, got together with Lionel, and enjoyed the life that should have been mine. Only then did I finally understand—the water Ella gave me that day was a swap potion, and the beaded bracelet Lionel gave me was a luck transfer charm. My scores, my health—they had all conspired to transfer everything to Aubrey. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we checked our scores. Looking at Ella and Lionel with their hypocritical faces, I remained expressionless, smiled as I accepted what they handed me, then turned and gave everything to Ryder. Poor grades plus AIDS—double debuff maxed out. They love swapping so much? This time, I’ll let them swap to their heart’s content!

After handing everything to Ryder, confirming he drank the water, and watching him smugly put on the bracelet, I finally felt at ease leaving the house. I bought a bottle of real water and an ordinary bracelet similar to the beaded one Lionel had given me, then returned home. Seeing me wearing the bracelet with the water bottle half-empty in my hand, Ella and Lionel visibly relaxed. A few days passed, and Aubrey truly seemed like a different person. Her previous sickly appearance had completely vanished, replaced by a rosy glow on her face. Even her steps were much lighter, and she radiated unprecedented vitality. I huddled in the corner of the sofa, pretending to cover my mouth and cough a couple of times. Seeing this, Aubrey immediately swayed over to me, her face full of smugness and mockery. “Anna, feeling unwell again? You look so pale—don’t tell me you’ve got some serious illness? How pitiful.” She then flaunted the diagnosis report in her hand. “Oh, by the way, you probably don’t know yet—I went to the hospital today, and the doctor said I’m completely recovered. Tell me, isn’t that fate? Looks like all your good fortune has transferred to me.” Watching her gloating expression, hatred surged within me. But I still suppressed my anger and forced a smile. “Congratulations, Aubrey. Though you know, good fortune has a way of… going back where it came from.” Ella, who had just walked in and heard about Aubrey’s recovery, immediately broke into a brilliant smile. She grabbed Aubrey’s hand, her eyes full of affection. “My precious daughter, your illness is finally gone!” she said excitedly, her eyes even welling up with tears. When she turned to look at me, her expression instantly turned cold, her tone filled with disgust. “Some people are always sickly and pathetic—nothing but a burden!” Hearing those words, my eyes couldn’t help but redden. In my previous life, this was exactly how Ella treated me. She would either hit or scold me, and after I got sick, she became even worse, wishing I would drop dead right in front of her. Yet I was her biological daughter, while Aubrey was merely her adopted one. Soon, the day came to apply for schools. Aubrey seemed so confident that she had successfully switched our grades that she didn’t even bother checking her scores before starting her applications. I coughed violently a few times, then asked with feigned curiosity, “Aren’t you going to check what score you actually got?” She responded impatiently, “Mind your own business. I know what I got. As for you, what’s the point of high scores anyway? With your poor health, you’ll die of illness sooner or later. When that happens, won’t it all benefit me in the end?” She spoke smugly, her face twisted with perverse pleasure. Looking at her disgusting expression, I felt a wave of intense nausea. I said, “Oh really? Well, you’d better be careful that all that good fortune doesn’t crush you.” My words made her face flush with anger, and she was about to retort when Lionel pushed the door open and walked in. “Lionel!” The moment she saw him, Aubrey immediately threw herself at him, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Anna’s coughing so badly—I’m afraid her illness might be contagious.” She deliberately snuggled closer into his arms. Lionel steadied her and frowned at me, his tone as gentle as always. “Anna, if you’re not feeling well, go rest in your room. Don’t push yourself.” In my previous life, I was fooled by his gentle facade, thinking he truly cared for me. Only after death did I realize he had been secretly conspiring with Aubrey all along. In the end, they even plotted together to take my life! Now that I’ve been given a second chance, I swear I’ll make them pay the price they deserve!

At this thought, I let out a soft laugh, a flash of sarcasm crossing my eyes. “I just coughed a few times—what’s there to be afraid of? “But Lionel, you’d better be careful. If you catch something else because of your lifestyle choices, that would really be a loss.” Lionel’s expression shifted slightly. He couldn’t grasp the deeper meaning in my words and assumed I was just being jealous, making snide remarks. Though annoyed, he maintained his composure and said quietly, “Anna, don’t overthink things. I’m just worried about you.” I didn’t want to hear any more of his nonsense, so I cut him off. “College applications are due in the next couple of days. Have you guys decided which schools you’re applying to?” Aubrey’s eyes gleamed with smugness as she said coquettishly, “Of course. I’m applying to New York University. “I want to go to college with you—after all, only a place like that is worthy of me.” “As for certain losers,” she shot me a sideways glance and snorted, “even if she applies to the best schools, it won’t matter. She probably won’t even get into a regular college.” I gently traced the ordinary bracelet on my wrist, the corners of my mouth lifting in a serene smile. “New York University?” I said. “That’s certainly a good choice. “But Aubrey, are you sure you’ll get accepted? NYU’s admission standards are pretty high.” Aubrey’s face darkened, and she was about to explode when Ella suddenly interrupted, “Don’t spout nonsense. Aubrey has recovered, and she did great on the exams. She’ll definitely get into New York University. “You’re not fit to be mentioned in the same breath as her! Get lost—I can’t stand looking at you!” Without waiting for my response, she pulled Aubrey to her side, saying with concern, “Aubrey, don’t pay attention to her. Once you get into a good college, I’ll throw you a celebration party. When that acceptance letter arrives, let’s see what she has to say then.” I stood to the side, listening quietly, a wave of desolation washing over my heart. In my previous life, Ella had acted exactly like this. Once she successfully switched our scores, she couldn’t wait to show off Aubrey’s grades, completely disregarding whether I lived or died. I pretended to nod obediently and returned to my room. Over the next few days, I continued to put on a sickly appearance on the surface while secretly keeping close tabs on their movements. Sure enough, Aubrey really did apply to New York University. That very day, Ella began organizing a celebration party for Aubrey, spending an entire day just calling to invite friends and relatives. She even dipped into her personal savings to buy Aubrey a dress worth over ten thousand dollars. Learning that Aubrey had gotten into a prestigious school, relatives flocked over to congratulate her. My second aunt, Violet Barnes, sidled up to Ella, eyes full of envy. “Ella, you’re so blessed! Aubrey is so capable—getting into New York University!” Ella beamed with joy, nodding enthusiastically. “Aubrey really is amazing!” My third aunt, Mary Barnes, went so far as to directly hand Aubrey a gift. Aubrey smiled sweetly, graciously accepting all the gifts and flattery. Amid all the praise, I received a text from my good friend Paige Lynch. [Anna, Ryder seems to be sick. I saw him coughing up blood yesterday.] I gripped my phone tightly, my gaze sweeping over the smug Aubrey and Ella, a cold smile playing at my lips. Compared to my previous life, Ryder’s condition had manifested a full week earlier. It seemed the backlash from the bead bracelet was already accelerating. Now I couldn’t wait to see what expressions Ella and Lionel would wear when they discovered that the health and test scores they had schemed so hard to steal would ultimately amount to nothing. As the celebration party drew closer each day, I intensified my act of being sick. I coughed violently every day, as if I were about to hack up my internal organs. I walked with an unsteady gait, applied special makeup to create a sickly complexion, and looked utterly frail and weak. Whenever I put on this performance, Aubrey and Lionel would show expressions of disgust, as if I were something filthy. Ella, in particular, would constantly mock me with cold sarcasm, calling me a burden and a sickly weakling. Finally, under my carefully orchestrated performance, the celebration party proceeded as scheduled. The party was held at the largest hotel in town, with a luxurious and grand setting. A huge backdrop read: Congratulations to Aubrey Barnes on her acceptance to New York University. Ella wore an elegant dress, linking arms with Aubrey and beaming with joy. Lionel stood nearby, his gaze frequently falling on Aubrey with tender eyes. Meanwhile, I stood in the corner dressed plainly with a pale complexion, like an outsider. Guests arrived one after another, offering their congratulations to Aubrey. Aubrey basked in everyone’s compliments, her face glowing with smug satisfaction. Just then, the mail carrier delivering acceptance letters arrived. “Aubrey, quick! Your acceptance letter is here!” Ella excitedly nudged Aubrey. Aubrey’s face lit up with joy as she hurried forward. The guests all raised their phones, ready to capture this joyful moment. The next second, the mail carrier called out loudly: “Is Anna Barnes here? Please sign for your New York University acceptance letter!” The air instantly froze. Aubrey’s smile froze on her face, and Ella’s complexion turned deathly pale. Lionel also looked at me in disbelief, his hand that had been supporting Aubrey recoiling as if he’d been electrocuted. All the raised phones hung suspended in mid-air, and the crowd fell into stunned silence. From the corner, under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, I slowly stood up, walked forward, took the envelope, and said clearly: “Thank you, I’m Anna.” “No! That’s mine!” Aubrey suddenly snapped back to reality, screaming as she rushed over, trying to snatch the acceptance letter from my hands. Ella also glared with furious eyes, shouting sternly: “Anna, what are you making a fuss about? Give the acceptance letter back to Aubrey right now!” I chuckled softly, gripping the acceptance letter firmly in my hands, and spoke slowly: “Mom, you’ve got it wrong. This has my name written on it.” Someone whispered: “Could it be that both Anna and Aubrey got into New York University?” But the next second, the mail carrier denied this: “Impossible. New York University is very hard to get into. Only one person from this entire area was accepted.” With these words, everyone present showed curious expressions, their gazes turning in unison toward Ella and Aubrey. Aubrey still refused to believe it, trembling as she opened the score-checking website. When she saw the score displayed on the screen, she instantly froze. She mumbled: “Impossible! Where’s my score? My health has recovered, so my score should also be…” Violet sneered: “I knew it! Aubrey’s grades have always been terrible. There’s no way she could get into New York University!” Mary loudly chimed in: “She acted like it was real! Turns out she only scored that little!” The scene immediately erupted in whispered conversations. Ryder, who had been eating fruit by the buffet table, seemed to find this interesting and craned his neck to join the commotion. Aubrey’s gaze inadvertently swept over him, and when she saw the beaded bracelet on his wrist, her face instantly became even more ashen. She asked: “Ryder, where did you get that bracelet?”

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