Category: English

It wasn’t until the absolute chaos erupted in our living room that I finally understood the vicious rumors at school weren’t just empty gossip. Men in sharp black suits pinned my mother to the cold hardwood floor. A woman stood over her, her face twisted in pure disgust, screaming that she was going to permanently ruin the seductive face my mother prized so much. My father stood a few feet away. He watched the entire scene with dead, detached eyes, like a spectator at a play. He didn’t say a single word. That was the day I learned the truth. My mother really was a homewrecker. Before this, I had heard the whispers in the school hallways. Once, a boy in my class shouted it right in my face. I was shaking with so much rage I shoved him into a desk. Back then, I naively believed they were just bored teenagers spreading toxic rumors. 1 The wealthy woman adjusted her designer coat, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor as she prepared to leave with my father in tow. Before walking out the door, she looked down at my mother with absolute contempt. “I bought this house with my money. You aren’t getting a single dime. By tomorrow morning, you and your bastard daughter need to pack your trash and get out. If you ever contact Marcus again, I will end you.” Marcus was my father. He was a gold-digger, a man from a dirt-poor background who married his way into a wealthy family. He was their kept man. And today was the day I found out my mother was nothing more than his side piece. Her beautiful face, the one she was so incredibly proud of, was bruised and scratched. My father’s legitimate wife, Victoria, was absolutely ruthless. She didn’t even wait until the next morning. A few hours later, a crew of massive security guards showed up to physically throw us out on the street. My mother collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. I was the only one left to pack our lives into a few suitcases. I barely managed to grab our clothes before they started shoving us toward the door. My mother refused to leave. The mix of tears and fresh scratches on her face made her look terrifying. But these men didn’t care about being gentle. We were no longer the pampered mistresses of the house. She was practically thrown out the front door. She pounded her fists against the heavy wood, screaming at the top of her lungs. “Why are you kicking me out?! This is my house! I’m calling the cops!” The banging echoed down the hall. Neighbors peeked out of their doors, but no one inside our old apartment answered. “Mom, let’s just go. They aren’t going to open it,” I said softly. She shoved my hand away. “No! Marcus is the one who screwed up! Why do we have to pay the price?!” She had a point. But screaming at a locked door wasn’t going to fix anything. Eventually, the building security guards forcibly escorted us off the property. The entire thing happened so fast I barely had time to process it. My first priority was getting my mother to a clinic to treat the cuts on her face. My second priority was finding a cheap place to sleep. Between the two of us, we had exactly four hundred dollars to our names. When my mother followed my father to this city years ago, she had no friends, no family, and absolutely no work experience. She was a full-time kept woman. Her only hobby was playing card games with the other housewives in our upscale complex. Marcus had treated us well. At least financially, we never wanted for anything. He was always “traveling for work,” so he wasn’t home much. But whenever he did visit, he brought expensive gifts and exotic food. Nobody would have ever guessed what he really was. Looking back, his “business trips” were just him going home to his real wife. Coming to our apartment was the actual trip. Later that night, my mother lay in her clinic bed, aggressively tapping on her phone to play a mobile poker game. I sat in the plastic chair next to her. “Mom.” “What?” she muttered. “Did you know he was married?” She didn’t answer. Her eyes stayed glued to the glowing screen. That told me everything I needed to know. She knew. She knew he had a family, she knew he had a terrifyingly powerful wife, and she knew he had a son two years older than me. I pulled my knees to my chest and started chewing on my fingernails. 2 I managed to find a tiny, run-down studio apartment tucked away in a sketchy alley. Rent was two hundred bucks a month. My mother threw a massive fit the second we walked in. “What is this dump? It smells like rotting garbage!” she shrieked. “Oh my god, is that a cockroach?! Are there rats in here?! I am not staying in this hellhole!” I set our bags down on the stained carpet and just stood there, letting her scream it out. After a solid ten minutes of crying, she finally wiped her eyes. “Fine. But stop looking at me like that.” The apartment wasn’t just old. It was incredibly loud, the hot water barely worked, and the power grid was a joke. I had to drop out of my expensive private boarding school and enroll as a day student at the local public high school. I was in my freshman year. At ten o’clock on a Tuesday night, the power went out again. It was the third time that week. I calmly lit a cheap candle, pulled my math textbook closer to the flickering light, and kept solving equations. I had always been a calm person. Even with my entire world imploding, I didn’t feel like the sky was falling. Success always comes with a few detours. That was the lie I kept repeating to myself, even if I didn’t fully believe it. But I knew one thing for sure. The only way out of this miserable alleyway was studying. I needed a scholarship to a good college. A stupid power outage wasn’t going to stop me. But bad luck usually travels in packs. My mother’s sudden, blood-curdling scream pierced through the dark apartment. “Mom? What’s wrong?” I yelled. I heard her gasping for air. I dropped my pencil and sprinted into the tiny living room. A dark shadow darted away from the window, disappearing into the alley before I could even shout. I ripped the curtains shut and locked the latch. My mother was sitting on the floor, trembling violently. I knelt down next to her. “Did you see his face? What did he look like?” I asked. Her voice shook. “It was a man. Short and skinny. I didn’t see his face.” We lived on the ground floor. Whoever was looking through our window had done it on purpose. Ever since we moved in, the entire block knew this apartment was only occupied by a single mother and her teenage daughter. There were no security bars on the glass. We definitely didn’t have the money to install them. I grabbed a stack of old test papers and taped them directly to the windowpanes, completely blocking the view from the outside. I knew it was a temporary fix, but I didn’t expect the real test to happen so soon. 3 A week later, I had a massive state-wide placement exam. In our district, this test determined if you got into the elite magnet high schools for your sophomore year. I needed that golden ticket. I stayed up reviewing my notes until two in the morning. Just as I was grabbing a glass of water before bed, I heard a faint scratching sound coming from the window. It would stop, then start again. Then came a soft, rhythmic tapping on the glass. It was cautious. Testing the waters to see if anyone inside was awake. My heart hammered against my ribs. I silently grabbed the heavy metal baseball bat I had found by the dumpsters and stepped into the shadows beside the window, gripping the handle tight. The tapping stopped. I heard the faint whistle of wind pushing through a crack. The window was sliding open. I tightened my grip. The moonlight spilled onto the floor, stretching the silhouette of a man climbing through the frame. Now. I swung the bat with every ounce of strength I had in my body. There was a sickening thud of metal hitting bone, followed by a muffled, agonizing groan. The man collapsed onto the floor like a sack of bricks and didn’t move. I dropped the bat, my hands shaking violently. I nudged his leg with my foot. Nothing. All the adrenaline completely drained from my body. My knees gave out, and I slid down the wall until I hit the floor, gasping for air. My mother definitely heard the commotion. A second later, a frying pan clattered to the kitchen floor. She rushed out of her room, eyes wide with terror, and threw her arms around me. “Are you hurt? Did he touch you?” she frantically checked my face. I shook my head. “No. But Mom, I think I hit him too hard.” I had completely cracked his skull open. When the police arrived, my mother shoved me behind her and stood tall. “I hit him, officer. It was me,” she told the cops at the door. They took both my mother and the unconscious creep to the station. I went with them, but they kept me in the waiting room. The next morning, a police officer actually drove me to school so I wouldn’t miss my placement exam. When I finally got home, my mother was sitting on the couch, completely unharmed. The cops had found chloroform in the guy’s jacket pocket. His intentions were obvious. Busting his head open was ruled as clear-cut self-defense. My mother immediately went back to her usual complaining. “Look at your hair, Harper. It’s a mess,” she nagged. “And that uniform is huge on you. You look like you’re wearing Marcus’s clothes.” She stopped abruptly and looked down at her hands. “Mom,” I said quietly. “Thank you.” She turned her face away. “I know you’re furious with Marcus. Go ahead and curse him out. I hate him too.” “You don’t understand,” she muttered, her voice breaking. “He lied to me. He played with my feelings. He swore he loved me, but when Victoria was literally dragging me across the floor, he just stood there. He didn’t even try to stop her.” I knew her story. My mother grew up in a dirt-poor Appalachian coal town. She was the oldest of five kids. In places like that, the oldest daughter is basically born to suffer and sacrifice. She had no education and had never seen the world. Marcus had come to her town as a corporate land developer. He played the charming, wealthy city boy, and she fell for it instantly. She ran away with him to the city. She stayed with him for sixteen years. He had spoiled her rotten, effectively turning her into a woman who couldn’t survive on her own. After a decade and a half of luxury, she had zero practical skills. She was entirely dependent on him. These past few weeks had been a living nightmare for her. I walked over and hugged her tight. “Mom, you still have me. We’re going to survive this. We’re going to be okay.” She turned her head into my shoulder and quietly began to cry. 4 The stress of the break-in messed with my head. I missed the cutoff for the elite magnet school by a few points, but I scored high enough to get into Oakridge High, the second-best school in the city. It wasn’t perfect, but Oakridge was known for its academics, which meant I could skip the mandatory evening study halls if I kept my grades up. My mother had no degree and a massive gap in her resume. Finding a traditional job was impossible. So, she bought a secondhand food cart and started selling late-night smashburgers near the local university. Since I didn’t have to stay at school for night study, I rushed over to the cart every evening to help her. She didn’t understand modern marketing, but I did. I made an Instagram account for the cart, ran student discount promotions, and posted mouth-watering videos of the food. Sales skyrocketed. Sometimes jealous food truck owners would try to start turf wars with us, but my mother was relentless. Nobody could out-argue her. Month by month, our savings account grew. We finally had enough cash to move out of that dangerous alley. We rented a decent two-bedroom apartment near Oakridge High. It was an older building, but it was in a safe, quiet neighborhood filled with retired city workers. “I’m buying you a bicycle before school starts,” she told me proudly as we unpacked. “It’s only a five-minute ride to campus. You can sleep in a little later.” Things were finally getting better. On my first day at Oakridge, my mother walked me out to the street to see me off. At my old school, everyone knew my business. People would stare at me in the hallways and whisper, “That’s her. Her mom is a total homewrecker.” Whenever I heard that, I would confront them. If words didn’t work, I used my fists. I usually got blamed for starting the fights, and they would just sneer at me afterward. “She thinks she’s untouchable just because she gets straight A’s. Her mom is still a whore.” But Oakridge was different. Nobody knew me here. The students actually cared about their futures. Instead of throwing chairs around the classroom, they debated math problems in the halls. Every Monday, a different homeroom hosted the morning assembly. Our class was up first, and my teacher randomly selected me to be the student speaker. It was my first time doing something so public, but I wasn’t nervous. The speech went perfectly. High school let out at four, but the library was open until nine. After studying, I would usually ride my bike to the university district, help my mom pack up the food cart, and we’d go home together. But tonight was different. When I walked out to the bike racks, both of my tires were completely slashed. This was a brand-new bike. Somebody had done this on purpose. I racked my brain, but I hadn’t offended a single person since I transferred. I kept my head down and did my work. By the time I realized I couldn’t fix it, the campus was completely deserted. I pushed the broken bike down into the underground parking garage to use the shortcut to the main road. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered wildly, buzzing with static before completely dying. The garage plunged into pitch blackness. Footsteps echoed from the darkness behind me. With every heavy step, the motion-sensor lights clicked on, one by one, illuminating the path toward me. I slowly turned around. Standing in the harsh light was a face I didn’t know, but recognized instantly.

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For me, the global superstar Austin Sterling refused all on-screen kisses and kept a cold distance from every female artist in the industry. He wrote endless love songs, chronicling our ten-year romance for the world to hear. Everyone knew he was a “simp”—a man hopelessly, dangerously devoted to me. Until I found the photos. The photos of him and my best friend, tangled together in a betrayal that dated back two years. It took me a long time to let go of everything, to stage my own death and leave. And then, he lost his mind. 1 At the Grammy Awards, Austin Sterling took home the Artist of the Year trophy. When the host asked about his next move, he leaned into the microphone and said: “My wife is pregnant. I’m stepping away from the spotlight for a year to focus entirely on her.” Austin was born with a cold, sharp handsomeness. Standing at six-foot-three, he usually radiated a chilling indifference that kept people at a distance. But at that moment, his eyes were overflowing with joy and anticipation. The corners of his mouth lifted into a natural, involuntary smile. The whole country knew Austin Sterling was “love-brained.” Two years ago, at the peak of his fame, he announced our marriage. It caused a massive exodus of fans, ended several high-profile contracts, and sent his career into a freefall. A reporter once asked if he was pressured into the marriage or if he regretted marrying so young. He looked directly into the lens, his voice steady and sincere: “I was the one who pressured her. I can’t live without her. I wanted to tie her to my side forever.” “Marrying Sienna is the greatest stroke of luck in my life.” That interview went viral, and Austin’s “devoted husband” persona won him immense public sympathy. He focused on his music and acting, relying on pure talent to claw his way back to the top. Finally, today, he stood at the summit again. And yet, because I was pregnant, he announced another year-long hiatus. In an industry where you’re forgotten in a week, this move was professional suicide. But he told me he didn’t care. He just wanted to be with me. At night, he would pull me into his arms, humming love songs until I fell asleep. Austin loved me very, very much. I could feel it. That was why, two years ago, when the “System” told me my mission was complete, I refused to leave. I married the man I had nurtured and mentored from a struggling trainee to a global icon. The System warned me: “The human heart is a dark forest. Do not gaze into it for too long.” But I believed Austin would love me forever. What did it matter if my real body was dead in another world? Wasn’t living in a beautiful dream a form of happiness? Until I found the photos. Austin and my best friend, in a state of intimate abandon. The timestamp on the files went back two years. Which meant, before he ever proposed to me, he had already betrayed me. 2 When I woke up in the morning, Austin was already researching prenatal recipes. He had cleared his schedule. He just wanted to be there for me. My morning sickness was brutal; I couldn’t keep anything down. So, he spent his days coming up with new, enticing dishes. Pregnancy made me lethargic and irritable. I felt useless and out of focus. So, he bought a hoard of magic tricks to perform for me, trying to make me laugh. Once, while trying to produce a rose from a fireball, he accidentally singed his forehead. His bangs were scorched into curls. As I applied ointment to his skin, tears of pity blurred my vision. He simply handed me the hair clippers and told me to give him a buzz cut. He joked that he’d go for the “tough guy” look—a scar and a buzz cut, the ultimate protector vibe. But I was still sad. He pulled me close and whispered: “Sienna, if it’s too hard… we don’t have to have the baby.” “I only need you.” His voice was incredibly soft. He genuinely pitied me, yet he was terrified that I might actually choose to give up the child. The giant whiteboard in our study was covered in scribbles. Visitors thought he was working on new lyrics. But if you looked closer, you’d see they were baby names. We designed the nursery together. Whenever I made a little handicraft, he’d praise me: “I hope our child turns out exactly like you.” He was so, so excited for the baby’s arrival. I never once doubted his love for the child. But the part that broke me… Was knowing that this love wasn’t exclusive. Long ago, he had already shared it with someone else. “Austin, I want to see the ocean. It’s been a while.” “Sure, honey. Where to?” “Let’s go to Montauk. Madison is there. We haven’t seen her in forever.” Austin’s hand tightened on mine for a split second, but he quickly flashed a smile: “It’s been cold there lately. You’re pregnant; we should go somewhere warmer. Let’s wait for the summer to visit her, okay?” He spoke with such tenderness, acting as if he were only considering my well-being. I searched his face for a crack. There was none. He was a classically trained actor. Flawless performance was his specialty. But his cloud storage backup didn’t know how to act. That morning, I was looking for an old file on a spare phone and accidentally opened his auto-sync gallery. I saw a world of data I didn’t recognize. I realized it was Austin’s private account. Years ago, for convenience, I used to sync my photos to his drive. But after getting a new phone and taking fewer pictures, I had forgotten all about it. As I scrolled through the old memories, my heart felt sweet. Until the later photos hit me like a physical blow— Austin, sleeping in various hotel rooms, always with the same person beside him: my best friend, Madison. Sometimes, they were naked, entwined in bed. Sometimes, Austin was asleep, and Madison was taking a playful selfie with him. Sometimes, the angles were suggestive and blurred… The earliest photo was dated two years ago. And the updates had continued, off and on, ever since. 3 In the ten years I had known Austin, Countless starlets and colleagues had tried to get close to him. He was too beautiful, and his public persona was so cold and distant—like a moon hanging high in the sky. People looked up at him, and they longed to possess him. But he always told me, “Sienna, unless you don’t want me anymore, I’ll never leave your side.” “Sienna, stay with me. I will never betray you.” “Sienna, marry me. Stay with me forever.” His words were so moving. His eyes were so sincere. Was it all a lie? They say the onlooker sees most clearly, so I wanted to ask someone. But my entire life in this world revolved around Austin. All my friends and associates were from his circle. Except for Madison. She was the only non-industry friend I had made during my mission. Madison was sharp, fiery, and brave—like an untamable wild mare. In the past, when my mission hit a wall, I would often go to her for advice. She always told me I was too soft, that I didn’t know how to say no, and that I’d end up suffering for it. I would laugh and say, “Well, I have you. You’ll always knock some sense into me and show me the way.” In this world, the two people I cherished most were Austin Sterling and Madison. Now, that world had finally, completely collapsed. 4 Regarding the trip, I insisted on Montauk. Austin had no choice but to agree to drive me. The night before we left, I heard him get up in the middle of the night to make a secret phone call. “I’ve booked the tickets and the hotel. You have to leave tonight…” “I’m begging you. Sienna isn’t emotionally stable right now. She’s your friend; you know she can’t handle this.” “Madison, I’ll give you anything you want, except for this.” After a long silence, he hung up in the bathroom and climbed back into bed. Seeing that I was “sleeping soundly,” he kissed my forehead. Austin fell asleep. I finally opened my eyes. In the darkness, my tears soaked the pillow. 5 Montauk was beautiful. Austin booked a luxury beachfront villa so I could wake up to the sound of the waves every day. I mentioned wanting seafood, so he woke up at dawn to go to the docks, waiting for the first catch of the day. He took it to a local restaurant to have the chef prepare it. He even said he wanted to watch and learn so he could cook it for me himself. Around noon, the doorbell rang. Austin wasn’t back. It was Madison. Austin had told her to leave last night, but clearly, Madison had no intention of obeying. “Sienna, I don’t want to hurt you,” Madison said, cutting straight to the point. “But I don’t want to settle for less, either.” “I’ve been with Austin for a long time.” Madison always acted like the type who said whatever was on her mind. But I realized now that it wasn’t like that at all. What she said and what she felt weren’t always aligned. She said she didn’t want to hurt me, but she had shown up specifically to do just that. In the past, when she saw a “green tea” girl trying to manipulate Austin, she’d teach me how to spot them and how to defend myself. But she was the one hidden deepest of all. She met Austin through me. She became the “cool bro” to both of us. She played the “big sister” role when we fought. She shared secret little moments with Austin that I knew nothing about. She covered for him at parties I didn’t attend. They had a first time, a second time, a third… and then countless more. “So what do you want me to do?” I asked coldly. “Are you still expecting me to give you advice?” Madison let out a short laugh. “You probably don’t even know. I was going to leave the country, but Austin went to the airport to stop me.” A dull pain throbbed in my lower abdomen. “So? You think Austin will divorce me for you? He loves me.” I realized, as the words left my mouth, that even I didn’t believe them anymore. “Is that so?” Madison sneered and stood up. “Then let’s see who he chooses in the end.” Madison left shortly before Austin returned. Acting guilty, he noticed the extra teacup on the table and asked if anyone had visited. I told him it was a lady from next door who brought over some local pastries. Austin told me not to open the door for strangers. I nodded and ate the hot meal he brought back. Suddenly, nausea surged, and I ended up throwing everything up in the sink. Austin tenderly patted my back and handed me a glass of water. “Austin, do you love me?” “Of course.” “Only me?” “…” Austin nervously asked what was wrong, if I had seen some tabloid gossip. I shook my head and said I was just too invested in a TV show. In the show, the abandoned female lead was so pitiful. Austin laughed and said shows were fake, but his love for me was real. In the middle of the night, Austin was woken by a vibrating phone. He declined the call several times, but the person on the other end was persistent. He finally had to hide in the bathroom to call back. “What? Which hospital?? I’m coming right now!” Austin hurriedly started putting on his clothes. I pretended to just wake up and asked where he was going. He stammered, saying a relative of his had been hospitalized and he had to go check on them. Maybe much later, when he wasn’t so nervous, he’d realize how ridiculous his lie was. He was an orphan. He grew up in the system. He told me when we married that I was his first and only family. So who was this “relative” that suddenly appeared? “I’ll go with you.” I wanted to give him one last chance to be honest with me. But he quickly held me down. “No, it’s the middle of the night. Go back to sleep. I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for me to say anything else, he hurried away. For the next several days, he spent his time at the hospital. He hired a nanny to cook for me and kept me confined to the house. But I faked a stomach ache and went to the hospital myself. 6 Austin and I had our location shared on our phones. Usually, we didn’t check, but he was so preoccupied with his “relative” that he didn’t notice I was already standing outside the hospital room. Through the glass window, I saw this scene— A beautiful, haggard woman with bandages on her wrists, suggesting a suicide attempt. A handsome, gentle man carefully blowing on a bowl of porridge, feeding her spoon by spoon. They looked like a peaceful, happy young couple. The image made it hard to breathe. Suppressing the urge to gag, I dialed Austin’s number. Austin saw the call, and a flash of panic crossed his face. He wanted to decline it. But Madison reached out and hit the “Accept” button. “Sienna… what is it?” Austin’s voice was dry. “Austin, where are you?” I tried to keep my voice as steady as possible. “I’m with that relative. I’ll be home soon.” As soon as he finished, Madison leaned in and kissed his neck, then suddenly bit him hard. Austin couldn’t help but let out a sharp gasp of pain. My heart skipped a beat. “Okay. I’m hanging up.” Maybe I couldn’t hold it back; my voice carried a hint of a sob. Austin panicked. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing. Just a bit of a stomach ache.” “Stomach ache? I’m coming home right now…” He started to stand up, but Madison grabbed him, looking at him with teary, pitiful eyes. Austin softened. “Traffic is bad right now. It’ll take me a while to get back. Look, I’ll call the nanny. Have her take you to the clinic immediately.” I smiled. “Okay.” I hung up and watched them. Madison playfully reached into Austin’s waistband to pinch him. Austin grabbed her hand, tucked it back under the covers, and then leaned over to tell her something—likely telling her to rest and stop acting out. I suddenly felt a violent urge to vomit. I ran into the restroom and threw up until my face was covered in tears. My phone pinged. A message from Madison: Porridge made by Austin is the best. Attached was a photo of Austin holding her hand as he slept by her bedside. I closed my eyes and booked an appointment at an OB-GYN clinic. Austin, you were so excited for this baby. But I’m not. 7 The doctor told me the procedure carried a high risk. The hospital refused to do it. I walked out of the hospital into the warm breeze, but my heart felt colder than ever. I knew I had two choices: Either endure a violent “death” to trigger the system and enter an unknown next world—which could be worse than this one. Or, stay here, pretend I know nothing, and continue to live in the sweet, hollow illusion Austin had built. My mind was a mess. Thoughts raced through my head until my phone rang. It was the nanny. “Ms. Sterling, where are you? Mr. Sterling is home and he’s frantic.” I checked my location. Austin was at the villa. But half a minute later, the dot started moving again, heading straight for Madison’s apartment. The nanny said, “He took a call. A woman was crying on the other end, and he just bolted again…” This was my future. Austin might maintain our marriage, but he would always have a soft spot for Madison. I would be trapped in this eternal triangle, suffering without end. I chose to walk away. 8 The risks for my procedure were too high for the major hospitals. I needed a private clinic. Miraculously, it was as if fate had heard my wish. I found a private clinic online. I followed the address. This was where I would say goodbye to this world. The street was quiet. The clinic looked clean. The office had a faint scent of cedarwood, and the doctor was refined and cool. He didn’t take the massive bribe I offered. He just lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and thought for a moment. I noticed his name tag: Dr. Silas Thorne. “Are you sure?” He looked at me, his eyes unreadable. I nodded. “Have you really thought this through?” I nodded again. “Yes.” He didn’t say anything else. He took the payment. “Thursday. Come back then.” I felt a sense of relief, as if something had finally been settled. But leaving the clinic, the heatwave felt exhausting. I went to a nearby cafe for a piece of cake. My phone had died. The cashier asked if I had cash. I looked at my empty pockets, feeling humiliated. Just then, a payment card was tapped behind me. It was Dr. Thorne. “Together,” he said simply to the cashier. The cafe was tiny. By the window, there was only one wooden table and two chairs. So I sat across from Dr. Thorne. He had his coffee; I had my cake. Neither of us spoke. But I had a very strange feeling. As if I had lived this moment before. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out behind me: “Sienna?” It was Austin. He looked furious. He marched over, pulled me behind him, and glared at Dr. Thorne. “Who the hell are you?” he asked coldly. I tried to explain, but Austin cut me off. He grabbed my hand, showing my wedding ring to the doctor. “Don’t you know you should keep your distance from a married woman?” “Austin!” Terrified of offending the doctor I needed, I pulled Austin back and apologized to Silas. “I’m sorry… thank you for the cake.” I signaled him to leave quickly. Dr. Thorne said nothing. He gave Austin a cold, indifferent glance. Just as Austin opened his mouth to say something even more unpleasant, Silas turned and walked away. I breathed a secret sigh of relief. The next second, Austin gripped my shoulders nervously. “Who is he? Why aren’t you answering my calls?” I pointed to my dead phone and briefly explained the cake situation. Austin pulled me into an anxious embrace, sounding both helpless and protective. “You can’t just take food from a strange man.” “Don’t do it again.” I smiled in his arms. “It was just a piece of cake. Why the temper?” Austin tightened his grip. “Don’t you understand? It’s because I love you. It hurts to see you with anyone else.” His voice was deep and pleasant, his warm breath brushing against the skin of my neck. His words were always so moving, so warm. I smiled softly. “I understand.” Of course I did. I gently pushed him away. “I’m hungry. Let’s go home.” “Okay, let’s go home.” Austin gallantly opened the door for me and waited by the curb for an Uber. As we turned the corner, while he wasn’t looking, I pulled the ring off my finger and dropped it into a trash can.

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The next time I opened my eyes, I was back on the day I got the pregnancy test results. My sister had just broken up with her childhood sweetheart in a fit of anger. That same night, he got drunk, and we slept together. When I found out I was pregnant, my sister chose to step aside for us. She went abroad, leaving us to build a life. He locked himself in his room for a full day. When he emerged, he told me he would marry me, that he would give me and our child a home. Our marriage was one of polite distance, but we managed a semblance of happiness. But our child was born with a cruel, congenital disease. After three years of agonizing treatments, we still couldn’t save him. The grief shattered me, and I wasted away, dying of a broken heart not long after. He spent the rest of his life tending to our graves. Only on the day he died did he whisper to our headstones that he had paid his debt to us. If there was a next life, he said, all he wanted was to find my sister. This time, I tore the pregnancy report to shreds and immediately scheduled an abortion. 1 In my past life, our child was born with a genetic defect. Every day was a struggle, filled with pain. No matter what treatments we tried, we were only delaying the inevitable. This time, I refused to let my child suffer like that again. And I refused to trap myself in a loveless marriage, a slow and agonizing torture. I had just gotten home when a warm hand grabbed my arm. “Lena!” I turned to see my sister, Seraphina, her eyes wide with worry. She pulled me quickly to a small wisteria-covered gazebo in our community garden and gently pushed me to sit down. This gazebo was once our sanctuary. When she and her childhood sweetheart, Asher, were on dates, I would always tag along like a little shadow. While they sat and talked, I would lean over the railing, watching the koi fish swim in the pond below. Sometimes, Asher would get annoyed and try to bribe me with snacks to go play somewhere else. But Sera would always protect me. “Lena can stay right here if she wants. If you have a problem with it, you can leave.” Now, in this new life, everything had changed. “Sera, what’s wrong?” I asked, trying my best to sound natural. She stared into my eyes, her voice low and urgent. “Did Asher hurt you?” She knelt in front of me, her hands gripping mine. “Tell me the truth, Lena. Did he do something to you?” Unlike my past life, where I had desperately tried to explain, this time I remained silent. I was the adopted daughter of the Jiang family. They took me in when I was seven. Sera was three years older than me, but she never once treated me like an outsider. She shared everything with me, from her favorite snacks to her most treasured toys. If someone bullied me, she was the first to jump to my defense. When I was sick, she would stay up all night by my side. My adoptive parents treated me as their own, providing for my education and giving me the best life they could. They even made it clear that their inheritance would be split equally between me and Sera. In my past life, I was so consumed by my love for Asher that I took their warmth for granted. It wasn’t until I was on my deathbed that I realized they were the ones I had wronged the most. This time, I would not let history repeat itself. I forced a lighthearted smile and patted her hand. “Sera, what are you talking about? I’m his future sister-in-law. Asher wouldn’t dare mess with me. He’s too scared I’ll say something bad about him to Mom and Dad and they won’t let you two get married.” Her frown deepened. “Lena, don’t lie to me… That night a month ago, when I told him we were breaking up… he got completely wasted. Were you with him?” Her voice trembled slightly. “Did he do something to you? If he dared to hurt you, I’ll kill him!” My fingers curled into a fist. This was exactly how it had happened before. Her relentless questioning, my flimsy excuses. It had all come out in a tearful confession in front of our parents. After that, Sera locked herself in her room for three days. Then she calmly packed her bags, applied for a master’s program abroad, and never looked back. She would only send gifts on my birthday and holidays, with a simple, detached note. Our parents sighed with sorrow, but they always put on a brave face for me, telling me not to worry. But the atmosphere in our home was never the same again. And Asher and I, we lived in a hollow marriage, sleeping in separate rooms, two polite strangers, until our family was torn apart by tragedy. I dug my nails into my palm, the sharp pain keeping me grounded in the present. I looked up, my expression open and innocent. “Sera, who’ve you been listening to? I was asleep early that night. I didn’t see him at all.” I tilted my head and gestured behind her with my chin. “If you don’t believe me, why don’t you just ask Asher? The man himself wouldn’t lie, would he?” 2 As if on cue, a soft footstep sounded from behind the gazebo. Sera turned. Asher stood under the wisteria trellis, holding a bouquet of fresh white roses. He was tall and handsome, with sharp, intelligent eyes. His gaze flickered over me for a split second before quickly moving to Sera, his expression instantly softening into a look of pure adoration. That look was always reserved for her. He walked over and offered her the flowers, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant. “Sera, I’m sorry. I was an idiot that night. I never should have said we were breaking up.” She turned her head away with a sniff but didn’t push the flowers away. “I haven’t forgiven you yet.” “I know,” he said, his voice gentle, his eyes full of affection. “You can punish me however you want. Just… don’t ignore me.” I sat there, watching them, a familiar ache in my chest. This was how they were supposed to be. The perfect couple, deeply in love. All the tragedy had stemmed from that one drunken mistake. Suddenly, Sera turned back to Asher, her tone serious. “Asher, I have to ask you something. Have you ever, in any way, hurt Lena?” Asher’s body went rigid. His eyes found mine again, and this time, he didn’t look away. I could clearly see a storm of emotions in them: panic, a flicker of blame, and something else I couldn’t quite decipher. He was blaming me for bringing this up, for ruining his apology. And perhaps there was a sliver of guilt, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. “Of course not,” he said, his voice steady, but with an undercurrent of tension. “Lena is your sister. I would never do anything to hurt her.” I quickly took Sera’s hand, trying to smooth things over. “See, Sera? I told you. Stop worrying. You two just made up. Go on your date, don’t waste your time with me.” But Sera held onto my hand, her eyes twinkling. “Actually, you said you wanted to see that new sci-fi movie, right? Let’s all go together. The three of us.” We used to be inseparable. Asher doted on Sera, and by extension, he was always kind to me. Dinners, movies, it was always the three of us. But now, the words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them. “Let’s not take her this time.” The air went still. Sera looked at him, confused. “Why not? We always go together.” A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. “Besides, we haven’t officially made up yet. I can go with whoever I want.” Asher’s face paled. He was at a loss for words. How could he possibly bring me along, with such a huge secret hanging between us? I quickly pulled Sera aside, whispering, “Sera, you know how he is. He’s all talk. He was just saying that because he was angry. He secretly asked me to put in a good word for you a few days ago.” “You two just made up,” I pushed. “You need some time alone. I’d just be a third wheel. You go on your date, and I’ll go home and catch up on sleep.” My words seemed to soften her, and she was about to agree. But in that exact moment, I clapped a hand over my mouth, a wave of nausea washing over me as I retched violently. My face went white, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “Lena!” Sera cried, grabbing me to steady me. Behind her, Asher’s face contorted in alarm, his pupils constricting. His voice was a strangled whisper. “You’re not…?” 3 My heart hammered against my ribs. I waved a hand dismissively, my voice strained. “I’m fine! I ate some leftovers from the fridge last night, must have been something bad. My stomach’s just upset.” I didn’t dare look at Asher, terrified he would see the panic in my eyes. “You two go, don’t worry about me. I’ll just go home and lie down for a bit.” I pushed Sera toward Asher, my steps hurried. “You’ll be late for the movie. I’m really okay.” “No!” Sera grabbed my arm, her face etched with worry. “You look terrible. We’re going to the hospital right now. I’m taking you.” “You don’t have to!” I pleaded, my eyes welling with tears. “Sera, I know my own body. It’s just a little stomach bug. A hot cup of water and some rest, and I’ll be fine. If you don’t go now, you’ll miss the movie for sure!” Asher stood by, his expression a chaotic mix of guilt, panic, and a deep-seated fear he wouldn’t even admit to himself. Sera was about to argue, but Asher gently took her arm. He shook his head, his voice low. “Let her go home and rest. She really doesn’t look well. I’ll buy some medicine and drop it off at the house later.” Sera looked from me to Asher, and finally relented. “Alright, you go home and get some rest. Call me immediately if you feel worse.” “I will, Sera.” I watched them walk away, side by side, and let out a long, shuddering breath. My back was soaked with cold sweat. Without a moment’s delay, I pulled out my phone, called a car, and headed straight for the hospital. In the car, my phone vibrated. A message from Asher. [You’re not pregnant, are you?] The short sentence landed like a ton of bricks on my chest. My fingertips were ice-cold as I typed back: [No.] The indicator showed that he was typing a reply. The cursor blinked for a long time, but no new message appeared. Seeing his hesitation, I typed another line. [There is nothing between you and me. Never was.] [Just focus on your date with my sister. Treat her right. You don’t need to worry about anything else.] After hitting send, I put my phone on silent. I opened a group chat with my classmates. The class president was organizing a trip to see a meteor shower in a few days. I opened the sign-up sheet and added my name to the list. The car pulled up to the hospital. I walked straight to the gynecology department and scheduled the soonest available abortion procedure. The procedure was quick. It didn’t hurt as much as I had imagined. It just felt, for a brief moment, like something had been untethered from my body. After a short rest, I took the post-op diagnosis sheet and walked out of the hospital. The moment I stepped outside, a large hand clamped down on my wrist. Asher stood before me, his face a thunderous mask of anger and panic. His eyes were glued to the paper in my hand. “Lena, what are you doing at the hospital?” “You’re pregnant, aren’t you? Are you going to take that report to Sera?” His voice was a harsh, ragged whisper. “What are you trying to do? Ruin us?” His grip was painfully tight. I looked up and saw the raw fear in his eyes. He really was terrified of losing Sera over what happened between us. I held the diagnosis sheet up to his face, my voice calm and devoid of emotion. “Asher, read it carefully.” He looked down, his eyes scanning the text. His pupils contracted violently.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “437432”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

At a high school reunion, my ex-boyfriend held his fiancée and announced their engagement. I snapped a photo and texted it to his mother. “They look like a perfect match. Congratulations on getting exactly what you wanted.” Just as I was about to hit send, my wrist was gripped viciously. “Oh? Still keeping in touch with my mother?” He glared at me, his face dark and menacing. “What, haven’t squeezed enough money out of her yet?” The room went dead silent. I looked up at him, my face draining of color. I didn’t even notice when the music stopped. I had become the center of everyone’s attention. 1 Everyone knew I had dumped Caleb Thorne for money. During the year he loved me the most, I accepted two million dollars from his mother, Evelyn Thorne. And then I walked out of his life without a backward glance. Furious with his mother’s interference, he went on a hunger strike, starving himself until he was barely recognizable. His friends, unable to watch him destroy himself, swallowed their disgust for me and showed up at my door, begging on his behalf. I refused to see a single one of them. Later, when he was on the brink of death, his mother, “out of options,” called and begged me to be a “mediator.” When I appeared in his hospital room, he clung to me like a drowning man and refused to let go. Even though he was emaciated, the sheer force of his grip made my bones ache. “Maya, you came. You still love me, don’t you? I knew it—” The joy in his voice was unmistakable. I pushed him away coldly. I played an audio clip for him and showed him a text message. The audio was a recording of me demanding three hundred thousand dollars from his mother in exchange for visiting him. The text was the bank notification confirming the transfer. He stared at me, his eyes wide and blank. When it finally registered, he shoved me away violently. But because he used too much force, he fell out of bed, coughing until it sounded like his lungs would tear. “Maya, get the hell out of here!” He lay pathetically on the floor, grinding out each word through clenched teeth. I did exactly as he asked. I walked out cleanly, without ever looking back. I don’t know whose mouth leaked the story. From that day on, I became a massive joke in New York high society. Anyone who knew the story said that my greed was only matched by my cruelty. Others claimed I never loved Caleb to begin with; I was only with him for the money. As for the truth? No one cared… Later, when Caleb recovered, he agreed to a corporate marriage with Serena Vance, the treasured daughter of the Vance Group’s CEO. I received over a dozen invitations to his engagement party. Sent by none other than his loyal friends. Honoring my “agreement” with his mother, I completely vanished from his world. But over the years, I knew his every move like the back of my hand. I knew he and Serena went to the US for grad school, living together the whole time. I knew that in just two years, he completed a grueling JD/MBA joint program at Harvard. I knew that the moment he entered his family’s company, he ruthlessly handled several massive crises, forcing the veteran executives who doubted him to bow in respect. I knew that even though he and Serena hadn’t officially held a wedding, they were already calling each other’s parents “Mom and Dad”… It wasn’t that I was intentionally seeking this information; his friends were practically tripping over themselves to report back to me. A good ex should be as quiet as the dead, but they constantly wanted to dig me up and parade my “corpse.” It was as if proving how exceptional Caleb was somehow proved how incredibly stupid I had been. Today was our high school reunion. It was the first time I had seen Caleb in three years. Tomorrow, I would be leaving for a completely different life. From then on, he would remain high up in the clouds, enjoying his wealth and power. And I would be down in the dirt, enduring the harsh realities of the world. Before coming here, I had called his mother with a request. “You can go, but remember what you shouldn’t say and what you shouldn’t do.” That was her exact phrasing. I agreed. And my official reason for being here was simply to accompany an old friend, Julian. My actual reason was to find an old classmate who specialized in nephrology, to verify some medical records. There were things I had to know before I could finally let go… I had anticipated Caleb’s humiliation and coldness. I had anticipated the mockery and bullying from my old classmates. What I hadn’t anticipated was that Caleb would turn this reunion into a pre-wedding celebration. As the undisputed center of attention, he navigated the drinking games with Serena with effortless grace, putting on a sickening display of affection. The atmosphere was electric. No one was tactless enough to bring up the past. I also got the answers I needed from my old classmate. Because Julian got tied up chatting, I ended up staying a bit longer. I never expected that in the brief moment it took to snap a photo and type out a text, Caleb would materialize in front of me like a ghost. Dragging me out to be scrutinized by everyone. 2 “So what if I’ve squeezed enough, and what if I haven’t?” I met his gaze provocatively. “Is Mr. Thorne offering to pay the difference?” “Maya, three years later, and you’re still as cheap as ever!” He looked down at me from his towering height, those beautiful eyes freezing over with hostility. His words were like a sword, twisting in my gut until my organs ached. I scrutinized him through the hazy club lighting. The man he used to be was like a beam of light—real, stubborn, standing firm in this unpredictable world. Now, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his striking looks undiminished, but his eyes were like a bottomless abyss. Looking at me now, there wasn’t a single trace of the gentle affection he once had. I twisted my wrist, forcing him to lean in closer. “Flirting with another woman right in front of your fiancée… tell me, who’s really cheaper?” I fought him, “tooth and nail,” just like I always used to. Only, we used to whisper sweet nothings. Now, we were spitting razor blades. Caleb seemed to snap back to reality. He violently shoved my hand away, grabbed a wet wipe from the table, and meticulously, repeatedly scrubbed his hands. The humiliation was deafeningly clear. I didn’t want to stay a second longer. I exchanged a look with Julian, stood up, and prepared to leave. But Caleb stepped into my path, blocking my exit. “Serena, come here. I want to introduce you to someone.” He reined in his hostility and waved Serena over. “Caleb, is there something special about this lady?” Serena trotted over, taking small, delicate steps. She intimately linked her arm through Caleb’s, leaning softly against him as if she had no bones. Just as her name suggested, she looked sweet and adorable, clearly a girl who had been pampered her whole life. “She’s very special.” Caleb directed his words to Serena, but his eyes were locked on me. “This is the ex-girlfriend who dumped me for two million dollars. Maya.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. A massive wave of shame threatened to swallow me whole. I kept my face perfectly neutral, quietly hiding my trembling hands behind my back. Because tonight, I could hurt, I could laugh, but I absolutely could not show a single ounce of vulnerability. “Is two million a lot? The jewelry set Caleb gave me cost ten million.” Serena’s pale, manicured fingers lightly brushed the dazzling diamond necklace around her throat. Matching earrings swung from her delicate earlobes. “Ten million?! Eight figures!” A chorus of gasps rippled through the crowd. Followed closely by jeers and mockery. Mocking me for giving up a handsome, billionaire boyfriend for a mere two million. Crack— From the crowd, came the sharp sound of an aluminum can being crushed. Startled, I turned toward the noise. Julian was casually tossing a mangled beer can between his hands, a dark, unreadable smirk playing on his lips. I shook my head slightly at him, signaling him to stay calm. Caleb suddenly let out a low, dark chuckle. He pulled a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills from his jacket and casually tossed them into the air. “Maya, I have plenty of money.” “But you. Don’t. Deserve. It!” The bills fluttered down like snow, landing on my face, my shoulders. And scattering around my feet. “With a boyfriend this amazing, you better hold on tight, little sister.” I forced a smile, enduring the onslaught of judgmental stares. “Of course I will.” Serena looked up at Caleb. Her gaze met his, perfectly perfectly matching his look of adoration. “Wow, so sweet, so romantic~” “If you guys don’t kiss right now, it’s a crime against nature!” I don’t know who started it, but the chants of “Kiss! Kiss!” grew louder and louder. Caleb suddenly hooked an arm around Serena’s waist, dipped her back onto the sofa, leaned down, and kissed her. The atmosphere hit a fever pitch. Under the flashing lights, barely an arm’s length away from me, they kissed passionately. Around me, the crowd roared. But in my ears, there was nothing but dead silence. 3 I threw up in the bathroom until I felt like I was going to pass out. When I stumbled out, the first thing I saw was a tall, blurry figure standing in the shadows. People were walking in and out of the nearby private rooms. The strobe lights flashed across his face, illuminating a storm of pure fury. It was Caleb. My body reacted before my brain. I turned on my heel and power-walked in the opposite direction. I was fast, but Caleb was faster. Just as my foot hit the floor, he grabbed me hard by the back of my shoulder. “Running the second you see me? Feeling guilty?” He used all his strength, his grip making my shoulder throb with pain. I tried to break free, but it was useless. “Guilty about what?” I laughed, my voice raw. “I just don’t think we have anything left to catch up on.” “Maya, you’ve been strutting around right under my nose all night, and now you say that? Isn’t it a bit late?” His voice was chillingly cold. “What do you mean, strutting around right under your nose? Just because we broke up doesn’t mean I can’t come to a high school reunion.” I straightened my spine, turned around, and swatted his hand away. “If that’s true, then why were you hiding in the bathroom puking?” He reached out and pinched my chin. “Did you get knocked up by some random guy, or did I just make you sick?” The memory of him kissing another woman flashed through my mind, and my stomach violently churned again. To avoid blowing my cover, I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek. “I didn’t eat much, so it was mostly just dry heaving,” I gave him my assessment, ignoring his question. My words made his eyes burn with anger. “Caleb, we’ve been over for a long time. What exactly do you want?!” I shoved him hard, but he pinned my wrists against the wall. “I should be asking you that.” He leaned in close. “Since you disappeared, why did you show up again?” The disgust and loathing in his eyes were completely undisguised. The blood in my veins turned to ice. I suddenly smiled brightly. “What answer do you want to hear? That I can’t forget you and want to get back together? Or that I regret everything and want to beg for your forgiveness?” He didn’t say anything. He probably really wanted to hear an excuse. “Of course it’s because—” “She came with me.” Before I could finish, a teasing male voice cut in. A few feet away, Julian was leaning against the wall, hands casually stuffed in his pockets. I had no idea how long he’d been watching from the corner. “Bro code dictates you don’t touch your buddy’s girl. Caleb, you’re crossing a line.” He added calmly. “What… what do you mean?” Caleb’s voice suddenly trembled slightly. “It means Maya is my girlfriend now.” “I’m a year older than you. What, are you the only one allowed to have a fiancée, but I can’t date?” Julian lazily rolled up his sleeves. It was obvious that if Caleb didn’t let go, he was ready to throw down. “Are you two really… together?” Caleb’s gaze shifted back to me. Even in the dim light, his stare felt incredibly heavy. “Do you need a French kiss as proof?” I lowered my eyes and sneered. “Be my guest…” Caleb let go of me, turned, and walked away. Julian let out a sharp whistle, a sly, victorious smirk spreading across his lips. With my facade entirely shattered, I slumped weakly against the wall, closing my eyes in exhaustion. “I told you not to come, but you wouldn’t listen. Do you consider this a self-inflicted wound?” Julian’s exasperated huff sounded in my ear. I opened my eyes and looked at him. “There are some things that no one else can do for me.” Knowing I was going to see our old classmate who was a doctor, he had offered to ask on my behalf, but I refused. Because I needed to hear the truth with my own ears. “But you can fool yourself; you can’t fool anyone else when it comes to feelings.” Julian stepped closer, placed one hand on the wall behind me, and looked down at me. “Maya, I’ve watched over you for seven years, and you never gave me the time of day.” “Just now, when he was publicly humiliating you, I wanted to punch him, and you wouldn’t even let me.” “Is he really that great? Is he really worth you agonizing over for three years after you broke up?” Even though he was saying hurtful things, the underlying heartache in his voice was impossible to hide. I raised my arms, wrapped them around his waist, and buried my face in his chest. He visibly stiffened. “Julian, some forms of protection have nothing to do with love, and life doesn’t offer many chances to turn back.” “Back then, when he begged to see me, I refused. So of course my presence today is an eyesore to him.” “If he needs to curse me out to feel better, I’ll take it. After all, I’m the one who needed a favor today.” I patiently explained it to him. “Did you get the answers you wanted?” Julian sighed. I nodded slightly. “Then let’s head back.” He ruffled my hair. “I’ll go get the car. Wait for me at the entrance.” “Okay.” I slowly let go. In the periphery of my vision, a figure quietly walked away… 4 On the drive home, Julian was unnervingly quiet. He didn’t speak, and I definitely didn’t have the urge to say anything. “Remember what you promised me. I’m driving you tomorrow.” When I went to get out of the car, he suddenly hit the central lock. I was about to refuse, but when I saw his stubborn expression, I changed my tune. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.” I gave him a reassuring smile and flashed an “OK” sign. Only then did he unlock the doors. As Julian’s car sped away, I stood on the sidewalk, lost in thought. He and Caleb used to be best friends. They grew up together, as close as brothers. Before Caleb and I got together, Julian had publicly given me a love letter. When I rejected him, he shamelessly declared he wouldn’t give up “until the bitter end.” After Caleb and I started dating, he started dating too, but he cycled through girlfriends quickly, never staying with one for long. I thought his interest in me had just been a passing phase. But he gradually faded out of Caleb’s and my life, eventually becoming entirely estranged from Caleb. I once thought I would never cross paths with him again in this lifetime. But after my family’s tragedy, he was the one who spent countless agonizing days and nights with me at the hospital. He even acted as my smokescreen, successfully making Evelyn drop her guard around me. Besides my parents, I have two great regrets in the first half of my life. One is failing Caleb, and the other is being unable to return Julian’s love… The cold night wind started to pick up, biting into my exposed skin like needles. I wrapped my scarf tightly around my face and turned to walk toward my apartment building. Not far away, a car’s hazard lights suddenly flashed twice. By the light of the streetlamp, I recognized the person in the driver’s seat. It was Carter, the trusted driver of Caleb’s mother. I couldn’t help but sneer. Talk about lingering like a ghost. I quickened my pace, pulled open the passenger door, and slid inside. “What is it?” “Please pack your things, Ms. Sterling. We’re leaving tonight.” His voice was as stiff and uncompromising as ever. “Isn’t my train ticket for 6 AM tomorrow?” I turned to look at him. “Can’t Mrs. Thorne even wait one night?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he placed his phone on the center console. It was mid-call, on speaker. “Does Ms. Sterling have a problem with that?” Serena’s voice came through the speaker. It was arrogant and domineering, a far cry from her demure and gentle daytime persona. “I wouldn’t dare.” I frowned and chuckled. “I just wanted to know if this is Mrs. Thorne’s order or Ms. Vance’s?” “Does it make a difference?” A scoff came from the other end. “It doesn’t matter whose order it is. Ms. Sterling just needs to know that only when you’re gone can Mrs. Thorne have peace of mind.” She paused. “Only then can I have peace of mind.” Remembering the figure I saw leaving the KTV earlier, I laughed out loud. We only met once, and she was already guarding against me. And I, what power did I have to command such fear? “I’ll go.” I was too tired to argue, and moved to get out of the car. My things had been packed for a while; all that was left were a few everyday items. When I finished packing, I zipped up my suitcase and took one last look around. My parents bought this apartment. We lived here for over twenty years, and every corner held traces of our family. But now, everything was different, and even the property deed had changed names. I placed the keys on the shoe cabinet by the entrance, locked the door, and carried my suitcase downstairs. As the car headed toward the highway, I opened my phone to send a goodbye message to my new employer. I immediately noticed an unsent message. The urge to antagonize Evelyn was long gone. I put my phone away and stared out the window, silently bidding farewell to this bustling city. The city lights illuminated the pitch-black sky; towering skyscrapers stood everywhere, and the neon lights were blinding. This city held countless lonely souls, countless joys, angers, sorrows, and tragedies. But it no longer held a place for me… 5 The car drove further and further from the city center. It wasn’t until I saw a familiar courtyard that I realized with a shock that Carter had driven to the Thorne estate. “Mrs. Thorne wanted to say goodbye to you in person.” Carter parked the car and politely opened the door. “Is that really necessary?” I remained seated. I could count on one hand the number of times I had been here, but each visit was unforgettable. I didn’t want to add another. “I’m just following orders,” he said, looking straight at me. “I hope Ms. Sterling won’t make this difficult for me.” I sat in the car, locked in a stalemate with him. “The young master hasn’t lived here for a long time.” After a long pause, he added. Only then did I step out of the car. Walking boldly into the house, I saw Evelyn sitting in the parlor, watching financial news. A woman nearing fifty, her skin was still porcelain smooth. Under the sparkling light of the crystal chandelier, she seemed to glow. “Here is your ID. Carter will see you to the station.” After I sat across from her, she turned down the TV volume and handed me an ID card. The woman in the photo looked a bit like me. “Mrs. Thorne certainly went through a lot of trouble to hide my tracks.” I smiled. “Where are my actual documents? When are you giving them back?” “After Caleb and Ms. Vance are married.” She pushed a brand-new smartphone toward me. “Until then, I expect Ms. Sterling to know her place.” I instantly understood her intent: she was confiscating my phone. My throat suddenly felt tight. Wasn’t it enough that she took my residency and ID? Now she wanted to cut off my social network too? “And if I refuse?” I pressed my hand against the pocket holding my phone. Caleb gave me this phone five years ago; it was a matching set with his. I had used it all these years, and it was already lagging and crashing. Because it held so much, I couldn’t bear to replace it. I even winced if it got bumped… “I don’t want outsiders coveting my chosen daughter-in-law’s husband.” She pushed the new phone closer again. “Ms. Sterling, don’t force my hand.” Her single sentence clarified the power dynamics and her stance. Knowing I had no way out, I reluctantly pulled out my phone and placed it on the table. “Carter, handle it.” She gestured. Carter picked up the phone, removed the SIM tray, snapped the card in half, and then broke the phone in two with his bare hands. I watched helplessly as my phone was reduced to a mangled mess. “Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Sterling.” Evelyn nodded in satisfaction. “If that’s gratitude for my obedience these past three years, I accept.” My gaze drifted over the ruined metal and plastic. “If it’s for my inability to fight back today, then keep it.” “The road ahead is long. Ms. Sterling is still young; you need to look forward.” She raised her chin and ordered Carter, “It’s getting late. Take Ms. Sterling to the station.” “Yes, ma’am,” Carter replied. I stood up silently, lowering my head as I walked toward the door. Carter took two quick steps and shoved the new phone into my hand. I took it numbly. “Maya—” Just as Carter was about to open the parlor door, Evelyn spoke again. I turned around like a marionette. “Live well. Nobody wants to compete with a dead woman.” She crossed her arms, exuding an aura of absolute authority. I let out a bitter, silent laugh. All these years, she guarded against me like I was a thief. She even destroyed my phone before I left to prevent me from contacting Caleb again. But Caleb was such a proud man; after I had hurt him so many times, how could he ever look back? The most ridiculous part was that after doing so many unspeakable things, she still hypocritically wished me a long life… “Understood.” I answered coldly, brushing past Carter to open the door. The moment the door opened, I froze in my tracks. Caleb stood right outside. His posture was rigid, his breathing steady. But those dark eyes burned with a dark, smoldering fire. 6 “Caleb, what are you doing here?” Evelyn’s voice couldn’t hide her shock. “You told me to come home if I missed it, didn’t you, Mother?” “Now that I’m back, Mother seems so surprised—” The corner of his mouth twitched up, as if he was smiling, but not really. “Is it because I’m not welcome here, or is Mother up to some shady business again?” Every sentence used the formal “Mother,” but every word was coated in venom. I frowned as I listened. Even though Caleb’s relationship with his mother used to be tense, he at least called her “Mom.” Now he couldn’t even be bothered to say “Mom,” yet he called Serena’s parents “Mom and Dad.” What exactly had happened these past few years… “Ma’am—” Carter suddenly rushed toward the area behind me. My thoughts abruptly cut off, and I turned around in confusion. Evelyn lay stiffly on the mahogany sofa, her breathing ragged, her usually composed face a sickly shade of grey-blue. I couldn’t help but feel anxious. Because with Carter moving away, the space around me felt suffocating. I could even smell the faint scent of alcohol on Caleb. For me, this proximity was far too dangerous. In any other setting, I might have just lashed out. But here, in the Thorne estate, right in front of Evelyn, I couldn’t bring myself to scream or curse. It would only make me look like a cheap clown. I casually took two steps to the side, trying to distance myself from Caleb. But he took a large stride forward, hooked an arm around my waist, and dragged me straight toward his mother. His arm felt like an iron bar. I wanted to glue my feet to the floor, but I lacked the strength, forced to let him drag me forward. “It’s so late, and my dear Mother is still hosting guests. Working so hard.” Caleb forcefully pushed me down onto the sofa. “What kind of deal did you strike? Let me hear it too.” “Carter, take Ms. Sterling home.” Evelyn caught her breath, but she radiated a dark, oppressive energy. I obediently stood up. But Caleb pushed me back down again. “I’m basically half the master of this house now. If Mother acts like this, isn’t it a bit disrespectful to me?” He adjusted his watch, his expression lazy, but every word was a warning. With Evelyn glaring like a hawk in front of me and Caleb aggressively cornering me, I was trapped. I touched the cold, new phone in my hand, caught in a dilemma. After three years away, I had absolutely no desire to meddle in their family drama. I wanted to just walk away, but all I had was a fake ID. Without Carter’s help, even if I knew where to go, I wouldn’t pass the facial recognition at the station. As the three of us remained locked in a standoff, Evelyn spoke again. “Don’t you want to know what happened three years ago? Let her leave, and I’ll tell you.” “God knows what kind of lies you’ll spin. Compared to you, I’d rather hear it from her.” Caleb’s tone was flat. Evelyn sneered. “If you want to hear it from her, you have to see if she’s willing to tell you.” Everyone’s eyes immediately fell on me. “I don’t have a fetish for catching up with my ex.” The corners of my lips curled up. “I’m afraid my boyfriend, Julian, would get jealous.” Caleb kicked the coffee table, sending it crashing over. He clenched his fists, the veins on his neck bulging, looking like lightning hidden in thick, dark clouds, ready to destroy everything. I knew he was absolutely furious. But I felt zero sense of accomplishment. As someone who once loved him deeply, I always knew exactly where to stab him so it hurt the most. When we were together, I never thought a day would come where I’d use my knowledge of him as a weapon against him. Over these three years, I had ruthlessly poured all that knowledge out to wound him… “Let’s go.” I stood up and signaled Carter. He looked at Evelyn. Evelyn gave a stiff nod. As we walked out, Carter kept looking back, clearly worried about Evelyn’s safety. “If you don’t leave now, you might regret it.” I offered a subtle warning. Carter flinched, and his steps instantly quickened. This time, Caleb didn’t try to stop me.

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The hunt ended early, so I grabbed my prey and took a shortcut back to the cabin. Suddenly, muffled panting came from deep in the grass. I pushed aside the bushes. My husband Gideon was pressing his sister-in-law Sera against that old birch tree. Sera’s silk dress was half-pulled down, bunched at the pale roots of her thighs. She moaned and wrapped her legs tightly around his muscular waist. Gideon’s hands gripped her hips, the sounds coming from his throat low and hoarse. Nothing like the mild-mannered act he put on in front of me. I sneered and raised my wrist, recording the whole thing on my phone. With one click, I sent the package to Sera’s husband, Black Pack’s Alpha Killian. “Your brother who’s been faking impotence at home for three years is having a wild workout with your wife. Sent you the location.” “Honey, you’re really putting in effort with this outdoor workout.” I stepped out from behind the bushes, tossed the deer I’d just hunted onto a tree stump, my tone as light as if I were discussing what to have for dinner. The two people under the birch tree froze instantly. Gideon let go of Sera’s legs and stared at me like he’d seen a ghost, stuttering for ages without managing a complete sentence. My dear best friend Sera didn’t even have time to pull down her dress. She just collapsed in the pile of fallen leaves with her legs spread, fresh marks my husband had just sucked all over her skin below the collarbone. “Elara, how did you—” “Don’t rush.” I pulled out my phone and waved it. “Let me take a couple more shots. Three years of marriage, first time I’ve seen my husband with this much stamina. Worth commemorating.” Gideon suddenly snapped to his senses and lunged at me, trying to grab my phone. I sidestepped to the left. He missed and nearly tumbled into the bushes. I looked at him and sneered. As the only daughter of White Pack’s Alpha, I’d been receiving combat training since childhood. Dealing with trash like Gideon who only knew how to hide under his brother’s wing was more than easy. “Take it easy.” I held my phone up high. “You always told me you couldn’t perform, wouldn’t even change clothes in front of me. Three years, turns out you were saving yourself for my best friend.” Sera’s cheeks instantly flushed red. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke with a sob in her voice: “Elara, let me explain. This was just an accident.” “Explain what?” I lowered my head and swiped open my phone screen, pulling up the video I’d just shot to the best part, then turned it to show her. In the footage, she was riding on Gideon’s waist, the sounds squeezing from her throat sluttier than a she-wolf in heat. “Explain how you ran to my husband in the middle of the night to practice squats?” Her face went completely white. She was Black Pack’s Luna, and also my best friend since childhood. I’d thought it was the most perfect arrangement—we married the two brothers of Black Pack, two packs with generations of good relations. Turns out she occupied the Luna position and still wanted to drag her brother-in-law to the northern slope grass to roll around. Two brothers, and she didn’t want to let either one go. “Elara!” Gideon roared. Birds in the forest scattered in fright. Someone else might not be able to withstand Gideon’s dominant pressure, but I’d been trained by my father since childhood. This level of intimidation couldn’t suppress me. I stared at him. “What are you yelling about? You dared to pin your sister-in-law against a tree, but I can’t stand here and watch?” Sera stumbled and crawled over from the pile of leaves, grabbing my legs. Tears splattered on my boots: “Elara, please, don’t tell Killian. I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong.” I looked down at her, this best friend who’d been with me for twenty years. “Get up first.” I crouched down and patted her shoulder. “Your legs will go numb if you stay down too long.” She lifted her head, teardrops hanging from her eyelashes, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. I continued, “Look how hard you’re crying. My husband must feel so bad for you.” I stood up, shook off her hand, and turned to leave. Gideon grabbed my arm from behind, his knuckles digging into the crook of my elbow. “Where do you think you’re going? You want to expose this? You want to destroy the alliance between our two packs?” I looked back at him, almost laughing out loud. Now he remembered the alliance. When he was pulling his sister-in-law’s pants down, why didn’t he think of it then? “Already exposed.” His fingers tightened, his breathing suddenly heavy. “What do you mean?” I pried his hand off and turned to face him. “Your brother should be on his way by now. I just sent him the video, with live location tracking.” Gideon’s pupils contracted sharply. Those eyes that always carried a mild smile were now full of shock: “What did you say? You sent it to Killian?!” “Is there a problem?” I tilted my head at him. “As Alpha, he naturally has the right to know what’s happening in his Pack.” “You’re crazy!” “No.” I stepped back, landing precisely on a dead leaf that crunched softly. “I think you’re the ones who are finished.” A sound that didn’t belong to this hunting ground came from the distance. That deep, resonant howl tore through the silence of the northern slope night sky, carrying an Alpha’s unique oppression, rapidly approaching the cabin. Sera collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale. When the massive brown-black wolf burst through the tree line, I was leaning against the hunter’s cabin doorpost drinking beer. Killian shifted to human form and walked toward me. He scanned the two people slumped by the grass without expression, then turned to me and said, “Nice video work. Good lighting and composition.”

“Bro…” Gideon’s calves were trembling as he shrank back. That fierce, vicious energy he’d had on top of Sera had completely disappeared. Killian ignored him and turned to look at me. “How much did you record?” I pulled out my phone and waved it. “From start to finish. Didn’t miss a single moment of the best parts.” Sera jerked her head up, eyes swollen, wanting to say something. Killian glanced at her. “Shut up and get dressed.” The half-sob caught in her throat choked back down. She frantically started putting on her clothes. I leaned against the pine tree, watching this scene with an inexplicable sense of relief. My husband and my best friend rolling around together—I should be the one suffering most, but here I was watching like it was a show, even wanting to munch on sunflower seeds. Once the two had barely gotten themselves together, Killian walked up to Gideon and punched him in the face. Gideon flew backward, the back of his head hitting the birch trunk. Killian grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, driving his knee upward. Gideon clutched his lower abdomen and curled up like a shrimp, his lips white as paper. Faked impotence for three years—this time it might become real. I hadn’t expected Killian to only look refined. When he beat someone up, he was ruthlessly fierce. Once Gideon was flat on the ground, Killian straightened up and looked at Sera. “How long has this been going on?” No one dared answer. “I asked you how long this has been going on!” He suddenly roared. Sera cried and trembled. “Three years.” Three years. My marriage to Gideon had been exactly three years, give or take. From the day he married me, he never planned to treat me properly. All those excuses were lies. “So you two started before the wedding?” I spoke, my voice so soft it surprised even me. Gideon lay on the ground without making a sound. “Lift your head up!” Killian roared again. Gideon slowly propped up his upper body. Half his face was swollen, his eyes only daring to stare at the ground. “Bro—” “Don’t call me bro! I don’t have a beast for a brother. You had your wife grab medicine for you for three years, then turned around and rode my wife. You really live up to my expectations.” Sera stumbled to Killian’s feet, her knees hitting the gravel ground with a crunching sound: “Honey, I’m sorry, I really know I was wrong.” I leaned against the pine tree and added: “Do you know you were wrong, or are you afraid he’ll take back your Luna position?” She whipped her head around to look at me. I continued in a casual tone: “You two weren’t like this under the tree just now. She was riding on top of you, biting your ear telling you to hurry up. I’ve got it all on video. Want me to play it to set the mood?” Gideon glared at me viciously, his lips trembling for ages without managing a single word. “So Gideon isn’t impotent—he’s only impotent with me. Your wife touches him and all his problems disappear. She’s practically a miracle healer.” Killian was silent for a few seconds, the muscle beneath his cheekbone twitching twice. “Put on your shoes. Back to the main house. The Council of Elders convenes tonight.” Sera jerked her head up. “You’re going to—” “Divorce.” Killian turned and walked toward me. Sera grabbed Killian’s boot and was kicked away, her whole body falling into the ferns. I waited for him to approach, and we walked side by side toward the cabin. “This place reeks too much. I’ll come back for my deer tomorrow.”

The day after the drama ended, I was teaching my students when the back door of the classroom suddenly erupted in commotion. My hand writing on the blackboard paused. I nearly snapped the chalk. This plot development was getting pretty melodramatic. “Elara Voss! You shameless vixen, seducing my son-in-law, destroying my daughter’s family—have you no conscience!” Sera’s mother, the current head of the Hale family, the matriarch of an old-line werewolf family, stood at the classroom’s back door and began her performance, completely disregarding her own dignity. My teaching assistant rushed over: “Professor Elara, Sera’s mother says you seduced her daughter’s husband Mr. Killian. Should we call campus security?” I slowly put down the chalk. “Oh, let me go see.” As soon as I stepped outside the classroom, I saw a crowd surrounding Sera’s mother as she wiped tears and denounced my evil deeds. “Everyone judge for yourselves—Elara is jealous that my daughter married better than her, so she had to interfere and deliberately destroy my daughter’s family.” I leaned against the window, smiling as I watched this good show. Someone in the crowd spoke up. “Mrs. Hale, Professor Elara is here.” Sera’s mother turned around. Seeing my relaxed demeanor made her even angrier. “Good, you still dare show your face!” “Otherwise what?” I raised an eyebrow. “Should I hide like certain people who’ve done shameful things?” Sera’s mother’s face flushed red with anger. “Stop your nonsense. My daughter and son-in-law are fine. You’re the one destroying their family.” I gave a contemptuous smile. “Sera still loves lying to you? I thought she’d outgrown that childhood habit.” Sera’s mother froze. “What are you talking about?” “You don’t know? Your daughter Sera is Killian’s wife, but she wasn’t faithful during marriage. She seduced Gideon, Killian’s brother—also known as my husband.” The surrounding students all gasped. Sera’s mother’s expression shifted. “You’re talking nonsense!” I pulled out my phone. “Want to see the video? I recorded your daughter’s spectacular performance with my husband.” Sera’s mother panicked. “Don’t you dare!” I continued: “If you really care about your daughter, go home and tell her to control herself. The divorce papers have already been filed. What’s the point of making a scene here now?” Sera’s mother became frantic. “My daughter can’t get divorced!” I laughed. “What, can’t bear to lose Killian’s status? Or do you think Gideon the impotent one isn’t good enough? Don’t worry, Sera’s already cured Gideon’s impotence.” “You!” Sera’s mother pointed at my nose. “How can you be so vulgar!” After saying this, she stamped her feet in anger, but knowing she couldn’t gain anything here, she could only leave resentfully. The students all looked at me with admiration. My assistant came over. “Professor Elara, you were so cool!” I smiled. “Cool? This is nothing.” Back in my office, I sent Killian a message: Your Sera’s mom just made a scene at my school. Killian quickly replied: Need me to have someone handle it? Me: No need, I already dealt with it. Killian: Thanks for the trouble. Looking at my phone screen, I just felt that life really was full of surprises. Me: But I want Sera and Gideon, that pair of cheating scum, to pay the price.

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On our fifth anniversary, I dressed up for our date, thinking Ethan was going to propose to me. Instead, he showed up with his first love, Luna, and asked me to plan their entire engagement party. “You didn’t actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you’d get to be a billionaire’s wife, did you?” He humiliated me in public, threatened me with my family’s livelihood, and even put the wedding dress I’d spent three years designing on Luna. In the villa we’d shared for five years, all my personal belongings were thrown out like garbage. He said my taste was cheap, that my feelings were shameful, that I was nothing more than a tool in a mutually beneficial arrangement. At the banquet, Luna spilled red wine all over me, and he publicly scolded me for being in the way. Not a single apology. From that moment on, I stopped defending myself, stopped resisting, and became completely obedient to him. Ethan thought I’d finally learned my place and become the compliant secretary again. He didn’t know I’d already gotten engaged to his mortal enemy.

Stella POV In the fifth year of keeping my relationship with Ethan Carter a secret, I thought I could finally be with him. At eight PM, the most upscale revolving restaurant in downtown New York was reserved entirely. I wore a carefully selected black velvet gown, sitting by the window, watching the dazzling neon lights through the floor-to-ceiling glass. In my purse was a copy of Ethan’s schedule. Three days ago, as his chief secretary, I’d accidentally seen a massive transaction from his private account. It was for a pink diamond ring worth ten million dollars. Five years of secret companionship. Five years of being on call. At the company, I was billionaire Ethan’s most capable right hand. In bed, I was his perfectly compatible lover. We weren’t public. Ethan said it was a critical period for the power transition at Carter Group, and he couldn’t have any weaknesses. I believed him and waited without complaint for five years. Today was the fifth anniversary of us being together. When the clock struck eight-thirty, the heavy wooden door of the private room finally opened. I looked up with hopeful anticipation, but the smile on my lips froze completely the moment I saw who entered. Ethan wore an impeccably tailored custom suit, his posture upright, his handsome face showing a gentle smile I’d never seen before. And on his arm was a woman in a white dress with an innocent, delicate aura. Luna Sullivan. Ethan’s first love, the girl he couldn’t forget, who’d been overseas for years. My breathing stopped abruptly, my mind going completely blank. I stared at their intertwined arms, feeling all the blood in my body flowing backward, my fingertips instantly ice-cold. “Ethan, is this the secretary you often mention?” Luna spoke first, her voice sweet and girlish, with a hint of innocent curiosity. Ethan walked to the table with Luna, looking down at me from his superior position, his tone casual like he was discussing the weather. “Yeah, she’s my chief secretary, Stella Forrester.” He didn’t even ask me to sit down, didn’t explain why he’d brought another woman on our fifth anniversary. I forced down the violent trembling in my heart, my voice dry and tight. “Ethan, today is our…” “Stella, you’ve always been reliable in your work, and your taste is good too.” Ethan cut me off without mercy. He pulled out a chair for Luna to sit, then turned to look at me, his eyes cold and matter-of-fact. “Luna just returned to New York and isn’t familiar with the local environment yet. Next month’s engagement party for her and me will be completely under your supervision. Don’t let Luna suffer even the slightest grievance.” Word by word, like ice-cold knives, stabbing precisely into my heart. Engagement party? I stared at Ethan’s familiar face, trying to find any trace of joking in his eyes. But there was nothing. His eyes only held affection for Luna and the emotionless professionalism he showed toward me, his “secretary.” “You’re getting engaged to her?” My voice trembled uncontrollably as I stood up abruptly, my eyes red. “Ethan, then what am I? What were these five years to us?” Hearing this, Luna seemed startled, shrinking back and looking innocently at Ethan. “Ethan, what’s wrong with Miss Forrester? You two…” Ethan’s expression instantly darkened. He glanced at me coldly, his lips curling into a mocking arc. “Stella, watch your identity. You didn’t actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you’d get to be a billionaire’s wife, did you?”

Stella POV Those words were like a resounding slap across my face. All the strength seemed to drain from my body instantly, my face pale as paper. “Between us, it was nothing more than mutual benefit. You got a generous salary and bonuses, I got an obedient bed partner and a useful secretary.” Ethan’s tone was cruel to the extreme, carrying the arrogance of someone in power. “Now that Luna’s back, those shameful games should end.” So it turned out that five years of youth, five years of giving everything I had, were just “shameful games” in his eyes. That pink diamond wasn’t a proposal ring for me at all, but his sincerity in marrying his first love. Looking at this man I’d loved for five years, I suddenly felt he was completely unfamiliar. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe, but I bit my lower lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. “Fine. I understand.” I took a deep breath and grabbed my purse from the table, my spine straight. I didn’t scream or make a scene. I used every ounce of self-control I had to maintain my last shred of dignity. “Since the game is over, Mr. Carter, you’d better find someone else to handle the engagement party. I find it disgusting.” With that, I turned without hesitation and strode out of the restaurant in my heels. Behind me came Ethan’s voice, suppressing his fury. “Stella, try walking out that door!” I didn’t look back. The moment the door closed, I leaned against the cold wall, gasping for air, and tears finally broke through like a dam. Five years of wasted devotion, shattered to pieces in this moment. The next morning, Carter Group CEO’s office. I’d applied elaborate makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Like always, I arrived at the company half an hour early and placed a cup of perfectly heated black coffee on Ethan’s desk. Except this time, there was a white envelope beside the coffee. When Ethan entered the office, he still had that superior, aloof demeanor. He glanced at the envelope on the desk, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s this?” “My resignation letter.” I stood in front of the desk, my voice so calm it had no inflection. “Mr. Carter, since you’re about to get engaged, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I should avoid suspicion. I’ll complete the work handover within a week.” Ethan’s movements stopped abruptly. He picked up the resignation letter, his eyes instantly darkening. “Stella, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you?” He laughed coldly, his slender fingers tearing the envelope in half and tossing it in the trash. “Trying to play mind games with your resignation? That trick is too old.” “I’m serious.” I looked at him, my eyes no longer holding any of the adoration and compliance from before, only a deathly stillness. He impatiently loosened his tie, his tone forceful. “I haven’t approved it, so you’re still a Carter Group employee. Put away your ridiculous tantrums. I don’t have time to indulge you. This afternoon, cancel all meetings and accompany Luna to try on wedding dresses.” I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. “Mr. Carter, accompanying your fiancée to try on wedding dresses isn’t within my job responsibilities.” “At Carter Group, my word is your responsibility.” Ethan stood up, closing in step by step, his eyes full of oppression. “Stella, don’t forget your brother is still at an Ivy League school, and your mother’s care facility costs a significant amount every month. Angering me won’t benefit you in any way.” He was threatening me with my family. My whole body went cold as I looked at this man in disbelief. After sharing a bed for five years, he knew my weaknesses better than anyone. And now he was mercilessly pointing the blade at my most vulnerable spots. “Fine. I’ll go.” I closed my eyes and swallowed the bloody taste in my throat.

Stella POV That afternoon, at New York’s most exclusive private bridal boutique. Luna was like a proud swan, selecting wedding dresses surrounded by staff. I stood expressionlessly to the side like a soulless puppet. “Miss Forrester, what do you think of this one?” Luna suddenly turned around, pointing to a gown in the center display case. I followed her finger and my pupils contracted sharply. It was a strapless gown with a starry gradient pattern, the skirt encrusted with tens of thousands of tiny South African diamonds. I had drawn the design for this wedding dress three years ago with my own hands. At the time, I’d shown it to Ethan with such joy, asking if I could wear it when we got married. What did Ethan say then? He said, “It’s beautiful. I’ll definitely have it made in the future and put it on you myself.” Now the dress was made, but the person wearing it wasn’t me. “Very beautiful.” I heard my mechanical voice. Luna smiled with satisfaction and turned to enter the fitting room. Soon after, Ethan pushed the door open. He walked straight to the sofa and sat down, not giving me a single extra glance. The curtain of the fitting room opened, and Luna walked out in that starry wedding dress, like a fairy descended to earth. She held up her skirt and walked shyly to Ethan. “Ethan, does it look good?” A flash of amazement crossed Ethan’s eyes. He stood up and gently adjusted her veil, his voice so tender it could drip water. “Beautiful. This dress looks like it was custom-made for you.” Luna leaned shyly into his embrace, but her eyes glanced provocatively at me. “I heard this dress was designed by some unknown designer. I was worried it wouldn’t be worthy of a billionaire’s status.” Ethan laughed lightly, his tone full of disdain. “Who cares who designed it? As long as you like it. Wearing it on you elevates that designer’s cheap taste.” Cheap taste. Those words were like a dull knife, slowly cutting back and forth across my heart. I watched the embracing couple and suddenly felt it was all absurd. The promise I’d treasured was just a casual lie to him. The design I’d poured all my love into had become cheap garbage in his mouth. I didn’t refute or cry. I just stood quietly in the corner, watching Ethan lower his head to kiss Luna’s forehead. In that moment, I clearly heard the sound of my heart dying. No heart-wrenching cries of pain, only a barren silence. On the weekend, I went to Ethan’s private villa in Long Island, New York. This was where we’d lived together for five years. Although Ethan never allowed me to leave too many personal items, five years of accumulation meant there were still traces of me everywhere. Since I’d decided to leave, I didn’t want to leave anything behind to disgust myself. I entered the password and pushed open the door, only to be frozen by the scene before me. The living room was in chaos. Several servants were holding large black garbage bags, tossing things in one by one. The matching coffee mugs I’d bought. The cushions I’d embroidered with our initials. My bunny slippers by the entrance. Even my luxury skincare products from the bathroom. Everything was being thrown away like trash. “What are you doing?” I demanded sharply. The servants stopped and looked at each other. Then someone came down the stairs from the second floor. Ethan wore gray loungewear, looking at me coldly. “I had them clean up. Luna’s moving in next week. She has a cleanliness obsession and can’t stand the smell of other women.” I looked at the coffee mug shattered in the trash. We’d made it together during a pottery class on a business trip to Paris. Though he’d looked impatient, he still stayed with me until we finished. Now it was broken into pieces on the ground.

Stella POV “Ethan, even if you want to make room for Luna, these are my personal belongings. What right do you have to throw them away like garbage without my permission?” I trembled with anger. Ethan walked down the stairs, looking down at me with contempt. “Your things? Stella, name one thing you have that I didn’t buy? Keeping all this cheap junk around. Do you want Luna to have to look at it and be bothered?” He walked to the garbage bag and kicked the clothes inside with his toe, his tone mocking. “Since you’re here today, take this garbage with you yourself. Don’t dirty my carpet.” I stared at him, my eyes so sore they hurt, but I held it in desperately. I walked to the garbage bag. I didn’t pick up those expensive clothes and jewelry. Instead, I bent down and dug through the pile of items to find a wooden music box. It was a trinket he’d casually tossed to me five years ago when I first became his secretary. But I’d treasured it like a precious object for five years. Seeing the music box, Ethan’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but he quickly returned to cold indifference. “Just taking that?” He laughed coldly. “Stella, you really are pathetically poor.” I held the music box and slowly stood up. I looked at Ethan, my eyes as calm as if looking at a stranger. “Ethan, these five years, I’ve done right by every cent you paid me, and done right by every bit of sincerity I gave.” My voice was soft but abnormally clear. “You treated my sincerity like garbage. That’s fine. Because from today on, in my eyes, you’re worth less than garbage.” With that, right in front of Ethan, I used both hands to smash that music box hard against the marble floor. With a crisp crack, the wooden box shattered into pieces, the spring inside popped out, making a few off-key wails before going completely silent. Ethan’s face instantly turned iron-blue, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly. “Stella, what the hell are you doing!” I ignored his rage. I pulled out the spare key that symbolized the villa’s mistress status from my bag and casually tossed it onto that pile of garbage. “Here’s your key. I wish you and Miss Sullivan eternal happiness.” I turned around and walked out of the villa without looking back. It had started pouring rain outside. I didn’t carry an umbrella, letting the cold rainwater soak me through. Rainwater slid down my cheeks. Impossible to tell if it was tears or rain. I didn’t feel sad, only an unprecedented sense of relief. The shackles of five years were finally broken by my own hands in this moment. Carter Group’s 60th anniversary gala. As chief secretary, I was still forcibly kept in this position by Ethan, responsible for coordinating the entire event. I wore a low-key black business suit, weaving through the well-dressed guests, calm, efficient, and flawless. When Ethan entered with Luna on his arm, it caused a sensation throughout the venue. Luna wore a modified evening gown version of that starry wedding dress, adorned with that ten-million-dollar pink diamond, already carrying herself like the future mistress of the Carter family. “Thank you all for coming tonight.” Ethan stood on stage, gazing tenderly at Luna beside him. “I’d also like to take this opportunity to announce some good news. Next month, I will officially get engaged to Miss Luna.” Thunderous applause erupted below. I stood in a dark corner of the ballroom, walkie-talkie in hand, expressionlessly watching that dazzling couple on stage.

Stella POV After announcing the good news, Luna smiled and walked toward the crystal piano in the center of the hall. “Today is a special day. I’d like to play a piece dedicated to my fiancé.” The piano music began. My fingertips dug sharply into my palm, nails breaking the skin. This piece was one I’d taught Ethan hand-by-hand three years ago on his birthday. Back then, Ethan had held my hand and said he’d only play this piece for me in the future. Now, the same melody had become Luna’s tool to declare her claim to the world. When the piece ended, applause thundered through the hall. Luna walked toward Ethan amidst the crowd’s praise. As she passed by me, she suddenly stumbled, and the wine glass in her hand tilted directly, the crimson liquid instantly spilling all over me. “Ah! I’m so sorry, Miss Forrester! I didn’t mean to!” Luna cried out, her face full of panic as she apologized, her eyes instantly reddening as if she were the one wronged. Ethan immediately strode over, pulling Luna protectively into his arms, nervously looking her up and down. “Luna, did you twist your ankle? Are you hurt anywhere?” From start to finish, he didn’t spare a single glance at me, drenched in wine and utterly disheveled. “I’m fine, but Miss Forrester’s clothes…” Luna bit her lip aggrievedly, her eyes secretly glancing at me. Only then did Ethan turn to look at me. His gaze was cold and disgusted, as if looking at a troublemaker deliberately causing problems. “Stella, are you blind? What are you doing standing here in the way?” Ethan scolded harshly, his voice loud enough that surrounding guests all looked over. I looked down at my white shirt stained red. This shirt was bought for me by my mother with her first month’s retirement pension. I’d been too reluctant to wear it and only put it on specially for tonight’s gala. Now it was completely ruined. “Luna bumped into me.” I raised my head, looking directly into Ethan’s eyes, my voice unflinching. “You dare talk back?” Ethan’s eyes grew even darker. “Luna is so kind, how could she deliberately bump into you? You’ve ruined her mood. Can you afford to compensate? Hurry up and get to the restroom to change. Stop being an eyesore here!” Mocking whispers came from the surrounding guests. “How can this secretary have no manners at all, daring to bump into the future lady boss?” “I heard she used to be pretty arrogant based on Mr. Carter’s trust. Now that the real deal is back, she’s got to take the heat, right?” Every sentence was like a resounding slap across my face. I watched Ethan carefully protect Luna as they walked away, and suddenly felt it was absurd. I once thought that if I worked hard enough, was sincere enough, one day I could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. But now I understood that in front of his first love, nothing I did was right. Even breathing was wrong. I turned and walked toward the restroom. Standing in front of the mirror, looking at that woman covered in wine stains with a pale face, I didn’t shed a single tear. When the heart is already dead, it can’t feel pain anymore. I turned on the faucet, cold water washing over my hands as I slowly cleaned the wine stains from my skin. When the heart is dead, there’s no more pain.

Stella POV After the gala ended, I didn’t return to my own apartment but went back to my parents’ home. In the old apartment complex in the suburbs, there was a comforting atmosphere of everyday life. When my parents saw me return late at night, though surprised, they immediately went to the kitchen to heat up food. “Stella, no matter how busy work is, you need to take care of your health. Look how thin you’ve gotten lately.” Mom lovingly brought me a steak. I ate with my head down, my eyes welling up. After enduring all that coldness and humiliation at Ethan’s, only here with my parents was I a treasured child. After dinner, Dad hesitated before speaking. “Stella, we’ve been discussing something. My friend settled in Vancouver and says the environment there is perfect for retirement. Your mother and I have worked hard our whole lives and want to go out and see the world. We’re thinking of settling in Vancouver.” I froze. My parents had mentioned wanting to retire overseas before, but I’d found various excuses to delay because I couldn’t bear to leave Ethan. My parents, feeling sorry for me, had shelved the plan. “Stella, we know you’re busy with work and developing well here. We’re not forcing you to come with us, we just wanted your opinion.” Mom held my hand, her eyes full of love. Looking at my parents’ graying temples, my heart ached sharply. For a man who didn’t love me, I’d wasted five years of my youth and even neglected the parents who loved me most. What exactly was I holding onto? “Dad, Mom.” I gripped Mom’s hand back, raising my head with unprecedented determination in my eyes. “I’ll go with you. The sooner the better.” Dad and Mom looked at each other, both seeing delight in the other’s eyes. “Good, good! Then I’ll contact the agency tomorrow to process the passport. Our whole family will go together!” Over the next few days, I began secret preparations. I contacted headhunters, handled my assets, and cooperated with my parents in processing overseas visas and moving arrangements. At the company, I remained that perfect chief secretary. I no longer argued with Ethan, no longer reacted to Luna’s provocations. Like a precision machine, I efficiently handled all work, including the procedures for Ethan and Luna’s engagement party. Ethan keenly noticed the change in me. I’d become too compliant. No matter how he mocked and ridiculed, no matter how Luna ordered me around, I accepted everything without even frowning. This compliance didn’t satisfy Ethan. Instead, it stirred an inexplicable irritation in his heart. “For the engagement party favors, Luna wants macarons flown in. Go arrange it.” Ethan threw a document in front of me, his gaze fixed on my face, trying to find any trace of jealousy or pain. “Yes, Mr. Carter. I’ll contact the supplier immediately.” My tone was emotionlessly professional, even thoughtfully adding, “Luna is allergic to nuts. I’ll specifically instruct the supplier to avoid nut ingredients.” Ethan looked at my completely calm eyes, feeling like his punch had landed on cotton. Suffocatingly frustrating. “Stella, you’ve finally learned your place.” Ethan snorted coldly, trying to hurt me with words. I smiled slightly. A flawless, impeccable smile. “Mr. Carter taught me well. As a secretary, solving my boss’s problems is my duty.” Ethan stared at me intently. After a long moment, he waved his hand irritably. “Get out.” I turned to leave. The moment I closed the office door, the smile dropped from my face. Only icy coldness remained. Lean my place? Yes, I knew my place. And I was ready to flip the whole game over.

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I spent three months grinding away at a ten-billion-dollar acquisition deal, and finally succeeded. At the celebration banquet, Ethan Pierce took all my credit and handed it to his first love, Lily Hayes. He said, “Lily just came back from overseas. She needs an impressive resume. You’ve always been understanding—it’s most appropriate to put this project under her name.” I looked at his matter-of-fact expression and said nothing. Five years. For five years, I’d worked myself to the bone for him during the day and warmed his bed at night, only to end up not even worthy of having my name attached to my work. At the charity gala, Lily Hayes accused me of stealing a brooch. In front of all the city’s elite, Ethan Pierce stripped me of my clothes and searched me. My belongings scattered across the floor, proving my innocence. He didn’t even apologize. He just frowned and said, “Alright, the misunderstanding’s cleared up. Don’t ruin the atmosphere of the gala.” I bent down. What I picked up wasn’t the contents of my bag, but the Pierce Corporation employee badge lying on the floor. Then, in front of everyone, I threw it into the champagne tower. “Ethan, from today on, even if you get down on your knees and beg me, I’m never coming back.”

Sophia Bennett POV The celebration banquet for the Empire Group acquisition was held at the city’s most luxurious hotel. Crystal chandeliers sparkled brilliantly overhead, while elegantly dressed guests mingled with champagne glasses in hand. I wore a well-tailored black business suit, holding a glass of champagne, standing quietly in a corner of the banquet hall. As Chief Investment Analyst at Pierce Corporation, this three-hundred-billion-dollar acquisition had taken me and my team three entire months of grinding work, countless cups of espresso, and even a trip to the emergency room for gastric bleeding before we finally closed the deal. I glanced down at the simple band on my ring finger—something Ethan Pierce had casually bought for me last month. I thought that tonight, at this celebration banquet, he would finally publicly acknowledge our five-year underground relationship. As the grand doors swung open, the banquet hall fell instantly silent. Ethan Pierce entered in a custom-tailored black suit, his posture impeccable, his features sharp and cold. However, on his arm hung a woman in a pure white haute couture gown, her smile gentle and delicate. Lily Hayes. Ethan Pierce’s first love—the woman he’d pined for, who had spent years overseas. My breathing hitched sharply, my knuckles turning white as I gripped my champagne flute. Ethan Pierce walked onto the stage with Lily Hayes, took the microphone, and his deep, pleasant voice echoed throughout the hall: “Thank you all for attending. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce Pierce Corporation’s new Vice President of Investment, Miss Lily Hayes. The successful landing of the Empire acquisition was entirely thanks to Miss Hayes and her overseas connections.” Thunderous applause filled the room. I stood in the shadows, feeling as though all the blood in my body had reversed course, leaving even my fingertips numb with cold. Entirely thanks to Lily Hayes? In these three months, Lily Hayes hadn’t looked at a single punctuation mark of the acquisition documents. And all my sleepless nights, my effort, my dedication—just like that, in Ethan Pierce’s offhand remark, became nothing more than a stepping stone to make his beauty smile. Halfway through the banquet, I cornered Ethan Pierce on the deserted terrace. “Why?” My voice was soft, but it trembled with suppressed emotion. Ethan Pierce lit a cigarette, the blue-white smoke blurring his hard features. He looked at me, his eyes calm to the point of cruelty: “Lily just returned to the country. To establish herself at Pierce Corporation, she needs an impressive resume. You’ve always been understanding. Putting this project under her name is the most appropriate solution.” “Understanding?” I bit down hard on my lower lip, tasting blood. “Ethan, I’ve worked myself to death for you for five years, been your underground lover for five years, and now… you’re taking the results I achieved with my life and using them to curry favor with her?” Ethan Pierce frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by my questioning. “Sophia Bennett, don’t be unreasonable.” He flicked his cigarette ash, his tone rational and cold. “Whatever compensation you want—bonuses, stock options, or that penthouse downtown—I can give it to you. But Lily is different. She’s sensitive and can’t handle being wronged. You’ve already gained enough from your position. Don’t be greedy.” Greedy. That word was like a rusty, dull knife sawing through my heart. Eight years of secret admiration, five years as his girlfriend—I thought even if I were a stone, I could eventually warm him up. But it turned out that in his eyes, I was just a tool to be sacrificed at will, a subordinate who could be bought off with money. “I understand.” I didn’t cry. I just pulled at the corner of my mouth as the light in my heart slowly extinguished. “I’m sorry. Mr. Pierce is right. I overstepped.” I turned and left the terrace, my spine straight, without a trace of lingering attachment.

Sophia Bennett POV Late at night, I returned to the penthouse apartment I shared with Ethan Pierce. The location was prime, the property worth a fortune, yet it was as cold and empty as a showroom. Over these five years, I’d tried so hard to fill it with life—buying flowers, adding soft rugs, changing to warm-toned curtains. But looking at it now, it all seemed ridiculously futile. I pulled out a suitcase and began packing my things. Actually, I didn’t own much—just a few changes of business attire and some professional books. At two in the morning, the sound of the password lock opening came from the entrance. Ethan Pierce walked in carrying the faint scent of alcohol and Lily Hayes’s floral perfume. He loosened his tie and saw the suitcase in the living room, his brow furrowing. “What are you throwing a tantrum about now?” He approached, habitually reaching out to hold me. “I already explained what happened tonight. Tomorrow, finance will transfer fifty million into your account. Sophia, don’t make me think you’re being unreasonable.” I sidestepped his touch. “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I looked at him calmly. “Mr. Pierce, since Miss Hayes is back, it’s inappropriate for me to continue living here.” Ethan Pierce’s hand froze in midair. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms, lowering his head to kiss me. “Let go!” My stomach churned violently. I pushed him away with force. Ethan Pierce stumbled back a step, his expression darkening completely. “Sophia Bennett, my patience has limits.” He looked at me coldly. “The position of Mrs. Pierce can only belong to Lily, but I never said I was kicking you out. As long as you behave yourself, you’ll still be Pierce Corporation’s Chief Analyst, and you can still stay by my side.” I looked at this devastatingly handsome man before me and suddenly felt he was utterly unfamiliar. How could he speak such shameless words so matter-of-factly? He wanted Lily Hayes as his legitimate wife and me as his hidden mistress. “Ethan, you’re disgusting.” Leaving those words behind, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the apartment without looking back. The next morning, at Pierce Corporation’s Investment Department. I had just stepped out of the elevator when I saw that my formerly spacious and bright private office had been fitted with a new nameplate: “Vice President – Lily Hayes.” Lily Hayes was directing staff to move my files out. When she saw me, she gave me an apologetic smile: “Sophia, Ethan said I needed a quiet environment to familiarize myself with the business, so he’s letting me use this office first. I hope you don’t mind squeezing into the open office area for now. You understand, right?” Colleagues around us were stealing glances. I looked at my personal belongings being carelessly piled into a cubicle and said lightly: “I don’t mind. As long as Vice President Hayes is happy.” I walked to that cramped cubicle, sat down, opened my computer, logged into the company’s HR system, and clicked on the “Resignation Application” page. On the third day after Lily Hayes’s airborne appointment as Vice President, Pierce Corporation held an important board meeting. The core topic was a risk assessment for an overseas new energy project. This project involved five billion dollars in funding—one misstep could severely damage Pierce Corporation.

Sophia Bennett POV The atmosphere in the conference room was tense. Lily Hayes stood in front of the projection screen, holding the assessment report my team had stayed up all night preparing, but her presentation was stumbling and incoherent. “Regarding this project’s internal rate of return, we estimate it to be… uh, we estimate eight percent. And the cash flow break-even period would require… require fifteen years.” The moment those words left her mouth, the room erupted. Several senior directors’ faces turned ashen. One director slammed his hand on the table: “Fifteen years to break even? Eight percent return? Miss Hayes, do you even know what the current cost of capital is? You’re actually recommending this garbage project to the board as a priority investment?!” Lily Hayes’s eyes reddened from being yelled at, and she looked pleadingly toward Ethan Pierce, who sat at the head of the table. Ethan Pierce frowned deeply, about to speak up to save her, when I suddenly stood up. Without looking at Ethan Pierce, I walked straight to Lily Hayes, took the laser pointer from her hand, and switched to a different PPT slide. “Directors, Miss Hayes just read the wrong data set.” I said, “Eight percent is the stress test result under an extremely pessimistic model. In reality, based on our calculations of local policy subsidies and carbon credit trading, the baseline IRR is above twenty-two percent, with a cash flow break-even period of four years and seven months. The detailed sensitivity analysis is on page thirty-two of the report.” In just three minutes, with extremely precise data and rigorous logic, I defused what could have been a catastrophic trust crisis. The directors’ expressions softened, and they looked at me with admiration. Lily Hayes, standing beside me, had turned pale. After the meeting ended, I was summoned to the CEO’s office. The moment I pushed open the door, a file folder came flying at me. I didn’t dodge. The sharp plastic edge grazed my temple, instantly drawing blood. “Sophia Bennett, you really showed off in that conference room today, didn’t you? Are you proud of yourself?” Ethan Pierce sat in his chair, his eyes frighteningly dark. Lily Hayes sat on the sofa, crying softly. Feeling the stinging pain on my forehead, my heart remained utterly calm: “I was only trying to save the company’s project.” “Save it?” Ethan Pierce laughed coldly, suddenly standing and walking up to me, looking down at me from above. “You knew perfectly well that Lily wasn’t familiar with those numbers. Why didn’t you go over them with her before the meeting? You deliberately embarrassed her in front of the board, deliberately used your expertise to highlight her incompetence. Sophia Bennett, when did your heart become so vicious?” I looked at him steadily and laughed. I’d stayed up for three nights straight preparing that report. Lily Hayes hadn’t even bothered to glance at it before taking it to claim credit. When she made mistakes, I stepped in to fix them and saved Pierce Corporation’s reputation. But in the end, I became the vicious one. “Yes, I’m vicious.” I closed my eyes. “Mr. Pierce is absolutely right. Every mistake is my fault. I apologize to Miss Hayes.” I turned toward Lily Hayes on the sofa and gave her a slight bow, my voice dead: “I’m sorry, Miss Hayes. It’s my fault for not covering up your incompetence well enough and letting you be wronged.” “Sophia Bennett! Get out of my sight!” Ethan Pierce’s furious voice rang out behind me. I straightened my spine and walked out of the office. My heart had completely died.

Sophia Bennett POV Friday was my twenty-eighth birthday. For the past four years, no matter how busy Ethan Pierce was, he would cancel all his engagements on this day and have dinner with me at a discreet restaurant. This was our unspoken secret, the only warmth I could draw from this hidden relationship. Last month, Ethan Pierce had kissed my earlobe and promised he would give me a huge surprise for this year’s birthday. At seven o’clock that evening, I arrived punctually at the restaurant and sat by the window. Outside, autumn rain began to fall, and the temperature dropped sharply. I wore a thin dress, looking at the exquisite cake on the table, quietly waiting. Eight o’clock. Nine o’clock. Ten o’clock. The restaurant’s clientele changed wave after wave. The servers’ glances toward me gradually shifted from admiration to pity. Eleven-thirty. I picked up my phone and dialed Ethan Pierce’s number. The phone rang for a long time before someone answered, but it wasn’t Ethan Pierce’s deep voice—it was Lily Hayes’s sweet, delicate tone. “Hello? Sophia? Ethan can’t come to the phone right now.” My fingers tightened around my phone: “Where is he?” “We’re at the vet hospital.” Lily Hayes’s voice carried a hint of sweet complaint. “My Ragdoll cat suddenly got diarrhea. I was terrified, so Ethan immediately drove me here. He was running around holding the cat and got all sweaty—he left his phone in the car. Sophia, it’s so late. Is there some urgent work matter?” A cat with diarrhea. I looked at the cold rain outside the window and suddenly found it all absurd. My birthday that I’d looked forward to with such anticipation, my five years of youth—in Ethan Pierce’s eyes, they couldn’t even compare to Lily Hayes’s cat having diarrhea. “Nothing urgent.” I said, “Sorry to bother you.” I hung up, picked up my fork, and shoved a large piece of cake into my mouth. Too sweet. Sweet to the point of bitterness, so bitter my tears fell without warning. I didn’t wipe them away. I just kept eating that cake, one bite after another. After paying the bill, I walked out of the restaurant and into the cold, rainy night. Back at my temporary rental apartment, I opened my laptop and logged into Pierce Corporation’s HR system. I looked at the resignation application I’d already drafted, my cursor hovering over the “Submit” button. My phone screen lit up with a message from Ethan Pierce: 【Lily’s cat got sick. I won’t come over tonight. I’ll make up for your gift tomorrow.】 I looked at that message without replying. I opened my photo album and, without a moment’s hesitation, permanently deleted all five thousand-plus photos and videos of Ethan Pierce. Then I moved my cursor and pressed “Submit.” The system displayed: 【Your resignation application has been submitted. Thirty-day handover countdown begins.】 Eight years of foolish infatuation, five years of absurd devotion—in this moment, it all finally came to an end. After submitting my resignation application, it required approval from both the department head and the CEO according to protocol. But Ethan Pierce had recently devoted all his attention to Lily Hayes and hadn’t logged into the office system at all. The HR director sighed and simply approved it by default. The thirty-day countdown began quietly. Lily Hayes decided to host an extremely lavish charity gala in Pierce Corporation’s name. “Sophia, Ethan says you’re the most detail-oriented. I’m putting you in charge of coordinating this gala.” Lily Hayes tossed a thick planning document onto my cramped desk, her tone carrying a condescending sense of charity. “I want white roses flown in from overseas. The lighting at the gala must be warm-toned. Also, you need to personally review all the media releases—they must highlight my image as Pierce Corporation’s future mistress.” I looked at the planning document without even lifting my eyelids. “Alright.” I responded flatly. Over the next two weeks, I executed all of Lily Hayes’s unreasonable demands. I slept only three hours a night, coordinating venues, confirming procedures, verifying guest lists. I never initiated contact with Ethan Pierce again, nor did I show even a trace of grievance over Lily Hayes’s deliberate difficulties. Occasionally, when Ethan Pierce ran into me in the company hallways, he would see my gaunt face and cold eyes. The day before the gala, I compiled all my work handover documents, encrypted them, and sent them to my deputy in the investment department. I looked at the countdown calendar on my computer screen. Tomorrow would be my last day at Pierce Corporation.

Sophia Bennett POV The charity gala was held at the city’s largest estate. As night fell, luxury cars gathered. Lily Hayes wore the custom-made gown Ethan Pierce had spent a fortune on for her, her arm linked with his as she moved among the guests like a star surrounded by admirers. I wore an inconspicuous black business suit with a walkie-talkie earpiece, standing in the shadows at the edge of the banquet hall, coldly watching it all. As the gala reached its climax and the most important charity auction was about to begin, a scream suddenly came from backstage. Lily Hayes, holding up her dress, ran out of the lounge with a pale face and red-rimmed eyes, throwing herself into Ethan Pierce’s arms: “Ethan! It’s gone! The ‘Heart of the Ocean’ sapphire brooch that was supposed to be the finale auction piece is missing!” The entire venue erupted in shock. That brooch was worth nearly a hundred million dollars—Ethan Pierce had specifically acquired it to bolster Lily Hayes’s standing. “What happened?” Ethan Pierce held her, his brow furrowed. Lily Hayes trembled all over, then suddenly turned and pointed directly at me standing in the corner: “It’s her! Only Lily and Sophia knew the safe’s password! When I was changing clothes earlier, only she went into the lounge!” All eyes instantly turned to me like spotlights. Skeptical, contemptuous, eager gazes. I removed my earpiece and walked calmly into the center of the crowd. I looked at Lily Hayes’s face: “I entered the lounge to deliver tonight’s speaking notes to you. I put them down and left. I never touched the safe.” “Who else could it be but you?!” Lily Hayes cried, tears streaming down her face. “Sophia, I know you’ve always resented me, thinking I took your position, but you can’t jeopardize the company’s reputation like this!” The surrounding guests began whispering among themselves. I ignored the gossip and simply looked quietly at Ethan Pierce. Eight years. I’d known him for eight years, managed over ten billion dollars for him, and never made a single error. Yet Ethan Pierce looked at me with eyes that held no trust—only coldness and impatience. “Sophia, open your bag and let security search it.” Ethan Pierce said coldly. “If you didn’t take it, a search will prove your innocence. Don’t make things difficult for Lily.” “Search my bag?” I softly repeated those words, feeling the last trace of warmth in my chest being drained away. In this circle, being publicly searched was tantamount to having my dignity stripped away and trampled on the ground. To calm Lily Hayes’s tears, Ethan Pierce chose without hesitation to sacrifice my dignity. “Ethan, are you really going to search my bag?” I looked at him. Ethan Pierce hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lily Hayes in his arms, he frowned: “It’s just a formality. Sophia, think of the bigger picture.” Think of the bigger picture. I laughed. I didn’t wait for security to approach. I opened the zipper of my cheap black canvas bag myself and dumped everything inside onto the polished marble floor. Lipstick, a notebook, several pens, a box of stomach medicine, and a few access cards. Scattered everywhere. No sapphire brooch. Just then, a security guard ran out of the lounge, sweating profusely, holding up the brilliant brooch: “Found it! Miss Hayes, the brooch fell into the velvet gap behind the safe. It wasn’t stolen!” The banquet hall fell into deathly silence. Lily Hayes froze for a moment, then covered her mouth with a regretful and innocent expression: “Oh my, so it fell into the gap. Sophia, I’m so sorry. I was too anxious just now and spoke without thinking. Please don’t be angry with me.” Ethan Pierce also breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the mess on the floor, frowned, and said to me: “Alright, since it was a misunderstanding, that’s resolved. Sophia, pick up your things. Don’t let this affect the gala’s atmosphere.” Casual and dismissive, as though the trampling of my dignity moments ago had been nothing more than an insignificant joke. I looked down at those things on the floor. I didn’t pick them up. I slowly bent down, unclipped the Pierce Corporation employee badge from around my neck, and gently tossed it onto that pile of belongings. “I’m not picking them up.” I straightened, my gaze calmly sweeping past Lily Hayes before finally landing on Ethan Pierce’s shocked face. “Ethan, I quit.” With that, I turned and, under everyone’s stunned gazes, walked step by step out of the brilliantly lit banquet hall without looking back.

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The day before my wedding, I was driving a friend to their hotel when I ran into my fiancée and her ex-boyfriend checking into a room together. Just ten minutes earlier, she’d texted me: “Babe, can’t wait for you to make me your wife tomorrow.” I swallowed my rage and recorded a video of them kissing. The next day at the wedding, I played the video for everyone to see. The moment the cheating video started playing, the venue exploded. Michelle’s brother Anthony reacted fastest, pointing at the staff and shouting. “What the hell did you people do! Playing this kind of video at a wedding!” “You dare humiliate the Thompson family—does your event planning company have a death wish!” “Where’s your manager! Get me…” Anthony quickly fell silent, frozen like the other guests, staring at the screen. I nodded with satisfaction. “Everyone, today is Michelle’s and my breakup party. From now on, we’re done. Please, eat and drink your fill.” Michelle realized she was the star of the video and rushed over frantically, trying to grab me and explain. But I’d already dropped the microphone and walked out. The second I left the hotel, my dad called. I let my AI assistant handle him. When I’d first told him I was marrying Michelle, he’d been so thrilled he went on a three-day drinking binge. He’d told everyone he met that I was marrying a rich man’s daughter, bragging about how capable I was. Now that this marriage was falling through, he’d be the first to object. Back home, my dad kept calling non-stop. The more I looked at it, the more irritated I got. I just yanked out the SIM card. After tossing my wedding suit in the trash, I headed to a bar. With a new phone, I couldn’t see whatever chaos they were in. The bar owner spotted me and came over with a teasing smile. “Flying solo today? Where’s your fiancée?” I glanced behind me and smiled. “She’ll be here soon.” The next second, a familiar figure appeared. Michelle was frantically pushing through the crowd. Eyes on her phone, she squeezed her way toward me. A man who’d been watching me suddenly rushed toward her, but Michelle fought him off hard. I couldn’t hear what he said, but it made her face twist with resentment as she shoved him away ruthlessly and kept searching through the crowd. The man watched Michelle from a distance, his expression desolate and pained. In the flickering bar lights, I couldn’t make out his face clearly, but he looked familiar somehow. I assumed he was one of Michelle’s friends who’d spotted me and tipped her off. But thinking back, I couldn’t place him at all. Then the bar owner called out to me. “George, your fiancée’s been calling my phone. What, you two have a fight?” I looked up. The bar owner thought I wanted to answer and just picked up. Very considerately put it on speaker too. The moment he answered, Michelle’s shouts came through. “I know you’re at the bar. Please tell me where. Just give me a chance to explain.” I hung up immediately. The owner looked stunned. “Aren’t you going to find your fiancée? Aren’t you worried she might be in danger?” I glanced at the man from before—he’d already disappeared into the crowd. I muttered distractedly, “She’s not my fiancée. She doesn’t need me.”

When I got back from the bar, it was two or three in the morning. I looked up to find Michelle crouched by my door. This was always what she did after screwing up. “George, I went to the bar but couldn’t find you. Your phone’s off too.” “How much did you drink? You can barely stand.” “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up inside.” Michelle rushed up to me excitedly, acting like nothing had happened as she fussed over me. I shoved her away hard. “Get lost! Don’t touch me!” Michelle froze, her eyes wounded. “George, the event company pranked us. The video was deepfaked.” “I’ve already hired a lawyer to sue them. I’ll definitely find evidence…” “I took the video myself.” I looked at her coldly. “You were so into that kiss outside the room, you didn’t even notice I was nearby.” Michelle’s face went white. She stood there frozen and lost. My stomach was full of alcohol. The slightest stimulation made it churn. I shoved past Michelle blocking my way and dove into the bathroom, hugging the toilet as I vomited until tears streamed down my face. Michelle followed me the whole time. Handing me tissues, finding hangover medicine, cooking noodles—silently taking care of me without a word. But every second, my mind replayed the scene of her passionately kissing her ex. Seeing her meticulous care now just felt jarring and laughable. “Michelle, I don’t want to see you anymore. Leave my house right now.” Suddenly, the sound of a bowl shattering came from the kitchen. She didn’t say anything for a long moment. After a while, she placed the cooked noodles in front of me and cleaned up the broken pieces herself. “George, just calm down for now. I’ll come back in a few days so we can talk properly.” I leaned back on the couch, hand weakly covering my eyes. “Get out.” I didn’t touch anything on the table. I slept on the couch all night with my arms wrapped around myself. Early the next morning, someone pounded on my door. The moment I opened it, my dad charged in without caring if he knocked into me. “George! Did a donkey kick you in the head?” “Michelle’s a daughter of a wealthy family. Of course she has an ex—that’s completely normal. Once you’re married you’ll have everything. You’d ruin the wedding over something so trivial!” “All our friends and family were there—where am I supposed to put my face!” My head was splitting from his ranting. I said weakly: “Dad, did you not see the video from the venue?” “She was checking into a hotel with her ex the day before our wedding…” My dad waved his hand dismissively, refusing to listen. “Don’t give me that!! Michelle’s fourth-generation wealth. Men lining up to marry her. This happened because you couldn’t keep her satisfied. If you had what it takes to make her devoted to you alone, this wouldn’t have happened. You’re about to move up a whole social class. You want to just walk away? You’re 30 years old—where are you going to find another woman who can help you more than Michelle?” I wasn’t surprised at all to hear these words from my dad. He had no bottom line when it came to money, especially rich women. But I couldn’t be like that. “Dad, if you like Michelle so much, why don’t you have her call you daddy.” My dad was so furious his mustache bristled. He raised his hand to slap me. I’d drunk too much last night and hadn’t eaten a thing. With this provocation, my stomach cramped painfully and something started forcing its way up. I shoved my dad aside and rushed to the toilet, retching violently. My dad kept going, saying I didn’t know how to be flexible, had irregular eating habits and loved drinking. But every sentence ended with Michelle. “Michelle’s beautiful and considerate, with an unmatched family background. If you don’t hold onto her, she’ll immediately find someone more handsome, more capable, and more understanding than you. Then you’ll have nowhere to cry.” His words traveled down the hallway and pierced straight into my ears. I suddenly remembered that desolate-looking man from last night. The delayed realization hit me like a sledgehammer pounding my heart. “Such a grown man who can’t even clean up. Why is there blood on the floor?!” “Only Michelle would put up with you. Any other woman would’ve blown the roof off by now.” I slammed the door hard and buried myself under the covers. I curled up into a ball, wrapping myself so tightly in the blanket that no air could get through, and broke down sobbing.

How Michelle and I got together wasn’t what my dad described. It wasn’t about me wanting to climb the social ladder while she happened to be a non-assertive rich girl. We’d been together ten years. We fell in love during the craziest period when my dad controlled my life. In our tenth year together, through my own efforts, I bought a condo and a car in the district where her family lived. I teased her on purpose. “Paid off the condo and car in full, got the wedding gift ready, even bought the diamond ring in your favorite style. How much longer do we need to date before you’ll marry me?” She cupped my face and kissed me, her love consuming. When we separated, her eyes sparkled as she looked at me. “This year. Let’s get married.” “George, do you still want to marry me?” I didn’t. I should have said I didn’t want to earlier. Michelle, you said now and forever you’d only love me. I was the one who soothed your past. I was your peaceful present. I was supposed to be the one walking into marriage with you. So why, when I was closest to happiness, did you maintain this ambiguous connection with your ex? My dad clung to me, threatening and persuading by turns. All to make me reconcile with Michelle. When all his efforts got no reaction from me, he slammed the door and left in anger. I locked myself at home. Nobody came looking for me. I turned off my phone too. Couldn’t hear anything. I lay in bed like a corpse, completely lifeless. Monday, I went to the office. The moment my coworkers saw me, they congratulated me. “The wedding didn’t happen. Sorry about that.” My coworker’s face showed shock and embarrassment. “So sudden. Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” “Let me buy you coffee. Sorry…” I cut off their apologies with a forced smile. “No need. It’s all in the past.” The busy morning helped me temporarily forget those troubles. I grabbed my mug and headed to the break room, where I found several people huddled together whispering. “Why didn’t George get married?” “His fiancée’s gorgeous and from a great family. Did she look down on him?” “Don’t talk nonsense. His fiancée treated him so well. She made him stomach-soothing soups, different ones every day of the week. Last time he worked himself into a perforated ulcer and ended up in the hospital, his fiancée never left his side. After he was discharged, she drove him to and from work for a while. She loved him to the bone—you can’t just make things up.” “Then what could it be? Don’t tell me George was cheating on his fiancée.” “There you go making things up again! We’ve been coworkers this long—don’t you know him? Capable and responsible, easygoing with a good sense of humor, very reliable. That kind of man.” I didn’t keep listening. I bought coffee from the vending machine and went back to work. As soon as I sat down, my dad called again. I didn’t answer, but his messages kept coming. 「How could you block Michelle? Are you a child?」 「Can’t you two just sit down and talk things through calmly?」 I looked at these words with detachment. I didn’t know how to respond. I felt completely empty inside. By the time I snapped out of it, my dad was already in my blocked list too.

Thunder rumbled and rain poured down. Wind howled. Watching my coworkers leave one by one, I finally headed downstairs. When I opened my bag, I remembered—I’d never been in the habit of carrying an umbrella. For the past ten years, Michelle had always reminded me. Before leaving, her eyes would hint at me repeatedly, playfully watching until I grabbed an umbrella. I’d gotten used to following her lead. As long as it was her, I’d trust unconditionally. This kind of habitual trust was truly terrifying. I held my bag over my head and ran through the rain into the parking garage, only to find my car wouldn’t start. I punched the steering wheel in frustration. It had been fine. When did it break? In the end, I had to run through the rain to the subway station. Just as I left the garage, I saw Michelle standing in the rain. The moment she spotted me, she ran over with concern. “George, why are you soaked? Let’s go home first…” “Let go!” I struggled free of her hand and kept walking without looking back. She called after me while chasing me, constantly reaching out to try to shield me from the rain. “George, I drove here. Let me give you a ride!” “You have stomach problems—catching a cold will make you miserable!” “If you won’t get in my car, at least take the umbrella. I’ll worry if you get sick…” “Get lost! Stop following me!” I stopped abruptly and broke down screaming at her. “Get away from me! Get lost!” “I don’t want to see you! I don’t want to hear another word from you! Do you hear me!” “I’ll never trust you again in this lifetime! Get lost! Get far away!” I shouted until my whole body shook. I couldn’t tell tears from rain on my face anymore. My throat felt like it was bleeding from screaming. Why? Today had been so normal. I’d finalized a project with clients and eaten properly. I’d even decided to get my long-delayed stomach issues checked out. I thought I’d moved on. Why did seeing Michelle make me fall apart again? Our only umbrella got knocked out of my hand and was immediately swept away by the wind. Michelle in her elegant dress was completely destroyed by the wind and rain. We both stood there looking absolutely wretched. Despite my harsh rejection, she stood motionless like a statue. She stared at me blankly, her mouth opening and closing as if calling my name. Seeing her so confused and dazed didn’t give me any relief. My heart only felt heavier. The scattered people nearby all turned to look at us. I didn’t want to stay locked in this standoff. After wiping the water from my face, I left with determination. After getting home and showering, I felt congested with stomach pain. After taking medicine, just as I was about to lie down, my phone lit up with an unfamiliar number. “George, you bastard! You even blocked your own father!” “I’ve been going crazy! Michelle tried to kill herself—she slit her wrists!” “Downtown First Hospital, third floor emergency room. Get here right now!”

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Caldwell crushed his cigarette butt on my dining table, looking at me with a lecherous grin. “Juliet, rent’s going up 50% starting next month. Unless you don’t want it to go up.” He leaned close to my ear, his hand landing on my shoulder. “Come to my place this weekend. We’ll have a nice little chat.” I pushed him away and grabbed my phone. “What did you just say? I didn’t catch that. Say it again?” He sneered and pointed at my nose. “What are you acting so high and mighty for? I’ve seen plenty of people like you from poor countries.” “Spend one night with me, and I’ll waive a year’s rent. That’s not a bad deal, is it?” I held up my phone. “Mr. Caldwell, say that again.” Caldwell slapped my phone out of my hand. He stepped on my phone. “Record this, bitch.” He grabbed my collar and shoved me against the wall. The back of my head hit the tile, making my ears ring. “Juliet, let me tell you something. I control the rent in this area. You’re just an immigrant working in America, making pennies a month. Without me looking out for you, you would’ve been kicked out of the country ages ago.” I stared hard at him. “Mr. Caldwell, the contract says a one-year lease. It’s only been four months. You can’t unilaterally raise the rent by 50%. That’s illegal.” “Illegal?” Caldwell laughed. He released me and pulled a stack of cash from his bag, throwing it in my face. “Here’s your deposit. Take it and get lost. If you don’t move out by tomorrow, I’ll have people help you move.” Bills scattered across the floor. I crouched down and picked them up one by one. “Fine. I’ll move.” I folded the money and put it in my pocket. Caldwell patted my face. “That’s more like it. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. If you change your mind, come to my place this weekend. I’ll treat you to dinner.” He turned and left. I closed the door and slid down to the floor. There was a knock on the next door. “Juliet, are you okay?” It was my roommate, Mary, who worked as a programmer at an internet company. She saw the red marks on my neck and her eyes went wide. “That old bastard came again?” “Yeah.” “Call the police!” “It won’t help. He didn’t hit me. There are no cameras, and audio recordings can’t directly convict him.” I grabbed her hand. “Mary, how long have you lived in this complex?” “Two years.” “Has Caldwell ever harassed you?” Mary lowered her head and clenched her fists. “Once. He said he wouldn’t raise my rent if I came to his place for dinner on the weekend. I bought pepper spray the next day.” “Anyone else?” “The nurse on the third floor, Niles. She moved out crying last month. I heard Caldwell knocked on her door in the middle of the night saying he was checking the water meter.” I went back to my room, opened my computer, and created a new WhatsApp group chat. Group name: Victims of Caldwell Alliance. I pulled Mary in, then added several other girls who rented from Caldwell. My phone buzzed. It was Caldwell. “Juliet, don’t take what happened earlier to heart. I was just joking with you. Come over for dinner tomorrow. I’ll make you something delicious.” I took a screenshot, then replied: “Okay.” The next evening at seven, I stood outside Caldwell’s door. I took a deep breath and knocked. Caldwell opened the door wearing a robe, reeking of alcohol. “Oh, Juliet’s here. Come in, come in.” His hand went to my waist, guiding me inside. I didn’t dodge. “Mr. Caldwell, I’ve thought it over. About the rent, can we talk about it some more?” “Talk? Of course we can talk.”

He closed the door and locked it. “Let’s eat first. We’ll chat while we eat.” The living room table was set with dinner and an open bottle of red wine. He poured me a glass, then poured one for himself. “Come on, cheers.” I clinked glasses but didn’t drink. He took a big gulp. “Juliet, you’re so pretty. You could’ve married a rich guy back home. Why come to New York to suffer?” “Mr. Caldwell, about the rent increase…” “What’s the rush?” He sat down on the sofa and patted the seat next to him. “Come, sit here. Uncle will have a good talk with you.” I didn’t move. His expression darkened. “What? Not giving me face?” “Mr. Caldwell, I have a boyfriend.” “A boyfriend?” He laughed, stood up, and walked toward me. “How much does your boyfriend make a month? Can he buy you a house? Can he get you a green card?” He reached me and lifted my chin with his finger. “I’m different. If you’re with me, you can live in this house however you want, rent-free. I’ll give you five thousand a month for spending money.” I took a step back. He followed. “Don’t run away. You came all the way to my place just for this, didn’t you? Stop pretending.” I reached into my pocket and pressed the record button on my phone. “Mr. Caldwell, you’ve had too much to drink.” “I haven’t had too much.” He suddenly grabbed me, his mouth coming toward mine. I couldn’t hold back. I slapped him across the face. “Smack…” He froze, then flew into a rage. “How dare you hit me?!” He grabbed my hair and slammed me against the wall. “Ungrateful bitch! You should be honored that I want you!” The back of my head hit the wall. Everything went dark. “Caldwell, let me go.” “No! You’re not leaving this place tonight unless you sleep with me!” He tore at my clothes. Buttons scattered everywhere. Just then, the door was pounded. “Open up! Police!” Caldwell froze. I pushed him away and ran to the door, unlocking it. Two police officers stood outside, along with Mary and the other girls. They held up their phones, recording everything. The officer saw the bruises on my neck and my torn clothes. His expression changed. “What happened here?” I took a deep breath. Finally, tears fell. “He tried to rape me.” Caldwell panicked. “No! She seduced me! She came to my place on her own!” I pulled out my phone and played the recording. After listening, the officer looked at Caldwell. “Come with us.” “No! Let me explain!” “You can explain at the station.” As Caldwell was being taken away, he looked back at me with pure hatred in his eyes. “Juliet, just you wait. When I get out, I’ll kill you.” I leaned against the wall, trembling all over. Mary hugged me. “It’s okay now. It’s okay.” I shook my head. “No. This is just the beginning.” My phone buzzed. It was the “Victims of Caldwell Alliance” group. Someone with the name “Niles” sent a message. “I just saw Caldwell being taken away downstairs. Do you know? This building of his is illegal.” “Every room’s fire safety doesn’t meet code at all. I took photos before.” She sent over a dozen photos. Partition walls, illegally wired electricity, sealed fire exits. Looking at these photos, a thought flashed through my mind. It wasn’t about sending him to jail. It was about bankrupting him.

Caldwell was released from the police station after just one night. The reason: “Insufficient evidence, does not constitute rape.” “Insufficient evidence.” Mary slammed the table in fury. “He almost raped you! And that’s insufficient evidence?!” I said nothing, because I knew this would happen. No surveillance, no witnesses. He insisted it was “consensual.” The police could only classify it as a “civil dispute.” The first thing Caldwell did after getting out was come curse at my door. “Juliet! You bitch! How dare you call the police on me?!” He kicked the door three times. The security door dented inward. “I’m telling you, you can forget about living in this place! Get out tomorrow!” “Deposit? Not refunding a penny! Go ahead and sue me! Let’s see who wins!” A neighbor opened their door, took one look, and quickly shut it again. No one dared speak. I sat inside, listening to his cursing, my hands shaking. My phone rang. My mom was calling. “Juliet, did that Caldwell come after you again?” “Mom, it’s fine.” “What do you mean fine! I saw the bruises on your neck in our video call! Just wait, I’m coming to New York next week.” “Mom, you don’t need to come. I can handle it myself.” “How will you handle it? You’re a twenty-four-year-old girl fighting against a property owner?” I was silent for three seconds. “Mom, didn’t you teach me? When you strike a snake, strike at its vital point.” “Where’s his vital point?” “His building.” My mom’s a lawyer. She’s handled many property dispute cases. She knows these property owners’ weak spots better than anyone. “Juliet, have you checked the property rights for his building?” “I’m checking now.” “After you finish, call me. I’ll help you contact a lawyer.” I hung up and opened my computer, logging into the New York City planning and natural resources website. I searched for records on Caldwell’s building. Ten minutes later, I found it. This building had no rental registration at all. Not only that, its designated use was “commercial,” not “residential.” Converting a commercial building into partitioned rentals was illegal in itself. I screenshotted the page and saved it to a folder. My phone buzzed again. Mary sent a message. “Juliet, I just saw in the tenants’ group that Caldwell’s looking for a renovation crew to tear down all the partitions on the third floor.” “Why?” “Someone said Immigration has been checking illegal immigrants and illegal rentals lately. He might have gotten word.” A lightbulb went off in my head. This meant he knew his building had problems. I opened the “Victims Alliance” group. There were seventeen people now, all tenants screwed over by Caldwell. Girls and guys. Some had their deposits withheld, some had their rent raised, some were harassed. I sent a message in the group. “I found a way to send Caldwell to prison and make him pay up.” “What way?” “Report him for illegal rentals. Fire code violations, no rental registration.” “Then what?” “Then we collectively sue him. Those who didn’t get deposits back, those who were overcharged rent, those who were harassed—everyone can get back what’s rightfully theirs.” The group went silent for ten seconds, then exploded. “Count me in!” “I’m suing him too!” “I have evidence of him taking cash without giving receipts!” “I have chat records of his sexual harassment!” Messages came one after another, flooding the screen.

I typed the last line. “Tomorrow at 2 PM, Starbucks on Highway 1. Let’s meet and talk.” Everyone replied: “Got it.” I shut off my phone and looked out the window. Caldwell’s car was still parked downstairs. He sat in it, staring at my window. I pulled the curtains closed. Tomorrow would be the real beginning. The next day at 2 PM, Starbucks on Highway 1. Seventeen people sat in a corner on the second floor. The entire “Victims of Caldwell Alliance” was present. I stood up and looked at them. Programmers, nurses, delivery drivers, salespeople, receptionists, designers… All immigrants working in America who’d been screwed over by Caldwell. “My name is Juliet. I live in 302…” “I’m Mary, 303…” One by one, they shared their experiences. I opened my computer and projected the evidence of Caldwell’s building violations onto the screen for everyone to see. I held up three fingers. “First, everyone organize your evidence—transfer records, chat screenshots, audio and video recordings. The more detailed, the better.” “Second, collectively report to Immigration and the fire department. The more people, the more seriously they’ll take it.” “Third, find a lawyer and collectively sue Caldwell, demanding deposit refunds and compensation for damages.” Niles raised her hand. “Are lawyer fees expensive?” “My mom’s a lawyer. She helped us contact a firm that does public interest litigation. They don’t charge upfront. If we win, they take fifteen percent of the compensation.” Wallace said, “I agree. Even if we don’t get money back, I want to make him miserable.” Everyone raised their hands in agreement. After the meeting, I returned to the complex. As soon as I entered the hallway, I smelled paint. On the door to 302, someone had spray-painted “BITCH” in red. I took out my phone to photograph it, then went to property management to check the surveillance. The property manager said, “The cameras are broken.” “When did they break?” “Yesterday.” Yesterday, the day Caldwell got out of the police station. I smiled. “Right. The cameras are broken. I’ll fix them myself.” I called Mary. “Mary, do you know how to install cameras?” “Yeah. I took an elective in electronic engineering in college.” “Do me a favor.” Half an hour later, I installed a pinhole camera in the hallway fire exit. The angle was aimed right at my door. That night, Caldwell came again. He stood outside my door and cursed for ten minutes. Then he pulled out a key from his pocket. He opened the door and went inside. I was next door at Mary’s place, watching the surveillance footage on my phone. My hands were shaking, but I didn’t move. Five minutes later, he came out holding my laptop. That was my work computer. It had all my social media accounts, client information, and unpublished articles. I held back. Didn’t go out. Didn’t call the police. After Caldwell left, I returned to my room. Drawers had been rifled through, closets opened, cigarette ash on the bedsheets. My underwear was thrown on the floor. I crouched down and picked them up one by one. Mary stood in the doorway, her eyes red. “Juliet, let’s call the police.” “Not yet.” “What do you mean not yet? He took your computer! Your work is on there!” I looked at Mary and smiled. “That computer—I just replaced the hard drive yesterday. The current hard drive only has one thing on it.” “What?” “Full video footage of Caldwell breaking into my place and stealing things.” I pulled out a USB drive from my pocket. “The pinhole camera is connected to this. Him opening the door, entering, taking the computer—it’s all recorded.”

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My husband’s mistress is pregnant. My mother-in-law Mrs. Gibson urged me to be understanding: “Men will be men. It’s normal for them to stray.” My husband Calvin even ordered me to vacate the master bedroom to welcome his mistress: “If you dare hurt her or my son, I’ll kill you!” I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I smiled gently: “Sure, I even bought her new sheets.” The next day, they came home excitedly after shopping for baby supplies, only to find a pregnant stranger sitting on the sofa. Mrs. Gibson froze: “Who is this woman?” I smiled as I introduced her: “Mom, this is Dad Anderson’s mistress. You might not know this, but she’s the one who’s pregnant.” While cleaning under the master bedroom bed, I swept out a positive pregnancy test. Looking at the two red lines, I fell into deep thought. Calvin and I hadn’t had sex in over half a year. This pregnancy test wasn’t mine. Before I could throw this cursed thing into the trash, Mrs. Gibson pushed the door open. She spotted the pregnancy test immediately. First she froze, then she lunged forward and snatched it from my hand, her presbyopic eyes bulging wider than saucers: “Oh my goodness, someone’s pregnant?” I was about to explain when she shot me a look of utter disdain: “What are you looking at? I know it’s not yours. You’re a hen that hasn’t laid an egg in three years. You’d never be so lucky!” I laughed in anger: “If it’s not mine, then why are you so excited?” “Don’t be stupid! If it’s not yours, then it must belong to Calvin’s mistress!” Mrs. Gibson beamed with joy. “Men will be men. Which one doesn’t stray? As long as she can bear an heir for the Peters family, she’s done us a great service!” Just then, Calvin pushed the door open. Mrs. Gibson immediately rushed to him, holding up the pregnancy test like a treasure: “Calvin, be honest with me. Is your mistress Margaret pregnant?” Calvin glanced at me guiltily. But when he saw I wasn’t making a scene and Mrs. Gibson looked overjoyed, his spine suddenly stiffened. He nodded confidently: “Mom, since you already know, I won’t hide it. Margaret is indeed pregnant. We just found out.” Standing to the side, I almost laughed out loud. “Well done, you make me so proud!” Mrs. Gibson slapped her thigh excitedly. “Since Margaret is carrying a child, we must bring her home to enjoy her rightful status!” Calvin’s eyes reddened with emotion: “Mom, you’re so understanding! Margaret said she doesn’t need a title, she just wants the baby to be healthy.” “The poor girl.” Mrs. Gibson turned to look at me, her expression instantly changing. “Elliot, since you can’t give birth yourself, don’t be jealous of Margaret. Clear out the master bedroom right now. We’re bringing her home tomorrow to rest during her pregnancy!” Calvin chimed in: “That’s right, Elliot. Move to the guest room. The master bedroom gets better sunlight. Let Margaret have it. She’s pregnant and needs the calcium from sunshine.” He paused, then warned me viciously: “You better behave yourself. If you dare lay a finger on Margaret or touch a single hair on my son’s head, I’ll kill you!” I stared expressionlessly at this pair of despicable mother and son, hands in my pockets, quietly pressing the record button on my phone. “So what you’re saying is, as long as a mistress is pregnant with a Peters family child, she must be brought home and taken care of, never left to fend for herself?” Mrs. Gibson lifted her chin: “Naturally!” I continued: “And this child, even if illegitimate, must enjoy exactly the same inheritance rights as a legitimate child?” Calvin stated firmly: “Obviously! He’s Peters family blood. Who dares mistreat him?” “Alright, I understand.” I nodded, the corners of my mouth curving into a gentle smile. “Of course. Since she’s carrying a Peters heir, naturally we must treat her well with good food and drink.”

Mrs. Gibson snorted coldly: “Good that you know your place. Hurry up and pack your things, move all your junk out. Don’t bring us bad luck!” For the next two hours, I leaned against the doorframe like an idle bystander, watching Calvin and Mrs. Gibson gleefully throw my belongings out. “Change these sheets. Margaret likes pink!” “Move this vanity too. Make room for the baby crib!” Calvin was all smiles. “Mom, let’s go to the mall tomorrow and buy Margaret the best bird’s nest soup!” Mrs. Gibson grinned from ear to ear: “Yes, I’ll pay! As long as her belly delivers, I’ll buy her anything!” I watched their busy backs, nearly laughing myself to tears. Oh Calvin, since you’re so happy, I won’t show you the azoospermia diagnosis report I just picked up from the hospital. Let you enjoy yourselves for a couple more days. Early the next morning, Mrs. Gibson and Calvin left the house in high spirits. They said they were going to upscale baby boutiques to stock up, preparing to welcome the “great contributor” Margaret home. Before leaving, Calvin didn’t forget to warn me viciously to clear out the last bits of trash from the master bedroom so it wouldn’t offend Margaret’s eyes. After the door closed, I unhurriedly took out my phone and dialed a number. “Hello? Is this Ms. Hill? Yes, I’m Calvin’s wife, Elliot. I saw the pregnancy test you left under our master bedroom bed yesterday.” There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. I laughed lightly, my tone gentle. “Don’t be afraid. Mrs. Gibson and Calvin have spoken. Since you’re carrying Peters family blood, you absolutely cannot be left to fend for yourself. Pack your bags. I’m sending a car to bring you to the villa to rest during your pregnancy.”

At three in the afternoon, the villa gates opened. Mrs. Gibson and Calvin walked in carrying bags of imported bird’s nest, luxury baby cribs, and a mountain of other baby supplies, their faces beaming. “Margaret said she’s suffering from morning sickness today and needs to wait a couple more days before moving in. I feel so bad for her.” Mrs. Gibson muttered as she changed her shoes. Calvin agreed: “Mom, Margaret is carrying a boy. It’s normal for him to be demanding. Please take extra care of her, and I’ll make sure she treats you well later.” The two were chatting and laughing as they turned into the living room, then the smiles on their faces instantly froze. On the leather sofa sat a woman in her thirties, still attractive and well-maintained. She wore loose maternity clothes and was using a toothpick to eat the strawberries I had just washed. Seeing the mother and son laden with packages, the woman also froze, somewhat awkwardly putting down the fruit plate. “Who, who is this?” Mrs. Gibson’s eyes widened as she looked the woman on the sofa up and down. “Elliot, what are you playing at? Why are strangers coming into the house? Is this some poor relative of yours?” Calvin also frowned: “Elliot, are you sick? I told you to make room for Margaret, and you invite your relatives over? Get her out of here now!” I walked out of the kitchen carrying a glass of warm milk, handed it to the woman on the sofa, then turned around with a beaming smile. “Please don’t be angry. If you get upset, how will you take care of the pregnant woman?” I walked to the woman’s side and patted her shoulder affectionately, introducing her with great ceremony: “This is definitely not my poor relative. What’s in her belly is genuine Peters family blood.” Mrs. Gibson’s mind hadn’t caught up yet. She thought it was another of Calvin’s affairs. “Calvin, besides Margaret you got another woman pregnant? This woman looks well into her thirties. You could actually bring yourself to sleep with her?” Calvin’s face turned green, frantically waving his hands: “Mom, I don’t know her! I swear I’ve never touched even a finger of hers! Why would I have a lover this old?” I pretended to be shocked, covering my mouth. “Calvin, that’s not right. How can you shout at your elders like that?” I looked at the two confused people with a smile. “Oh my, did I forget to tell you? The pregnancy test swept out yesterday really wasn’t mine, but it wasn’t Calvin’s mistress’s either.” “Mrs. Gibson, let me formally introduce you. This is Ms. Hill, the mistress Anderson keeps on the side. Yesterday, while you were out, Anderson brought her home to get something and accidentally dropped the pregnancy test under the bed.” “Originally, I wanted to pretend nothing happened. But yesterday, you swore that Peters family blood couldn’t be left outside, that illegitimate children must also enjoy inheritance rights. So I brought Ms. Hill home.” “You won’t mind, will you?”

The air froze in that instant. Mrs. Gibson’s face, which had been glowing with health just moments ago, visibly turned the color of liver. Her lips trembled as she pointed at the woman on the sofa, unable to squeeze out a word for a long time: “You, what did you say?” I blinked innocently and took out my phone, pressing play on yesterday’s saved recording. Mrs. Gibson and Calvin’s full-throated voices immediately rang out: “As long as she’s carrying Peters seed, she absolutely cannot be left outside!” “Even if it’s an illegitimate child, they must enjoy exactly the same inheritance rights!” “We must bring her home and treat her well! If you dare touch a hair on their head, I’ll kill you!” After the recording finished, I spread my hands, smiling virtuously. “Mom, Calvin, your words yesterday really opened my eyes. Our Peters family values bloodline. Since Ms. Hill is carrying Anderson’s child, that makes it Calvin’s little brother or sister!” “Such precious Peters family offspring, how could they be left outside? So I immediately brought her home to take good care of her.” I pointed at the pile of upscale baby supplies on the floor, full of admiration: “You two were so thoughtful, even buying bird’s nest and maternity clothes. Ms. Hill, see how much they care about you!” Mrs. Gibson stood stunned for a full half minute before suddenly erupting in a piercing shriek. “That’s bullshit! Elliot, you bitch, stop trying to drive a wedge between us!” She pointed at the woman on the sofa, trembling all over. “Her? Anderson is well into his fifties. How could he do something so disgusting outside! Anderson would never be that kind of person!” “That’s such an ugly thing to say.” Ms. Hill, who had been silent until now, timidly put down the cherries in her hand, her eyes watery and full of grievance: “Anderson said he’s most annoyed by the old woman at home nagging about everything. He said I’m gentle and understanding, that I know his heart best. If he hadn’t insisted on dragging me to the bedroom yesterday for some excitement, the pregnancy test wouldn’t have fallen under the bed.”

“Ahh! You shameless slut, I’ll tear you apart!” Mrs. Gibson completely lost it. The woman who had been putting on airs as a wealthy matriarch just moments ago now lunged at the woman with her teeth bared and claws out. I reacted quickly, grabbing her and pushing her back into Calvin’s arms. “Mrs. Gibson, please calm down!” I urged her. “Didn’t you just teach me yesterday that men will be men. Which one doesn’t stray? Anderson is in his prime. It’s perfectly normal for him to have affairs. This shows Anderson has charisma. You should be more understanding!” “Shut your mouth. How is that the same?” Mrs. Gibson’s chest heaved violently, nearly coughing up blood. “How is it different?” I widened my eyes in feigned confusion. “Oh right, you also said yesterday that as long as it’s a Peters child, they absolutely cannot be left outside. Look, I’m just following your orders, bringing Anderson’s true love home to treat her well with good food and drink.” I turned to look at Calvin, who was still in a daze: “Calvin, you personally made a vow yesterday. If anyone dared touch a pregnant woman’s hair, you’d kill me. Now your mom wants to attack her. Are you going to do something about it?” Calvin finally snapped back to reality. But what concerned him wasn’t Anderson’s affair, but something far more critical. “Wait!” Calvin’s face turned deathly pale as he stared at Ms. Hill’s belly, his voice cracking. “The baby in your belly is my dad’s? Then, then won’t he have to split our family fortune?” I nearly laughed out loud. This scumbag’s thought process was truly refreshingly unique, always fixated on money. I clapped my hands in loud praise: “Calvin, you’re so smart! Yesterday you said emphatically that even illegitimate children must enjoy exactly the same inheritance rights!” I walked to Ms. Hill’s side and raised an eyebrow at Calvin: “Since your mistress’s child can split your fortune, naturally Anderson’s mistress’s child should also split Anderson’s fortune. By calculation, whether Ms. Hill’s baby is a boy or girl, they can split away exactly half the family assets!” “No way! Absolutely not!” Calvin completely broke down, stamping his feet and cursing. “My dad’s money is all mine. Why should it go to this bastard child from who knows where! Elliot, get her out of here right now!” I crossed my arms, took a step back, and watched coldly as this mother-son pair jumped around anxiously. “Get her out? Too late.” I spread my hands. “When Ms. Hill came in, I already sent Anderson a message saying I brought his sweetheart home to rest during her pregnancy. By my calculation, he should be arriving home any minute now.” As soon as I finished speaking, the sound of urgent car brakes came from outside the villa. Then the front door was pushed open. Anderson, usually stern and rigid, rushed in breathlessly. As soon as he entered, his gaze fell on the woman on the sofa. His usually stern face instantly softened with tenderness: “How did you end up here? Did anything happen to the baby?” In the living room, Mrs. Gibson’s face finally changed from liver-colored to deathly pale. And Calvin looked like he had swallowed a live fly.

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