Category: English

To ensure my son could excel in the high school entrance exam, I relocated to a communal apartment directly across from his school. This place, inhabited solely by parents accompanying their children, became my new abode. Each day, our routine revolved around the mundane task of cooking, with little else to occupy our time. As lonely middle-aged men and women cohabited for extended periods, it was inevitable that sparks would fly. Through the introduction of a female neighbor, I found myself entangled with a man, partaking in what they termed an “exchange meeting.” I, Julia Smith, was the mother of Max Smith, a fifteen-year-old boy. To bolster Max’s performance in the critical high school entrance exam, during his final semester, I moved to an apartment building near his school, dedicating myself to preparing his meals daily. The love of a parent was unparalleled. Almost everyone in this building was a parent, just like me. Each of us tended to our children’s needs. Beyond cooking, our days were empty, filled with idle chatter in small groups. Our regular visits to each other’s homes became a cherished ritual. With the gentle passage of time, however, something unforeseen began to weave itself into the very fabric of our existence. It was by chance that I discovered the secret within these walls. On a Monday night, as I rose to use the communal bathroom, I paused before stepping out. My attention was captured by the rapid, passionate cries emanating from the next room. It was Hannah Swift’s voice, followed by a man’s heavy breathing. I stood there, momentarily stunned. My eyes darted as I bit my lip with a mix of envy and longing. My husband, who was consumed by work, had been absent since my move. Thus, I lived a sexless life for a long time. The prolonged abstinence weighed heavily on me. The sounds from the adjacent room agitated the fire of lust within me. I lingered in the shadows, listening. My hands instinctively caressed my body. In the wake of Hannah’s piercing scream, an eerie stillness settled over the next door. I reluctantly withdrew my hand and sighed before I made my way to the bathroom. Upon my return, I loitered outside Hannah’s door. The light within remained on, suggesting her husband would stay the night. Back in my room, I lay in bed, haunted by the echoes of Hannah’s fervent cries. Her husband seemed quite potent. Sleep eluded me that night. At some ungodly hour of the early morning, sleep finally claimed me, and I drifted into a dream. In my dream, I found myself having wild sex with a man whose features remained tantalizingly obscured. Awakening the next day to damp sheets, I smiled bitterly at my physical reaction. I murmured, “What’s wrong with me?” It had been years since such dreams had visited me, yet the stimulation from Hannah’s sex with her husband had turned me on. I rubbed my temples and got up to clean the sheets. Then, I prepared breakfast for Max. Max was enrolled at a boarding school, making his daily return to this building solely for meals. He dashed back across the street to his studies as soon as his plate was cleared. I yelled, “Take it easy.” Max hastily drank his milk. He hastily wiped his mouth and snatched up a sandwich, rushing out with a hurried farewell. “Mom, it’s getting late. Morning reading’s about to start, so I’ve got to go!” I watched his retreating figure. My heart ached for the rigors of his studies. “Julia, you look tired. Didn’t sleep well?” Hannah inquired. She lingered at the threshold as her voice reached out to me. I shot her a resentful glance. “How dare you even ask that? If not for you, do you think I would’ve slept a wink?” Hannah was stunned. “What did I do?” I pulled her inside, whispering my complaint, “I know your husband is here. Could you two keep it down? You’ve had your lust fill, but I’m still horny! You bad!” Hannah laughed with a knowing glint in her eye. She leaned in close, whispering something enigmatic into my ear. Instantly, my eyes widened in shock. Hannah said, “My husband’s away on business. Last night, the man who had sex with me wasn’t my husband.” I replied, “What did you say? Not your husband? Then you…” I looked at Hannah in shock. Hannah regarded me with a look of scorn. “Why are you shocked? You’re new here. There’s much you don’t know. “In this building, we’re all dedicated parents, but as you said, loneliness breeds desires. When you’re alone for too long, it’s only natural to yearn for the companionship of a man, isn’t it? “You can’t deny it. I’m a woman, just like you. I understand your feeling. “So, we find solace in one another, in private, helping each other to fulfill those physical needs. “Naturally, these walls contain our world. Beyond them, we’re strangers.” Her declaration left me gaping, words failing me as shock rippled through my being. Wasn’t this a betrayal wrapped in the guise of fairness? This thought popped into my mind. Hannah said, “Are you still horny? If you’re interested, I could introduce you to a sturdy man. How about Jacob Blake? He’s the one who was with me last night. He’s quite good. Shall I arrange a meeting for you?” She blinked at me with a mischievous smile. “No. Thanks.” I awkwardly waved her off. “Why so shy? Your son still has one semester left before the graduation. You’ll be here for several months. Do you plan to live like a nun all this time?” Hannah pouted as she sincerely lectured me. Despite the allure, I couldn’t quite embrace this notion just yet. With a gentle resolve, I finally declined her offer. Sensing my hesitation, Hannah didn’t press further. “Alright, take your time. Just let me know when you’re ready.” After seeing Hannah off, I returned to my room and sat down, downing two glasses of water. Her voice reverberated in my mind. Each syllable sent waves of desire through the depths of my heart. Once more, sleep eluded me as Hannah indulged in wild sex and moaned in the next door. Unable to bear it any longer, I found a cucumber, washed it, and used it to assuage my lust.

The following day, Hannah came to me. Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue. “Julia, I apologize for last night. Jacob was just so good, and I couldn’t help but scream.” She covered her mouth, giggling as she stepped into my room. I shot her a stern look, feigning nonchalance. “Is Jacob really that good?” Hannah grinned. Her voice was laced with mischief. “Are you curious? I offered to introduce you yesterday. Why so coy? I’ll invite Jacob over for dinner tonight. You should seize the moment.” “That’s not what I meant!” I protested as my face flushed. I frantically waved my hands. Hannah snorted and spun on her heels, dropping her teasing remark, “Get ready. I’ll go talk to Jacob.” I watched her retreating figure and anchored in a moment of bewilderment. A sudden flutter of anticipation surged within me. But I swiftly shook my head. “Julia Smith,” I whispered to myself, “snap out of it. You can’t cheat on your husband.” Perhaps driven by an eagerness to make love, I found myself in the kitchen that afternoon, honestly pouring my heart into creating a feast. I even called Max, fabricating an excuse for him to dine at school. Seated at the table, I gazed at the door. A whirlwind of emotions, including nervousness, self-reproach, guilt, and a flicker of excitement, coursed through me. The knock on the door jolted me from my reverie. After a moment’s hesitation, I rose to greet my guests. Hannah stood at the threshold, accompanied by a middle-aged man who exuded an air of elegance. “Julia, this is Jacob Blake.” Hannah winked at me. “Good evening. I’m Jacob Blake, living downstairs. It’s an honor to meet you.” Jacob bowed slightly, extending his hand. A blush crept across my cheeks as I nervously accepted his handshake. “Hello, I’m Julia Smith. Please, come in.” As our hands touched, I stepped aside, welcoming them into my home. Seated before the dinner table, I felt a pang of guilt facing Jacob and Hannah. Moreover, I couldn’t help but notice that Jacob stared at me, adding to my unease. My heart raced. No longer in the bloom of youth, nearing forty, I was all too familiar with the unspoken language of his gaze. Jacob had aged like fine wine. Despite being middle-aged, he still looked dashing. He even radiated a captivating charm. Perhaps his allure was indeed from the wisdom and the rich experiences that time alone could confer. In stark contrast, my husband, with his somewhat unkempt and greasy demeanor, stood as a figure entirely at odds with Jacob’s polished aura. The weight of Jacob’s gaze made me uneasy, so I settled into my chair, choosing silence as my shield. Thankfully, Hannah’s vibrant presence served to thaw the ice. Little by little, my tension eased, allowing me to engage in conversation with Jacob. We sipped wine and discussed our families. Jacob, I learned, had moved to this building the previous year to support his daughter’s education. Like Max, Jacob’s daughter was in her final year of junior high, preparing for the high school entrance exam. “Oh, I’m tipsy. I can’t take any more. I need to rest. Jacob, take good care of Julia.” Hannah suddenly clutched her head, stood up unsteadily, and stumbled towards the door. My eyes widened, and I instinctively stood up and rushed to assist her. “What are you doing? I’ve set the stage for you. Don’t waste my efforts,” Hannah whispered. Her voice was devoid of any trace of intoxication. “You…” I was shocked. With a roll of her eyes, Hannah nudged me back into the room and shut the door with a definitive click, leaving Jacob and me in a sudden hush. The air between us crackled with an undeniable sexual tension. “Julia, I’m a fitness coach. Your posture suggests a spinal issue. If you’re willing, I can help correct it.” Jacob adjusted his glasses and fixed his piercing gaze on me. The wine had colored my cheeks. Under his intense stare, my cheeks burned even redder. “Is this too much trouble for you?” I whispered, biting my lip. “Not at all. I enjoy helping others,” Jacob replied, rising to his feet. As he approached, my breath quickened. “Let me help you relax first, then I’ll correct your posture.” Jacob took my hand, leading me to the bedroom. I followed him stiffly, allowing him to guide me onto the bed. “Don’t be nervous. We’ll start with your hands.” Jacob held my hands, tracing circles in the air. The action itself was innocent, yet with his body atop mine, his rugged chest rhythmically brushed against mine. Such an exhilarating experience sent shivers down my spine. “Now, let’s move on to your legs,” Jacob murmured. His hands glided down to grasp my legs, gently lifting and massaging them. I lay there, eyes half-closed. My eyelashes fluttered with each touch. “Ah!” My eyes snapped wide as a stifled moan slipped past my lips. His hand had ventured deep into my warm pussy.

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During our graduation trip, I was caught in an accident and tragically lost my left leg. Yet, to my surprise, the school beauty, whom I secretly admired, proposed to me. We were married for thirty years and always treated each other with respect. As I lay on my deathbed, I was stunned to discover that the 199 love letters I had written for her were discarded in a pile of junk. Meanwhile, she had kept another person’s letters cherished in a safe. When I was gravely ill, lying on the hospital bed with my life hanging by a thread, she finally came to see me. Before I closed my eyes for the last time, the final words I heard from her were, “Next time, don’t save me.” I finally understood her feelings. She would rather die than be with me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back before the graduation trip. I decided I would no longer bother her, nor would I have any contact with her. Yet, the accident happened again, and this time, she rushed in front of me. She said, “This time, let me save you.” In the haze of my consciousness, I heard the noisy chatter of people around me. Someone nudged me with their elbow. “Allanson, Allanson. Come on, we’re all waiting for you.”” I blinked blankly. As I looked around, I saw my old friends in their teenage appearance. The seven of us were the best of friends back in high school. During our graduation trip, tragedy struck, and my best friend, Theodore Chadwick, died. I was left with a disability. That memory was too painful for any of us to bring up again, and eventually, we all drifted apart. “How about we go to Trapeze Cavern for the graduation trip? Does anyone have any objections?” Seeing that I hadn’t responded, Theodore, who was sitting to my left, gave me a direct slap on the back. Seeing my old friend alive again, I was both astonished and elated. I never expected to truly be back before the graduation trip, the starting point of all those tragedies. “Allanson, what’s wrong? Are you so over the moon because you heard that the school beauty, Evelina, is coming with us? You’ve got no chill, man.” Hearing the name Evelina again, I was stunned. In my previous life, Evelina Salazar suddenly said she wanted to join us with a few friends, but in the end, her friends had other plans, and she came alone. On the first night, the hotel rooms we booked were taken over by a tour group. We guys wanted to spend the night at an internet café. But considering our team had a girl, we decided to find a motel instead. Unexpectedly, an earthquake struck that night, and the old motel collapsed. I saw Evelina nearly hit by a rock and pushed her away, but I was hit by a lamp rack. By the time I was rescued, my left leg was beyond saving and had to be amputated. During that earthquake, Theodore lost his life while trying to save others. Evelina and I ended up attending the same university. During our time there, she always took good care of me. At the graduation ceremony, she suddenly proposed to me. I said yes. After we got married, we didn’t have the passion and sweetness typical of young couples, but we supported each other, living a life that was plain but stable. I tried to add some romance to our lives by writing letter after letter to Evelina. Before I passed away, I found out that all 199 of my love letters had been thrown away. And yet, she kept another person’s love letters in a safe. As I lay dying in my hospital bed, I heard her last words to me, “Next time, don’t save me.” I thought we ended up together because of the years we spent side by side. But it wasn’t until the last moment of my life that I realized how wrong I’d been. She had only married me to repay the debt of saving her life. That sense of obligation had tied her down for so many years. She must have longed to be free from me. Now, given the chance to live again, I didn’t want to trouble her anymore. That accident harmed too many people. This time, I wanted to change everyone’s fate.

“We’re a group of guys, bringing a girl along might be inconvenient.” This time, I didn’t want to have anything to do with Evelina, so I planned to draw a clear line and stay away from her. But the rest of the guys, who had never had a girlfriend, were strongly opposed. “Why not? Evelina said she’d bring other girls along. We haven’t dated anyone all through high school. If we meet someone suitable on this trip, wouldn’t that solve a big problem for the rest of our lives?” “When you get to college, there will be plenty of chances to date. This graduation trip happens only once in a lifetime. What’s more important, friends or girls?” After some discussion, they decided that bringing girls along would reduce the chances of having spontaneous encounters on the road. So, they agreed not to invite Evelina. I thought, “They haven’t tasted the bitterness of love yet. They’re still too naive.” I just smiled and didn’t say anything. I figured that, with Evelina’s proud personality, she would definitely not want anything to do with us after being turned down. But to my surprise, Evelina called me directly. “Let’s make a bet. If you lose, you have to let me join the graduation trip.” I frowned. I really didn’t want to have any contact with her in this life. Sensing my silence, she chuckled and taunted, “What, afraid you’ll lose?” “The choice of the challenge is yours. Just don’t cry when you lose.” “You’re the one who’ll be crying.” The next day, I was asked to meet her at the mall. Evelina was already there waiting for me. She was, just as I remembered, beautiful and graceful. She stood there, and passersby couldn’t help but steal glances at her. I was drawn to a poster nearby that read “Couple’s Kissing Contest,” and I fell into deep thought. The rules were simple. The couple who kissed the longest would win. I thought, “Couple? What kind of couple are we?” But Evelina didn’t seem to mind and walked right in. “I’ve already signed us up. As long as we make it to the top three, you win.” “Shouldn’t it be a contest between the two of us?” “It is between the two of us. Remember? I get to pick the challenge.” I thought, “She’s clever, trying to exploit the loophole in the rules. She must be hoping I’d back out.” But to be honest, compared to spending ten days traveling together, eating, and living side by side, a kissing contest lasting a few minutes seemed far less daunting. Besides, Evelina and I had been married for over thirty years, and I was well accustomed to kissing her. We stood facing each other, eyes locked. I’d looked at this face for over three decades. I had to admit, she was truly beautiful. At nineteen, her features were delicate, her skin soft and youthful, and her eyes clear like morning dew, mesmerizing. But I had seen through Evelina. I knew her heart was cold as ice. No matter how beautiful she looked now, I wouldn’t be swayed. The contest began, and I didn’t move. Evelina seemed determined to win, grabbing my collar and kissing me straight away. The moment our lips met, a sweet taste filled my senses, making me shiver. Evelina was so forward, taking advantage of the moment to pry my lips apart, her soft tongue teasing mine. Startled by her boldness, I instinctively wanted to pull away. But Evelina’s hand brushed against my earlobe, sending a wave of tingling numbness through me, making it hard to resist. In the brief moments we broke for air, I could clearly see the meaningful gleam in Evelina’s eyes. Memories of my past life came rushing back. Evelina was the top student and the school beauty, with countless admirers lining up to give her love letters. And I, too, would try to impress her by making a three-point shot whenever she passed by the basketball court. However, Evelina turned down all the boys’ advances. She seemed more interested in those who didn’t show much enthusiasm for her. I realized that this time, my aloofness had triggered Evelina’s desire to conquer. Evelina seemed fully invested, her grip on my clothes tightening. Feeling a slight pain on my lips, I snapped back to full clarity. Oh, I knew this was just one of her tricks to make me relent. In the next second, I pushed her away. Evelina looked at me in shock, almost in disbelief. She probably never expected someone to refuse to get close to her. I said flatly, “I lost.” Evelina quickly recovered, flashing me a smile. “Then I’m looking forward to our first trip together.” I turned and walked away, not wanting to stay with her any longer. But I couldn’t ignore the lingering sweetness of Evelina’s taste on my lips. I couldn’t forget her sweet taste.

The day of the graduation trip arrived quickly. Unlike the last time, Evelina brought another girl along. She brought Miley Glyn, a sweet and quiet girl from the neighboring class. Miley was delicate and adorable, with an endearing sweetness. The other guys rushed to help them with their luggage. I moved to the side, not wanting to join in on the chaos. Unexpectedly, Evelina pushed through the crowd, dragging her suitcase, and walked right up to me. “Allanson, can you help me carry my suitcase?” All eyes turned to me, filled with envy and jealousy, as if they wanted to tear me apart. In my last life, I was also one of those guys scrambling to carry her luggage. But now, I just wanted to keep my distance. I didn’t even want to go on this trip with her, let alone help with her bags. I said coldly, “The trip’s just started, and you already need help? If you’re that weak, maybe you should just head back home early.” Evelina wasn’t about to back down. “Theodore is helping Miley with hers.” I strode over to Theodore, grabbed Miley’s suitcase, and gave him a push. “Did you hear? She wants you to carry it.” Theodore looked confused and pointed at himself. “Me?” I didn’t bother explaining. I just took Miley with me and headed toward the station. In my past life, I never realized Theodore had a crush on Evelina. Sadly, he died without knowing Evelina liked him back. They missed each other back then, but the love letters Evelina kept locked in her safe were a testament to their hidden affection. I figured, this time, I should give them a chance. “Allanson, slow down.” I was walking too fast, and Miley, being small, couldn’t keep up and was nearly in tears. I realized my carelessness and quickly apologized. Seeing no one else around, Miley blinked and whispered, “Do you know what kind of girls Theodore likes?” I hadn’t expected Miley to have a crush on Theodore. It was unfortunate that her feelings were doomed because Theodore liked Evelina. I patted her shoulder sympathetically. Miley, reading my expression, understood she didn’t stand a chance and immediately burst into tears. I was at a loss, stepping forward to comfort her, but I was abruptly shoved away by a strong hand. Theodore rushed over, bursting with righteous indignation. “Allanson, did you drag her over here just to bully her? You’re disgusting!” He seemed to forget Evelina was right there. I was a bit anxious; I knew it was a big mistake to show concern for one girl in front of another. Evelina’s eyes were full of hurt. Still, given the current state of things between us, I had no right, nor any ability, to comfort her. The high-speed train started boarding, and the crowd suddenly swelled. As I turned to get in line, Evelina grabbed the corner of my shirt. Instinctively, I pulled away. Evelina rebuffed again, stood frozen in place, staring at her now-empty hand. Her frail figure looked exceptionally lonely in the crowd. For a moment, my heart wavered. I was too familiar with that lonely look of hers. In my last life, Evelina always looked at me with sadness in her eyes, her brows always furrowed. She was never happy when she was with me. Every year on Theodore’s death anniversary, Evelina was even more heartbroken than I was. She’d prepare a table full of dishes, pour a pot of wine, and drink with me until we were both drunk. In those hazy, half-dream states, I’d hear her uncontrollable sobbing. It was as if she was mourning the lover she could never be with through me. I thought, “Evelina never needed me; she’s always treated me as a stand-in. Why should I bother being sentimental?” I turned away, walking decisively into the boarding gate. “Can I sit with you?” I had just sat down when I looked up and saw Evelina again. I thought, “I’ve made myself clear, so why does she keep sticking around? She’s really getting on my nerves.” I turned to see Theodore and Miley sitting together, and I immediately understood. I got up, intending to switch seats with Theodore. Theodore looked on guard. “What are you up to? Are you going to bully Miley again?” Miley put on a pitiful look, too. I was forced back to my seat. Luckily, several others volunteered to switch seats with me. I chose the furthest away, Leland Natt, hoping I wouldn’t have to see Evelina anymore. To my surprise, Leland returned within minutes, insisting on switching back. I wondered when, sitting next to the school, beauty had become so undesirable. Not giving up, I was about to ask a stranger if they’d switch seats with me when suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my arm and yanked me away. Evelina, huffing with anger, seemed provoked. In my last life, Evelina was in management at the company. She was assertive and decisive at work. She was incredibly strict, and her subordinates were all terrified of making mistakes and getting scolded by her. Everyone said Evelina made an exception for me because she never lost her temper with me. But I thought it was because we weren’t close that she never got angry and always kept things polite and distant. After all, no one wanted to be treated like a guest by their own wife. I figured we didn’t even need to keep up that pretense of distance this time. After all, after this trip, we’d be strangers. I tried to shake off her hand, but she pushed me straight into the bathroom. The bathroom door slammed shut behind us. The cramped space barely fit the two of us, but there wasn’t an ounce of romance in the air. I was about to leave, but then I saw that Evelina, who had been furious a moment ago, suddenly fell silent. She looked up, and I saw her eyes were red. She was struggling, trying not to let the tears fall. Evelina’s voice trembled with grievance. “Allanson, so what if you’ve been reborn? I’ve been so forward this time, and you still have the heart to treat me like this! I am your wife! “What did I do to make you hate me? Why are you avoiding me? Can’t you just tell me clearly?”

I hadn’t expected Evelina to be reborn, too. The biggest regret of our last life was that graduation trip. In our previous life, something went wrong during the trip. In the days that followed, because I was physically limited, that trip became a shared shadow in our hearts. For over thirty years, the farthest I ever traveled was from my hometown to the university. After that, I never ventured far from home again. Evelina, on the other hand, flew all over the world for work. I could only scroll through travel bloggers’ videos on my phone over and over. I had tried suggesting we go on trips together during the holidays, but she always refused, citing the crowds outside and my physical limitations. Evelina would say that we could never bear another accident. But she never knew how worried I was for her safety whenever she was out there on her own. From that graduation trip onwards, everything that followed was a mistake. I didn’t want us to torment each other again in this life. I knew that if I could prevent that accident, our tragedy wouldn’t repeat itself. Yet, just thinking about watching her fall in love with Theodore right before my eyes still made my heart ache. After all, this was someone I had loved for over thirty years. It wasn’t something I could just let go of. So, I could only pretend to be oblivious. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not avoiding you. We’re just not that close.” “Then, can we get to know each other again?” “I’m not interested.” Evelina seemed like she wanted to say more, but someone knocked on the door. “What are you two doing in there?” Evelina froze. She seemed to finally realize where she had dragged me. Her face flushed instantly, and she became flustered. I sighed and texted Theodore to come over and help. When we stepped out, Evelina had regained her calm composure. She whispered in my ear, “No rush. I’ll wait until you’re interested.” After getting off the high-speed train, we headed for the hotel. On the way, everyone else was chatting and laughing, but I was heavy-hearted. In just a few hours, it would be the time when the accident happened in my previous life. Evelina had also become very quiet. “What’s up with you two? You’ve both been acting weird since the train,” Miley asked worriedly. Theodore immediately covered her mouth. He glanced at me meaningfully. It looked like he had misunderstood something. I didn’t feel like explaining. Based on my experience from last time, I booked a different hotel this time. Unexpectedly, the same thing happened again. The travel group had taken our rooms again. No matter how much we complained, the hotel staff kept saying that next time, they’d give us a free room upgrade. We lugged our bags and started looking for a new hotel. It was peak travel season, and all the hotels had been booked up well in advance. Theodore pulled up a page on his phone and exclaimed, “There’s still one available!” When I saw that it was the same hotel we stayed at last time, my heart tightened immediately. I hurriedly objected, “Not that one.” Leland patted my shoulder and said earnestly, “I know the hotel isn’t great, but we can’t be picky when we’re out on a trip. It’s late, and we’ve been on the train for hours. Let’s just make do for one night and look for another place tomorrow.” Evelina quickly suggested, “How about we stay at an internet café for the night? I’ve never tried it before.” “It’s not suitable for girls to stay overnight at an internet café.” “Yeah, you won’t get any rest at an internet café.” Seeing that things were about to develop just like they had in the past life, I suddenly remembered that there was a luxurious hot spring resort near that hotel where we could stay overnight. Back then, we had even lamented not booking it on our phones first. I quickly suggested that everyone hold off on booking anything and check out the place. After a while, I pretended to “just discover” the hot spring resort, and sure enough, everyone preferred staying there. With that, I had successfully avoided the old hotel from our previous life. It was Theodore’s first time at a hot spring resort, and he seemed a bit out of place. Watching him looking all clueless, I felt a surge of emotion. Theodore was my best friend. In my last life, I dreamed countless times about this trip. I deeply regretted taking them to that hotel and regretted even more not stopping him from going back to save people. This time, I wanted my good friend to be happy. Theodore shifted his gaze from the food and looked at me. “Why are you crying?” I casually wiped my face and smiled. “It’s sweat.” He nodded and handed me a towel. Evelina and Miley walked over and asked, “Wanna go for a sauna together?” Their faces were already flushed from the heat. Knowing they were inviting Theodore, I tactfully prepared to slip away. But Evelina grabbed my arm, her bright eyes fixed on me. “You should come too.” Against my better judgment, I followed them. Only after the door closed did I realize it was just the two of us inside. The sauna’s heat was rising, making my mouth feel dry. The entire room was damp and warm, sweat dripping down Evelina’s face, trailing down her long neck. Even though she had been my wife for over thirty years, I couldn’t help but awkwardly turn my head away at that moment. After all, in this life, I wanted to be strangers with her. I got up to leave, but she pulled out an envelope from her pocket, trying to hand it to me. It turned out she had already received Theodore’s love letter and had come to confess it to me. Facing a woman who didn’t love me, a woman I had unrequitedly loved for over thirty years, I could feel my heart still racing. I thought I should act cool, but in the end, I fled.

After I stepped out of the sauna room, I realized Theodore and Miley were not following us. I checked the time and quietly slipped away from the hot spring resort. “Fire! Fire!” The hotel lobby was empty, making it easy for me to sneak in and set off the smoke for a fire drill. In our last life, there were five other families staying in the hotel besides us. One of them had an elderly man with them. Theodore lost his life trying to save this old man. This time, I knocked on their doors first and got the old man out. Soon enough, I managed to lead all five families outside. Seeing no fire, only smoke, they began to grow suspicious. “Where’s the fire? There isn’t any fire; it’s just smoke.” “Is this a joke, young man?” “We’re all old, and you got us out here in the middle of the night for a prank?” The earthquake was imminent, yet they were arguing, wanting to go back inside. A figure suddenly rushed out and shouted at them, “There’s no way smoke would appear for no reason! It’s a sign. Something big is about to happen!” She spoke so earnestly that everyone was stunned, hesitating in their steps. It was Evelina. It was the first time I’d seen her with such a vivid expression. To make people believe her, she exaggerated a bit. Evelina tried hard to explain, “It’s true. There was a family near where I live whose water pipes suddenly burst and flooded their entire house. They had to move out, and that very night, a mudslide destroyed the house.” As soon as she finished speaking, we suddenly felt a tremor. The solid building began to crack and collapse. People screamed and scattered in all directions. A rock fell from above. I didn’t even have time to react. But Evelina threw herself at me. When everything calmed down, I was about to get up, only to find myself pinned down by Evelina. Her hand clutched my shirt tightly, her brows furrowed, her body trembling as if caught in a terrible nightmare. Despite her fear, Evelina chose to protect me. Luckily, we had avoided the rock. I hesitated, wanting to comfort her. Evelina recovered quickly, climbed up, and carefully checked me over. Only after confirming I was unharmed did she breathe a sigh of relief. I looked into her eyes. Evelina’s eyes were filled with tears. “Thank goodness you’re okay. This time, it was my turn to save you.” She was right. It was all over now. After being entangled for over thirty years, perhaps in this life, we should each find our own peace. I clenched my fist instinctively, managing a strained smile. “Yeah, so now we’re even. You can go and pursue your own happiness.” Evelina’s expression grew confused. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something. But before she could speak, Theodore and the others rushed over, immediately surrounding us. “What are you doing out here?” “There was an earthquake! Are you guys okay? How did you get outside?” “Are you hurt?” Surrounded by the concern of our friends, we were escorted back to the hot spring resort. The earthquake was quite minor this time, and only that old hotel was affected. We had managed to keep everyone from going back inside, so apart from a few minor injuries from falling debris, everyone was safe. This time, our graduation trip finally had a fresh start. The next day, we went hiking as planned. Maybe it was because the weight on my heart had been lifted, but the forest air smelled especially crisp. The sound of the babbling stream and the wind rustling through the leaves seemed particularly melodious.

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I entered the delivery room and realized my obstetrician was my ex. Wracked with pain, I groaned, “Can I get another doctor? Anyone but him.” Arthur Hastings spread my legs and said coolly, “If you don’t want me delivering your baby, there’s an easy solution.” I looked at him hopefully. “Just push the baby’s head back in,” he deadpanned. I was speechless. He added, “You weren’t this shy when we used to sleep together.” The other doctors wielding scalpels exchanged awkward glances. I wanted to die right then and there.

On what was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, my wedding to Walter Harris took an unexpected turn. Just as we were about to exchange vows, my sister Isabella Reed fainted due to low blood sugar. Without hesitation, Walter scooped her up and rushed her to the hospital. In a moment of hurt and impulse, I made a decision that would change everything. I turned to Walter’s brother, Noah Harris, and married him instead. Walter returned to me, his eyes red and he kept begging me to get back with him. I smiled calmly, gently caressing my pregnant belly. “That’s not happening.” It was like those 10 years of loving Walter had just vanished into thin air.

Ten years after my stepbrother Elric disappeared, I met him at underground auction. I was the auction item, while he was my buyer. But he didn’t seem to recognize me. *** Others call him Draven Rodriguez. Draven is the Mafia boss of the Chicago underground. He hooked my chin with the tip of his boots, just like looking at a cargo. I cried tentatively: “…… Elric?” He didn’t look back, just told his subordinates to take me to his house. It’s like he doesn’t know me at all. But I still didn’t give up, with a louder voice, called again: “Elric！” The one who answered me was the gun on my forehead. His tone was casual: “Don’t mistake me for anyone else again, I will send you to hell. ” I didn’t know how dangerous I was until that moment. Draven’s subordinates took me to a mountain villa. The empty room, as if no one had ever lived here. “ What’s your name? ” Draven asked me. “……Liora。” “Help me undress,” he said. He lifted his arm, and the dagger and the gun around his waist seemed within reach. But I don’t know, this is a trap. I took the opportunity of unbuttoning his shirt to grab his gun and point it at his temple. “Let me go,” I said. I was supposed to be the one threatening him, and yet, my hands trembled in fear as I held onto the gun. On the other hand, Draven reached out calmly and grasped my cold wrist. “Do you know how to use a gun? Would you like me to teach you?” he asked. He snatched it forcefully, and I let go of the gun in pain. As soon as he got hold of the gun, he pointed it at my throat. He placed his finger on the trigger, then talked to me nonchalantly. He said, “You see, you’ll have to do this to succeed in threatening someone. Open the drawer and wrap the metal chain around your neck, or else…” He pressed the tip of the gun on my throat as he smiled with squinted eyes. “I’ll blow your throat up,” he warned. Since then, Draven has chained me up in the garden for three whole days. On the third night of my sleeping out here, Chicago started to rain heavily. I was drenched in rainwater within minutes. I hugged my knees and curled up by the wall next to me. After a very long time, I heard a sound and looked up. Draven stood in front of me without an umbrella as he looked down at me. Despite being wet from the rain, his exquisite features were handsome as usual, and his gaze was sharp and penetrating. “Do you admit your mistake?” he asked. He raised his eyebrow, then chuckled. “Come give me a kiss, and I’ll let you return to your room.” I was at a loss for words. I knew that he was just trying to tame me, but I felt dizzy from being exposed to the rain, and my stomach ached as well. Therefore, I stood up slowly and walked towards him shakily. I held onto his shoulders as I tiptoed and planted my lips on his. Draven’s pupils darkened as he took a glance at me. He then carried me into his arms and strode into the room. He sure was a person who loved trouble. The sex with him was a mixture of torture and pleasure. After that, I had a fever and lay in bed unconscious for days. During my illness, I dreamt a lot. The dream is all Elric without exception. My brother, Elric.

Elric Frank was my stepbrother, the son of the woman whom my dad was remarried to. Unlike the fairytales, she had never been cruel to me. She treated us fairly and even treated me better than she treated her own son in some cases. “Liora is a girl, we have to look after her well,” she said. Apart from Aunt Frank, my stepmother, Elric adhered to this rule very strictly as well. I always thought that even if I had a biological brother, he couldn’t possibly have treated me as well as Elric did. He’s just one year older than me. But when I was young, I was weak, timid, and soft-hearted. Elric had to protect me so that I wouldn’t get bullied. Elric had a deep, dark-colored scar on his back that he got from getting cut in a fight to protect me. Back then, so much blood flowed out of his wound that I sobbed in fear. Elric, who had been injured in the fight, had to console me instead. I used to believe that our family would’ve lived happily together forever. But life was full of mishaps. When I was fourteen, Elric went missing all of a sudden. My father and Aunt Frank made a police report. The police searched through the entire city, but couldn’t seem to find any trace of him at all. Our neighbors advised us that Elric wouldn’t be able to return anymore.They told my parents that they at least had a daughter left, who would be able to accompany them when they were old. Without saying much, my father resigned from his job and began his never-ending search. Aunt Frank no longer looked at me with loving eyes. Instead, she always glared at me with hatred. “If Elric hadn’t gone all the way there to buy that for you, he wouldn’t have gone missing,” she said. I couldn’t refuse. That was because I was the one who had said that there was a new bakery. I said that most of my classmates had gotten to try it, and that they said that cake tasted great. Elric had always doted on me. After finishing his homework, he saw that it wasn’t too late yet and rode his bicycle out to buy it for me. And he never came back after that. As we’ve never found Elric after that, Aunt Frank’s mental and physical health started to deteriorate at great speed. She passed away when I was twenty. My father was involved in a car accident during one of his search trips, and passed away during that accident as well. I buried my father’s ashes next to Aunt Frank’s in the Mausoleum. After returning home, I hung the third portrait on the wall. Yes, I’ve always thought that if Elric were still alive after so many years, he would’ve been able to return to see me with his smarts. Even if it was just for a second. But unexpectedly, after being sedated by the vagabond who asked me for help, I was transported to the underground auction by a human trafficking team. Here, I met a person who looked exactly like him. But that person was called Draven Rodriguez. And he didn’t know me at all. Technically speaking, they were completely different in terms of personality as well. Nevertheless, he is very keen to play my stepbrother. It was as if that title could make his experience even more enjoyable during affectionate times. Sometimes, he pulled my wrists above my head and chuckled as his warm breath spread across my neck. “Come, tell me, did your stepbrother treat you like this too?” he asked when thrusting. At first, I suspected that he was pretending that he wasn’t Elric, or had perhaps lost his memory, so I tested him multiple times. I stayed in the kitchen for the entire afternoon and cooked a bowl of Elric’s favorite noodle soup, then carried it out of the kitchen with hands covered in wounds. I patched up the torso of his jacket with a kitten-shaped felt pad. He flipped the bowl of noodle soup over, and then tore the kitten-shaped felt pad off of his jacket with a smile. Next, he ordering his men to lock me up in the enclosed attic, where the door and windows were bolted shut. “Liora, I do not like it when you see me as someone else,” he said. It was hot in the summer, and the airflow in the attic was terrible. When I was released from the attic after two days, I had already fainted from dehydration. Draven gave me a kiss, then fed me some water before letting it trickle onto the ground. “Liora, did you know that the sight of you being weak gets me excited?” he said. He talked to me as if I were really a kitten, and his goal was to tame me. Elric never did that to me. In the past, even if I were merely suffering from a mild cold, he’d prepare medications and hot water for me, and forbid me from eating spicy foods or drinking cold drinks. But soon, my persistence subsided when I noticed Draven’s back after he took a shower that day. His skin was fair due to being shaded from the sunlight. There were two newly formed scars on his back, but the old, dark scar was nowhere to be seen. He truly wasn’t Elric. At that moment, I lost all of my hope and energy.

I tried escaping once. I even took off one of the earrings that Draven had given me and gave it to a youngster, then told him to bring me to the nearest police station. That youngster looked pure and innocent. And yet, he took me to a local brothel instead. When Draven entered the brothel with his men, I was dressed in a set of revealing clothes and tied up by the corner, as if I were a product to be sold again. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of his bloodstained shoes. Seeing that the situation seemed dangerous, the youngster turned around and ran away. Draven tilted his head, then shot his back without hesitating. With a “bang”, blood and flesh were splattered everywhere. Draven took the earring that had been soaked in blood out of his pocket, then kicked his body away as if it were rubbish. He walked towards me, then squatted down in front of me. “Afraid? Did you think that I’ve been too cruel for killing him?” he asked. He smiled, then reached out and wiped off the cheap lipstick on my lips. “Did you know that he had taken the lives of two children younger than him?” he asked. My teeth trembled as my throat tightened. I couldn’t bring myself to say a single word. Draven didn’t untie the rope around me. Instead, he lifted me up and threw me into the bedroom in the same position. “A bad kitten needs to be ‘punished’,” he said when unbuckling his belt. It was at that moment that I realized how large Draven’s area of influence was. I had been acting under his watchful eye throughout the whole process of escaping. He had allowed me to run away so that I would realize that I wouldn’t be able to leave this place without his protection. The only way for me to survive was to obey him. …… “Liora has been a good girl lately,” he said. Draven’s voice made me return to my senses. He kissed my ears and neck gently. “A good kitten deserves a treat. Valentine’s day is coming soon, what gift would you like?” I looked downwards and said softly, “I want to go boat rowing.” Back when we were in elementary school, apart from the gifts we would receive during the holidays, Elric and I looked forward to the boat-rowing events the most every year. There was a flock of swans in the center of the lake in the city garden. Every time I went boat-rowing, I always carried a pack of bread in my backpack, then tore them into pieces before feeding the swans. They were usually held during the hot afternoons in summer. The weather was scorching, but it was cooling on the surface of the lake. I would lean against Elric’s shoulder and fall asleep unconsciously. At the mention of that Draven’s expression didn’t change at all. Nevertheless, his hand, which was stroking my hair a second ago, froze in the air. On Valentine’s Day, he actually took me boat-rowing. No, it was more like boat riding. He helped me onto the boat with a few of his men, and we took the boat across the river to discuss a collaboration with his ex-opponent. They wanted to join forces to import more illegal firearms into the country. The location of their negotiation was a luxurious private manor. When we passed by a water fountain with a statue on top, I couldn’t help but take a few more glances at it. Draven wrapped his arms around me when he noticed me looking at it. “Are you interested in these things?” he asked with raised eyebrows. I answered softly, “I went to art school at the university.” He extended his arm and patted my head. “When we get back, I’ll get you a set of painting supplies. You can busy yourself with them when I’m not home, okay?” As soon as we arrived at the hall, he took a seat on the sofa calmly, then turned around and whispered, “Sit closer to me, do not leave my sight.” Draven was rarely ever so gentle to me. These were the moments when I couldn’t help but associate him with the Elric I knew. Until the mafia boss on the other side, who had a scar on his face, called Sam Miller, told his henchmen to bring someone forward. It was a woman. It was a pitiful-looking woman who had watery eyes and was garbed in a white dress.

Sam pinched the woman’s waist before dipping his head into her neck and sniffing hard. “Smells nice.” The woman was in tears. She remained silent as she stared at Draven. Sam snickered viciously. “It seems that you’re enjoying your new woman very much, Draven. You haven’t forgotten about your old lover, have you?” Draven tightened his grip around my waist. But the expression on his face remained unchanged. “What do you want?” “Apart from the conditions that we’ve agreed on, I want half of the profits as well. I’ll also need my men to be a part of the main network,” the boss said. Draven squinted his eyes and took a short glance at him. “Deal.” The woman was pushed over, she rushed towards Draven and fell into his arms, as if she were a butterfly with broken wings. Nonetheless, Draven didn’t push her away. He let go of my waist and used his hands to grab onto her shoulders. I was stunned as I watched the scene. We’ve been so intimate all this time, and yet, I didn’t know… anything about Draven. Perhaps it was because Draven was willing to compromise, and the subsequent negotiations went smoothly. Sam even took Draven and his men to see their newly established firearms warehouse and invited them to stay the night there. “To be honest, Draven, this situation here is complicated and chaotic. However, I see the potential in you. You’re young, and you treat your relationships with importance. I’m willing to trust only you when it comes to collaborations,” he said. Draven placed his wine glass down in agreement. Sam arranged two rooms for us, then gave Draven an ambiguous wink. As expected, Draven did not return to our room after dinner. I lay in bed alone until midnight, when the door opened all of a sudden, With the beam of light that shone through the crack of the door, I squinted my eyes as I took a look. The familiar figure walked forward and lay down next to me. Draven hugged me from the back as he pressed his lips onto my ear and whispered, “Why aren’t you asleep yet, kitten? Have you been waiting for your owner to return?” His warm breath diffused across my ear, and there was an unfamiliar fragrance coming from his body. I kept quiet for a moment, then asked, “When are we going back?” He chuckled, then turned me over before hugging me tighter. “You kept wanting to leave that place back then. Now that I’ve brought you out, you’re thinking of going back already?” he asked. “I don’t like this place, and I don’t like… the smell of your body,” I replied. The bedside lamp was turned on all of a sudden. I was startled by the bright light. Draven grabbed onto my wrists, then leaned closer as he stared into my eyes. “Are you jealous, my little kitten?” he asked. I drank some red wine during the dinner banquet. Perhaps it was because I was a little tipsy from the alcohol, but I pounced forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. I didn’t say a single word. Nevertheless, Draven laughed happily. He held onto my hands as he kissed my lips. “Alright, we’ll go back tomorrow.” …… The next day, we left Sam’s firearm warehouse. The woman in white came with us. I heard her name from Draven. Her name was Eden Connelly. We took the boat back again. Eden felt sick from the boat ride and came knocking on our door with a pale complexion. Draven straightened my messed-up clothes, then got up and opened the door. “What do you need?” he asked. From my angle, I noticed Eden looking up at Draven with a pitiful gaze. “Draven, I feel sick.” “Go get some rest if you’re feeling sick. The journey isn’t that long,” he said. After that, he closed the door impatiently, but a fair hand tugged on his sleeve. “I’ll do it.” Eden said, “I’ll do what you asked the last time.” I watched as Draven paused and left the room with her. I didn’t know what they talked about. Upon returning, Eden moved into the manor I was locked up in. Perhaps to compensate me, Draven actually bought me an entire set of painting supplies and sent his men to clean up the study room on the second floor for me as well. “Don‘t go out for no reason，But you can paint here instead,” he said. He leaned forward and gave me a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be very busy these days. You’ll have to be a good girl, okay?” I looked down. “Are you worried that I’d bully her?” Despite having my head lowered, I could sense the cold aura coming from him. “Don’t make me angry, Liora,” he said. With a smirk, he said with an unbothered gaze, “Stay in your room and be good. Don’t offend her, okay?” As soon as Draven left, I finally understood why he had said that. When I was painting in the study room, Eden walked in all of a sudden. With me being the only person there, she didn’t seem weak or pitiful at all. Instead, she looked at my painting haughtily, then snickered. “Pretending to be artistic, huh?” I didn’t respond and focused on mixing the colors on my palette. She rushed towards me, then slapped the paintbrush away from my hand. “I’ve seen plenty of women like you. After being sold to a place like this, you have no choice but to seduce a man to survive,” she scorned. With her arms wrapped around her chest, she snorted coldly. “Unfortunately, you’ve chosen the wrong man. Do you know that Draven and I are about to get married soon?” I didn’t know what to say. I stared at the bits of paint on her clean, white dress as I remained silent. “Once we get married, I’ll get him to gift you to his lowly subordinates as a reward. All of his past women ended up like this, and you’ll soon join their ranks,” she said. I stared at her chin. Suddenly, I smiled as I said, “Are you threatening me, or are you trying to convince yourself?” “You!” she yelled. Eden was furious. She kicked my easel to the ground, then stomped out of the room. I don’t know what she told Draven, but he came back to the manor that night. When Draven came in, I was getting changed into my pajamas next to the bed. “You sure are adding to my troubles, Liora,” he said. His leather shoes made deep thuds as they were pressed against the ground. He squatted down in front of me, then stared at me. “I told you not to offend her, why did you flip her things over on purpose?” I was at a loss for words. She was the one who did it to me, and yet, she pretended to be the victim. Before I could explain, Draven took his gun out and pointed it at my forehead. “If I kill you now, you’ll stop adding to my troubles, won’t you?” he said. His tone was nonchalant as usual, and it seemed to contain a hint of joy. Nevertheless, I could see that he meant it from his cold and dark eyes. After a moment of silence, I closed my eyes and said with a trembling voice, “Go ahead.” “Once you kill me, you’ll be able to marry her without any troubles,” I said. The gun that was pointed at my forehead was moved away. I opened my eyes, and caught sight of Draven’s inexplicable gaze. “Liora.” I moved my shaking arms behind my back, then smiled in tears. “Isn’t it easier to get rid of a kitten and get a new one?” Draven went quiet. He stared at my face under the bright light. Some emotions started to fade from his eyes, while new emotions emerged. After a long time, he placed his gun back into the holster before standing up. He placed his hand on my head, and stroked my hair as if he were trying to comfort me. “You’re not a kitten, you’re my dear Liora,” he said. As I indulged in the warmth coming from my head, I closed my eyes. At that moment, I truly wished that he was Elric, that he hadn’t got lost, and that I hadn’t gotten sold to a place like this. I wished that he had returned safely with the cake when I was fourteen. But when I opened my eyes, I only felt the coldness of the gun beneath me. The person in front of me is Draven.

Draven left the next day. Their collaboration with Sam went smoothly, and they had already smuggled two batches of illegal firearms into the country through both the old and new routes. Apart from that, a batch of women who were in their twenties was being secretly smuggled into the country as well. Human trafficking and illegal firearms seemed like ordinary businesses when he talked about them. Meanwhile, it’s been a long time since Eden last came to seek trouble with me. Nonetheless, she glared at me resentfully every time she saw me. I guessed that she was probably dissatisfied because she had tattled on me to Draven and made him return on purpose, but he didn’t do anything to punish me. That afternoon, I was painting in the garden when I dropped one of the earrings that Draven had given to me. At night, I went to the garden to look for it after noticing my earlobe was naked. And noticed that Eden was making a call by the entrance of the basement. She spoke softly, probably because she knew that Draven’s men were in the manor. “No, I want forty percent of it.” She said, “Are you kidding me? You know how terrifying Draven can be, I’m taking such a huge risk by staying by his side… who’s that?” She looked up abruptly, then took a glance with her sharp gaze as she ended the call cautiously. I hid on the balcony between the first and second floors. Suddenly, I realized something. I climbed up and entered the manor through the window, then dashed towards my bedroom as fast as I could. As soon as I was tucked in my bed, Eden opened the door and barged into the room. She stared at me as she snickered coldly, then left the room without saying anything. A few days later, Draven returned. Eden started to pretend to be weak and fragile in front of him again. After the meal, she began attacking me. “Draven…” she said. She bit her lip as she stared at me. “Have you never suspected that she could be an undercover spy that someone else has sent?” Draven raised his eyebrow. “Hmm?” “When I left the manor to buy some flowers two days ago, I ran into her giving a man a thick stack of letters,” she said. With tears in her eyes, Eden added, “You said that you and Sam faced some problems when importing the third batch of products, so I thought that… there’s probably a traitor here.” Draven turned towards me as he placed his hand on the gun holster around his waist. “Is that so, Liora?” He had an exquisite pair of eyes, and his brow ridge was slightly high. When he was focused, his gaze was as dark as the night sky, as if it could see through all of the lies in the world. I looked at the gun in his hand in a daze for a few seconds, and laughed. “Indeed, I gave someone a stack of paper,” I said. I added gently, “They were paintings. I painted some paintings of you, and wanted to get someone to frame them up as gifts for you.” “That’s nonsense!” Eden screamed. I looked towards her once again. “She’s the one who has been betraying you. I heard her talking to someone on the phone, saying that it was a huge risk to stay by your side,” I said. “That’s nonsense! Nonsense! You’re just trying to sow discord!” she shouted. The smile on Draven’s face widened, but his gaze seemed to become colder and colder. It was obvious that he was very dangerous at that moment. Therefore, Eden pounced toward me with a shrill scream. As she moved, I saw the glint of a knife between her fingers. She screamed, “Did you think that lying would be of any use? Do you know that my dad bought him back then? Back when I said that I didn’t like the scar on his body, he…”

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“Elliott’s not coming. He insists you sign the divorce papers tonight. Madeline Bryant, it’s time to stop dreaming.” On the cruise deck, a storm was raging and I was a mess, confronting Giselle Cole. Today was the sixth anniversary of my marriage to Elliott Bryant, and this cruise ship was where we first met. I never imagined my blood-written plea for one more meeting wouldn’t sway Elliott from divorcing me. He even had his sweetheart deliver the papers. How heartless! “And, I’m pregnant with Elliott’s baby. You and him, it’s over,” Giselle bragged, her growing bump proof of her hold on Elliott. How ironic! I had always longed for a child in our six-year marriage, but Elliott never once touched me. Now he and Giselle are expecting a baby. In the past, hearing such news, I would have lunged at her in a blind rage, tearing into her like a wild animal. But now, I was too drained to outdo Giselle. “Fine, I’ll sign.” Without another word, I reached out with a trembling hand, smeared with blood, and scribbled my name on the paper. Giselle was shocked by my swift agreement, then her face lit up with joy. She stowed away the divorce papers as if they were treasure, and the large diamond ring on her slender finger glinted, making my head reel. Six years of marriage, and I never got such a ring. I loved Elliott and even jeopardized my family for him, yet he gave me nothing. Not even a goodbye. “Does Elliott know I’m sick?” I asked weakly, unable to accept the harsh truth. Ten years of love, it wasn’t easy to let go. “He knows. He said you’re a burden. He’d prefer if you were gone,” Giselle shot back, her words as cold as Elliott’s. In my despair, I didn’t doubt her – those had to be Elliott’s words. I hadn’t seen him in two months since he proposed divorce. He left and cut me off. His friends and family treated me like an outcast, hiding his location. With my parents gone and assets transferred, I was useless to him. Despite my terminal cancer, he was quick to leave me for his dream woman. He was truly heartless! Still, I clung to him, my only love. I hoped for one last meeting to end our decade-long story. “Can you set up a last meeting with him?” I begged Giselle. “No need. You’re just a disaster! What’d it solve?” She sneered, queen-like. “Can I call him… please?” I backed off. Just his voice one more time would do. “Madeline, I’d never stoop so low for a man. Can’t you see? The more you beg, the less they respect you. Maybe next life treats you better,” Giselle scoffed, grabbing me. Her scorn stung. She had everything, while I, once privileged, was now desperate. How’d I end up here? As I lost myself in thought, two hefty guards moved in, silencing me with duct tape and tying me up. “Madeline, it’s time you disappeared from Elliott’s life. I’ve had enough of you…” Before I could react, they hurled me into the sea. Giselle’s words echoed in my ears as seawater filled my lungs. I was helpless against the current pulling me deeper into the sea. As my consciousness began to slip, I felt a force tug at my arm. Someone seemed to be pulling me towards the surface, but the storm was relentless. Then, everything went black. This pitiful, insignificant life of mine had been abruptly ended by Elliott’s damn dream girl. A splash of cold water jolted me awake. I forced my eyes open to find Elliott standing over me! “Madeline, stooping so low as to drug me? You’re beneath contempt! I wouldn’t touch you, let alone get you pregnant!” His face was twisted with disgust as he turned off the shower. Hadn’t Giselle thrown me into the sea? Why was I waking up in Elliott’s bathroom? I looked around, trying to understand my surroundings. The bathroom was a mess, with shower gel and a toothbrush scattered on the floor. Elliott was dressed in a dark suit, his hair and chest soaked. His eyes were filled with anger. Clearly, the recent process had been intense. This scene was all too familiar, and I suddenly remembered. This should be four years ago, on the second anniversary of my marriage to Elliott. That day, I asked the housemaid Teresa to bring a remedy from the countryside. She claimed it could help me conceive. Excited, I added it to the soup, imagining a romantic night with Elliott under the influence of the drug. I was truly desperate at that time. After two years of marriage with no sign of pregnancy, my in-laws and the entire upper-class society in Hoswich spread rumors that I couldn’t provide heirs for the Bryant family. Then, women close to Elliott, aiming to bear his child, were increasing. Tormented day and night, I reluctantly resorted to this method. However, for some reason, Elliott saw through it. He was furious, pouring the soup down my throat in front of all the servants and then dragging me into the bedroom. The potent medicine quickly took effect, and I lost control, tearing my nightgown into pieces. I repeatedly pounced on Elliott uncontrollably. Finally, he dragged me into the bathroom and ruthlessly showered me with the showerhead, exactly like the current situation. I suddenly realized I had been reborn! I was back to the time of my second wedding anniversary with Elliott.

I was reborn at a time when I still had my family’s support and my health! How blessed! Ever since I married Elliott, his words were harsh, and tonight, his contempt for me seemed to grow. “Listen! One more food screw-up and I’m gone!” Elliott glared at me, void of any affection. “Elliott, I’m your wife. Don’t you have any… love for me?” Memories of our past haunted me. I blurted out the question that gnawed at me in my final moments. “Love? You? If not for your family’s schemes, would we be together?” “Schemes? That was my family saving yours! Without my dad’s two billion rescues, the Bryants would’ve sunk into that financial mess!” Two years back, the Bryants’ huge oil venture in the Middle East halted due to an unforeseen war. Concurrently, a global economic crisis struck, shrinking the Bryants’ wealth dramatically in a month. Facing their financial ruin, I persuaded my dad to donate two billion dollars to help them recover. Seizing this opportunity, I fulfilled my dream of marrying Elliott. I was foolish then, believing that being with Elliott constantly would make him love me. But over six years, Elliott repeatedly shattered my hopes, and ultimately I was killed by his damn first love. Elliott lavished his affection on other women, leaving me with nothing but continuous pain. My heart had given up to despair when I found solace in the depths of the sea. In my new life, I swore no more foolish naivety! “Madeline, without those two billion, you wouldn’t even dream of marrying me. Be content with what you’ve got.” With these words, Elliott turned and walked away. “Elliott, since you hate me that much… let’s end this!” I said calmly as he walked away. He paused, laughed scornfully, then left confidently. “Fine, anytime you want!” After he left, I tried to stand, supporting my trembling body. Looking in the mirror, I saw a mess – tangled hair, empty eyes, flushed cheeks from meds, and my ripped nightie revealing my skinny arms and collarbones. I’d starved myself to fit Elliott’s ideal – long-haired, skinny women. Now, I was 5.7 feet tall and only 94 pounds. My resulting stomach cancer was probably from neglecting myself and enduring constant stress. I swore never to jeopardize my health for someone else’s ideals. With that in my mind, I threw away all my diet pills. Elliott claimed we could divorce whenever. Since then, let it be tomorrow. In my past life, I put up with Elliott’s growing disdain till it was too late. But this time, I chose to let him go, and more importantly, free myself early. After a sleepless night, as dawn broke, I dug out my old favorite jeans and a white shirt from my closet, untouched since marriage. I casually knotted the shirt and walked out with the divorce papers in my pocket. Then, I headed straight to Bryant Group, took the VIP elevator to Elliott’s office, knocked and walked in. Now, we were just married for only two years, playing the perfect couple. At this point, I could still move freely in Bryant Group, not yet so low that even their security looked down on me. Behind his big desk, Elliott’s brows furrowed upon seeing me. “What are you here for?” “I’ve drafted the divorce agreement. Take a look. Sign it if no problems.” I looked at him, my tone quite calm. A flicker of surprise tinged his gaze. Dropping the pen he held, he smiled faintly, his voice detached yet laced with disdain. “Which act are you playing this time? Didn’t you have enough drama last night?” “Elliott, I’m serious. Since you don’t love me, let’s end it sooner. It’s better for us.” Maybe I had let go of him completely. There was no ripple in my emotions when I spoke these words. Elliott’s face darkened. He stood up abruptly, circled the desk, and loomed in front of me. Pinching my chin, he locked eyes with me, a sneer playing on his lips. “What? Drugged me and failed, now another trick? Madeline, drop the games. I don’t have time for you, got it?” He then ripped up the divorce papers right in front of me and growled, “Get out!” In the past, his harsh gaze would silence me immediately. Every fight ended with me backing down, crushing my dignity. However, I was my parent’s precious daughter, pampered and loved. But for love, I made myself nothing before Elliott, burying my pride and self-respect. I used to fear Elliott mentioning divorce, considering how hard I worked for this marriage. But now, looking at this cold man, all I wanted was to get away and cut all ties and feelings for him. “Fine. Whenever you’ve made up your mind, just let me know. I’m done with this charade.” I left these words behind and turned to leave his office. At that moment, I heard a clear, shattering sound of broken glass behind me.

After leaving Elliott’s office, I headed to the seventh-floor planning department. From my past life, I remembered Giselle was an intern there. Back then, Elliott was busy with a starlet and Giselle slipped under my radar. The department was huge and buzzing with people, but Giselle stood out. She was tall, pale with long hair, and big eyes on her oval face. Her oversized, cheap business attire didn’t hide her beauty. My first impression of Giselle was like a delicate, innocent white rose in the wind. She was presenting her case in the director’s office, full of hope. But it wasn’t what he wanted. He glanced at it and angrily tossed it back at her, scolding her fiercely. Now, she was just a newbie at a big firm, trying to impress her boss. This harsh criticism must’ve hurt. Maybe this was what drove her to Elliott, climbing to the top step by step. Little did anyone know that this girl being berated would, in a few years, become Elliott’s wife and change her destiny. “Excuse me, madam. What can I do for you?” A woman in business attire came up to me and asked me with a bright smile. Only then did I realize that I had kept looking at Giselle, seeming fascinated, which wasn’t myself. Fortunately, I rarely came to the group and had never met these employees, so they didn’t know me. “Nothing. I wanted to discuss some business with your director. Since he is busy, I’ll leave then.” With a random excuse, I turned around and left. I didn’t mean to meet Giselle. I just wanted to see her at this time. I was so curious about how the inconspicuous Giselle managed to catch Elliott’s eye, sleep with him, and occupy his mind step by step. She even gained the favor and recognition of his parents! She was a recent college graduate with nothing special. How did she do that? In my past life, I was clueless about Giselle until she had already won over Elliott, surpassing all his past flings. Ignoring his family’s protests, Elliott asked me for a divorce multiple times for her. He even promoted the young Giselle, despite board objections, to aid him with the Bryant Group’s confidential matters. He trusted her more than anyone else. By the time I dug into Giselle’s background, Elliott was head over heels for her. How did an average girl from a common family with no extraordinary education earn all of Elliott’s devotion? Her looks couldn’t be the reason; Elliott had been with many beautiful women. Her beauty wasn’t her secret weapon. I remembered Giselle’s last words to me before I died. “Can’t you see? The more you beg, the less they respect you.” She was young but sensible. Could her sensibility be what captivated Elliott?

After leaving the Bryant Group, I returned to my parents’ house and lived in the room they had always reserved for me. My mother got a brand new quilt for me. The scent of sunshine on the quilt made me sleep particularly sweetly. I didn’t go back to my home with Elliott, and I didn’t know if he had ever looked for me. I even didn’t care if he would. Early the following day, I received a call from Sean West, the butler. “Mrs. Bryant, you didn’t come back last night. Where have you been?” “I’m at my parents’ house.” “Well. Mr. Bryant asked about you when he came back last night. Mrs. Bryant, you two, quarreled?” Sean asked me cautiously on the phone. In fact, during two years of marriage, only Sean had been silently caring about me. “Yes. Please tell him that I won’t go back, and I’ll pick a time to take away my things,” I spoke calmly. “Mrs. Bryant, what’s wrong? I know that sometimes, Mr. Bryant has gone too far, but marriage is a tough journey. As long as you are together, things will gradually get better.” Sean heard that I wanted to move out and became a little emotional. “It won’t get better. He doesn’t love me, and you all know that.” I smiled bitterly, no longer had any expectations, and hung up the phone. There was a time when I couldn’t leave Elliott for hours without thinking about where he was, who he was with, and what he was doing. It was hard not being around him. I couldn’t have left him for more than a day. But now, whatever. I was completely awake and didn’t care anymore. Where Elliott was and who he was with had nothing to do with me. For the rest of my life, I just wanted to take it easy, do what I wanted, be sober, self-loving, and no longer lost. I got up and opened the closet. Looking at the neatly arranged old clothes, I couldn’t help but smile. Before marrying Elliott, I was a rebellious girl. At that time, I liked motorcycle clothes, jeans with rivets, cool and unique dresses, and short hair. But later, learning that Elliott liked gentle and lovely girls with long hair, I gave up all these clothes and replaced them with long skirts and dresses that I had never enjoyed. I even stopped cutting my hair and let it grow long. Why bother deliberately catering to others’ preferences? People who loved you would love you no matter what you looked like. I picked out a short black T-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans from the closet, took out my favorite canvas shoes, dressed them up, put on a little makeup, and then went straight to the barbershop. Soon, with the skillful barber, my waist-length hair turned into neat collarbone-length hair, and the bangs in the front also turned into see-through bangs. I looked at my new look in the mirror and suddenly felt much more relaxed and refreshed. Just then, my phone rang. I picked up the phone and saw that it was my best friend, Paige Ford, calling… “Madeline, where are you? Come and stay with me. I feel terrible.” The call was connected, and Paige’s feeble voice came from the other end. “I’m at the barbershop. Where are you? I’m on my way,” I answered without hesitation. “Neon Club. Come quickly. I’m waiting for you.”

I glanced at my phone; it was about six in the evening. This was the time when a call ended over a decade of friendship with Paige in my past life. In my memory, Paige was in desperate need of comfort after breaking up. But I coldly turned her down to wait for Elliott, who didn’t show up until midnight. Meanwhile, because I didn’t accompany her for a drink, Pagie asked a group of unreliable friends to the club. Soon, she was drunk and was taken away by a bastard. When she was aware of the danger, she called me many times, but I ignored all of them and did not rush to find her. Although that bastard was sent to prison by the Ford family the next day, Paige’s reputation was completely ruined, and our friendship utterly ended after that. This time, I wouldn’t let it happen again. I drove to Neon Club, which was owned by Quinn Woods, Elliott’s good friend. The Woods family was prominent in Hoswich, and Quinn was the only heir. His family’s main business was shipbuilding, but Quinn was not interested and would rather run the high-end private club than inherit the family business. In my previous life, among all Elliott’s friends, Quinn was the one who despised and hated me the most. Every time I met him, he would mock me and quarrel with me. We didn’t like each other, so I never set foot at the club he ran. Now that I had been dead for once, I had let go of all the trivial conflicts in the past. Quinn was just an insignificant person in my life. Soon, I parked the car and walked straight into Neon Club. This club was indeed known as the most high-end and luxurious private club in Hoswich. The moment I entered, I was shocked by the artistic decoration style. I had grown up seeing a lot of luxury goods, so I could tell at a glance that this decoration must have cost a fortune. It was so luxurious that even the paintings on the walls used to be sold at high prices in auction houses. Paige told me that she was in box No. 8. I walked along the corridor, focusing on my phone with my head down, and I accidentally bumped into someone. “I’m so…” Subconsciously, I wanted to apologize, but suddenly, I heard a gentle male voice with a hint of surprise. “Madeline!” Who was this person? Did he know me? I was stunned and quickly looked up, seeing a handsome face instantly. I always adored good-looking people and would be nice to them. But this was the only face I wouldn’t say I liked the moment I saw it. Because he was the man I hated the most, Quinn. “Well, Mr. Woods. I’m sorry that I show up in your club. But if you mind, I can go to another place with my friend right away.” My voice instantly turned cold. The memories of him endlessly ridiculing and mocking me in my previous life still lingered in my mind. “How could it be? Everyone here is a guest. Your friend is Paige, right? She is in box No. 8.” To my surprise, Quinn, whom I had been incompatible with in the past, instead of being angry because of my words, actually had a very gentle tone and even guided me thoughtfully. It was unbelievable… In my impression, he was not a good person. I didn’t know what game he was playing right now. Although he looked nice, I rolled my eyes at him and didn’t bother to care what he thought. I just walked around him quickly to the door of box No. 8 and went in directly. There were many girls in the room, and Paige, sitting in the center, wore a champagne-colored dress. Seeing me coming, these girls immediately surrounded me as if they were so surprised. I used to hang out with them when I was unmarried. But of all those people, Paige and I were closest and other than that, Fiona Tucker. But Fiona had been studying medicine abroad for several years. I didn’t expect her to show up here today. Fiona was equally excited to see me. She immediately gave me an intimate hug and then cheered. “Madeline! It’s been a time! You’ve disappeared from our circle since you got married. You’ve gone too far!” “Come on! I find it harder to meet her than the king. She’s been so focused on having Elliott’s baby for two years. She hasn’t even had time for me.” Paige held my arm and couldn’t help complaining about me. Indeed… Since I married, I had become farther and farther away from my friends. Every time they asked me out, I would consider Elliott first, so I rarely participated in any of their gatherings. “I was wrong, okay? Well. I will punish myself with three drinks tonight! Paige, my dear baby, happy birthday!” I handed Paige the gift I had prepared for a long time. It was a diamond brooch with a sunflower pattern. It was expensive, but I bought it without hesitation to make it up to Paige in my previous life. “Are you willing to drink? Didn’t you announce at the bachelor party before your wedding that you would quit drinking to prepare for pregnancy? Will Elliott be angry if you drink?” Paige took the gift with a smile, but what I said about drinking shocked her. “I’m too young to be in such a hurry. I have more important things to do. Besides, I don’t care what Elliott thinks. What matters most is that I’m happy!” Letting go of my obsession, I no longer restrained myself. The moment I said these words, I felt my boredom and mania swept away. I picked up the wine glasses placed on the table and drank three glasses in one go, causing my friends to cheer instantly. “What happened? Did you suddenly sober up or did you undergo a makeover? I feel like you’re a different person, Madeline. No matter how much we tried to persuade you in the past, you turned a deaf ear. Now you’re finally seeing reality?” Fiona was the most open-minded and sober among the three of us. She had often advised me not to get lost in love. Hearing me say this, she was, of course, happier than anyone else. “Yes, I’ve realized. We shall hang out as often as before. Fiona, you are right. Women have to have their world and careers. It’s boring to focus on men!” After a few drinks, I felt much better, hugged Fiona, and kissed her on the cheek. In my previous life, when I had stomach cancer, everyone left me. Only Paige and Fiona were there for me. Knowing that I had no money, they didn’t hesitate to chip in and pay the surgery fee for me. In the end, however, I was still foolish. The day before the surgery, I still had hopes that Elliott was going to meet me, so I secretly rented the cruise ship without them knowing and ended up on the bottom of the ocean. “Well… I’m not surprised at all when Fiona says this. But since you said so, I’m shocked!” Paige joked, but I could hear that they were all happy that I could wake up. “All right. Stop talking about me. Today’s protagonist is Ms. Ford. Let’s celebrate Paige’s birthday!” I changed the topic with a smile and reminded them quickly. Everyone reacted instantly and gave birthday wishes to Paige. Then, the club’s waiter brought a birthday cake. Tonight, we had a lot of fun, and I hadn’t relaxed like this for quite a long time. It was so lovely not to love anyone who didn’t deserve it. I drank a lot and needed to go to the bathroom. So Paige and I, holding each other up, staggered out of the box together. “Elliott, teach me. This cue is so heavy that I can barely hold it.” A delicate female voice came from the next box. Hearing it, I stopped involuntarily.

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