Category: English

My ex-husband saw the words “autism” on my daughter’s diagnosis and slapped me across the face without hesitation. “You slut! You must have cheated while you were pregnant. Three generations of the Smith family, and we’ve never had a single idiot!” He forced me to sign divorce papers, threw down five hundred dollars, and vanished, cursing: “Raising this money pit? What rotten luck!” For that one-in-ten-thousand chance of recovery, I quit my director position, sold everything of value, and during the hardest times, even waited in line at the hospital to sell my blood. Ten years later, my daughter finally spoke and got into a top high school. Her homeroom teacher called to say a “successful entrepreneur” had been anonymously supporting my daughter and wanted to meet me at school today. I rushed to the principal’s office in a shirt washed white with age, only to find my ex-husband. He had his arm around my daughter, pointing at me: “Principal, look at her—this neurotic parenting style is what messed up the kid. Now that the child’s doing well, she wants to swoop in and take credit.” My daughter frowned in an uncharacteristic way: “Mom, could you please not dress like this when you come to school? The other students think I’m some trash picker’s kid.” She handed me a bank card: “There’s fifty thousand dollars here. Dad says it’s compensation for your ten years of hard work. Use it to make yourself look decent instead of being filthy all the time. I’m embarrassed to even tell people you’re my real mother.” I felt an unprecedented sense of alienation and anger toward my daughter. Had all these years of her attachment to me and resentment toward her father been fake? I laughed. “Fine. I’ll grant you both your wish. I hope you won’t regret this later.”

“Fine. Fifty thousand dollars. I accept it—payment for ten years of hard work.” I stuffed it in my pocket and turned to reach for Smith’s hand. “Emily, let’s go home.” She jerked away as if burned, shrank back, and hid behind my ex-husband, Victor Smith. “Mom, tonight… I’m going with Dad. You go home first.” Victor’s current wife, Lily, immediately stepped forward and linked arms with Smith intimately, as if they were the real mother and daughter. “Grace, Emily wants to see our house. Kids grow up and like new environments—you should be happy for her.” My heart sank to the bottom. I stared at Smith, my voice trembling: “Have you forgotten how we lived these ten years? Have you forgotten how he abandoned us?” Smith’s shoulders shook, but her eyes kept darting away, refusing to meet mine. “Enough!” Victor impatiently pulled out a thick stack of cash from his wallet and shoved it roughly into my hands. “Stop putting on this pity show. Too proud to know what’s good for you. This is this month’s child support—ten thousand dollars. That’s enough for you to live on.” The red bills felt like fire, searing my palm. All my rationality shattered in that instant. “Victor Smith!” I used every ounce of strength to hurl that stack of money back in his face. It scattered across the ground. “Don’t you dare try to buy my daughter with your filthy money!” The principal and homeroom teacher heard the commotion and rushed out of the office. “Oh my, Ms. Reed, let’s talk this out calmly! Please calm down!” “That’s right, Smith’s mom. Mr. Smith is doing this for the child’s good. Don’t make a scene at the school entrance—it looks bad.” Smith was terrified by my outburst. She clutched Lily’s sleeve tightly, looking at me with fear in her eyes. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I reached out again, trying to take her hand. “Emily, come home with me. Don’t be afraid…” “Don’t touch me!” She pushed me away violently. I lost my balance and stumbled backward, landing hard on the ground. “This is so embarrassing! I don’t have a mother like you!” Students and parents passing by gave me strange looks, whispering and pointing. “Isn’t that the autistic girl from Class Three, Grade Ten? Her mom does seem kind of off.” “I heard her dad’s a big businessman who came specially to pick her up today.” “Tsk, then why is her mom making a scene? Turning down the good life?” I sat on the ground, utterly humiliated, my dignity crushed. Victor glanced at me with contempt, put his arm around Lily, and led Smith toward a black Mercedes parked at the entrance. The luxury car’s engine roared to life, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust. I sat alone on the ground, surrounded by whispering crowds. My heart felt like a piece had been violently ripped out, hollow and filled only with howling cold wind. Sixteen years. I had given everything, and this was my reward—public betrayal and humiliation. I don’t know how I made it back to that cramped rental apartment. On the wall hung a photo of Smith and me embracing, both of us smiling so brightly. I reached out to touch her adorable face in the picture. The moment my fingertip touched the frame, I felt nothing but bitter irony. I raised my hand and smashed the frame to the floor.

Late at night, my phone rang abruptly. I jolted awake from the couch, seeing “Emily” flashing on the screen, my heart pounding wildly. Had she regretted it? Did she want to come home? I answered hastily, my voice trembling slightly. “Emily?” Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then her cold, impatient voice came through. “Pack up my things. I’ll send the driver tomorrow to pick them up.” My heart plunged back into an ice pit. Early the next morning, a black Audi pulled up outside my shabby apartment building. The driver looked at me with arrogance. “Ms. Reed, Mr. Smith sent me to collect Miss Smith’s belongings.” I blocked the hallway entrance, looking at him coldly. “I won’t give them to you unless I see Smith in person.” The driver smirked, pulled out his phone, dialed directly, and put it on speaker. “Miss Smith, your mother refuses to give me the items.” Smith’s irritated voice immediately came through. “Mom! Stop making a scene, okay? What’s the point of this harassment? Haven’t you tortured me enough for ten years?” “Tortured?” I hung up and rushed out of the complex like a madwoman, hailing a cab straight to Victor’s gated community, wanting to see if she was being coerced. Unsurprisingly, the security guards stopped me at the entrance. “Sorry, ma’am, you can’t enter without an appointment.” No matter how I explained, the guards stood like a wall, coldly blocking me. Just as I was about to despair, the villa’s iron gate slowly opened. Lily walked out leisurely with a cup of coffee. She looked at my disheveled state, a fake sympathetic smile curling her lips. “Oh my, Grace, why put yourself through this? Emily is taking lessons with her new private tutor. She doesn’t have time to see you.” She sipped her coffee casually. “Grace Reed, you should start living for yourself. Stop clinging to Emily. She’s about to apply to college, enter high society. This isn’t good for her future.” “Get lost!” I forced the word through gritted teeth. Lily didn’t seem offended. She just shrugged and turned back inside. I stood at that gate from morning to noon, then from noon to afternoon. My legs felt like lead, but I wouldn’t move an inch. Three hours later, Smith finally came out. She wore a brand-new Chanel dress and delicate leather shoes, completely different from the uniformed girl I’d seen yesterday. I rushed forward and grabbed her arm. “Why won’t you see me? Why did you say I tortured you?” She frowned prettily and shook off my hand forcefully. “Dad hired eight tutors for me—math, English, science, piano, horseback riding, French… How would I have time to see you?” I held out the old backpack I’d been clutching, my voice softening. “Emily, come home with me. Look, your favorite doll—I kept it for you…” Inside that old backpack was the stuffed toy she’d treasured as a child, sewn by my own hands, stitch by stitch. She glanced at it, disgust filling her eyes. “Those things are garbage. I stopped wanting them ages ago. Just throw them out.” “Garbage?” I felt like I’d heard the biggest joke, my emotions completely collapsing. “Emily Smith, where’s your conscience? On your tenth birthday when you had a high fever, you cried holding that doll, saying you wanted it with you forever! Have you forgotten?” She looked at me coldly and said something I would never forget. “Can conscience get me into Harvard? Can conscience give me the good life I have now?” With that, she turned without looking back and walked through that magnificent villa gate. “Smith!” I screamed her name desperately, trying to chase after her. Two security guards immediately rushed over and dragged me out like a dead dog. I struggled, but one guard shoved me hard, and I fell to the ground again. My palms and knees scraped against the rough concrete, drawing blood. That cold black gate slammed shut in front of me with a heavy bang. My world completely collapsed.

A video of me “causing trouble” at Victor’s gate was somehow filmed and posted to the neighborhood group chat. The next day, the property management gave me a polite but firm “warning.” Neighbors looked at me with contempt and distance. “That’s her—I heard her daughter was taken in by a big businessman, and she’s still unhappy about it. Went to their gate and made a scene.” “Crazy from poverty, trying to extort money.” “Poor daughter. Finally makes something of herself, and her mom drags her down.” Rumors and gossip cut me like invisible knives. An old colleague I hadn’t contacted in ages must have heard about my situation and got me an administrative job. The pay wasn’t great, but at least it could ease my immediate crisis. I forced myself to go to work. But I didn’t even last one full day. Just after starting, people were whispering in the office break room. As I walked past, I clearly heard them discussing a video. When I returned to my desk, the colleague next to me gave me a strange look and quietly put away her phone. My heart sank. I searched my name on the computer, and a glaring video title popped up. [Shocking! Teen Girl Tearfully Accuses: Ten Years of Living Hell, Autism Actually Caused by Mother’s Mental Abuse!] My hands trembled as I clicked the video. In the footage, Smith sat on a luxurious sofa in a white dress, eyes filled with tears. “My mother… because her life wasn’t going well, she took all her frustrations out on me.” “For ten years, she often hit me, yelled at me, wouldn’t let me interact with anyone outside, saying everyone out there was bad… that’s why I… became autistic.” Victor and Lily held her on either side. Victor faced the camera with a pained expression: “As her father, I failed. I let my child suffer so much. From now on, I’ll give her the best compensation.” Lily gently wiped Smith’s tears: “Good child, it’s all in the past. From now on, you have me and Victor. No one will dare bully you again.” At the end of the video were photos of me “making scenes” at the school and villa gate, the child’s terror contrasting sharply with my twisted expression. All the blood in my body froze instantly. “Grace Reed, come to my office.” My boss’s voice came from the doorway. The boss didn’t look at me, just stared at the computer screen. “Our company may be small, but we value our corporate image. We don’t want employees with ‘character issues.’ You… don’t need to come in tomorrow.” I frantically pulled out my phone and dialed Smith’s number. “Why would you do this? Why lie! When did I ever abuse you!” The voice on the other end remained ice cold. “I just told the ‘truth.’ You’re the one who’s psychologically twisted and won’t admit it.” “You’re lying!” “Think whatever you want,” she coldly interrupted. “Don’t call me anymore. I don’t want to see you again, you ‘abusive psycho mother.’” The call ended. I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe she could be this heartless. I rushed to her school, wanting to confront her face-to-face. Her classmates blocked me, looking at me like I was some kind of monster. “Smith says she doesn’t want to see you. Stop harassing her.” In just one day, I became the evil mother everyone online wanted to condemn. My personal information, home address, and workplace were all exposed. My front door was spray-painted with red paint: “Vicious woman,” “Get out.” Someone even threw feces at my door. The landlord called, demanding I move out immediately. My only outlet was to run to the old house about to be demolished. It was the only inheritance my parents left me. I clutched the inheritance deed, sitting on the dusty floor, crying my heart out. I didn’t understand. Why would the daughter I raised with my life use the most vicious lies to personally push me into irredeemable hell? Just then, my phone vibrated. A text from an unknown number. “Want to know the truth? They have a son. He’s dying.” I froze, then laughed bitterly. Another prank? I deleted the message and curled up on the cold floor, letting the darkness swallow me whole.

I was eventually driven out by the landlord. He pointed at my door covered in paint and filth, cursing. “You jinx! Get out! If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” I dragged a shabby suitcase, wandering the streets like a homeless dog with nowhere to go. Night fell. With nowhere to turn, I could only sit on a park bench. My phone rang—the demolition office calling to notify me I could come sign the contract. After hanging up, I looked at my reflection on the phone screen: disheveled hair, sallow complexion, hollow eyes. I truly had nothing left. Just then, a black sedan stopped in front of me. A man in a suit stepped out. He looked at me with pity and handed over a document. *Voluntary Relinquishment of Guardianship and Severance of Family Relations Agreement*. Those words burned my eyes like red-hot iron. “Ms. Reed, Mr. Smith says if you sign this agreement, he’s willing to give you another hundred thousand dollars in ‘compensation.’” “This way, Miss Emily can be officially adopted by Lily. Her record will be clean, which is good for her future.” I laughed coldly and didn’t take it. The lawyer seemed to expect my reaction. Calmly, he pulled out another stack of photos from his briefcase and threw them in front of me. Photos of me sleeping miserably on park benches, picking up bottles near trash cans… every degrading angle captured. “Ms. Reed, you need to think carefully. If these photos reach the media, what do you think people online will say about you?” My body began trembling uncontrollably. Just as I was about to break down, another luxury car pulled up. Victor and Lily, with Smith, appeared before me. Smith wore an expensive designer outfit I couldn’t even name, her makeup flawless. She walked up to me, her eyes cold and resolute. She glanced at the agreement by my feet, then looked up at me. “Mom, be dignified. Just sign it.” Her voice corroded my heart like acid, word by word. “You can’t give me the future I want. Don’t drag me down anymore.” I stared hard at her face, trying to find even a trace of reluctance or pain. But there was nothing. Seeing my hesitation, she suddenly reached out and shoved me hard! Unprepared, my back slammed into the metal armrest of the bench. Sharp pain shot through my ribs. I gasped in agony. She didn’t even look, just shoved the pen into my hand. “If you don’t sign, I’ll kneel right now and beg you! Let everyone see how heartless you are as a mother!” I looked at this face, both familiar and strange. Looked at the determination and cruelty in her eyes. I suddenly laughed. Laughed until tears streamed down my face. I picked up the pen and forcefully signed my name at the bottom of that agreement. Then I looked up, meeting her cold gaze, and told her word by word: “Fine. I’ll grant you both your wish. I hope you won’t regret this later.”

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Derek pushed the divorce agreement in front of me. I glanced at it. The house goes to him, the car goes to him, savings split fifty-fifty. “Fifty-fifty?” I laughed. “There’s only thirty thousand in the account. You want to take fifteen thousand?” “This is just a fake divorce.” He frowned. “I need to guarantee a loan for a friend’s startup. I can’t have any debts under my name.” I stared into his eyes. He looked away. “Fine.” I picked up the pen. He visibly relaxed. He had no idea — I’d been waiting three years for this day. On the day we signed, Derek took half a day off work. Outside the courthouse, he even put on a show. “Sarah, I’m sorry to put you through this.” He held my hand. “Three months at most. Once I sort out the situation, we’ll remarry.” I nodded. “I’ve got it all arranged. You’ll move in with my mom for now.” “No need.” I pulled my hand back. “I’ll stay at my parents’ place.” He paused. “Your parents’ place? That’s so inconvenient…” “We’re divorced now. How can I still live with you?” He opened his mouth but said nothing. When we were processing the paperwork, the clerk asked if we’d thought this through. Derek rushed to answer: “We’ve thought it through.” I echoed: “We’ve thought it through.” He relaxed again. Outside the courthouse, he offered to drive me to my parents’ house. “No need.” I hailed a cab. “You go handle your business.” After the car had gone about fifty meters, I saw him through the rearview mirror, standing in place on his phone. His expression was relaxed, even smiling. I looked away and sent a text to my best friend, Madison. “It’s done.” She replied instantly: “What’s next?” “Wait.” I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. Five years ago when I married Derek, I thought I was marrying for love. He was three years older than me, working as a sales manager at a private company, making just over twenty thousand a month. I was an elementary school teacher making eight thousand, later raised to twelve thousand. When we got married, we bought an apartment on the east side of town. The down payment was eighty thousand. I paid fifty thousand — five years of savings plus twenty thousand from my parents. He paid thirty thousand. The monthly mortgage was eight thousand. I covered five thousand, he paid three. After marriage, I thought we were building our future together. He thought I was an ATM. The turning point came three years ago. That day I came home early and heard him on the balcony on the phone. “…Don’t worry, just wait a bit longer. When the time’s right, I’ll dump her…” I stood in the living room, frozen. He hung up and turned around. When he saw me, his expression changed for a split second before quickly returning to normal. “Who were you talking to?” I asked. “A client. A difficult client.” He walked over with a smile. “Why are you home so early?” I looked into his eyes and said nothing. From that day on, I started paying attention. I opened a bank account he didn’t know about and deposited two thousand every month. I quietly verified the details on our property deed. I checked his credit report and looked into his assets. The more I investigated, the colder my heart became. In five years of marriage, he’d registered a company under his name with fifty thousand in capital. I didn’t know a single thing about it. And our “joint savings” account always maintained a balance hovering around thirty thousand. Where did the money go? I didn’t ask. If I asked, he’d have a hundred excuses. I just waited. Waited for him to slip up on his own. Now, he’d finally made his move. A fake divorce. His reason: guaranteeing a friend’s loan. Laughable. That “friend” he wanted to help — I’d already investigated her. It was a woman.

When I got back to my parents’ house, my mom Elena looked worried. “Really just one month?” “Mom, I know what I’m doing.” “What about the house?” “Temporarily his.” My mom panicked: “Are you crazy? You paid the down payment on that house, and you’ve been paying most of the mortgage every month!” “Mom.” I held her hand. “It’s a fake divorce, not a real one. After we remarry in a month, the house will still belong to both of us.” This was Derek’s line. My mom was skeptical: “Well… you better keep a close eye on things.” “Don’t worry.” My dad Thomas sat nearby smoking, silent. Only after my mom went to the kitchen to cook did he speak. “Sweetie, are you hiding something from us?” I looked at him. “You’ve always been like this. The bigger the issue, the less you say.” He tapped ash from his cigarette. “But whatever decision you make, I support you.” My eyes felt hot. “Dad, I might need to stay here for a while.” “Stay as long as you want.” That night, Derek sent me a text. “Did you get home okay?” “Yes.” “Good. Rest well. Once things are sorted here, I’ll come get you.” “Okay.” The phone screen went dark. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The next day, I took my annual leave. Madison asked me: “What’s your plan for investigating?” “Start with that woman.” “You know who she is?” “I do.” I handed her my phone. “I found out a year ago.” On the screen was a photo. A young woman, around twenty-six or twenty-seven, with long hair and delicate features. The photo was taken at a café. Derek sat across from her. They were smiling. “This is…” Madison’s eyes widened. “Vanessa Clarke, the accountant at his company.” I said. “That company Derek owns — on paper it’s his, but she has a share too.” “How do you know?” “Public business registration records. Two shareholders: Derek owns sixty percent, Vanessa Clarke owns forty.” Madison gasped. “There’s more.” I pulled up another image. “This is another property under Derek’s name, on the west side of town. Eighty-three square meters.” “What? He has another apartment?” “Yes. Bought two years ago. Down payment of forty thousand, mortgage of one hundred twenty thousand. The delivery address on the purchase contract is Vanessa Clarke’s address.” Madison looked at me: “How long have you been investigating?” “On and off, three years.” She was silent for a moment: “Why didn’t you confront him earlier?” “Not enough evidence.” I put my phone away. “And I wanted to see how far he’d actually go.” “And now?” “Now,” I smiled slightly, “he’s delivered himself to my doorstep.” In the fake divorce agreement, the house goes to him, the car goes to him. This house is worth three hundred fifty thousand. This car is worth twenty-three thousand. And the “joint savings” only listed thirty thousand. He thought I didn’t know his company made over eighty thousand in profit last year. He thought I didn’t know about his apartment on the west side. He thought I was an idiot. He wanted to use a fake divorce to leave me with nothing. Then openly be with that woman. Too bad he miscalculated.

Three days after the divorce, Derek called. “Sarah, there’s a complication with the guarantee. Might need to wait a few more days.” My tone was calm: “How long?” “About… two or three weeks.” “Okay.” “Don’t worry. When it’s done, I’ll personally come get you and bring you home.” “Alright.” After hanging up, I stared at the call log. He’d stopped calling me “honey.” The change came quickly. Madison asked me out to dinner and wanted to know my next move. “I’m going to meet someone.” “Who?” “Derek’s mom.” “Why would you meet her?” “To test the waters.” The next day, I brought fruit to my ex-mother-in-law Helen’s house. When she saw me, her expression showed a moment of awkwardness, but quickly returned to normal. “Sarah, come in and sit.” “Helen, I came to check on you.” She took the fruit: “You’re so thoughtful, even after the divorce.” I laughed coldly inside but kept my face neutral. “Helen, what’s Derek been busy with lately? He mentioned guaranteeing a loan for a friend. Who’s this friend?” Her hand paused. “I’m not really sure. I don’t get too involved in Derek’s business.” “Really?” I smiled. “Is this friend’s last name Clarke?” Her expression froze. “Vanessa Clarke, right?” I looked at her. “Helen, have you met her?” The living room fell silent for a few seconds. She set down the fruit, her face changing: “Sarah, what are you implying?” “Nothing.” I stood up. “Just asking.” “You…” She pointed at me. “You’re divorced and you’re still here causing trouble?” “Helen, I’m not causing trouble.” I picked up my bag. “Your son started this with me. Fake divorce, ha.” “That was for your own good! Once the guarantee thing is done…” “Helen,” I interrupted her, “how old is the child Vanessa Clarke gave him?” Her face went white as a sheet. I walked to the door and looked back at her. “Tell Derek I have something for him.” Outside the complex, I called Madison. “Confirmed. There’s a child.” “How can you be sure?” “Her reaction.” I took a deep breath. “Also, that phone call three years ago when Derek said ‘when the time’s right I’ll dump her’ — I finally understand what he meant.” Madison fell silent on the other end. “Their child should be over two years old now.” I said. “The timing matches perfectly. Three years ago was right when that child was conceived.” “Sarah…” “I’m fine.” My voice was calm. “I was mentally prepared for this.” But after hanging up, I squatted by the roadside and cried for a long time. Not because I was heartbroken. But because the breath I’d been holding for three years finally had an outlet.

Derek quickly learned I’d visited his mother. He called, his tone clearly off. “Sarah, what were you doing at my mom’s?” “Checking on her.” “Why were you asking her about Vanessa Clarke?” “I didn’t say much. Just asked who this friend you need to guarantee for is.” Silence on the other end for a few seconds. “Sarah, what exactly are you trying to do?” “Me?” I laughed. “I’m not trying to do anything. But what about you, Derek? What are you trying to do?” He hung up. That evening, he showed up downstairs at my parents’ building. “Sarah, we need to talk.” I went downstairs and stood in front of him. “Talk about what?” “Did you find something out?” His eyes were evasive. “What do you think?” He licked his lips: “Vanessa… she’s just my business partner. Don’t misunderstand.” “Business partner.” I nodded. “And that apartment on the west side is also part of your business venture?” His expression changed. “Also, your company made over eighty thousand in profit last year. Your share is sixty thousand. Where’s that money?” He took a step back: “How… how do you know this?” “Derek,” I looked at him, “did you think I was an idiot?” He opened his mouth but couldn’t speak. “The fake divorce agreement — house goes to you, car goes to you, thirty thousand in savings split in half.” I enunciated each word. “You planned to leave me with nothing, then openly be with Vanessa Clarke, didn’t you?” His expression finally cracked. “Sarah, let me explain…” “I don’t want to hear it.” I turned toward the building. “Wait!” He rushed after me. “The divorce agreement is already signed. It’s too late to back out!” I stopped. Turned to look at him. “Who said I’m backing out?” He froze. “Derek, I signed that divorce agreement. I don’t regret it.” I said. “I just wanted to tell you — I have more on you than you think.” “What… what do you mean?” “Nothing much.” I smiled slightly. “Just think carefully about what you’ve done to me these past five years. Then wait for my lawyer’s letter.” I went into the building without looking back. Behind me came his voice: “Sarah! Sarah, stop right there!” I ignored him. The moment I closed the building door, I heard him violently kicking it from outside. “Sarah! Don’t push me!” I frantically pressed the elevator button.

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When the plane malfunctioned, Liam and I were both on board. In the tense atmosphere, everyone was writing their final messages. I gripped Liam’s hand tightly but caught a glimpse of him sending his message to my best friend, Riley. Liam pressed his lips together and, after a long pause, finally explained, “Don’t get the wrong idea. She’s the person we trust most, isn’t she?” Fortunately, it was a false alarm. I stepped off the plane on shaky legs and immediately called Riley. “Since he left all his assets to you, I might as well give him to you too.” On the other end of the line, Riley sounded frantic. “Nora, what are you talking about? I just saw the news about the plane malfunction. Are you okay? I’m on my way to the airport right now. Wait for me!” She quickly hung up. Liam walked beside me, saying helplessly, “Your parents and mine are getting older. I didn’t want to worry them, so I sent it to Riley instead! Alright, I apologize!” Liam pulled my hand and kissed my face. “Don’t be angry anymore. When Riley sees me, she’s definitely going to scold me. Can you bear to watch her lecture me?” My heart felt blocked. I walked away without a word. Liam chased after me, apologizing. When we reached the entrance, I saw Riley getting out of her car. The anxiety in her eyes didn’t seem fake. But I could see clearly—the first person she looked at was Liam. Then she rushed over to me and gave me a big hug before punching Liam’s shoulder. “You jerk! Why would you send a final message like that? You scared me to death!” Liam smiled. “Nothing happened, didn’t it? Besides, if something did happen, I trust you could handle everything for us! Nora’s still jealous of me!” He joked playfully. Riley rolled her eyes at him and pulled me to the car. I noticed how naturally they talked and joked together, without any sense of avoiding suspicion. When we got home, I made an excuse about being too tired and went back to the bedroom to rest. Lying in bed, I couldn’t fall asleep. I’d known Liam for eight years. We’d just returned from our honeymoon. I thought I understood him well. But earlier, when the plane malfunctioned and we faced life or death, I only thought about being with him forever. Yet Liam, with trembling hands, typed a few lines and sent them to Riley. He said it was a final message. But under the fear of death, my senses were heightened. I clearly saw those few lines he sent to Riley. All assets go to her. I dug my nails into my palm. Then I heard a voice from outside: “Nora, I’m walking Riley downstairs. I’ll be right back.” I quietly got up and came to the living room. I noticed he’d left his phone behind. In an instant, impulse took over. I walked over, entered the password, and opened his phone. I checked several apps but found nothing. Was I overthinking this? I thought it over, then with trembling hands clicked on settings and switched accounts. Sure enough, I accessed his alternate account. I didn’t even need to enter a password, probably because he used it frequently. Here, I saw his chat history with Riley. The earliest messages dated back eight years. Back then, I had just met Liam. Riley had known Liam before that. “You’re one lucky guy to know the most beautiful girl at our school. Nora’s pretty aloof—not everyone can catch her eye!” “Let’s take Nora to the badminton court today. She loves playing badminton! Don’t say I don’t help you out—just make sure you perform well!” “See how good I am to you? Nora’s my best friend. If you dare betray her, I’ll be the first one who won’t let you get away with it!” Later, their chats evolved from helping him pursue me, to playing sports and dating, and even to sex! From initial reluctance, to growing guilt, to excitement and passion. In just twenty minutes, I quickly skimmed through everything, photographing the information I needed, then exited and locked the screen. Then I opened my phone. At the parking space below, the two of them were hugging, briefly holding hands and touching each other, looking exactly like reluctant lovers saying goodbye. I took a deep breath. Something inside my heart completely collapsed.

I didn’t sleep all night. When Liam came back, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. His breathing near my ear made me feel sick. I pushed him away and went to the guest room. The next morning, I left early. If I continued staying under the same roof with him, I was afraid I’d throw up. When Liam called looking for me, I was at a law firm. I glanced at the divorce agreement, then answered the call. “Where did you go so early in the morning?” “The honeymoon’s over. I came to sort out my work.” I admired myself for being able to lie so calmly at this point. Liam seemed reassured. “Okay. I’m also busy today, so I won’t come home for lunch. I bought you a gift—remember to sign for it.” After hanging up, the lawyer across from me looked at me. “Are you okay?” Perhaps because I looked so terrible, he pushed a cup of hot water toward me. I smiled and thanked him, then added, “All of this goes to me. He’s the one at fault. I want ninety percent of the assets! He’s been having a long-term affair. He won’t refuse my demands. Just do as I say.” Perhaps sensing my bad mood, the gift Liam sent me was actually a handbag worth twenty thousand dollars. Immediately after, Riley called. “I’m so envious of certain people. He just wrote you a final message yesterday, and today he couldn’t wait to spend over twenty thousand on a bag for you. I’m telling you, don’t be too dramatic—just forgive him!” Listening to Riley make excuses for him on the phone, even blaming me for being too dramatic, I couldn’t help but find it funny. As if I was the petty one. After I stayed silent, Riley asked, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?” “I don’t really want to talk. Probably jet lag. I’m a bit tired,” I answered impatiently. “Then rest well. We’ll meet up later!” After hanging up, I quickly took action, searching all of Riley’s social media accounts. We’d been friends for years, but we’d only really been close for about five years—we grew closer because of Liam. I’d seen all her social media before, but without exception, I hadn’t found any issues. After thinking it over, I found an account in her following list with an avatar of a chubby cartoon girl—her favorite type. When I clicked on it, I discovered it was actually her alternate account. It was densely packed with records of her moments with Liam. Although the guy’s face wasn’t shown, I’d known Liam for eight years. I recognized him at a glance—whether it was a blurred silhouette or a fleeting side profile, this was Liam. Behind my back, they even had a little home together outside. I watched all her videos. In her bio, she’d written about Miss Fox and Mr. Rabbit who’d known each other for eight years and three months. “July 13, 2017. First time meeting Mr. Rabbit. Love at first sight! Took the initiative to get his contact info, then found out we go to the same university. Shamelessly joined the same club as him.” “October 1, 2017. My roommate and my crush also became friends. She’s really calculating—acting all cute the moment they meet. Don’t all men fall for that?” “She beat me to it after all! It hurts!” “December 25, 2017. Things are turning around. He says he still feels we have more in common!”

Over eight years, more than a thousand videos. I watched every single one. It was heartbreaking. Three months after Liam and I became official, he was already playing around with her. After a long while, anger surged through me. Liam, how could you face our eight years together! In that instant, I wanted to destroy him completely. It just so happened that the day after tomorrow was my mother-in-law’s birthday. In the years since I’d known Liam, his mother Diana had been truly good to me. But this time, I was bound to disappoint her. I boxed up the bracelet Diana had given me and bought a twenty-thousand-dollar wallet. I wrapped them together. The next morning, I reminded Liam, “Today’s your mom’s birthday. Come home early!” He agreed immediately, then turned and left. I took the day off, packed my luggage, and bought a large sledgehammer. I aimed at the wall and smashed down hard! Three hours later, the house was in ruins. I dragged my luggage and took the gifts, heading straight to Diana’s house. When I arrived, Riley was there too. Seeing me, she familiarly linked her arm with mine. “Nora, you’re finally here! We’ve been waiting forever!” I watched as she seated me, brought me water, acting like she was the hostess. Diana sat there smiling at her, not seeing anything wrong with this. My heart sank again. So they all knew. Only I didn’t know. “Where’s Liam?” It was already six o’clock. He should have been here by now. I took out my phone to message him when Riley said, “Liam said he has a meeting tonight. He’ll be about half an hour late!” Hearing this, I said coldly, “He’s certainly honest with you. I didn’t even know!” Riley froze, then smiled. “How would I know? Diana called him and I overheard! I just got here too. Liam said having more people would be livelier!” Diana took over. “That’s right. Liam’s busy at work. After a month-long honeymoon, he has too many tasks piled up. He must be swamped these days. Nora, you need to understand.” Before I could speak, Riley put her arm around my shoulder and smiled at Diana. “Our Nora is the most understanding. She definitely gets it, right?” I smiled without responding. Half an hour later, Liam finally arrived. As soon as he entered, he came to my side and started peeling an apple for me. Everyone sat together. The housekeeper brought out all the dishes. I also took out my gifts. “Happy birthday. This is my birthday gift for you!” Diana took the box. After opening it, there was clearly a wallet inside. Riley exclaimed beside her, “Nora, you really know how to choose! That must have cost a lot!” “Twenty thousand dollars.” Diana immediately set the box aside. “So expensive! No, no. Nora, you and Liam work hard for your money. Don’t spend so much!” I joked, “If I don’t spend this money, he’ll spend it on other women. I might as well buy you a gift with it!” Diana froze. “Child, don’t talk nonsense!” I smiled. “Look underneath. There’s more!” When Diana pulled out the small box underneath and opened it, her expression changed dramatically! “Nora, what does this mean?” Liam also grabbed my wrist. “Nora, what are you doing? Who returns a gift they’ve given?” Riley also patted me. “Nora, don’t be confused. You can’t give back a gift like this!” I looked at their faces—shocked, afraid, and panicked. Liam took the bracelet and was about to put it on my hand. I pulled my hand back and stood up directly. “That’s right. I’m returning it. I want a divorce!”

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Because my husband Adrian froze all my bank cards, I went to his company to ask for money for my prenatal checkup. I accidentally walked in on him having sex with his childhood sweetheart, Summer Cole. I touched my still-unborn child, swallowed my tears, and walked in calmly. “Give me two thousand dollars for the checkup, and I’ll leave right away.” Adrian sneered. “We’re in the middle of having sex, and you scared Summer. Apologize to her, and I’ll give you the money.” For the sake of my unborn baby, I immediately bent down to apologize, took the money, and left. Everyone thought I was a gold-digger clinging desperately for money. He cursed me the same way. It wasn’t until after I disappeared that Adrian realized his “embarrassing” wife had, by his own hands, become the woman every elite family wanted most. And when he knelt before me, begging me to look at him one more time in his bloody, broken state, I was holding another man’s arm, walking down the red carpet toward my wedding.

Joanna POV Three years after marrying Adrian Blackwood, I saw him passionately kissing his childhood sweetheart Summer Cole in his office. On the leather sofa I’d personally chosen, Adrian had Summer pinned beneath him. “Summer, I want you.” “So when are you signing the divorce papers to marry me?” Summer wrapped her arms around Adrian’s neck, her cool voice still tinged with fading desire. Standing outside the door, I froze. Tears streamed down my face without me even realizing it. My hand instinctively moved to my abdomen. I hadn’t forgotten my purpose for coming here-to ask Adrian for money for my prenatal checkup. Two months ago, after Summer returned to the country, Adrian made her the household manager and simultaneously cut off all my cards. I took a deep breath, wiped the tears from my face, forced a smile, and pushed open the door to walk into the office. “Sorry to interrupt.” Hearing my voice, Adrian’s brow furrowed quickly. His body, which had been pressing down on Summer, immediately straightened, pulling distance between them. Summer’s expression darkened as she buttoned her shirt, concealing the kiss marks on her neck. Ignoring the awkward atmosphere in the room, I looked straight at Adrian. “I need to go to the hospital for a checkup today. I applied to Summer yesterday, but she didn’t reply, so I came here.” “How much do you need?” “Two thousand dollars.” Summer frowned, her cool face covered with a layer of frost. “Joanna, I already manage all the household affairs, and on top of that, I’m Blackwood Corporation’s Design Director. I don’t have time to approve every little expense you come up with. Don’t tell me you can’t afford two thousand dollars. Or are you just trying to make a scene in front of Adrian?” Adrian’s scrutinizing gaze shot into my heart like a knife, cutting it into countless tiny pieces. I smiled bitterly inside. After marriage, I hadn’t worked. Adrian cut off my cards, and the money I’d saved before marriage ran out in a month. My mother was still hospitalized, and everything required money. This month, even working three jobs a day wasn’t nearly enough. If I hadn’t been truly desperate, I wouldn’t have humiliated myself by asking. I looked up at Adrian. “Adrian, I’m still your wife. Are you giving me this money or not?” Deep in my heart, I still held hope for the man before me. If Adrian could choose me over Summer, for the sake of the child, I could pretend nothing had happened. “Give it? Of course I’ll give it.” Adrian sneered. “You married me for the Blackwood family money, didn’t you? But my money doesn’t grow on trees.” “Today you ruined my mood. Apologize to us, and you can take the money.” The humiliation was overwhelming. I could barely breathe. Mrs. Blackwood was right. Adrian truly loved Summer. I was just a stand-in. “I’m sorry for interrupting you two.” Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with my apology. I turned to Summer and bent at the waist. “The money’s been transferred to you. Don’t come to the company unless it’s necessary from now on.” I looked at the notification showing two thousand dollars deposited, lowered my head, and left the office. I don’t know how I walked out of the company. In a daze, I remembered three years ago when Adrian fell for me at first sight and pursued me frantically. He picked me up and dropped me off every day, gave me endless small gifts, and created various surprises for me. Just because I said I didn’t know what flowers I liked, he rented ten thousand acres of flower fields and let me choose one by one. Having never been treasured like that before, I fell. On our wedding registration day, Adrian looked like he owned the whole world, his eyes full of happiness and longing for the future. “Joanna, we’ll be happy for a lifetime.” But only three years later, he cheated with another woman. I picked up my phone and sent a message to Mrs. Blackwood. “You win. I accept defeat. Please fulfill your promise.” Soon I received a reply. “The divorce papers will reach you within three days. I’ll arrange your mother’s hospital transfer process. Three days from now, you leave New York and never come back.” I put away my phone and hailed a car to the hospital. Watching the scenery outside the window, I let out a long breath. Soon it would all be over. Three months ago, my mother’s small company was sabotaged, creating a huge funding gap. Mother didn’t want me to worry, so she faced those vicious debt collectors alone. I didn’t find out until the company went bankrupt and Mother was driven to a heart attack and admitted to the ICU. When I was desperate, not knowing how to ask Adrian for money, Mrs. Blackwood found me first. “I can pay for your mother to get the best treatment, but you have to make a bet with me.” Mrs. Blackwood had opposed my marriage from the start. Back then, Adrian fought his family elders for me and was severely punished, nearly losing half his life before Mrs. Blackwood relented. “Adrian’s ex-girlfriend is returning tomorrow. She and Adrian are perfectly matched, but three years ago, family circumstances forced her to go abroad. I’ll arrange for her to enter Blackwood Corporation. If within three months, Adrian still insists on only you, from then on I won’t make things difficult for you.” “But if he chooses Summer, you leave New York. In either case, I’ll give you money so your mother can get treatment.” At the time, I was supremely confident in our relationship, thinking this was a gamble that could both get Mother treatment and make Mrs. Blackwood fully accept me. Mrs. Blackwood handed me a card. “Don’t tell Adrian about this, and don’t play any tricks. I still have the final say at Blackwood Corporation.” I returned home to pack, constantly replaying the doctor’s words in my mind. “The baby’s developing well, but you’re already showing some signs of threatened miscarriage. During pregnancy, you need to maintain your physical and emotional wellbeing. Don’t overwork yourself.” I had no choice. Mother in the ICU was burning through money every day. Given Adrian’s current attitude toward me, he wouldn’t give me a cent. I could only rely on myself. Perhaps with my current situation, I shouldn’t keep this child at all. Closing my suitcase, I noticed a glaring red color in the bed crack. I walked over and picked it up. It was women’s underwear with traces of fluid still remaining. In that instant, my mind went blank. Adrian and Summer-they did it in our marital bedroom?

Joanna POV I wanted to wait for Adrian to come home and ask him clearly, but I waited until dawn without seeing anyone. I smiled bitterly. Adrian hadn’t come home much this past month-why did I think he’d come back today? My phone suddenly rang. It was Adrian calling. “Bring two boxes of condoms. I’ve sent you the address and the brand.” I opened the address Adrian sent-it was “Mystique,” New York’s largest nightclub. “Do you really have to humiliate me like this?” My voice trembled as I bit my lip hard. Was it because I’d already seen them this morning, so there was no need to hide it from me anymore? Adrian’s voice carried not a trace of emotion. “If you want to enjoy the glory and wealth of being a billionaire’s wife, you need the appropriate tolerance. Did you think you could just take my mother’s money for free?” Adrian’s words struck me like a bolt of lightning. So he’d been treating me so differently because he knew I’d taken money from Mrs. Blackwood. “Adrian, I didn’t-” “I only use this brand. If she can’t deliver it, don’t touch me anymore.” Summer’s cool voice came through the phone, extinguishing the hope that had just kindled in my heart. It was never just about the money. If Adrian loved me enough, trusted me enough, he wouldn’t think of me this way. His heart had long since left me. Nothing I said would matter. “I’ll order delivery for you. Hope you have fun.” I hung up and had just opened the delivery app when I received a message from Adrian. “This brand isn’t available for delivery. Get it here within thirty minutes, and I’ll give you a hundred thousand.” Thinking of my future with Mother, and the child in my belly, I replied: “Deal.” The Blackwood family driver had already finished work. At this hour, I couldn’t get a car at all. Walking down the street, I scanned a bike-share bicycle. Getting on it, I remembered two years ago when Adrian personally taught me to ride. Back then, I never would have imagined there’d be a day when I’d ride a bike to deliver condoms to him and another woman. I rode as fast as I could to the adult store, then headed to the nightclub. The sky suddenly started drizzling. I had no choice but to pedal desperately. Finally, right on time, I pushed open the private room door at the 29-minute mark. I was soaked through, my face pale, my lower abdomen aching faintly. I pulled the bag from inside my clothes and walked to Adrian. “Transfer the money.” Adrian took the bag and promptly transferred the money. “You really are willing to do anything for money. I transferred three hundred thousand-the extra is my compensation for sleeping with you these three years.” I ignored Adrian’s words. I’d already decided to leave, so I wouldn’t hold any more expectations for him. Now, except for money, nothing else mattered to me. Summer laughed lightly beside him. “Girls from ordinary families just can’t be presented in society. As long as someone gives you money, you’d sleep with anyone, right?” Hearing Summer’s words, the other men in the room all turned their gazes on me. Those naked stares made me feel sick. “How come I never noticed Joanna had such a good figure before?” “Adrian’s got Summer now-why not let us have some fun with her?” “Hahaha, a woman a billionaire’s had-just thinking about it is exciting!” Adrian’s expression darkened. He grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it at the feet of the jeering men. The glass shards cut several men’s faces, but not one dared dodge. “Shut up!” Adrian turned to look at me, picked up his jacket, and draped it over me to block the others’ gazes. “Joanna, who are you trying to seduce looking like that? Can’t live without a man? Can’t get money from me so you’re sizing up other targets?” I instinctively protested: “I didn’t. I rode a bike here. It’s raining outside…” Summer, sitting on the sofa, took a sip of wine and spoke softly. “It’s raining and you don’t know to have the driver take you or call a car? You deliberately rode a bike here-trying to scheme against Adrian like you did three years ago?” Three years ago, it was also a rainy day. I didn’t have an umbrella and got drenched like a drowned rat hiding at a bus stop. That very bedraggled appearance made Adrian fall for me at first sight. I looked at Adrian’s darkened face, knowing nothing I said would help. “Joanna, three years and you haven’t even upgraded your tactics? You really take me for a complete fool?” Adrian gripped my chin tightly, using so much force he nearly crushed my bones. I was pregnant, and combined with intense exercise and the rain, I was already at my limit. After a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, I lost consciousness. In the last moment before losing consciousness, I saw the blood spreading on my pants. Adrian completely panicked. “Get the car! To the hospital! Hurry!”

Joanna POV When I woke again, I was in the hospital. Adrian sat by my bed, tightly gripping my hand. Seeing me awake, Adrian quickly picked up the water cup and brought it to my lips. I turned my head away, my voice hoarse. “Where’s the baby?” Adrian showed a regretful expression. “Joanna, we’ll have another child.” I closed my eyes. Two lines of tears fell from the corners of my eyes. There would be no “next time.” Perhaps it was better the baby was gone. Rather than being born into an incomplete, unhappy family, better to be reborn into a good home. I don’t know how much time passed before I opened my eyes and looked at Adrian. “Adrian, did you ever love me?” I paused. “Or rather, do you really think I approached you for money?” Adrian froze for a second, then held my hand. “Joanna, of course I love you. Even if you approached me for money, it doesn’t matter. The baby’s gone. Can we erase the past and start over?” “What about Summer?” “Summer and I grew up together.” Adrian pressed his face tightly against my palm. “I love you and I love her, but don’t worry-you’ll always be Mrs. Blackwood. I’ll only have you two women, not like others in our circle with so many women.” Looking at the man before me, the last beautiful memory related to him in my heart collapsed. I understood. Adrian believed I approached him only for money. Now that the baby was gone, he’d decided to magnanimously forgive my past “scheming.” I couldn’t understand how someone could be so hypocritical, making infidelity sound so refreshing and sanctimonious. Summer entered the room. I seized the opportunity to pull my hand from Adrian’s. “Am I interrupting you two?” Summer stood at the door with sarcasm. Before Adrian could react, she spoke again. “I checked the hospital records. Yesterday morning you just had a prenatal checkup, so how come by evening you knowingly rode a bike in the rain while pregnant?” Adrian’s expression instantly darkened, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping over me. “Was it an accident…” Summer paused, then smiled meaningfully. “Or did you not want this baby and deliberately do this to frame me?” Summer walked forward and threw the documents in her hand into Adrian’s lap. “Look carefully. This crude tactic might fool Adrian, but it can’t fool me.” Adrian flipped through the documents, then looked up with a complex expression. “Do you have anything to say?” I opened my mouth but ultimately said nothing. What could I say? That the driver had finished work? That you couldn’t get a car in the villa district at dawn? Or that Mother was in the ICU and I desperately needed money? No matter how much I explained, in their eyes it would all just be excuses. My phone suddenly lit up. I opened the message. “Joanna, your mother’s condition is very poor. The account funds are depleted. If you wish to continue treatment, please pay promptly.” I immediately transferred the three hundred thousand Adrian had given me to the hospital account, then put down my phone and grinned at Adrian. “Yes, I did it deliberately. You and Summer are perfectly matched. Of course I need to make room for her. Considering how hard I worked and risked half my life, can you give me some money? A million dollars would be enough.” Adrian’s brow furrowed tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. “Joanna, you’re so money-crazy you’d even trade our child for cash?” “It was a life, after all. If you’re unwilling, would Summer be willing to pay?” It didn’t matter anymore-however Adrian saw me didn’t matter. I only needed money now. I had no time to contact Mrs. Blackwood. Even casting aside all dignity, as long as I could get money, I’d do anything. Summer placed her hand on Adrian’s to comfort him, indicating he should leave everything to her. Adrian silently stepped back, his eyes still fixed on me. “Want money? Of course you can have it. Though I don’t need you to make room for me-what’s mine will always be mine, not yours to give. But you did look after Adrian for three years. A million isn’t expensive.” Summer’s tone changed. “But I’m not as soft-hearted as Adrian. If you want money, you’ll have to pay a price.” “What price?” “Blackwood Corporation’s amusement park in New York is about to open. We need someone to personally test the extreme rides. Are you willing to contribute to the company?” I had no room to refuse. I changed clothes and went with them to the amusement park. Looking at the various high-altitude projects, my legs trembled uncontrollably, my face white as paper. When I was young, I was bullied by classmates who made me ride a roller coaster over a hundred times consecutively. Though my life wasn’t at risk, that rapid rising and falling sensation of weightlessness became a nightmare I could never forget. After marriage, Adrian discovered my unusual fear of heights and took me to see famous psychologists. Every time I woke from nightmares, he’d pull me into his arms to comfort me. I instinctively cast a pleading look toward Adrian, but only saw his cold eyes. I forced down my fear and looked at Summer with forced composure. “Transfer the money first.” Summer sneered. “You really will do anything for money. I’ll transfer five hundred thousand first. When all the projects are finished, I’ll transfer the remaining five hundred thousand.” I saw the notification of five hundred thousand arriving on my phone, nodded, and walked toward the tallest roller coaster and got on. As I was checking the safety measures, a roaring sound rang in my ears-the equipment had been started! Though it was only a dozen seconds, it felt incredibly long. The powerful airflow scraped my skin like sandpaper, my brain rapidly filling with blood. In a daze, I seemed to see Adrian proposing to me years ago. He knelt on one knee in the flower field and put a ring he’d made himself on my finger. Back and forth like this, I don’t know how many times. Finally stopping on the ground, I collapsed, unable to stop dry heaving. A staff member walked up to me. “Joanna, Adrian and Summer have already left. I’m in charge of the subsequent project testing. Each test will be fully videotaped. Can you continue?” I wiped away the blood seeping from my fingertips from gripping too hard and stood up supporting myself on the railing. “Let’s continue.”

Joanna POV Three hours later, I dragged my body, which had reached its limit, back to the villa. The villa’s main gate was tightly closed. I used my last bit of strength to press the doorbell, then uncontrollably slid to the ground. One minute… two minutes… ten minutes… No one opened the door for me. The electronic doorbell made a rustling sound as the camera turned toward my direction. “Joanna, Summer set a curfew. After nine o’clock, no one is allowed in or out. Find somewhere else to rest tonight.” After a beep, the sound completely disappeared, and the camera returned to its original position. My spirit, which I’d been forcing to hold together, reached its limit. Scenes related to Adrian flashed through my mind like a slideshow. On the manor lawn, Adrian once held me in his arms teaching me to weave flower crowns. By the Trevi Fountain in Rome, he and I threw coins together, making a wish to heaven for a lifetime together. I remembered again how Adrian fought the family elders for me that day, ultimately being severely whipped until bloody and mangled, yet still forcing a smile to comfort me. And the first time I was pregnant, the way he was genuinely happy from his heart, as if he wanted to give me the whole world. After the child was lost, he barely smiled for a whole year. The scene shifted, and I saw Adrian in the nightclub gripping my chin, humiliating me to the extreme. Tears flowed unconsciously. I seemed to have grown accustomed to this pain. If I could be given another chance, I wouldn’t want to fall in love with Adrian again. I completely lost consciousness and fainted outside the villa gate. Early the next morning, the servants woke me at the door. I swayed as I walked into the villa. I felt feverish all over, single-mindedly wanting only to get my luggage and leave the Blackwood home. Halfway up the stairs, I encountered Summer coming out of the bedroom. Summer wore only one of Adrian’s shirts. The red marks on her neck and chest all proclaimed how intense their night had been. I knew what she meant but didn’t want to pay attention. But Summer blocked my way first. “Joanna, you really have no shame. Even like this, you still want to stay by Adrian’s side?” Summer mocked in a voice only the two of us could hear. “I thought you’d have figured it out last night and wouldn’t have the face to come back.” Her finger slid toward the kiss marks on her body. “Adrian’s heart no longer has you in it. Or rather, he never loved you. From beginning to end, you were just my substitute.” I slowly raised my head, looked Summer in the eye, and said, “Excuse me. You’re in my way.” I wouldn’t show weakness before Summer. Regardless of her reaction, I strode to the room where I’d left my luggage. In my suitcase was a doll my father had made for me with his own hands. This was the only keepsake he’d left me. I had to take it. The moment I stood up, my vision went black. I steadied myself against the wardrobe for a while before returning to normal. During this time, I seemed to hear a scream from downstairs. I shook my head and carried my suitcase downstairs. Whatever happened had nothing to do with me anymore. As soon as I reached the living room, I saw Summer holding her arm with red, swollen eyes, leaning in Adrian’s embrace. Adrian’s face was dark. Seeing me, he immediately ordered the bodyguards: “Grab her!” Before I could react, a huge force came from behind my legs. My legs gave way and I knelt on the ground. The next second, my head was pressed firmly to the floor, and my lips were cut by my teeth, seeping blood. “Adrian, I just asked her a couple questions about where she went last night. I didn’t expect her to do this to me.” “She scattered nails in the living room! If I hadn’t reacted quickly, the nails would have pierced my foot instead of just scratching my arm!” I looked up in disbelief. “What nails? I didn’t!” The next second, the bodyguard searched me. Soon, he pulled out a dozen nails from my pocket. Adrian’s face darkened. “What do you have to say now?” I immediately looked at Summer. It was her! She was the one who stuffed them in my pocket on the stairs! I struggled desperately. “It wasn’t me! It was Summer-she framed me!” Adrian didn’t even give me a glance. He turned and carried Summer to the hospital, pausing at the door. “Even now you don’t know to repent. Since you like playing dirty tricks, take her to the basement for punishment.” “Count carefully for me. If it’s not a hundred lashes, you’ll make up the rest.”

Joanna POV I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but no one stopped. The bodyguards took me to the basement of the Blackwood estate-a place specifically for punishing people. On the cold concrete floor sat a punishment rack, still bearing bloodstains from the previous victim. Tremendous fear enveloped me. After these hundred lashes, I’d probably be torn to shreds. I desperately hugged a bodyguard’s thigh, shaking my head constantly. “I’m Adrian’s wife. You can’t do this to me. He’s just angry with me temporarily. If you really do this, he’ll hold you accountable later.” I had no confidence at all, but this identity was the only thing I had left to offer. “Let me go, please. I can give you money, as much as you want.” But the bodyguard completely ignored my words, only raising his hand to point at the surveillance camera in the upper right corner. “Joanna, don’t make things difficult for us. The boss has already given the order. The entire basement has complete surveillance coverage. We’re just following orders.” My hand dropped limply as I allowed the bodyguard to tie me to the rack. The rough whip fell mercilessly. Intense pain instantly swept through my entire body. My whole back was struck without mercy. My face instantly turned pale, cold sweat streaming from my forehead. I couldn’t help curling up, but it only brought me greater pain. At first, I could still feel the pain, even wishing I could pass out immediately. But soon, I lost all perception of my body, as if my soul had left and was watching this cruel punishment indifferently. The massive blood loss made me feel an exhaustion from deep within my body. I even felt it would be good if I just fell asleep like this. I don’t know how much time passed. In a daze, I felt someone lifting me up. The restraints that had bound my wrists and ankles disappeared. The smell in the air became pungent. Many people in white clothes seemed to be constantly moving before my eyes. After that, I couldn’t remember anything clearly. When I regained consciousness again, my entire body was wrapped in gauze. I couldn’t move at all. The nurse making rounds noticed my movement and immediately called a doctor. The doctor shone a flashlight in my eyes twice, looked at the monitoring equipment indicators, and spoke to me. “You lost too much blood. Although we’ve given you a transfusion, you definitely won’t recover quickly. We’ve applied medicine to your wounds, but you need to be prepared. The wounds are too large. They’ll definitely scar.” I blinked to indicate I understood. “We couldn’t contact your family, but the person who brought you left sufficient funds in your account. Don’t worry. Rest and recover. You can be discharged in about two weeks.” I lay in the hospital for three days before I could finally get out of bed and move around. During this time, Adrian didn’t visit me once, but Summer hired a caregiver for me. Hospital life was boring. Every day I just stared at the ceiling or listened to sounds from the next room. The next room housed a newly married young couple. Because the wife had signs of threatened miscarriage, they’d been staying in the hospital for observation. Their room was always lively, with many visitors every day. They even sent me fruit twice. A child would be happy in such a family. Two weeks passed quickly. After the doctor checked my condition, he approved my discharge application. Before leaving, I wanted to see what my “fellow patient” next door actually looked like. I walked to the hospital room door. What I saw made me freeze in place as if struck by lightning. That couple I’d always thought was happy-it was Adrian and Summer. The happy family I’d envied all this time, even hoping my lost child would be reborn into- It was my husband and another woman. Just one wall apart. Adrian came to the hospital every day but never visited me once. Summer, lying in Adrian’s embrace inside the room, casually glanced at me by the door. First showing a bit of surprise, she then revealed a victor’s smile. I don’t know how I walked out of the hospital. I mechanically hailed a taxi, went back for my luggage, and picked up the divorce agreement Mrs. Blackwood had given me. Then I went to the airport, bought a ticket, and went through security. The whole process went smoothly, without a trace of hesitation. As if going faster would prevent the pain from catching up with me. Three hours later, I got off the plane in a small southern city. Feeling the air’s moisture so different from New York’s, I couldn’t help but redden my eyes. I was free.

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After three years of marriage, I finally got pregnant with his child. But on the day I wanted to surprise him, I overheard a conversation coming from his office. He’d been keeping a mistress in his friend’s villa for three whole years. I turned and fled, sharp pain shooting through my abdomen, blood running down my legs. When I woke up, the baby was gone. He begged me. “Rachel is pregnant. Let her have the child, and you can raise it, okay?” He didn’t know our child was already gone. I smiled and nodded, handing him the divorce papers. He signed without even looking, then rushed off to be with that woman. A month later, I boarded a plane and left. Before takeoff, I sent him a photo of my scarred body: “I’m setting you both free. From now on, we owe each other nothing.” That day, my plane “crashed into the sea.” Later I heard he knelt at my grave for three days. But he didn’t know that I was never on that plane. Lily POV In the third year of my marriage to Sebastian Laurent, I got pregnant. After the pregnancy was confirmed, I couldn’t wait to go to his company to share the good news with him in person. Everyone at Laurent Corporation knew me. Wanting to surprise him, I slipped in without having anyone announce my arrival. When I reached the CEO’s office door, my hand fell on the handle. Before I could push it open, I suddenly heard two male voices coming through the slightly ajar door. Sebastian’s best friend, Marcus, said, “The nanny taking care of Rachel says she’s been causing a lot of trouble lately.” Rachel? That name hit my ears like a thunderbolt, exploding in my mind. My expression froze instantly. The name Rachel wasn’t unfamiliar to me. Before Sebastian and I got married, I had spent two years abroad receiving medical treatment. During those two years, a woman who resembled me somewhat appeared by Sebastian’s side. That woman was Rachel. But hadn’t Sebastian sent Rachel away with money after I came back? Not only did Sebastian not send Rachel away, he’d hidden her in a villa under his best friend’s name for three whole years? My mind went blank. My hands unconsciously gripped the hem of my clothes as I held my breath. Then I heard Sebastian’s voice from inside the office, “What’s she fussing about?” “Rachel says you haven’t been to see her in a long time. She wants to know where she stands. If you don’t care about her anymore, then go tell her straight up so she can move on and let you be with your true love.” Sebastian frowned slightly. “I’ve been busy lately, and Lily hasn’t been feeling well. I need to stay with her. Rachel has a temper-let her make a fuss. Just have the nanny take good care of her.” “But you’ve hidden Rachel in my villa for three years.” Marcus sounded puzzled. “How long are you planning to keep hiding her?” Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose wearily. “Lily can’t accept Rachel’s existence. I have no choice but to let her stay in the villa under your name.” “But you can’t hide her forever, right? Aren’t you worried that one day Lily will find out Rachel was never sent away?” Sebastian’s tone carried a warning edge. “As long as you keep your mouth shut around Lily, she’ll never know.” “Of course I won’t say anything to Lily.” Marcus paused. “But didn’t you originally just treat Rachel as Lily’s substitute? You and Lily have been married all this time-why are you still hiding Rachel instead of sending her away?” Sebastian’s brow furrowed. Marcus probed, “Are you reluctant to let go of Rachel as a substitute?” Sebastian remained cryptic, silent for a long while before speaking. “When Lily was being treated abroad, Rachel was the one by my side. She once cried and told me she couldn’t imagine never seeing me again. She can’t leave me. If she left, her life would fall apart.” “So because Rachel can’t leave you, you’re hiding her… what about Lily?” “Lily is the one who accompanied me from nothing to success. Without her companionship and support all those years, there might not be the me of today. She’s always been my spiritual pillar. I love her more than I love myself, so she will always be Mrs. Laurent.” Outside the office door, I felt like I’d instantly fallen from heaven into hell, my whole body frozen as if plunged into ice. My face turned deathly pale as I turned and fled in panic. When I passed the secretarial department, I made a point of saying, “Don’t tell Sebastian I was here.” “Uh, okay, Mrs. Laurent.” I stumbled out of Laurent Corporation, walking dazed through the busy streets. In my mind, the words from that office conversation kept repeating. My eyes reddened, my vision blurring with tears. My chest felt like it had been torn open by a sharp blade, leaving a gaping, bloody wound. My heart seemed to bleed, and tears flowed uncontrollably. After walking in this lost state for who knows how long, a sharp, dropping pain suddenly shot through my abdomen. The pain came urgently and fiercely, as if someone was tearing my flesh apart. I had to stop, trembling hands covering my lower abdomen, cold sweat beading on my forehead. A warm liquid slowly trickled down the inside of my thighs. Terror instantly engulfed me. “Baby…” I frantically pulled out my phone. My vision became blurry from pain and tears, but I didn’t call Sebastian. Instead, I dialed emergency services. “Help… I’m at…” Before I could finish, intense dizziness struck. Amid the startled cries of passersby, my consciousness faded into darkness.

Lily POV When I woke again, I was in a hospital room filled with the smell of disinfectant. The doctor stood by the bed, looking at me with regret. “Mrs. Laurent, I’m very sorry. Although we did our best, because you have a pre-existing heart condition and suffered extreme emotional distress, the baby… couldn’t be saved.” Couldn’t be saved… Those words hammered into my heart like a sledgehammer. I forced myself through my physical weakness, trembling hands moving to my now-flat abdomen. A tiny life had been growing there, but now only desolate emptiness remained. This was the first child Sebastian and I had conceived together. More than once, he had gently stroked my belly and asked, “When will you give me a baby?” Sebastian loved children and really wanted to have one with me. Now I was finally pregnant, but this child we’d waited so long for had left me before even seeing the world-all because of his betrayal. Was it because of that woman named Rachel? Or because of Sebastian, full of lies? The overwhelming grief left me unable to even cry. My precious baby, I’m sorry. Mommy didn’t protect you… After the D&C procedure, I declined the suggestion to stay for observation. Forcing myself up, I went to a law firm and had a lawyer draft divorce papers. After finishing this, I returned to Maple Bridge Villa in a daze, barely remembering the journey. I collapsed onto the bedroom bed, my chaotic thoughts filled with memories of Sebastian and me. Sebastian and I had been attracted to each other since high school and became a couple in college. In our most innocent years, we fell in love and shared the most beautiful campus days. During the hardest period when he was starting his business, we ate cheap sandwiches together, lived in dark, cramped rental apartments, and on the coldest winter days, we held each other tight for warmth. I accompanied him through wind and rain, through the most difficult and struggling times, without a single complaint. All our friends envied our relationship back then. Until five years ago, when Sebastian finally became a rising tech star in the industry, famous and successful. At the same time, I was diagnosed with heart disease. Sebastian arranged for me to have surgery at the best hospital abroad. Because the company kept him too busy, he could only occasionally find time to visit me overseas. But I never imagined that during those two years when we were apart, Sebastian met Rachel. I remembered the first time I learned of Rachel’s existence, three years ago, after I returned home from treatment. I cried. I made scenes. I couldn’t believe that the man I’d walked through so much with had another woman by his side during those two years while I was having surgery. At the time, Sebastian explained anxiously, “I just love you too much, Lily. The days without you by my side felt endless, so I let a woman who resembled you stay near me.” He said he only treated Rachel as my substitute, that he had no feelings for her whatsoever, and that I was the only one he’d ever loved. He said he would give Rachel money and send her away, that he wouldn’t let her existence affect our relationship. I believed him. But instead, he’d hidden Rachel in a villa under his best friend’s name. He’d been hiding her for three whole years. If I hadn’t overheard it myself, I’d probably still be in the dark. I probably still wouldn’t know that the man who carefully hid Rachel away was the same one who swore eternal devotion to me and claimed to have no feelings for Rachel. Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message notification. It was from Sebastian. “Lily, I have to go on a business trip for a couple days. Remember to eat and sleep well, and I’ll bring you back a gift.” Reading this message, my eyes reddened. I suddenly recalled all those previous times Sebastian went on “business trips.” Those so-called business trips were probably to see Rachel, weren’t they? How ridiculous that I only realized this today. The next day, while getting a follow-up exam and medication at the hospital, I unexpectedly ran into Sebastian. Meeting me without warning, Sebastian froze for a moment. “Lily… what are you doing at the hospital?” I didn’t answer. Instead, my gaze fell on his hand nervously and carefully supporting Rachel. Sebastian quickly let go of Rachel. “Lily, it’s not what it looks like. Let me explain…” I gave a faint smile, said nothing, and turned to leave. Sebastian stood stunned, his heart tightening, wanting to chase after me. But Rachel grabbed his arm, her whole body going soft and boneless against him. “Sebastian, my stomach hurts so much…”

Lily POV Held back by Rachel, Sebastian ultimately didn’t chase after me. It wasn’t until evening that he returned to Maple Bridge Villa. Knowing he could no longer hide the truth about Rachel, he gave a brief, glossed-over confession about the fact that Rachel had actually been in the area all these years. I listened quietly without asking a single question. My silence made Sebastian uneasy. “Lily, I know I didn’t handle this well. I apologize, but the child is innocent.” The child? Just as I thought Sebastian had discovered my unfortunate miscarriage. I heard him continue in a grave tone, “I know you can’t accept Rachel’s existence, but she’s pregnant with my child now. If you agree to let her have the baby, I’ll send her away afterward no matter what.” My heart trembled. I looked at him sharply. “Rachel is pregnant with your child?” Sebastian’s expression was complex. “Just today. We just found out.” It was like cold water dumped over my head. My whole body went cold from the inside out. “Lily, you know I love children, but after all these years together, we still don’t have a child of our own.” “So what? Because you love children, you want Rachel to have your baby?” “I’ve thought it through. Once this child is born, you can raise it as our child together.” He wanted me to raise the child he had with another woman? I stared at him in disbelief, finding it utterly absurd. He didn’t know that just yesterday, we had also had a child. But that child that belonged to us had become nothing but dead blood because of his betrayal. And now he wanted me to accept the bastard born by the woman who killed my child? I asked incredulously, “What about Rachel then?” “After she gives birth, I’ll give her money to leave. She’ll never appear in our world again.” But three years ago, he’d said the same thing to me. By now, I didn’t know which of his words were true and which were lies. Sebastian said seriously, “As long as you agree to let her have this child, I’ll compensate you. You can have anything you want.” It seemed he really wanted to keep this child. Even if I refused, he’d probably hide Rachel and let her have the baby anyway, just like three years ago, right? I smiled, though my eyes reddened. I nodded. “Okay, I agree to let her have this child.” Seeming surprised I’d agreed so readily, Sebastian’s eyes first flashed with astonishment, then he hugged me joyfully and kissed my cheek. “Darling, you’re always so wonderful.” Hearing those words only filled me with irony. I pushed him away and retrieved a document from the nightstand drawer, flipping to the signature page and handing it to him. “I want this. Sign it.” “What is it?” I opened my mouth to answer, but his phone rang at that moment. From the corner of my eye, I saw it was Rachel calling. Sebastian hesitated for two seconds before answering. “What is it?” “Sebastian, the baby’s making my stomach uncomfortable. Can you come keep me company?” “Alright, I know.” After hanging up, Sebastian picked up a pen and signed his name on the document I’d handed him without even looking at it. “If you want something in the future, just use the card I gave you. You don’t need to specifically find me to sign for things.” After signing, Sebastian handed the document back to me. Finally, he placed a light kiss on my forehead. “I have something to take care of. I won’t be back tonight. Get some rest early.” I said nothing, silently putting the document away. Sebastian picked up his car keys and walked to the bedroom door. He suddenly seemed to remember something. Turning back, he asked with concern, “By the way, what were you doing at the hospital? You haven’t looked well all day.” I smiled without revealing anything. “I wasn’t feeling well, but it’s nothing serious. The doctor said I’ll be fine after resting for a couple days.” “That’s good. Tell me right away if you’re not feeling well. Don’t suffer alone, or I’ll worry.” Worry. Hearing those two words, I just wanted to laugh. He didn’t know we’d already had a child. He didn’t know that when we ran into each other at the hospital today, it was during my follow-up after my miscarriage. He didn’t know even more that the document he’d just signed was our divorce agreement. Soon, I would leave him forever.

Lily POV The next day, I delivered the signed divorce agreement to the lawyer. The lawyer put away the documents. “Next, we just need to wait through the one-month legal process. After a month, I’ll deliver the divorce certificate to you.” “Okay.” Leaving the law office, I returned to Maple Bridge Villa. As soon as I got out of the car, I saw two unfamiliar men carrying several suitcases into the villa. I froze. “Who are you? Whose suitcases are these?” I went inside and watched those two men carrying the suitcases upstairs. I was about to stop them when Sebastian’s voice called out from the living room. “Lily, perfect timing.” I stopped and turned around. Only then did I notice that not only was Sebastian sitting in the living room, but Rachel was sitting on the sofa beside him. Rachel greeted me with a sweet smile. “Hi, Lily.” I froze, my thoughts instantly going blank. Sebastian stood and walked over to me, saying in a low voice, “Rachel is pregnant and it’s not convenient for her to live in Marcus’s villa, so I’ve decided to have her move in here. This way I won’t have to run back and forth, and I can avoid neglecting you while taking care of her.” Maple Bridge Villa was the newlywed home we’d carefully chosen together. It was the love nest we’d personally selected and decorated, from location to furnishings. I never imagined he’d let Rachel move in without even asking me first. My heart went half cold. I wanted to say something. But then I thought that in a month I’d be leaving him completely anyway, and suddenly whether Rachel moved in or not didn’t seem so important. I nodded. “Okay, I understand.” I didn’t fight, make a scene, or question him. Sebastian seemed quite satisfied. “Don’t worry, she’s only staying until she has the baby. Once the baby’s born, I’ll have her leave.” With that, Sebastian took out a jewelry box from inside his suit jacket and handed it to me. His tone carried a note of compensation. “This is a bracelet I bought for you. As long as you can get along with her peacefully for the next ten months, I won’t let you suffer any grievances.” He thought a bracelet could compensate me and ease his own conscience. I found it mockingly amusing, but I still accepted the box. Rachel called out coquettishly from the living room, “Sebastian, I want to eat an apple. Come peel one for me, okay?” Sebastian frowned. “Ask the housekeeper to peel it for you.” “But you always used to peel fruit for me. Now that Lily’s here, are you just going to ignore me and the baby?” Rachel huffed with feigned displeasure. Sebastian was about to speak. I said flatly first, “Go keep her company. I’m not feeling well. I’m going to my room to rest. Have the housekeeper bring dinner to my room.” After that, I ignored them and went upstairs to the bedroom. Sebastian could tell I was in a bad mood and wanted to follow me to keep me company, but Rachel, using the baby as leverage, clung to him relentlessly. In the end, he could only hold back his steps. To avoid interacting with Rachel, I stayed in the bedroom with the door closed for several days. At first, Sebastian felt guilty and would come keep me company when he had time. But each time, he’d only stay less than ten minutes before Rachel would call him away with various excuses. And at night, in the deep quiet hours. Sitting on the balcony chair in my bedroom, I could always hear Sebastian reading prenatal stories to Rachel’s baby from the next room. Rachel asked him sweetly, “Sebastian, do you think our baby will look more like you or more like me?” “If it’s a boy, hopefully like me. If it’s a girl, I hope she looks more like you.” “Why do you hope a girl looks more like me?” “Because your eyes and mouth are beautiful. Your eyes are so alluring. If a girl takes after you, she’ll definitely grow up to be a lovely little beauty.” Their flirtatious laughter reached my ears and pierced my heart. I remembered Sebastian once told me that if we had children, he hoped a boy would take after him and a girl would look like me. I couldn’t help but think mockingly that Sebastian probably really did love children. But bringing Rachel here to live, serving her three meals a day, keeping her company and making her happy every night-was it really just for the child? That day, Sebastian went to the company. I was about to go downstairs to get some water when Rachel blocked my path in the hallway. Rachel smiled at me. “Lily, you haven’t left your bedroom in so many days. I was wondering if you were sick.” “I’m fine, thanks for your concern.” My tone was cold. I was about to walk away. Rachel’s gaze drifted to the purple bracelet on my wrist. “Speaking of which, I actually picked out that bracelet with Sebastian.” I froze. “What did you say?”

Lily POV Rachel lifted her hand and pulled down her sweater collar, revealing the necklace around her neck. That necklace was the same style and color as the bracelet on my wrist. Rachel smiled smugly. “Your bracelet was actually the free gift that came with my necklace. But Sebastian was afraid you wouldn’t accept it if you knew, so he told me not to wear this necklace in front of you.” A free gift? Enormous humiliation washed over me. The bracelet on my wrist suddenly felt like it was burning my skin. But more than that, the hickeys covering Rachel’s neck were even more jarring to my eyes. Rachel acted as if she’d only just realized, pulling her sweater back up in feigned panic. “Sorry, Lily. I forgot Sebastian was too rough last night and left a lot of marks. I didn’t mean to show them to upset you.” I didn’t expose her little act. As I turned to go downstairs, I yanked off the bracelet and threw it in the trash. I couldn’t help but recall how years ago, Sebastian had used his first earnings to buy me an expensive gemstone necklace. I thought the necklace was too expensive and felt bad about him spending so much money on me. But Sebastian told me I deserved all the best things, that no matter how expensive something was, I was worth it. Yet now, he’d given me Rachel’s free gift? I gulped down cold water in the kitchen, struggling for a long time to suppress the irony and absurdity spreading through my body and mind. Just then, a loud crash came from upstairs. Like porcelain shattering on the floor. My heart jumped with an inexplicably bad feeling. I quickly followed the sound upstairs to find a ceramic urn shattered into countless pieces on the floor, its ashes scattered everywhere. “What did you do?!” My pupils contracted violently. I rushed forward and shoved Rachel aside. Rachel stumbled back several steps, indignant. “It’s just a broken jar. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “A broken jar?” I wanted to kill her right then. My eyes turned red as I advanced on Rachel, step by step. “Do you know what was in that jar? My parents’ ashes!” Rachel snorted coldly. “So what? It’s not like I knew.” My hands clenched tight, my breathing rapid. Rachel continued disdainfully, “Besides, the people are already dead. Keeping their ashes in the house is really unlucky.” Slap. Before she finished speaking, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Rachel’s face turned to the side. She covered her reddening cheek in disbelief. “You dare hit me?” I said word by word, “Apologize to my parents.” Rachel was about to open her mouth contemptuously when she caught sight of a car pulling up outside the villa. A cunning glint flashed in her eyes. She smiled coldly at me. “You believe me or not, Sebastian will make you pay for this slap?” Before I could react, Rachel suddenly grabbed both my hands. Then she yanked hard. The sensation of weightlessness instantly hit me. Completely unprepared, Rachel pulled me down the stairs. At the same time, Rachel tumbled down too. Sebastian’s terrified voice suddenly came from the doorway. “Lily… Rachel!” Falling from upstairs and rolling several times, after the world spun dizzyingly, my head slammed hard into the wall, my temple hitting the sharp corner. Pain made stars burst before my eyes. Blood immediately gushed from my forehead, staining half my face red. Seeing me injured and bleeding, Sebastian rushed over in a panic, wanting to pick me up. But from nearby came Rachel’s weak call, “Sebastian, my stomach…” Sebastian gasped, his pupils contracting in alarm. Immediately, he stopped caring about me and turned to go to Rachel instead. Through my dazed, blood-blurred vision, I saw his anxious back as he carried Rachel away. And Rachel, lying in his arms, gave me a provocative smile.

Lily POV The villa’s housekeeper found me and called an ambulance to take me to the hospital. When I woke up, Sebastian was sitting by the hospital bed. His expression was dark as he spoke. “I’ve had the housekeeper put your parents’ ashes in a new urn.” I said nothing, staring quietly at the ceiling above. Sebastian gazed at my bloodless face, his tone obscure and cold. “Rachel didn’t know beforehand that it was your parents’ urn. She broke it unintentionally, by accident.” “By accident?” Hearing those words, I finally turned my gaze toward him. “My parents’ urn was sitting there perfectly fine. How accidentally careless did she have to be to take it down from the mantle and smash it?” Sebastian frowned. “Either way, the ashes have been properly stored again. Besides, you nearly caused her to miscarry.” I froze. “I caused her to nearly miscarry?” “She accidentally broke your parents’ urn-that was her fault. But you slapped her, and that should have been enough. Did you really need to push her down the stairs in anger, and deliberately fall down yourself too?” Hearing this, I thought I must have misheard. Sebastian said coldly and heavily, “Although Rachel’s baby was saved, she suffered quite a shock. Go apologize to her.” “What did you say? You want me to apologize to Rachel?” “Just go apologize to her, and we can put this matter behind us.” His unquestionable attitude left me in utter disbelief. In the past, no matter what happened, Sebastian would unconditionally trust and indulge me. Even if I did something wrong, he never made me apologize to anyone, including himself. But now he wanted me to apologize to Rachel. None of this was my fault. Finally, I understood what Rachel meant when she said Sebastian would make me pay for that slap. I was so angry my emotions surged. “If you want me to apologize to her, dream on!” Sebastian’s expression grew even darker. “The baby in her belly was barely saved. The doctor said she needs to keep her emotions stable, but because you pushed her down the stairs, she’s badly shaken and can’t calm down. Just go apologize and say a few comforting words. I’ll compensate you afterward.” Compensation. Compensation again. I didn’t need any of his compensation. I no longer cared for his compensation. Rachel had staged all of this herself. Without even guessing, I knew her emotional instability was all an act. So I said firmly and stubbornly, “I will never humble myself to apologize to her. Give up on that idea!” Sebastian’s face turned stormy. “In that case, I’ll have to use more forceful measures.” I looked confused. “What are you going to do?” Sebastian’s face was frosty as he coldly called in two bodyguards and ordered, “Lock Mrs. Laurent in the cold storage. When she’s willing to apologize, let her out.” “Yes, sir.” The two bodyguards stepped forward. Under my shocked gaze, they grabbed me without a word, one on each side, and carried me out of the hospital room. My body and heart went cold. I used all my strength to resist and struggle. “Get away! Let go of me!” How could a woman’s strength match two burly bodyguards? Unable to break free, I trembled, my injured eyes red, my lips shaking. “Sebastian Laurent… how can you do this to me?””Lily, I just want to save the child in her belly. As long as you’re willing to obediently go apologize to her, you won’t have to suffer.” Sebastian’s expression remained unchanged, still cold as ice. My heart turned cold as iron, but I laughed instead. This was the man who said he would never let me suffer. This was the man who claimed to love me, who said he loved me more than he loved himself. I was locked in the hospital’s cold storage. Endless cold wrapped around me from head to toe, inside and out. I was so cold I curled up my hands and feet, shivering uncontrollably. Somehow, I found myself thinking of the most difficult days before Sebastian’s career took off. Neither Sebastian nor I came from wealthy families. Back when we were starting the business, we invested all our money into the company. We were so poor we could only live in a cheap rental apartment. That first winter was bitterly cold, and the house was damp and freezing. We lay in bed together. My feet were ice cold and wouldn’t warm up no matter what. Sebastian would let me put my feet on his belly to keep them warm. Back then, he always said, “Once the company gets on track, I’ll never let you suffer like this again.” For so many years after that, every winter, he’d still habitually let me warm my feet on his belly. But now, everything was different. He no longer belonged only to me. He’d even locked me in cold storage just to force me to apologize to another woman. Perhaps as far back as three years ago, after meeting Rachel, he was no longer the Sebastian I knew. When I was nearly losing consciousness from the cold, survival finally broke my stubborn pride. Using all my strength, I crawled to the cold storage door. I pounded hard on the firmly closed door. “I agree… I’ll apologize to her…”

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“How much was that ring of hers?” At my wedding, Michelle’s voice suddenly boomed through the speakers. Every guest in the hall immediately looked up at the sound system on both sides of the stage. Michael’s voice followed: “Six thousand.” “Only six thousand?” Michelle’s laughter was amplified by the microphone. “The one you bought me was a hundred and twenty thousand.” “How can they compare?” Michael coaxed. “Yours was custom-made just for you. Hers was something I won in a mall raffle.” Center stage, the champagne flute in my hand trembled. Every eye in the room fell on me, but I remained calm. Because I was the one who turned on that microphone. The hall was silent for exactly four seconds. After four seconds, my mom was the first to stand. “What is that?” She turned to look at my dad, then at Michael’s mother Ruth sitting at the head table. Ruth’s expression changed in that instant as she rapidly assessed the situation. The conversation from the speakers continued. Michelle’s voice became softer, as if she’d leaned close to someone’s ear, but the microphone faithfully picked up every syllable. “Did you think… she looked really fat in that wedding dress today?” Michael didn’t answer. Michelle continued: “There’s a roll of fat bulging at her waist. Standing next to her, even I felt uncomfortable for her.” Then Michael laughed. It was a quiet laugh, as if afraid of being heard, yet the sound system mercilessly amplified it. The crowd began to stir. Michael’s college friends were the first to react. A man in a gray suit rushed toward the sound booth, shouting at the sound engineer: “Turn it off! Turn it off now!” Sound engineer Bob looked up at him, then at me. I gave Bob a slight shake of my head. Bob didn’t move. The man in the gray suit shouted again, his voice cracking: “Are you deaf? Turn it off!” Bob said expressionlessly, “The bride told me not to.” The hall erupted. “She told you not to?” The man froze. I stood center stage and set down my champagne flute. Everyone was watching me—some shocked, some confused, some already recording video. My dad’s face was ashen, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white. Ruth finally couldn’t sit still. She rose from behind the head table, her heels clicking an urgent rhythm on the floor. “Bob! I’m telling you to turn it off!” Bob looked at me. I still hadn’t nodded. He sat behind the mixing console, motionless. Ruth turned to me, forcing a strained smile. “Sophia, it’s a technical malfunction. Stop this nonsense.” I looked at her. “Please, sit down.” My voice was flat. “The show isn’t over yet.”

Twenty-one days ago, I was just as calm. The bridal shop was on the fourth floor of the downtown mall, called WEISS. Their prices started at thirty thousand. That afternoon at two o’clock, I was trying on my third wedding dress. In the full-length mirror, I could barely breathe from how tight it was. The white train was six feet long. Michelle was outside helping me with accessories, saying she’d ask the staff for a longer veil. I was in the dressing room trying to reach the zipper on my back. When I couldn’t, I pushed open the door to call her. Then I heard her voice. Behind a row of clothing racks, with her back to me, phone pressed to her ear. “Yeah… she’s trying them on now. Pretty ugly.” She laughed quietly. “Her waist has gotten so thick and she doesn’t even know it. I’m too embarrassed to say anything.” I stood behind the rack, silent. “Okay, okay, you pick the restaurant for tonight. I’ll come over after I finish helping her shop.” She hung up. I retreated to the dressing room and pulled the curtain closed again. My heartbeat pounded in my ears like drums. My first reaction wasn’t anger—it was confusion. Who was she talking to? Three minutes later, Michelle came back with a lace veil. “Sophia, try this one! It’s gorgeous!” I took it and smiled. “Where did you just go?” “To get the veil from the staff.” Her eyes showed not a ripple of emotion. I didn’t press further. But that evening when I got home, I opened Michael’s phone bill for the first time. He used a secondary card under my name. The bill came to my email every month. I’d never looked at it before. That night I went through six months of transaction records. I found three transfers that shouldn’t exist. One for forty-three thousand, noted “necklace.” One for twenty-seven thousand, noted “hotel.” One for a hundred and twenty thousand, noted “ring.” The hundred-twenty-thousand-dollar ring matched the number Michelle mentioned in the speakers exactly. In that moment, sitting on the living room couch, my face illuminated by the phone screen. Outside, the sound of traffic surged in waves. I suddenly felt that for the past three years, I’d been watching a play. And I was the only one who didn’t know the script.

I didn’t confront Michael immediately, nor did I call to curse out Michelle. The next day I took a half-day off and went to the building across from Michael’s office. Not to find him—to check the surveillance at the print shop across the street. Michael’s company was in a Financial District office building. Every day at noon he’d go downstairs to eat. I wanted to see who he ate with. The print shop owner took two hundred dollars from me and let me watch a month’s worth of door surveillance footage. Day one: Michael went downstairs alone, went to the noodle shop next door. Day three: Michael came out with a woman. I zoomed in on the image. Michelle. She was wearing the beige trench coat I’d given her for her birthday last year, arm-in-arm with Michael as they walked into the Western restaurant next door. I kept scrolling. In one month, they’d eaten lunch together eleven times. Eleven times! Michael and I had dated for three years, got engaged, and the number of times he’d eaten lunch with me—I could count them on one hand. He always said he was busy, that he could only grab something simple at the office for lunch. I’d even bought him a case of self-heating rice, told him to keep it in his office so he wouldn’t always eat instant noodles. He said, “Baby, you’re so good to me.” What happened to that case of self-heating rice? I don’t know. But I knew that those eleven Western restaurant bills were all charged to his secondary card—in other words, my money. I screenshot all the records and saved them to a new encrypted album. I named the album “Wedding Materials.” From that day on, I began another kind of life. Working during the day, investigating at night. On the surface, I was still that busy bride-to-be preparing for her wedding. Discussing bridesmaid dress colors with Michelle, tasting menu options with Michael, arranging seating with Ruth. On the third day, I found a pattern in Michael’s Twitter activity. Every Thursday night he’d appear at a residential complex in the east part of the city. The complex was called Love. Average price: twenty-eight thousand per square foot. I looked up the property ownership information. Building 7, Unit 1402. Owner: Michelle. Purchase date: Eleven months ago. Down payment: Six hundred and seventy thousand. Six hundred and seventy thousand. Michael’s year-end bonus last year was seven hundred and twenty thousand. He told me his take-home bonus was only three hundred and fifty thousand after the company deducted taxes and insurance. The extra three hundred and seventy thousand, plus the miscellaneous expenses he’d charged to the secondary card each month, added up to exactly the down payment for this apartment. I stared at the numbers on the screen for a long time. Then I closed my phone and washed my face. My eyes in the mirror were dry—not a single tear. Not because I wasn’t hurt—because my tears weren’t worthy. My tears weren’t worthy of being shed for people like this.

On day seven, I went to Michael’s house. The purpose was simple: to test Ruth. Before retirement, Ruth had been a department store floor manager. Sharp as they come. Michael’s entire social life was arranged by her. Even what we ate on our first date—she decided that. She said Michael was shy and needed her help. That afternoon, Ruth was cutting fruit in the kitchen while I flipped through photo albums on the coffee table in the living room. “What do you think about this dessert table for the reception? Should we switch to this two-tier one?” “Sure, whatever you think.” I changed the subject: “By the way, Michelle said she wants to read something at the wedding. What do you think?” “Michelle?” Ruth’s knife paused. “Yeah, she’s my best friend.” Ruth didn’t turn around, continued cutting fruit. “Well… you decide.” There was a hint of discomfort in her tone. I continued: “I think Michelle’s dating someone. Did you know?” Ruth’s knife finally stopped. She turned to look at me, her smile somewhat stiff. “How would I know about that? You young people and your business.” Her right index finger rubbed against the back of the knife. I’d known Ruth for three years. That gesture meant she was nervous. “Sophia, the fruit’s ready. Take it over.” She changed the subject, but her reaction had already given me the answer. She knew. That evening, I left Michael’s house early, sat in my car, and called Natasha. Natasha was my other college roommate, now working at a law firm. “Natasha, I need you to help me check something.” “What?” “The names on the purchase contract for Michael’s and my wedding apartment.” “You don’t know?” Natasha’s voice paused. “I put down seventy percent of the down payment, but Ruth took the contract the day we signed. She said she’d keep it safe for us.” Natasha was silent for three seconds. “Sophia, hold on.” The next afternoon, Natasha sent me the search results. Only one name on the purchase contract: Michael. Out of the two-million-one-hundred-thousand down payment, I’d contributed one million five hundred thousand. But my name wasn’t on the deed—and I’d always thought both our names were on it. Because the day we signed, I watched Michael write down my name with my own eyes. But what did Ruth do after “safekeeping the contract”? I didn’t know, but I could guess. That night I couldn’t sleep. Not because of anger, not because of sadness. Because I was thinking about one thing: how long had they been scheming against me? From the very beginning? From the day Michael met me through Michelle? At 2 AM, I pulled up our chat history from three years ago. Back then, Michelle had enthusiastically introduced Michael to me. “Sophia! I have a classmate who’s perfect for you! Handsome, good family background, works as an analyst at a financial firm!” That message was from three years and seven months ago. And Michelle’s secondary phone card activation date—I’d checked it yesterday—was three years and nine months ago. They’d been together two months before Michael and I got together. In other words, Michael was with Michelle first, then met me through Michelle. And Michelle personally introduced her own boyfriend to me. Why? The answer was in the first transaction on Michael’s secondary card. Three years ago, Michael’s first secondary card purchase was at a high-end club. Note: Sergio’s welcome banquet. Sergio is my dad. This relationship was a business transaction from day one.

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The plane had just landed when I learned that my best friend Juliet, married for only six months, was planning to divorce. I rushed to her house immediately. As soon as I walked in, Juliet’s husband Thompson pointed at me and cursed: “If it weren’t for you calling Juliet every day to sow discord, why would she bring up divorce? You’re just jealous that Juliet is happy!” Juliet’s mother Betty also scolded me: “Chloe, just because you can’t get married doesn’t mean you should wish for Juliet to divorce. Don’t tell me you’re trying to seduce her husband? No wonder you didn’t even attend the wedding. I never thought you were this kind of person!” I opened my mouth, completely baffled. They said I called Juliet every day to convince her to divorce, that I actually wanted to seduce her husband? But I had just finished a year-long Antarctic research expedition where there was absolutely no cell phone signal! After twenty-two hours on the plane, I only received Juliet’s message sent two hours earlier when I landed. [Chloe, I just brought up divorce. Can you come to my place and keep me company? I’m a little scared.] I was somewhat confused. Out of nowhere, why did she suddenly want a divorce? I had been on an Antarctic expedition for a whole year and already regretted missing Juliet’s wedding. Now seeing this message, I headed straight to her place without even going home first after getting off the plane. The moment I walked in, Thompson pointed at me and started cursing. “Chloe, perfect timing. If it weren’t for Juliet listening to you sow discord every day, why would she bring up divorce with me!” Juliet and Thompson had a whirlwind marriage after a blind date. Although I’d heard his name, this was my first time meeting Thompson. I was stunned by the scolding and looked around the room. I didn’t see Juliet. But Juliet’s parents and Thompson were all there. Before I could speak, Thompson cursed again: “You just can’t stand to see Juliet doing well, so you deliberately badmouth me.” “A best friend who only kicks people when they’re down like you—Juliet should have cut ties with you long ago!” I frowned and retorted, “When did I ever badmouth you to Juliet? Did she tell you this herself?” Thompson said excitedly: “Does she need to tell me herself? She only has you as a friend. If it wasn’t you on the phone, who was it!” “When we first got married, our relationship was pretty good.” “Ever since Juliet started hiding in the bedroom every night to make phone calls, she’s been deliberately picking fights with me and causing conflicts.” “She listens to you so much. If you weren’t fanning the flames on the phone, badmouthing me, why would Juliet cause conflicts with me out of nowhere?” “Chloe, marriage is between Juliet and me. It’s not your place as an outsider to point fingers.” “Apologize to me right now and tell Juliet to stop this nonsense! Who gets divorced after only six months of marriage? How embarrassing would that be!” I had been sleeping on the plane for two days and was already exhausted. Now being slandered by Thompson, I had even less patience. “You can’t maintain your own marriage, so why should I apologize to you?” “Thompson, I’ll say this one more time: the person calling Juliet wasn’t me, and I never badmouthed you.” “Where’s Juliet? Have her come out and confront me.” Thompson said, “She gave me divorce papers early this morning and then disappeared somewhere. She won’t answer her phone either!” After saying this, he pulled out his phone. “Chloe, I knew you wouldn’t admit it, so a few days ago when Juliet was on the phone with you, I secretly recorded it.” He pressed play, and a woman’s voice rang out. [Juliet, since he’s treating you this way, just divorce him.] In the recording, Juliet’s voice sounded somewhat hesitant: “Should I really get divorced? But I’ve only been married for six months.” That female voice spoke up again. [So what if it’s only been six months? He’s already like this. What are you afraid of? I’m here for you!] After that, Juliet immediately made up her mind. “You’re right, I want a divorce!” Thompson said angrily, “Chloe, the evidence is right here in my hands. How dare you say you weren’t sowing discord?” Hearing this, Betty, who had been silent on the side, also got angry. “Chloe, just because you can’t get married doesn’t mean you should wish for Juliet to have a bad life too.” “Thompson is clearly quite decent and treats Juliet well. How could you say such things?” “Don’t tell me you have your eye on Thompson, so you’re hoping Juliet will divorce? No wonder you didn’t even attend the wedding!” “Our families have known each other for over twenty years. I never thought you were this kind of person!”

The female voice in the recording did sound like mine. But I knew that the person speaking was definitely not me. Hearing Betty’s string of slanderous accusations, I also lost my temper. “You can’t just say whatever you want. The person in that recording isn’t me.” “Six months ago, I didn’t attend Juliet’s wedding because I was on a business trip abroad and couldn’t make it back.” “Thompson and I have never even met. How could I possibly have any thoughts about him?” Betty clearly didn’t believe me. “Chloe, I watched you grow up. That’s clearly your voice in the recording, and you still won’t admit it.” “Juliet has an introverted personality. You’ve been her only close friend since childhood.” “She never guards against you, so she must have sent you lots of photos and videos of Thompson.” “Thompson is so excellent. It’s normal for you to have thoughts about him. The blame is on Juliet for being too naive.” “All these years, I’ve treated you like a daughter. I never thought you’d be thinking about Thompson and secretly encouraging her to divorce!” I laughed instead of getting angry. “Your imagination is way too wild.” “I spent the past year on an Antarctic research expedition where there was no signal.” “I couldn’t receive any messages Juliet sent, much less fall for Thompson because of them.” Hearing this, Betty’s voice rose considerably. “Antarctica? Research expedition? You?” “Chloe, I know you’re panicking because your thoughts were exposed, but you can’t just make things up.” “Juliet graduated from a top Ivy League school and can only work as an ordinary clerk.” “Back then, your SAT score was mediocre and you only got into an ordinary college. How could you possibly qualify for an Antarctic research expedition?” “You probably did some shameful work outside and didn’t dare come back to your hometown for a year!” It’s true that I didn’t do well on the SAT back then. But I studied hard during college, later got into Harvard for my doctorate, and finally joined the Polar Research Center. All these years, I worked tirelessly for one goal—to join the Antarctic research expedition I’d always dreamed of. I never imagined someone would consider it shameful work. I pulled out my plane ticket from my pocket and said, “Stop slandering me.” “This is my ticket from just returning from Antarctica. My luggage is still downstairs.” Thompson looked at the ticket in my hand and laughed. “Chloe, I can’t believe you prepared a fake ticket to support your lie. Looks like you’ve been planning this for a while.” I said angrily, “If you still don’t believe me, I can call my colleagues who went with me and have them testify.” Thompson scoffed, “What good is a phone call? Who knows if you coordinated your story beforehand?” “You said you had no cell signal in Antarctica, but six months ago on Juliet’s and my wedding day, I received your money transfer. That record is still there!” “If you really had no cell signal, how could you have transferred the gift money!”

We research personnel get one day off each month. On that day, we rest at the research station and can use the weak internet signal to send messages to relatives and friends. After learning about Juliet’s wedding date a month in advance, I specifically requested that day off so I could send her my blessings on her wedding day. I never imagined that my thoughtfulness would now become a blade Thompson was using against me. My expression turned cold as I said: “I made that transfer because I specifically requested leave to rest at the research station, using the weak signal there to send Juliet my wedding congratulations.” “Thompson, I don’t think you want to know the truth. You just won’t admit that you did something wrong that led to the divorce, so you want to make me the scapegoat.” “As you said, marriage is between you two.” “So what you should be doing now is contacting Juliet as soon as possible, not making baseless accusations against me.” “But looking at your bad temper and how good you are at twisting the truth, it’s perfectly normal that Juliet can’t get along with you.” “You should just sign the divorce papers and part on good terms!” Having his thoughts exposed, Thompson’s face turned the color of liver. I looked at Betty and continued: “Our families have known each other for over twenty years. We know each other inside and out.” “But now you’re spreading rumors about me because of a man you’ve only known for half a year. It’s truly disheartening.” “Since Juliet didn’t even inform you beforehand about something as major as filing for divorce, it shows your relationship with her isn’t as close as you think.” “You should stay out of this and wait until Juliet comes back.” Betty was also somewhat embarrassed by what I said and stopped arguing with me. Juliet’s father Anderson, who had been silent on the side, also came out to mediate: “Alright, alright, stop arguing.” “Juliet isn’t the type to joke about divorce. Whatever happened, let’s wait until she comes back to discuss it.” But just as I walked to the sofa, preparing to sit down and watch TV while waiting for Juliet to return, Thompson walked over to Juliet’s parents with a grave expression. “Dad, Mom, there’s something I didn’t want to say out of consideration for face, but since things have escalated to this point, I have to say it.” “Actually, both Juliet and I are victims in this matter.” Juliet’s parents looked somewhat confused and asked, “What happened?” I looked at Thompson’s wretched expression as he tried to squeeze out tears, and an ominous feeling welled up inside me. Sure enough, the next second I heard him say: “Actually, during this time, besides calling Juliet every night to convince her to divorce, Chloe has also been sending me harassing messages behind Juliet’s back.” “At first I didn’t say anything, considering everyone’s dignity, not wanting to make things too ugly.” “But since Chloe has this attitude, I don’t need to keep hiding it for her anymore.” I scoffed and said, “I send you harassing messages every night? Do you have evidence? Don’t make things up without proof!” At this moment, the news on TV had started reporting on the Antarctic research team’s return home. I pointed at the TV screen and said: “I already told you, I spent the past year on an Antarctic expedition. Out of 365 days, I had no cell signal for 360 of them. How could I possibly harass you every day!” “You don’t believe my plane ticket, but surely you believe the news on TV. In a moment, I’ll appear on this news broadcast!”

Seeing how certain I was, Juliet’s parents were somewhat convinced. They prepared to sit down and watch the news about the research team’s return with me. But Thompson put on an appearance of deep distress and said: “Dad, Mom, don’t be fooled by her. She’s just stalling for time.” “Let me just say it directly! During this time, Chloe not only secretly sent me messages pursuing me, but also sent me those kinds of videos!” As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and held it in front of Juliet’s parents. I looked confused and was about to move closer to see what video it was. But before I could see it, Betty suddenly flew into a rage and shouted: “Chloe, you shameless woman! You actually sent Thompson videos of yourself without clothes on!” “Juliet treated you as her best friend, but you were a wolf in sheep’s clothing!” “Seducing your best friend’s husband—are you even human! I’m going to beat you to death, you shameless woman!” Seeing Betty’s arm about to strike my face, I quickly stepped back. Anderson’s old face turned red, and his eyes were full of disgust as he looked at me. “Chloe, I really didn’t expect you would do such a thing!” The sudden turn of events left me somewhat unprepared. I looked at Thompson and didn’t miss the triumphant smile on his face. I strode up to him and snatched his phone away. But before I could see what was in the video, Thompson lunged at me, trying to attack. He deliberately shouted, “Dad, Mom, this is bad! She’s grabbing my phone to destroy the evidence!” I quickly hid the phone behind my back and firmly gripped Thompson’s wrist as he swung at me. Then, using his own force, I twisted his hand and yanked it hard, making him slap his own face. You’ve got to be kidding. I’m an elite member of the research team’s field investigation group. Even five more Thompsons wouldn’t necessarily be my match. Thompson was stunned by the slap I made him give himself, then immediately insisted I was acting out of embarrassment. “Dad, Mom, look! She’s even resorting to violence to destroy evidence!” “After all these years of treating her like a daughter, you’ve been deceived by her. She’s not a good person at all.” “Dad, Mom, quickly help me stop her!” “If she deletes the evidence, Juliet definitely won’t believe that Chloe betrayed her. Then she’ll only be determined to divorce me!” Hearing this, Juliet’s parents exchanged glances and made up their minds. Then, the three of them surrounded me together. “Chloe, we don’t want to get physical with you either. Just hand over the evidence quickly.” “We can’t let you deceive Juliet anymore!” My expression turned cold. I felt utterly disheartened. Just then, the sound of the door lock turning came from the entrance. Juliet walked in carrying several documents. Seeing the three of them surrounding me, she shouted: “Dad, Mom, Thompson, what are you doing?!” At the same time, the news anchor’s barely contained excited voice came from the TV: “Now approaching us is Dr. Chloe, the leader of the Antarctic research team’s field investigation group!”

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To support the company’s growth, I spent six months on an overseas business trip. But on the day I returned home, I was stopped by security at the company entrance. I looked down at myself. White shirt, jeans, and a pair of old sneakers on my feet—I certainly didn’t look like one of the employees inside. I was about to explain. “I’m—” But the security guard cut me off rudely: “I don’t care who you are. Wright said no shady women are allowed in, period.” “Who’s Wright?” I asked. “You don’t even know Wright?” The guard sneered. “She’s the secretary to our SKY Group CEO, and also the CEO’s wife.” I nodded and let out a cold laugh. Then I pulled out my phone and called Phillips, the CEO of SKY Group: “I heard you got a new wife?” On the other end of the line, Phillips was clearly stunned for a moment before laughing: “Dahlia, what are you talking about? Come on, don’t mess around. I have a meeting soon. I’ll call you back when I’m done.” Phillips’ tone was as gentle and indulgent as always. Before I could tell him I was downstairs at the company, Phillips had already hung up. Just as I was about to call back, the security guard snatched my phone away. “You deaf, bitch? Didn’t you hear me tell you to get lost?” “Give it back.” I extended my hand, looking at him with icy eyes. At first, I’d simply assumed he was new and didn’t recognize me—that was understandable. But given his terrible attitude, he clearly looked down on people. At this point, my impression of him had hit rock bottom. “Give it back?” “What if I don’t? What are you gonna do about it?” The guard looked at me sideways with utter contempt. “What? Not happy about it? Want to call someone?” “Might as well tell you now—doesn’t matter who you call today, it won’t help!” “I’m Wright’s cousin. Even Phillips has to show me some respect when he sees me.” I looked at the name tag on his chest: Tony. “You say you’re Wright’s cousin?” Tony froze, then nodded: “That’s right.” I nodded: “Good. Now you’re fired.” People who look down on others only damage the company’s image. Tony’s expression changed, and he roared in humiliated rage: “Who the hell are you to fire me?” After over ten hours on a plane, I was exhausted and sleepy. Not wanting to waste any more words on him, I stated my identity directly. “Because I’m Phillips’ wife, the owner of this company—Dahlia.” The air went suddenly quiet. The next moment, Tony burst into laughter as if he’d heard the world’s greatest joke. “What did you say? That’s hilarious!” “Did you all hear that? This woman just said she’s Phillips’ wife and that she owns the company!” He laughed so hard he doubled over, even tearing up. Several of Tony’s coworkers standing behind him also started laughing: “Everyone knows the owner of SKY Group is Phillips, and Wright is Phillips’ wife.” “This woman must have some kind of delusion.” “Look at herself—how dare she try to scam our Phillips!” These people pointed at me, mocking and ridiculing. I took a deep breath, forcing down my rage. “I’ll say it one more time. I’m Dahlia, Phillips’ wife. If you don’t believe me, you can call him.” I reached for my phone. But Tony stepped back, dodging my hand: “Call him? So you can get a chance to latch onto Phillips? Nice try!” “Shameless bitch!” “People like you have no shame and need to be taught a lesson. Today I’ll teach you a lesson on Wright’s behalf.” With that, he rolled up his sleeves and swung a fist at me.

I shifted slightly to the side, easily dodging his attack. Turning, I grabbed his wrist with one hand and seized his hand with the other, twisting hard. A crisp “crack” sounded, and Tony’s right hand hung limply. Tony probably didn’t know I’d practiced taekwondo for over twenty years. Dealing with him was more than easy. “Ahhh—” Tony clutched his wrist, howling in pain. Our commotion had already attracted plenty of passersby. More and more people gathered to watch the spectacle. “She’s crazy! She even dares to hit Tony?” “I think you’ve got a death wish!” The coworkers behind Tony rushed forward in a fury. “Bitch, you dare hit me?!” Tony’s chest heaved violently, his bloodshot eyes glaring at me with murderous rage, as if he wanted to tear me to pieces. “Everyone, get her! Kill her! Wright will give you all promotions and raises afterward.” Their eyes lit up as they rolled up their sleeves and charged at me. Two fists can’t fight four hands. In the chaos, someone kicked the back of my knee. I grunted, stumbling forward a couple of steps from the kick. Tony saw his chance and was about to follow up with a few more kicks. Then came a screech—a red sports car stopped smoothly in front of everyone. The car door opened, and a gorgeous pregnant woman stepped out. Judging by her belly, she was about four or five months along. “What’s all this shouting about?” “This is SKY Group’s office building, not a farmer’s market!” Seeing the chaos at the entrance, the gorgeous pregnant woman frowned. “Wright!” Seeing the pregnant woman, Tony cradled his arm and trotted forward, his face full of flattery. Wright? My heart stirred. So this was the Wright everyone had been talking about, the CEO’s wife of SKY Group. I observed the woman before me calmly. This Wright was gorgeous and seductive, with a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes. Even with a pregnant belly, she still exuded allure. Wright frowned: “How many times have I told you? At the company, call me Secretary Wright.” “Yes, yes, yes!” Tony nodded and bowed with a smile, not offended at all. “Tony, haven’t I told you that the entrance is the company’s face?” “A crowd of people gathered here making a scene—what does that look like?” “Phillips chose you for this important position because he values you. Is this how you do your job?” Wright’s face darkened with displeasure. “Wright…” Tony habitually started to speak, but met Wright’s warning eyes. His neck shrank, and he quickly changed his words with an awkward smile: “Secretary Wright, this really isn’t my fault.” “It’s her—this beggar tried to force her way into the company. I tried to talk sense into her, but she wouldn’t listen and even attacked people.” “Look, she broke my hand!”

Seeing Wright, Tony acted like he’d found his backer. Not only did he complain first, but he twisted the facts and turned the tables. In just a few words, he pushed all the blame onto me. Wright’s gaze fell on Tony’s limply hanging hand, and her expression darkened immediately. “Who are you? Do you know what this place is? How dare you come to SKY and cause trouble?” As she pointed at me, I saw the familiar jade green on her wrist, and my heart sank. It was the jade bracelet Phillips had bought for me at an auction six months ago, worth thirty million dollars. I hadn’t been willing to wear it and had kept it in the jewelry box on my nightstand. Now, it appeared on a stranger’s wrist. Before this, even though Tony had been so certain, I still didn’t believe Phillips would betray me. After all, I knew better than anyone how much Phillips loved me. Back then, to marry me, Phillips had knelt outside my house for three days and nights. He remembered every one of my periods. He’d remind me in advance to watch my diet, make me ginger-sugar water, and warm my stomach. When I was sick and hospitalized, he was more upset than I was. He stayed by my bedside, never leaving, handling everything personally. He remembered my birthday and every holiday. Flowers, gifts, special gestures—he never missed a single one. But now, I wasn’t sure anymore. I ignored Wright and, taking advantage of Tony’s distraction, snatched back my phone and called Phillips again. However, the phone rang and rang, but no one answered. Wright’s sharp eyes caught sight of my phone’s lock screen wallpaper—a photo of me and Phillips together. “Why do you have a photo with Phillips?” Wright demanded angrily. At that moment, Tony seemed to remember something and whispered in her ear. “What?” Wright’s eyes widened, and she slapped me across the face. “Bitch, how dare you covet Phillips?” I was caught off guard and took the hit squarely. My cheek burned with pain, and my ears rang. “Serves you right!” Tony looked at me with schadenfreude. Wright still didn’t seem satisfied. She pointed at me and continued her tirade: “Shameless slut! I bet you’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you?” “Tell me, have you been scheming to seduce Phillips all this time?” As she spoke, Wright grabbed my phone and smashed it hard on the ground. With a “crack,” the phone shattered into pieces. Seeing I didn’t respond, Wright grew even more smug: “Let me tell you something—as long as I’m here, you can forget about it.” “I’ve seen plenty of people like you. You think just because you have some looks, you can climb the ladder. But look at yourself—you’re already so old, and you’re still daydreaming?” Old? Well, age was the only thing Wright had over me. I looked around. There were over twenty security guards on site. These people were all on Wright’s side. If it came to a confrontation, I wouldn’t have the advantage. “Phillips is here, right? Let him come down and talk to me.” Since Phillips had caused this trouble, he should be the one to clean it up.

Wright froze, then said angrily: “Who do you think you are? You don’t deserve to speak to Phillips.” “His time is precious. He doesn’t have time to deal with you.” “I’m in charge of SKY now. What I say represents what Phillips says.” Tony and the others nodded in agreement. Wright became even more smug, patting her pregnant belly: “I advise you to be smart and get on your knees and apologize!” “Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll forgive you this once.” Looking at Wright’s arrogant and smug face, I suddenly laughed coldly. My sudden laughter made Wright’s heart skip a beat for some reason. “What—what are you laughing at?” Wright instinctively wanted to step back, sensing nothing good. But I suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, twisting it hard behind her back. “Ahhh—” Wright screamed in agony, struggling with all her might, but to no avail. “Bitch, how dare you lay hands on me?!” “I’m the owner of SKY, and I’m carrying SKY’s future heir in my belly.” “Just wait until Phillips gets here—he’ll chop you up and throw you in the ocean to feed the sharks!” Wright threatened me viciously. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face: “Shut up!” “Ah! You…” Wright looked at me in disbelief, about to continue cursing. I raised my hand again, and Wright quickly shut her mouth in fear, not daring to make another sound. But the look in her eyes as she glared at me seemed murderous. Turning to see Tony and the others still standing there stupidly, Wright shrieked in rage: “What are you standing there for?” “Hurry up and call Phillips! Tell him to come save me!” Only then did Tony and the others snap out of it. Tony fumbled to find Phillips’ number and dialed. The line was still busy. “Idiot! Use my phone!” Wright was both angry and anxious. “Oh, right.” Tony quickly dug Wright’s phone out of her bag. As he unlocked it, I saw her wallpaper—a wedding photo. The groom in the photo, holding Wright and smiling sweetly, was none other than Phillips, the man who supposedly loved me deeply. The call had barely connected before someone picked up instantly. “Baby, did you miss me?” Tony had put it on speaker, so I heard it clearly. The male voice on the phone was gentle and doting—it was Phillips. “Phillips, come quickly! Someone’s bullying me!” Wright cried into the phone. “Who has the nerve to touch my woman?” Phillips’ voice darkened, seeming to squeeze through gritted teeth—a sign of his anger. Even through the phone line, you could feel the chill radiating from him. The call ended, and Wright looked at me smugly: “Bitch, just you wait. Phillips will be here soon.” “Even if you get on your knees and beg for mercy now, it’s too late.” Before long, a large group of people came out of the office building. Leading them, surrounded by black-suited bodyguards and wearing a cold expression, was Phillips himself. “Phillips! You’re finally here!” Seeing Phillips, Wright’s eyes reddened. She broke free from my grip and ran crying toward Phillips. Soft and weak, she was completely different from her arrogant self moments ago. “It’s okay, I’m here.” Phillips nervously looked her up and down. Finding Wright unharmed, he visibly relaxed. “Tell me, who bullied you?” Phillips looked in the direction Wright was pointing and met my mocking gaze. His face turned white. “Dahlia?! When did you get back?” Phillips’ voice trembled with emotion. At those words, Wright froze, the smile on her face stiffening.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “373107”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

One month before the wedding, I saw my boyfriend’s post online. “She’s a nurse—gentle, kind, beautiful, and generous.” My heart warmed. I was just about to like his post. Then he added, “But she’s seen so many men’s private parts. It really bothers me.” “She must know people would mind, right? That’s why she doesn’t want a wedding fund.” My hand froze mid-air. My enthusiasm for wedding planning cooled instantly. He was still torn between choosing me or his divorced childhood sweetheart. I quickly made the decision for him. The latest post was from Brian. I recognized it immediately. His username was “Century of Solitude,” and his profile picture showed the Alps. Century of Solitude was the book he still couldn’t finish but kept on his desk to look cultured. The Alps—he’d been talking about conquering them for three years. His first line read: [I’m getting married. She’s a nurse—gentle, kind, beautiful, and generous.] He was a man of few words. Managing to squeeze out this much praise wasn’t easy for him. My heart warmed. I was about to give it a like. Before my cursor could click, he posted another line. [She deals with bodily fluids every day and has seen so many men’s private parts. It really bothers me.] My hand stopped in mid-air. I remembered how he’d been frowning lately, telling me he actually had a cleanliness obsession. While I sat there stunned, the replies had already reached a dozen. [Urology department, right? Nurses are basically just there to serve people, aren’t they?] [Dude, look on the bright side—someone who’s seen that much isn’t likely to cheat.] I’d seen comments like these plenty of times before. But this time was different. My heart clenched inexplicably. I waited for Brian’s response. He quickly posted two more lines. [I figure she knows people would mind, right? That’s why she doesn’t want a wedding fund.] [I’m really conflicted right now, because she’s not the only option.] I slowly lowered my hand, staring at the scrolling comments, unable to speak. No wonder as the wedding approached, he seemed less and less concerned. Ordering our outfits, choosing wedding favors—he’d been completely indifferent, telling me to decide everything myself. After all, he had a much bigger decision weighing on his mind. What troubled him was that Peyton Smith, his childhood friend, had come back. Divorced, no kids, and now worth twice as much. The flame his parents had forced him to extinguish years ago was rekindling. I’d already sensed the turbulent emotions in his eyes when he looked at Peyton. … The wedding was next month. The invitations were half-written. Should I still marry him? It felt like a fishbone stuck in my throat. Thinking of Brian made me want to vomit but unable to swallow. My grandfather, who’d raised me, was gravely ill. He was clinging to life just to see me get married. If I didn’t go through with it, I was afraid it would break his heart. By the time I returned from a tasteless lunch, the post had been deleted. Two people stood at the nurses’ station. Tall, upright Brian was hard to miss. He was looking down, comforting someone in his arms—that cascade of sleek black hair belonged to Peyton. Peyton had fair skin and a voluptuous figure. She wore a man’s oversized jacket over her bikini. She’d seen me from far away but made no attempt to step out of Brian’s embrace. Only when I came closer did she shyly pull away. “Charlotte… don’t get the wrong idea…” She made sure I couldn’t miss the blush lingering on her face. Brian only noticed me when he turned around. His face showed no trace of panic. He urgently pushed Peyton toward me. “Peyton just cut her foot swimming. Can you check if she needs a tetanus shot?” “At the beach?” I couldn’t help asking. He couldn’t swim to save his life. I’d spent three years trying to teach him with no success. We hadn’t picked the banquet menu yet. The officiant was waiting to finalize the ceremony. He’d said he had no time. But he had time to go swimming with her. My wavering heart had already begun to tilt decisively in one direction. “The pool…” He impatiently cut me off. “Does it matter where? Did you even hear what I said?” An image flashed in my mind—him standing at the poolside, watching Peyton splash around, posting those anonymous comments. That line “she’s not the only option” became crystal clear. My throat tightened. My voice turned cold. “Find a doctor. Why are you asking me?” Brian grabbed my arm. “Registration takes too long. Just help her clean the wound first.” I glanced at him. “I’m just a nurse. I don’t own the hospital.” The frustration in my chest made it impossible to stay calm, especially seeing Peyton still clinging to him. Peyton flinched slightly. “Brian, I should just register. Don’t make things difficult for Charlotte.” The small distance she’d created completely vanished as she pressed closer again. Brian acted as if that arm was paralyzed, seemingly unaware of her soft chest pressed against him. Perhaps spoiled by my usual compliance, he showed a hint of displeasure. “What’s difficult about it? It’s just a simple task. Isn’t this what she does?”

All those mocking comments from the forum flashed before my eyes, word by word. My fingers, clutching my clothes, nearly drew blood. Someone gently tapped my shoulder just then. I turned to see the family member of the little boy admitted to pediatrics last night. “Nurse, could you please check if my son’s IV needs to come out?” He towered over Brian, looking at me with a gentle expression. The IV had just been inserted. I knew he was giving me an out. “I’ll take a look.” “Charlotte!” Brian called out behind me, his voice neither too loud nor too quiet. I ignored him and headed toward the ward, quickly recalling that the family member’s name was Ethan Miller. Around the corner, I stopped. “Thank you.” A slender hand extended a tissue. Only then did I realize I’d been crying. Ethan patted my shoulder. “Sometimes when people panic about their sick family members, they really are hard to communicate with.” He thought Brian was a frantic patient’s relative. The next second, he pulled a bag of candy from his pocket and pressed it into my hand. I froze. He looked a bit embarrassed. “Eating something sweet might help you feel better.” Then he added, “It’s my son’s—secretly, don’t let him see.” The tightness in my chest eased slightly. I couldn’t help but laugh. I remembered the little boy named Hudson well. He never cried or fussed during blood draws or injections. He’d just ask after each procedure, “Miss, can I have one candy?” I pulled out the candy I kept in my pocket and showed him. “He has several tests today, so I still have…” Ethan smiled too, his expression full of tenderness. “Thank you, but when you’re around, he behaves much better.” I paused. He quickly clarified, “No ulterior motive—his mother used to be a nurse too.” A fellow professional. I suddenly understood why he’d intervened so abruptly. A deliberate cough came from above. I looked up. Brian stood there, his face dark, glaring at me. Peyton still clung to his arm. The bloody scratch on her pale foot had long since dried, yet she still stood on tiptoe. Peyton let out a light laugh. “Nurses really do have so many people to take care of. No wonder Charlotte is so attentive.” Before she finished speaking, Brian’s face had already turned dark. He snorted coldly through his nose, then turned and walked away supporting Peyton. The contemptuous glance she threw my way looked like a proud queen surveying her domain. I was speechless. A month ago, she’d shown up at Brian’s door in tears. When I came out of the kitchen, she had her arms around his neck. Only when she saw me did she awkwardly let go. “I’m divorced.” Those four words didn’t seem directed at Brian. They were a declaration of war against me. … I’d known about her for a long time. Back when Brian and I talked about everything, he’d mentioned a childhood friend who had a crush on him. “My mom wouldn’t let me hang out with her. She had a bad reputation.” “Lots of guys chased her, but she always followed me around.” He’d sounded annoyed, but his expression held that unmistakable male pride. “Never had your heart race for her?” He’d stopped smiling then, looking at me mischievously. “If my heart raced for her, what would that leave for you? You’re the only one who’s ever made my heart race.” Coming from someone not good with words, that one line struck right at my heart. So when he casually mentioned that Peyton was divorced and coming back, I didn’t think much of it. Not until she cried while hanging onto him, and he looked at her with eyes full of concern, wiping away her tears. I realized I must have missed something. An unimportant childhood friend wouldn’t warrant him bringing her up specifically. In the early morning hours, Brian sent two messages. [Don’t overthink it. I was just being impatient.] [Charlotte, I do love you.] Random and out of context. I looked at them but didn’t reply. My phone notified me of an update to a topic I followed. I clicked to find Brian had posted. The timestamp showed a few minutes ago. [It really bothers me. Even her touching me feels dirty.] [Divorce isn’t this disturbing. At least she’d only been with one man.] [If she were even a janitor, I’d feel better about it.] I silently read each line, feeling a deep chasm split open in my heart. Those two messages didn’t seem so random anymore. I knew clearly he was wavering, torn. That “I love you” was him winding himself up. But I’d already heard the sound of the mechanism breaking. I thought it over. This wedding would happen, but it didn’t have to be with him. I logged in with my real name and posted a reply. [Brian, we’re breaking up.]

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On April Fools’ Day, I received a promotion email. I thought my five years of hard work had finally paid off—I was finally being promoted to Sales Director. Full of joy, I moved my belongings to the door of my new private office. But when I pushed open the door, there wasn’t even an office chair inside—just a pile of stinking garbage. That’s when I heard loud mocking laughter from my colleagues behind me. “Sasha, you actually fell for it? How pathetically shameless!” My boss also chimed in, “It’s just an April Fools’ prank. You can take a joke, right?” I became the laughingstock of the entire company, a complete fool. But they forgot—this afternoon, I was scheduled to sign a one-billion-dollar contract that would determine the company’s fate. Since my boss loved April Fools’ jokes so much, I’d give him a special April Fools’ gift of my own. “What’s wrong, Sasha? It’s just an April Fools’ prank. You can take a joke, can’t you?” My boss, Mr. Richards, looked down at me with unconcealed smugness. Faced with his mockery, the entire office area erupted in piercing laughter. “Exactly, Ms. Turner! Did you really think you could become Sales Director?” Lily from reception covered her mouth, laughing so hard she was shaking. “She should look at her own credentials—a community college graduate thinking she can become a phoenix? As if.” I didn’t lose my temper. I just stiffly crouched down and began picking up the personal belongings I’d just joyfully packed into the large cardboard box, one by one. I was like a clown being paraded through the streets. Under everyone’s unrestrained pointing and whispering, I walked step by step back to my cramped old desk in the main hall. “She usually acts so high and mighty just because she’s the top salesperson, bossing us around. Now she’s been put back in her place.” Behind me, I could hear my colleagues’ shameless gossip. Mr. Richards followed me over, tapping my desk with the bottom of his coffee mug. “Sasha, don’t take it to heart. Young people need to face some setbacks—it’s good for you. I’m just trying to build your stress tolerance.” He adopted the tone of a caring elder. “You’ve been with this company for five years. Even if you haven’t achieved great things, you’ve worked hard. But the director position isn’t something you can get just by working yourself to the bone. You need big-picture thinking, you need to understand office politics. Understand?” I looked at him coldly. “Mr. Richards, last week you personally told me that if I secured Mr. Wilson’s one-billion-dollar contract, the director position would be mine.” Mr. Richards scoffed. “That was motivational rhetoric. You couldn’t even tell? Besides, we could land Mr. Wilson’s deal even without you, just based on our company’s reputation. Don’t think too highly of yourself.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. Five years of my youth, countless days and nights of struggle. In his eyes, it was all just a cheap game he could trample on at will. I felt utterly humiliated and degraded. But I forced myself to swallow this bitter pill. Because this afternoon, I still had to represent the company to sign that one-billion-dollar contract. It was the most important credential in my professional career. I couldn’t flip the table at this critical moment. “You’re absolutely right, Mr. Richards.” I forced out a smile completely devoid of warmth. Mr. Richards nodded with satisfaction. “That’s more like it. Girls shouldn’t always be fighting for power.” He turned to the other employees who were watching the spectacle. “What are you all standing around for? Don’t you have work to do? Even though it’s April Fools’ Day, performance reviews are no joke!” Everyone immediately scattered, but the looks they gave me were still full of undisguised contempt. Derek Shaw from the next desk leaned over. “Well, well, Ms. Turner, giving up so easily?” Derek usually got chewed out by me for his bottom-of-the-barrel sales numbers. Now seeing my misfortune, he was happier than on Christmas. “I’ve always said women in sales are just trading on their youth. You’re getting older now, you’ve lost your looks—how can you compete with those young girls?” He picked his teeth while giving me an extremely sleazy up-and-down look. “You should just find yourself an honest man to marry and be a housewife.” I whipped my head around, staring at him with icy eyes. “Derek Shaw, your sales this month are zero, and you still have time to worry about my marriage prospects?” His face stiffened, then flushed with embarrassed anger. “Who are you to act so superior! You’re not even a manager anymore—what right do you have to boss me around?” I didn’t bother with him. I needed to go over the final contract details one more time. No matter what, this contract was my personal achievement, and I wouldn’t allow any mistakes. Just then, someone gently tapped my shoulder. I turned around.

“Ms. Turner, are you okay?” Marcus, a subordinate who’d only been with us for two months, stood behind me. I shook my head. “I’m fine. Go back to your work.” I stood up, heading toward the break room to get some water. The corridor was narrow. Derek saw me coming and deliberately stretched his leg into the aisle. I tripped over it and fell hard to the floor. My knee hit the hard surface, sending a sharp, drilling pain through me instantly. “Oh my! Why is our great Director Turner bowing so low?” Not only did Derek not apologize, he mocked me loudly with heavy sarcasm. The surrounding colleagues burst into laughter again. “Sasha, are you blind or something?” I endured the searing pain in my hand and knee, struggling to get up from the floor awkwardly. I looked coldly at Derek. “Get your dog leg out of the way.” Derek slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. “You walk without watching where you’re going and blame others? You think you’re still that high-and-mighty top salesperson? You’re nothing but a joke now!” Marcus walked over, his eyes red. “Ms. Turner, ignore them.” He helped me to my chair, his voice choked with tears. “Ms. Turner, what am I going to do?” I frowned, looking at the paper in his hand. It was a demotion notice. It stated that due to Marcus’s failure to meet performance standards during his probation period, he would be demoted to reception assistant with his salary cut in half. “What’s this about?” I asked. Marcus wiped away tears. “Mr. Richards said I’m too stupid and can’t do anything right. Ms. Turner, I really need this job. I have a sick grandmother back home to support.” Seeing him like this, the anger in my heart subsided slightly. In this cold company, perhaps only this fresh graduate still retained some human warmth. Remembering how I’d trained him hands-on these past two months, I softened. I patted his shoulder consolingly. “Sales is tough for everyone. You just started—not having resources is normal.” I thought for a moment and pulled out a client list from my desk. “Tell you what—I have some repeat orders from old clients here. The profit margins aren’t high, but they’re enough to get you through probation. Take these and follow up on them. They’ll count as your sales numbers, give you a cushion.” Marcus’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Really? Ms. Turner, you’re really willing to share clients with me?” I nodded. “Everyone’s struggling. We should help each other out.” Marcus clutched the list tightly, breaking into a smile through his tears. “Thank you, Ms. Turner! You’re like a second parent to me!” Watching his joyful retreating figure, I sighed helplessly. The wounds on my hand were still bleeding. I went to the restroom to clean them up. Otherwise, meeting Mr. Wilson this afternoon looking like this would be far too unprofessional. I limped toward the restroom. I firmly believed that as long as I held that one-billion-dollar contract in my hands, I’d have the capital to turn things around. But I never imagined that what I thought was kindness was just another carefully crafted joke. A party popper went off in the office area. Immediately followed by everyone’s cheering and celebration. “Come on, everyone! Let’s congratulate Mr. Richards on his promotion to Sales Director!”

I froze in place. What should have been a quiet workspace now looked like a wild party. I stood at the office entrance. I saw Marcus, who’d just been crying to me moments ago, now sitting brazenly on my desk. He held a glass of freshly opened champagne, laughing his head off. “Did you all see how stupid Sasha looked just now? She actually believed I was getting demoted and condescendingly offered me some trashy clients! Those moldy resources of hers—I wouldn’t even use them as coasters!” Lily from reception approached with a wine glass, looking obsequious. “Exactly, Marcus! She doesn’t know her place. Just because she landed a few big clients, her tail’s pointing to the sky. She doesn’t even know whose name is on this company.” Derek circled around Marcus like a lapdog. “Marcus is Mr. Richards’s own nephew, an elite returnee from a prestigious university! The Sales Director position was always meant for Marcus. That nobody Sasha isn’t even worthy of carrying Mr. Richards’s shoes!” I stood in the corridor’s shadows, feeling all the blood in my body freeze instantly. His own nephew? I stared at Marcus sitting on my desk. So all of this was fake. The promotion email was fake. The demotion notice was fake. Only I was the fool, manipulated and mocked by the entire company in a conspiracy. Mr. Richards emerged from the private office, holding a wine glass. He looked at Marcus with a smile. “Marcus, how was my April Fools’ production? Pretty good, right? Did it help you vent?” Marcus jumped off the desk and threw his arm around Mr. Richards’s shoulder. “It was awesome, Uncle! You don’t know—these past two months she’s been making me memorize product materials every day and forcing me to run sales calls in the blazing sun. I’ve never been treated like this in my entire life—not even by my own mother! Seeing her today like a stray dog moving her stuff—I can’t tell you how satisfying that was!” Mr. Richards laughed heartily. “She’s just meant for grunt work. This afternoon, after she signs Mr. Wilson’s one-billion-dollar contract, I’ll just find some excuse to fire her. Then that massive achievement will be yours! I’m good to you, aren’t I?” I stood there watching their ugly faces, suddenly feeling my stomach churn. Five years. For this company, I’d given up all my vacation days. I’d pulled a nearly bankrupt workshop up by its bootstraps into a well-known industry player. I thought if I just worked hard enough, I’d earn the respect and rewards I deserved. But reality had slapped me hard across the face. I pushed open the door and walked in expressionlessly. The cheering stopped abruptly. Everyone looked at me like I was some kind of monster. The smile on Marcus’s face froze for a moment, then returned to that same arrogant expression. “Oh, Ms. Turner’s back? That demotion notice earlier was a misunderstanding. My uncle said for April Fools’ fun, all decisions and responses today had to be reversed!” He boasted, “So I actually got promoted!” I laughed coldly inside. Reversed. So that’s how I got that ridiculous promotion notice. Just then, Mr. Richards walked over with a cold expression. He slammed a thick stack of documents against my chest. “Sasha, you still have the nerve to chat here? Get your ass to the conference room right now!”

Mr. Richards pointed at my nose and cursed. “Mr. Wilson’s already here with his legal team—go sign that contract immediately!” I looked down at the contract that had fallen to the floor. Just flipping to the first page, my brow furrowed tightly. This contract was full of holes. Not only were the profit margins completely wrong, even the breach of contract clauses were reversed. “Mr. Richards, this contract is unusable.” “Shut up!” Mr. Richards rudely cut me off. “This is the proposal Marcus personally revised. He’s an elite returnee who understands advanced management concepts far better than you!” Marcus chimed in smugly from the side. “Exactly. Your outdated negotiation tactics are ancient history.” I looked at this ridiculous uncle-nephew pair, hardly believing my ears. Signing this hole-riddled contract would destroy my industry reputation and lose all client trust. Mr. Richards and Marcus could easily deflect all blame, but I’d be finished in the industry. Mr. Richards glared at me viciously. “Sasha, stop being alarmist! I’m ordering you to go to the conference room and handle this right now, or you’ll bear all the losses and get out immediately!” He shoved me, pushing me straight through the conference room door. Inside the conference room, the atmosphere was oppressively tense. Mr. Wilson sat across the long table with his elite legal team, their expressions dark. I looked at the wound on my knee from Derek’s trip, then at the disgusting faces of this uncle-nephew duo. Then at Mr. Wilson’s extremely displeased expression across from me. Five years of grievances, humiliation, and resentment reached their peak in this moment. Mr. Wilson pushed the contract toward me. I took a deep breath and picked up that contract. Then I announced loudly to Mr. Wilson: “On behalf of the company, I reject this partnership!” As soon as the words left my mouth, I gripped the contract with both hands. With a loud rip— In front of everyone, I tore that billion-dollar contract to shreds. Paper fragments floated down like snowflakes in the conference room. The smile on Mr. Richards’s face instantly froze. “Sasha, have you lost your mind!”

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