Category: English

It started with the color of my car. Back when it was wrapped in a soft, custom blush-pink, I was a target. Every morning on my commute, I was tailgated, brake-checked, and aggressively cut off. My husband told me I was a terrible driver. He told me I had a persecution complex. It wasn’t until I surrendered, taking the car into the shop and having it painted a standard, invisible corporate black, that the road rage miraculously stopped. Until the day my car was nearly run off the highway and into a ditch. That was the day I found out someone had posted about me on a local community board. The post claimed I was a homewrecker—the “commute work-wife” who was seducing her husband. The proof? A photo of my license plate. She claimed I intentionally followed her husband every single morning, that we coordinated our routes, that we stopped at the same drive-thru for coffee and breakfast. The comment section was a cesspool of vile, violent misogyny directed entirely at me. But I didn’t know this man. I had never spoken to him. Our only connection was that, by sheer geographic coincidence, we drove down the same stretch of Seattle interstate at the exact same time every morning. But the internet didn’t care about coincidence. And worse, my own family didn’t believe me. When they looked at me, they didn’t see a victim; they saw a liability. They cursed me out and turned their backs. Pushed to the absolute edge of my sanity, I finally broke. And then, I fought back. 1 The morning started like any other. I was merging onto the I-5 south, the sky a bruised, rainy gray. Just as I hit the mainline, a black Nissan swerved violently from the right lane, cutting the nose of my car so close I had to slam my foot onto the brake pedal. The seatbelt locked, biting hard into my collarbone. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” I screamed into the empty cabin, but the Nissan was already speeding away, weaving recklessly through the morning traffic. I gripped the steering wheel, forcing a deep breath into my lungs. Don’t engage, I told myself. Just let the idiots go. But less than a mile down the road, a white sedan aggressively squeezed in from my left blind spot, practically grazing my side mirror. I hit the brakes again. My head snapped back, nearly bouncing off the headrest. “Jesus Christ!” I watched the white sedan speed off, a heavy, suffocating knot forming in my chest. Ever since I bought this car, it felt like I was marked. First, it was the pink wrap. I was a young woman in a brightly colored car, which apparently meant I was open season for every ego-fragile driver on the road. At first, I was just angry. Why should I have to change? Why was I the one being bullied? But principle doesn’t protect you from a four-car pileup. For the sake of my own safety, I compromised. I painted over the pink I loved so much, settling for a glossy, anonymous black. It worked, for a while. The commute became boring again. But today? Today felt different. It felt coordinated. By the time I finally pulled into the parking garage beneath my office building, my hands were shaking. I put the car in park, leaned my head against the steering wheel, and took five slow, shuddering breaths just to get my heart rate down. The drive had felt like a survival mission. Because of the near-misses, I clocked in fifteen minutes late. The receptionist immediately flagged it. Valerie was the director of my department. From the day I was hired, she had looked at me like I was a stain on the carpet. I never knew why, and honestly, I never cared enough to ask. “Harper,” Valerie said, her voice dripping with that saccharine corporate condescension. “There are twenty-five people in this department. Funny how you’re the only one who couldn’t manage to get here on time.” “I kept getting cut off on the highway. Aggressively.” She offered a thin, mocking smile. “Funny how nobody else is getting cut off. Just you.” I didn’t answer. Because I wanted to know the answer, too. 2 When I got home, my husband, Derek, was already horizontal on the living room sofa, a gaming controller in his hands. From the kitchen, the heavy drone of the exhaust fan competed with the sound of his mother, Diane, clattering pots on the stove. I dropped my bag by the entryway, kicking off my heels. I walked over and sat on the edge of the sofa near his feet, desperate for a sliver of comfort. “God, my commute today was a nightmare. People kept trying to run me off the road.” He didn’t take his eyes off the TV screen. “Yeah.” I nudged his leg. “Are you even listening to me?” He finally shifted his gaze, though his thumbs kept working the joysticks. “I’m listening. You said people are cutting you off.” “Doesn’t that strike you as weird?” “What’s weird about it?” he sighed, his voice thick with boredom. “You’re a timid driver, Harper. You cruise in the passing lane, people are in a rush to get to work. Of course they’re gonna cut you off.” “It’s not my driving—” “Look,” he interrupted, his tone sharpening. “I drive that same highway and this never happens to me. You overthink everything. You always think the world is out to get you.” From the kitchen, Diane’s voice cut through the tension. “Derek! Dinner’s ready!” He paused his game, dropping the controller on the coffee table, and walked toward the smell of garlic and roasting meat. I stayed on the sofa, staring at the indentation he’d left in the cushions. A bone-deep exhaustion washed over me. This was his default setting. Every time I brought him a problem, it was somehow my fault. When I told him I felt excluded by my coworkers, he said I was being too sensitive. When I tried to explain how his mother’s passive-aggressive comments hurt me, he said I was being petty. Now, I was telling him I felt physically unsafe on the road, and it was just my “persecution complex.” Later, at the dinner table, I tried again. I recounted the near-accidents. Diane stopped chewing. She set her fork down and leveled a look at me. “Harper, honey, driving is all about mindset. If you go out there thinking everyone is out to get you, you’re going to drive nervously. And nervous drivers cause accidents. When you crash that car, the only person paying the deductible is going to be you.” “Diane, it’s not my mindset—” “Alright, alright, it’s not your mindset,” she waved her hand dismissively, picking up her fork again. “Just pay better attention out there. That’s all I’m saying.” I looked down at my plate. I didn’t say another word. 3 Over the next two weeks, it escalated. It wasn’t just getting cut off anymore. It was targeted harassment. I had to call the highway patrol twice, but without license plates, there was nothing they could do. But the most bizarre incident happened off the highway, on the suburban roads near my office. It involved a woman on a mint-green Vespa-style scooter. She looked to be in her early thirties, with a small child, maybe four or five, clinging to her waist on the back seat. She started appearing on my route. Sometimes she would dart out from a side street, forcing me to slam on the brakes. Other times, she would ride aggressively close to my rear bumper, leaning on her horn for blocks at a time. Then came a Tuesday. I was stopped at a red light. She pulled her scooter right up to the driver’s side of my car. She turned her head and looked me dead in the eye. Then, she hawked, and spit. A thick glob of saliva hit my driver’s side window. She screamed something muffled through the glass—a curse word, a slur, I couldn’t tell. I sat there, paralyzed. The light turned green. She revved the scooter and sped off. My first instinct was to floor the gas, chase her down, and demand to know what the hell her problem was. But a glance in my rearview mirror showed a line of angry cars piling up behind me. I had no choice but to press the accelerator and keep moving forward. That night, the second I walked through the door, I told Derek. “A woman on a scooter literally spit on my car today!” Derek was watching a basketball game. He didn’t even turn his head. “You probably saw it wrong,” he said flatly. “Who the hell is going around spitting on cars?” “I didn’t see it wrong, Derek. She looked right at me and—” “Enough, Harper,” he snapped, finally turning to face me. His features were twisted in overt irritation. “What is going on with you lately? Every day you come home with some new manufactured drama. People cutting you off, your boss hating you, now a mother on a moped is targeting you? Who do you think you are? Do you honestly think the entire universe revolves around you?” I opened my mouth, but the words died in my throat. Because a tiny, insidious part of me wondered if he was right. Why me? Why is it always me? I could chalk up the aggressive cars to men hating female drivers. But the woman on the scooter? With her child? I didn’t sleep a single minute that night. 4 Friday was my flex day off. Late morning, I went to the local Whole Foods. It was quiet, just a few people scattered in the checkout lanes. I was standing at the end of a line of three, leaning heavily against the handle of my shopping cart, mindlessly scrolling through my phone. The two women in front of me were talking loudly. “Did you see that thread? On the community Facebook page?” “Oh my god, yes. The homewrecker one, right? Somebody actually doxxed her license plate. I memorized it, just in case I ever see her out and about.” “I saved the post. Honestly, women like that? If I see her, I’ll key her car myself.” I kept my eyes on my phone. I didn’t really care. The internet was a toxic place; someone was always getting dragged for something. “The mistress drives a black Golf,” the first woman continued. “Washington plates. It starts with…” My thumb froze on my screen. That was my plate number. I slowly raised my head, staring at the backs of the two women. They were still gossiping, their voices carrying easily over the hum of the grocery store refrigerators. “What goes through a woman’s head? She knows the guy is married and she still throws herself at him.” “She’s a slut, that’s what goes through her head.” “The husband is an idiot, too. Parading her around right under his wife’s nose.” “Ha! Maybe they’re into that. Maybe the husband and the mistress are laughing about it.” I stood perfectly still. The canvas tote bags in my cart suddenly looked incredibly heavy. The line moved up. The cashier called, “Next in line, please.” I pushed my cart forward like a machine. I placed my groceries on the belt like a machine. I tapped my credit card on the reader like a machine. The moment I got home, I threw the groceries on the counter, practically sprinted to my laptop, and opened the local community forum. Right at the top of the page, pinned and trending, was a thread. The title was bolded in stark black text: [VENT] My husband is sleeping with his “commute buddy”. What do I do? I clicked on it. The post was massive. The original poster had written it with the dramatic flair of a cheap romance novelist. “I’ve been married to my husband for five years. We have a three-year-old. My husband is just a normal guy. He commutes down I-5 every morning. A few months ago, a mutual friend dropped a hint that my husband was driving to work with another woman every single day. That they were grabbing coffee together. When I confronted him, he played it off. Said she was just a ‘commute buddy.’ That they just happened to drive the same route and it was harmless. So, I played detective. I followed him one morning. I watched his car pull up next to a black Golf by a coffee stand. I saw the woman inside. I saw the way she looked at him. She was smiling. That specific, sickening smile a woman only uses when she knows she has another woman’s husband wrapped around her finger. I knew right then. It wasn’t a coincidence. They were planning this.” I stared at the screen, a high-pitched ringing starting in my ears. I scrolled down. Page after page of comments. I hit page five. “OP, do you know the homewrecker’s name?” The original poster replied: “No. I just know she drives a black Golf. Here is her license plate.” The replies came flooding in: “Got the plate! Let’s go to work, ladies!” “I have a friend who runs background checks at a dealership. Give me five minutes.” I kept scrolling. My vision blurred. Page eight. Someone had uploaded a photo. It was me. Taken at a Chevron gas station. I was pumping gas, looking down at my phone. The lighting was perfect; my face was entirely recognizable.

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My mom was famous for being the perfect wife and mother. The house was always spotless, meals always on the table right on time. Growing up, the thing she said to me most often was: “Aria, the way you are, what man is ever going to marry you?” Later, I got married. My husband was considerate and handled all the housework. Watching him cook in the kitchen, my mom stood nearby, her brow furrowed tight. “Aria, how can you let a man do these things?” My husband poked his head out from the kitchen, smiling. “Mom, nowadays couples share responsibilities.” She didn’t say anything more, but her expression stayed dark all afternoon. Until that day my husband worked late and I cooked dinner. I put too much salt in the food. It was a bit salty. My mom put down her fork, stood up, and walked behind me. She placed both hands on my shoulders. Her grip suddenly tightened. She forced me to my knees in front of my husband. She looked down at me, her tone flat. “Men need to be firm, or women won’t listen. Your father taught me to be obedient this way back in the day.”

The moment my knees hit the tile floor, Lucas rushed over. “Mom!” He pulled me up in one swift motion, anger compressed in his voice. “What are you doing?” I kept my head down, staring at my reddening knees, my head buzzing. My mom looked at Lucas, then at me, and spoke with heavy sincerity. “I wanted to teach you a lesson last time. A woman not cooking, making a man do it—what does that look like?” Lucas positioned me behind him, his brow knitted tight. “Mom, what era are we living in? Who still cares about this stuff? Aria and I are husband and wife. What does it matter who cooks?” “It matters.” My mom walked around him and stood in front of me, looking down at me from above. “Aria, you listen to me. Men work hard outside earning money to support the family. When they come home, they should be comfortable. You make Lucas cook and wash dishes—what will people think of you? What will they think of our family?” I lifted my head and looked at her. “Mom.” I stood up, my legs still a bit weak. “Lucas likes doing it. He’s happy to cook, and I’m happy to eat. Our household is our business.” My mom’s expression darkened. She stopped looking at me and turned to Lucas instead. “Lucas, you’re a good kid, I know that. But you can’t spoil her like this. You can’t spoil a woman. Spoil her and she’ll walk all over you.” Lucas froze for a moment, like he didn’t understand. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying.” My mom spoke each word deliberately. “Women need to be managed. If she doesn’t listen, you need to show her who’s boss. Your father—at first he couldn’t bear to raise his hand either. Later he understood: spare the rod, spoil the child.” My head exploded with a thunderous boom. “Mom!” I was practically shouting. “What are you saying?!” My mom turned to look at me, something unfamiliar in her eyes. Like disappointment, yet also like certainty. “Aria, you think I’m trying to make things hard for you?” She sighed and reached out to touch my face. I turned my head away. Her hand hung in midair, then withdrew. “I’ve been through this, I know how to live. Men need to act like men, women need to act like women. You’re young now, you don’t understand. In a few years you’ll know…” “I don’t want to know.” I interrupted her. “Mom, how you and Dad live—that’s your business. How Lucas and I live—that’s our business.” My mom looked at me for a long time. Then she raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “What kind of attitude is this?” Her voice remained calm. “Talking back to your mother? This is the manners you learned after getting married?” Lucas stepped in front of me in one stride, blocking me behind him. “Mom, you’ve gone too far.” My mom looked at him and actually smiled. “Lucas, I’m helping you. If you don’t control her today, tomorrow she’ll be walking all over you.” Lucas’s face flushed red, his chest heaving violently. I could feel his hand holding mine trembling. “Mom.” He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. “Our household doesn’t have those kinds of rules. I won’t hit Aria, and I won’t let anyone else hit her.” My mom’s expression finally changed. She looked at Lucas, then at me behind him. Her lips moved like she wanted to say something. In the end, she said nothing. She turned and went into the guest room, slamming the door shut with a bang. The guest room door opened. My mom came out, fully dressed, carrying that canvas bag she’d used for over a decade. “I’m going home.” She stood in the middle of the living room, not looking at me or Lucas. “You two live your lives. I won’t interfere.” Lucas stood up. “Mom, it’s so late…” “Don’t worry about me.” She cut him off, finally turning her gaze to me. “Aria, I hit you today for your own good. You don’t appreciate it. When you suffer later, don’t come crying to me.” I stood up, meeting her gaze. “Mom, I won’t think you hitting me means you’re doing it for my own good. And I won’t think you’re right just because you say it’s for my own good.” My mom looked at me, her expression complex. Anger, disappointment, and something else I couldn’t read. After a long moment, she picked up her bag and walked to the door. Then she pulled it open and walked out. I stood there, tears finally falling. Lucas came over and pulled me into his arms. “It’s okay now.” He gently patted my back. “It’s okay now.” I buried my face in his chest and said in a muffled voice: “Lucas, I’ll never become like her.” He held me tighter. “I know.” Before bed, I received a SnapChat message from my mom. Very long. I read it for a long time. The last paragraph said: “You think I wanted to hit you? You think I want to be the villain? This is how I lived my whole life. Your grandmother taught me this way too. If a woman doesn’t bow her head, life becomes impossible. You don’t understand now, but you will later.” I stayed silent for a while, then replied. “Mom, I don’t want to understand.”

Two months later, I found out I was pregnant. Somehow the news reached my mom. The very next morning, she showed up at our door carrying bags large and small. “You’re pregnant and didn’t tell me?” She complained as soon as she came in. “The first three months are most critical. You young people don’t know anything. I need to move in and take care of you.” Lucas and I exchanged glances, neither of us saying anything. She just moved in like that. Honestly, for that month, my mom truly devoted herself. She varied the meals every day, handled all the housework, even insisted on washing Lucas’s underwear. Lucas tried to stop her a few times. She said “men’s hands are too rough, they’ll ruin the clothes,” and insisted on doing it herself. I thought maybe she’d changed. After getting pregnant, Lucas accompanied me to every prenatal checkup, saying it was to monitor fetal development. That day, after the ultrasound, he looked at the screen with bright eyes, smiling tenderly. “Strong heartbeat, developing well,” he pointed at the blurry little figure on the screen, “a healthy little girl.” “A daughter?” He squeezed my hand. “Are you happy?” I nodded, a strange warmth rising in my chest. A little girl, wearing pretty dresses, with little braids, like what I wanted to become as a child but never did. Just as he finished speaking, my mom came out of the kitchen carrying a fruit plate. “What daughter?” Lucas answered with a smile. “Mom, I said Aria’s probably carrying a daughter.” The fruit plate landed on the coffee table with a dull thud. My mom’s expression changed. She came over and sat down next to me, looking at me and asking each word deliberately: “Did you get it checked? You’re sure it’s a daughter?” “Not yet.” I said. “It might not be accurate.” “Then it’s not accurate.” She spoke decisively. “Definitely not accurate.” Lucas looked confused. My mom interrupted him, her voice rising. “Your father looked too back then, said I was carrying a son. And the result? I gave birth to her!” She pointed at me, her finger trembling. I suddenly understood what she wanted to say. “Mom.” I spoke slowly. “You want a grandson?” “I want one?” She looked at me, her expression complex. “Aria, I’m thinking of you. If your first child is a daughter, what will your in-laws think? Lucas won’t say it, but will he really be happy inside?” “Mom.” Lucas spoke seriously. “I like daughters.” My mom acted like she didn’t hear him and continued: “While it’s still early, get it taken care of. Rest up, get pregnant again next year.” I shot to my feet. “Mom, what are you saying?!” She was even more agitated than me. She stood up and grabbed my wrist. “Aria, wake up! This is important, you can’t be reckless! The first child must be a son—that’s the rule! If you give birth to a daughter, you’ll never hold your head up in your in-laws’ family!” “Our family doesn’t have that rule.” Lucas came over, pulled my hand from her grasp, and protected me behind him. “Mom, I’ve told you—our affairs are our own business. I like daughters. Having a daughter makes me happy.” “You’re happy?” My mom looked at him and let out a cold laugh. “You’re happy now. When you’re old and everyone else has kids and grandkids running around while you have no one, will you be happy then?” Lucas took a deep breath, like he was trying hard to restrain himself. “Mom, I don’t like hearing that. Why can’t a daughter carry on the family line? Besides, having boys or girls is determined by biology, not by what we want.” My mom glanced at me but said nothing.

The next evening, just as I was about to go to bed, my mom came in carrying a bowl of herbal medicine. “This is gender-changing medicine.” She said. ” I had someone get it from back home—it wasn’t cheap. They said if you drink this, even a daughter can turn into a son” I looked at the bowl, feeling somewhat powerless. “Mom, have you lost your mind?” “You’re the one who’s lost your mind!” Her voice turned shrill. “I’m doing this for your own good, spent so much money to get this, and you’re still ungrateful?” Lucas, who had just finished showering and emerged from the bathroom, took the bowl and sniffed it. His expression changed. Changed drastically. “Mom.” His voice was tight. “Who gave you this medicine?” Lucas slammed the bowl down on the table heavily, anger compressed in his voice. “This is full of abortion drugs! If you drink this, forget changing gender—both mother and child won’t survive!” My mom froze. “That’s impossible.” She shook her head. “They said it was a traditional family recipe…” “I’m a doctor!” Lucas cut her off. “It’s all abortion medication! Are you trying to kill Aria?” “So what if it aborts? It aborts, that’s all.” My mom spoke matter-of-factly, chin raised. “It’s just a girl anyway. What’s so precious about her? When she grows up, she’ll belong to someone else’s family. Get rid of it now, have another one later.” My whole body trembled. “Mom.” My voice shook. “What you just said—are you serious?” “When have I ever joked with you?” She took a step forward. “Aria, don’t be foolish. I’ve been through this, I know the suffering of not having a son. Your father back then…” “Don’t mention Dad!” I yelled at her for the first time. “The suffering you endured your whole life was because you married someone like Dad! He hit you, cursed you, treated you like a work animal. You don’t hate him—instead you learned his ways, and now you want to use them on me?” My mom froze. “You think I didn’t see?” My eyes burned. “When I was little and he got drunk and hit you, you hid in the kitchen crying. The next day you still served him tea and water. I asked you why you didn’t leave. You said women have to accept their fate. But now? You want me to accept this fate too?” “I’m doing this for your own good!” “For my own good?” I pointed at the bowl of medicine. “That’s abortion medication, and you brought it for me to drink—that’s for my own good?” “So what!” Her voice turned shrill. “It’s just a girl in your belly! What good is a girl? Have I denied you food or clothes since you were small? But once you got married you sided with outsiders, talking back to your own mother—this is the punishment for raising a daughter!” I looked at her and suddenly laughed. “Mom, I’ll never become like you in this lifetime. My daughter won’t either.”

Nine months later. In the early morning of early March, after six hours of labor in the delivery room, I finally heard crying. Lucas held my hand, covered in sweat. When the nurse brought the baby over, he looked at me first. Tears dropped onto the back of my hand. “Aria, it’s a daughter.” His voice choked, his eyes completely red. “She’s beautiful.” I looked down at that wrinkled little face and suddenly smiled. How wonderful—a daughter. We named our daughter Dot. Lucas held her and wouldn’t let go, clumsily learning the positions the nurses taught. He kept murmuring “Daddy’s little sweetheart,” “Daddy’s little princess”—he murmured so much even the nurses laughed. The delivery had exhausted all my strength. My eyelids felt heavy as lead. “Sleep.” He gently patted my hand. “I’ll go handle the birth certificate, then come right back to watch over you.” “Watch the baby…” “Don’t worry, I’m sitting right outside the door.” I nodded, watching him tiptoe out. I closed my eyes, heard him carefully leave, heard my mom talking with the nurses in the outer room. My daughter occasionally whimpered twice, like a little kitten. Then everything went quiet. When I opened my eyes again, the light in the room had changed. The light coming through the curtain gap had shifted from golden to gray-white—who knows how much time had passed. I instinctively looked toward the baby bed. Empty. The blanket was folded neatly, the sheets without a single wrinkle, as if no one had ever lain there. My heart seized violently. I propped myself up. “Mom?” My mom walked in from the outer room, carrying a thermos. “You’re awake? Perfect timing. I made you chicken soup. Drink it while it’s hot.” “Where’s the baby?” My voice trembled slightly. She glanced at me, set the thermos on the bedside table, and said: “Sent away.” “…What?” “Sent away.” She brushed dust off herself. “It’s just a girl. What’s the point of keeping her? I had someone find her a good family. Their situation’s quite good—she’ll have a good life.” My head felt like someone had punched it hard, buzzing. I stared at her blankly, like looking at a stranger. “Have you lost your mind?” I heard my own voice, so shrill it didn’t sound like it came from my own throat. “That’s my daughter!” “What’s so good about raising a girl?” She frowned. “Don’t you understand? Give birth to a daughter and you think your mother-in-law will be happy? You think Lucas really doesn’t want a son? I’m thinking of you…” “Thinking of me?” I threw off the covers. My legs were so weak I almost couldn’t stand. “That’s my daughter! Flesh of my flesh! What right do you have to give her away?” “I’m your mother!” “You don’t deserve to be!” The moment those words left my mouth, I saw hurt flash across her face. But quickly, that emotion was replaced by impatience. “Enough, enough. Stop making a scene. Their situation’s good—she won’t suffer. You rest, have a son in a couple years, and you’ll thank me then…” I grabbed my phone, my fingers shaking so badly I could barely press the screen. “What are you doing?” Her voice changed. “Calling the police.” “Have you lost your mind?” She rushed over to grab my phone. “That’s your own mother! You want to send your own mother to jail?” I dodged her hand and pressed those three numbers. “Yes, I’m calling the police.” I stared directly into her eyes, each word deliberate. “Hello, I want to report a crime. Someone took my child and gave her away without my consent.” “This is human trafficking. Please come immediately!”

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I waited all day for my fiancé, only to witness him gambling with his life in an underground casino for another woman. I had given up my wealthy family for him and endured three years of hardship, believing it was true love. But he pushed me into the snake pit and destroyed my wedding dress with his own hands. In despair, I fled to New York, married into a top-tier elite family, and became the sole heir of a prestigious dynasty. When Harrison Quinn finally came to his senses and desperately chased after me, he discovered it was too late to make amends. But the truth was, three years ago, the one who truly saved his life had been me all along. And the woman he had protected with every means at his disposal was nothing but an elaborate lie. Lily’s POV I waited until nightfall, and when my fiancé still hadn’t shown up, my phone rang: “Lily, something terrible happened! Harrison’s lost his mind! He’s betting his life at an underground casino.” My heart lurched. Harrison Quinn used to be the living devil everyone feared. To seize territory, he fought for three days and nights straight, carving out his place through blood and violence. But at the peak of his power, he met me. From then on, he gave up everything, promising me a clean future. He disbanded his crew, stopped fighting, retired from the frontlines, and became an ordinary man. Everyone said Harrison was madly in love with me! Even I believed it myself. How could he be gambling with his life? I was about to rush out when I saw a staff member walking in from outside. “Did you hear? Harrison just got married to some woman at the underground casino!” My steps froze. The hand clutching the marriage application trembled. I’d been left here all day, only to learn that my boyfriend of three years was marrying someone else? By the time I reached the underground casino, a crowd had already gathered outside. Inside the casino was chaos. Harrison sat quietly at the gambling table, holding a marriage certificate. All his attention was fixed on the college girl being restrained by the casino boss, Derek. “Vivian Taylor is my wife now. If you dare touch her, I’ll shut down your casino!” The word “wife” hit me like a knife, cutting deep. The casino boss slammed Vivian onto the gambling table, his expression vicious. “Harrison Quinn, Vivian’s brother already sold her to me to cover his debt. You went and married her just so you could claim her as your wife and buy her freedom?” “But if you want to take her, you have to follow the casino rules.” The casino boss, Derek, pulled a gun from his pocket and placed it on the table. “This gun can fire five rounds, but there’s one real bullet in the chamber. If you survive to the end, you can take her with you.” Vivian looked at Harrison, already sobbing uncontrollably. “Don’t do it. I’m not worth it.” Harrison’s eyes filled with pain as he looked at Vivian’s tears. Then, without hesitation, he picked up the gun and pressed it against his temple. Bang. An empty click! My heart nearly stopped. I clenched my palms so tightly that my nails dug into my flesh. Harrison had once sworn never to fight or kill again because I said I was scared. Yet now, for another woman, he could risk his life without a second thought. How ironic! Three empty clicks in a row. The final round. Derek looked at Harrison with a mocking smile. “Harrison, this is getting boring. How about we raise the stakes? If you win, Vivian’s brother’s debt is completely erased, and Vivian’s contract is permanently voided.” Harrison’s brow furrowed slightly. “What stakes do you want to add?” Derek chuckled lightly. “If you lose, you give me Lily Sullivan. Let me have her for one night. How about it?” In that instant, I stared at Harrison’s impassive face. His expression remained calm, his lips barely moving. “Fine.” That single word, like a poisoned blade, slowly sliced through my bones. I felt like a clown. Three years of love had become so cheap and worthless! I couldn’t watch anymore. I turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, I heard a gunshot behind me. My heart stopped for a moment! The next second, Harrison’s men rushed in from outside and clashed violently with Derek’s crew. I panicked, trying to get away from the battlefield, but in the chaos, someone swung a baseball bat that struck me hard on the back. Instantly, I collapsed to the ground. Piercing, bone-deep pain swept through my entire body. At that moment, someone set the entire casino on fire. Flames spread rapidly, and the whole place descended into chaos. I tried to get up, but suddenly the crystal chandelier above me crashed down, pinning my leg beneath its weight. “Harrison!” I struggled to push the chandelier away, but in the distance, I saw Harrison holding Vivian tightly in his arms. “Vivian, I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m getting you out of here.” With that, Harrison strode toward the exit without hesitation. My raised hand slowly fell. I laughed bitterly at myself. Harrison’s love for someone was truly obvious! Thick smoke filled the air. My consciousness grew weaker and weaker. Before being sent to the emergency room, I vaguely heard a familiar voice. “Didn’t you used to love Lily so much? You were ready to give up everything for her. Why would you risk your life for a college girl today?” Harrison looked at me lying on the hospital bed, his expression unreadable. “Vivian saved my life five years ago. I owe her this.” The person glanced at me with sympathy. “But your wedding with Lily is in a month. Now that you’ve married Vivian, aren’t you afraid Lily will be angry?” Harrison lit a cigarette, his face showing absolute confidence in his prey. “She loves me so much. She’ll understand.” When I woke up again, I called my family in New York. “Grandpa, I agree to the match the family set up for me.” There was a long sigh on the other end. “You should have listened to the family long ago. Harrison’s tangled up in things that will catch up with him. If you hadn’t threatened to die and made us Sullivans back him all this time, he’d never have gotten this far.” “You gave him everything, and all you got in return was betrayal!” I gripped my phone tightly, saying nothing. Grandpa finally spoke with sympathy. “The marriage has already been arranged by the family. We were just waiting for your consent. In a month, I’ll send someone to bring you back to New York.”

Lily’s POV After hanging up, the hospital room door swung open. Before I could react, someone pulled me into a tight embrace. “Lily, I didn’t know you came to the casino that day.” Harrison’s voice was as gentle as always, but it only made me feel cold and hopeless. I pushed his hands away. “Mr. Quinn, you’re already someone else’s husband. Please show some restraint.” Harrison’s hands froze mid-air, panic flashing in his eyes. He quickly grabbed my hand. “Lily, I only married Vivian to save her. You’re the only one in my heart.” “Don’t worry, I’ve already filed for divorce. Our wedding will still happen in a month as planned.” As he finished speaking, Vivian burst through the door, tears streaming down her face. Seeing Harrison, she threw herself into his arms, eyes red. “What am I going to do? My mother’s critically ill. The doctor said she only has a month left. Her dying wish is to see me get married.” She then turned to me and grabbed my hand. “I know this is all my fault, but please, can you lend him to me for just one month? I just want my mother to pass away in peace.” I looked at her: “Let go of me. This is Harrison’s business. It has nothing to do with-” Before I could finish, Vivian suddenly stumbled backward. Before I could react, a force shoved me aside. I fell from the bed. My barely healed wounds tore open again. Bright red blood soaked through my hospital gown, shockingly vivid. Vivian leaned against Harrison, looking pitiful. “I just wanted to honor my mother before she dies. Why did you push me?” Harrison held her hand tenderly, but when he looked at me, his eyes held only coldness. “Lily, when did you become so callous and cruel? Vivian just wants to give her mother peace before she dies. What’s wrong with that?” The word “cruel” pressed on my chest like a boulder, suffocating me. I clenched my palms, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat. “Aren’t you two already married? Why are you asking me?” Harrison froze, guilt flashing in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up. “Lily, I already explained. The marriage license was forced by circumstances. Can you stop being so aggressive?” “Now, apologize to Vivian immediately!” I struggled to pull myself up from the floor and looked at him. “I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?” Harrison stared into my eyes, his anger intensifying. “Lily, it seems I’ve spoiled you too much, turning you into this.” He waved toward the door, and two subordinates walked in. “Lock her and her dog in the snake house. When she admits her mistake, let her out.” Hearing “snake house,” my eyes widened in horror. This area bordered mountains where snakes were common. Harrison had once organized people to capture them and release them in the wild. “Harrison, you can’t do this to me! You know I’m terrified of snakes!” But he didn’t even glance at me, walking out with Vivian in his arms. “I’ll go with you to see your mother. With me there, she’ll be at ease.” Watching his retreating figure, I fell into complete despair. Soon, I was dragged into the snake house. Pushing open the door, the entire room was filled with snake cages, densely packed with writhing serpents. My whole body trembled. I could barely stand.

Lily’s POV I turned to run, but then I saw my dog thrown in with me. It was a Labrador that had been by my side since I was nine years old-fourteen years now. He was my closest friend and family! I never imagined Harrison would use even my dog to force me to apologize. I held Max tightly, trying to find some sense of security from him. Just then, I heard a strange noise. Suddenly, the python cage at the front burst open, and a massive python charged toward me at terrifying speed! Trembling, I pulled out my phone and called Harrison. “Harrison, the snake got out! Let me out, please!” On the other end, Harrison fell silent for a moment. Before he could speak, Vivian’s voice came through: “I heard those cages were locked tight. Without keys, the snakes can’t possibly get out.” Harrison laughed coldly. “Lily, you’d even lie like this just to avoid taking responsibility?” His words poured over me like ice water, chilling me to the bone. The next second, I heard a fierce bark! Max rushed forward to protect me and was instantly caught by the python around his neck, whimpering in pain. “Max!” I screamed and tried to rush forward, but countless cage doors sprang open simultaneously. Snakes poured out like a flood. Max struggled, using his last bit of strength to shield me, like a true warrior! I collapsed to my knees in despair, watching Max lose his life before my eyes, completely helpless. “Harrison, I was wrong! I know I was wrong! Please let me out!” Desperation made me abandon all pride. Before I finished speaking, a venomous snake bit into my leg. Excruciating pain hit me. I slowly collapsed. Before losing consciousness, I vaguely saw the door kicked open. Harrison rushed in like a madman and held me tightly. “Lily, I’m sorry!” I wanted to laugh, but as I laughed, tears fell. When I woke again, the sharp smell of disinfectant told me I was in the hospital. I was about to sit up when Harrison walked in with Vivian. Seeing I was awake, Harrison quickly came forward to support me. “Lily, you’re finally awake. The snake house incident was an accident. The security system suddenly malfunctioned. I’ve already dealt with the guards.” I laughed coldly. “One word, ‘accident,’ and I lose my family?” Thinking of Max’s death, my chest tightened, like something was crushing me from the inside. Vivian stepped forward carrying a thermos. “This is all my fault. I made soup especially to apologize.” I pushed the container away. “I don’t need it.” Vivian immediately looked at Harrison with wounded eyes. “Did I make something she doesn’t like? Tell me what she likes, and I’ll remake it.” Harrison ladled out a bowl of soup, his gaze pressuring me. “Vivian got up before dawn to make this soup for you. She even burned her hand.” I was about to refuse when he swept me with a cold glance. “Lily, have you forgotten about the snake house?” My hand froze. I looked at him in disbelief. “Are you threatening me?” Harrison shoved the bowl into my hands. “Lily, be good. I’m just teaching you to be obedient.” Not wanting more trouble, I reluctantly took the bowl. But the moment the soup touched my lips, a fishy smell made me want to vomit! Just then, Harrison’s phone rang. “I have a conference call.” The moment he left, Vivian dropped her pitiful act and looked at me mockingly. “I heard your beloved dog died protecting you?” I watched her warily. “What do you want?” Vivian smiled lightly, pointing at the soup bowl in my hands. “How does it taste? Eating soup made from your own dog.”

Lily’s POV I looked at the bowl in my hands, trembling uncontrollably. My stomach churned violently. I grabbed the trash can and vomited. “Vivian Taylor, how could you?” I stood up and raised my hand to strike her. Before my hand could land, a heavy force knocked me aside. My back slammed into the bedside table. Piercing pain shot through me. I could barely stand. Harrison shielded Vivian behind him, looking at me with a dark expression. “Lily, I thought after the snake house incident, you’d learned your lesson. I didn’t expect you to escalate and try to hurt Vivian.” I pointed at the thermos on the table with trembling fingers, tears streaming down. “Harrison, do you know what she used to make that soup?” His expression turned cold. “Whatever Vivian used to make the soup, it was her gesture. That doesn’t give you a reason to attack her.” Harrison turned away, refusing to look at me. “This time you’ve gone too far. If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll never learn to behave.” With those words, Harrison’s former subordinates entered from outside and quickly restrained my hands. “Take her to the attic for punishment.” Only then did I realize. The man who once knelt before God and swore to treat me well had returned to his old ways for Vivian! Gang rules dictated that rule-breakers must receive ninety-nine lashes before witnesses. When Lily was brought to the attic, everyone had already gathered. I was forced to the ground. I stared at Harrison. “Harrison, you can’t do this to me. I’m not part of your gang. I don’t accept this punishment.” Harrison’s gaze swept over me coldly. “Lily, you’re going to be my wife. You must follow the rules. Today you must accept punishment.” He waved to his subordinate, and someone approached with a whip. The whip fell. A burning pain seared my palm. I looked at Harrison in despair. “Harrison, you’re already married to Vivian. I won’t be your wife. You have no right to punish me.” Harrison’s hand holding his tea paused. The anger on his face deepened. “Add ten more lashes.” He strode toward the main hall. Watching him leave, I plunged into absolute despair. The whip kept falling on my palms, like a knife carving open my heart piece by piece, making me wish for death. In the main hall, Harrison celebrated Vivian’s birthday. Cheerful birthday wishes formed a stark contrast with my screams of agony! When the final lash fell, I could no longer hold on and collapsed slowly. As I closed my eyes, I thought I saw Harrison knock the cake to the floor and rush toward me desperately. “Who told you to actually hit her that hard?” When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the familiar room. I tried to sit up when the door suddenly burst open. Harrison stormed in with a dark expression and grabbed my hand forcefully. “Why did you order people to kidnap Vivian’s mother?” What was he talking about? I struggled to push Harrison’s hand away. The wound on my palm tore open. Bright red blood soaked the white bandages, but Harrison acted as if he didn’t see it. Vivian helped her mother inside, her face streaked with tears. “Miss Sullivan, I know you’re upset about my mother’s last wish. To force me to divorce Harrison, you had my mother kidnapped.” “But my mother doesn’t have much time left. Can’t you even wait one month?” Vivian’s mother leaned weakly against her daughter, pointing directly at me. “When the kidnappers abducted me, I heard them on the phone. They called out Lily’s name.”

Lily’s POV I looked between Vivian and her mother. “I’ve been unconscious since returning from the attic. When would I have had the chance to arrange a kidnapping?” Harrison’s brow furrowed slightly. He was about to speak when Vivian stepped forward and took his arm. “Forget it. My mother is dying anyway. Since Miss Sullivan can’t tolerate me, I’ll just leave with my mother.” Vivian turned to go, and Harrison quickly pulled her into his arms, then looked at me coldly. “Lily, kneel and apologize to Vivian’s mother.” I looked at Harrison in disbelief. “You want me to kneel and apologize to someone who’s falsely accusing me?” I grew up in a prestigious family, cherished and protected all my life. I’d never suffered such humiliation. But now Harrison was trampling all my dignity underfoot. I clenched my palms tightly, digging my nails into my flesh. “What if I don’t apologize?” Harrison gestured toward the door with a sinister expression. “That’s not up to you!” With those words, two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and restrained my hands. One kicked hard at my knee. The pain made me unable to stand. I fell straight to my knees before Vivian’s mother. I bit my teeth hard, my voice barely escaping through clenched jaws. “Harrison, are you satisfied now?” Harrison put his arm around Vivian’s waist and headed out. “Don’t worry. I’m holding a press conference right now to publicly announce that you’ve already obtained a marriage license with me. That should put your mother’s mind at ease.” I watched their retreating figures-like a family of three-my heart sinking completely into the abyss. Harrison moved fast. That same afternoon, he held a press conference in the estate’s courtyard. I stood by the window, watching Harrison and Vivian sitting before the cameras, smiling sweetly. I turned and left. I’d just reached the back door when a pair of hands suddenly locked me from behind in a tight grip. I struggled, trying to call for help, but a cloth covered my nose and mouth. Then I was dragged into the storage room. I was pinned in the corner of the storage room. Only then did I see the person’s face clearly. It was Vivian’s brother, Marcus Taylor! My body went limp. I had no strength left, yet I still watched Marcus warily. “What do you want?” Marcus looked at me lewdly. “Everyone says Harrison has a pure woman by his side. I want to taste you too.” With that, Marcus roughly tore at my dress. I struggled desperately and bit down hard on his hand. The next second, I heard a loud slap as Marcus struck my face viciously. “Bitch, let me tell you. Harrison’s already married to my sister. You’re just an unwanted whore. Why not come with me?” As he spoke, Marcus pinned my hands against the wall and leaned in to kiss me. At that critical moment, the storage room door was kicked open. Harrison rushed in with a dark expression and kicked Marcus away. The moment I saw Harrison, the word “Harrison” died on my lips as I watched Vivian arrive with countless reporters and media personnel, all pointing their cameras at me. “Miss Sullivan, are you having an affair right under Mr. Quinn’s nose to get revenge for him marrying someone else?” “Miss Sullivan, Mr. Quinn just announced his marriage and you’ve already found your next man. Does this mean you’ve been cheating all along?” “Miss Sullivan, did Mr. Quinn marry someone else because of your moral problems?” Each sharp question was like a needle, stabbing viciously into my heart. Vivian also looked at me with feigned shock. “Miss Sullivan, I know you resent me and him getting married, but you don’t need to seduce my brother to get revenge!” Marcus looked at Harrison’s terrifying gaze and knelt on the ground, trembling. “Lily seduced me.” I raised my head to look at Harrison, fighting to keep the tears from falling. “I didn’t!” Harrison looked at me darkly. “Lily, are you that desperate for a man?” Then Harrison roughly pulled me up and dragged me toward the swimming pool, shoving me violently into the water. “Wash yourself clean!” The icy water quickly submerged me. The drug’s effects hadn’t worn off yet. I didn’t even have the strength to move my arms. “Harrison, if you don’t believe me, why won’t you let me go?” Harrison’s steps faltered. He then crouched by the pool, roughly grabbing my collar, his gaze fierce. “Lily, let me tell you-I will never let you leave.” With that, Harrison released me with disgust. “Wash yourself clean. I find you filthy.” Those words fell like a boulder crushing my heart. The early winter wind cut sharply. The icy pool water was like a knife, slicing through every inch of my bones. After being locked back in my room, I developed a high fever. Even my consciousness began to fade. In my delirium, I thought I saw Harrison. He gently caressed my face with tender affection. “Lily, what am I supposed to do with you?” I woke the next day, still in the familiar room. Just then, the door opened. Harrison strode in quickly and grabbed my hand forcefully. “Come with me somewhere.” Before I could ask, Harrison had already pulled me into the car. When we reached our destination, I was shocked to discover Harrison had brought me to the casino. “Harrison, what are you doing?” Harrison looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Derek kidnapped Vivian. His condition is to exchange her for you.”

Lily’s POV I looked at Harrison in disbelief. “So you brought me here to trade me for Vivian and hand me over to Derek?” Harrison turned his head away, unable to meet my eyes. “Vivian saved me once. I can’t just abandon her.” All the grievances I’d accumulated erupted in this moment. Tears streamed down my face. “So you’re using me to repay your debt?” “Harrison, what am I to you?” Harrison’s brow furrowed. “I’ve already made arrangements. I won’t let anything happen to you.” With that, he pulled me forward without hesitation and walked inside. Upon entering the casino, we saw Vivian with her hands bound, kneeling on the ground. When she saw Harrison, she immediately showed a pitiful expression. “You finally came. I was so scared!” Seeing Vivian like this, Harrison’s eyes filled with concern: “I’ve brought the person. Release Vivian now.” Derek sat in his chair, looking at Harrison mockingly. “They say men forget old lovers when they get new ones. I didn’t think Mr. Quinn would actually bring Lily here.” As Derek spoke, he lifted Vivian up. “One for one. Fair trade.” I wanted to run. Harrison gripped my hand tightly and shoved me forward. The moment he pushed me with his own hands, my heart completely plunged into the abyss. Just as Vivian and I passed each other, Derek suddenly pulled out a gun and aimed it at us. Harrison rushed forward, pulling Vivian into his arms and shielding her with his entire body. Then I heard a bang. The bullet grazed my temple. Crimson blood dripped down my cheek. I watched Harrison anxiously protecting Vivian, my heart pierced with pain. I’d known the answer all along, yet it still hurt so much I couldn’t breathe. The scene quickly descended into chaos. I curled up in a corner, blood having already stained my white dress red. Harrison started to walk toward me, but Vivian suddenly grabbed his hand. “Mr. Quinn, I don’t feel well!” Harrison immediately lifted her in his arms and headed out without looking back. “I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” Watching them leave, I laughed bitterly at myself. I would never be his first choice. I returned home in a wretched state. Before even entering, I saw wedding decorations throughout the courtyard. When the servants saw me, their eyes filled with contempt. “Tomorrow is Mr. Quinn and Miss Taylor’s wedding day…” “How shameless…” I froze in place. Harrison had already planned to give the wedding that should have been ours to Vivian. A month ago, I was still dreaming about our wedding. Now, I-the bride-to-be-didn’t even know when I’d been replaced. I was about to pack my luggage when the door was suddenly kicked open. Harrison threw a pile of shredded fabric in my face. “Lily, what a vicious heart you have! Knowing I’m marrying Vivian, you cut up her wedding dress. When did you become so scheming?” Watching Harrison and Vivian play their coordinated act, I found it laughable. “Harrison, I just got home. How could I possibly have had the chance to destroy Vivian’s wedding dress?” Harrison froze, about to speak, when Vivian stepped forward and grabbed his hand. “Since Miss Sullivan hates me so much, let’s cancel our wedding! Let my mother leave with regrets!” Harrison immediately pulled her into his arms tenderly, looking at me coldly.”Lily, I remember you have a rare haute couture wedding dress. Since you destroyed Vivian’s dress, give yours to her as compensation!” I stared in disbelief: “Why should I? That’s my mother’s keepsake! It’s a symbol of her hope for my happiness!” Harrison’s eyes darkened: “When you do wrong, there are consequences.” With that, he walked straight to my closet and took out the wedding dress. I tried desperately to rush forward, but the bodyguards pinned me to the ground. I couldn’t move. “Harrison, you can’t do this to me!” I screamed in anguish. Harrison looked at me with disgust, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. “Lily, since you refuse to repent, go kneel at the gate. You can get up when you admit your mistake.” Then he put his arm around Vivian and headed out: “Come on, I’ll take you to try on the dress.” The bodyguards quickly dragged me to the courtyard. When I refused to kneel, they kicked my knees viciously. Under the mocking gazes of all the servants in the yard, I fell heavily to my knees. From evening until late night, I knelt until my body went numb. Finally, the main gate opened. The butler Adam came out carrying a suitcase, looking at me with sympathy: “Miss Sullivan, tomorrow is Mr. Quinn and Miss Taylor’s wedding. Mr. Quinn is afraid you’ll cause trouble, so he’s asked you to return to your hometown for a while. He’ll bring you back after the wedding.” Looking at the suitcase, I felt relieved. I could finally leave openly! I stood up trembling, took one last look at the house that had imprisoned me for three years, and turned away without hesitation. Just outside the gate, a black luxury car stopped in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing a chiseled face. “My dear fiancée, I’ve come to take you home!”

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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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