Category: English

For the ten days I was confined to a hospital bed, Harry never showed up. Not once. Yet, on the very morning I was discharged, I walked into the main lobby only to find my notoriously calm, fiercely stoic husband—Dr. Harry Cole, the hospital’s golden boy—in a fistfight with his first love’s husband. The man’s voice echoed off the sterile walls, raw and unhinged: “Dr. Harry Cole! The great trauma surgeon! He’s sleeping with my wife!” “They were in a hotel room together last night!” I stopped dead in my tracks. A memory flashed behind my eyes: the phone call I’d had with Harry last night, the heavy, muffled silence on his end, followed by the faint sound of breathless panting before the line went dead. Watching the chaos unfold from a distance, I didn’t feel a spike of jealousy. I didn’t feel the urge to scream. I just felt… tired. A bone-deep, soul-crushing exhaustion. Through the shifting crowd, Harry’s eyes suddenly met mine. He froze. In that microscopic fraction of a second, his guard dropped, and the other man lunged. A blade flashed. It sliced right across Harry’s forearm. Blood immediately bloomed through his pristine dress shirt. I didn’t gasp. I didn’t run to him. I just gave him a flat, empty look, turned on my heel, and walked out the sliding glass doors to my waiting car. In the rearview mirror, I watched the towering silhouette of my husband sprinting desperately after the taillights. 1. Ever since Vicky moved back to Boston, Harry and I had been locked in a relentless cycle of arguments. I simply couldn’t understand it. Vicky was a grown woman, yet she seemed completely devoid of basic survival skills. Big or small, every inconvenience in her life required an emergency phone call to my husband. Fender bender? Call Harry, not the police. Filing for divorce? Call Harry, not a lawyer. The fight that finally broke us—the one that pushed us into living in separate bedrooms—happened because on the day Vicky was in a severe car crash, I was also in an accident. And I lied about how badly I was hurt. It was Harry’s birthday. I was walking back from the bakery, carrying his custom cake, when a teenager blew through a red light on an electric scooter and plowed right into me. I was knocked to the pavement. It was just some nasty scraped knees and bruised elbows. Nothing broken. Nothing fatal. I had initially just called my mother to vent. I explicitly told her it was just a few scrapes, nothing major. But what I didn’t know was that my mother immediately hung up and called Harry. When Harry found me, he was a wreck. A thin layer of sweat clung to his forehead, his chest heaving, his usually composed eyes rimmed with a frantic, desperate red. But when he saw me sitting perfectly fine on the edge of a concrete planter, eating a popsicle with a smashed cake box beside me, the sheer panic in his eyes evaporated. It was replaced by something cold. His voice was dead flat. “Are you bleeding?” “Where’s the injury. Show me.” I shook my head, licking the popsicle. “No, no blood. Just some road rash. It’s really not a big deal, I promise.” I offered him a small, reassuring smile. His eyes hardened. A quiet, terrifying fury settled over his features. “I was told you were severely injured. That you were bleeding out.” “Where is the blood, Nora?” I shifted uncomfortably. Why was he so angry? Wasn’t it a good thing I wasn’t hurt? Under his piercing stare, a knot of guilt tightened in my stomach. “I… I don’t know. It’s just a scrape. It’s not serious,” I mumbled, my voice shrinking. He didn’t say another word. He tersely exchanged insurance information with the teenager’s panicked parents, grabbed my wrist, and practically dragged me home. I didn’t even have time to pick up the crushed birthday cake. Back at our apartment, he demanded to know where I was scraped. I pointed to my knee. In absolute silence, he knelt and applied the antiseptic. Just as he finished taping the gauze, his phone began ringing—a frantic, persistent shrill. He answered it, his jaw tightening as he listened. His expression turned grim. Without a word of explanation to me, he grabbed his keys and walked out the door. I couldn’t even call his name before the heavy oak door clicked shut. Left alone, I mechanically went through the motions of setting up the dining room for a birthday dinner that wasn’t going to happen. As I smoothed the tablecloth, my phone buzzed. It was an old high school group chat that hadn’t been active in months. Are Harry and Vicky still together? Vicky was in a massive pile-up on I-93 this afternoon. Harry is her attending surgeon. They never broke up, did they? I live in her building, and I swear I saw him leaving her apartment a few days ago. Harry, Vicky, and I went to the same high school. Back then, their romance was the stuff of legends. The star quarterback-turned-valedictorian and the fragile, beautiful girl next door. They walked to school together, ate lunch together, existed in their own golden orbit. Everyone just universally accepted that they were meant to be. 2. Reading those messages, a hot spike of anger flared in my chest. At that exact moment, the front door opened. Harry walked in. I didn’t hold back. “Harry, Vicky is a thirty-year-old woman,” I snapped, the words tumbling out in a bitter rush. “You are a surgeon. If she’s sick, fine, she can come to your hospital. But she calls you for fender benders. She calls you for her divorce. Are you the highway patrol? Are you her legal counsel? What she’s doing is emotional infidelity, and she knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s playing the mistress.” He just looked at me. His face was a mask of stone. “She was in a multi-car collision. She is currently lying in an ICU bed on life support. Did you know that?” My mouth was faster than my brain. The words tasted like ash and acid. “What? Is that karma catching up to her for trying to wreck my marriage?” The second the words left my lips, I knew I had gone too far. Harry had always been fiercely protective of Vicky, and my cruelty had just crossed his absolute bottom line. His chest rose and fell in jagged breaths. A vein pulsed visibly at his temple. His eyes went pitch black. The temperature in the room plummeted. “Nora,” he said. The warning in his tone was lethal. I snapped my mouth shut. He looked like he wanted to tear the room apart. “Do you think playing games with your life is funny?” he asked, his voice a low, vibrating growl. “You don’t give a damn about your own life, so you assume everyone else’s is just a joke, too.” “You faked a life-threatening injury out of petty jealousy? You played with someone’s life over a high school grudge. Are you actually capable of something that repulsive?” My mind went entirely blank. I had no idea what he was talking about. Without waiting for a response, Harry grabbed a duffel bag, threw in a change of scrubs, and headed for the door. “Harry!” I called out, panic finally breaking through my anger. He didn’t pause. He didn’t look back. He walked out, and the elevator doors swallowed him whole. It was only later that I put the pieces together. When my mother found out I was hit, she called Harry. She knew we had been going through a rough patch, trapped in a cold war. In a misguided, desperate attempt to force us to reconcile, she exaggerated my accident. “Nora’s bleeding everywhere. It’s bad, Harry. She’s right outside your building, please hurry.” 3. After Harry left, the dinner I had cooked went cold. I tried to force down a few bites, but the congealed pasta tasted bitter and sour on my tongue. I cleaned up the kitchen and went downstairs to take out the trash. The smashed cake box was still sitting on the edge of the planter. I meant to throw it away, but for some inexplicable reason, I picked it up, carried it back upstairs, and shoved it into the back of the fridge. Even though it was completely inedible. Harry didn’t come home that night. Around 10 PM, I saw a post on Facebook from Spencer, one of the surgical residents Harry mentored. It was an urgent call for O-negative blood donations at the hospital. I texted Spencer, asking if the ER was overwhelmed tonight. Harry still hadn’t returned. A few minutes later, Spencer replied: Nora, honestly? You crossed a line today. Dr. Cole was supposed to operate on Vicky. It was a highly complex neuro-spinal trauma, and he’s the only one with the hands to do it right. But you lied to him. You made it sound like you were dying. When he got that call from your mom, he scrubbed out immediately, handed the scalpel to a junior attending, and sprinted out of the hospital to find you. Half our senior staff is at a conference in Chicago. He was the only one with the requisite experience. I don’t care what your history is. You don’t do that. She’s still in the ICU. Staring at Spencer’s text, a crushing weight of guilt slammed into my chest. I genuinely hadn’t known Vicky was in a crash. I had no idea my mother had used my accident as a twisted pawn to fix my marriage. Vicky and I shared the same rare blood type. I grabbed my coat and took an Uber straight to downtown Boston to donate blood. I sat in the sterile hospital waiting room until almost midnight. Once, midway through the night, Harry emerged from the surgical wing. He walked right past me. He didn’t even glance in my direction. Eventually, Vicky was wheeled out. The surgery had been successful, and she was moved to a private recovery suite. I waited for Harry. I just wanted to explain. But when he finally walked down the hall, the air around him was heavy and dark. He brushed past my shoulder, utterly ignoring my existence, and walked straight into Vicky’s room. Through the glass, I saw her lying there, pale as a ghost. I took a step toward the door, intending to go in. Harry turned, looked me dead in the eye, pulled the door shut, and locked it from the inside. Then, he leaned over her bed. With excruciating tenderness, he took a damp cotton swab and gently traced the contours of her dry lips. The hard, furious lines of his face melted into something agonizingly soft. Spencer came up behind me, his voice quiet. “You should go, Nora.” “He doesn’t have the bandwidth for you right now.” “And frankly… what you did was unforgivable.” The next day, I went back to the hospital to try again. I was met with the same closed door. He gave me one icy sidelong glance before disappearing into her room. Vicky murmured something weak from the bed. Without hesitation, Harry slid his arms under her, lifting her entirely against his chest to carry her to a wheelchair. His utter indifference toward me made me feel small. Pathetic. After that week, Harry basically stopped coming home. Whenever I called him, it went straight to voicemail. During those long, silent evenings, listening to the automated tone, a quiet realization settled into my bones: We were really over. For an entire month, he practically lived in Vicky’s hospital room. Two months later, she was finally discharged. That night, Harry actually came home. It was 2 AM. His phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was Vicky. Harry threw off the covers and immediately started dressing in the dark. I sat up and grabbed his wrist. “Is it Vicky?” He stopped. In the dim light of the streetlamp filtering through the blinds, his eyes were bottomless and black. He just stared at me. There was nothing in his gaze but absolute winter. He didn’t answer. “Can you just… not go?” I whispered. Harry’s jaw clenched. “Let go.” “Harry, the accident. It was a misunderstanding,” I pleaded, the words I’d held onto for two months finally spilling out. “I never told my mother to call you. I just told her I fell. I had no idea Vicky was even in the hospital, and I didn’t know my mom exaggerated my injuries. She just knew we were fighting and wanted you to care. She didn’t do it to hurt anyone.” Harry yanked his arm free. A bitter, mocking laugh escaped his lips. “So you and your mother just treat human lives like collateral damage? Is that it?” I frowned, my chest tightening. “Harry, I just told you. My mom didn’t know about Vicky either. I’m sorry. We are both sorry.” His eyes were merciless. “Then you better tell your mother to march down to her bedside and apologize to her face.” “I told you, she didn’t do it on purpose!” My voice cracked. “I’m her daughter. She panicked because she thought I was hurt!” A cruel, cynical smile touched the corner of his mouth. “Right. Because her daughter is precious. Someone else’s daughter dying on a table doesn’t matter.” After that night, the cold war became permanent. We were married on paper, but living entirely separate lives. 4. Three months had passed since the accident. I was leaving my office building when a tall, heavily built man blocked the sidewalk in front of me. “I’m Vicky’s husband,” he introduced himself bluntly. “Derek.” Derek didn’t mince words. “Do you know where your husband has been spending his nights for the last two months?” he sneered. “Playing nursemaid at my wife’s bedside. He was more devoted than I was.” “He practically nursed her right into his bed.” He reached into his jacket and slapped a stack of glossy photographs against my chest. They fluttered to the pavement. I looked down. In the photos, Vicky was in a hospital gown. Harry was in his tailored scrubs. He was holding her face in both hands. Leaning down. Kissing her with a desperate, careful reverence. Seeing that image in high definition—it felt like glass shattering in my lungs. Every breath hurt. “Before Vicky even got out of the hospital, your husband rented an apartment for her in the building right next to yours,” Derek spat, enjoying my paralysis. “And once she was discharged? He bought the place for her outright.” “He hasn’t been sleeping at home lately, has he? Yeah. He’s at her place.” I stared at Derek, but his face was beginning to blur. A sudden, sharp cramping seized my lower abdomen. A warm, terrifying rush of fluid soaked through my tights. I collapsed. I woke up in the hospital. Because I had been so early along, and because the shock of Derek’s confrontation had spiked my blood pressure… I lost the baby. After the D&C procedure, I was moved to a quiet room on the eighth floor. The doctor’s condolences felt like a rehearsed script playing on a loop. You’re still young. You’ll have another chance. Terrified of sending my mother into a spiral of guilt, I didn’t tell her. I hired a private nursing aide out of pocket. She was a sweet older woman. She didn’t pry into my life, didn’t ask why a woman recovering from a miscarriage was sitting alone in a hospital room without a husband. But one afternoon, she casually brought up Harry. “There’s this surgeon here, Dr. Cole. Just a brilliant man,” she chatted while changing my IV. “Handsome, tall, comes from serious old money in Boston. Apparently, his grandfather was a senator. You young girls love that type, don’t you?” She sighed romantically. “A few months ago, his wife was in a horrible crash. He performed the surgery himself. And the man works crazy hours, but every single night, he’d pull up a chair and sleep right next to her bed. That’s the kind of man you want to marry, sweetie.” I froze. I didn’t correct her. I just stared at the blank TV screen. I suppose, I thought numbly, this baby arrived at the worst possible time, but her departure? Her departure was perfectly timed. I hadn’t even had the chance to rejoice in her existence before she slipped away. Lying in the sterile bed, I picked up my phone and texted Harry. I’m in the hospital. Your hospital. 8th floor. Room 809. Three days passed. The text remained marked on Delivered. No reply. He never came. On the morning I was scheduled to be discharged, I was walking down the hall in my hospital pajamas to settle my bill when I ran into Spencer. Ever since the accident, Spencer had treated me with a distinct, chilly politeness. But today, he stopped and nodded at me. Then, his eyes dropped to my hospital band. “Why are you admitted?” I didn’t offer him the truth. “I’m just discharging.” There was a long, heavy silence. Just as I turned to walk away, he spoke up softly. “Does Dr. Cole know?” 5. That afternoon, a massive crowd had formed near the hospital pharmacy. Even from a distance, Harry’s tall, striking figure stood out effortlessly. He looked completely detached. Compared to Derek, who was screaming until he was red in the face, Harry looked like he was merely an observer to his own scandal. Even in the middle of a public screaming match, Harry carried himself with that infuriating, aristocratic arrogance. “Look at him! Everyone, look!” Derek bellowed to the crowd. “This is Dr. Harry Cole, Chief of Neuro-trauma! He’s a homewrecker! He had his hands all over my wife in a hotel room last night!” My spine went rigid. Last night. Harry had called me. I’d answered, and there was only silence, followed by those soft, breathless sounds before the call ended. Standing on the periphery, watching this pathetic melodrama unfold, a sudden, startling realization washed over me. I don’t love him anymore. Harry just raised an eyebrow, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. He threw a punch straight at Derek’s jaw. Harry was half a head taller and had the reach. Derek was bulky, but Harry was lean, precise, and vicious. I turned around, intending to just leave, when Spencer’s voice rang out over the chaos, shouting my name. “Nora!” Through the violent tangle of limbs, Harry’s head snapped up. Our eyes locked. He froze. And in that singular moment of distraction, Derek capitalized. A flash of silver. Derek slashed a pocket knife right across Harry’s forearm. For a surgeon, hands and arms are everything. A severed tendon is a career death sentence. Blood immediately gushed, staining his white coat. I looked at his bleeding arm. My expression didn’t change. I just pulled my gaze away, pushed through the revolving doors, and got into my waiting Uber. “To Back Bay, please,” I told the driver. The driver hesitated, craning his neck to look at the commotion. “Miss, are you in a rush? We could watch the rest of the fight before we go.” “Just drive, please,” I said flatly. “Shame,” the driver muttered, putting the car in drive. As the car pulled away from the curb, I looked out the window. I saw the absolute, naked panic rip through Harry’s usually composed face. The car accelerated, and in the rearview mirror, I watched the towering silhouette of my husband sprinting wildly down the street, chasing after a car that wasn’t going to stop.

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“What’s up, guys? Guess where your boy Jax is taking you tonight?” It was the dead of night when the streamer and his crew burst through the door, hauling their lighting rigs and cameras into the hollowed-out shell of my living room. I was perched on the ceiling beam, aimlessly counting the ants marching across the wood. “Everyone remembers the Riverdale ‘Wife-Slayer’ case from four years ago, right?” Jax—a guy who built his career on “urban exploration” and tragedy-porn—grinned at the camera. He panned the lens around the room, the harsh LED light sweeping across the dust-choked air until it settled right where I was sitting. I flinched, trying to hide. It took me a heartbeat to remember that I’ve been dead for years. I’m nothing more than a fractured shadow, a ghost tied to a ruin. 1 Jax pointed the camera at the beam beneath my spectral seat, his voice dropping into that rehearsed, theatrical rasp. “They say this is it. The exact spot where that monster, Daniel Miller, finally took the coward’s way out and hung himself after his murder attempt failed.” This was the first time anyone had stepped foot in my house since I died. I leaned forward, drawn by a morbid curiosity to see what the world thought of me now. The phone screen in his hand was a blur of scrolling comments. Scumbag. Monster. Burn in hell. The live chat was a feeding frenzy. “God, Jax, why are you in that psycho’s house? It’s bad luck just looking at it.” “Daniel Miller is a stain on the gender. A literal disgrace.” “I remember the news. He didn’t just hit her; he chased her with a knife. Screaming that he was going to gut her. The neighbors heard the whole thing.” “Yeah, I saw the interview with the wife afterward. She was covered in bruises, looking so fragile. It broke my heart.” “A bunch of us went to his house back then to throw eggs and trash. I was one of them. No regrets.” “He was a coward. He couldn’t face the music, so he kicked the chair. Good riddance.” The vitriol poured in, a digital lynch mob four years late. Jax’s face was practically splitting with glee. Every time he mentioned my name, the viewership numbers spiked. People started sending “gifts”—digital stickers that translated into cold, hard cash—demanding he trash the place or “summon” my spirit just to curse it. In the world of clickbait, my misery was a gold mine. “Easy, guys, easy,” Jax said, pulling a decorative “ghost-hunting” dagger and a stack of sage from his bag. He waved them around with practiced flair. “After Daniel died, his wife was taken in by her family, and this place has been sealed ever since. There are secrets buried in these walls, and tonight, we’re going to find them. If Daniel is still lurking here, I’ll make sure he knows he isn’t welcome in this world or the next.” 2 The crowd roared in the comments. Meanwhile, on the west side of the city, in a sprawling modern villa, Jordan sat frozen. He watched the livestream on a massive 4K TV, his knuckles white as he gripped the remote. Suddenly, he swept the glass decor off the coffee table in a fit of rage. “Damn it!” he hissed. “That piece of trash Daniel… he’s been dead for years. Why is his name still popping up to haunt us?” “That idiot streamer usually just does haunted hospitals. Why today? Why that house?” “I can’t let Madison see this,” Jordan muttered, his breathing ragged. “She’s finally starting to live again. She’s finally moved past the trauma.” He didn’t notice Madison standing in the doorway. She walked over quietly, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her cheek to his back. “Jordan, honey, don’t get upset over something so insignificant. It’s not worth it.” She let out a soft sigh. “I’ve made my peace with it. Daniel brought me nothing but pain, but he’s gone now.” She shifted her hand, resting it gently over the slight curve of her stomach. “I have you now. And we have our baby coming.” She looked up at him, her eyes wide and searching. “You’ll always take care of us, won’t you?” Jordan turned, pulling her into a fierce embrace, burying his face in her hair. “Maddie, I was so stupid back then. I was so worried about what our parents would think since we grew up as siblings—even if we aren’t related by blood. I pushed you away. I gave you to Daniel because he was my best friend. I thought he’d keep you safe. I almost cost you your life.” He pulled back, cupping her face. “I’m never letting go again. I’ll be with you forever, I swear.” They kissed, framed by the glow of the television. On the screen, Jax had reached the living room wall. He paused, frowning at a dark, brownish-black stain on the plaster. “Wait, what’s this?” He leaned in, sniffing the air, then recoiled, his face pale. “That’s blood.” A massive spray of blood had oxidized over the years, turning into a grim, crusted map. Under the glare of his high-powered flashlight, you could see faint, rhythmic symbols etched into the wall beneath the stain. “Gross! That is haunting.” “I heard he went insane before he died. A madman is capable of anything.” “Maybe that’s some kind of curse he put on his wife. Evil bastard.” “I’m glad he’s dead.” 3 The comments kept coming, the numbers climbing. I stared at the screen, my spectral heart aching. I felt like I was back there, four years ago, looking through the windows at the “righteous” strangers gathered on my lawn to scream at a man they didn’t know. They had never met me, yet they judged me based on a handful of headlines and internet rumors. Is that what justice looks like? A consensus of strangers fueled by half-truths? A bitter coldness washed over me. I didn’t understand how these people could carry so much hate for a ghost. Jax found a stiff brush in his gear bag. He set up the tripod and began to meticulously scrub the dust and grime away from the blood-stained wall. As the crust fell away, he gasped. “Holy—okay, any experts in the chat? What am I looking at?” He pointed to the edge of the symbols. Almost immediately, a comment pinned itself to the top: “Those are burial rites. Specifically, the ‘Prayer for the Departed.’ It’s meant to guide a lost soul to peace.” Another followed: “Jax, look at the center of the wall. It looks hollow. Break it open.” Jax didn’t hesitate. He pulled a small sledgehammer from his pack and swung. On the third hit, the drywall gave way, revealing a dark cavity. Something fell out with a dull thud. “There we go!” He flashed a thumbs-up to the camera and picked up a small, weathered wooden box. Inside was a single photograph and a leather-bound journal. The photo showed an elderly couple standing proudly behind two younger children. “Who are these people?” “Bottom left… is that Daniel?” “Are those his parents? Why would he hide this?” “Did he kill them too? Did he use that prayer to hide his crimes? Is he even more of a monster than we thought?” The “expert” from before commented again: “That prayer is usually commissioned by a grieving person to bless their family. If a murderer used it, it would actually act as a curse upon himself. And look—he chose a photo with himself in it. He’s putting himself under that protection, or that judgment.” Jax stared at the photo, his expression shifting from excitement to genuine intrigue. “Whatever the case, this just got a lot more interesting. Let’s see what the diary says…” 4 [September 5th, 2015. Today is the day. I’m finally marrying her. I’m marrying the girl of my dreams. Jordan handed Madison’s hand to me himself. I promised him, man to man, that I would spend every breath making her happy. Best friends becoming brothers-in-law. This is the happiest day of my life.] Jax had a “storyteller” voice when he wanted to. As he read, the audience seemed to settle. They were seeing a different Daniel—a nervous, head-over-heels kid who thought he’d won the lottery. In the villa, Jordan felt a chill. He remembered that day. He remembered the way Daniel’s hands shook when he put the ring on Madison’s finger. [September 6th, 2015. Last night was our wedding night, but Maddie didn’t want me to touch her. I feel a bit lost, a bit rejected, but I get it. She’s nervous. It’s a big change. I talked to my sister, Lucy, about how to be better, how to make Maddie feel more at ease. I’ll keep trying. I’ll do whatever it takes for her to love me back.] … As Jax continued to read, the chat went quiet. The “scumbag” comments slowed to a trickle. People were listening. Madison’s face had gone paper-white the moment the photo appeared on the screen. “Jordan,” she whispered, clutching her stomach. “I… I don’t feel well. Can we go upstairs? Please?” Jordan assumed the broadcast was triggering her trauma. He shut off the TV immediately and helped her to bed, tucking her in with a tenderness that felt like a shield. But the words from the stream kept echoing in his head. Ten minutes later, once Madison’s breathing had evened out into sleep, Jordan crept downstairs. He turned the TV back on, the volume low. He didn’t know that upstairs, Madison had opened her eyes. “Damn you, Daniel,” she hissed into the darkness, her face contorting with a sudden, sharp malice. She reached for her phone and opened the livestream. [April 3rd, 2017. Maddie’s been so down lately. I booked a surprise trip for us to the coast, but at the last minute, my boss called. A mandatory overtime crisis. I suggested we push it back two days. She didn’t say anything—she just slapped me across the face and walked out the door. Jordan called later. He said he was in the area and would look after her. I was so relieved. But tonight, neither of them are answering their phones. I’m scared.] [April 4th, 2017. Still nothing. I’m losing my mind. Please, God, let them be okay.] [April 5th… no answer.] [April 6th. I couldn’t take it. I caught the first flight I could. I went to the hotel room I’d booked for us. I can’t believe what I saw. They’re siblings. How could they… how could they be doing that?] 5 “Holy shit!” “What does he mean? What did he see?” “Is this going where I think it’s going?” “Wait, the timeline… Daniel was still being a ‘perfect husband’ then. Did he find out they were sleeping together? Is that why things turned violent?” “Doesn’t matter. Domestic abuse is never the answer!” The chat was a war zone of theories. Jordan felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his temples. He remembered that year. He remembered Daniel calling him, panicked, saying Madison had run off to the coast alone. Jordan happened to be on a “business trip” nearby. He told Daniel he’d handle it. After that… He rubbed his eyes. His memory of that month was a blurred mess. He’d been in a car accident shortly after. A concussion, the doctors said. Madison told him it wasn’t important, that he hadn’t missed anything. But he realized now that Daniel had stopped calling him after that trip. And then, one day, Madison had come home covered in bruises, sobbing that Daniel had turned into a monster. Had something happened before the “abuse”? Jax’s voice cut through the silence of the living room. [April 17th. Maddie came back today. She collapsed in my arms, crying. She said Jordan forced her. That he used his position as her ‘big brother’ to trap her. That piece of garbage. I treated him like a brother, and he preyed on his own sister. I wanted to kill him. I was halfway out the door when Maddie stopped me. She begged me not to. She said it would ruin the family. She said the reason she wouldn’t let me touch her was because she felt ‘unclean.’ I just held her. My poor, stupid girl. I don’t care about that. I love her. I’ll protect her. As for Jordan? He’s dead to me.] Jordan froze. He felt like the floor had dropped out from under him. Madison told Daniel that he forced her? But… before they officially became a couple after Daniel’s death, Jordan had never even looked at her that way. Had he? His memory of that hotel room was a fog of alcohol and blackouts. Something was wrong. He pulled out his phone and started making calls. He needed to find the security footage from that hotel. He needed the truth. 6 The diary pages turned. [May 27th, 2019. Today, Maddie told me she’s pregnant. I’m going to be a father. Finally, something good. A real family. I’m working so much to save up for the baby, so I asked my mom to come move in and help out. My sister, Lucy, just finished her exams and wanted to find a summer job nearby too. But Maddie said no. She was adamant. I decided to rent them a place in the apartment downstairs instead. I just wanted them close in case Maddie needed anything.] [July 15th. Maddie found out Mom and Lucy are living downstairs. She screamed at me for hours. She held a kitchen knife to her own throat and told me if I didn’t kick them out, she’d kill herself and the baby. I was terrified. I agreed to send them back.] [July 18th. I told the landlord we’d be out in a week.] [July 19th. My mother is dead. And Maddie lost the baby.] “Wait, what? How?” “How did the mom die?” “Why was Madison so psycho about the mother-in-law? Bringing a knife to her own throat? That’s extreme.” “Suddenly Daniel isn’t looking like the crazy one here…” I watched the words on the screen, and the nightmare of that day flooded back. I had seen my mom in the elevator that morning. She was carrying groceries, smiling. She told me she was going to make a batch of Madison’s favorite dumplings before she left. In our family, it was a tradition—a mother’s handmade meal to give the pregnant daughter-in-law “good fortune” for a safe delivery. I was in meetings all morning. When I finally checked my phone at lunch, I had forty-three missed calls from my sister. My heart stopped. When I called back, Lucy was hysterical. She said there had been an accident. Both Mom and Madison were at the hospital. I never saw my mother alive again. The story I was told was that Mom had come upstairs to bring the dumplings. She had tripped on the landing and fallen down the stairs, hitting her head. Madison had seen it happen, and the shock had caused her to miscarry. I lost my mother and my child in the same hour. In the hospital room, Madison looked like a ghost. She gripped my hand, her voice a fragile whisper. “Daniel, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, if I’d just let her stay with us, she wouldn’t have been on those stairs…” She was grieving, bleeding, and yet she was comforting me. I told her it wasn’t her fault. I blamed myself for not being there to protect them. I swallowed the bitterness. Looking back now, as a spirit, I see that my mother’s death was only the beginning of the harvest. 7 [July 22nd, 2019. I took two weeks off to take my mother’s ashes back to our hometown for the burial. Maddie was still recovering, so I hired a nurse for her. My dad said he’d meet me at the station. He said he had something important to tell me, something he’d found in Mom’s things. At 4:00 PM, my father was killed in a hit-and-run on his way to meet me.] The police report said he’d lost control of his motorcycle and gone over a cliff. No witnesses. No cameras. An “accident.” I lost both parents in a single week. My hair literally turned white over the next few days. I was a walking corpse. By the time I finished the funerals and returned to the city, it was August. [August 2nd. Lucy got her acceptance letter for the university here in town. With Mom and Dad gone, she’s all I have left. Maddie is my soul, but Lucy is my blood.] [August 24th. I dropped Lucy off at the dorms. I watched her walk onto that campus and prayed she’d have the life our parents wanted for her. A bright future.] [August 30th. Lucy is missing.] [September 1st. Explicit photos of Lucy are all over the internet. Someone leaked them to the university board.] [September 2nd. Lucy jumped from the roof of the science building. She’s gone.] 8 Jax stopped reading. He stared at the page as if the ink were burning his eyes. The chat, usually a storm of activity, went completely silent for a long, heavy moment. I know what they were thinking. They were finally feeling the weight of it. I touched the phantom space where my heart used to be. I’ve been dead so long I’d forgotten what that kind of pain felt like. That year had wrung me dry. It had hollowed me out until there was nothing left but the shell. Finally, a single comment broke the silence: “This is too much.” Then, a flood. Too much. This is a nightmare. Poor guy. Jax sighed, a heavy, ragged sound. “To lose everyone… your mom, your dad, your baby, your sister… all in a few months? I’d lose my mind too.” Someone in the chat pushed back: “Wait, let’s be real. The parents were accidents. The sister was a tragedy, but you can’t blame his wife for that. Just because his life was sad doesn’t give him the right to become an abuser.” “Exactly. He probably snapped and took it out on the only person left. Madison is the one I feel for. She lost her in-laws, her baby, and then had to live with a husband who went psychotic.” In the villa, Jordan clung to that thought. He felt a wave of guilt for doubting Madison. The “internet” was right. Daniel was a victim of circumstance, but Madison was a victim of Daniel. He walked upstairs to check on her. He found her huddled under the covers, sobbing quietly. When she saw him, she lunged into his arms. “Jordan, I’m having nightmares,” she wailed, her body shaking. “I dream about Daniel with that knife… he’s coming for me… please don’t let him get me!” Jordan stroked her hair, whispering promises of safety. He cursed himself for watching that show. It was a circus, a disgusting exploitation of her pain. She was pregnant. She needed peace. He decided to go back down and turn off the TV for good. But as he reached for the remote, Jax flipped to a new page. Jax’s voice boomed through the quiet living room, frozen with a new intensity. [January 1st, 2020. I found it. I found the truth. All of it.] 9 The chat exploded. “January 1st? That was the day of the attack! The day he chased her with the knife!” “I remember the video! It went viral. He was arrested and held for three days.” “Madison did that interview right after, crying about years of abuse. The neighbors backed her up.” “The whole country wanted his head. And then he got out of jail and hung himself. We all thought it was ‘guilt’ or ‘cowardice.’” “Jax, what did he find? What was the truth? READ IT!” Jax teased the camera, drawing out the suspense before turning the journal toward the lens. But the page was blank. “What? Are you kidding me?” Jax flipped through the remaining pages. Blank. Blank. Blank. He reached the very last page of the notebook. There, scrawled in frantic, jagged handwriting, were three lines: [My life is over. If anyone ever finds this, open the third drawer of the desk in the study. Press the false back on the left. The secret of my death is waiting for you there.] Jax scrambled toward the study, the camera lurching with him. He fumbled with the desk drawer, his fingers frantic. He pressed, he pried, and suddenly, a small compartment clicked open. He pulled out an old, cracked smartphone. It wouldn’t turn on, but Jax—ever the pro—popped out the microSD card. “I’ve got a reader in my laptop,” he whispered. The chat held its collective breath as he plugged the card in and synced it to the stream. Two video files appeared on the screen. He clicked the first one. My face filled the frame.

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Seven years of love, and Ethan forced me to donate a kidney and become a surrogate for his true love. He even abandoned me when I was dying. I smiled, removed my wedding ring, and chose his exiled, unhinged uncle, Adrian Blackwood. Everyone said I was courting death. Until the wedding day, when Ethan was dragged off to prison and the Blackwood empire changed hands. The man he once looked down on wrapped an arm around my waist and announced to the hall: “Let me reintroduce myself. I’m the new head of the Blackwood family and her husband.” Nina’s POV I’ve always had a sharp eye for men, the same killer instinct I use in venture capital. After seven years together, Ethan Blackwood and I weren’t just perfectly in sync at the negotiation table. In bed, we fit together seamlessly. Especially tonight. The usually restrained and ascetic Blackwood Group CEO seemed determined to devour me whole. From the floor-to-ceiling windows to the bathroom, and finally to that thoroughly disheveled king-sized bed. The air was thick with the lingering traces of our passion. By the time dawn broke over the horizon, I was completely spent and begged for mercy. Only then did this marathon finally come to an end. Afterward, Ethan threw on a bathrobe and efficiently cleaned me up, his expression returning to that noble, detached look he wore during business hours. I leaned against the headboard, watching this man who controlled my family’s lifeline. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, straight spine. The way he lit his cigarette was elegant and cold, as if the man who’d been gasping in my ear moments ago was someone else entirely. I suppressed the ache in my body and habitually reached for my birth control pills. Just as I popped one out of the pack, a large hand clamped down on my wrist. Ethan’s voice still carried the hoarseness of aftermath, but his words were cold as ice. “Let’s have a baby.” My fingers froze. I looked up at him. “Our prenup was clear. No children before the IPO.” Ethan’s gaze wasn’t even on me. “Isabella’s back.” Isabella White. Ethan’s precious girl-next-door. His savior. Ethan continued. “Her health is poor. The doctor says she’ll have difficulty conceiving. The Blackwood family needs an heir, and I need to give Isabella closure.” A sharp pain pierced my chest. I understood his subtext perfectly. “So Mr. Blackwood wants to borrow my womb to give your beloved a child?” “Don’t make it sound so ugly.” Ethan frowned, clearly displeased with my phrasing. “You’ll still be Mrs. Blackwood. I’ll extend your family’s debt another five years. The child will be registered under your name, but Isabella will participate in raising them. You know she’s kind and loves children.” I stared at the man before me, unable to speak. Seven years of my youth-I could’ve fed it to a dog and at least gotten a tail wag in return. But in Ethan’s eyes, I was nothing more than a well-bred incubator. Even our seven years as bed partners was only because I was useful. I set down the pill and smiled. “Fine.” Ethan looked momentarily stunned. I met his eyes directly. “But I want the West Bay project restarted, and I want veto power.” That was my father’s dying regret. Ethan studied me for two seconds, then his expression relaxed. “Deal. We’ll sign a supplementary agreement tomorrow.” As long as it was about profit, I’d agree to anything. Just then, Ethan’s private phone on the nightstand vibrated. He answered, his expression softening. A girl’s tearful voice came through the speaker. “Ethan, it’s thundering outside. I’m scared…” “Don’t be afraid, Isabella. Take your medicine. I’ll be right there.” While soothing her, Ethan buttoned his shirt and grabbed his car keys, heading for the door. At the doorway, he seemed to remember I was still in the room. He paused slightly, though he didn’t turn around, simply tossing out a sentence. “Cover for me with Grandfather. Once I’ve calmed her down, I’ll go with you to try on wedding dresses next week.” The door slammed shut. The luxury car drove away. I swallowed the birth control pill and placed an overseas call. “Adrian, I don’t want to give Ethan that undisclosed maritime route.” “If you dare come back and crash the wedding, it’s yours as my wedding fund.”

Nina’s POV I drove straight to the Blackwood family estate. Pushing open the study door, I found Ethan kneeling on the floor. When he saw me enter, his grandfather Jason’s face turned iron-gray as he threw the agreement in Ethan’s face. “I’ve kept you by my side for seven years. Even a dog would have shown some loyalty by now!” The papers sliced across Ethan’s cold, handsome face. He didn’t flinch, his tone resolute. “Business is business. Nina wants the project, I want a child. It’s mutually beneficial. Perfectly fair.” I stood in place, looking at Jason. “Jason, the Stewart family may have fallen, but we’re not so degraded as to bear children for our rival.” Ethan’s head snapped up, thin fury flashing in his eyes. “You agreed last night.” “That was last night.” I laughed coldly. “Now, I’ve changed my mind.” I turned to Jason. “Cancel the engagement. I’ll repay the Stewart family debt with full interest.” “No!” “No!” Ethan and Jason spoke almost simultaneously. Ethan didn’t want to lose his perfect tool. Jason couldn’t bear to lose my talent or risk the Blackwood Group’s trade secrets I held leaking out. He pondered for a moment, his gaze sharp as a blade. “The engagement can’t be canceled. It affects Blackwood Group’s stock price. But the groom can be replaced.” He pointed to the spread of Blackwood family photos on the desk. “Aside from this bastard, choose any eligible Blackwood man. Whoever you choose, I’ll support.” This was compensation for me, and a warning to Ethan. Ethan stood, a mocking smile curling his lips. “Nina’s a smart woman. She knows which choice maximizes her interests.” He was certain I couldn’t leave him. “Stop this tantrum and sign. Next week’s wedding proceeds as planned.” I ignored him. My gaze swept across those photos-most of them mediocre men. My eyes stopped on a file buried at the very bottom. No photo, just one name: Adrian Blackwood. Ethan’s uncle in name only-in reality, the illegitimate son from Jason’s affair. I’d heard he was exiled overseas years ago, violent by nature, notorious on Wall Street for his ruthless business dealings, specializing in hostile takeovers and corporate dismantling. But that was exactly what I needed. Only a ruthless player would dare to savage a wolf like Ethan. I extended two fingers and picked up that file. “No need to choose. I’ll take him.” The study fell deathly silent. Ethan’s pupils contracted violently, then he let out a derisive laugh. “Nina, have you lost your mind? A madman disowned by the Blackwood family-you choose him?” Jason also frowned deeply. “Adrian hasn’t returned to the country in years. If you choose him, this marriage may exist in name only.” “In name only is perfect. His name is all I want.” In front of Ethan, I removed the engagement ring I’d worn for seven years. “You’re right, Ethan. I am a smart woman.” I looked at Ethan’s suddenly darkened face and smiled. “So I’ve chosen a man who will force you to submit.” With that, I ignored Ethan’s murderous gaze, turned, and pushed through the door. Walking out through the mansion gates, my phone vibrated. Adrian’s text was concise, yet radiated raw intensity. “Wait for me.” The next day, I went straight to the law firm to prepare asset trust agreements. I was going to divide my assets. Though I depended on the Blackwood family, I wasn’t without my own safety nets. The offshore shell companies I’d registered and certain patents held in my mother’s name were my final trump cards. I’d just finished when Ethan called, his tone commanding. “Go pick up Isabella from the airport.” “Mr. Blackwood seems to have forgotten-we broke up.” “Adrian won’t marry you. Pick up Isabella, clear up the misunderstanding, and I’ll forget about today. Also, bring her that haute couture dress of yours.” I narrowed my eyes. “Which one?” “Isabella has her first media interview since returning tonight. She doesn’t have anything suitable. That one you just bought will work perfectly.” That dress I’d won at auction in Paris-one of a kind in the world. “Sure.” I agreed with unusual cheerfulness.

Nina’s POV I stood in the Four Seasons Hotel interview area watching Isabella surrounded by a swarm of reporters. She looked like a frightened rabbit, pitifully hunching her shoulders. When she saw me approaching, her eyes lit up. “Nina, Ethan said you were just upset. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.” She tried to link arms with me affectionately, but her gaze stuck to the garment bag in my hands, the haute couture brand logo printed on it. I sidestepped her touch and handed over the bag. “From Mr. Blackwood.” Isabella took the bag and opened it in front of all the reporters. The next second, a scream pierced the hall. “Ah! What-what is this?!” The priceless dress was covered in coffee stains, with several torn gashes. I calmly wiped my hands. “Sorry, I didn’t hold it steady on the way here. But Miss White loves picking up other people’s discards, doesn’t she?” “Nina! What are you doing?!” Ethan rushed out from backstage. Seeing the ruined dress and the reporters’ flashing cameras, his face darkened terribly. He pulled Isabella protectively behind him and shoved me hard. “Have you lost your mind? You want to humiliate the Blackwood family in front of the media?!” He put no restraint in that push. Wearing stilettos, my ankle twisted and I fell hard onto the marble floor. My right wrist hit first. Excruciating pain shot through me. Ethan froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting such a hard fall, and instinctively reached out. “Ethan… I’m so scared. Those reporters are photographing me…” Isabella suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed against his back, her face deathly pale. Ethan’s half-extended hand froze in midair. He immediately pulled it back, turned, and caught Isabella. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll get you out of here.” Without another glance at me on the floor, he carried her through the crowd while bodyguards immediately surrounded them to block the cameras. In that vast interview area, only I remained, sitting disheveled on the ground. My wrist throbbed with piercing pain-I didn’t even have the strength to stand. Just then, my phone rang. I answered with trembling hands. A low voice came through. “Seems I’ve called at just the right time.” My voice shook with pain. “Adrian?” “Mm.” The man on the other end gave a soft laugh. “Does it hurt?” I said nothing. Tears silently hit the floor. “Stay where you are. My people are there. As for that hand that pushed you… I’ll make him pay back tenfold.” As soon as he finished speaking, several stern-faced men in black pushed through the crowd and walked straight to me. The leader bowed respectfully. “Miss Stewart, Mr. Blackwood has sent us to take you to the hospital.” After getting my wound bandaged at the hospital, I returned to the villa. Pushing open the door, I was nearly overwhelmed by the heavy scent of rose perfume. I instinctively looked at the living room wall. The painting my father had loved most once hung there-my only comfort these past years. Now it had been replaced with an artistic photo of Isabella. Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Isabella came down wearing a bathrobe, Ethan following behind her. He glanced at the gauze on my hand, frowned, looking displeased. “Why are you back so late? Isabella has trouble sleeping in new places. She’s afraid to sleep alone, so she’ll take the master bedroom tonight. You take the guest room.” I stood in the foyer, unmoving, nails digging into my palms. “Where’s that painting?” Isabella shrank her neck and hid behind Ethan. “It looked a bit old, so I had the housekeeper put it away. If you like it, I’ll have Ethan buy you a better one tomorrow.” I laughed in anger. That painting was an authentic masterpiece-priceless and irreplaceable. I looked at Ethan. “You just let her touch my things?” Ethan rubbed his temples impatiently. “It’s just a painting. I’ll buy you another if you like it. Can you stop being so petty?” Seven years ago, before the Stewart family fell, this villa was my asset. Now that I’d fallen on hard times, in his eyes I’d become petty? I pulled out my phone and made a call in front of them both. “Bring chainsaws and a moving company. Now.” Ethan’s expression changed. “What are you doing in the middle of the night?” I stared into his eyes. “Since Miss White likes other people’s things, I don’t want any of this anymore.” Half an hour later, workers charged into the second-floor master bedroom with chainsaws. The harsh sound of sawing wood echoed throughout the villa. I stood in the doorway directing them. “Miss White slept in this bed. It’s filthy. Saw it up.” “She touched that wardrobe. Smash it.” “And all this trash on the floor…” I pointed at the decorations Isabella had brought. “Throw it all out.” Isabella screamed in fright, covering her ears and cowering in the corner. Ethan rushed up in fury. Bodyguards immediately blocked him from the doorway. “Nina! Have you had enough? This is my house!” “Mr. Blackwood has a poor memory.” I casually picked up a vase. “The deed still has my name on it. I have the right to dispose of my half.” The vase smashed at Ethan’s feet, shards flying. I walked through the debris to stand before him, raising my bandaged right hand. “Ethan, what I don’t want, no one else gets to touch either.” “These seven years, I haven’t just stayed by your side. I’ve been managing Blackwood Group. I negotiated the overseas channels. If we’re settling accounts, let’s settle them properly.” “Starting tomorrow, I’m taking back everything that’s mine, piece by piece.” I sneered and turned away from the pathetic couple. That night, Adrian sent a photo. The background showed a New York airport gate. He said: “See you soon.”

Nina’s POV I moved to a downtown apartment. Ethan was too busy comforting Isabella to care where I’d gone. On the third day, Blackwood Group held a yacht celebration for the Bay Area new development. I had to attend to sign documents. At the dock, Ethan and Isabella stood on the deck. Isabella wore Ethan’s suit jacket, chatting with investors. Seeing me appear, Ethan’s expression turned cold. “Why are you only just arriving? Mr. Li has been waiting.” He made no mention of that night, as if I were still his obedient fiancée, ready at his beck and call. I ignored him, my gaze sweeping over Isabella. “Miss White should stay inside if she’s not feeling well-wouldn’t want her fainting and dragging others down again.” Isabella’s eyes reddened as she clutched Ethan’s sleeve. “Ethan, Nina still blames me…” “Enough.” Ethan cut her off. “Nina, go to the lower deck and verify the equipment data. Isabella gets seasick. I’ll stay up here with her.” Before, this kind of grunt work was for assistants. Now he was making me do it. I didn’t argue, just turned and headed to the lower deck. The yacht left the harbor. The sea wind picked up. I’d just finished checking the data when the vessel suddenly shook violently. Alarms shrieked. “We’ve hit rocks! The lower deck is flooding! Run!” Someone screamed. The ship began to tilt. I grabbed the railing, trying to run up, but the panicked crowd knocked me staggering backward. In the chaos, a cargo rack crashed down, pinning me beneath it. “Help!” I screamed desperately, but all around me were the shrieks of people fleeing for their lives. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs. Ethan. He seemed to be looking for someone. Seeing me pinned down, shock flashed in his eyes. He instinctively took a step forward. “Ethan! Save me! The water’s rising! I’m so scared!” Isabella’s heart-wrenching wail came from the deck above. Ethan’s steps stopped dead. He looked at the water already up to my waist, then up at the deck above. No words. Ethan turned and ran toward the stairs without hesitation. That resolute retreat hit me like a blade to the chest. “Ethan!” My voice came out hoarse. Desperate tears mixed with seawater. At my moment of life and death, he chose Isabella. Water submerged my chest. Suffocation set in. Just as consciousness began to fade, a tremendous crash came from above. The rack pinning me shifted, then came crashing down with even more force. Pain exploded. I blacked out completely. When I woke again, blinding white filled my vision. I tried to move. The right side of my body was numb, my right hand encased in thick plaster, fixed to a support frame. “Awake?” A low, cold voice. I turned my head with difficulty. A tall man sat in a wheelchair, playing with a black pinky ring. He sat backlit, eyes deep as an abyss, staring fixedly at my ruined hand. Adrian. My gaze dropped to his impeccably tailored suit pants. My voice came out raspy. “Your legs…” Adrian gave a soft snort, then swung his long legs out and stood steadily from the wheelchair. “The old man has eyes everywhere. Send him a crippled bastard, and he sleeps soundly.” He pushed the empty wheelchair aside and strode to the bedside, asking me: “Does it hurt?” “My hand…” My voice was hoarse. I tried to move my fingers but realized with horror that my right hand had no feeling. “Severed nerves.” Adrian’s voice was calmly cruel. “The doctor says you’ll have trouble even holding a fork from now on, let alone playing piano.” My mind went blank with a roar. Ruined? I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. Large tears rolled down. “Why cry?” Adrian rolled the wheelchair to the bedside and reached out ice-cold fingers to wipe away my tears. His eyes were sinister. “Your hand’s ruined. I’ll take care of you.” “As for those two who hurt you…” His fingertips caressed my face, lips curling into a bloodthirsty smile. “I’ll smash their hands and feet to pieces and let you play with them like building blocks. How’s that?” Footsteps sounded outside the door. “Is Nina awake? Isabella insisted on checking on her…” Ethan’s voice. Adrian’s eyes went cold. He quickly retreated into the shadows. In that instant, I saw the small scars at the corner of his eye. Completely overlapping with that boy who’d carried my feverish body five kilometers through a rainstorm years ago. So it really was him. The door opened. Ethan looked exhausted, Isabella following behind, completely unharmed. Seeing me awake, Ethan sighed in relief. “Good, you’re awake. Isabella’s been worried you’d have nightmares. The doctor says your hand is injured but with some rehab won’t affect your daily life.” He paused, tone casual. “Besides, you’ll be Mrs. Blackwood from now on. Just stay home comfortably. No need to do that exhausting work anyway.” Won’t affect daily life? No need to work? I stared at this man, hatred reaching its peak in that moment. I forced words through clenched teeth. “Get out.”

Nina’s POV Ethan froze, as if he hadn’t heard clearly. He approached the bed, gaze falling on my plastered hand, expression somewhat awkward. “Nina, the situation was urgent. Isabella can’t swim and has a bad heart. You’re the future lady of the Blackwood family. Be understanding. Don’t throw a tantrum over something so small.” “Small thing?” I laughed bitterly. Severed hand nerves. That’s a small thing? “Ethan, since it’s such a small thing, let’s talk compensation. By the Stewart family’s valuation, my right hand is worth five percent of Blackwood Group’s original shares. Or transfer those New York properties under your name to me. Choose one.” Isabella gasped at the doorway. “Nina, how can you scheme against Ethan? Talking about money hurts feelings…” “My fiancé chose another woman at my moment of life and death. Since we can’t talk feelings, let’s talk money.” Ethan’s face darkened. He couldn’t touch the 5% original shares, but those properties… He gritted his teeth. “Fine. The New York properties are yours. Stop making trouble. Next week’s wedding proceeds as scheduled.” I smiled brilliantly. “Deal. Take your time leaving, Mr. Blackwood.” What I wanted was to crush this pair of scumbags underfoot. Ethan thought I was still throwing a tantrum. He put his arm around Isabella and left. “Isabella hasn’t had breakfast. I’ll take her to get something.” Only after the door closed did I look toward the shadows. “Come out.” Adrian rolled out in his wheelchair and tossed me a voice recorder. “Didn’t get the 5% shares. Disappointed?” “Not disappointed.” I picked up the property transfer document with a cold laugh. “Because buried under those properties is Blackwood Group’s biggest liability-serious environmental violations. Once exposed, their cash flow will collapse.” Adrian’s eyes deepened with amusement as he pulled out an exquisite box and placed it in my hand. “A meeting gift.” A uniquely designed black pinky ring with tiny crabapple flowers etched inside. My heart jolted violently. Those were my favorite flowers at the orphanage-the secret between me and that boy. Adrian’s voice was low. “From today on, you’re my accomplice.” I slipped it onto my ring finger. Perfect fit. “Pleasure doing business.” Not ten minutes after Adrian left, the hospital room door was violently thrown open. The tremendous noise hurt my eardrums. I instinctively protected my plaster-wrapped right hand and looked up to see Ethan’s stormy face. His shirt collar hung open, spotted with dark red bloodstains. “Get up.” Ethan strode over and yanked back my blanket, voice urgent. “Come with me to the operating room.” The cold air made me shiver. I braced myself against the bed with my good left hand, looking at him. “Have you lost your mind, Mr. Blackwood? I just had hand surgery. The anesthesia hasn’t even worn off.” “Isabella’s in shock.” Ethan completely ignored my objection, eyes terrifyingly dark. “The doctor says it’s acute renal failure with coagulation disorder. Critical condition. You’re a rare blood type, kidney match. The transplant surgery must happen tonight.” I couldn’t help laughing. “Ethan, my right hand was just ruined by you-not even twelve hours ago-and now you want to harvest my kidney?” I thrust my heavily plastered hand in his face. “I’m your fiancée, not your spare parts inventory.” “Precisely because you’re my fiancée!” Ethan swatted my hand away, the force so great it sent pain shooting through my wound. He stepped closer, his tall shadow looming over me. “You’ve enjoyed the Blackwood family’s protection for seven years. You should make this sacrifice.” “I won’t do it.” I bit down hard, gripping the sheets. “You don’t get a choice.” Ethan lost his last shred of patience. He pulled out a document and slapped it on the table. The patent rights transfer for Blackwood Group’s core R&D department. This was the foundation of Ethan’s standing with the board-and the technology the Stewart family desperately needed to make a comeback. Ethan’s cold expression held a trace of anxiety. “Sign this. It’s yours. You go in and give Isabella one kidney. This deal-you profit either way.” I looked at that document, feeling cold-the kind of cold that seeps from your bones. Isabella’s life on one side, his business empire on the other. He’d traded the latter for the former without hesitation, still forcing me to be the sacrifice. “Fine.” With my good left hand, I picked up the pen and signed my name cleanly on the document. The moment the pen tip touched down, my gaze rapidly scanned the transferee at the document’s end. It was one of my secretly registered offshore shell companies. My fingers paused slightly. Watching Ethan, too anxious to even read the terms carefully, I suddenly found him ridiculous, like a clown jumping through hoops. He hadn’t noticed that the legal department had already been infiltrated by Adrian’s people. “Ethan.” I put away the document. “My kidney for you. From now on, we’re even.” “Hurry up!” He grabbed me and forcibly pulled me from the bed, dragging me toward the door. I stumbled after him, speechless.

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I attended my boyfriend’s company party, where his female friend Sienna leaned against him with a mocking smile. “Andrea, I heard your mom was a homewrecker who slept her way up, and you’ve been someone’s mistress since you turned eighteen. You only recently latched onto Asher.” “Although this is our first meeting, I’m quite familiar with your plastic surgeon.” Then, as if she’d accidentally said something wrong, she covered her mouth playfully while looking at Asher. “Oops, I forgot that homewreckers who get plastic surgery to climb the social ladder don’t like being reminded of their past. Asher, please don’t blame me.” Asher’s smile froze on his face. Just seconds ago, he’d been bragging to his colleagues about my beauty and background. I looked up at his female friend, finding her increasingly familiar. Wasn’t this the plastic surgery influencer who’d been dumped by dozens of sugar daddies, with every relationship ending in disaster? I’d even handled the lawsuit when one of her sugar daddies sent her to the hospital. I wondered if those sugar daddies’ wives would be thrilled to know she was here.

Out of professional habit, I quietly turned on my voice recorder. After all, for someone like me, everything requires evidence. The moment Sienna finished speaking, the envious glances that had been directed at Asher immediately turned strange. A colleague tried to defuse the situation with an awkward laugh. “You must have her confused with someone else. Miss Andrea is an heiress—she wouldn’t need to be anyone’s mistress.” Sienna didn’t deny it. She just let out a deep sigh. “Well, I suppose her mother had foresight—willing to be some rich man’s mistress for money.” “But I wouldn’t want to be that kind of heiress.” I was secretly alarmed. She really dared to say that. If my doting father found out, she probably wouldn’t be able to stay anywhere in America. Seeing my expression change, Sienna shrank further into Asher’s embrace. “Asher, did I say something wrong? It’s my fault for not being as calculating as those women—I just say whatever’s on my mind.” I suppressed the urge to slap her. After all, one slap would mean five to ten days of detention. While distracted, the wine glass in my hand tilted, and the red wine accidentally splashed onto Sienna’s white dress. She shrieked, her face full of grievance. “Andrea, why are you so humiliated and angry just because I told a few truths?” “The ability to disguise yourself so perfectly is quite a skill—I’m envious, really.” Asher’s expression instantly turned cold. He picked up a wet napkin from the table and carefully wiped Sienna’s dress. He glared at me. “Sienna’s always been straightforward and can’t beat around the bush. What’s wrong with you!” “Apologize to Sienna right now!” I laughed bitterly. Sienna slandered and defamed me, and he watched coldly. But now that I’d accidentally stained Sienna’s dress, he was furious. Sienna’s eyes reddened as she pressed against Asher. “It’s okay, Asher. Maybe I did mistake her for someone else and was just joking.” I looked at her with a cold tone. “Words require evidence. I don’t have a sense of humor and can’t understand jokes.” This statement was also reminding Asher not to believe things without evidence. Asher indeed seemed slightly stunned, slowly withdrawing the hand that had been wiping Sienna’s dress. Sienna’s body stiffened, and she looked pitiful. “I’m sorry, Andrea. This is all what your plastic surgeon told me—I really didn’t verify it.” I propped my chin on my hand and looked at her. “Which plastic surgery hospital? Which doctor?” Whatever she dared to say would become evidence. I thought she’d be stuck, but unexpectedly, her tone suddenly became earnest. “Andrea, even if you haven’t had plastic surgery, you’re not that ugly. You really don’t need to go for touch-ups a dozen times every month.” The surrounding colleagues showed expressions of disdain. The female colleague sitting next to Sienna laughed mockingly. “This world really belongs to plastic surgery girls. Get some work done, spread your legs, and you can get rich.” “Not like me and Sienna—we’re all natural and just want to marry for love.” Asher cared most about face. He’d brought me to the company party to show off. Who would have thought he’d face this kind of humiliation? He glumly drank an entire glass of wine. I looked at that female colleague, my eyes turning to ice. “My monthly income is $200,000. Asher makes $30,000. And you’re saying I’m a gold digger?” The guy with glasses across from us laughed mockingly. “$200,000 a month? Andrea, that’s quite a special profession.” “Our Asher is so blessed. Other people spend money on relationships, but when he dates, a bunch of sugar daddies crowdfund it for him… Haha…” “Shut up!” Asher suddenly punched the guy with glasses, shattering his frames. I felt no satisfaction, because I knew he wasn’t defending me—just his wounded pride. The guy with glasses was about to fight back when the host on stage happened to call our table. “Next game—we invite the colleagues from table five!”

Everyone in the company turned to look at us. The guy with glasses had to lower his fist, temporarily swallowing his anger. The game rules were simple: share one thing from work that moved you. Whoever told the best story could choose a prize. The first few people mentioned things like the boss buying coffee or a client’s words of recognition. When it was Sienna’s turn, she glanced at me sideways with a provocative smile. “Last month, I got drunk at a business dinner and called Asher in the middle of the night.” “He rushed back from a business trip and took care of me all night…” “I only found out later that his girlfriend was also looking for him that night.” Applause erupted below. “Asher really values friendship.” “He’s reliable when it counts!” Among the applause, my entire body went rigid, as if plunged into an ice cave. That night in the early morning, I’d been in a car accident. My phone was smashed to pieces, and the only number I could remember was Asher’s. But he just said flatly that he was on a business trip, then became completely unreachable. I nearly died that night. Afterward, Asher knelt by my hospital bed, slapping himself hard. “Andrea, I just want to marry you so badly that I’ve been working like crazy. I really didn’t know it was so serious.” I looked at Asher. He avoided my gaze, his profile tense. For this game, the host announced Sienna as the winner and told her to choose a prize. She looked around and spotted a medical spa VIP card, exclaiming with delight. “Asher ignored his girlfriend because of me, so his girlfriend loves plastic surgery—I’ll use this to apologize.” She looked at me with a bright smile, her voice suddenly rising. “Oh right, she’s actually at our company party—right there in the audience!” The lighting technician followed her pointing finger and shone a spotlight on me. Murmurs rose around me. “This woman had plastic surgery? She looks so natural.” “Looking like that must have cost a fortune.” Sienna grabbed the host’s microphone. “Don’t worry about Andrea spending money—she makes $200,000 a month.” As she spoke, she smiled meaningfully. The crowd immediately responded with knowing “ohhhs.” The men’s gazes became lewd as they looked me up and down, as if appraising merchandise. I stared coldly at Sienna. “Spreading rumors and defaming others, if the circumstances are serious, carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.” “Some words, once spoken, come with a price.” She snorted dismissively and opened her phone. She displayed one of the photos for everyone to see. “I’m not spreading rumors.” It was a before-and-after plastic surgery comparison. The successful case on the right showed my face. Mocking laughter and ridicule flooded the hall like a tidal wave. “The money was well spent—even a pig can become a beauty. Worth it!” “Which doctor did this? I need a recommendation!” I stood up to speak, but Asher suddenly rushed over and slapped me hard. “Andrea!” He gripped Sienna’s phone, fury burning in his eyes at being deceived. “I’ve done graphic design for eight years! This photo isn’t photoshopped—it’s real! You really have been lying to me!” I said nothing, just slowly straightened up. My heart to explain had long since died. Now my mind was calculating another, more practical question: this slap would get him five to ten days of detention. Sienna placed her hand on Asher’s shoulder at just the right moment, her voice sweet. “It’s okay, Asher. Girls love beauty—getting plastic surgery is normal.” “Not like us rough types who are too lazy to even use skincare products.” I looked at Sienna’s elaborate “no-makeup makeup” look and laughed coldly. When I poured makeup remover on her face, she’d find out just how beautiful she really was.

At this moment, the host announced the next performance— a duet by Sienna and Asher. I watched their backs as they walked onto the stage side by side, lost in thought. Asher was right—the photo was real. But the person before surgery and the person after were two different people. I was just curious how Sienna had obtained my college ID photo. I quickly sent tasks to my team members. [Within half an hour, I want all of Sienna’s information!] On stage, Asher knelt on one knee, singing to Sienna with deep affection. “Today you’re going to marry me.” I felt somewhat dazed. When had this man who once shone so brightly in my eyes become so dim? When I first met Asher, I’d been robbed on a foreign street and left penniless. He draped his coat over me, took me to the embassy, and accompanied me to file a police report. I had no phone, so he ran around for me and pressed all his money into my hands. The day they caught the robber, he was even more excited than I was. Back then, he was my hero, my savior. Under the Statue of Liberty, he confessed to me, promising to be faithful to me alone and never change his heart. But after we returned home, Asher forgot his promise. During dates, he’d leave during the movie’s climax because of a phone call from Sienna. When drunk, he’d murmur in his sleep, “I’ll drink for Sienna—don’t make things difficult for her.” His family gatherings never included me, but Sienna was always the guest of honor. I suddenly felt utterly exhausted with it all. I grabbed my bag to leave, and my phone vibrated. My subordinate sent a message. [Andrea, Sienna has major problems.] [The lawsuit materials are ready and can be used anytime.] I frowned and clicked on the link my subordinate sent—Sienna’s influencer homepage. Just one glance made my breathing quicken, my blood rushing backward through my body. What she shared on her influencer page was clearly MY life! Whether it was the pinned post with nine photos from last month at the National Museum, or the “alma mater memories” she posted two years ago— all the photos were identical to the originals on my phone. Except the protagonist had been replaced with her face. So that’s it. I began to understand Sienna’s true intentions. She didn’t just want Asher. She wanted to completely destroy me and replace me. My phone vibrated again. My subordinate sent a new message. [Andrea, we dug deeper—Sienna isn’t just stealing photos… she’s also…] [We’ve found the original owner based on that pre-surgery photo…] I looked at the evidence streaming in, my lips curling coldly. Sienna was going to rot in prison for this.

The duet on stage reached its finale, applause thundering. Sienna and Asher held hands, fingers intertwined, bowing to the audience below. After coming down, she looked at me with deliberate surprise. “Andrea, why haven’t you left yet?” Then she blinked her watery eyes with feigned innocence. “Does getting too much plastic surgery make your face thicker and thicker?” Asher frowned tightly, moving closer to her and distancing himself from me. My heart grew cold, but my face remained calm. Seeing this, triumph flashed undisguised in Sienna’s eyes. “You’re right—marriage requires caution. You can’t marry someone with a filthy disease and harm the whole family.” Asher’s face changed. “Sienna, you can’t say things like that.” Sienna seemed startled, shrinking her neck. “I’m sorry, Asher. I spoke without thinking again.” “I shouldn’t talk about other people’s privacy.” The moment those words left her mouth, everyone pulled their chairs away from me. They looked at me as if I were a virus. Asher’s knuckles turned white, his voice trembling. “Where did you hear that?” “From Andrea’s plastic surgeon. They have to do physical exams before surgery—one test and they know everything.” Sienna seemed to remember something and patted her forehead. “Oh right, she even sent me a photo of the test results.” The instant Sienna pulled out the photo, I quickly photographed it with my phone and sent it to my subordinates. Asher’s rationality completely snapped. He grabbed my throat tightly and roared. “Andrea! You shameless slut! You refused to have premarital sex with me, then turned around and slept around with others!” “If I’d known you were this kind of person, I shouldn’t have bothered with you abroad back then—I should have let you die!” Suffocation surged over me as I struggled desperately to break free. I looked at this face I’d loved for three years becoming twisted and unfamiliar, my heart aching. “Asher,” my voice was hoarse, “I’ve never lied to you. The one lying is Sienna! She…” “BANG!” A bottle of red wine smashed into my head— it was the male colleague who’d been agreeing with Sienna earlier. “You’re the disgusting one, and you want to slander our Sienna? She’s our team’s beloved buddy!” I tried to defend myself but was held in a death grip by the man. A female colleague took the opportunity to viciously grab my nose. Her tone was sharp and bitter. “Oh, this fake nose is pretty secure.” The man next to her laughed lecherously. “Let me test if the fake breasts are sturdy.” Dizzy and disoriented, I looked at Asher— hoping so much that he’d save me from danger like he had years ago. But he just coldly turned his face away. My heart died completely. Just as the man’s hand was about to touch me, the host pushed through in a panic. “Stop it! The boss is here to make a toast!” In the chaos, through the red liquid, I looked at the boss being surrounded and brought over. I was shocked—it was him! Asher roughly dragged me toward the exit by my arm, his voice squeezing through gritted teeth. “Andrea, we’re done! Get out now!” I struggled hard. “Before I leave, I have a question to ask.” “What else do you have to say!” At this moment, the boss was raising his glass to toast our table. I looked at the boss’s wife, who held her husband’s arm with a proper smile. I raised my hand and pointed at the smug Sienna beside me, my voice clear. “Ma’am, did you know she’s your husband’s mistress?” The moment the words left my mouth, the previously noisy hall fell dead silent.

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My husband’s mistress and I share the same birthday. During dinner, our son asked Nathan. “Mom, are we celebrating your birthday a day early again this year?” Nathan said, “Can’t this time. I’m taking Iris to Mint Island for diving. We need to attend diving classes these next few days.” Five years of marriage, and Nathan had always celebrated my birthday a day early, then spent my actual birthday with his mistress. But this year, I wouldn’t even get that. Our son jumped up excitedly at that moment. “I want to go diving too! Can you take me with you?” Nathan nodded in agreement, then looked at me. “Hannah, for your birthday wish—whatever you want, I’ll make it happen.” And my birthday wish was divorce. While I was clearing the table, Nathan called Iris. “Connor wants to come too. Is that okay with you?” Iris responded cheerfully, “Why wouldn’t it be? Unless you’re planning to do something naughty.” Nathan leaned lazily against the counter. “I really do want to do something naughty to you.” He smiled as he fiddled with the shelf I’d just bought. “Alright, just wait till I see you.” While they flirted, I turned to Connor. “You really want to go? You won’t stay to celebrate Mom’s birthday?” Connor nodded. “It’s more fun with Dad and Aunt Iris.” I said nothing and went to our room to pack their luggage. I suddenly remembered my first trip with Nathan. At eighteen, he got scammed out of five hundred dollars trying to buy me a necklace. Nathan had comforted me. “When I start earning money, I’ll buy you a one-of-a-kind necklace.” Our love had been so passionate once. How did it become this? I still remember when I found those intimate messages between Nathan and Iris on his phone. I cried and demanded a divorce. Nathan had been so scared he knelt before me. “I was wrong. I promise there won’t be a next time. I’ll have her leave the company tomorrow.” Later, Nathan openly gave Iris the title of girlfriend. Wearing his crisp suit, he told me: “Hannah, don’t worry. I know the difference between home and outside. I won’t let her affect your life.” I was so angry I smashed the matching mugs we’d bought for our wedding. That night I thought about so much—Nathan’s awkward confession, his wedding vows, his eyes red from crying when Connor was born. Looking at the sleeping child in the crib, the next day I bought two acrylic cups and accepted Iris’s existence. Connor interrupted my thoughts, bursting into the room. “Mom, I don’t want to bring these ugly clothes you bought.” I took Connor’s little hand. “Your respiratory system is weak. The sea breeze is strong. You need a windbreaker.” “No, no, I don’t!” Connor’s crying brought Nathan in. He put away his phone and entered the room. “Enough, Hannah. Mint Island is hot. He won’t need any of this. I’ll buy new things at the mall tomorrow. You don’t need to pack anymore.” With one sentence, he dismissed all my effort from the entire evening. I took out the rhinitis medication I’d prepared for Nathan and Connor from the suitcase. Since it wasn’t needed, I wouldn’t give them anything.

When I dropped Connor off at his enrichment class, he bragged to his friends: “My dad, mom and I are going diving at Mint Island soon!” A classmate glanced at me. “Your mom doesn’t look like someone who can dive.” Connor let go of my hand. “Not this mom.” He explained anxiously. “Another mom who’s prettier and younger. If you don’t believe me, wait after class. My other mom is picking me up to go shopping for clothes.” So after class, Connor pointed at the Rolls-Royce with Iris inside, her hair in big waves, and shouted: “She’s my other mom.” Connor ran to Iris’s side under his classmates’ envious gazes. “Mom.” Iris smiled and responded. “How could someone as young as you have such a big kid?” Nathan said with his hand on the steering wheel, smiling. “What? Don’t want to be my child’s father? I’ll find someone else then.” Iris raised her eyebrow, and Nathan pulled her into his arms and pinched her waist. “You dare!” She immediately acted coy. “I wouldn’t dare.” Their laughter reached my ears. Watching the two most important people in my life gather around Iris, I turned away with self-mockery. I thought as long as I didn’t leave, as long as Nathan loved me most, I could give Connor a complete family. But now it seemed I was the extra one. On my way home, the sky opened up with heavy rain. I ducked under a nearby bus shelter. I remembered the last time I took the bus—it was with Nathan, carrying our luggage, graduating from college. There were no empty seats in the bus, so Nathan had me sit on our suitcase while he gripped the handrail tightly, sheltering me in front of him. Back then our destination was a rental apartment. Now we had our own home, but we no longer shared the same destination. Thinking of this, I stepped onto the bus in front of me, but my rain-wet hands couldn’t unlock my phone. As the driver frowned impatiently, Nathan’s calls kept coming through. My vibrating phone fell from my hands. I scrambled into the rain in embarrassment. The driver cursed, “Wasting time.” As the bus drove off, water splashed onto my pants, leaving dark mud spots. On the phone, Nathan’s voice carried blame. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you answering?” “It’s raining outside, I…” “Whatever.” Clearly Nathan didn’t actually want to know my situation. “I just wanted to tell you Connor won’t be home for dinner. Iris is taking the little brat out for pizza.” “You tell her yourself.” Connor’s childish voice came through. “I’m going to eat pizza with Mom Iris. Don’t make me any of that chicken soup—it tastes awful.” Then came laughter, and Iris sounded rather smug. “See, I told you no kid likes chicken soup, but you didn’t believe me!” “Fine, you win.” Nathan’s tone was indulgent. I could almost picture Iris’s triumphant smile—worlds apart from my current pathetic state. I said flatly, “Got it.” I laughed at myself. If I couldn’t board the bus, I wouldn’t take it. Instead of going home, I went to a law firm.

I waited on the sofa until ten at night. After Nathan put the sleeping Connor to bed, I brought up divorce. “Nathan, I won’t interfere with your relationship with Iris anymore. Let’s end this amicably.” Nathan’s usually expressionless face actually showed emotion. “Hannah, if this is because I didn’t celebrate your birthday this year, I apologize.” I shook my head. “It has nothing to do with her. I just don’t want to be with you anymore.” Nathan gripped his water cup tightly. “I don’t understand. We’ve made it through five years—why are you making trouble now? We’re leaving the country tomorrow. Do you have to ruin tonight?!” When the cup hit the floor, I was just grateful it was acrylic. Nathan put on his jacket and walked out. “Going down for a smoke. Don’t wait up.” I saw him again at the airport. I’d brought Connor and ran into Iris. She wore her usual smiling expression. “Hannah, I was packing last night so I sent Nathan home early. Why did he suddenly come over in the middle of the night and cling to me for ages? Did you two have a fight?” “Just let him stay at your place from now on.” I pushed Connor toward Iris. Connor happily grabbed her hand. “Nathan’s too much. I said we could just celebrate my birthday casually, but he had to go abroad.” I looked toward Nathan checking in up ahead. “When we get back, I’ll have him throw you a proper birthday party.” Iris’s face showed smug pride. I swallowed all the words I wanted to say. I couldn’t compete with this young body, so I wouldn’t try. Nathan took Iris’s hand with its extravagant manicure. “Hannah, we’re leaving now.” A rare hint of guilt appeared in his eyes. “Remember to send me your birthday wish. If I can make it happen, I will.” “Dad, hurry up, stop dawdling with her. I want to ride on the big airplane.” Connor pulled Nathan and Iris, bouncing toward security. After returning home, I developed a high fever. Completely out of it, I could only hide under the covers. In my delirium, I dreamed of Nathan. He still looked twenty, holding my hand with that playful smile, calling me wife. “Good girl, take your medicine so you can get better.” He put the prepared medicine to his own lips to test the temperature. “Perfect. Drink it quickly.” When I woke from the dream, only the noisy phone ringtone remained. I answered in a hoarse voice. “Hannah Smith, why didn’t you pack the rhinitis medication?” “Don’t you know the sea breeze is strong? Connor and I both had flare-ups.” Nathan pulled me back to reality, shouting impatiently. “Fine, send me the medicine name. I’ll buy it myself. You’re such a hassle.” The phone went dead. My long-dried tears finally fell again. I understood one thing deeply—Nathan and I could never go back. I compiled all our income and assets from our five years of marriage. I decided not to fight for Connor’s custody. I had only one demand—that Nathan couldn’t have any more children. This was his promise from the beginning. I gave these materials to my lawyer, who quickly drafted divorce papers.

Before deciding to leave, I went to see Nathan’s mother. When we were students, she would always have Nathan bring me home and would pile food into my bowl. “Hannah, eat more. Look how thin you are.” Those words gave me, an orphan, the warmth of home. My marriage to Nathan had been natural, without any of love’s usual hardships. That’s why I endured those five years in silence, nearly losing myself. When I entered, my mother-in-law was on a video call. Looking at Nathan and Iris on screen, her face couldn’t stop smiling. “You rascal, Iris is still young. Be good to her.” Nathan ruffled Iris’s hair. “She may be young in age, but her temper’s bigger than anyone’s. She gets mad if I make her eat one more bite.” My mother-in-law’s tone was indulgent. “Iris dear, you need to eat more. Look how thin you’ve gotten.” I froze while removing my shoes. When my mother-in-law looked over, I quickly lowered my head to hide my bloodshot eyes. My mother-in-law put away her phone and called out, “Hannah, come in quickly.” “No, Mom. I didn’t change my shoes. I won’t come in.” I opened my umbrella and walked through the park where Nathan and I used to stroll during college. Under the most lush tree, we’d buried the hamster we’d raised together for three years. Nathan had wiped my tears and called me useless. “If I’m gone someday, how much will you cry?” He scattered the last handful of dirt, then held me. I’ll never forget how gently his voice was when he said, “Hannah, I’ll stay with you forever.” He knew better than anyone that my parents died early, that I’d lived alone for over ten years. He had become my whole world. But his whole world didn’t belong only to me. I sat on the park bench watching the time. At midnight, I sent him the divorce agreement. “Nathan, this is my birthday wish.” The next moment, my phone rang. I’d never heard Nathan this angry. “Hannah Smith, why did you have to send this message now? Because I looked at your stupid message, I didn’t hold onto Iris properly. She’s in the hospital now from drowning!” “I don’t care what you’re doing. Get over here right now and take care of Iris until she’s out of danger!” After he hung up, I received flight information. A 2 AM flight with two transfers. This was the fastest way to get to the Philippines. When I saw them, Iris had already woken up. Connor rushed at me first. “Bad mom! You’re the one who hurt Mom Iris!” “I hate you!” I let his little fists pound on me, but my eyes went to Nathan. He clearly hadn’t slept all night. He was now carefully feeding Iris water. “Good girl, drink more water so you’ll recover faster.” Iris looked at me. “Hannah, you actually came. I don’t blame you. It was my poor skills.” “After three days of diving classes, I still didn’t dare let go of Nathan’s hand. I’m so stupid.” “Even if you’re stupid, I’ll take care of you. I’ll never let go again.” Nathan’s eyes were about to overflow with heartache. “I was so scared. I almost lost you forever. Without you, I wouldn’t want to live either, Iris.” Nathan pressed his head against Iris’s face. Even though I was used to it, I couldn’t help but tear up—moved by their love and sad for myself. The doctor walked in with test results. “Miss Iris, your blood work shows you’re pregnant. We estimate about six weeks.” This news was like a bomb, leaving my mind completely blank. “That’s wonderful!” “Nathan, we’re going to have our own child!” “No!” I rushed forward. “Nathan, what did you promise me?!” I looked at Connor. He didn’t understand what this all meant yet. “Hannah Smith, is it your place to speak here?” “Come with me!” Nathan dragged me to the hallway. “Nathan, you promised me you’d never have a child with another woman!” Nathan laughed coldly. “You have my child. Why can’t Iris?” “What about Connor?! Your money, your company—will Connor inherit it, or will Iris’s child? Can you guarantee fairness?!” “I can.” Nathan’s tone weakened. I let out a breath. “Nathan, have Iris terminate it.” The moment the words left my mouth, a slap landed on my face. “No one is going to hurt Iris again!” My ears rang. I saw Nathan reach out his hand. “Get out! Get out of here!” “Nathan.” I looked at him. “Today is my birthday.” “You promised you’d make all my wishes come true.” “All I know is today is Iris’s birthday!” His eyes filled with disgust. “I don’t have time to read whatever stupid wish you sent. Get lost. I never want to see you again!” Connor heard the commotion and rushed out too. He mimicked Nathan’s manner and shouted at me, “Get lost! Get lost!” But I smiled. “Fine.” “Nathan, remember what you said.” I walked out of the hospital and in the Philippines did the last thing I’d prepared for Nathan. Half a month later, Nathan received a phone call. “Hello, is this Mr. Miller? I’m a doctor. We’ve confirmed that a deceased person is your wife, Hannah Smith.”

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In the third year of my marriage to Lachlan Foster, the crown prince of the elite circles, his first love returned. I thought Lachlan, with his naturally cold temperament, had changed into a different person when facing the woman he loved. He paid astronomical breach-of-contract penalties for her and signed her to his company without hesitation. He made her into a household-name superstar. For her sake, he didn’t hesitate to destroy an entire company and blacklist every media outlet that spread rumors about her. Even when the media discovered my existence and asked about me, in order to protect her reputation, he didn’t bat an eye before saying coldly, “No special relationship. She’s just an assistant I hired for Chloe.” Overnight, I became the laughingstock of the entire upper-class circle. They mocked me for being willing to swallow my pride and work as Chloe Warren’s assistant just to stay in the Foster family. I remained silent. That same day, I went to Lachlan’s mother and asked for a divorce. But after learning I had left, Lachlan seemed to go crazy. He searched everywhere in the capital for any trace of me.

“Are you sure you want a divorce?” Lachlan’s mother took a light sip of her coffee and set down her cup. Her proud eyes swept over me repeatedly, oozing disdain at every turn. She had always looked down on me—before and now. “Yes.” My tone was firm. “I remember you said before that as long as I agreed to divorce, you had a way to process it. I refused then, but now I’ve changed my mind. I want to divorce Lachlan as soon as possible. When can it be finalized?” “One month.” She said it casually, as if about to say something more. I cut her off. “Don’t worry. After divorcing Lachlan, I won’t take a single penny from the Foster family.” A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. I said nothing more and got up to leave. The moment I stepped out of the Foster estate, for the first time in three years, my heart felt an unprecedented sense of relief. I opened my phone screen. On the lock screen, a sunny, smiling young man immediately came into view. Alden, if only you hadn’t jumped in to save him back then. Would we be the happy ones now? But at least now, everything is about to end. My chest filled with grievance and bitterness. I took a deep breath and closed the lock screen. I strode forward with determination. But after only a few steps, the sound of car tires scraping against pavement came from behind. I looked up to see a black Maybach steadily parked at the Foster estate entrance. The car door opened, and a pair of elegant designer shoes stepped out. It was Chloe Warren. She walked around to the other side and skillfully hooked her arm through Lachlan Foster’s. The two walked toward me, chatting and laughing. Instantly, I froze in place, my blood flowing backward through my entire body. Actually… Right after Alden left this world saving Lachlan, Lachlan was exceptionally good to me. He would spend entire days by my side, trying every way possible to cheer me up when I was sad. He even violated his family obligations and married me against everyone’s opposition—me, a woman who could offer no help to his career or family—all to take care of me. He would light up an entire city with fireworks for my birthday. That day, beneath the sky full of fireworks, he stood at the top of the city with a ring and proposed to me. He said, “Sienna, I know you’re heartbroken over Alden’s passing. From now on, let me take his place in caring for you. Give me a chance, Sienna.” When he loved me, even my slightest frown would make him terribly anxious. But at some point, I don’t know when, his attitude toward me began to turn cold. All he talked about was finance, economics, and stocks—subjects I knew nothing about. He began to find my interests tiresome. He would say, “Sienna, you’re Mrs. Foster now. Stop obsessing over these lowbrow things. Otherwise, as your husband, I’ll just feel embarrassed.” The day he said that, I was stunned for the longest time. I didn’t follow Alden’s advice to never compromise myself in any relationship. Instead, to get closer to Lachlan, to bridge the distance between us, I began clumsily trying to please him. I learned about his interests, read those difficult, obscure books just to have common topics with him. But whenever I tried to start a conversation with him, he would impatiently cut me off. He said, “Sienna, some things—if you’re born knowing them, you know them. If you’re not, you don’t. Your clumsy imitation and acting only make you look more pathetic.” To this day, I can’t forget the cold expression on his face when he said those words. And the way my heart throbbed with pain. But I still didn’t give up. I told myself it was normal for him to be colder than others—he was born privileged, a child of heaven. Until Chloe Warren suddenly returned from abroad. Until I saw him break his longstanding rule of never accepting media interviews, doing one just for her sake, letting her tease him on camera. Around Chloe, Lachlan was no longer an unmelting glacier. His gaze toward her was full of affection. The media said they were made for each other, a perfect match. And I, in this relationship, officially went from being an unacknowledged Mrs. Foster to becoming background decoration. I could only leave. I forced myself to look away from the seemingly perfect couple in the distance and turned to go. Suddenly, a sweet, delicate voice called from behind.

“Sienna!” Chloe released Lachlan’s hand and quickly walked toward me. With an enthusiastic expression, she hooked her arm through mine. “What a coincidence! I happened to have time today to come back with Lachlan to visit his mother. I didn’t expect you’d be here too.” Her clear eyes looked at me, seemingly innocent and harmless, but only I knew the hatred hidden beneath that beautiful gaze. I pulled away from her hand without saying anything and tried to walk around her. But Lachlan blocked my path. “Sienna, what are you doing here?” His questioning tone sounded from above my head. I looked up slightly, my gaze meeting the wariness and disgust on his face. “Did you come to complain to Grandmother about Chloe and me again? Or did you know we’d be here today and deliberately come over?” “Sienna, I told you before, Chloe and I are just—” “You’re overthinking it.” I cut him off before he could finish. Meeting those cold eyes of his, I no longer felt even the slightest heartache. “I’m not that childish.” I said calmly. His expression showed obvious shock. His eyes stared at me intently. Which made sense. Since Chloe’s return, what little remained of our feelings had taken a sharp nosedive. Our arguments over Chloe had happened more than once or twice. But now, I didn’t want to continue anymore. “I have things to do. I’ll leave you to it.” Without bothering about his reaction, I turned and left without looking back. Shortly after I left, my phone buzzed with messages from Chloe. Several photos of her and Lachlan at the Foster estate. And… a video. In the video, Chloe sat close to Lachlan on the sofa. Lachlan’s mother sat on one side, his sister on the other. They were all chatting happily. Unlike the disgust she showed when seeing me, Lachlan’s mother’s face radiated genuine joy. They looked intimate, like one family. Which made sense—in the eyes of those Foster family members, wasn’t Chloe the true daughter-in-law of the Foster family? In the past, seeing these messages might have driven me crazy, made my heart unbearably painful, and I definitely would have called Lachlan to make a scene. But now, my heart remained strangely calm. I casually typed a few words: “You look good together. Congratulations.” Then I turned off my phone screen and ignored it. That evening, Lachlan didn’t come home as usual. But I saw his scandal with Chloe on the news right on schedule: “Foster Corporation CEO Seen Entering Foster Family Estate with Famous Actress Chloe Warren—Wedding Bells Soon?” In the photo, Chloe intimately held Lachlan’s arm. Lachlan gazed at her with affection. The two looked absolutely perfect together. The comment section was buzzing with discussion. “Our girl looks so gorgeous! Mr. Foster is so handsome too!” “These two are just too perfect together!” “When is Mr. Foster going to propose to our girl? I can’t wait to attend your wedding!!!” … Scrolling down, there was nothing but congratulations. I didn’t continue reading and exited the page. Just as I was about to lie down and sleep, a call came in. Seeing the caller ID, I froze. It was from Lachlan’s close friend. But ever since I married Lachlan, he rarely introduced me to his friends, let alone invited me to their gatherings. Why was he calling me now? While I was thinking, my finger accidentally touched the screen and answered. “Mrs. Foster, Lachlan’s drunk. He’s at Nightfall Bar. Can you come pick him up?” “What?” I was stunned. Shouldn’t he be calling Chloe instead? Logically, Chloe should be with him. I tried calling back to ask more, but it showed no one was answering. After thinking it over, I changed clothes and went out anyway.

Arriving at the bar Lachlan’s friend mentioned, I followed the private room number to a door on the second floor. Just as I was about to push the door open, laughter came from inside. “Has she arrived yet?” “Hey Lachlan, do you think she’ll really come? It’s so late, and if Sienna comes and finds out we’re just messing with her, won’t she be angry?” “She brought it on herself. She has no self-awareness. Now that our Chloe is back, she still won’t step aside and keeps occupying the position of Mrs. Foster. Her skin is really thick.” After several noisy voices, Chloe responded with satisfaction, playing mediator. “Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. What happened between Lachlan and me was so long ago. It’s all in the past.” “Past? What’s past, Chloe? You don’t know how much Lachlan missed you during the years you were gone.” “Exactly! The only reason he married Sienna was to make you jealous. Who would have thought…” What?! The chaotic voices reached my ears with unusual clarity. The reason Lachlan married me wasn’t because he truly loved me back then. It was… Instantly, my head buzzed. I felt completely unwell. “Right? And Sienna still thinks Lachlan really likes her…” The voices continued. Until Lachlan interrupted. “Enough. Stop talking.” The private room fell silent instantly. Someone tried to smooth things over. “True. I figure it’s about time now. Sienna should… probably be arriving soon, right?” The moment those words ended, I pushed open the door before me. “Sienna!” The person’s voice cut off abruptly. Instantly, everyone’s eyes turned toward me. “Sienna, you’re here.” Chloe was the first to approach, looking both heartless and innocent. I ignored her, my gaze falling directly on Lachlan Foster sitting in the main seat on the sofa. The man’s eyes were clear and alert—not a trace of drunkenness. I looked at Heath, the one who had called me. He avoided my gaze. “Sienna, you’re not angry, are you? We were just playing Truth or Dare and lost. We were just joking with you.” A joke? I laughed. Looking at her hypocritical expression, I couldn’t take it anymore. I shook off her hand and turned to leave. She suddenly cried out and fell down on cue. “Sienna, I was being nice, asking you to stay and hang out with us. Why did you push me?” As soon as she spoke, everyone’s accusing eyes turned to me. “Sienna! How can you be so vicious? Chloe just wanted you to stay and have fun with us. Was that really necessary?” “Exactly! How can someone be so malicious? She must be jealous that Chloe is prettier.” “This kind of person is psychologically twisted. She could even hurt someone as kind as Chloe.” … I looked at them coldly and said, “Are you done playing these games with people?” They looked completely indifferent. “It’s just a joke. What? Can’t take it?” “Right? It’s not even that late. We were kind enough to call you over to hang out, and now you’re picking a fight?” Kind enough? I laughed. Not wanting to deal with them anymore, I turned to leave. But before I’d taken two steps, a strong force pulled me back. “Apologize.” Lachlan’s cold, emotionless voice sounded from above. “Forget it, Lachlan. Sienna was probably just emotionally worked up. I’m fine. You don’t need to be too hard on her.” This statement sealed my guilt. Instantly, those people looked at me with even more contempt. And their sympathy for Chloe grew stronger. “Why should I apologize?” I shook off his hand. In the past, I would have compromised. But now, in less than a month, Lachlan and I would be divorced. Why should I apologize? As soon as I spoke, Lachlan’s face visibly darkened. Words as cold as ice came from his mouth. “Sienna, apologize. I don’t want to say it a third time.” “Then let me tell you—I won’t!” My voice was resolute. After speaking, I turned and ran out. Behind me came a chorus of sharp gasps.

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I heard that the real heiress, lost for many years, had been found and brought home. I immediately flew back to the country. The car had barely stopped when she rushed over and grabbed my hand with great enthusiasm. “So you’re my sister? Your skin is so nice. I can tell you’ve never suffered, unlike me—I’ve endured every hardship imaginable in the countryside.” I didn’t quite understand what was happening. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and yanked it toward herself, then fell to the ground. She cried out, pointing at me: “You… why did you push me? If you don’t welcome me, I’ll leave right now. I won’t stay here and be an eyesore to you…” “Just please don’t tell Mom and Dad. I don’t want to make things difficult for them. I don’t want this family to become unhappy because of me.” As she spoke, she curled up on the ground, crying so hard her whole body shook. People around us all turned to stare. I was completely stunned. What sister? I’m her mother! “Dear sister, please don’t be angry…” “I… I know I was wrong… I shouldn’t be here bothering you…” In front of me, Serena was still lying on the ground, looking like she’d suffered the greatest injustice in the world. The people around rushed to help her up, their eyes blazing with anger as they glared at me. “You must be Vivian? The fake heiress the Sullivan family adopted?” “What gives you the right to push Serena? A fake heiress bullying the real daughter—where do you get the nerve?” “Fake is fake, after all. All she knows is how to be jealous!” The crowd’s comments swirled around me, their eyes filled with contempt. “Please don’t talk about my sister that way…” Serena held back her sobs and stumbled toward me, her hands gripping my wrists tightly. “It’s okay. If you want to hit me, hit me. If you want to yell at me, yell at me. I got used to it growing up in the orphanage anyway…” “It’s just…” She paused, tears streaming down her face. “Could you please let me see Mom just once? I grew up in an orphanage. I don’t even know what my mother looks like…” The crowd erupted at her words. “Serena is so pitiful! She’s the Sullivan family’s real daughter, but she was abandoned in an orphanage to suffer!” “Vivian, you’ve been taking her place all these years, and now you won’t even let her see her mother? Are you even human?!” I looked at everyone, my brows furrowing. When did I ever stop her from seeing her mother? She just didn’t recognize me—I AM her real mother. Over the years, due to the special nature of my work, I never appeared at any public events. Almost no one had seen me. Plus, I’d always taken good care of myself and looked quite young for my age. But I never imagined I’d be mistaken for my adopted daughter, Vivian. “I’m begging you…” Serena suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes: “Once I see Mom, I’ll leave immediately. I’ll never appear in front of you again… Please, I just want to see my mother once…” I looked down at her, my emotions a tangled mess. Last week, I’d gone on a secret mission. It wasn’t until I came out of the lab today that I learned my daughter had been found. I’d rushed back immediately. The whole way, I’d imagined our reunion, thinking about what I would say. But I’d calculated everything except this—that the first thing my biological daughter would do upon seeing me was frame me. “Stand up first.” I bent down to help her. “Serena, actually I’m not—” Before I could finish my sentence. Suddenly. “What are you doing?!” An furious voice came from behind me.

“Serena, you don’t need to be afraid of her.” Declan walked over and helped her up, looking at me coldly. “You must be Vivian? Let me tell you something—Serena is my girlfriend. It’s not your place to bully her, you fraud!” As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd exploded. “Girlfriend? Mr. Reed is together with Serena?” “But Mr. Reed and Vivian have an engagement! Is he publicly breaking it off? That’s such a slap in the face!” “So what if he breaks it off? Serena is the real heiress. What is Vivian anyway?” “This Vivian must be so humiliated. If it were me, I’d find a hole to crawl into.” Listening to the surrounding chatter, my frown deepened. Declan was the only son of the Reed family and the marriage candidate I’d personally selected for Vivian. I’d planned to have the two children meet after I finished with my current work. I never expected him to suddenly show up here, much less that he’d be holding Serena and calling her his girlfriend. “Vivian, since you’re here today, let me make this clear.” Declan stared at me, holding Serena tightly. “I fell in love with Serena at first sight. She’s the one I’m going to marry.” “As for you, my parents forced you on me. I have no interest in someone who throws herself at me.” The crowd burst into laughter. I clenched my fists, a cold laugh escaping my chest. This marriage alliance was originally begged for by his parents. The Reed family’s capital chain had broken a few years ago, and they nearly went bankrupt. I’d helped them out for old times’ sake. If anyone was “throwing themselves” at anyone, it was the Reeds desperately clinging to us. “Declan, don’t say that.” Serena tugged at his clothes and looked up at me. “Vivian, please don’t be angry. Declan just can’t stand to see me wronged.” As she spoke, smugness and triumph flashed in her eyes. I stared at that face, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed by a giant hand. Serena had wandered off and gotten lost on her own. I’d searched for her for more than ten years. I’d hoped and waited, finally waiting for her to come home. But I never imagined… she’d become this kind of person. “Vivian, I know you must like me and want to marry me.” Declan lifted his chin arrogantly. “But I’m not interested in you. You should just give up.” “Who says I like you?” I finally couldn’t hold back a light laugh, looking up at him. “Declan, I’m already married. How could I possibly want to marry you?” The air fell silent for a moment. Declan froze, then burst out laughing as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “Married? Vivian, what are you pretending for? How could you possibly be married? Are you so obsessed with me that you’re using this pathetic reverse psychology? I already told you—I’m not interested in you.” Listening to his words, I found the situation increasingly absurd. I’d been willing to let him be with Vivian because I’d met him once at a party and thought he seemed dignified and worthy of my daughter. I never imagined that in private, he was such an arrogant, conceited fool. “Vivian, I’m sorry…” “But Declan and I truly love each other. You’ve already taken everything that should have been mine all these years.” “Just let me have Declan!” As Serena spoke, tears streamed down her face. She buried herself in Declan’s arms, trembling. Declan held her tighter, his eyes looking at me as if he wanted to tear me apart. I stared at her, truly at a loss for words. I’d searched for her for seventeen years, afraid she was suffering, afraid she was being bullied, afraid she wasn’t living well. Yet here she was—performing in public, slandering her own mother, stealing her sister’s fiancé. What made it even more ridiculous was that the man she was stealing happened to be someone like Declan. “Vivian, I’m begging you!” Seeing that I hadn’t responded, Serena cried out desperately. “You can’t take Declan away from me!” “You’ve already… already secretly been with another man…”

Serena’s words cut off abruptly. She covered her mouth, acting as if she’d said something she shouldn’t have. “Another man? What other man?” Declan’s expression changed. “Serena, what do you know? Explain yourself clearly.” “I…” Serena looked at him with some difficulty, then suddenly turned and bowed to me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say it… I just didn’t want Declan to be deceived…” With that, she pulled out her phone and held up a photo for everyone to see. In it, I was embracing a man. My face was crystal clear. But the man only showed a blurry profile, impossible to see clearly. “Holy crap! So Vivian has a boyfriend too? What does that make her? Is she betraying Mr. Reed?” “Who’s that guy? He looks kind of familiar.” “Whoever he is, he doesn’t look young, does he? Tsk tsk, I can’t believe Vivian would pass up Mr. Reed to find some old man. That’s some taste!” Listening to the crowd’s discussion, Declan’s face grew darker and darker. The next second, he suddenly rushed over and grabbed my hand, his eyes blazing. “Vivian, how dare you betray me!” I was speechless at the absurdity of his words. Forget the fact that I wasn’t Vivian at all. Even if I were, and Vivian really had found a boyfriend, what business was it of his? The engagement hadn’t been formally established, and they’d never even met. He could be intimate with Serena and publicly announce their relationship, but Vivian had to remain pure for him? What kind of logic was that? “Actually…” Seeing the situation, Serena hesitantly spoke two more words. She shot me a provocative glance, then sighed. “Vivian… it’s not just this one old man you’ve been involved with, is it? My friends also photographed you frequently going in and out of nightclubs, and the men around you were…” She stopped her voice at just the right moment and looked at me persuasively: “Vivian, women should have some self-respect. Mixing with so many men like that is really…” Everyone’s eyes turned to me in unison. “I never would have thought that this Vivian was that kind of person.” “She’s been passed around so much she’s basically trash, right? So disgusting.” “What would a fraud like her know about shame? She should just get out of the Sullivan family!” The insults around me grew more vicious, and the eyes assessing me became increasingly lecherous. I stood in place, my gaze fixed on Serena. I truly never imagined that my own daughter would dare to spread sexual rumors about me! “Vivian, the past is the past. I’ll definitely help keep your secret.” “I absolutely won’t let Mom and Dad know about this. Don’t worry.” As she spoke, she suddenly came over again, trying to hold my hand intimately. A bone-chilling cold surged in my heart. I stepped back two paces and instinctively shook her off gently. “Ahh—!” Serena suddenly screamed and fell backward, her whole body crashing hard to the ground. She even rolled twice before stopping. “Serena?! What happened? Who dared to push you?!” Hurried footsteps approached from far to near. The next second, a familiar figure rushed into the crowd and lifted Serena from the ground. I looked over at the sound and saw an incredibly familiar face. It was the man from the photo Serena had just used to slander me. My husband of twenty years. Her father. Marcus Sullivan.

“Dad!” Serena threw herself into Marcus’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “I’m fine, Dad. Please don’t blame my sister…” Declan immediately stepped forward righteously. “Serena, you’re too kind. Vivian bullied you like that, why are you still speaking up for her?” Then he turned to Marcus with an indignant expression. “Mr. Sullivan, today is the reunion party you’re throwing for Serena.” “But look how much she’s suffered because of Vivian! You must stand up for Serena!” Marcus was slightly stunned, seemingly not reacting. “Vivian?” “Yes, your adopted daughter!” Declan’s face showed disgust as he sighed deeply. “The moment she came back today, she started bullying Serena. She’s so arrogant and domineering. Serena is your biological daughter. You can’t let her suffer for nothing.” Marcus’s frown deepened, but he still didn’t speak. Serena looked up at him secretly, then suddenly started sobbing, looking like she was holding back. “Declan, please stop talking… It’s okay if I suffer a little… If Vivian doesn’t like me, it must be because I did something wrong…” “Dad, please don’t blame my sister or put yourself in a difficult position. At worst, I’ll just leave…” As she spoke, her eyes grew redder and redder. The people around couldn’t help but speak up. “Mr. Sullivan, you can’t be so biased! Serena is your biological daughter!” “Your biological daughter grew up in an orphanage, so pitiful. If you continue to be biased, what will happen to her?” “Exactly! You need to be fair. You can’t drive away your real daughter for the sake of a fake heiress!” Listening to the chaotic advice from all around, Marcus’s frown grew tighter. He turned to look at the pitiful Serena, his voice tinged with helplessness: “Serena, don’t talk about leaving. If your sister did something wrong, I definitely won’t be biased. It’s just…” “Just what?” Serena interrupted him, even more aggrieved. “Just that Dad still prefers Vivian and doesn’t want to blame her, right? It’s okay, I understand… After all, she’s been with you for so many years, and I’m just a stranger who suddenly appeared…” Seeing that she was about to burst into tears again, Marcus helplessly rubbed his temples. “No, I’m not trying to be biased. It’s just that your sister is still in Africa today. How could she possibly be here bullying you?” The air instantly fell silent. Serena’s tears stopped mid-flow, her face showing confusion. The people around also froze, looking at each other. “What do you mean? Isn’t Vivian right here?” Serena suddenly snapped back to reality, pointing at me with a sharply raised voice: “Then who is she? Dad, you can’t just make things up to protect my sister!” The people around echoed her sentiment. “Yes, Mr. Sullivan, this is too heartbreaking!” “You only love your adopted daughter and completely ignore your biological daughter’s grievances?” “Exactly! Mr. Sullivan, you’re protecting a fraud like this—what is Serena supposed to think? What are we supposed to think?” Amid the clamor. Marcus frowned, looking puzzled as he pushed through the crowd. Serena watched him walk toward me step by step, a flash of triumph crossing her eyes as she said sweetly: “Dad, I really don’t blame Vivian… As long as she’s willing to apologize to me, I’ll let this go.” Hearing this, people around looked at Serena with admiration and pity. “Serena is so understanding!” “Vivian, did you hear that? Serena only wants an apology!” “Apologize to Serena right now, or Mr. Sullivan definitely won’t let you off easily!” Before the crowd’s voices died down. Marcus finally pushed past the last person and stood in front of me. He stared at me blankly, his brow gradually smoothing out. The next second, he blurted out: “She’s my wife! What’s going on here?”

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I killed my cheating husband Adam and sealed him into the wall during our home renovation. The police came three times and found nothing. Until the fourth year, when my son Bridges learned to draw. He drew a family portrait. In the background, there was a hand reaching out from the wall, wrapped around my waist. I asked him what he had drawn. He smiled and said, “That’s Dad. He’s been standing in the wall, watching me grow up.” “Kelly, happy eighth anniversary.” Adam smiled as he pulled out a velvet box from behind his back and pushed it in front of me. I opened the box. It was a necklace. “I was poor when I married you, couldn’t give you anything. I’ve remembered all these years. Making it up to you now.” He reached over and took my hand. “Kelly, marrying you was the greatest fortune of my life. I swear, I’ll treat you even better from now on.” I lowered my head and let him fasten the necklace around my neck. “Thank you, Adam.” I looked up and smiled at him. “Go ahead and eat, everything’s your favorite. I spent all afternoon making this fish. Try it.” He ate with gusto, rubbing his belly and praising my cooking. I watched him and smiled. Three hours earlier, I had gone to the hospital and found out I was pregnant. I went to his office to tell him the good news. Instead, I walked in on him having an affair with his mistress in his office. I stood outside the door and watched for a full three minutes. Later, I went home and prepared the fish I’d just bought for our celebration, cooking it exactly the way he loved it. “Adam.” I called his name softly. “When you proposed to me, you said something.” His eyes widened as he looked at me. “You said you’d only love me for the rest of your life. No separation in life, only parting in death.” He paused for a moment, then smiled. “Of course. I meant every word.” I nodded. He suddenly clutched his stomach. The smile on his face froze. “Kelly…” He looked down at his hands, then up at me. Terror slowly filled his eyes. “What… what did you feed me?” I didn’t move. I just watched him. Adam slid off his chair and collapsed on the floor, convulsing. Blood started seeping from the corners of his mouth. He reached out desperately, trying to grab my foot. “Save… save me…” I looked down at him. “When we got married, you said we’d have no separation in life, only parting in death.” After struggling for a while, he stopped moving. I went to the balcony and got cement and bricks. We’d bought this house the year we got married. It was a resale property. During the renovation, I’d built an extra wall behind the storage room. At the time, he said it wasn’t necessary. I said the storage room was too messy and a partition would look better. Now, behind that wall, there was one more person. Three days later, the wall had dried, and the police came. People at his company couldn’t reach him and reported him missing. I told them with red-rimmed eyes that he’d had an affair, taken the money, and run away. I was looking for him too. The police looked around the house, looked at the newly built wall, and left. The second time they came was half a month later. Seeing how thin I’d become, they didn’t ask anything. The third time was three months later, a final confirmation before closing the case. I stood in front of that wall and saw them out, smiling and thanking them for their hard work. After the door closed, I stood against the wall for a long time. Nothing happened. I thought this would stay buried with me until the end of my days. Until four years later, when Bridges turned four. That day he came home from kindergarten, holding up a drawing to show me. “Mom, the teacher asked us to draw our family!” On the paper were three people: him, me, and a grayish-white hand. That hand was reaching out from the wall, wrapped around my waist. I froze in place. “What is this?” He tilted his head and smiled. “That’s Dad. He’s been standing in the wall, watching me grow up.” That night, I couldn’t sleep. I pressed my ear against the wall and listened for a long time. There was nothing. I told myself it was just a child’s vivid imagination. But the next day, Bridges pointed at that wall and said, “Mom, Dad talked to me last night.”

I asked Bridges what Dad had said. He sat at the dining table swinging his legs. “Dad said it’s really dark in the wall. He asked if it was light outside. I said it was. He said he’d wait a little longer.” My fingers dug into my palm. “Wait for what?” “Wait for me to grow up a little more. He said then he’ll be able to come out.” I stared at that wall. The surface was smooth, without a trace of anything. Early the next morning, I pulled Bridges out of bed and looked into his eyes. “Tell me, how do you know there’s someone in the wall?” He blinked. “Dad told me.” “When did Dad tell you?” “Every night. He calls me over, and I go. He talks to me.” My palms started sweating. The year Adam died, Bridges hadn’t even been born yet. Except for me, no one knew Adam was hidden in the wall. Four years old was the age of curiosity. I dropped Bridges off at kindergarten, then immediately called his teacher. “Mrs. Betty, sorry to bother you. I wanted to ask—have you shown any special films in class recently? Or has anyone claiming to be Bridges’ family come looking for him?” The teacher thought for a long time. “No, Bridges’ mom. Our kindergarten is closed-campus. Except for drop-off and pick-up, we don’t let parents in at other times.” After hanging up, I opened the children’s watch location app on my phone. Bridges’ daily activity pattern was simple: home—kindergarten—home. Occasionally he’d go to the playground in our complex, but always within my sight. The timeline was complete. Every single minute accounted for. So how did Bridges know? I didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits. During dinner, Bridges put down his fork and tilted his head, as if listening to something. “Mom, Dad’s asking if you ever ate that fish. He said he didn’t have the heart to finish it that day. He wanted to save it for you.” The bowl nearly slipped from my hands. That’s right—Adam had eaten the fish and been poisoned to death. In my panic, I thought of someone. Adam’s mother, my former mother-in-law, Ramos. The year Adam disappeared, she’d made a scene. She pointed at my nose and called me a murderer, said I’d killed Adam. She hung banners at the entrance to our complex, wailed at the bottom of our building, blocked me every day going to and from work. Later the police took her away a few times, and she finally quieted down. After that, she moved to a nursing home. I never saw her again. Could it be her? After all these years, was she still watching me? I immediately drove to the nursing home. The caregiver said Mrs. Ramos had passed away last month. “Passed away?” The caregiver’s eyes flickered. “Sudden heart attack. They couldn’t save her at the hospital.” I froze. “Did she… leave anything behind?” The caregiver shook her head. I turned to leave, but she suddenly called out to me. “Actually, in the days before she died, she kept repeating one thing.” “What?” “She said, ‘My son is calling me from the wall. It’s too cold. I need to go keep him company.’”

A chill ran down my spine. I gripped the steering wheel tightly. When I got back to the complex, I didn’t go home right away. I sat in the car, staring at my apartment window for a long time. When I finally got home, Bridges was sitting at the dining table drawing. I walked over, wanting to see what he was drawing. He looked up and smiled at me. “Mom, Dad says thank you for visiting Grandma today.” “Dad says Grandma finally came to keep him company. He’s not as cold anymore.” I stood frozen in place. “Dad also said—” Bridges lowered his head and continued drawing. “He said Grandma walked away that day, and he went to get her.” “What else did Dad say?” Bridges’ dark eyes rolled around. “Dad said there’s no parting in death, and no separation. He’ll always stay with us.” I stared at him for a long time. A four-year-old child, but his tone sounded like he was reciting something. “Bridges.” I crouched down and gripped his shoulders. “Tell me, how does Dad talk to you? In dreams, or when you’re awake?” He tilted his head and thought. “When I’m awake. At night when I’m sleeping, Dad calls me. Then I get up, walk to the wall, and he talks to me.” “What does he… call you?” “He calls me Bridges.” Bridges blinked. “He says Bridges is a good boy. He tells Mom not to be scared, that he won’t hurt Mom.” My hands were trembling. “He also says Mom is a good person, just angry that’s why she did that. He says he doesn’t blame Mom.” I let go and stood up, stepping back two paces. My back hit the dining table. It hurt, but I didn’t move. That night, I installed another camera in the living room. The lens pointed at that wall, night vision mode on. I lay in bed hugging my phone, staring at the screen. At 2:23 AM, something moved on the screen. It wasn’t the wall moving. It was Bridges. He was wearing pajamas, barefoot, walking out of his room. He walked to the wall and stood still. Then he raised his hand and gently pressed it against the wall, as if touching someone’s face. He stood like that for a long time. Very soft sounds came through the phone—Bridges was talking. I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I could only see his lips moving. Suddenly, he stopped and tilted his head, as if listening to something. Then he nodded and walked back to his room. I stared at the screen, waiting all night. The wall didn’t move again. Bridges didn’t come out again. The next morning, I carried Bridges to the sofa, opened my phone, and showed him the video. “Bridges, what were you doing last night?” He looked at himself on the screen and blinked. “Talking to Dad.” “What did Dad say?” Bridges thought for a moment. “Dad said his leg went numb. He asked if I could help move the bricks a little.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Did you… did you move them?” “No.” Bridges shook his head. “I’m not strong enough. I can’t move them. Dad said it’s okay, when I grow up a little more I can help him.” I gripped my phone tightly. “He also said he’s been in there for four years. Sometimes it’s stuffy, sometimes it’s not. When you and Mom talk to him, it’s not stuffy.”

That night, I didn’t sleep at all. After Bridges fell asleep, I sat in the living room staring at that wall. The surveillance feed was open on my phone. The night vision lens turned the entire living room a sickly green. There was no sound, but I kept feeling like that wall was watching me. Early the next morning, I took Bridges to a child psychology clinic. Bridges sat in the waiting area swinging his legs, drawing with crayons. I leaned over to look. He’d drawn a house with two people inside, one big and one small, holding hands. There was no one in the wall. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Ms. Kelly, you’re up.” I took Bridges’ hand and walked in. A woman doctor in her thirties sat in the consultation room, wearing glasses. She had a warm smile. She crouched down to greet Bridges. Bridges wasn’t shy and shook her hand. “Such a good boy.” She looked up at me. “I’ll spend some time alone with the child first. Please wait outside.” I nodded and stepped out, sitting in a chair by the door. Thirty minutes later, the door opened. Bridges bounced out, now holding a lollipop. “Mom, the doctor gave me candy!” I patted Bridges’ head and looked at the female doctor in the doorway. She stood at the door, her smile still in place, but her eyes looked wrong. “Ms. Kelly, the child has no problems.” She said. “He’s very smart, expresses himself well, has a rich imagination. That’s all.” I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. She looked at me, opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Is there a problem?” I asked. She shook her head. “Nothing. Please come in for a moment. I’d like to discuss the child’s daily care with you.” I left Bridges outside playing with blocks and followed her inside. The door closed. She sat across from me and stared at me for several seconds. “Ms. Kelly,” she began, “have we… met somewhere before?” I froze. “I don’t think so. I’ve never been here.” She frowned, examining my face carefully. Her gaze moved from my eyes to the corners of my mouth, then back to my eyes. “I might be mistaken.” She said, though her tone didn’t sound certain. “How has your sleep been lately?” I gripped my bag strap. “Okay.” “Any nightmares?” “No.” “Have you heard any sounds, or seen anything… that others can’t see?” I stared at her. She stared at me. “What are you trying to ask?” I said. She was silent for a few seconds, then pulled out a business card from her drawer and pushed it toward me. “This is my private number. If you need help, you can call me anytime.” I looked down at the card. White, very plain, just a name and a string of numbers. “I don’t need help.” I fled from the clinic. When I walked out of the clinic, the sun was bright, so dazzling I couldn’t open my eyes. Bridges held my hand, bouncing along. “Mom, that doctor was so weird.” “She kept asking what you do at home. I said you cook, clean, and play with me. Then she asked what you do at night. I said you don’t sleep, you just sit in the living room.” My steps stopped. “What else did you say?” “Nothing else. She just kept nodding and writing things down.” When we got home, I settled Bridges in, then sat on the sofa in a daze. That business card was pressed under the coffee table. The white corner peeked out, like it was staring at me. That night, I bathed Bridges, read him a story, and tucked him in. At midnight, I lay in bed with my eyes open, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. My mind was full of the past few days’ events. Bridges’ drawings, what he’d said, the psychologist’s hesitant look. She said we’d met before. But I’d never seen her. She said the child had no problems. But how could a child with no problems talk to a dead person? At 2:17 AM, I heard a very soft sound. Like fingernails scraping across brick. I sat bolt upright, staring at that wall. The sound stopped. I held my breath and waited for a long time. Nothing happened. I was about to lie back down— Creak. Like someone in the wall had shifted slightly. I rolled out of bed and walked barefoot to the wall, pressing my ear against it. Nothing. I stepped back and stared at the wall. Four years. This wall had stood in my home for four years. It had never moved, never made a sound, never made me afraid. But now, I was afraid. Not afraid of ghosts—afraid that there was nothing in this wall at all. I rushed to the balcony and grabbed a hammer. Bricks fell one by one. Dust choked me until I couldn’t open my eyes. I smashed frantically, breaking through a hole, half the wall, until my arms ached, until the hammer slipped from my hands and clattered to the floor. Then I stopped. The wall was empty inside. No corpse. No bones. Nothing at all. Just a puddle of four-year-old bloodstains, dried and blackened, seeped into the cement. I knelt on the floor, staring at that empty hole in the wall. A hand reached from behind me and gently touched my shoulder. “Mom.” Bridges stood behind me in his pajamas, barefoot. “Dad says he went out to get some air. He says you should stop looking.”

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On April Fool’s Day, the company organized a team-building trip to India. My girlfriend Barbara’s assistant Sean insisted on visiting a special temple as soon as we landed. He didn’t know that the so-called temple was actually a sex temple. I told my boss this secret to stop Barbara and Sean from going to this temple. But Sean secretly snuck out in the middle of the night. As soon as he reached the temple entrance, six men dragged him into an alley. When we found him, he was lying dead outside the temple, completely naked. After Barbara found out, she blamed him for bringing it on himself. But the day before leaving India, she had someone strip off my clothes and throw me onto a black bus. “You’re the one who got Sean killed. If I had gone with him that night, nothing would have happened. You’re so evil—you’re the one who deserves to die!” I was tortured to death by a group of thugs. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the day Sean wanted to go to the temple. This time, not only would I not stop them, I would encourage them to go.

“Howard, Indian temples are cultural heritage sites. How could they be as chaotic as you’re saying?” When I was reborn, all my colleagues had already changed clothes and were ready to go out, but I blocked them at the door. Barbara felt I was making her lose face. She pointed at my nose and cursed, “I think you’re just jealous of Sean and me, so you’re trying to scare everyone with stories about rapists!” The other colleagues chimed in. “Yeah, all the Indians we’ve met have been pretty friendly. It’s not like what he’s saying—that they’re all desperate and sex-crazed.” “I think he’s just jealous. He’s afraid Barbara will go to the temple with Sean and they’ll get together, and then she won’t want him anymore.” “Honestly, Howard, have you been to those kinds of places yourself? Is that why you’re describing it so vividly?” Hearing these words, my heart turned completely cold. Here, there was a sexual violence crime every three minutes, a woman was raped every twenty-two minutes, and a girl had an abortion every hour. But they didn’t take it seriously at all, and they thought it was just media exaggeration. The company had spent big money on a professional tour group for this team-building trip. We stayed in luxury hotels, our tour guide was a highly educated graduate, and the places we visited were all legitimate establishments. So along the way, everyone felt that India wasn’t as chaotic as the internet made it out to be. Barbara’s assistant Sean had seen online that the temple here was very effective for finding true love, so late at night he insisted on going to see it. Before coming here, I had already found out that the so-called temple was actually a sex temple, surrounded entirely by brothels. Not only would it be dangerous for women to go there at night, even men could easily run into trouble. In my previous life, I had desperately tried to stop this from happening. When they wouldn’t listen to my warnings, I went to the company’s senior leadership. But my good intentions resulted in my family being destroyed. “Everyone, please stop talking about Howard like that.” At this moment, Sean stepped forward and spoke up for me. “Howard, I know you’re concerned about everyone’s safety. But don’t worry—my dad knew I was coming to India, so he specially arranged professional bodyguards for me. Nothing will happen.” “If you’re really worried about Barbara, then let her stay here with you.” Sean was nominally Barbara’s intern, but on his first day at the company, people started spreading rumors that he was the company chairman’s son. When Barbara heard that Sean wasn’t planning to let her go, she immediately panicked and slapped me across the face. “If you don’t want to broaden your horizons, don’t drag me down with you.” Then she turned around and fawned over Sean, “Sean, I have to go with you. It’s so late—I’m worried.” Everyone immediately started making jokes. “Is Barbara really worried about safety, or is she afraid Sean will find his true love at the temple?” “With so many of us here, why is Barbara only worried about Sean?” The people present completely ignored the fact that I was Barbara’s boyfriend and kept teasing the two of them. Sean laughed. “Everyone, stop teasing Barbara and me. If Howard gets upset, he’ll probably go complain to Miss Kane again.” At these words, everyone fell silent. Barbara’s look toward me also became disgusted. “Howard, are you some kind of elementary school student? Do you have to go running to leadership about everything? We’re all adults here. If something happens, we can take responsibility for ourselves.” The way she looked at me reminded me of the scene from my previous life when she pushed me onto the black bus.

I shuddered and quickly apologized. “I’ve been watching too many short videos—they’ve messed with my brain. I shouldn’t have stopped you.” “But I heard that the fewer people who go to the temple, the higher the chance of finding true love. Do you want to try?” I was just making it up, but unexpectedly they actually believed me. Someone even searched for tips online and found that someone wearing a miniskirt had met their true love there. So the female colleagues immediately went back to change into miniskirts, and the male colleagues also changed into shorts. Then the whole group left excitedly. Watching their backs, I let out a cold laugh. When they got to the temple and discovered that those people didn’t even spare the men, I wondered if they’d still be so happy. This group had just reached the elevator when they ran into Miss Kane returning from outside. Seeing their outfits and learning their destination, Miss Kane’s face turned red with anger. “Indian women who go out after 9 PM are considered to be consenting to assault. Do you all think your lives are too comfortable or something?” “Hurry up and take off your makeup, change your clothes—nobody is allowed to go out tonight!” Her tone was stern, but Barbara didn’t think it was serious. “Miss Kane, you’re going a bit too far. We’re all adults. We can go wherever we want. You can’t restrict our personal freedom.” Miss Kane’s vision went dark, and she got even angrier. “Fine! I can’t control your personal freedom, but I can control your salaries. Anyone who runs out on their own tonight can forget about their bonus this month.” They were all working people, so they were quite sensitive about money. Several people immediately wanted to go back, but some were still stubborn and unwilling. “Miss Kane, it was Sean who wanted to go. You should…” “Enough.” Sean stepped forward at this point. “Everyone, don’t make things difficult for Miss Kane. If we’re not going, we’re not going. Let’s go back to our rooms.” Only after he spoke did these people obediently return to their rooms. Having seen enough of the commotion, I was about to go back when Miss Kane grabbed my arm. “Howard, you’re the most reliable one among these people. Help me keep an eye on them. Don’t let them go out at this hour. If this makes international news, it’ll affect our entire company’s image.” I told her I’d try my best, but these people were all adults, and if they really wanted to go out, there was no stopping them. As soon as I returned to my room, Sean and Barbara were standing inside the door with several people. One of them was asking Sean, “Sean, why didn’t you tell Miss Kane you wanted to go? If she knew you wanted to go, she definitely wouldn’t have stopped us. After all, your dad is our chairman.” A flash of discomfort crossed Sean’s expression, but he quickly returned to normal. “We still need to give Kane some face when we’re outside. Besides, someone obviously snitched, and once Kane knew, she couldn’t just ignore it.” At these words, they all turned their gazes toward me, who had just returned. My heart sank. I was about to run when Barbara came over and grabbed my collar. “Howard, you’re really shameless. You let us go out, then immediately went and reported us. And you even promised her you’d monitor us. What exactly is your relationship with this Miss Kane?” Sean added fuel to the fire from the side. “Howard, you’re not trying to climb the ladder through Miss Kane, are you? What has Barbara done to wrong you that you’d treat her like this?”

His one sentence completely enraged Barbara. Barbara raised her hand and slapped me hard twice. My face immediately stung with burning pain. I kept saying I didn’t do it, and I even took out my phone, telling her she could look at it if she didn’t believe me. Barbara took my phone and thoroughly checked it. Only after she discovered that I really didn’t have any contact with Miss Kane outside of work did her expression improve a little. Sean looked disappointed. “But I really want to see the temple. Barbara, what should we do now?” Barbara thought for a few seconds, then took my phone and sent a message to Miss Kane. “If we want to go, we’ll go. I just sent Miss Kane a message saying we’ve decided not to go. We’ll wait until midnight to leave. By then, Miss Kane will definitely be asleep.” The remaining people thought this was a good idea. Immediately, someone shared this in the company’s small group chat, asking if anyone else wanted to go. They quickly got responses—most people were willing to go. I sneered inwardly. Going out at 9 PM was already dangerous, and they wanted to wait until midnight—as if they were afraid those perverts wouldn’t be out. A few hours later, they prepared to leave. Just before going out, Sean suddenly turned to look at me. “Barbara, what if Howard snitches? Should we tie him up?” My face went pale. “That’s not necessary, is it? I can just give you my phone.” But Barbara nodded. They somehow found a bundle of rope and tied up my hands and feet. After tying the last knot, Barbara crouched down and warned me, “Howard, just bear with it for a bit. I’ll be back soon.” “I know what you’re worried about, but so many male colleagues are going. I won’t be in any danger.” Then, right in front of everyone, she actually kissed me. Sean’s eyes nearly blazed with fire. I let out a cold laugh. Barbara was truly too naive. Those male colleagues couldn’t even protect themselves—how could they possibly protect her? Sean’s knot-tying technique was very professional. The more I struggled, the tighter the ropes became. So after they left, I shouted for help toward the door, hoping someone from room service passing by might hear me. I had barely shouted a couple of times when the door was pushed open. When I saw who it was, all the blood in my body turned cold. “Sean, why did you come back?” He didn’t answer my question at all. He and two other people dragged me into the bathroom and punched me twice in the stomach. “I knew you wouldn’t be honest. Even tied up, you’re still shouting for help.” I quickly explained, “I just wanted someone to untie my ropes. I wasn’t trying to snitch.” But after I said this, he raised his hand again. “You really think I hit you because I’m afraid you’ll snitch? I just can’t stand you.” “Tell me, what do you have? Why does Barbara like you so much?” “I’m telling you, I’ve set my sights on Barbara. You’d better break up with her quickly, or I’ll ruin your reputation.” As Sean spoke, he kept hitting me. I was in so much pain that cold sweat dripped down. I was beaten to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore and was just about to say I could break up with her right now. But as soon as I pursed my lips, Sean suddenly grabbed my mouth. “What do you mean pursing your lips? Are you trying to show off that she just kissed you? Damn it, I’m going to ruin your mouth right now so Barbara never wants to kiss you again.” As he spoke, he picked up the toilet cleaner from nearby and tried to shove it into my mouth. The pungent acidic smell instantly rushed into my nasal cavity. When I struggled, half a bottle of cleaner spilled onto Sean’s body. He immediately screamed, “These clothes are expensive! How dare you!” He kicked me hard in my lower body. I almost passed out from the pain.

Sean said he needed to change clothes and told the other two male colleagues to shove the remaining half bottle of cleaner into my mouth. After he left, one of the male colleagues, Brown, picked up the bottle, and the other one stopped him. “Maybe we should just forget it. What if he reports us to the police?” Brown scoffed. “There’s not even a surveillance camera here. Even if he reports to the police, as long as we deny everything, the police can’t do anything to us.” “Even if this matter really gets investigated, it was Sean who did it first. When that happens, the chairman will definitely protect him. I don’t want to offend the chairman’s son.” The two of them were originally Sean’s lackeys, and they were both eager to climb the ladder. When Sean outside urged them a few more times, one of them held my mouth open while the other poured all the cleaner into my mouth. The cleaner was acidic. As it flowed down my throat, I felt like my esophagus was being burned through. Worse than the physical pain was the pain in my heart. I didn’t understand. I had never done anything wrong to them at the company, yet they were treating me like this. After they finished, Sean had already changed his clothes. He said Barbara had already called and told them to hurry downstairs. The hands supporting me loosened, and my whole body collapsed on the floor. I looked like I was barely breathing. Brown was a little scared now. “Sean, he looks like something’s really wrong. Should we take him to the hospital?” Sean was dismissive. “It’s just half a bottle of cleaner. At worst it’ll damage his throat a bit. He’ll throw it up himself in a moment.” “I’m going to confess to Barbara at the temple in a bit. I can’t let him ruin my plans.” Then he kicked my stomach. I felt something surging up. A few seconds later, I threw up with a loud retch. The cleaner mixed with vomit stuck to my body, making my scalp tingle with disgust. Sean cursed, “Disgusting.” Then he took out his phone and took a picture of me. “In a bit, I’ll show this photo to Barbara. She definitely won’t like Howard anymore.” Brown flattered him from the side. “Sean, if you ask me, Barbara probably already likes you. After all, you’re tall, rich, and handsome—much more noble than Howard.” Listening to this flattery, I almost wanted to laugh. I had already found out that Sean did have some connection with the chairman, but he was just a poor student sponsored by the chairman, not his son at all. And there were no bodyguards secretly protecting him. Thinking of the scene when they would truly encounter those things and be helpless, I felt satisfied. I lay in the bathroom all night before being discovered by Miss Kane who came looking for people. When she saw me like this, she immediately untied the ropes on my body. “Howard, who tied you up? Where are the other colleagues? Why can’t I reach any of them?” My eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry, Miss Kane. They insisted on going out. I couldn’t stop them at all.” When Miss Kane heard it was around midnight, her eyes went even darker. She was just about to take out her phone when a call came through. After answering, Miss Kane collapsed on the floor. “Something terrible has happened.”

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After my wife Levitt got pregnant, I applied to join the polar research team. During the mission, Levitt’s first love Matthew and I both fell into an ice crevasse, our lives hanging by a thread. Faced with the rescue rope Levitt threw down, I resolutely gave up saving myself and left the chance of survival to Matthew. Because in my previous life, I was successfully rescued while Matthew was swallowed by the ice, his body never recovered. After his death, Levitt showed no reaction. She withdrew from the research team to peacefully nurture her pregnancy. It wasn’t until after the child was born that Levitt said to me with a face full of hatred: “This is mine and Matthew’s child. You’re the one who killed my child’s father. He’s dead—what right do you have to live? Go die and atone for your sins in hell!” She pushed me off the rooftop and made it look like suicide. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn to the moment of the rescue… “Quick, grab the rope!” Levitt stood in the distance and threw a rope that landed right beside me. I instantly became fully alert. Turning my head, I saw Matthew behind me. In temperatures of minus twenty degrees, the two of us clung desperately to the edge of the ice crevasse with our hands, a bottomless abyss beneath our feet. The rescue rope was closest to me, but with Levitt’s strength, she could only save one person. My hands trembled. Gritting my teeth, I made sure Matthew beside me saw the rope. “Matthew, grab the rope quick! I’ll pull you up!” The next second, Matthew firmly grasped the rope. From the corner of my eye, I saw Levitt’s whole body relax with relief as she pulled hard to drag him ashore. “You’re injured. Let’s get back to the base quickly!” Seeing Matthew rescued, I breathed a sigh of relief. In the wind and snow, the two embraced tightly, supporting each other as they left. As she walked away, Levitt tossed the rope on the ground aside. “Christie, I’ll have someone else rescue you!” Gritting my teeth to hold on, my strength completely depleted, I waited until they were far away before my hand slipped and I fell into the ice crevasse. Fortunately, at the critical moment, the tool in my hand wedged into the crevice, temporarily stopping my descent. I don’t know how much time passed. Cold wind rushed through my torn protective suit, my fingers had lost all feeling but I kept holding on, until finally I heard voices from above. “That Christie guy is probably already dead.” “If you fall down there, there’s no way to survive. Who told him to show off and insist on coming out here.” I desperately called for help, finally getting the people on shore to notice this crevice. Looking up, I made eye contact with several people. Seeing me, the few members of the research team all fell silent at once. No one reached out to me, letting me continue sliding down. “Christie, do you know you were wrong?” “Who told you to deliberately lead Matthew this way, trying to harm him, only to nearly kill yourself instead.” Finally someone sneered and tossed down a chunk of ice that hit my face shield. The slight movement made my nerves tense and cold sweat broke out on my back. I humbly begged them to save me. Like watching a clown, several people gathered around the edge of the crevice, their faces full of mockery. “Don’t be a coward! Be a real man, own up to what you did, and climb up yourself!” Lives were at stake, yet they were treating it like a joke. My fingers had lost all feeling, my body was losing heat—I couldn’t hold on much longer. Finally, after they’d had their fill of enjoying my misery, a rope was thrown down from above. I tried to reach it but couldn’t. “Climb up yourself. We’re leaving.” My whole body tensed. I could hardly believe it, but when I looked up, I saw Levitt’s face. “Levitt, help me out. Just pass me the rope.” These words filled her face with disgust. Not only did Levitt not help, she actually took an instinctive step back, then spoke in an icy tone. “Why should I help you? If I hadn’t been there today, Matthew would have been killed by you!” “Climb up yourself. If you manage to survive, you have to apologize to Matthew. If anything happens to him, we’re getting divorced!” “You don’t deserve to be this child’s father!” Losing strength, I listened as the sounds above went quiet. No matter how humbly I called for help, no one was willing to lend a hand. I couldn’t wait any longer. I would die.

I couldn’t wait any longer. Taking a gamble, I let go and lunged for that rescue rope. Fortunately, I caught it. Using every ounce of strength to climb ashore, my heartbeat was thunderous. All around was a vast expanse of white, not a single person in sight. They really hadn’t saved me—they’d all left. Whether I could survive or not, they simply didn’t care. The base was still over ten kilometers away. Having narrowly escaped death, I felt no sense of relief. Even with a GPS locator on me, just walking back like this could cost me half my life. But right now… Gritting my teeth, I plunged headfirst into the wind and snow. In extreme cold conditions, equipment at the base was prone to malfunction. Wearing gloves made it inconvenient to repair equipment, and when I fell into the ice crevasse, I had already lost my gloves. Between the exertion and the freezing cold, my fingers had long since lost all feeling. As a meteorologist, I understood environmental changes better than anyone. The snow fell heavier and heavier, wind pierced through my damaged protective suit, the road was a white blur with visibility less than ten meters. Cut off from contact with the base station, cold and hungry, I gritted my teeth and pushed forward. I had originally given up my research position back home and applied to join the polar research team for the sake of pregnant Levitt. Worried she’d suffer hardship, I willingly took on more suffering myself. But in the end, I was just making a wedding dress for someone else. The little life I’d most looked forward to wasn’t mine. The person I trusted most, lying beside me in bed, had also chosen to abandon me. My legs numb, I walked forward, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. If I could just survive… Holding onto that one breath, I don’t know how long I walked before finally seeing the base station with its lights on. In that moment, my heart settled. Trembling, I pulled at the door once, twice… The door was locked tight. No matter how I knocked, it wouldn’t budge. Outside, the cold wind was bone-piercing. Inside, people heard the commotion and sat in a circle. Levitt held hot tea for Matthew and covered him with another blanket. “Lucky bastard actually made it back alive!” “I knew nothing good would come of him joining the research team. This time we definitely can’t forgive him easily.” Levitt looked with concern at the scrape on Matthew’s leg, and in front of all the team members, she forbade anyone from opening the door. My fingers numb and without feeling, my legs also insensible to the cold, I gritted my teeth and held on, staring fixedly at that door, refusing to give up calling for help. Finally… “You can come in if you want.” Coughing twice, Matthew looked at me, his eyes harboring ill intentions. “If you want to come in, then kneel down and apologize to me.” “Oh my, forgiving him just like that—isn’t that letting him off too easy?” Levitt frowned, playfully scolding and roughhousing with him, completely ignoring my calls from outside the door. Reaching out to touch her belly, Matthew’s tone was light. “It’s fine, I won’t hold it against him. After all, he’s the child’s father and your lover.” “I don’t blame him. It’s my fault. If I hadn’t gone abroad back then, you wouldn’t have…” The rest of the words went unspoken. As the two looked at each other, their eyes were full of affection, with no room for anyone else. My heart ached and convulsed. Even though I’d experienced this once before, I still couldn’t help feeling miserable. The happiest moments of my life could be counted on one hand. After my parents died early, I grew up on charity. The first time I met Levitt was at university. The first time I saw her, I felt an inexplicable fondness for her. But Matthew was by her side, so I silently stayed beside her, thinking this affection would remain buried forever. Until one day, Levitt came to me on her own initiative. “Christie, let’s date.” For the first twenty years of my life, it was the first time I felt I’d won fate’s lottery. I desperately tried to be good to her, pouring all my efforts into helping her pursue her dreams. She wanted to do polar research, so I took care of her family and supported her with everything I had. After she got pregnant, I even gave up my own work and actively came to the polar region to accompany her, just to take good care of her. The happiest moments of my life were dating Levitt, marrying her, and nurturing new life together. But only now did I realize how foolishly naive and completely wrong I’d been. The people inside were laughing. A single door separated two worlds. As I knelt on the ground, I heard Matthew and Levitt pouring out their hearts to each other. “If I wasn’t trying to spite you, how could I have agreed to date and marry Christie?” “Levitt, I regret it. If I hadn’t gone abroad back then, we wouldn’t have…” Matthew’s hand rested on Levitt’s lower abdomen, his expression gentle. Covered with a layer of snow, I watched Levitt’s completely different tender expression and smiled bitterly. Getting together now isn’t too late, is it? After all, the child in her belly is Matthew’s.

I could die anywhere, but absolutely not at the base entrance. With only one breath left, I was finally allowed inside. Staggering to my feet, for those last few steps, I practically crawled into the building. Seeing me in this state, Levitt looked even more disgusted. “Stop with the pity act, Christie. It makes me sick to watch.” I didn’t defend myself. I moved closer to the heat source to warm up. The snow on my clothes melted and soaked the floor, leaving a puddle of water. “That’s disgusting. Make sure you clean it up.” I was shivering from cold, too preoccupied to respond. Several fingers on my left hand still had no feeling. Levitt left. She was concerned about Matthew’s scraped shin and insisted the base station doctor examine him. When she saw me coming to find the doctor, she blocked the doorway completely, refusing to let me advance a single step. “What do you think you’re doing? Don’t come here!” “The base doctor is busy. They don’t have time for your minor issues. Don’t you dare go near Matthew. Get lost!” Full of wariness, she said I wasn’t acting like a man while driving me back to my room. I changed into a fresh set of clothes, but my fingers still had no feeling. Looking at my discolored fingers, I frowned and tried to get past her. “I just need to see the doctor for a moment. You…” Slap! Before I could finish speaking, I was hit with a slap. Glaring at me with furrowed brows, Levitt blocked my way firmly, not allowing me to advance a single step. Amid the jeering, she glanced at me smugly, then quickly looked away. “Stop pretending. What could possibly be wrong with you? You climbed out of an ice crevasse and walked all the way back to the base station. You’re tough as nails. Matthew is different from you.” “See the doctor tomorrow. Tonight you’re not allowed near the infirmary!” My face burned. My anger had also been provoked. I tried to speak again but was pushed away from the infirmary by others. “Alright, alright, go back to sleep!” “Your own wife is pregnant and you still want to hit people? Go tomorrow.” “Levitt already told you. What more do you want, coward?” Matthew stood with his arms crossed watching me, his face full of disdain. Hearing the other team members curse at me, he curved his lips and silently mouthed at me. “Worthless.” I was driven back to my room. Lying in bed, I received a video on my phone. Levitt lay in Matthew’s arms, sleeping sweetly. Red marks showed on her neck, and there was a small cut at the corner of her mouth. Matthew had deliberately filmed this to show me. But right now, more than jealousy, I needed a doctor. At this moment, the only doctor at the base was busy following Levitt’s orders to “take care of” Matthew. Levitt did it on purpose. She stood guard all night, not allowing me near the infirmary. Only early the next morning was I finally able to see the doctor. “Your fingers… I’m afraid they’re already severely frostbitten…” “The base station doesn’t have the medical facilities for this. You need to get to a hospital for treatment as soon as possible.” Even though I’d had a premonition, hearing the doctor’s words still made my heart sink. Getting from the polar region to an outside hospital for treatment was easier said than done, but I couldn’t worry about that now. I couldn’t become disabled. I had to save my hand. The first thing I did upon returning to my room was call for outside help. After receiving confirmation, I breathed a sigh of relief. Headquarters would send a helicopter. As long as I received treatment in time… I stayed in my room all day. It wasn’t until I heard the roar of a helicopter that I pushed open my door. By the time I arrived, two figures stood in front of the helicopter, preparing to board. “We’re the injured! Matthew is hurt. Take him to the hospital to recover. I need to go with him!” Seeing me, Levitt’s face was cold. Touching her belly, she tried to squeeze onto the helicopter. “They can only take two people at a time. I need to go to the hospital for a prenatal checkup.” “Christie, you wait for the next one.” When the next one would be, I had no way of knowing. Compared to being abandoned in the ice crevasse, this moment felt even more chilling. Watching Levitt’s resolute back, my chest felt cold. “Levitt, I can’t wait any longer. My hand…” “Stop talking. Let’s go.” Matthew put his arm around her shoulder. Through his face shield, he flashed me a mocking smile, waved at me victoriously, and signaled the pilot to take off. The roar echoed in my ears. Before takeoff, Levitt looked at me, her face full of disappointment. “Stop the act. It makes me sick.”

The repeated rejections sparked anger in me. Ignoring the mockery from other base members, I organized some materials and luggage and called for rescue again. This time, I finally got help. When I removed the glove wrapping and exposed my fingers, the doctor gasped and looked at me again. “Let’s go do some tests first.” Only simple treatment had been done at the base station. The three most severely affected fingers had changed color, the tips turned black. The test results were not optimistic. The frostbite had damaged skin, muscle, and nerves. The doctor’s assessment was that amputation would be necessary. “The frostbite has reached the point of tissue necrosis. There may be infection later. We can only amputate as soon as possible.” “I’m very sorry…” Even though I’d anticipated it, when I heard the results, I still stood there stunned. After a long while, I wiped my face. “Alright, then let’s proceed with surgery as soon as possible.” In my previous life, Levitt always said I owed Matthew my life. This way was good too—at least this time both his life and mine were saved. Thinking this way, when I signed the surgical consent form, my fingers still trembled uncontrollably. Loving Levitt had cost too much. I felt it wasn’t worth it. Lost in thought, the sound of arguing next door brought me back. Familiar voices reached me. “Your injury looks so serious, yet the doctor says it’s nothing. They have no medical ethics at all.” “You’re a top scientific researcher. If something happens to you, I’ll definitely make them pay.” It was Levitt and Matthew. They were at this hospital too. Matthew had only suffered some scrapes, yet Levitt was extremely anxious. Hearing someone tell the “couple” to calm down, she didn’t correct them, just frowned and threw a tantrum. During the argument, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of me in the crowd. She instinctively frowned and turned cold, but seeing me, she still walked straight toward me. “Christie, explain to them. Why should others get priority treatment? Matthew should be treated first!” My gaze fell on a blood-covered man being carried into a ward nearby, then looked at the silent Matthew. I found it laughable. Who needed treatment more urgently? Wasn’t it obvious? But she acted as if she couldn’t see it. “Don’t get angry. You’re going to be a mother. There’s no need to…” I meant it as comfort, but Levitt frowned at me and threw the examination report in her hand at my face. “If you know that, why aren’t you helping me? Whose fault is it that Matthew got injured!” “If it weren’t for you, how could he have gotten hurt? You’ve upset my pregnancy too.” Watching her transfer all her anger onto me, the last bit of love in my heart dissipated completely. She wanted Matthew to stay in the hospital to rest, and claimed she’d been upset by me and needed my care. The doctor looked at me, wanting to speak but stopping short, but I held them back. Even if she didn’t say it, I would have stayed at the hospital anyway. The day after tomorrow, I would have surgery. Levitt demanded the best room and wanted to stay next to Matthew so she could take care of him anytime. Facing this pair of lovers day after day, my heart had long since lost all turbulence. I prepared divorce papers. After my surgery, I would voluntarily withdraw from the research team and divorce her. But before that… Completely unaware of my emotions, Levitt devoted all her attention to Matthew. The only time she got distracted was when she saw research papers in my hospital room. After flipping through them, she lowered her head and took a pen to scribble on the research papers. “How can these research reports count as only your achievement? Matthew almost lost his life because of you. You have to add his name!” With a wave of her hand, Levitt wrote Matthew’s name on the papers. The further she read, the more her brow furrowed. “How could these coordinate points be so dangerous? You’re just a meteorologist. Matthew specializes in measuring ice layer thickness and terrain. Your viewpoints don’t hold up at all!” The papers in her hand were thrown to the ground and stomped on. Levitt lifted her chin, looking at me with contempt. “Forget it. All you can write is this garbage anyway.” “Matthew is going back to the research team tomorrow. The first places he’ll go are those points you marked. Just wait.” “He’ll disprove your arguments and prove you’re wrong.” I jerked my head up to look at her. Hearing where Matthew planned to go, I tried to stop them, only to be met with her loud mockery. In the end, I watched helplessly as she sent Matthew off. Through the window, the man hugged Levitt and flashed me a provocative smile. Behind me, medical staff knocked on the ward door and confirmed my information with me. “Mr. Christie, it’s time to prepare for surgery.” “Alright.” Before leaving, I glanced at the two of them. From now on, we would have nothing to do with each other.

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