Category: English

Just after I gave birth to my second child, my parents rushed over from our hometown and transferred me a huge red envelope of $88,000. My husband smiled and said, “Mom and Dad are so generous to their maternal grandson.” My parents and I exchanged glances, all of us stunned. “Liam, what do you mean? Didn’t we agree that the second child would take my last name? Why ‘maternal grandson’?” My face immediately darkened. Before my husband could open his mouth, my mother-in-law standing nearby immediately stepped forward. “That won’t do! The little treasure is a boy! He definitely has to carry on our Sterling family line, how could he take your last name!” My parents’ faces instantly darkened. Their good upbringing and manners made them suppress their emotions and not lash out. But I couldn’t hold it in! “Liam! Is this your idea, or your mother’s?” My husband looked at me, hemming and hawing. “Well, how about we change Chloe’s last name to yours instead?” As soon as he said this, the room instantly went quiet. I immediately laughed out of pure anger. “Fine!” “Then let our daughter take my last name!” … Hearing this, my mother-in-law’s eyes instantly widened. “What? Take your last name? Liam, is your brain broken? Letting your daughter take someone else’s last name! Your dad will beat you to death!” My mother-in-law was still yelling about the rules passed down from our ancestors, how children must definitely take their father’s last name. My mom took a deep breath, trying her best to remain peaceful. “Mrs. Sterling, times are different now, it’s very common for children to take their mother’s last name. Maya is our only daughter, we just want to have a namesake to carry on.” My mother-in-law sneered, looking my mom up and down from the corner of her eye: “Oh, a namesake? Sounds nice! Isn’t it just because you couldn’t give birth to a son yourself, so you want to come and steal our Sterling family’s grandson to provide for you in your old age? Let me tell you, no way!” “You! How can you speak like that!” My mom trembled with anger. My dad quickly supported her, his face livid. Anger flared in my heart. I looked at Liam shrinking to the side and roared: “We agreed from the start that the second child would take my last name, what does your mother mean by this now?” Liam’s eyes darted around, hemming and hawing for a long time, “Well, how about we ask Chloe what she thinks?” I simply couldn’t believe my ears! He actually wanted a child to bear the weight of such a decision? My dad, heartbroken for his granddaughter, but still holding onto a sliver of hope, nodded in agreement: “Alright, asking Chloe is fine too.” But who could have imagined that as soon as Chloe heard this, she immediately burst into loud wails, throwing herself into her grandmother’s arms: “Waaah, I don’t want to take Mom’s last name! Then Dad and I wouldn’t be a family anymore! The other kids will mock me for being a wild child!” The air instantly froze. My daughter is only 7 years old, she absolutely wouldn’t say things like this on her own. Unless someone had deliberately taught her. Thinking of this, my parents’ faces instantly became even uglier. They didn’t expect the granddaughter they loved so dearly to reject them so strongly. My mom, afraid that my emotional agitation would cause a clogged milk duct, suppressed her emotions, “Enough, we’ll talk about this later. Maya, you focus on your postpartum recovery first.” Seeing this, Liam visibly breathed a sigh of relief, “Yes, yes, Mom is right, anyway, no matter whose last name they take, they are both my and Maya’s children!” Hearing this, my parents didn’t say another word. In the afternoon, my parents went back early, using business at their factory as an excuse. As soon as they left, my mother-in-law started making passive-aggressive remarks. “Hmph! Ran away fast enough! As soon as they heard their grandson wasn’t changing his last name and there was no advantage to be gained, they left immediately!” My husband smiled awkwardly, offering a token word of advice, “Mom! Don’t say that, Maya’s parents really are busy at their factory!” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and shot right back: “They really are busy! After all, everything our whole family eats, uses, and lives in now is paid for by my parents’ money!” My mother-in-law, hit where it hurt, instantly turned red in the face and thick in the neck. Just as she was about to lash out, the maternity nurse came over to remind me it was time to breastfeed. I just turned over and lay down, saying coldly: “I can’t feed him, I’m too full of anger, my milk ducts are clogged!” My mother-in-law was so angry she wanted to charge over and argue, but was pulled out by Liam. 2 Liam and I dated freely. Back then, when my friends found out that I, an only child from a wealthy East Coast family, was going to marry into a rural Midwestern family, their eyes almost popped out of their heads. They took turns advising me, saying even if I had to get married, the man should marry into our family. But Liam simply couldn’t stand the idea of ‘marrying into’ my family. “Maya, I’m the only son in my family, my parents depend on me, I can’t leave them!” At that time, my brain clouded by love, I ignored my parents’ tears and my friends’ advice, and went back with him. But reality gave me a resounding slap in the face. After marriage, the farm he and his parents contracted lost money year after year, relying entirely on my parents for financial support. When we were dating, he solemnly promised “have two kids, one takes your last name, one takes mine.” It turns out, from the very beginning, it was an out-and-out scam. His family had made up their minds long ago to leech off our family. Thinking of this, I only felt a knot of pent-up anger blocking my chest, painfully stifling. I don’t know how long passed, but the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Liam came in carrying my favorite soup dumplings. “Honey, still angry? I just coaxed Chloe to sleep, she cried very sadly, saying no matter what she wouldn’t change her name.” I sneered inwardly. “True! Changing a name is indeed troublesome, you have to go through a lot of paperwork all over again.” Hearing me say this, his face instantly lit up with joy. “Exactly, exactly! Honey, you finally figured it out, I knew you were the most reasonable…” “So,” I coldly interrupted him, “it’s just more convenient to change the baby’s name directly, just as we agreed before, he’ll be called Ethan Vance.” Liam’s smile instantly froze on his face. He stood up abruptly, his voice rising sharply in anger. “How can we do that?!” Seeing me staring coldly at him without speaking, he suppressed his anger, putting on an earnest and well-meaning tone. “Maya, be reasonable, our family has had a single male heir for three generations! If the baby takes your last name, won’t this family line be broken? How are my parents supposed to hold their heads up in front of relatives and friends in the future?!” I took a deep breath, “So, your promise to my parents back then, to have two kids and each takes one last name, was all bullshit?” Faced with my accusation, Liam’s face turned the color of pig liver. “Maya Vance! Why are you so aggressive? Is this the same thing? Besides, if you were capable, you would have had a son the first time, and we wouldn’t have all this trouble now!” The blood in my entire body instantly froze. “Liam, do you have any common sense? Whether it’s a boy or a girl is determined by the man’s chromosomes!” Liam was choked by my words and couldn’t speak. He fiercely kicked the chair next to him, making a huge noise, scaring the sleeping baby into loud wails. Watching him leave in a huff, my heart sank to the bottom. I had actually given birth to two children for a man like this. 3 Because of my insistence, Liam finally agreed to change our daughter’s name. Not feeling reassured, I asked my best friend, Sarah, to accompany him and complete all the procedures. “Don’t worry, I watched him do it step-by-step. See, it’s changed, from Chloe Sterling to Chloe Vance.” In the afternoon, Sarah returned with the brand new documents. I nodded in satisfaction, the pent-up frustration of many days finally dissipating a little. “Sarah, thanks for your hard work, stay for dinner tonight, I’ll have the nanny make a few extra dishes.” Sarah’s eyes flickered, however, and she smiled and declined, “No, no, I have a date tonight.” Seeing her coy expression, I couldn’t help but tease her. “It’s a man, right? Tell me, did you find yourself a boyfriend?” “Oh stop, it’s nothing official yet, I’ll tell you first when we make it official.” Her tone was coy, and she subconsciously moved the bag in her hand behind her back. It was a newly released luxury brand handbag, definitely not her usual level of spending. A subtle feeling brushed across my heart, but it was diluted by the joy of my daughter successfully changing her name. “Alright, then hurry up and go. Liam,” I turned to my silent husband standing to the side, “drive Sarah, she helped us a lot.” Liam agreed, his face still gloomy, “Let’s go.” Early the next morning, I woke up early because my breasts were engorged, only to hear a slight noise outside the door. I threw on some clothes and got up, just in time to see Liam opening the door and coming in from outside. I felt suspicious, but kept my face neutral: “So early? Did you go out, or did you just get back?” He was clearly startled, then forced a tired smile: “The boss called for sudden overtime last night, tossed and turned all night, I just made do on the sofa at the office. See, I thought you’d like these, so I went early to buy some soup dumplings.” I nodded and didn’t ask further. That piece of farmland in his hometown lost money year after year. After my repeated suggestions, he reluctantly found a job. But his abilities were average, and his ambitions were higher than his skills, so his work wasn’t going smoothly. “Honey, I have something else I want to discuss with you.” Liam suddenly spoke, and I had a premonition it wasn’t anything good. “Go ahead.” “Look, the baby is about to be one month old, here’s what I’m thinking, we should celebrate it properly, make it lively!” I immediately frowned: “He’s just a baby, a simple gesture is enough, besides, when Chloe was one month old, we didn’t celebrate it, did we?” Liam blurted out almost instantly: “How can that be the same!” As soon as the words left his mouth, seeing my face darken, he immediately and hastily explained: “Just because Chloe didn’t have one, that’s why we absolutely must have one for the baby! Besides, over all these years, how much money have my parents given out as gifts for other people’s events? It’s time to use this opportunity to recoup it!” Looking at his calculating face, I sneered inwardly: “Fine, if you want to host it, go ahead.” A hint of joy had just appeared on Liam’s face when he immediately replaced it with a troubled expression: “Honey, you know my parents don’t have any savings. Look, could your parents help us out with fifty thousand first?” “Fifty thousand?” I jerked my head up, “Liam, are you crazy? A one-month celebration costs fifty thousand?” Liam couldn’t help but frown: “This is our Sterling family’s first grandson! Can the event look shabby?” “My parents’ money is hard-earned! It’s not for you to show off and fill your family’s bottomless pit!” I suppressed my anger, my voice icy. “I agree to the celebration, but you figure out the money for this yourself, I can’t bring myself to ask.” Liam’s face instantly turned extremely ugly. He glared at me fixedly, and after a long while, finally squeezed out a sentence through his teeth: “Fine! Maya Vance, you’re ruthless!” 4 Liam took it upon himself to book the baby’s one-month celebration at the best hotel in the city. That day, he and his mother were at home counting the invitations. I happened to walk by and glanced over, only to discover that my parents’ names weren’t even on them. “Liam! The baby’s one-month celebration, and you didn’t invite my parents?!” Liam panicked instantly, quickly gathering the scattered invitations on the table. “That’s not true, I’m just checking who I missed, I was going to add them right away.” I frowned at him, my intuition telling me his words were untrustworthy. Still feeling uneasy, I found a time to call my mom. “Mom, you know the baby’s one-month celebration is this Saturday, right?” My mom smiled and nodded, “Of course, I already have the red envelope ready, to celebrate my eldest grandson turning one month old!” “Eldest grandson?” I was full of doubts, “What do you mean?” My dad took the phone and said, “Liam told us he’s going to let the baby take your last name, he’ll change it right after the celebration.” I was just about to tell them that Chloe’s name had already been changed, but before I could finish, the call was hung up. Afterwards, my mom sent a text message saying she had something to do and we’d talk when we met on Saturday. In the evening, Liam came back, and I sat in the living room waiting for him. “My parents said you agreed to let the baby take my last name?” Liam smiled and nodded, “Yeah, didn’t Mom and Dad want the baby to take your last name.” I frowned, repeatedly reminding him, “But hasn’t Chloe already…” He suddenly bent down, kissed my forehead, and looked at me with deep affection. “It’s okay honey, I’ve thought it through. If we let both kids take your last name, I wouldn’t mind.” Hearing this, I was even more confused. How did he suddenly become a completely different person. Moreover, even if he really agreed, what about my mother-in-law, would she agree? At night, I tested the waters with my mother-in-law. To my surprise, she actually agreed too. “Yes, Liam told me. Your parents are getting older, it’s normal for them to want a grandson of their own bloodline.” Seeing her say this, I didn’t dwell on it anymore. After all, having both kids change to my last name would only mean my parents would contribute more. The next day, I dressed the baby early in his outfit for the celebration. My mother-in-law suddenly said. “Maya, you see there will be a lot of people at the banquet later, why don’t you and the baby just stay home, don’t go join the crowd. What if there are too many people and it scares the baby…” I was full of confusion, “Today is to celebrate the baby turning one month old, is it appropriate for him not to go?” My mother-in-law smiled and explained, “It’s just an excuse. The baby is so small, it’s inconvenient for him to go. Your dad’s relatives all love to smoke, we don’t want them smoking out the baby.” I agreed with this point. The first year of our marriage, Liam and I went back to his hometown to host a banquet. Those relatives smoked so much the whole room reeked, you couldn’t stay in there at all. “Alright then.” Seeing this, my mother-in-law said again, “Hey, your parents definitely want to see the baby, tell them not to go to the hotel either, just come straight to the house to keep your dad company?” I had originally thought of this too, and seeing my mother-in-law offer, I didn’t refuse. But because the baby suddenly had diarrhea, I was busy changing his diaper and forgot to message my parents. By the time I remembered, it was already noon, so I called them immediately. “Hello, Mom and Dad, have you arrived at the hotel? You don’t need to go, just come straight to the house to see me and the baby.” But my mom said, “You and the baby are at home? Then who is the baby I saw Liam and his mother holding?” Hearing this, I was instantly dumbfounded. I looked down at the baby in my arms. The baby was at home with me, so whose baby was Liam holding? Right at this moment, my daughter’s teacher suddenly tagged me in the group chat, saying my daughter was the only one left who hadn’t signed up for the school summer camp, and asked me to take a picture of my daughter’s household registration information to apply for her. I hurriedly looked for the documents, but when I flipped to my daughter’s section, I was dumbfounded. The name, which should have been changed to Chloe Vance, still glaringly displayed Chloe Sterling, with no new section added for “former name.” Which means, Liam never changed our daughter’s name?! Thinking of this, my whole body trembled uncontrollably, and I immediately called my best friend, Sarah. But her phone rang for a long time before being answered. Before I could speak, a familiar voice came from the other end of the line. “Sarah, come quick, your dad is calling you to take the baby around to toast everyone.” That was… my mother-in-law’s voice!! The next second, the call was cut off.

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At the company dinner, the newly appointed big boss’s daughter from headquarters accidentally spilled wine on Arthur’s shirt. While Arthur went to the restroom to clean up. Everyone was guessing whether he would get angry. “I bet three shots that Mr. Vance will definitely lose his temper. Last time a young girl accidentally got his documents dirty, she was fired the next day!” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, that’s not necessarily true. Haven’t you heard that the big boss’s daughter is Mr. Vance’s first love?!” Hearing this, everyone gasped. The person continued: “After graduation, she went abroad, and the two were forced to break up. But later, Mr. Vance actually came to our company. Why do you think that is?” “Isn’t it just to wait for her to come back! I bet they’ll rekindle their old flame in no time!” A colleague next to me nudged my elbow: “Chloe, weren’t you and those two alumni from the same university? Were you also shipping their fairytale romance?” “Quick, tell us why exactly they broke up!” Secretly married to Arthur for a year, I silently took the ring off my ring finger and put it in my pocket. 1 Everyone’s excited gazes instantly fell on me. Urging me to quickly tell them the legendary love story between the aloof top student and the big boss’s daughter that once caused a sensation throughout the school. I was sitting in the farthest corner of the private room, my presence originally very low. Suddenly surrounded by so many eyes, I felt a bit uncomfortable. Just then, the door to the private room opened. Mia walked in smiling, Arthur’s coat draped over her arm. “Arthur said we don’t need to wait for him, let’s start playing.” She was still exactly as she was in college. The moment she entered, she became the center of attention. Hearing her intimate way of addressing Arthur, the colleagues’ faces all showed a “we ship it” expression. Arthur Vance, Mia Sullivan. Even their names matched perfectly, like the male and female leads in a romance novel. Someone bold, emboldened by alcohol, asked directly: “Mia, tell us, did you and Mr. Vance… have a history before?” Mia, seemingly unsurprised by the gossip, blinked mischievously. “That’s all in the past, Arthur won’t let me talk about it.” Seeing this, everyone let out a knowing “Oh~”. A hint of shyness appeared on her face: “Let me tell you, don’t bring this up in front of Arthur. He has a thin skin, I’m afraid he’ll get mad at me when we get back.” The hooting grew even louder. She didn’t say anything explicitly, yet it seemed like she had said everything. So, after Arthur returned from cleaning the wine stain, although the colleagues didn’t dare continue the previous topic in front of him. Their eyes couldn’t help but constantly dart between the two of them. Occasionally, they would deliberately bring up topics like “youth,” “first love,” and “regrets.” The ring in my pocket had sharp edges, and through the thin fabric, it dug into me somewhat uncomfortably. My gaze instinctively fell on Arthur’s bare left ring finger. On the day we registered our marriage, my mother-in-law bought us wedding rings. Arthur said he didn’t have the habit of wearing accessories. His wedding ring was still sitting in a drawer in his study. I started regretting attending this dinner. Throughout the entire gathering, Arthur remained as taciturn as usual, like an intimidating iceberg. It was only when Mia had a bit too much to drink and showed signs of intoxication that he spoke softly: “Let’s call it a night.” When the boss speaks, who dares disobey? Everyone stood up, sharing rides home in twos and threes. Someone nudged Mia toward Mr. Vance: “Mr. Vance, it’s not safe for Mia to go home alone. Could you please take her back?” Arthur looked up at me. Right at that moment, Mia’s legs gave out, and she stumbled into his arms. I almost fled, turning sharply and leaving the crowd. From behind, his voice faintly reached me: “Give me her home address.” I separated from the crowd and took a cab home alone. Upon arriving home, I soaked myself in the bathtub. Wrapped in the rising, misty steam, the tears I had held back all night finally fell. How pathetic. What was there to feel wronged about? He was always a moon high up in the sky, far out of reach. I was already very lucky to have briefly had the moon all to myself. In college, our interactions were pitifully few. The only time was when he needed to bring an umbrella to Mia and asked me to hand in his group project for him. By a twist of fate, after graduating with my master’s, I became an intern under him. And serendipitously discovered that my unlikely older friend was actually his mother. Under his mother’s matchmaking and pressure to marry. That afternoon, Arthur suddenly asked me. “Chloe, would you consider marrying me?” Yes, no dating, no proposal. We fast-forwarded straight to marriage. So fast, it was as if he had just casually discussed a business deal, and it wouldn’t matter if it fell through. We got our marriage certificate that afternoon, and the next day went to work as usual. Besides moving in together, nothing seemed different between us than before. He hadn’t told anyone about our marriage, so much so that people in the company still thought he was single. Now, his first love was back, and my time as a background character in this love story was up. I should make my exit. When I came out of the bathroom, Arthur was already back. Sitting on the sofa, reading documents. I mustered my courage, walked over to him, and hesitantly started: “I…” Before I could finish, his phone suddenly rang. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but Arthur grabbed his coat with a solemn expression. “Sorry, something urgent came up. Let’s talk about whatever it is when I get back, okay?” He had never gone out late at night before. This was the first time. Half an hour later, the person who made him make an exception updated her Moments. [Thanks to someone for bringing hangover soup late at night.] A man’s hand was accidentally revealed in the attached photo. Colleagues flooded the comments section, gossiping if good news was on the way, implicitly saying they didn’t expect the aloof Mr. Vance to have such a considerate side. I thought, my moon seems to be returning to the sky. 2 My period came very suddenly this time. It hurt all night, and I barely managed to fall asleep in a haze. When I woke up, Arthur had already left for work, as usual. He had a habit of arriving at the company early, while I wouldn’t arrive a minute earlier than necessary. So even though we worked at the same company, we went our separate ways. When I arrived at the company, Mia was standing in the middle of the aisle, in a great mood, distributing coffee to everyone. Saying it was her treat since she just arrived. Colleagues smiled and praised the big boss’s daughter for being beautiful and kind, understanding the hardships of us corporate drones, promising to work doubly hard today. When she got to me, she handed over an Americano filled to the brim with ice. “Sorry, you came a bit late, this is the only one left.” Although I had taken painkillers in the morning, a dull ache still emanated from my lower abdomen. But out of politeness, I still said thank you and took the coffee from her hand. Thinking that if I really couldn’t drink it, I’d secretly pour it away when no one was looking later. Besides that, I was actually a bit petty; I just didn’t want to drink the coffee she bought. But what I didn’t expect was that after distributing the coffee, Mia didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she looked at me with a smile: “Chloe, you’ve changed so much, I barely recognized you last night.” “You’ve lost a lot of weight since college, and gotten much prettier. I didn’t expect you to be working under Arthur.” In college, Arthur and I were in Class 3, she was in Class 1, and we didn’t even share core classes. So I was a bit surprised that she actually remembered me. Mia showed no intention of leaving. Although she wore a smile, perhaps because I was being cynical, I felt her scrutinizing gaze made me a bit uncomfortable. “Speaking of which, I still have to thank you for helping Arthur deliver his group project back then, otherwise I would have been drenched like a drowned rat.” “Why did you choose to come to our company? Was it because you knew Arthur was here?” This sentence sounded fine at first listen. Coming to a company where an old classmate works is a very normal thing. But if it fell on the ears of someone looking for trouble, it might be interpreted in another way. I pursed my lips, just about to answer, when Arthur happened to push open the office door at that exact moment: “Mia, come here for a moment.” Mia was directly appointed by headquarters as Arthur’s secretary. Hearing this, she replied cheerfully, her high heels clicking loudly as she walked in his direction. As the office door closed, the gossiping spirit of the colleagues burned once more. Hooting and hollering in low voices. I stared blankly at the solo photo on my desk. This photo was taken on my birthday last year. Coincidentally, Arthur also asked me to marry him on that day. I reached out and took down the frame. In the hidden compartment, there was a more youthful face, silly flashing a peace sign at the camera. That was taken by my roommate when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. At the time, she muttered a bit dissatisfied, saying when other people take photos, the background is either the school emblem or the main gate. Why did I have to pick a rundown academic building? At the time, I just explained that the lighting was good. Actually, I lied to her. At the time, Arthur was standing just fifteen feet behind me. At the exact moment my roommate pressed the shutter, he happened to look up, facing the camera. This was our first, and only, not-quite-a-photo-together photo. “Chloe, come to the small conference room, we’re having a team meeting.” I looked up and acknowledged, casually slipping the photo into a folder on my desk. They called it a team meeting, but it lasted a full two hours. The intermittent pain from my lower abdomen made me break out in a cold sweat. When I walked out of the small conference room, my head spinning, I found several colleagues gathered around my desk, heads bowed, discussing something. But when I got closer, my mind suddenly went completely blank. Because Mia was holding that photo in her hand, looking at me leisurely. “Chloe, so you actually liked Arthur?” 3 My first instinct was to snatch the photo back. But she was faster, flipping the photo over. Reading the words written on the back with clear enunciation, her tone amused and exaggerated: “You are my moon.” “Chloe, so I was right. You stayed just because of Arthur, didn’t you?” I pursed my lips, looking at her exquisite face, my nails digging deep into my palms. A colleague nearby let out a disdainful scoff: “She looks so innocent, who knew she was so disgusting in private. ‘Moon’? I’m gonna throw up!” “Exactly. Even though Mia threw a tantrum and went abroad back then, Mr. Vance waited for her for three years! Secretly hiding his photo, isn’t this obviously trying to be a homewrecker?” “Tsk, tsk, I was wondering why she fought tooth and nail to pass the assessment and stay. She really doesn’t know her place.” The air conditioning vent above my head intermittently blew down piercingly cold air. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. God knows how much I wanted to retort, to tell them that Arthur and I are legally married. When Arthur and I reunited, they were already broken up! But I knew, even if I said it, no one would believe me. Because Arthur had never acknowledged me. Tears welled up in my eyes; I gritted my teeth hard to keep them from falling. As if that could maintain my last shred of dignity. I snatched the photo from Mia’s hand like a madwoman, tore it to shreds in a few quick motions, and threw it into the trash can nearby. Mia looked at me mockingly. Just as she was about to say something more, Arthur suddenly came out. “What’s all this noise? Not enough work to do?” Everyone scattered in a panic. Arthur took long strides and stood in front of me, staring at me for a moment. When his gaze fell on the photo in the trash can, he seemed a bit stunned. “Why did you…” Before he could finish, I shoved him hard, kept my head down, and ran into the restroom. I didn’t dare face him, at least not right then. I was afraid that after he found out I had harbored different feelings for him a long time ago. He, like everyone else, would secretly laugh at me for overestimating myself. I survived until the end of the workday, moving in a daze like a zombie. When I walked out of the company, Mia was already waiting at the entrance. “Chloe, let’s talk.” The coffee shop was filled with the rich aroma of caramel, but to me, it smelled sour and bitter. “I called Arthur before I returned to the country, and he actually told me he was married.” “And the person he married is actually you.” Mia got straight to the point as soon as she sat down, her tone full of disdain. “I asked him then if he loved you. Guess what he said?” Her nails tapped against the wooden table, making an irritating sound. The answer was obvious. Arthur clearly didn’t love me, otherwise Mia wouldn’t have returned to the country. But even so, it wasn’t her place to say anything. “Miss Sullivan, he was the one who proposed marriage. Even if we are to divorce, he should be the one to tell me.” Mia seemed somewhat surprised by my sudden toughness, the mockery at the corner of her mouth deepening: “Since I’m back, it’s only a matter of time before you divorce.” “It’s just that…” She drew out her words, propping her chin on one hand, raising an eyebrow at me: “Do you really think Arthur didn’t know about your dirty little crush on him in the past?” “Did you think no one knew you secretly kept the notebook he handed back?” “Do you know what he said when he found out back then?” “He said, ‘That’s disgusting’.” It was true. When the group project Arthur asked me to hand in was graded and returned, I had selfish motives. I secretly kept it. Because that piece of paper had Arthur’s elegant signature on it, the only proof that our paths had crossed. On the day my girlish secret was exposed and mocked, a sense of shame erupted like never before. When I returned home, utterly devastated, Arthur was already back. On the coffee table in front of him lay a document. Only one word was visible: [Di], for divorce. Arthur took off his gold-rimmed glasses, looked at me, and said: “Chloe, there’s something I want to discuss with you.” 4 Arthur is a decent man, after all. Even for something like a divorce, he used the word “discuss.” What’s there to discuss? Is he afraid I’ll covet his assets, or afraid I’ll cling to him and refuse to divorce? I sniffled, forcing a smile that I thought looked nonchalant: “It’s fine, whatever works for me.” “You talk to Mom.” “Also, when do you need me to move out?” Arthur’s expression showed obvious shock, a hint of confusion surfacing in his eyes. I stretched my smile wider, so wide it actually hurt a little. “Hand it over, don’t you need my signature?” “Are you misunder—” Before he could finish, the doorbell suddenly rang. As soon as Arthur opened the door, Mia threw herself crying into his arms. “Arthur, someone is following me, I’m so scared…” She was wearing a sexy lace slip dress, a completely different style from the tailored skirt suit she wore at work during the day. But equally beautiful. Enough to make any man’s heart flutter. Perhaps because I was there, Arthur frowned and pushed her away. “What are you doing here?” He instinctively turned to look at me, a rare flash of panic crossing his face. Before he could speak, I waved my hand: “You guys talk, I’m going back to the bedroom.” Arthur had already given me enough dignity and respect. I couldn’t be so tactless as to act as a third wheel when I clearly knew a divorce was imminent. Back in the bedroom, my nearly frozen smiling face finally found release. I threw myself hard onto the bed, biting down fiercely on the edge of the quilt. The tears I had held back all day finally broke like a breached dam, impossible to stop. I cried until my world went dark, and when I emerged with eyes swollen like walnuts. The house was already completely empty. I picked up my phone, wanting to ask Arthur when he’d be back so we could process the divorce tomorrow. But I saw Mia’s recently updated Moments. The caption was simple, just one word: [Secured] But the attached photo was a selfie of her; her pale neck was covered in shocking red marks. My phone clattered to the floor. I hurriedly picked it up, gritting my teeth to force myself not to think about them being intimate. Then, mechanically, I grabbed my personal belongings and a few commonly used clothes, shoving them all into my suitcase. Just before leaving, I realized the divorce agreement on the coffee table was gone. I didn’t know where Arthur had casually put it, so I had to download a template online, filled in our information. And signed my name on it. I left it in the most prominent spot on the coffee table. Arthur, we are over after all. … By the time Arthur dropped off the endlessly crying Mia at the police station, and rushed back to headquarters overnight to submit his resignation. It was nearing midnight. He opened the door wearily. The house was dark; the young woman must be asleep. Arthur felt a bit anxious, not knowing if she would agree to leave River City with him and develop in Coast City. But when he turned on the light. His gaze was dead locked on the glaring divorce agreement on the coffee table.

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In my past life, I was the undisputed king of paparazzi in the entertainment industry. I held the dark secrets of half of Hollywood in my hands, and ultimately, I was silenced by the capital that controlled them. After my rebirth, I became the central node of the village’s gossip network—the ultimate “know-it-all.” Who lost a chicken, whose husband was cheating… I knew everything. Until the fake heiress decided she wanted to enter the entertainment industry. Her wealthy parents were terrified that I, the stain living in obscurity, would become a ticking time bomb for her future. They drove all the way to my village overnight, throwing an NDA in my face that demanded I never acknowledge our blood ties for the rest of my life. “Take this half-million dollar hush money and rot in the mud forever. If you dare stand in the way of Chloe’s stardom, we’ll take your life.” The fake heiress, crying pitifully on a video call, said: “Sister, you only lost your identity, but I can’t lose my dream.” I silently started a live stream. “Half a million? Are you trying to pay off a beggar? Do you know how much a trending hashtag costs these days?” “I’ve already compiled all your family’s secrets into a PowerPoint.” “Come on, smile for the camera. I’ve already thought of tomorrow’s headline.” “Wealthy Family Attempts Murder to Pave Way for Starlet; True Heiress Exposes Scum Parents on Live Stream.” “If you won’t do things the easy way, we’ll do them the hard way. Smash that phone!” Arthur Vance gave a look to his bodyguards, and the two men in black suits lunged forward. I didn’t move. I even adjusted the beauty filter on my camera. The viewer count in my live stream instantly skyrocketed to two hundred thousand. The comments were flying so fast I couldn’t even read them. 【Holy crap, is this a live broadcast of rich people drama? Better than reality TV!】 【Isn’t that the CEO of Vance Group? And the washed-up actress Margaret Vance next to him?】 Just as the bodyguards’ hands were about to touch me, I took a step back and screamed at the top of my lungs. “Help! City folks are in the village trying to kill people!” The ’80s crew of our village, who had been lying in wait by the wall, made their entrance. Auntie May took the lead, followed by seven or eight elderly folks, average age eighty-five and up. They moved with military precision, dropping straight to the ground at the bodyguards’ feet. “Ouch! You’re killing me! My back! My hip! My kneecap!” The bodyguards were dumbfounded. Who dared to touch them? One touch could cost them a luxury condo in medical bills. Arthur Vance’s hands shook with rage: “You bunch of uneducated hicks! Get out of my way!” Taking advantage of the distraction, I pointed the camera directly at Arthur and sneered. “Alright, my dear viewers, do you see this? This is the true face of the ultra-rich.” “Since Mr. Vance is in such a hurry to shut me up, let’s speed things up.” With a tap of my finger, the PowerPoint flipped to the second slide. It showed Arthur Vance with his arm around a young model, his hand resting somewhere it definitely shouldn’t be. Next to the photo, I thoughtfully added the time, location, and even hotel booking records. The live stream exploded. 【666! This tea is piping hot!】 【Isn’t that the model who just debuted from that idol show? So he’s her sugar daddy!】 【Mr. Vance is still going strong! Keeping the wife at home while playing the field outside!】 Seeing the photo on the screen, Arthur’s face went from red to purple. He clutched his chest, gasping for air. Margaret Vance let out a shriek and lunged at me to scratch my face: “You little bitch! You dare use photoshopped pictures to spread rumors?!” I responded by simply hitting play on a video. In the video, Margaret was at the White Horse Club. She was shoving a Porsche key down the pants of a young male host. Laughing wildly, without a shred of the elegance she portrayed as an actress. Arthur stared at Margaret in disbelief. She guiltily looked away. Their carefully crafted image as the perfect model couple shattered into pieces right then and there. I threw up a peace sign to the camera: “Don’t rush, this is just the appetizer.” “Chloe Vance’s plastic surgery records and videos of her sleeping her way to the top are on the next slide.” “If you want to see them, type ‘1’ in the chat. If we hit a million likes, I’ll release them immediately!” The screen was instantly flooded with “1”s. Chloe, who had been on the video call this whole time without hanging up, turned pale with terror on the other end. I looked at her coldly. “Didn’t you just say you couldn’t lose your dream? Is your dream to sleep with every director in the industry?” Chloe screamed and disconnected the call. Seeing the situation spinning completely out of control, Arthur pulled out his emergency heart medication and dumped it into his mouth. “Let’s go! Hurry!” He signaled the bodyguards, eager to retreat. I picked up the check from the ground, tore it to shreds, and threw the pieces against the window of their Maybach. “Take your half-million dollar check with you! I don’t mind getting dirty, but I do mind bad luck!” My adoptive parents huddled in the corner, trembling with fear. My adoptive mother pulled on my sleeve, her voice shaking. “Emily, those are your biological parents. Are we in trouble?” I patted her calloused hands, my heart aching. “Mom, they aren’t my parents. They’re jackals. And you need a shotgun to deal with jackals.” That night, the Vance Group’s cease and desist letter was posted online. My live stream account was banned across all platforms. The reason: invasion of privacy and malicious defamation. Banned? Who did they think I was? I was the king of paparazzi in my past life. I dragged an old box out from under my bed. Inside was everything I had been preparing since I was young. Dozens of backup accounts, and contact information for hundreds of gossip blogs. I switched to a new account and changed the ID to “Village Gossip King.” The bio had only one sentence: 【Don’t go to sleep. The big one is coming.】 The Vance family’s PR team was undeniably skilled. Overnight, the narrative completely shifted. The trending hashtags were all about #EmilyExtortion# and #EmilyUngratefulDaughter#. Paid trolls flooded the internet, claiming I would do anything for money, even extorting my own biological parents. Chloe even posted a series of photos doing charity work at an orphanage. The caption read: “Even though I’ve been wronged, seeing the smiles on these children’s faces makes me believe the world is still a beautiful place.” The comments section was filled with sympathy. Someone even doxxed the address of my adoptive parents. Early the next morning, when my adoptive mother went to town to sell eggs, people threw rotten vegetables at her. She came back holding her forehead, blood dripping through her fingers. “Emily, Mom is fine. I just accidentally tripped and fell.” She forced a smile, not wanting me to worry. The anger inside me shot straight to the top of my head. Originally, I wanted to play with them slowly. But since they were asking for it, they couldn’t blame me for playing dirty. I opened my laptop, my fingers flying across the keyboard, typing out strings of code. In my past life, to dig up dirt, I taught myself hacking. I wasn’t a top-tier hacker, but infiltrating a postnatal care center’s system from over a decade ago was child’s play. Eighteen-year-old nursing records, and a blurry backup of security footage. I bundled them together and posted them directly to my new account. The title was simple and brutal. The Truth About the Abandoned Heiress: Was she lost, or was it attempted murder? In the security footage, Margaret Vance looked at the baby in the crib with utter disgust. “Cry, cry, cry, all she knows how to do is cry! It’s giving me a headache. Was this damn child born just to curse me?” Arthur Vance stood nearby, holding a piece of yellow paper. It was a fortune-teller’s reading. “This girl has a cursed destiny. She will bring ruin to her relatives. She is a harbinger of doom. If she stays, the entire family will perish.” “The master said we can’t keep her. Throw her far away tonight while it’s snowing heavily.” The footage switched to street cameras. Arthur, carrying the swaddled baby, threw her into the snow and walked away without looking back. That baby was me. That so-called master was just a con artist who later went to prison for fraud. And Chloe was the “lucky star” they adopted on the master’s advice. The moment this video was released, the internet erupted like a volcano. 【Animals! These people are absolute animals!】 【It’s the 21st century! How can people still believe in this feudal superstition and try to commit murder?!】 【Throwing a baby in the snow in sub-zero temperatures? That’s attempted murder!】 The netizens who were cursing me just moments ago instantly switched sides. Chloe’s comment section was overrun, filled with people calling her a beneficiary of crime and a bloodsucker. I immediately released the second wave: comparison photos. Left side: Eighteen-year-old Chloe, celebrating her birthday on a luxury yacht, wearing a custom gown worth thirty thousand dollars. Right side: Eighteen-year-old me, wearing a patched-up winter coat, helping my adoptive father collect scrap in the freezing snow, my hands red and swollen like carrots. Left side: A bag Chloe casually threw away could feed my adoptive family for five years. Right side: To save fifty cents on bus fare, I carried a fifty-pound sack of sweet potatoes and walked ten miles through the mountains. This intense visual contrast was more lethal than any words. The internet’s sympathy overflowed. 【I’m crying. Emily has had it so hard.】 【Who’s the real bad seed here? The entire Vance family is rotten to the core!】 The Vance Group’s stock hit the limit down as soon as the market opened. Over a billion dollars in market value evaporated. My phone rang. It was Arthur. This time, his voice carried none of its previous arrogance, only exhaustion and fawning. “Emily, it was all a misunderstanding. Dad was tricked back then too.” “How about this? I’ll give you five million. Delete the video, and let’s go home and talk about this slowly.” Five million? If this were my past life, I might have actually been tempted. But now, it only made me sick. “Dad, I won’t be coming back.” “The master said I’m a harbinger of doom who will ruin your fortune.” “Take a look. Hasn’t your fortune really been ruined by me this time?” After saying that, I hung up and blocked his number. Outside the window, my adoptive mother was applying medicine to her forehead. I walked over and gently took the cotton swab from her hand. “Mom, does it hurt?” My adoptive mother shook her head. “Emily, let’s stop fighting them, okay? Mom is afraid you’ll get hurt.” I hugged this frail, rural woman. “Mom, don’t be afraid. You used to protect me. From now on, it’s my turn to protect you.” Arthur had clearly grown desperate. He dropped the facade of a loving father and directly mobilized his underworld connections. Early the next morning, before the sun even came up. A deafening roar woke the entire village. A dozen excavators rolled aggressively toward the village entrance. Leading the charge was my biological brother, Leo Vance. “Push it down! Flatten this entire shithole village!” The excavator’s bucket raised high and smashed violently into the stone monument at the village entrance. With a loud crash, the monument was reduced to rubble. That was the village’s landmark, the pride of the whole community. I frantically pulled out my phone to start a live stream, only to find the signal was jammed! Next, the excavators charged into the orchards. Over a hundred acres of newly ripened pumpkins and fruit trees—the villagers’ entire livelihood for the year. Old Man Lee rushed over like a madman, hugging a giant pumpkin and crying out. “You can’t destroy this! This is our lifeblood!” A bodyguard rushed up and kicked Old Man Lee squarely in the chest. Old Man Lee went flying, landing heavily in a mud puddle. The pumpkin in his arms smashed to pieces, its bright red flesh splattering everywhere. “Grandpa!” With bloodshot eyes, I rushed out to help him. But I was blocked by two burly men. Auntie May and her ’80s crew tried to help block the vehicles. Leo sneered and snapped his fingers. “Release the dogs!” Two massive, vicious dogs leaped from the trucks, baring their fangs, and lunged at the elderly villagers. Auntie May’s calf was viciously bitten, blood instantly staining her pant leg red. Screams pierced the sky. “Ah! Help!” The villagers were in chaos, the sounds of crying, screaming, and barking mixing together. A group of tattooed thugs burst into my house. They smashed everything in sight, even overturning the stove. My adoptive father tried to protect my computer—it was my only piece of evidence. A bodyguard slammed a baton into his leg. With a sickening crack. My adoptive father’s agonizing scream pierced my eardrums. “Dad!” I tried to rush over like a madwoman, but Leo grabbed me by the hair. “Emily, aren’t you supposed to be so capable? Aren’t you a streamer?” “Try streaming now!” He stepped on my adoptive father’s broken leg, grinding his foot down. My father, his face covered in cold sweat from the pain, gritted his teeth and refused to beg for mercy. “Emily… run…” My adoptive mother knelt on the ground begging, but a bodyguard dragged her away by the hair. The village chief tried to go call the police, but his phone was smashed to pieces by Leo. “I’ve got my eye on this land for development.” “Anyone who dares to call the police is crossing the Vance family! I’ll kill their entire family!” Extreme anger stripped me of my reason. I pulled a can of pepper spray from my sleeve and sprayed it directly into Leo’s face. “Ah! My eyes!” Leo covered his eyes and screamed in agony. In the chaos, I broke free, grabbed a brick, and lunged at him. But two fists are no match for four hands. Seven or eight thugs swarmed me and pinned me to the ground. Leo, his eyes red and looking like a lunatic, walked over. He took a lit cigarette from a subordinate and took a deep drag. “Look closely. This is what happens when people help you.” “These poor losers are dying because of you!” Then, he flicked the cigarette onto a nearby pile of dry thatch. Flames shot into the sky. That was our only home. The home my adoptive parents built brick by brick. Watching my adoptive parents’ despairing faces in the firelight, my heart shattered. I had caused this. I was too naive. I underestimated the shamelessness and cruelty of capital. Leo signaled his men to bring out a syringe. “Give her a shot and take her away.” My consciousness began to blur. My last sight was Auntie May twitching in a pool of blood. My adoptive father’s mangled leg. And the fire consuming everything. Darkness fell. The feeling of powerlessness from my past life washed over me again. Did I get a second chance at life just to drag more people down with me? The pungent smell of disinfectant violently jolted me awake. My head was splitting, and my limbs felt as heavy as lead. I struggled to open my eyes and found myself lying on a freezing operating table. My hands and feet were strapped tightly to the bed, immobilizing me completely. The scene felt exactly like livestock waiting to be slaughtered. From the next room, muffled arguing drifted over. Margaret’s voice trembled. “Arthur, is… is this going to work? What if the police investigate…” “Investigate what?!” “As long as we make it look like a surgical accident and cremate the body, who will know she’s missing two kidneys?”

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My husband, whom I’ve been in a long-distance marriage with for three years, video-called to report in as usual: “Good morning, honey.” Instantly, I froze. It was currently 11:30 PM. Looking closer at the background of his video, it was clearly illuminated by the morning sun, around seven or eight o’clock. Clinging to a sliver of hope, I tentatively asked, “Are you at home, or on a business trip?” He answered smoothly, “At home, of course. I have classes tomorrow. Plus, without my wife’s permission, I wouldn’t dare run around.” I didn’t say much more, just absentmindedly agreeing with him. After hanging up, I immediately called his university and asked for his itinerary. It was a list for a university-sponsored faculty trip. The destination was Country A. And under Liam’s “accompanying family member” column, the name was Chloe. His female student. Furthermore, for every faculty trip over the past three years, it was the exact same arrangement: one room, one bed. The blood rushed to my head. I immediately bought a plane ticket to Country A. … After getting off the plane, I went straight to Liam’s hotel. The girl waiting for the elevator with me had a student ID from his university hanging around her neck. It read Chloe, the exact same “idiot student” my husband often mentioned giving him endless headaches. I forced down the tremor in my voice: “Monroe University? What a coincidence, my husband is a professor there.” Chloe stepped into the elevator and smiled, striking up a conversation: “Are you here accompanying a family member on the trip too?” “My Professor Hayes brings me here every year. You know how men are, they claim it’s for academic exchange, but really…” Saying this, the girl acted shy. I dragged my stiff legs into the elevator behind her, my heart plummeting in pain. Liam and I had been long-distance ever since we got married. Even seeing each other was a luxury. Many times, feeling bad about how busy he was, I flew to his city, suggesting we finally take the honeymoon we never had. He would always hug me, his eyes full of guilt, and hastily leave me with one sentence: “There will be opportunities in the future, once I finish this busy period.” I believed him. But that “wait” turned into three years. Little did I know, he had the opportunity to take his “spouse” on international trips every year. Unable to hold back my tears, I turned my head away and continued to probe: “Do you know… that he’s married?” Chloe nodded casually. “So what if he’s married? I’m not destroying their family. It’s just a mutual exchange of needs.” “He helps me get a guaranteed spot in grad school by bending the rules. And he constantly complains to me about how vulgar his long-distance wife is. That’s why he hid the fact that he had several opportunities to transfer to her city.” “You can see how annoying that old woman is. I’m different. I’m young.” The girl’s words oozed with a sense of superiority. My reflection in the elevator doors looked incredibly haggard. For three years of marriage, I bore the burden of everything big and small at home entirely on my own. When my father-in-law passed away, my bedridden, paralyzed mother-in-law required my constant, undivided care. When she had a medical emergency in the middle of the night, I dragged my exhausted body—after a full day of work—to take her to the hospital. When I couldn’t handle it anymore, I would call Liam in tears, asking him to talk to the dean about transferring to the branch campus. But he would always massage his temples, looking troubled: “I know it’s hard for you, but job transfers are arranged by the university. There’s nothing I can do.” It turned out it wasn’t that he couldn’t do anything; it was that he didn’t want to. Chloe’s phone ringtone suddenly broke the silence. “Hubby, I brought back so much stuff, come to the elevator to get me~” From the other end came a male voice I was incredibly familiar with: “Okay, okay, just wait there for me.” The next second, the elevator reached the thirteenth floor. With a ding, the doors slowly opened. Seeing Chloe and me standing in the elevator together. The usually calm and composed Professor Hayes lost his smile instantly. But within two seconds, Liam quickly masked his panic, stepping forward to grab my arm first. “Honey, what are you doing here so suddenly?” “My company sent me on a last-minute business trip, I didn’t have time to tell you.” I smiled bitterly, “Is that so? Is she on a business trip too?” “She…” Chloe, standing to the side, turned pale. But the next second, a look of provocation appeared in her eyes: “You didn’t even know Professor Hayes was on a business trip. You should really pay more attention to him in the future. I won’t bother you with my matters.” As soon as she finished speaking, unable to bear it any longer, I raised my hand to slap her. But as Chloe instinctively raised her arm to block it, I noticed the ring on her finger. It looked completely out of place with her young, designer clothes. Once, after returning from Liam’s city, I realized my wedding ring was gone after getting off the plane. I regretted it endlessly. I called the airline over a dozen times but couldn’t find it. Liam stayed up all night video chatting with me: “It’s just a ring. Your health is the most important thing. I’ll just buy you another one.” At the time, feeling bad that he was working overtime, I refused. I never expected to see it again a year later, on Chloe’s finger. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I lost the strength to follow through with the slap. “Chloe, go back to the room!” Liam yelled angrily, and the girl, flushed with humiliation, went into the room. He roughly dragged me into a car heading for the airport. After a long silence, he suddenly became agitated: “Evelyn, are you doubting me?” “I told you Chloe is just my student. I brought her on this academic exchange to broaden her horizons. When did you start checking up on me?” Endless grievances surged in my heart. My heart felt like it was being violently torn apart: “Broadening horizons by exchanging academics all the way into bed!” Liam’s face darkened instantly: “I told you she’s just my student!” “You said you’d understand my work. Why are you being so unreasonable now?” I opened my mouth to retort, but his phone suddenly chimed. He answered it immediately. “Professor Hayes, you must apologize to Mrs. Hayes for me. I misspoke earlier.” “Because I’m your emergency contact at the university, the business trip info wasn’t synced to Mrs. Hayes. I shouldn’t have said that earlier, wuuuwuuu…” Liam quickly offered gentle comfort: “How is it your fault? You’re in the same city as me, it’s safer to leave your number. She’s just making a mountain out of a molehill.” So living apart is my fault now? I gritted my teeth in anger: “I don’t need your apology.” As soon as I spoke, a woman’s scream came from the phone, followed by it hanging up. “Chloe? What’s wrong?” Liam slammed on the brakes. My forehead smashed hard against the dashboard, blurring my vision. “Get out! I need to go see what happened to her.” Under his disgusted gaze, I was kicked out of the car. The car sped away, leaving me standing there in a daze. In the suburbs of a foreign country, I walked for a full hour without seeing another soul. It was midnight by the time I fumbled my way to the airport. Right before boarding, I immediately called my lawyer friend: “Liam cheated on me. Draft a divorce agreement for me.” “And look into how his female student, Chloe, actually got her guaranteed grad school spot.” Quickly, my friend found all the information about Chloe. Clicking on her social media, the first time she posted about “Mr. Hayes” was in August three years ago. But that was exactly when my mother passed away. I couldn’t eat or sleep; I withered away like a ghost. Liam frequently took red-eye flights to come see me, made me late-night snacks, and cried with me: “Mom in heaven definitely wants you to be okay. You have me with you…” But it was precisely during that time that he and Chloe hooked up. My friend sent over the evidence: “Her grad school application materials are basically all forged. The system shows she failed several classes.” He paused: “But these videos might break your heart, maybe you shouldn’t watch them…” Before I had time to process it, a notification popped up on my phone: 【Shocking! Jealous wife of university professor hires hitman to assault beautiful student abroad!】 The comment section was filled with curses: 【Heartless! How can a woman be so vicious to another woman? She doesn’t deserve to be a professor’s wife!】 【Chloe is about to get her guaranteed grad school spot. She must be jealous of her academic success, that’s why she did it.】 【Come out and apologize! Or we’ll all report you to the police!】 … I was just trying to figure out what was going on when Liam burst through the door furiously, followed by a tearful Chloe. “Evelyn, do you know how vile your actions are?!” “You tried to hit her that day. When you didn’t, I thought you’d found your conscience. I didn’t expect you to have a backup plan!” Chloe, covered in scars, knelt pitifully in front of me: “Mrs. Hayes, I don’t know what I did wrong. You can hit me or scold me, but please don’t ruin my future…” I gritted my teeth and said word by word: “I didn’t do it.” After saying that, I made a move to leave. Chloe unexpectedly crashed into me. Immediately after, photos of her completely naked scattered all over the floor. “Ah! These are the photos from when I was attacked! Why does Mrs. Hayes have them?” “Mrs. Hayes, you’re so cruel!” Looking up, I met Liam’s icy, indifferent gaze. “And you still say you didn’t?” “Aren’t these photos ironclad proof? What else do you have to say for yourself!” With that, a slap thrown with full force smashed hard against my face. The taste of blood instantly filled my mouth, and my vision went black. The man who once swore he trusted me unconditionally was gone. Just then, a group of people rushed in holding phones and cameras. The girls leading them were clearly Chloe’s close friends. They shoved their phones in my face: “What grudge do you have against Chloe? Why would you harm her like this!” “Is it just because she’s prettier than you, so you got paranoid and thought she stole your husband? You’re so old, stop acting like you’re the star of a romance novel!” “If you don’t apologize to Chloe today, we won’t let this go!” I clenched my fists in anger. “I didn’t do any of this. But as for what you and your ‘sisters’ did, you should ask her.” Chloe trembled, leaning against Liam’s chest, secretly showing a victor’s smile. The next second, before I could react, they swarmed me and started tearing at my clothes. “Everyone turn on your live streams! Make her strip naked and apologize to Chloe!” “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately. In the blink of an eye, I was almost half-naked on the live stream, every hair on my body standing on end. Suddenly someone yelled in surprise: “There are already three hundred thousand viewers right after starting the stream! Mrs. Hayes, you’re going to be famous!” Piercing mockery and ridicule echoed around me. Trembling all over, I looked at Liam: “Liam, I said I didn’t do it! How can you just let them treat me like this!” The man averted his eyes, but his words were cruel enough: “You brought this on yourself!” “Chloe is about to officially secure her grad school spot. Her commendation ceremony is right after this. How is she supposed to face anyone?” I suddenly started laughing maniacally: “Secure her grad school spot? Do you dare admit exactly how she secured it?” Liam froze, immediately clearing his throat. “Chloe studies very hard, of course you wouldn’t know.” The next second, fists and slaps rained down on me, and they spat at me. “All you know is how to frame people! Chloe’s grades are excellent!” “She frequently stays up late to discuss academics with the professor. Pulling all-nighters is normal for her. What does an old woman like you know?” “Hurry up and apologize!” I gritted my teeth tightly, ultimately not making a single sound. As time ticked by, Chloe was the first to get anxious: “Professor Hayes, let’s just forget it. Mrs. Hayes isn’t going to apologize.” “We should go catch our flight, otherwise we’ll miss the commendation ceremony.” Liam nodded. The last bit of pity he gave me before leaving was draping his jacket over my shoulders. “They were a bit out of line. I’ll apologize to you later.” Watching his hurried departure, my eyes were bloodshot. Liam, I don’t want an apology. I want your reputation destroyed. I changed clothes, put on a baseball cap, and bought the earliest high-speed rail ticket. When I rushed to the commendation ceremony, Chloe was just smugly preparing to go on stage. On stage, Liam, wearing the suit I saved up to buy for him, elegantly and amiably read the announcement regarding Chloe’s guaranteed grad school spot. His gaze occasionally fell on Chloe’s youthful, vibrant face, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turning up. I found a corner and sat down. Whispers drifted into my ears: “Professor Hayes’s wife went too far. How could she spread such rumors about a hardworking student like Chloe?” “Professor Hayes has always been upright. He hates unethical deals the most. But… he does treat Chloe somewhat specially.” “Don’t talk nonsense, that’s just mentorship. After all, Chloe is a top student.” … I sat to the side, seriously listening to the speech of the “upright” Professor Hayes they spoke of: “Chloe’s journey here hasn’t been easy. She’s put in a lot of effort and endured a lot of hardship…” Chloe walked onto the stage with her head held high, preparing to receive her medal. Deafening applause erupted from the audience. “Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Professor Hayes. For all four years of college, Professor Hayes has guided me. Although I’ve faced some hardships, I’m very happy…” “I can testify to that.” I suddenly stood up from my seat in the audience, interrupting her. “Student Chloe indeed endured a lot of… hardship.” Immediately after, in full view of everyone, the large screen behind them flashed on. The venue instantly erupted in an uproar. Seeing the content playing on the screen, all color drained from the faces of the two on stage. The video was pixelated, but the audio was exceptionally clear. Inside a hotel room, Chloe whined pitifully: “I failed several classes this semester. I haven’t eaten all day because I’m so worried about the grad school spot…” Followed by Liam’s confident response: “I’ll handle the grad school spot. How can you not eat? I’ll take you down to the restaurant to eat.” The woman hugged him ambiguously from behind, asking deliberately: “Between me and that woman, who do you love more? If you don’t give me an answer, I’m not going to eat…” Liam smiled indulgently, pulling the woman into his arms. “You, of course. Otherwise, I would have transferred to her city years ago. The reason I kept it quiet is because I want to stay here with you.” The video stopped abruptly. Liam, enraged from humiliation, yanked out the plug, completely losing control: “Where is the staff?! What is all this garbage!” He practically charged off the stage, grabbing my arm, stammering: “Evelyn, listen to me, things are absolutely not what you think…” I violently shook off his hand, my eyes filled with nothing but disgust: “I have the unpixelated version here too. Do you want to share it with everyone?” Liam was completely choked up. A commotion broke out in the venue. Especially among those who firmly believed in Liam and Chloe’s innocence, their expressions were uglier than the last. “So Chloe and Professor Hayes are… in that kind of relationship?” “She used to tell us roommates she wasn’t coming back at night. Turns out she was looking for Professor Hayes…” “And the grad school spot—” Chloe couldn’t bear to listen anymore and lunged forward like a madwoman. “My grad school spot was earned through my own ability! It’s not what you think! You’re not allowed to talk nonsense!” At this moment, the dean’s face had turned as black as charcoal, trembling with anger in the audience. “We will investigate this matter thoroughly! We absolutely will not tolerate this kind of behavior!” “Dean, please listen to my explanation…” Liam chased after him, but it was futile. Just then, a plainly dressed girl stood up in the audience, crying pitifully: “Professor Hayes, I never dared to ask before, but why are all my other grades A’s, and only one is a B? I could have gotten that guaranteed spot too…” The man stood frozen in place, opening his mouth several times but saying nothing. Seeing the girl crying so pitifully—she was probably the legendary student whose spot was stolen—I went over to comfort her: “Don’t worry, the dean will investigate this thoroughly. He’ll definitely get you justice.” I turned to look at Liam, confronting our tragic marriage for the first time. “Is this the normal mentor-student relationship you spoke of? You are truly disappointing.” “Whether as a husband or a professor, I never thought you could be so despicable.” Liam instantly panicked. The usually proud and composed man lowered his stance. “Honey, it was a mistake I made in a moment of confusion. Let’s go home, and I’ll explain everything properly. Let’s go back first…” Saying this, he reached out to grab me. I quickly dodged, not wanting him to touch me ever again. “I’ve had enough of this long-distance marriage. Liam, let’s get a divorce.” After saying that, I handed him the divorce agreement my friend had delivered. “Now, sign it.”

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While waiting for my abortion surgery, I scrolled past a post: “What are your regrets?” My mind immediately went to my boyfriend, who died in a plane crash before we even had the chance to hold our wedding. He loved me deeply; his very last message before he died was to me: “Chloe, you must find happiness after I’m gone. I love you.” Even my mother-in-law had done everything possible, accompanying me to get the abortion and urging me to start a new life. Just as I was about to reply, the top comment on the trending list made my entire body stiffen: “I chased him for ten years to no avail. He even almost married his pregnant girlfriend.” “But luckily, he still couldn’t let me go. He faked his death on their wedding day to end things with her, and even had his mom take that woman to get an abortion.” “Now he’s sleeping right beside me, hehe. My regret has been fulfilled, I’m so happy~” I stared rigidly at the photo she posted. The hand resting on her chest was still wearing a wedding ring. It was the exact matching custom design to the one on my ring finger. ………… The replies under the comment were a barrage of insults: “You’re a homewrecker and you’re proud of it? What about the other girl? Does she deserve to be deceived by you two? Do you have any shame?” “Does anyone know who the other girl is? Quick, tell her the truth!” With trembling hands, I clicked into her profile, and my mind instantly went blank. I had been dating Arthur for ten years, and she had been chasing him for ten years. From high school graduation to now, they had never stopped contacting each other. I remembered this girl; she was the only one who didn’t offer her blessings when we became a campus couple. Red-eyed, she had once blocked Arthur as he was walking me home, stubbornly demanding he break up with me: “I’ve chased you for so long, why don’t you like me? What’s so great about her?” The usually gentle Arthur had a dark expression that day: “Chloe doesn’t need to do anything; I love her just standing there.” “And no matter what you do, I will never love you. Is that clear enough?” Since that day, I had never seen this girl again. I thought that was the end of it. Even when Arthur’s phone later frequently received harassing texts from an unknown number, his dismissive attitude reassured me. I never expected that he had secretly been keeping in touch with her the whole time. He even lied on our anniversary just to go see a movie with her. The impact of the truth left my entire body trembling uncontrollably. “Chloe, it’s your turn. Let’s go, I’ll go with you for the surgery.” My mother-in-law’s gentle voice pulled me from my thoughts. I abruptly looked up, stared at her mild face, and blurted out: “Auntie, Arthur’s seven-day mourning period isn’t even over yet, and you’re this anxious for me to get an abortion?” My mother-in-law froze, the smile stiffening on her lips: “Didn’t I already say? I treat you like my own daughter; I can’t bear to see you raising a child alone.” “Arthur loved you so much when he was alive. Auntie also hopes you’ll live a good life in the future. If you have any difficulties, you can come to me—” “Is Arthur actually not dead?” I interrupted her with a trembling voice, shouting uncontrollably. My mother-in-law visibly froze, a fleeting look of guilt flashing across her face: “Child, what are you talking about?” “I know you’re grieving, but he’s dead, and the living must always look forward—” Without waiting for her to finish, I shoved her aside and bolted out the door. Rushing out of the hospital, I immediately hailed a cab and hurried to the location of Mia’s newly posted comment. She had posted a photo of them holding hands, with our high school track field in the background: “Curse me all you want, but I have no regrets now~” “He said he treated me too poorly in high school, so he specially came here to personally take down his photo with that woman and stroll around the campus with me, hehe~” The next second, my best friend sent a picture: “Chloe, didn’t you say Arthur died in a plane crash?” “Is there a mistake? He just updated his Moments!” “Hey, if I click on his Moments again, there’s nothing there. He probably forgot to block me.” I clicked on the picture, and large tears instantly smashed down. “Walking the wrong path for ten years, only to realize the right person has been waiting for me in the same place all along.” I fiercely wiped away my tears, the anger surging to my heart before the pain did. As soon as I got out of the car, I saw a couple passionately kissing at the entrance to the track field. I rushed forward and gave a hard shove: “Arthur! Do you have no shame!” The guy looked bewildered, and the girl, just about to get angry, cried out in pleasant surprise: “Chloe!” I froze, only then realizing the person in front of me wasn’t Arthur. After hastily apologizing, the girl took my hand, her face full of envy: “Chloe, I was in the grade below you! My boyfriend and I have also been together since high school until now!” “The story of you and Arthur has been circulating for years! The ultimate power couple! Both recommended for admission abroad! Both top of your majors! So amazing!” “Because of you two, the school doesn’t even oppose high school dating anymore. They even tell us dating couples to learn from you!” “Are you also here with Arthur to reminisce about your youth? Oh my god, did you guys get married?!” As the girl excitedly recounted the story, my thoughts drifted back to those most passionate three years. The school heartthrob, Arthur, was a terrible student, but he buried himself in studying just for me. For me, he managed to shoot up to second place in our grade in just one month, and for me, he gave up an admission offer from a prestigious university. He said he didn’t want a long-distance relationship with me, and fought tooth and nail to get the second recommended admission spot. Teachers who always cracked down on high school dating pretended not to notice when they saw us going to the library as a couple. To this day, I still remember the summer of our senior year, when he received an offer from a top foreign university, he held me and spun me around excitedly: “We can finally be together forever!” The cherry blossoms bloomed late that year, falling right onto us. On graduation day, when we gave speeches together, he proudly held me in his arms: “If it weren’t for Chloe, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I will love her forever!” The moment my thoughts snapped back, I saw the girl looking deathly pale at something behind me, her voice very soft: “Chlo-Chloe, is that Arthur?” I turned my head stiffly and saw the man kneeling on one knee in the middle of the track field. Mia’s eyes were red with joy as she sobbed softly. Arthur’s voice was still the gentle one I was familiar with: “I did a lot of things to hurt you before. Please let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you, okay, Mia?” Just a moment before the ring was put on, I called out with a trembling voice: “Arthur?” The man’s broad back stiffened, and his face was deathly pale the moment he turned around. He immediately covered his face in a panic and tried to pull Mia away. I rushed forward and grabbed his arm tightly, my voice rising involuntarily: “Arthur!” “How dare you, how dare you lie to me?” “You—” “Sister, if you want to blame someone, blame me, don’t blame Arthur.” Mia yanked my hand away, standing tearfully in front of Arthur. “It was me, I threatened suicide to make Arthur do this.” “I just love him too much, I can’t live without him.” “You’ve already had Arthur for ten years, you should be satisfied, Sister. Please, give Arthur to me.” As she spoke, she sobbed and revealed the ugly scars on her wrists. The guilt on Arthur’s face was instantly replaced by heartache. He hugged Mia tightly and finally looked at me straight on: “Don’t blame Mia, I wanted to do this myself.” “I originally didn’t want to hurt you, so I put on a play to make you give up. Since you found out, I’ll just say it straight.” “Mia and I are getting married. You’ll give us your blessing, right?” “Mia is right. We’ve been together for ten years, the feelings are long gone. So why not set each other free?” Watching his increasingly self-righteous demeanor, my heart completely died. This scene made it seem as if I were the one who had done something wrong. Before I had time to speak, Arthur’s phone rang. He answered the phone for a moment, his face turning ugly, staring unblinkingly at me: “You didn’t get the abortion?” “Chloe, stop doing meaningless things. I don’t love you anymore, don’t bring a child into this world to suffer!” His cold words pierced my heart. I suddenly realized I didn’t know the man in front of me anymore. He was like a completely different person from the man who was so happy he couldn’t sleep when he found out I was pregnant. I swallowed all the pain, my red eyes instinctively wanting to escape this place. The next second, a heavy force struck my waist, and I fell hard to the ground. Behind me came Mia’s anxious voice: “Arthur, you can’t keep this child!” “Otherwise, what about the baby in my belly?” My lower abdomen slammed into the ground, the pain making my whole body tremble. Feeling a rush of warm fluid pooling beneath me, I instinctively reached out a hand to Arthur: “Arthur, our child—” However, he simply reached out to cover Mia’s eyes, saying in a low voice: “Don’t look, it’s dirty.” My brain felt like it had been struck by lightning. I looked at him in disbelief: “Dirty?” “Arthur, this is our child!” “What did I do wrong that you have to treat me like this?” The man frowned, looking down at me, the heartache in his eyes replaced by disappointment: “Chloe, you have the nerve to ask me what you did wrong?” “You lied to me for ten years. I really thought you were harmless, I didn’t expect you to be so vicious!” “Mia just liked me in high school, and you had someone strip her clothes and film a video to threaten her not to bother me!” “After graduating from college and returning to the country, she just coincidentally applied as an intern at my company, and you sent her to a business partner’s bed!” “What else is there that I don’t know!” “Yes, I admit that lying to you was my fault, but you’re no saint yourself!” I shook my head continuously, tears streaming down non-stop: “I didn’t, Arthur, I didn’t do anything.” “How can you doubt me? Don’t you know what kind of person I am?” Arthur stepped back two paces to avoid my touch, sneering: “Now I finally know what kind of person you are.” “Just like your mistress mother, your head is full of schemes and tricks. It makes me sick!” The blood in my body seemed to instantly freeze. My mind kept replaying the heartbroken look on his face when I told him about my family. He said, being born into such a family wasn’t my choice, I didn’t need to be sad. He said he would give me a normal family. He said I was wonderful. Memories and reality overlapped, and the immense impact made the blood beneath me flow even more heavily. Arthur simply put his arm around Mia and turned to leave: “Don’t drag Mia into your dirty business; she doesn’t know anything.” “Otherwise, I don’t mind telling people that you are a mistress’s daughter.” “After all, you care about your reputation the most, don’t you?” After saying that, he turned and left. No matter how much I cried and begged, he never looked back. Finally, my vision went black, and I passed out from the intense pain. When I opened my eyes again, my best friend, pale-faced, handed me her phone: “Chloe, you’re finally awake, look…” The moment I took the phone, my body felt like it had plunged into an ice cave. The video of Mia having her clothes stripped in high school, and the photos of her going in and out of a hotel with a business partner when she was an intern, had been posted online. Coincidentally catching the momentum of the previous video, she was being cursed out brutally. But Arthur, disregarding the reputation of the Vance Group, released a video using the company’s official account. In the video, Mia was crying hysterically, begging me to forgive her and let her go. And Arthur issued a statement: “Mia is my girlfriend. She has suffered a lot of undeserved harm, and all this harm was brought upon her by my ex-girlfriend, the very ‘poor, deceived woman’ you all talk about.” “Since things have come to this, I won’t hide it from everyone anymore. My ex-girlfriend is the child of a mistress, and therefore she harbors a deep hatred for mistresses. These actions in the video are all things she did because she mistakenly believed Mia was a mistress.” “Mia and I had absolutely no contact before I broke up with my ex-girlfriend. Everything happened after the breakup. She is not a mistress; she is my lover.” “As for the whistleblower, I am already investigating. If it was my ex-girlfriend, even if she has a mental illness, I will not let her get away with it.” “Chloe, I know you will see this video. Please behave yourself!” The last line directly exposed my name. All my social media accounts were flooded by completely biased netizens. They cursed me as a bully who deserved to be cheated on, cursed me as a misogynist who deserved to be a mistress’s daughter. My company also fired me directly, even threatening to hold me accountable for bringing negative reviews to the company. All of this was something I had never anticipated, and for a moment, I couldn’t even process it. My best friend was the first to slam the table in anger: “How could Arthur do this! He knows perfectly well that these things are your trauma, and he actually spoke about them for a Mia!” “And he threw dirty water on you! What bullying? We were inseparable in high school, how come I didn’t know?” “What business partner! Wasn’t I the one negotiating with the Vance Group that day? How come I don’t remember going in and out of a hotel with her? Where did these photos come from, just making up rumors!” “I’m so mad! You had a miscarriage because of him, and he still treats you like this!” “No, I have to go find him and settle the score right now!” Saying that, my best friend got up to go find Arthur. The next second, my phone rang. I pulled my best friend back, gathered my emotions, and calmly answered the phone. Arthur’s cold voice sounded: “You saw the video, right?” “There’s a lot of public outcry online now. I’ve arranged a press conference for you to publicly apologize to Mia and me.” “Otherwise, I don’t mind blacklisting you in the entire industry.” “Chloe, think clearly. You always have to pay the price for doing wrong.” I paused, and gave a self-deprecating laugh: “Pay the price for doing wrong? Then why aren’t you dead yet?” There was silence on the other end for a moment, followed by the man’s cold laughter: “Chloe, no matter how sharp-tongued you are, it’s useless in the face of the truth.” “Tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock. I’ll send you the address.” “Come over, apologize publicly, and give me and Mia your blessing, and this matter will end here.” The phone was abruptly hung up. I gripped the phone tightly for a long while, looked up to meet my best friend’s worried gaze, and smiled reassuringly: “It’s fine.” “I’ll handle it.” That night, I contacted the person I thought I would never contact again in this lifetime. The next day, I arrived as scheduled, walking in gracefully under everyone’s contemptuous gazes. The camera flashes were blinding, but I maintained a smile throughout. Arthur seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nodded to me in satisfaction. I walked up to the stage, took the microphone, and pressed the play button on the large screen. A mournful crying sound, identical to the video circulating online, played, and the audience erupted: “Isn’t this the video the whistleblower released? Is she beating a dead horse? Won’t Miss Mia be traumatized hearing this? How can Chloe be so vicious!” Arthur also tried to stop me with an ugly expression. I, however, let out a light laugh: “Traumatized? Why would she be traumatized?” As soon as I spoke, the crying in the audio abruptly stopped. What followed was the coquettish voice of a young Mia: “Alright, alright, that’s enough filming.” “Don’t tell anyone I staged this video, or I won’t let you sleep with me anymore!” The noisy venue instantly fell dead silent, all eyes turning to a deathly pale Mia. Arthur also turned pale, glaring fiercely at the dazed woman. “Mia, you actually staged this all along?!” The woman immediately reacted, anxiously grabbing Arthur’s arm and shaking her head continuously: “I didn’t, Arthur, you have to believe me. How could I stage my own video!” “It must be, it must be Chloe who can’t stand seeing us together and is deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us!” “She’s also the one who exposed me online! She’s deliberately spreading rumors at the press conference that I staged it. You can’t let her fool you!” Arthur frowned deeply, turned, and stared at me, his tone softening slightly: “Chloe, did you leak the videos and photos online?” “And what’s going on at the end of this audio today? Explain it to me.” I sneered twice and pressed the play button again. The footage from the audio was displayed. It was a steamy scene between a young Mia and some blonde punk. The reporters were stunned at first, then immediately raised their cameras, reporting while broadcasting live. Mia screamed and tried to snatch the remote from my hand. I dodged nimbly and smiled: “Since you say this is a video I fabricated myself, why are you so anxious?” Mia stomped her feet in anxiety and looked pleadingly at Arthur: “Arthur! Can I explain this to you later?” “There are so many people here now, and reporters broadcasting live. These videos cannot be aired! Otherwise, how can I show my face in the future!” Arthur didn’t speak; he just stared at me unblinkingly, his face full of shock. After the video finished playing, I laid out the evidence that the business partner negotiating with Mia that day was my best friend. At the same time, I displayed the IP address of the online whistleblower, which was located right at the Vance Group. As for who it was, one could easily guess. Then, I provided the source of this evidence— The top overseas hacker, Julian. Now the whole room was completely boiling over: “Julian?! Isn’t he the hacker that even Wall Street giants couldn’t poach!” “Oh my god, Chloe actually knows Julian! Then these documents must be real!” “Mia really messed with the wrong person. There’s nothing in this world Julian can’t find out!” Amidst the clamor, I had already completed my mission and prepared to leave. However, as I stepped down the stairs, I was forcefully grabbed by Arthur. A hint of anger colored his brow: “Chloe, you actually, you actually still have contact with Julian! How did you promise me back then?!” I frowned, gently shook off his hand, and spoke flatly: “Does it have anything to do with you?” “I’m your boyfriend! You promised me you wouldn’t contact him anymore!” Arthur blurted out. Looking completely justified. As if he forgot he didn’t hesitate to fake his own death to break up with me. I curled my lips into a mocking smile: “I’m sorry.” “My boyfriend is already dead, in a plane crash. Didn’t you know?” “Now, who I want to contact is entirely my own right.” Arthur’s face turned completely ashen. His lips trembled for a long time before he spoke with a shaky voice: “There was a reason for that, Chloe.” “You still have our child in your belly. You can’t let my child call another man ‘Dad’!” I threw off his hand in disgust, too lazy to say another word to him. A group of uniformed bodyguards charged through the doors and escorted me out. I heard sounds of shock behind me: “Aren’t those Julian’s personal bodyguards? Chloe really does know Julian!” “Oh my god, what a huge scoop, write it down, quick!” Mixed in with these discussions was a hint of Arthur’s voice, breaking down: “Chloe, if you really leave with Julian, we are completely over!” I paused my steps, then walked even faster. In my heart, the man I loved for ten years was already dead, dead in the plane crash. The current Arthur was just a stranger who shared his name and appearance. Getting into the car, I looked at Julian, whom I hadn’t seen in ten years, my heart filled with mixed emotions. After a long while, I said softly: “Thank you for helping me.” Julian instinctively grabbed a blanket to cover his disabled legs, still smiling gently at me: “I said, no matter what difficulties you have, I will help you, anytime.” “Don’t worry, Arthur’s retribution won’t end just like this. The information I have is enough to make him wish he were dead.” I nodded, feeling no ripples in my heart. I knew the information Julian could uncover was enough to damn Arthur beyond redemption. If it had been in the past, I would definitely have tried my hardest to stop him, not wanting him to hurt Arthur. But now, I just smiled and changed the subject: “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be a good assistant for you.” Julian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his handsome eyes shining even brighter: “I thought you would feel sorry for Arthur.” “After all, you liked him so much before, liking him enough to give up the opportunity to study in the US, just so you could be with him.” I paused, then gave a faint smile. Yes, in everyone’s eyes, Arthur was the one who sacrificed the most. Giving up a top domestic university for me to get a recommended spot at a school in Malaysia. But what he didn’t know was that I also sacrificed a lot. I sacrificed my language learning time to tutor him, and rejected a recommended spot at a top US university to go to Malaysia. These things were only known by Julian, who was also recommended for admission to the US at the time. He liked me, but he respected my choice. When Arthur and I were inseparable, he would always sit in his wheelchair, smiling gently as he watched us. I used to think it was a gaze of blessing, but looking back now, it was envy. Seeing I didn’t answer, Julian instinctively shrank back into his seat, trying to cover his legs. I proactively placed my hand on his leg, my voice very light but resolute: “I didn’t choose you back then not because of your disability, but simply because youthful infatuation has no logic.” “To avoid suspicion back then, I couldn’t tell you. Now I want to tell you, a physical disability is just a flaw in a precious jade, it doesn’t matter.” “After all, compared to a physical disability, your mind is very sound, and that’s something Arthur could never achieve.” The man lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling constantly. Finally, with forbearance and restraint, he gently brushed over my hand, his voice filled with relief: “I’m also very happy that you didn’t throw your whole life away because of these ten years.” “Let’s look forward together.” The car sped away, the afterglow of the setting sun falling upon us. We exchanged a smile, and neither of us brought up Arthur again.

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After giving birth, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ignoring my objections, she insisted on breastfeeding. This went on for ten years. For ten years, my nephew was constantly plagued by major and minor illnesses. From coughing and fevers to severe festering and oozing sores all over his body. Miraculously, her breast cancer gradually healed. Until my nephew was ten, multiple organs failed, and he died despite emergency medical efforts. In the morgue. My sister-in-law said nonchalantly, “Raising him for ten years, I’ve fulfilled my duty as a mother. It’s just that the child had no fortune, dying early is a release.” The next day, my sister-in-law suddenly barged into my home and threw a paternity test in front of me. Holding my son, she cried bitterly, “Back at the hospital, the nurse mixed up the names. Kiki is my biological child!” She kowtowed to me, thanking me for the kindness of raising her child for ten years, and then tried to take him away. Later, I investigated and found out she did it intentionally. She found a folk remedy that required someone to suck out the pus long-term for her breast cancer to heal. And the one she chose was my son. I went to her for an explanation but was pushed to my death by her design. “Blame yourself for being stupid, not even recognizing your own son.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back ten years ago. The first thing I did was entrust my child to my own parents. But the next day, my sister-in-law still appeared holding a baby, insisting on breastfeeding. … “Blame yourself for being stupid, not even recognizing your own son.” Before plunging into darkness, my sister-in-law Mary’s shrill voice still echoed in my ears. I wished I could tear her apart bone by bone, skin her alive, but I could only watch helplessly as I fell into a pool of blood. The next second, countless images flashed by, pulling me out of the darkness. “Honey, Mary said her postpartum care center has a two-person group discount, it’s a great deal. How about we just book it with her?” “I’ve been there, the environment, food, and landscaping are all exceptionally well done. When you guys have your babies, you can look out for each other.” My husband’s words sent a cold sweat down my spine. I instinctively glanced at the calendar on the wall. Thank God, I was actually sent back ten years. In my previous life, right before my due date, Mary suddenly visited. Dropping her usual arrogance, she warmly took my hand and chatted about the two-person group discount at the postpartum care center. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I just thought since we were both about to become mothers, it brought us closer, so I agreed. Looking back now, she probably had already been diagnosed with cancer and planned to use my son’s life to cure her disease! I forced myself to calm down and discussed it with my husband: “Last time at the prenatal checkup, the doctor said my baby was in a breech position, and it’s best to be hospitalized early for observation. Having a baby is a huge deal for a woman, and I’m a bit anxious. I want my mom to come and accompany me during the birth. No matter how good the postpartum care center is, it’s not as reassuring as having my own mother by my side.” I knew my husband also cared about me. He was afraid that as a man, he wouldn’t be able to take good care of me, so he wanted to book the postpartum center to make me more comfortable after giving birth. Thinking of how, in my previous life, his hair turned half white from running around gathering evidence to sue Mary’s family after learning the truth, my eyes welled up with tears. Seeing me like this, his heart ached for me, and he quickly agreed. “Okay, okay, don’t be sad. Let’s just have your mom come. I was originally worried about your mom traveling at her age, but since you’ve decided, we’ll give her a big red envelope.” After calming my emotions, he immediately called my mom. After getting her confirmation, he called Mary back. “Mary, something came up at home, let’s forget about the postpartum care center.” I didn’t know what was said on the other end, but my husband’s brow furrowed, tinged with a bit of anger. “At the time, I only said I’d go home and discuss it with Chloe. What do you mean by going back on my word? Chloe giving birth is a big deal, it’s not your place to dictate.” With that, he hung up the phone. He looked at me and let out a long sigh. “Good thing you didn’t agree. Look at how she reacted like a dog getting its tail stepped on, probably plotting something bad again.” She was definitely plotting for my child’s life. And I knew Mary wouldn’t give up so easily. For now, all we could do was be on guard everywhere. Early the next morning, while still asleep, I heard urgent ringing of the doorbell. Woken up like this, I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I followed my husband to the door. As soon as he opened it, Mary and my brother-in-law stood there, holding two bags of slightly wrinkled, cheap apples. Before we could react, they squeezed themselves into the living room and sat down. My husband was about to ask questions with a cold face, but I stopped him. “Let’s hear what they’re here for first, otherwise we won’t be able to guard against whatever underhanded tricks they try later.” My husband nodded and went to the kitchen to pour water. Mary still wore that hypocritical smile, trying to take my hand as she spoke, which I subtly avoided. “Chloe, yesterday Mary spoke a bit harshly, pregnancy hormones got the better of my emotions, don’t take it to heart.” “I heard from your brother-in-law that you need to be hospitalized early due to a breech baby. As your sister-in-law, I couldn’t help but worry, so I had your brother-in-law book a double room for us. We can still have our babies together!” Chapter 2 Hearing this, my heart plummeted. My voice tightened as I quickly said, “Mary, my mom is coming to be with me during the delivery. Mark and I have already agreed to book a double room so my mom can sleep in the other bed.” Mary waved her hand dismissively, disagreeing, “How can we let your mom sleep in the hospital at her age? That’s suffering! I’ll have your brother-in-law book a hotel room near the hospital for her. She can stay as long as she wants.” My brother-in-law quickly nodded in agreement. “Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’ll definitely arrange everything for your mom.” Hearing her say this, the unease in my heart grew stronger. “No need…” I wanted to say more, but she cut me off. A glint flashed in Mary’s eyes as she said with a dark expression, “Chloe, what do you mean by this? Declining again and again, do you not want to have our babies together?” “Other families want everyone to be harmonious. Two people having babies together is such a great thing, a blessing others beg for. If you don’t agree today, you must look down on me. You don’t need to call me Mary anymore!” Mary’s words practically forced my hand. If I didn’t agree, I’d be accused of destroying family harmony. At this moment, my husband walked out carrying water. He immediately sensed the tense atmosphere in the living room and quickly sat beside me to ask what was going on. With Mary’s barrage of arguments, it was indeed hard to find a reason to refuse. My husband carefully asked me, “Why don’t we just agree? Otherwise, if this goes to my mom, it’ll be another huge mess.” I sighed helplessly. My mother-in-law played favorites. If it really went to her, we’d definitely be the ones to compromise, and we’d still have to spend effort placating them before sending them off. For now, we could only agree and think of another way to break the deadlock later. “Then let’s listen to Mary. We’ll arrange things for my mom ourselves.” Mary’s face instantly bloomed into a smile, unable to hide her excitement. No matter how I looked at it, I felt she must be thinking she had caught a lifeline. “Then it’s settled.” “I see you haven’t gained much weight during this pregnancy, you definitely won’t have much milk. I can help feed the baby then. A child who grows up drinking my milk will definitely be closer to me later on.” I gave a perfunctory smile, feeling utterly disgusted inside. Thinking of the unrecognizable child I saw in the morgue in my past life, a sharp pain shot through my heart. I couldn’t help but touch my belly and silently vow. “Mommy will definitely protect you and won’t let you go through that kind of pain again.” After sending off my brother-in-law and Mary, I threw the apples on the table into the trash can, quickly pulled my husband to sit down, and said seriously: “After I give birth, don’t worry about me. You must keep a close eye on the baby. If you have to step away, my mom must watch him. Do not leave the baby’s side for a single step.” My husband was confused but still readily agreed. “Okay, I’ll listen to you.” Time flew by, and it was the day of admission, two weeks later. I was three days away from giving birth. My husband went to the station to pick up my mom, leaving only Mary and me in the hospital room. Her eyes flickered as she sat on my bed, chatting casually as if it were nothing. “Chloe, you’re almost due. Have you thought of a name for the baby yet?” I was immediately on high alert. She had asked me this in my past life too, and I had told her without thinking much of it. Remembering the day I gave birth in my past life, there were eight babies born in the hospital, yet Mary was able to accurately swap my child. It was hard not to overthink it. “Haven’t thought of one yet. I want to wait until the baby is born and find a master to calculate a good name.” “What era is this to still believe in superstition? It’s just a name, just a way to address someone.” I couldn’t hold back and retorted, “How is this the same? Didn’t you also go to the police station to change your name from Mary Farmer to Mary Gentle?” Chapter 3 Being told off by me like this, the smile hanging on her face instantly froze, and she didn’t continue the topic. A while later, my mom was brought to the hospital. The moment we met, all my feelings of grievance and bitterness flooded back. I hugged her and wailed loudly. Seeing me like this, my mom’s heart ached terribly: “My sweet girl, what’s wrong? Is the pregnancy making you uncomfortable? Don’t be afraid, Mom is here.” In my past life, I was busy with work, taking care of the family, and later seeking justice for my child after the incident. I didn’t even know my mom was bedridden with a severe illness. I don’t even know how heartbroken she must have been after I died. After crying, I used the excuse of wanting to catch up with my mom to book a private room at a restaurant near the hospital. After taking our seats, my tense nerves finally relaxed. “Mom, I suspect Mary wants to swap my baby.” Upon hearing this, my mom turned pale with shock. She finally understood why her usually independent daughter insisted on having her come this time. “Your sister-in-law has targeted you everywhere these past few years and never gave you a good look. I was wondering when I arrived today why she’d be so kind as to want to share a room with you. So this was her plan.” Saying this, she paused, then asked, “Why does she want to swap babies?” My face was calm, but my tone was laced with hatred: “She has breast cancer, already in the mid-to-late stages. I don’t know where she found some folk remedy, but she wants to swap my baby to help her suck out the unclean things. She wants to swap my baby simply because we’re giving birth at the same time, so after swapping, she can still have her biological child living right under her nose.” My mom trembled with anger and spat several times: “This black-hearted, rotten-gutted thing, completely devoid of morality.” “Does your husband know about this?” I shook my head. If my husband knew, he would definitely be guarded everywhere. Mary is shrewd; if she noticed, she might pull some underhanded tricks behind our backs that we wouldn’t see coming, making it even harder to defend against. “Don’t worry, Mom won’t go anywhere when the time comes. I will definitely keep a close eye on the baby.” During these three days, my mom didn’t leave my side, which put my mind at ease considerably. At night, I suddenly felt labor pains, and my mom quickly called the nurse. Seeing this, a look of pleasant surprise erupted in Mary’s eyes, as if she had seen the dawn of hope. She hurriedly called my brother-in-law over too. “Quick, tell the nurse to give me labor-inducing shots. I want to give birth together with my sister-in-law, a double blessing!” Hearing her say this, I started feeling anxious again. My mom held my hand tightly. She patted me gently to comfort me: “It’s okay, Mom is here.” Soon, I was pushed into the delivery room. My mom applied to accompany me in the delivery room. As the pain grew stronger, it felt like it was going to tear me in half. By the time I heard the baby’s cry, I was exhausted and passed out. When I woke up again, I saw the familiar white ceiling. Mary, having forced induction like in the past life, hadn’t come out of the delivery room yet. I quickly grabbed my husband, who was wiping my sweat, and asked, “Where’s the baby?” “Mom took the baby to get registered.” Unable to see the baby, I couldn’t rest for a moment, and quickly pushed him. “Go help Mom finish the paperwork and bring the baby over for me to see.” Ten minutes later, my mom finally returned holding the baby. Seeing the birthmark behind his ear, I let out a sigh of relief. It was my baby, no mistake. Looking at the fragrant, soft little bundle in my arms, I almost cried. The gloom of lying in the cold morgue in my past life was finally dispelled at this moment. Two hours later, Mary was also wheeled back into the room. As soon as she saw the baby in my arms, she quickly sat up and said: “Chloe, quickly bring your baby over for me to see.” My mom quickly took the baby in her arms, slapped her forehead, and said, “I almost forgot, the nurse just notified me to take the baby to get jaundice phototherapy.” With that, she hurried away. Mary’s face instantly looked a bit unpleasant, but she didn’t say much and turned around to sleep. In the middle of the night, I woke up groggily. It was already midnight. I turned my head and saw Mary’s bed was empty, and she wasn’t in the bathroom. My mom stayed at a hotel near the hospital at night; she didn’t stay in the hospital overnight. My husband was also not in the hospital because he went home to pack baby supplies. A sense of unease immediately washed over me. I quickly got out of bed. After opening the door, I saw my brother-in-law supporting Mary as they walked back from the direction of the neonatal incubator room. I caught every word of their conversation. Mary’s tone carried the excitement of getting what she wanted: “Long nights bring many dreams. Tomorrow we must quickly complete the discharge procedures and take the child home first. My illness can’t be delayed any longer.” “Don’t worry, honey. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll pack our things and take you to my mom’s place. With her watching the baby, everything will be fine.” My heart instantly went half cold, my legs so weak I could barely stand. Why did I guard against everything, yet still fail to prevent this? Is heaven’s will truly unavoidable? The anger pent up in my heart could no longer be contained. Just as I was about to rush out, I heard her say again: “That damn old woman, perfectly good hotel room but won’t stay in it, guarding the baby in the middle of the night instead. She made it impossible for us to make a move. I don’t know whose baby we randomly swapped for. What are their family conditions like? I can’t let my child go suffer in their home.” Chapter 4 When I got up in the morning, I saw my brother-in-law packing their bags. Mary sat on the bed feeding the baby in her arms, and the milk was clearly not a normal color. Seeing this scene, I couldn’t help but frown. Even though I knew the baby in her arms wasn’t mine, it was still an innocent life. I really couldn’t just ignore it. “Mary, does your chest still hurt? Maybe you should ask the doctor before breastfeeding?” Mary dropped her recent enthusiasm, her tone carrying a hint of displeasure. “Is it your place to tell me how to feed my own child?” I was speechless and didn’t say more. Not long after, they packed their things and left. My husband happened to return from buying breakfast. Seeing the empty bed, he asked, “Mary and her husband have already been discharged? Didn’t they say it’s best to stay for seven days?” I pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed and told him everything that happened last night, as well as Mary’s illness and her plan to use my son’s life. “She’s rushing to be discharged now, probably afraid that the longer she waits, the more problems might arise.” My husband trembled with anger, his voice shaking involuntarily: “How could they do something so insane? No wonder you’ve been avoiding her lately. So you knew they had this plan.” “We can’t just watch someone else’s child be ruined either.” My thoughts were exactly the same as my husband’s. I leaned close to his ear and explained the plan in my head. Following my plan, my husband went to the nurse’s station. “That gold chain was still on my baby’s ankle in the incubator room yesterday. It was a gift from an elder and holds special meaning for the child. Could you please check the surveillance footage and help us look for it?” My husband’s tone was sincere. The nurses didn’t make things difficult and quickly pulled up the footage. The video fast-forwarded to midnight. Two figures abruptly appeared on the screen. I feigned confusion and asked, “Why do these two people look so much like my brother-in-law and Mary?” The nurse frowned, her expression turning unpleasant. “So those are your brother-in-law and Mary. Those two threw a fit last night insisting on going in to see the baby, threatening to complain about me if I didn’t let them. It was late, and I didn’t want to disturb the other resting mothers, so I let them in. They stayed inside for a bit and then came out.” “This morning they were in such a hurry to be discharged. Could your chain have been picked up by them?” I didn’t speak, my eyes fixed on the screen. The nurse suddenly gasped and stood up in a panic. “Wait, why did they swap the babies’ positions? Those spots are assigned with bed numbers, you can’t just swap them! The baby they discharged with this morning is the one from the next room!” The nurse had no time to care about our missing chain. She quickly ran to the nursing station to make a call. My husband’s eyes darkened. Even though I had told him about Mary wanting to swap babies, seeing it with his own eyes finally made it feel real. His older brother and Mary actually committed such a heinous act. That was a fresh, living life! Thinking of this, my husband immediately took out his phone to call his brother and confront him. But I pressed his hand down. “The bed next door is a single room. The patient is the wife of the city’s police chief. If you notify your brother now, when things blow up, they will definitely hold a grudge against us. We can’t avoid seeing family during holidays. What if they try to harm our child behind our backs? Let the family handle it according to the law.” In my past life, I searched everywhere for evidence, running to the hospital every day, memorizing every pregnant woman who gave birth that day. The day I died, I had just received confirmation from the chief’s wife that she would help. If I could save her child’s life in this life, it would be considered repaying her kindness. A hint of hesitation flashed in my husband’s eyes. This was his biological brother, after all. But if we hadn’t found out, the victim today would have been his own child. Thinking of this, he finally nodded and agreed. Chapter 5 Things progressed quickly. The day they were discharged, the two took the baby on a high-speed train, then a bus, all the way to the countryside. When they were found, the baby was crying heart-wrenchingly on the heated brick bed with a high fever, his body showing unnatural bruising. This place was my husband’s family’s long-abandoned old house. Besides a few eighty-year-old elderly people with mobility issues, even my mother-in-law had moved away long ago. I didn’t expect them to hide in such a place. My husband and I stood far away outside the village. The police soon came out with the baby. Mary chased after them, wailing loudly. “This is my baby, what right do you have to take him away? I’m going to sue you!” The police officer looked straight at her, his tone stern and cold: “A paternity test will prove whether he’s your child or not. We have the video of you intentionally swapping babies at the hospital. Do you even know whose child you swapped?” “This is the child of our police chief. The evidence is solid. Do you know you are a suspect for child trafficking?” Hearing this, Mary immediately shut up. Panic flashed in her eyes, and her body went limp as she slumped to the ground. “I just accidentally picked up the wrong baby. It’s not that serious. At worst, I’ll just swap them back.” “I haven’t even finished my postpartum confinement yet. If you scare me like this and something happens to me, can you take responsibility?” Seeing her act tough but cowardly inside, a flash of disgust crossed the police officer’s eyes. “Whether you picked up the wrong one or not, we’ll know once you come back to the station with us!” With that, Mary was dragged and pulled into the police car. At the police station. We delayed for a while before arriving. As soon as Mary saw us, she immediately pointed at me and shouted, “I didn’t intentionally take your chief’s child. I originally planned to take my sister-in-law’s. Release me, this is all a misunderstanding!” I laughed out of sheer anger. So my child deserves it, is that it? Seeing I didn’t speak, Mary quickly grabbed me and yelled, “Say something! Didn’t we agree to swap children and raise them for a while? I just accidentally took the wrong one, right?” She blinked at me, trying to get me to play along with her scam. I coldly retorted. “Mary, perjury is punishable by jail time. I can’t jump into this fire pit. You better tell the truth.” Mary’s eyes widened, not expecting me to refuse to buy her story at all. Angered, she argued unreasonably, “Everything I said is the truth. Mom can testify for me.” Just as she was speaking, my brother-in-law rushed in with my mother-in-law. Upon seeing me, my mother-in-law charged at me without a word, raising her hand and slapping me fiercely across the face. A clear handprint immediately appeared on my face, red, swollen, and numb. A metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. She cursed loudly, “Are you trying to kill your sister-in-law? You jinx! Your sister-in-law treated you so well. She knew you were pregnant and wanted to take care of you, and this is how you repay her!” My husband pulled me behind him protectively, angrily saying, “Mom, Mary is the one who did something wrong, why are you hitting Chloe?” My mother-in-law spat. “Ever since this little bitch married into our family, there hasn’t been a single day of peace.” She turned to the police, acting arrogant, “This is a family matter. We indeed agreed to swap babies for a while, but there was a misunderstanding. Can you release my daughter-in-law now?” The police officer, with a dark face, said coldly, “This is a police station, not a wet market for you to haggle. Everything requires evidence. The child your daughter-in-law took is currently lying in the hospital. You better ask her what she did to the baby first.” Guilty, Mary took a step back, her face turning red and white. She argued, “The temperature in the countryside is low, the baby just caught a cold. It’s nothing serious.” Her eyes darted around, and she immediately lay down on the floor, clutching her chest and crying in pain. “I’m a sick person. Keeping me locked up here delays my treatment. You’re committing murder!” My brother-in-law also reacted and hurriedly pulled medical records from his pocket. “That’s right, my wife has cancer. What if you delay her treatment by keeping her locked up here!”

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I was pregnant with twins, and my sugar daddy of six years told me he was finally going to give me a title. When he proposed, asking if I would marry him, I was just about to say yes when two tiny, childish voices echoed out of nowhere: 【Mommy, don’t say yes! My daddy isn’t Liam Hayes!】 【The baby in your sister’s belly is Liam’s!】 Those two short sentences completely fried my brain… The entire venue was waiting for my answer, but I stood frozen on the spot. If the babies in my belly weren’t Liam’s, then whose were they? The next second, the little milky voices piped up again. 【Silly Mommy, that scumbag has been hooking up with your sister for a long time. If you marry him, he’s going to sell you to human traffickers in international waters!】 【Hurry, ask my dad for help! He’s the one off stage wearing the black suit and the Buddhist amulet!】 I was shocked, my gaze involuntarily drifting toward the man sitting at the main table, radiating a lethal, chilling aura—the underground arms king of New York, Arthur Vance. … Even though today was my wedding to Liam, everyone’s attention couldn’t help but gravitate toward him. This man exuded an intimidating “keep away” aura, casually playing with a blood-red Buddhist amulet in his hand. His eyes were sharp as a hawk’s. I glanced at him and accidentally met his icy stare. I immediately looked away, my heart pounding in terror: My sweet babies, do you know who he is? The Arthur Vance, who controls half the arms trade in North America, has never had a woman by his side. How could you possibly be his kids? Even if Liam is just a mid-level boss, you can’t just maliciously frame someone else and refuse to acknowledge your own father! Be good, accept reality. It’s too late to pick a new dad on the spot. Try again in your next life. I tried to comfort the little dumplings, thinking they were just rejecting Liam because his gang was too small-time. But I didn’t expect the tiny voices to scream in protest: 【Did you forget about the time you woke up in the VIP suite of that casino?!】 【Your fiancé and your sister tricked you into going to the casino, planning to use you to pay off a gambling debt. But you went into the wrong room…】 【The man lying next to you that night was Arthur Vance!】 I gasped in shock: That was Arthur? I thought it was Liam… Memories flooded back like a tidal wave. The late night, my back covered in hickeys, limbs intertwined. The air thick with the smell of gunpowder and cigars. Liam was still looking at me tenderly, but all I could see was the sweat and suppressed panting of Arthur from that night. He had handcuffed my wrists to the headboard as he took what he wanted. The legendary, terrifying arms dealer was shockingly ferocious in private. Seeing my lack of response, the officiant repeated, “Ms. Chloe Jenkins, do you take Mr. Liam Hayes to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Liam squeezed my hand, looking concerned. “What’s wrong, Chloe? Are you not mentally prepared yet?” He gently scratched my palm to soothe me: “Don’t be afraid. Once you marry into the Hayes family, I’ll make sure you enjoy endless wealth and luxury.” 【Don’t believe him! He has a hidden dungeon in a warehouse by the docks specifically for locking up disobedient women!】 I shuddered in terror and immediately shouted at the top of my lungs, “I do not!” The moment I spoke, the entire hall erupted in an uproar. The Hayes family was a decently powerful syndicate in the city. No one expected me to publicly reject Liam. Especially since I had been Liam’s submissive mistress for six years. Everyone called the eldest daughter of the Jenkins family a notorious gold digger. Now that I was finally getting “promoted” to wife, I was actually turning down this golden opportunity. Liam’s face instantly darkened. He clearly hadn’t anticipated I would reject him at our own wedding. “Chloe, stop fooling around. This is our wedding! If you have a problem with me, we can talk about it after…” 【If you wait until after the wedding, it’ll be too late! My real dad is about to take his private jet to Mexico for a business deal!】 【Mom! Time waits for no one! Hurry up and kick this scumbag to the curb! Go grab onto the thigh of my ruthless, billionaire dad!】 “I’m not marrying you!” I answered firmly. My own flesh and blood wouldn’t lie to me. If they said Liam was a scumbag, then I absolutely could not marry him! Right then, my younger sister walked onto the stage, her belly slightly protruding, and stood next to Liam. “Sister, what kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Hasn’t Liam already agreed to marry you?” It wasn’t until she got close that I noticed the diamond necklace she was wearing was from the exact same collection as my wedding ring. Comparing the quality, my ring looked like a cheap knockoff from a street vendor. In a flash, I understood everything. The baby in my belly was nothing but a pawn in a scheme she and Liam had planned long ago. As an adopted daughter, she didn’t have the status to be Mrs. Hayes. And I was merely the stepping stone for her to climb the ranks. My parents stood up and furiously berated me: “Chloe! Haven’t you embarrassed the Jenkins family enough? Do you think you can just ruin a wedding on a whim?!” “You were the one crying and begging to be with Liam back then, and now you’re backing out at the altar! Do you think marriage is a game?! Why can’t you be sensible like your sister, Mia?!” “You are marrying him today whether you want to or not!” 2 No one expected the wedding to turn into a farce. The guests were whispering amongst themselves, eager to watch me make a fool of myself. “This Jenkins girl really has no sense. She threw herself at the Hayes heir for six years, and now that she’s finally becoming the wife, she backs out? The whole underworld is waiting to see her thrown into the ocean!” “The adopted daughter is so much more sensible. She knows her place, found herself a rich backer, and is living a comfortable, secure life.” “The Jenkins family is so unlucky, giving birth to such an ungrateful biological daughter.” Hearing the malicious gossip, I realized my reputation in the city was already completely ruined. Yet, I used to be the elegant, well-educated heiress of the Jenkins family. It seemed that ever since my adopted sister, Mia, entered our home, my status began to plummet, and the attitudes of my parents and Liam slowly changed. Liam grabbed my hand directly, ignoring my words, and announced to the crowd, “Chloe is just throwing a little tantrum. Please forgive her. She has agreed to marry me, and I am willing to take her as my wife.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mia clenching her fists. I took a deep breath and violently shook off Liam’s hand: “I said I’m not marrying you, and I mean it! I already know about the dirty secrets between you and my sister! The baby in her belly is yours, isn’t it, Liam?” Those words hit the banquet hall like a bombshell. 【Great job! Mom! Tear off the hypocritical masks of this cheating couple!】 【Your adopted sister has been spreading rumors about you non-stop. Your reputation is ruined entirely because of her!】 The little dumpling, thriving on the chaos, cheered excitedly in my belly. “What nonsense are you talking about?!” Mia covered her mouth, looking pitiful and wronged. “Sister, it’s bad enough you bully me normally, but why would you falsely accuse me of something so huge in public?!” “How could you use my baby as an excuse to run away from your wedding?” Hearing her words, Liam’s expression shifted from guilty to composed. He said righteously, “Chloe, you’re crossing the line! Even if you don’t want to get married, you shouldn’t slander me and your sister!” My parents looked at me with immense disappointment, their faces twisted in anger: “Are you out of your mind?! Humiliating your sister and fiancé in public? How did the Jenkins family raise such a daughter?!” “Do you realize your words have turned us into the laughingstock of the city?!” The guests below were almost laughing out loud: “This is too good. This Jenkins heiress is truly trashy, spreading rumors about her own sugar daddy and sister in public!” I ripped off my veil, threw it on the ground, and turned to leave, but several heavily tattooed thugs immediately blocked the exit. Taking advantage of my momentary shock, Liam grabbed my wrist, intending to force me through the rest of the ceremony. His voice was squeezed through his teeth, his usually gentle demeanor now incredibly ferocious: “Once you become Mrs. Hayes, you’ll never have the right to be this willful again!” The eyes of the people around me were filled with mockery and ridicule. Not a single person respected my wishes. For the first time, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head, waking me up. My situation was this dire. I had been used as a pawn by my adopted sister and my supposed backer for their own interests. The little dumpling yelled anxiously: 【As soon as this wedding ceremony is over, your husband will find an excuse to lock you up in the dock warehouse!】 【The black SUVs are already lined up at the door. The second you walk out, you’ll be tied up!】 【Mom, hurry up and ask my real dad for help!】 Arthur? I looked toward where he had been sitting, only to find him standing up, leading two bodyguards in black suits toward the exit. 【Oh no, my dad is taking a helicopter to Mexico!】 This might be my last lifeline! In a moment of desperation, I bit down hard on the webbing between Liam’s thumb and index finger. He yelled in pain and let go. I turned, bolted, and threw myself toward Arthur. The bodyguards ran to intercept me, but I directly flipped over a display table, sending a towering pyramid of red wine glasses crashing to the floor. The long train of my wedding dress wove through the chaotic crowd. People screamed, and the venue dissolved into total mayhem. Ignoring everything, I dragged my wedding dress and sprinted straight for Arthur. His bodyguards didn’t react in time. Hearing the commotion, Arthur turned around, and I crashed directly into his chest. “Take me away, please!” Arthur’s face was obscured by the backlight. The next second, I was shoved away violently. He brushed off his suit as if he had touched something filthy, looking at me with sheer disgust: “Get lost. Didn’t you know I absolutely loathe women getting close to me?” 【So fake! Don’t believe him, he’s just acting tough right now. Once my dad falls in love with you, he’ll turn into a totally devoted puppy!】 Arthur turned to leave again. I desperately grabbed the cuff of his trousers, refusing to let him go. Footsteps rushed up from behind. Liam and his bodyguards caught up and pinned me down. My parents looked at Arthur’s barely suppressed anger with terror in their eyes: “We’re so sorry, Mr. Vance! My daughter is mentally unstable and offended you. We will personally visit your estate to offer a formal apology!” Liam also chimed in, his expression subservient: “Mr. Vance, it’s my fault for not keeping my woman in check. I will discipline her properly when we get back. Please, be magnanimous and forgive us!” Mia, however, looked at Arthur with absolute infatuation. This was the man almost every woman in the city both feared and desired. Arthur didn’t reply. He looked down at my hand gripping his trouser leg. Mia also noticed and raised her high heel, stomping down hard on the back of my hand. “Sister, how could you offend Mr. Vance? Let go, now!” I screamed in pain. Arthur took the opportunity to pull his leg free and strode away coldly. Seeing his back about to disappear, I yelled at him in panic: “Arthur! The babies in my belly are yours!” 3 Arthur stopped abruptly. The atmosphere descended into an eerie silence. The guests in the banquet hall stared at me. Their eyes were no longer mocking, but looking at me like I was already a corpse. Mia, not expecting me to drag Arthur into this, looked at me with unconcealed schadenfreude. She whispered in my ear, “Sister, trying to climb the social ladder? You picked the wrong target.” “Arthur Vance isn’t a man you can just attach yourself to.” She was right. Everyone knew Arthur avoided women and despised physical contact. The blood-red Buddhist amulet in his hand was the symbol of his ruthless, lethal decisiveness. The last woman who approached him with ulterior motives was thrown into international waters to feed the fish. “Is this woman asking for a death wish? I thought she was just cheap, but she’s actually insane. No one who crossed Mr. Vance has ever lived to tell the tale in one piece…” The crowd held its breath, waiting for Arthur to erupt. As expected, Arthur turned around. His lips were pressed in a tight, freezing line. His cold eyes stared at me like I was dead. He rubbed the amulet in his hand and said coldly, “My children? Heh, Ms. Jenkins, you really are bold.” “There isn’t a single person in this city bold enough to stand in front of me with a pregnant belly and fake a claim. I’ve heard of your reputation, but have you really sunk so low that you’d try to pawn your kid off on another man at your own wedding?” The amulet flipped through his fingers, striking a rhythmic beat against the silence. It was a sign that Arthur was about to unleash his wrath. Liam quickly grabbed my head and forced it to the floor, apologizing to Arthur while forcing me to kowtow: “I’m so sorry, Mr. Vance! She’s truly out of her mind. Please, just spare her this once!” “Apologize to Mr. Vance right now, hurry!” Seeing Liam completely unbothered by my claim that the child wasn’t his, I knew he was well aware that I wasn’t carrying his baby. He just wanted to control me, so he could openly carry on his affair with Mia later. 【Mom, don’t be afraid! As long as there’s evidence that we’re his kids, he won’t abandon you!】 【Once you have the Vance family backing you up, everyone who bullied you will get their karma!】 Evidence? I smiled bitterly. Where was I going to get evidence? I didn’t even know Arthur as a person. My parents rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face twice, screaming, “Apologize to Mr. Vance immediately! Are you trying to get the entire Jenkins family killed?!” Arthur looked down at me from his towering height. I looked as pathetic as a maggot in the dirt. The intoxicating memories of that night felt as unreal as an illusion. Suddenly, remembering something, I looked up at Arthur and said calmly, “Mr. Vance, I saw the gunshot wound on the side of your waist.” As soon as the words left my mouth, Arthur froze. Though his expression didn’t change, his eyes were filled with shock. The gunshot wound on his waist was from a violent gang war in his early years. It was in a hidden location; no one knew about it unless they were incredibly intimate with him. The rest of the hall exchanged confused glances, not understanding what I was talking about. But Mia was smart and quickly interrupted: “Sister, everyone in the underworld has a gunshot wound. How can you use such a boring piece of evidence to prove you have a relationship with Mr. Vance? Do you know how many women have tried similar tricks over the years?” “If you really want to prove the seeds in your belly belong to Mr. Vance, why don’t we just do a paternity test?” Mia looked immensely smug. She didn’t believe for a second that I actually had any involvement with Arthur. After all, how could an unremarkable Jenkins daughter possibly get involved with the city’s arms king? Even his presence at this wedding today was only secured after Liam pulled massive strings, offering up a significant amount of weapons and territory. The people around me agreed: “Yeah! Do a paternity test! Slap this woman right in the face!” “Who does she think she is, trying to claim ties with Mr. Vance? And claiming the baby is his at her own wedding? What a shameless slut!” “She was yelling so confidently, let’s do the test and expose her ugly face personally! Let’s make sure she can never show her face in this city again!” Arthur’s eyes were dark and unreadable. Then, he nodded, giving me a chance. “Fine, let’s do a paternity test. I’ll make sure you die knowing exactly why.” 【Mom, you’re a badass! I finally get to see my dad’s face get slapped, hahaha!】 【Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to handle him. By the time he falls in love with you, you’ll have a perfectly obedient, loyal puppy!】 The farce at the wedding quickly became the talk of the town. Old Mr. Vance, Arthur’s father, heard the news and rushed to the scene. Seeing my blood being drawn by a private doctor, he stood to the side, unable to hide his joyous expression. “Wonderful. To think I’d get to hold my grandchildren while I’m still alive.” Arthur sneered. “When she’s exposed in a few minutes, I hope she can still walk out of here in one piece.” I closed my eyes, letting the blood drain from my body. My parents stood by in terror, deeply afraid I would implicate the Jenkins family. Liam’s face was as dark as ink. At his wedding, his woman was getting a paternity test for another man’s children. Even if that man was Arthur Vance, he felt a crushing sense of humiliation. 【Thank god Mom didn’t marry this Hayes guy! He’s plotting how to deal with you as soon as the wedding is over!】 【Wuuuwuuu, drawing blood hurts so much, but for Mom’s happiness, I’ll endure it!】 At this moment, my body was covered in bruises. Drawing blood made me so weak I could barely stand. I leaned on the comfort of the little dumpling’s voice to keep waiting for the results. The guests sized me up with mocking eyes. They were all waiting to see Arthur punish me ruthlessly. No one believed that Arthur, who abstained from women, could possibly have a child. I also realized that if the babies weren’t Arthur’s, I would face absolute annihilation. Finally, hurried footsteps echoed outside the door. Arthur’s personal subordinate rushed in nervously, holding a report, and whispered into Arthur’s ear. Arthur’s cold expression was instantly replaced with absolute shock. Old Mr. Vance impatiently tapped his cane on the floor: “What are you whispering about? Are they my biological grandchildren or not? Spit it out!” Mia covered her mouth and giggled nearby. “Is there even a need to say it? How could it be the Vance family’s flesh and blood? It’s all my sister’s lies…” The subordinate wiped the sweat from his forehead and announced loudly: “The genetic similarity between Ms. Jenkins’s children and Mr. Vance is 99.99%!” 4 The room was silent for a moment before exploding into a frenzy of discussion. Everyone stared at me in sheer disbelief: “How is that possible?! A girl from such a small family, how could she get pregnant with Mr. Vance’s child?” The Buddhist amulet in Arthur’s hand was suddenly squeezed tight. He frowned: “I don’t even know this woman, how could…” But the paternity report, and the gunshot wound on his waist, proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the bride standing in front of him was indeed his woman. He suddenly remembered a night three months ago. After finishing an arms deal at a casino, he was ambushed, drugged, and ultimately passed out in a VIP suite. That night was a haze. He was consumed by lust and unable to pull himself out. When he woke up, he thought it was just a dream. He never expected it to be reality. “Sister, you are truly shameless!” Mia jumped out again. When she first heard that the babies in my belly were Arthur’s, the mask had slipped for a second, revealing intense jealousy. But seeing Arthur completely refuse to acknowledge me, she regained her smugness. “You cheated on Liam behind his back, and then shamelessly climbed into Mr. Vance’s bed! You’re too manipulative! You’ve played us all for fools!” “The virtuous and elegant image of the Jenkins family has been completely destroyed by you! I can’t believe we produced such a promiscuous woman like you!” Hearing her words, the crowd finally processed the situation. I was pregnant with Arthur’s child while marrying Liam. This was simply a gross violation of public decency. The guests immediately started attacking me: “Exactly! This woman clung to the Hayes heir, and then secretly plotted against Mr. Vance behind his back! How does someone like her deserve to enter the Vance family?!” “A cheating woman actually has the nerve to claim paternity at her own wedding! Why hasn’t the Jenkins family thrown her out yet? Still dreaming of climbing the ranks through her children? The Vance family won’t let her off easily!” “Kick her out of the city! Immoral, low character, cheating in public… it’s absolutely disgusting!” The insults directed at me grew louder and louder. Unable to bear the humiliation, my parents yelled: “The Jenkins family does not have a disgraceful daughter like you! Get out of here!” “Mia is the only daughter of our family!” Liam stood silently to the side, taking a vindictive pleasure in watching me being berated by the crowd. Suddenly, a cane struck the floor heavily. Old Mr. Vance’s voice carried an unquestionable authority: “Enough! What kind of place do you think this is? A whole crowd of people bullying a little girl!” “As long as the flesh and blood in Ms. Jenkins’s belly belongs to the Vance family, she is the daughter-in-law of the Vance family!” “Marcus, escort Ms. Jenkins to the car. We’re going home!” The bodyguard nodded and reached out to help me. By this point, I was utterly exhausted from the stress and pregnancy. After two steps, my body went weak, and I pitched forward. Just as I was about to hit the floor, a pair of hands caught me, sweeping me up into a firm embrace. Arthur looked entirely aloof. “Although I won’t acknowledge you, you are carrying my seed and you have been my woman. I will not allow others to bully you.” He carried me, his sharp gaze sweeping over the people who had just been mocking me. “From now on, Ms. Jenkins is part of the Vance family. If I hear any more malicious gossip, don’t blame me for turning hostile.” With that, he took long strides out of the banquet hall. Over his shoulder, I saw the faces of Mia and Liam. They glared at me with vicious eyes, clearly unwilling to let this go. I was quietly placed inside a black, bulletproof SUV by Arthur. When he got in and sat beside me, I instantly felt the immense pressure of his presence. The man sitting next to me had carved a path through blood and violence, building his own arms empire in the city. He was the eldest son of the Vance family, with a status that was completely out of reach. Logically, someone of my class shouldn’t even have the right to interact with such a massive figure. He closed his eyes and rested beside me. A moment later, he answered a satellite phone: “Cancel the helicopter. Just bring Elena back to the country later.” 【Mom, your biggest rival, Elena, is about to appear! She’s my dad’s one and only ‘white lotus’ first love! This woman is much more formidable than your sister!】 【But don’t worry! No matter if it’s your sister or Elena, Dad and I will absolutely back you up!】 I rubbed my belly and smiled bitterly. Even though the little dumpling said that, I didn’t hold out any hope. I was a woman who almost married another man, a woman he only had a one-night stand with. How could I possibly catch the eye of an arms warlord? I escaped Liam’s control and ended up with the Vance family. Who could say if I hadn’t just jumped from the frying pan into an even bigger fire? Arthur squinted, sizing me up. His suspicion of me had never vanished: “Ms. Jenkins, even though you’re carrying my seed, I will never marry you.” He sneered. “I don’t care what methods you used to get pregnant, or how long you planned out this little show today, but getting into the Vance family won’t be that easy.” Hearing his words, the little dumpling started screaming again: 【Fake! So fake! You have no idea how much he reminisced about that night after it happened!】 【He’s the ultimate hopeless romantic! Mom, you don’t even need to use any tricks. He’ll convince himself to fall in love with you!】 I closed my eyes, took three seconds to digest Arthur and the little dumpling’s words, and answered obediently: “I never thought about entering the Vance family. I just want to give birth to the children safely and watch them grow up healthy.” Arthur didn’t say another word, but the little dumpling issued a notification: 【Dad’s heart rate is rising! He’s very satisfied with your answer! Falling in love with you is just a matter of time!】

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394558”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day before my hospital promotion interview, my boyfriend secretly submitted an application for me to join the Tibet medical aid team. I was furious and demanded to know why. He just nonchalantly said, “Chloe was using my computer to look up some info the other day and accidentally clicked the wrong thing. It was just a joke.” “There’s a secondary confirmation, right? Just reject it.” Chloe was the new resident in Liam’s department this year. She was bright and beautiful, always buzzing around Liam. He knew perfectly well that if I didn’t reply within 12 hours, the application would automatically be confirmed. I would have to stay in the Tibetan region for three years. It turned out my career development and life plans were nothing more than a joke to him. I didn’t say a word; I simply confirmed the transfer order to Tibet. Later, when Liam saw my transfer document, he suddenly panicked. “Wasn’t there a secondary confirmation? You didn’t reject it?!” 1 When I received the transfer order for the Tibet medical aid team, my blood ran cold. Yesterday, I asked Liam to submit my application for the Deputy Chief Physician promotion. Now, I only received a notice stating: “Dispatched to Tibet for medical aid, duration: three years.” HR sent me a message: “Evelyn, did you submit the wrong form? You have 12 hours to reject it.” Liam and I had been dating for seven years and were planning to get married at the end of this year. Everyone in the hospital knew there was no way I would voluntarily go to Tibet at this point in my life. My hands were shaking. When I dialed Liam’s number, my nails dug into my palms. “What happened? I received a notice for the Tibet medical aid team.” A careless laugh came from Liam on the other end of the line. “Oh, forgot to tell you. Chloe came to my office the other day and saw me working on your application. She said the sky in Tibet is so blue and the snow-capped mountains are beautiful, so she submitted an application for you as a joke.” “She’s new and doesn’t know any better. It was just a joke.” “There’s a secondary confirmation, right? Just reject it.” His tone was incredibly casual, like he had just ordered the wrong takeout. “You think this is no big deal?” He sounded impatient, “You’re overthinking things again.” “Do we need to be so serious? Just change it back.” “If HR hadn’t reminded me, this transfer would have gone into effect.” “Chloe illegally accessed computer data and invaded my privacy. I can report her.” Liam’s voice instantly turned cold. “Evelyn, you’re becoming increasingly unreasonable.” “It was a joke, and you want to report Chloe? When are you going to drop this hostility towards her?” He paused, his tone hardening, “How many times do I have to tell you? She just graduated and doesn’t know anyone in the hospital. What’s wrong with me taking care of her a bit more as her mentor?” “What’s the big deal about her making a joke? If you’re going to report her, report me too!” He hung up on me. I sat in the on-call room, feeling a bit dazed. Seven years. Everyone said we were a match made in heaven. But now, he’s in cardiology, and I’m heading to Tibet. Between us lay over two thousand miles, and a Chloe. Canceling the application only required a single click. But I stared at the screen and didn’t move. A nurse knocked on the door: “Dr. Thorne, someone’s here for you.” Chloe was holding two cups of coffee. She saw me and strode over. “Evelyn.” She handed me a cup. “I just got off the phone with Dr. Hayes. He’s in a bad mood and wants to take a few colleagues camping. Do you think it’s appropriate for me to go?” Her voice carried a hint of provocation, her eyes full of smugness. It had been three months. Ever since she was assigned to our department as a resident, it had been like this. Pretending to be innocent while constantly provoking me. I took the coffee, didn’t drink it, and asked her back, “What do you think?” Chloe scratched her head: “I don’t know, I’m afraid you might misunderstand. Dr. Hayes said you’ve had an issue with him lately. I was thinking, maybe I should keep my distance…” “Then don’t go.” She froze for a moment. “Weren’t you asking for my opinion?” I placed the coffee on the desk. “My opinion is, don’t go.” Chloe’s expression shifted. Before she could speak, the elevator doors opened. Liam walked out, saw us, and frowned. “Chloe, I told you to wait downstairs. Why did you come up?” “I came to ask Evelyn’s opinion on whether I could go camping with you guys…” Chloe lowered her head, her voice sounding wronged, “I was afraid she’d be upset.” Liam patted Chloe on the shoulder. “Don’t be silly, why ask her? I told you to go, so you’re going.” Chloe looked up at him, her eyes lighting up, then looked at me hesitantly. Liam turned to me, his tone very impatient. “Look at how much Chloe cares about your feelings, and look at you. You can’t even take a joke.” I pointed at Chloe: “She cares about my feelings? Do you have any idea how much drama she’s caused these past three months?” “Bringing you breakfast and leaving sticky notes right in front of me, posting ambiguous things on social media—who is she putting on a show for?” “I’m your girlfriend! She’s trying to steal you right in front of my face!” “Always ‘Dr. Hayes’ this, ‘Dr. Hayes’ that. It’s disgusting.” “Calling me ‘sister’ to my face, but secretly wishing I’d disappear so she can cling to you!” Chloe’s face turned pale. Liam stared at me, his face dark. “Are you done? When did you become so bitter?” “Why is your mind so filthy? Are you really making a huge deal out of a normal mentor-student relationship?” “Chloe is the bigger person and won’t hold this against you. Apologize to her, and we’ll drop this.” I laughed out of sheer anger, “Are you crazy? You want me to apologize to this little girl? Impossible!” Liam’s face fell instantly. “Evelyn, I advise you not to push my limits!” I smiled. Limits? I’ve basically been cheated on, and he’s talking about limits? Oh, I used to be his limit. Now it’s changed. “Then let’s break up.” Liam scoffed coldly, “Fine, let’s break up. Don’t come crawling back begging to get back together later.” With that, Liam grabbed Chloe and left. I heard him say to her, “Ignore her. Let’s go camping.” Back in the on-call room, the system page was still open. The countdown to cancel the application had one hour left. I started searching for information on the Tibet medical aid team, precautions for working at high altitudes, and reports on the current medical situation in the region. Time ticked by. Twelve o’clock sharp. The countdown hit zero. The deadline to withdraw had passed. “Transfer order confirmed: Tibet Medical Aid Team, 3-year term. Please report to the medical team within one month.” Although working there would be hard, experience in Tibet added points for professional title evaluations, and I’d be given priority for promotion upon my return. It didn’t seem like a bad thing. I regretted ever holding back my career just to align with Liam’s more conservative plans. Closing the computer, a message from my best friend, Mia, popped up. “Evelyn! I saw Liam and Chloe at the Blue Note Bar! Holy crap, they’re practically making out.” She also sent a video. The footage was blurry, but I could clearly see Liam being surrounded and egged on, with Chloe sitting next to him, looking at him with absolute adoration. “Liam, truth or dare? A dare could be hugging the nearest girl for one minute!” Amidst the laughter, Liam directly hugged Chloe. Cheers and whistles erupted. My heart ached for a second, then quickly calmed down. I replied to Mia: “It’s fine.” Then I started packing my personal belongings in the on-call room. Two weeks later, Liam’s assistant delivered an invitation. “Dr. Hayes is hosting a celebration banquet for his research project at the Cloud Top tonight. Please be sure to attend.” “I’m not going.” The assistant looked surprised: “Why? You’re a core member of this project…” “I have plans.” The assistant smiled, “You can bring a friend. Dr. Hayes specifically requested your presence.” A few colleagues looked over. I accepted the invitation. That evening at the Cloud Top, Chloe stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, wearing a well-fitted gown, greeting the guests. Seeing me, she immediately patted my shoulder. “Evelyn, you’re here. Today is the day I passed my first-stage assessment. I was afraid it wouldn’t be lively enough, so I begged Dr. Hayes to move his celebration banquet to today so we could celebrate together.” I nodded: “Congratulations.” “Thanks.” Her smile grew even brighter, “Hurry and sit down, we saved a spot for you at the main table.” I found a seat near the edge and sat down. Liam found me. “Evelyn, go to the main table. What does it look like hiding here?” “It’s fine here.” Liam took a deep breath: “I let you block me for two weeks. Are you still mad?” “When have we not sat together at a celebration banquet? Is it really worth making a fuss over that little transfer application thing?” People at nearby tables looked over. A familiar colleague tried to smooth things over: “Evelyn, come sit. We saved your spot.” I was ushered to the main table. There was an empty seat next to Liam. Chloe naturally walked over and sat down right next to him. “Evelyn is here too.” She smiled casually, “Dr. Hayes and I were just discussing going to the International Medical Symposium. I passed my first-stage assessment, and Dr. Hayes said he wants to take me to see the world.” She raised an eyebrow: “Shall the three of us go together?” I picked up my water glass and took a sip. At the end of last year, Liam said he would take me to the biggest International Medical Symposium this year. He said he would introduce me to several important figures. “Make sure you take lots of photos and post them,” he had said while fixing my collar. “Let those who say you rely on me see that this is your own ability.” I brushed it off verbally, but felt warm inside. For seven years, my heart would always skip a beat whenever I was with Liam. But now, there was nothing. I just found it absurd. “You two go.” “I have a lot of handover work lately, I don’t have time.” After the banquet, I went out to the terrace for some fresh air. Liam followed me and grabbed my wrist. “Evelyn, what is the meaning of this?” “Exactly what it sounds like.” I pulled my hand back. Liam laughed bitterly: “How long are you going to keep acting awkward? Just cancel the transfer application!” “I asked Chloe, she was planning to tell you anyway, but you found out first. Even if you hadn’t, she would have reminded you by the next day at the latest!” I nodded: “Then I really should thank her.” “Don’t talk to me in that tone.” He let go, his tone forceful, “You must come with me to the International Medical Symposium next Monday. It’s something I promised you a long time ago!” He turned and left. Monday morning at nine, I stood by my office window and looked down. Liam and Chloe were standing by a car near the hospital entrance, occasionally looking up at my floor. I closed the blinds. My phone vibrated. Liam sent a message: “Come down. Or do you want me to come up and beg you?” I replied: “Busy, not going.” “What could you possibly be busy with? Isn’t the promotion interview over?” “If you don’t come this time, you better not regret it!” He drove off with Chloe. That day, he posted three times on social media. Chloe was in every single one. 【Taking the newbie to experience a top-tier academic event. The light in a young person’s eyes reminds me of when I first graduated.】 【The kid got praised by several seniors and was so shy.】 【Group photo at the symposium. Newbies need more exposure.】 … A bunch of comments followed. “Is Dr. Hayes bringing a student or a little girlfriend? So dedicated.” “Did Dr. Thorne not go? Did the golden duo break up?” “Chloe really knows how to handle things. Dr. Hayes has a good eye.” Mia sent me screenshots, furious. “Is Chloe doing this on purpose? Purely disgusting. Even though you guys haven’t publicly announced your relationship at the hospital, anyone with eyes knows you’re a couple! This is insulting you right to your face.” “She’s literally begging to be the other woman.” “Aren’t you going to do something?” Disgusted? No. I just felt it was pathetic, but also felt a sense of relief. A single resident made me see his true colors. The deadline to withdraw the transfer application had passed. I started packing for Tibet. Adapting to the high altitude wouldn’t be easy. I had to prepare altitude sickness medication, various vaccines, and undergo professional training. But once my mindset shifted, I felt it was a new beginning. Before leaving, I asked Mia out for Tibetan food to get used to the flavors. Mia was surprised: “After how Liam acted last night, you still have the mood to take me to a new restaurant? This isn’t like you.” “Why wouldn’t I?” I smiled. Work is work, life is life. Tibetan food focuses on the original flavor of the meat. After trying it, I found it surprisingly suited my taste. On the way back to the apartment, I was even humming a song. Mia looked at me: “Have you really moved on? Looking at Liam and Chloe’s posts, they seem even closer after last night…” I didn’t answer. Passing by a rooftop near the hospital, I told Mia to head back first while I went up for some fresh air. I loved coming here my first year on the job. When the pressure was high, this was my breathing space. Liam was my superior back then. Once, an academic paper I had spent three months preparing was rejected. I was crying in the stairwell. He found me and brought me up here. “Look down.” He pointed at the city lights. “It’s just a paper. It doesn’t even take up a single pixel in all these lights.” The terrified newbie became his most capable partner. Later, we would come up here to discuss cases, vent about difficult families, share gossip… When we became equals, we still often came here late at night after working overtime. Liam liked leaning against the railing, looking at the lights of distant buildings. “Evelyn, the speed at which you’re improving is giving me a sense of crisis.” I’d look at him smugly and smile: “Then Dr. Hayes better work hard, so you don’t get overtaken by me.” I didn’t realize that those conversations were already mixed with admiration and reliance that went beyond professional boundaries. During my third year, I led a team research project, and there was an issue with the key data. The academic committee pointed their fingers at my nose in front of a whole conference room, calling me unprofessional and threatening to pull the funding. Liam stood up to defend me: “Director Wang, I’m the head of this project, I’ll take responsibility for all the issues. I gave the final approval for Evelyn’s data. If you want to yell at someone, yell at me.” He took all the blame and voluntarily offered to reduce the project funding as compensation after the meeting. After the committee members left, I stood in the empty conference room, watching Liam’s back as he organized the documents, my throat tightening. I wanted to fight alongside this man forever. That was when we officially got together. I stood on the rooftop, letting the wind blow, quietly watching the city. My phone vibrated. My mother was calling. “Evelyn, your dad is in the hospital. The doctor says it might be cancer, he needs surgery immediately. The deposit is a hundred thousand…” She sobbed, “Can you lend Mom some money first? Your brother is still in school, I really have no other way…” My throat tightened. I’ve always had a bad relationship with my father. He drank and gambled, and they divorced when I was in middle school. But blood ties are hard to sever. “How much do you need?” “Prepare a hundred and fifty thousand for now. We might need more later…” I hung up, leaning against the railing, all my strength drained. I had savings from working all these years, but I bought a house the year before last and had a monthly mortgage. If I scraped my liquid assets together, I had about a hundred thousand. I was still fifty thousand short. I scrolled through my contacts and called Liam three times, but he didn’t answer. I had to call a few friends and managed to scrape together thirty thousand. Still twenty thousand short. I returned to the apartment late at night and received a message from Chloe. It wasn’t a direct message, but a social media post visible only to me. The photo showed Liam’s desk, and on the desk was an exquisite velvet box containing a necklace. Caption: 【Oh my god! I really met an angel mentor! Liam said my performance these past three months was super good, this is my reward and the best birthday present! So happy, I need to work even harder!】 The location tag was Liam’s apartment. The time was an hour ago. I stared at the post, my stomach churning. That necklace cost over ten thousand, almost my entire month’s salary. Finally, I asked Mia. She transferred me twenty thousand without a second thought: “No rush, pay me back when you’re comfortable. We’re sisters, don’t mention it.” The next afternoon, Liam finally called back: “What happened last night? I was helping Chloe with her first-stage assessment summary, my phone was on silent.” I stared at the scanned copy of my father’s medical records on the computer screen, pushing down the lump in my throat. “Was the necklace you gave Chloe expensive?” Liam was silent for a few seconds, “Are you being paranoid again? I know you’re under a lot of pressure lately, but honestly, you’re this obsessed over an encouragement award for a resident?” “Chloe and I have a normal mentor-student relationship. She completed her first independent case, and as her mentor, I gave her some encouragement. What’s the problem?” Encouragement is fine. Giving a gift is also fine. But giving a necklace late at night in an apartment is not fine. I hung up on him. A message from Liam popped up on WeChat. “Did you cancel the transfer application?” “None of your business.” I didn’t want to tell him I had already confirmed the trip to Tibet. Liam sent a speechless emoji: “I know you’ll definitely cancel it. You’ve partnered with me for seven years, can you really leave me?” “Before your promotion notice is officially issued, you must apologize to Chloe. Otherwise, you can go navigate the rest of the process yourself. I will not put in a good word for you with any of the review experts!” We had agreed on this a long time ago. He was going to introduce me to several senior experts he knew well during the review stage as a gesture of goodwill. Although I could do it on my own, it would be much smoother with him paving the way. Unfortunately, I’m heading to Tibet soon. I blocked both his work and personal WeChat accounts. I officially handed over my work to the department and started preparing for Tibet. Liam didn’t contact me again, but from the whispers of my colleagues, I knew his relationship with Chloe was practically public. Someone saw Chloe getting out of Liam’s car. Chloe scored an S+ on her phase assessment. Almost no resident had ever received an S+ before. Historically, almost no resident had ever achieved it. I moved out of the apartment I shared with Liam and temporarily stayed at my friend’s house. “Have you really thought this through?” Mia asked as she helped me pack. “Tibet isn’t like here. The conditions are harsh, altitude sickness is severe, and you’ll be there for three years.” “I’ve thought it through.” “If I stay here, I’ll have to face Liam and Chloe every day. I don’t want to waste the next three years of my life on him.” “Do you know what saddens me the most?” I zipped up my suitcase and looked at her. “It’s not Liam’s betrayal, or Chloe’s scheming. It’s that when this happened, my first reaction was actually a fear of losing him, a fear of changing the status quo, a fear of facing the unknown alone.” “You know me, I wasn’t timid before. I’ve given up too much for him over these years.” I smiled. “If I can even accept being transferred to Tibet, then there shouldn’t be anything in this world that can scare me.” A week before departure, I went to the hospital for a full physical and vaccinations. High-altitude adaptation training, cardiopulmonary function tests… The long list of preparations made my scalp tingle. The hospital’s foreign aid department held a simple farewell party for me. Liam didn’t attend; I heard he took the day off. Chloe, however, showed up. “Evelyn, I hope your work in Tibet goes smoothly.” I raised my glass, “Thank you, and I wish you all the best too. Learn well under Dr. Hayes.” Chloe’s expression stiffened for a second. After the farewell party, I ran into Liam at the elevator. He seemed to be waiting specifically for me. There were visible dark circles under his eyes. “We need to talk.” “Everything that needed to be said has been said.” I pressed the elevator button. “Evelyn, don’t go.” Liam suddenly grabbed my wrist. “I was wrong. I admit I was wrong. I shouldn’t have indulged Chloe, I shouldn’t have disrespected your career plans. Let’s start over, okay?” I looked at him, this man I had loved for seven years. Right now, his eyes were bloodshot and filled with pleading. For a moment, I almost softened. But I remembered the panic I felt when the transfer notification email popped up. I remembered his nonchalance when he said it was just a joke. “It’s too late, Liam.” I gently pulled my hand away, “The elevator is here.” “If you really go to Tibet, we’re completely over!” Liam shouted behind me. I stepped into the elevator, turned to face him, and said, “We were over the moment you let someone else make jokes about us like that.” The flight to Tibet took off in the early hours of the morning. I leaned against the window, watching the city’s brilliant lights gradually shrink into a blurry patch, eventually completely covered by the clouds. My phone was full of unread messages. My parents’ worries, my friends’ concern, my colleagues’ farewells. I replied to them one by one. Finally, I opened a text from Liam. “You’d rather go to Tibet than stay by my side. Did you ever even love me?” I stared at the sentence for a long time, then replied word by word: “I used to love you more than I loved myself. But now, I’m going to start loving myself.” Send. Power off. The plane broke through the clouds. Outside the window, the heavy darkness and the city below gradually thinned out, eventually vanishing beneath the sea of clouds. The days of medical aid in Tibet passed quickly. Three years. I got used to the rhythm of the plateau. Case after case, the team grew from strangers to a cohesive unit. The starry sky on the plateau was indeed beautiful, vast enough to hold all my worries. When my term ended, I booked my ticket back early. The first night after landing, I couldn’t sleep due to the change in environment. Looking at the city lights at 3 AM, there was a strange sense of unreality. But it was fine. I went to eat at the noodle shop near the hospital that I used to frequent. The taste was the same. At dawn, Mia called. “Evelyn, Liam asked me if you were really back. I told him you arrived yesterday, but he didn’t believe me. He insisted you were avoiding him on purpose.” I heard Liam’s voice on the other end; Mia had put it on speaker. “Mia, let me talk to Evelyn. I know she’s mad at me, but it’s been so many years. Let’s meet up and talk. We can collaborate on work.” His tone was forceful, carrying the pressure of someone used to being in charge. Mia was exasperated: “Evelyn really is back. I had dinner with her yesterday, she brought a bunch of souvenirs from Tibet.” “She came back yesterday?” Liam sounded doubtful and displeased. “Whatever, I’ll just go to her apartment.” “Don’t. Evelyn has things to deal with these next couple of days, she might not be home…” “Where is she?” Mia paused. “Evelyn got an offer from Renhe Hospital. She’s not coming back to our hospital.” Silence on the other end. Rapid breathing, like someone being strangled. I hung up. A new job began. I needed to re-adapt to the rhythm. But soon, the decisiveness and resilience I honed on the plateau proved their worth. Alone in a new, top-tier medical institution, I built my professional domain step by step. Liam still found me. He stopped me at the cafe downstairs at the hospital, dark circles under his eyes. “Why did you go to another hospital?” His voice was hoarse. I looked at my watch: “Sorry, I have a meeting in ten minutes.” He blocked my path. “Just because of Chloe’s prank, you’re completely cutting off all possibilities between us?” I stopped and looked at him, just like I did when we discussed cases over the past seven years. Only this time, there was no warmth in my eyes. “Yes, I’m petty. I can’t handle jokes like that.” Liam’s jaw tightened: “Evelyn, you can’t do this. You know perfectly well that all these years, my heart…” “I only saw Chloe as a student. The bar incident was a mistake fueled by alcohol and the atmosphere.” “Taking her to the symposium and posting those pictures was just to provoke you, to make you care.” His voice dropped even lower, tinged with a sob. “You’re ruthless, giving up on me without a word. Why didn’t you cancel the transfer application?” “Was that joke really worth you holding a grudge for so many years?” I looked at him quietly and shook my head: “Fine, the transfer wasn’t really worth holding a grudge over.” Liam froze, staring at me intently. “My father was hospitalized and needed surgery. The night I called you, do you know where I was?” “On the rooftop. You were definitely there. You were waiting for me, right?” Liam was sharp. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have turned my phone off that night. I should have answered your call!” I remained silent for a moment, then slowly pushed his blocking arm away. “Liam, that night, my father was diagnosed with cancer.” Liam’s entire body went rigid, his pupils shrinking. “I needed a hundred and fifty thousand. I scraped together a hundred and thirty thousand. I was short twenty thousand.” My tone was flat. “I called you three times. Your phone was on silent. Chloe posted a picture. The photo showed the watch you gave her, and the location was your apartment.” Liam breathed heavily, clenching and unclenching his fists, as if drained of all strength. “That night, I was truly desperate. I couldn’t accept that when I was at my lowest, you didn’t care about me at all.” “I endured everything you and Chloe did before without complaint, but that day, I truly regretted it. Because you loved me far less than I loved you.” I looked at him. “You were in our apartment giving an encouragement award to a resident, sleeping soundly, and missed the call when I desperately needed help.” Liam painfully closed his eyes. He slammed his hand against the wall, his palm turning red. I took a soft breath: “But, it’s all in the past. I’m doing great now. Better than ever.” “Let’s just stay former colleagues. Please thank Chloe for me. I received her joke, and I cherish my experience in Tibet.” I don’t know when Liam left. Anyway, he didn’t stop me again. A week later, Mia told me Chloe had been blacklisted by the medical industry. She was caught stealing patient data from her previous hospital, violating medical ethics, with solid evidence against her. I knew this was Liam’s doing. I didn’t ask further. At the end of the quarter, the first clinical research project I led concluded successfully, with astounding results. The hospital threw a small celebration party. As I was leaving, I ran into Chloe by the elevators. She came specifically to find me. Our eyes met. The sunny smugness in her eyes was gone, replaced by venom and resentment. “Evelyn, you won.” Her voice was sharp. “Liam used his connections to block every path for me in this industry.” “I just don’t get it. What makes you so special?” “Are you prettier than me? Younger than me? Better at pleasing people than me?” She took a step closer: “You just had the advantage of knowing him a few years earlier than I did.” I was tired of listening. “Are you done? Excuse me, I’m in a hurry.” Chloe sneered: “Don’t be so smug. You’re back, but I heard Liam rejected Renhe Hospital’s poaching offer last month and stayed at his old job.” “So what if he’s nostalgic? Your two hospitals are competing for the same national key clinical specialty designation next year. You’re the discipline leader, and he’s their main player. You’ll be rivals.” She was trying to provoke me. I found it boring. I pressed the elevator button: “I’ve left him for you. Go ahead, reconcile with him. I wish you success.” Chloe’s expression shifted. From the shadows of the emergency exit, a familiar figure emerged. Liam, in a sharp suit, but with unconcealable exhaustion between his brows. I paused, gave a calm nod. Chloe was terrified, hastily fixing her collar and forcing a smile: “Liam, what are you doing here? I was just meeting a friend…” “Get lost.” Liam’s voice was cold and hard. Chloe tried to grab his arm: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come to see Evelyn, but I have no choice. I can’t stay in this industry anymore, please help me…” “I said, get lost.” Chloe left, looking utterly defeated. Liam looked at me, taking a long time to speak: “Evelyn, I’m preparing to resign from my old job and start a high-end medical device company.” I remained silent. Liam forced a smile: “I know the mistakes I made can’t be easily fixed, so I want to start over with a brand new identity. You’re doing great at Renhe Hospital, and I hope we can collaborate in the future.” His tone was sincere. But I didn’t need it. I remained silent. Liam grew anxious: “Evelyn, give me a chance to make amends. I really miss when we were partners. Can we start from zero?” No. I had absolutely no interest. I sighed softly: “Liam, do you really think this has any meaning?”

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I was the last to know our company was being sold for $20 million. I went to work as usual that day, but when I pushed open the conference room door, it was full of people. Liam, my boss, sat at the head of the table, flanked by three strangers in sharp suits. He saw me, and his eyes flickered. “Chloe, go back to your work, we don’t need you here.” I froze in the doorway. A document lay spread out on the conference table, and I could only make out a few words— “Equity Acquisition Letter of Intent.” My name is Chloe Vance, and I’m 29 years old. Three years ago, I was an accountant at a small firm, making $4,000 a month, renting an apartment, and commuting an hour by subway. Liam was a senior from my university, four years ahead of me, and a prominent figure on campus. We weren’t particularly close, occasionally exchanging a few words in the alumni group chat after graduation. Until one night three years ago, he suddenly asked me out to dinner. “Chloe, I want to start a business in cross-border e-commerce,” he said casually, picking up a piece of food. “You’re an accounting major, want to join?” I was taken aback. “Senior, I… I don’t really know much about e-commerce.” “You don’t need to.” He smiled. “You handle the money, I’ll handle the business, and we’ll split it fifty-fifty.” Fifty-fifty. Those words were like a pebble dropped into the stagnant pool of my life. I had just gone through a breakup, my job was unsatisfying, and I felt like I was just going through the motions every day, finding life meaningless. Liam’s words were like a ray of light. “Senior, I don’t have much money,” I said honestly. “How much do you have?” “Savings… about twenty or thirty thousand dollars.” He nodded: “Not enough. The startup capital needs to be at least two million dollars.” My heart sank. “But—” he continued, “I’ll put in one million, you put in one million. You can borrow the rest from your family.” Borrow from my family. My parents were blue-collar workers; they hadn’t saved much their entire lives. But I was still tempted. Fifty-fifty. Being my own boss. Changing my life. These phrases kept spinning in my head all night. The next day, I called my mom. “Mom, I want to start a business.” Silence hung on the other end of the line for a long time. “How much do you need?” “…One million.” My mom didn’t scold me, nor did she ask too many questions. A week later, she wired the money to my account. I later found out that money was their life savings for retirement, plus money borrowed from relatives, plus a loan against their old house back home. One million dollars. My parents had never seen that much money in their lives. They entrusted it to me. And I entrusted it to Liam. On the day we signed the contract, Liam treated me to a lavish dinner. “Come on, Chloe, have a drink to celebrate our partnership!” I couldn’t drink much, but I was so happy that day. Whenever he toasted me, I drank. Glass after glass. What happened later is a bit of a blur. I only remember him pushing a stack of documents in front of me. “Sign here, just a formality.” I squinted at the text, densely packed and a bit dizzying. “What is this…” “The partnership agreement.” He picked up a pen for me. “See, 1,000,000 for 50%, it’s written clearly.” I took the pen and signed my name. He smiled, gathered the documents, and patted my shoulder. “Junior, from today on, we’re partners.” Partners. I believed those words for three years. The beginning of the company was tough. We rented a 600-square-foot office with no AC in the summer and no heating in the winter. Liam ran the business, I handled the finances, and with two part-time customer service reps, that was our entire team. I arrived at the office at 8 AM every day and didn’t leave until 11 PM or midnight. Salary? None. Liam said, “We’re just starting out, let’s hold off on salaries until we make some money.” I thought that made sense. It was our own company, so working hard was worth it. The first year, the company lost $300,000. Liam was anxious, spending sleepless nights. “Chloe, how much money is left in the account?” “Less than $400,000.” He smoked a cigarette and looked at me. “Do you have any more money?” I paused. “I… have a little.” It was the $300,000 I had saved for a down payment on a house. “Can you lend it to the company for now?” He crushed his cigarette. “When the company is doing well, I’ll pay you back double.” I didn’t say anything. “Chloe, I know this is a lot to ask.” He sighed. “But we’re partners. If the company goes under, we’re both finished.” Partners. That word again. The next day, I transferred $300,000 to the company account. Liam sent me a text: “Thank you, Junior. I won’t forget this.” I won’t forget this. I believed him. The second year, the company started making a profit. The third year, our revenue tripled. Early this year, Liam told me someone wanted to buy our company. “For how much?” “Still negotiating.” He smiled mysteriously. “But it definitely won’t be low.” I thought the good days were finally here. I thought these three years of hard work were finally paying off. I thought— Until today. I stood at the conference room door, looking at the Equity Acquisition Letter of Intent. 20 million. The company was worth 20 million. I put in 1 million for 50%, so I should get 10 million. Plus the 300,000 I lent later, that makes 10.3 million. I could finally pay off my parents’ debts and buy myself a house. But the way Liam looked at me made me feel something was wrong. “Chloe, please wait outside.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm. I stood there, unmoving. “Get out.” I looked at him, then at the strangers, then at the document. “Senior, I’m a shareholder, why can’t I be here?” The conference room fell silent for a second. Liam laughed. It was a strange laugh, like he was looking at an idiot. “Shareholder?” He stood up and walked over to me. “Chloe, since when are you a shareholder?” I thought I had misheard. “Senior, what did you say?” Liam sighed, like he was dealing with an unreasonable child. “The conference room isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go to my office.” He turned and excused himself to the others, then pushed me out of the conference room. My mind was a complete mess on the way. What did he mean “since when are you a shareholder”? Three years ago, he said it himself: fifty-fifty. I put in 1 million. I signed the contract. I— “Sit.” Liam’s office was ten times bigger than three years ago. Leather sofas, a solid wood desk, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. Half of this was mine. Wasn’t it? I sat down and looked at him. “Senior, the company is being acquired. Why didn’t you tell me?” “It’s a trade secret.” “I’m a shareholder.” Liam pulled a folder from a drawer and placed it in front of me. “See for yourself.” I opened the folder. Inside was a contract. My name. My signature. But— “A loan agreement?” My voice trembled slightly. It stated in black and white: Chloe Vance borrows 1,000,000 from Liam Sterling, at an annual interest rate of 6%, for a term of three years. What loan agreement? I clearly signed a partnership agreement! “Senior, this isn’t right. I signed a partnership agreement, 1 million for 50%—” “Look closer.” His voice was very calm. I stared at the document, reading it word by word. Borrower: Chloe Vance. Lender: Liam Sterling. Loan Amount: 1,000,000. Term: Three years. Annual Interest Rate: 6%. Repayment Method: Lump-sum repayment of principal and interest at maturity. At the end was my signature. It was my handwriting. No mistake. But I clearly… The memories of that day suddenly flooded back. The lavish dinner. The toasts. Glass after glass. He pushed a stack of documents in front of me. “Sign here, just a formality.” I squinted at the text, densely packed and a bit dizzying… “Remember now?” Liam’s voice sounded in my ear. I looked up at him. “You tricked me.” “What do you mean, tricked?” He sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “It’s in black and white, you signed it yourself. How can you call that a trick?” “You got me drunk that day—” “I treated you to dinner, you drank of your own free will. Are you blaming me?” “You said it was a partnership agreement—” “What I said doesn’t matter. What matters is what’s written in the contract.” He smiled, like he was lecturing an ignorant student. “Chloe, you’re an accounting major. You should read carefully before signing a contract. That’s common sense, isn’t it?” I felt cold all over. Three years. Three whole years. I thought I was a boss, but I was just a creditor. I thought I was a partner, but I was just an employee. I thought… “You—” I wanted to say something, but my throat felt blocked. Liam picked up a pen from his desk and twirled it. “Alright, we’ve cleared this up. The 1 million loan, plus three years’ interest, totals 1.18 million. I’ll return it to you in full.” 1.18 million. I put in 1 million, wasted three years of my youth, and only get back 1.18 million. And he, walking away with 20 million, doesn’t have to share a penny with me. “What about the 300,000?” My voice was dry. “What 300,000?” “The first year, when the company almost went under, I lent the company 300,000.” “Oh, that 300,000.” He nodded. “I remember. I wrote an IOU.” He pulled another piece of paper from a drawer. Borrower: XX Company. Lender: Chloe Vance. Loan Amount: 300,000. Term: One year. Annual Interest Rate: 5%. One year? It’s been way past a year. “The company has already repaid this money.” “What? I never received—” “It was transferred to your account. Check it yourself.” I pulled out my phone and trembling, opened my banking app. I scrolled back to transactions from two years ago. XX Company, incoming transfer, $315,000. Note: Loan repayment. I had absolutely no memory of this money. Back then, there were so many company transactions going in and out, I didn’t even notice… “See.” Liam stood up and walked to the window, his back to me. “Chloe, considering our history as alumni, I calculated the interest clearly for you, not a penny less. Anyone else would have turned hostile long ago.” He turned to face me. “What more do you want?” I sat there, trembling all over. Not from the cold. From anger. Three years. I hadn’t taken a single day off. I hadn’t gotten a single raise. I bet my parents’ retirement savings, money borrowed from relatives, and the mortgaged house back home, all on this company. And him? He walks away with 20 million and doesn’t have to share a penny with me. He says I’m just a creditor. He says it’s in black and white. He says— “Senior.” My voice was very soft. “Where is my salary for these three years?” “What salary?” “I worked here for three years and didn’t get a single penny.” “You agreed to that. You said we were just starting, so we wouldn’t pay salaries yet.” “Did you pay yourself?” Liam paused. “I’m the boss—” “How much did you pay yourself?” “That’s a company secret—” “I’ve seen the books. You paid yourself $50,000 a month.” I stared at him. “Three years, that’s 1.8 million. Not counting reimbursements, consulting fees, and travel expenses.” “You—” “I’m also a ‘boss’. Why did you pay yourself and not me?” Liam’s expression changed. “Chloe, don’t push your luck.” “Me, pushing my luck?” I stood up. “You tricked me into signing a loan agreement, you stole my shares, you made me work for free for three years, and I’m the one pushing my luck?” “I tricked you? Where’s the evidence?” He walked over and looked down at me. “Chloe, let me teach you something. If there’s no evidence, it never happened.” “You said fifty-fifty—” “Empty words.” “You said I was a partner—” “It’s not in the contract.” “You told me to sign a partnership agreement—” “You didn’t read it carefully, whose fault is that?” With every sentence he spoke, my heart sank further. He was right. No evidence. No audio recordings. No chat logs. No witnesses. All I had was a loan agreement. And a betrayed heart. “Get out.” Liam opened the door. “I’ll wire the 1.18 million to you next week. Take the money and don’t come back.” I stood there, unmoving. “Or what—” he chuckled, “are you going to sue me?” Sue him. Could I win? He has the contract, the bank statements, all the “evidence.” What do I have? “Chloe, for old times’ sake, I’ll teach you one more lesson.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re just a community college grad. You think you’d be where you are today without me? Face reality, take the money and leave. It’s better for everyone.” Community college grad. Without me. Where you are today. These words stabbed into my heart like knives. I turned and walked out of his office. Without looking back. I didn’t know what to do next. I only knew one thing. This isn’t over. It was 9 PM when I got home. I didn’t turn on the lights, just sat on the sofa staring at the ceiling. One image kept replaying in my mind— Liam pushing that loan agreement towards me, smiling and saying, “Black and white.” I closed my eyes, trying hard to remember the night I signed three years ago. The restaurant. The private room. The dim lighting. He kept pouring me drinks. “Come on, Chloe, let’s toast to our partnership.” “Senior, I can’t really drink…” “It’s fine, we’re celebrating today, just a little.” One glass. Two glasses. Three glasses. My memory gets fuzzy here. He pushed a stack of documents towards me. “Sign here, just a formality.” “What’s this…” “The partnership agreement. Look, 1 million for 50%.” I took the pen. But did I really see it clearly? The text was dense, I only saw the numbers “1 million” and “50%”… I snapped my eyes open. No. He definitely said “partnership agreement” and “50%”. But the contract… what was actually written in the contract? I rushed into the bedroom and found that document from three years ago. Loan agreement. Black and white. But if this is a loan agreement, what about the “partnership agreement” he mentioned? I stared at the document, a possibility suddenly dawning on me. Could it be that there never was a partnership agreement from the start? Could it be that he planned to scam me from the very beginning? My phone rang. It was my mom. “Chloe, have you eaten?” I opened my mouth but didn’t know how to start. “Mom, I… I ate.” “How’s the company doing? Your senior mentioned it’s being acquired, are you getting a big payout?” I froze. “Mom, how do you know?” “Your senior told me. He called a couple of days ago to thank me for supporting your startup.” Liam called my mom? “What… what else did he say?” “He said the company is doing great, you’ve contributed a lot, and told me not to worry. He also said that when the company sells, you’ll get a lot of money, and we can buy our old house back.” My hand holding the phone trembled. He called my mom to tell her I’d get a payout. He told me to my face that I was just a creditor. What is he trying to do? “Chloe? Chloe, are you still there?” “Yes… Mom, I have something to take care of, I’ll hang up now.” I hung up the phone and slumped onto the bed. Why did he call my mom? And “a couple of days ago”— That means he knew about the acquisition long ago. He planned all this. He kept me in the dark about the acquisition while calling my mom to reassure her. Making my mom think I’d get a payout. Making my mom tell me the “good news.” Making me walk blindly into his trap. And then— The loan agreement. 1.18 million. Get out. I felt cold all over. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing; it was premeditated. Since when? Since the day we signed the contract three years ago? Or even earlier? I took out my phone and opened my WeChat chat history with Liam. I scrolled back to three years ago. The earliest message: “Chloe, are you free tomorrow? Let’s get dinner, I want to talk about something.” Then there were details about our collaboration. But— It was strange. There wasn’t a single word about the partnership agreement. Only one message: “We’ll sign the contract tomorrow, I’ll book a restaurant, my treat.” Just that one message. I scrolled further. For the three years after the company was founded, the chat was entirely about work. “How much was collected this month?” “Are the financial statements ready?” “Follow up with that client.” Nothing about equity, dividends, or partnerships. It was as if… As if he was deliberately avoiding these topics. I put down my phone, an image suddenly flashing in my mind. Three years ago, the night we signed the contract, I posted a Moment. “New beginnings! Partnering with my senior, we each hold 50%, let’s do this!” I deleted it later because Liam said, “The company is just starting, it’s better to keep a low profile.” I thought it made sense then. Thinking about it now— Was he destroying evidence? But did I really delete that Moment? I opened WeChat and clicked on “Album.” I scrolled down. Three years ago, three years ago… It wasn’t there. I had indeed deleted it. But— I remembered that night, I didn’t just post a Moment. I also sent a WeChat message to my mom. I quickly opened my chat history with my mom and scrolled up. One page, two pages, three pages… Found it! Three years ago, the night we signed the contract, I sent my mom a voice message: “Mom! I signed it! Senior said I put in 1 million for 50%, and when the company makes money, half of it is mine!” A voice message. I had sent a voice message. My hands were shaking. I tapped it. My own voice came out of the phone, sounding a bit tipsy, but every word was clear— “Mom! I signed it! Senior said I put in 1 million for 50%, and when the company makes money, half of it is mine!” 1 million. 50%. He said it. My mom never deleted this voice message. Because she never clears her chat history. I stared at the phone screen, my eyes burning. The evidence was there all along. I didn’t rush to confront Liam. I knew one voice message wasn’t enough. In court, he could argue that it was my “one-sided understanding,” or that he never promised any equity. I needed more.

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On New Year’s Eve, my husband was stranded on the highway due to a blizzard. “Honey, you’ve worked hard. As soon as the snow stops, I’ll head back immediately.” Hearing his exhausted voice, my heart softened: “Don’t worry, I’ve got everything handled at home.” I worked myself to the bone that night, until my best friend called: “Where is he stuck?” “Interstate 90.” “Impossible! That road opened up six hours ago. Are you sure he’s on the highway?” 1 I held the phone, suddenly unable to speak. My best friend scoffed lightly: “Chloe, you’re too naive. A man not coming home on New Year’s Eve only has two explanations.” “…What?” “First, he really is stuck. But in that case, your phone would be blowing up with his messages. He’d initiate video calls to show you the road conditions, and complain endlessly, because he’d be more anxious than you are.” She paused: “Has he?” My heart sank. No. Not only had he not contacted me, but he hadn’t even replied to the messages I’d sent. “Then… what’s the second explanation?” “The second,” Her voice grew cold: “Is that he doesn’t want to come home at all. He has a free nanny at home to serve his parents and entertain relatives, while he has a cozy little setup waiting for him outside. He’s making out like a bandit.” My vision went dark, and I instinctively grabbed the edge of the stove. No… that couldn’t be true. Ten years of marriage. Liam wasn’t that kind of person. “Chloe, when are we eating? Don’t make the new brother-in-law wait too long!” My mother-in-law’s voice drifted in from the living room. New brother-in-law. Right. Tonight, Liam’s sister brought her new boyfriend home. So I had to prepare a New Year’s Eve feast for the whole extended family. But… My best friend’s words echoed in my ears. Was Liam really stuck on the highway? I unlocked my screen and video-called Liam. It rang twice before being declined. Immediately after, a message popped up: “Chloe, my battery is dying. I still need to call Mom for New Year’s greetings, so let’s skip the video call.” I dried my hands and sent a probing reply: “I put a new power bank in the glove compartment on the passenger side. Our daughter misses you and wants to wish Daddy a Happy New Year.” After the message was sent, the ‘typing’ indicator appeared repeatedly, but there was no reply for a long time. If I had only one percent of doubt before, now I had a hundred. Because there was no power bank in the glove compartment. Which meant, he wasn’t in the car. “Sister-in-law! Mom’s talking to you, are you deaf?” My sister-in-law shuffled into the kitchen in her slippers: “Look at the time! We’re all waiting to eat so we can go set off fireworks!” I looked up at her: “Liam just messaged me saying he ordered our New Year’s Eve dinner from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Could you call and ask him where he is? My phone is dying.” She looked at me suspiciously: “He ordered from a Michelin-starred restaurant? Why didn’t you say so earlier?” She casually pulled out her phone and dialed. The call was answered after just two rings. “Brother? When is that Michelin dinner you ordered getting here? It’s past nine, and the whole family is starving!” The person on the other end was clearly taken aback: “What Michelin dinner? Stop making trouble, don’t you know I’m busy here?” Before she could finish, the call was hung up. My sister-in-law flared up instantly: “Are you fucking with me? My brother never ordered any Michelin dinner! I’m getting Mom to deal with you!” Right now, I had no time for her accusations. One fact floated incredibly clearly before my eyes. Liam could answer her call in seconds, but declined my video call. He wasn’t on any blizzard-swept highway at all. “Are you sure?” My best friend’s voice came through the receiver. I took a deep breath, trembling with panic. “Then… where exactly is he?” “Don’t panic.” “Even if you’re sure he’s curled up in some tramp’s bed, you have to stay calm. Don’t tip him off.” “And then what?” “And then, clean up and keep cooking.” “What?” I could barely keep my voice down: “He’s out there screwing around, and I have to stay home and serve his entire family?” “Don’t be rash,” My best friend’s voice lowered: “Do as I say. Let’s see if Liam can rush back immediately!” 2 Before she finished, the door was kicked open with a bang. “What a sin! The whole family is waiting to eat, and you have the leisure to hide here and talk on the phone? My son is out there working his fingers to the bone to make money, how did he end up marrying such a clueless woman?” My mother-in-law stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, her face full of harshness. I quickly hung up the phone and squeezed out a submissive smile: “Mom, don’t be angry. Just wait half an hour, dinner will definitely be ready.” Back in the kitchen, I dumped all the ingredients, thawed and frozen alike, into a pot, added water, and made a hodgepodge stew. Then, I brought out the strongest liquor in the house. To be honest, I also wanted to know exactly where Liam was right now. “What… what is this?” My sister-in-law stared dumbfounded at the pot of mishmash on the table. “This is a specialty from my hometown, a rustic stew.” I lied without blinking: “It looks rough, but all the flavors are stewed together. It’s delicious.” Everyone took a skeptical bite and immediately spat it all over the floor. “Holy shit, is this meant for human consumption?” Without changing my expression, I filled everyone’s glass with liquor and brought out a platter of cut fruit. “Everyone has different tastes. If you can’t stomach the stew, try the seafood. It’s all steamed. The mangoes are imported too.” Thus, the only edible things left on the entire table were a few plates of seafood and mangoes. My daughter had already filled up on snacks and ran off to watch TV. My father-in-law downed a few glasses of liquor and quickly passed out drunk. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend were young and had strong constitutions. Only my mother-in-law urgently knocked on my door in the middle of the night. “I… my chest is tight, and I’m itching all over… Quick, take me to the hospital!” She scratched her arms incessantly, her voice full of agitation. I feigned surprise: “Mom, why is your face swollen? I’ll go get Mia up to help!” Mrs. Vance glared at me with displeasure: “You have no tact at all. The young ones just went to sleep, don’t wake them. You just take me.” I nodded and grabbed my car keys. Before leaving, I glanced at my phone. 2:00 AM. Liam hadn’t replied to a single message. The hospital emergency room was packed, mostly around the gastroenterology department. It seemed we weren’t the only ones suffering from food poisoning after New Year’s Eve dinner. Soon, the doctor informed us she needed her stomach pumped. My mother-in-law was already dizzy by then and could only shove her handbag into my hands. My best friend’s warning rang in my ears: “If a man really wants to hide something from you, he will erase all traces. But there’s one person he’ll never guard against. So, you have to find a way to get that phone.” Right now, that phone was lying in my palm. But I didn’t know the passcode. The next second, I grabbed a nurse’s sleeve: “Miss, I left in such a hurry I didn’t bring my wallet or a power bank, and my phone is dead. Could I trouble you to take the old lady’s phone in and ask her to unlock it? I need to go pay the bill.” The nurse frowned and took the phone. A moment later, she handed it back to me: “The passcode is 980602. Go pay the bill quickly.” I thanked her and turned toward the payment counter. I swiped the screen and directly opened the chat with Liam. What I saw struck my brain like a bolt of lightning. 3 “Mom, thanks for your hard work. Vivian is pregnant, and I can’t get away. You’ll have to deal with that mother and daughter a bit longer.” “A useless woman who can’t even give me a son thinks she’s so capable. Mom knows what to do, I definitely won’t let her ruin our family’s big plans.” “Okay, once the baby is born safely, I’ll lay my cards on the table. I’ve already had a friend check; it’s a boy. Put your mind at ease, and remember to delete this after reading.” Above that, it was completely blank. I leaned against the wall to steady myself. The mother and son had clearly planned this, erasing all traces clean. It’s just that my mother-in-law’s sudden accident didn’t leave her time to deal with this final piece of evidence. I quickly used her phone to search for any clues related to Vivian. Soon, a contact named Vivian popped up. Fortunately, all the chat history between them was there. I immediately opened the recording function on my own phone and pointed it at the screen. Vivian sent a series of messages: “Mom, I specifically went to the temple today.” Attached were several photos of her kneeling devoutly before a Buddha statue. “I’m willing to trade ten years of my life for Mom’s good health and longevity.” My mother-in-law’s reply followed closely: “Silly girl, don’t say that. Your body is the most precious thing right now. How could Mom bear to use your lifespan? If someone really needs to make that trade… use Chloe’s. Her life is cheap anyway.” Tears rolled down without warning, smashing onto the floor tiles. Chloe. That was me. I gave up everything, serving his whole family day and night, just so my husband wouldn’t have to worry while he was out working. But in the end, my life became just another part of their twisted game. I sent the recorded video to my best friend. She had clearly been awake all night: “This recording is evidence from a third party’s device. Its probative value and legality will be significantly diminished in court. What are you planning to do next?” “Divorce.” My answer came without a hint of hesitation. The other end was silent for a moment: “Of course you need a divorce. But before that, we have to figure out your joint marital assets. For Liam to be so blatant, it means he’s already isolated his assets. In other words, he’s not afraid of you finding out now.” My heart sank. She hit the nail on the head. For the past two years, Liam always talked about the bad economy and tight cash flow at his company. The fixed monthly household allowance plummeted from $20,000 to $5,000. The once substantial company dividends turned into a perfunctory few thousand in pocket money. Trapped in his carefully woven web of lies, I believed him completely, even feeling sorry for his stress. It was only today that I suddenly woke up. This wasn’t a business slump; it was a premeditated transfer of assets. “A businessman’s betrayal is a high-dimensional strike against his wife. You can’t play chess on his board; you have to step outside his rules.” My best friend’s words brushed away the dust on my long-forgotten memories. Before I got married, I was also a top-tier player. Although I had devoted all my energy to my family and child over the past ten years, it didn’t mean I had lost all my skills. When a man transfers assets, there are only two paths: First, funneling them to the third party. This is the most direct malicious transfer. As long as I can find concrete proof of any transaction, I can recover it in full. So he wouldn’t be that stupid. That leaves the second path: funneling them to his parents. This is the trickiest path. In the name of filial piety, he buys real estate for his parents and pays huge medical and retirement expenses. Every transaction is perfectly justified. And this is exactly the opening I must tear apart now. 4 “So, does it still matter if he comes back now?” My best friend’s words pulled me back to reality. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” “Right now, all his attention is on that woman. This is the perfect time for me to set my trap.” “Good.” My best friend finally sighed in relief: “You’ve finally woken up.” Just as she finished speaking, the door to the treatment room opened. My mother-in-law was wheeled out. She immediately saw her bag in my hand and snatched it back. “Do you have any common sense? Can you eat seafood and mangoes together? Are you trying to kill me?!” Her roar made everyone in the emergency room turn to look. The doctor came over to explain the precautions. The gist was that the New Year’s Eve dinner ingredients were mixed, and the elderly woman’s digestive system was fragile, making it extremely easy for foods to clash. She needed to be hospitalized for observation for three days. During this time, her diet had to be very bland, preferably just plain congee. I nodded submissively as I listened. Congee? What an unexpected delight. By the time everything was settled, the sky was already growing light. I had been up all night and was exhausted, but the old lady clearly didn’t intend to let me off easily. Her eyelids drooped: “Go home and make me some millet congee, and bring a few changes of clothes. Keep it quiet, don’t wake the others.” I nodded: “Okay. Should I call Liam? If he’s back, he can take over for me.” Her eyes widened instantly: “Do you have any conscience? He drove all night, can’t you let him rest? He’s out there working himself to death to support you and your daughter!” The next second, the door to the hospital room opened. A handsome young man walked in: “Hello, did someone here need a caregiver?” I raised an eyebrow. Finally. This was the second actual thing I had accomplished just now. “What caregiver? No, no!” My mother-in-law immediately waved him away. But I had already stood up, casually tucking in the corner of her blanket that had slipped down: “Mom, it’s already paid for, and it’s hard to get a refund during the holidays. It’s just three days. You’ve worked hard your whole life; you deserve to enjoy yourself a bit.” Without waiting for her to finish her long tirade, I turned and left. The schedule was tight; I didn’t have time to listen to these clichés anymore. Since I knew her payment passcode, of course, I was going to maximize its value. My father-in-law was a complete alcoholic, and the dictionary of men from that generation certainly didn’t include the word “consideration.” Emotional value? A luxury. Since that was the case, what was wrong with me hiring a professional and attentive caregiver for my mother-in-law, letting her experience a second spring? I rushed home as fast as I could. Pushing open the door, a strong stench of vomit hit my face. The living room was a mess. My father-in-law was passed out drunk on the sofa. His chest covered in filth. My sister-in-law? Long gone. I turned sideways and waved to the young woman who had followed me: “From now on, you stay here. You’re responsible for cleaning and cooking, $10,000 a month. My old man isn’t short on money, he just wants things clean and comfortable.” The young woman surveyed the mess, forcing down her disgust: “Sis… this… this will cost extra.” I patted her shoulder and readily agreed: “Reasonable. An extra $2,000 a month, and if you take good care of him, there are bonuses.” A smile immediately bloomed on her face, and she briskly rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning. Seeing that everything was arranged on both sides, I finally felt at ease. What was the point of Liam working so hard to make money? Wasn’t it so the whole family could live a good life? What was the point of just him and his mistress being comfortable? Last night, I had already taken the opportunity to leave the household register on my sister-in-law and her boyfriend’s nightstand. I wanted them to know that everyone is free. They could merge their lives as they pleased. Broaden their horizons. Instead of letting someone else have an illegitimate child, why not have one yourself? Honestly, I was really looking forward to it. My best friend was absolutely right: “A businessman’s betrayal is a high-dimensional strike against the original wife.” But he forgot that creating internal family conflicts was my main battlefield. Liam had done everything he could do. And what I could do had just begun. 5 I took my daughter and drove straight to my parents’ house without looking back. Before leaving, I sent Liam a message: “Hubby, our daughter might have eaten something bad last night, she keeps saying her stomach hurts. My parents are closer to the children’s hospital, so I’m taking her there for a checkup and we’ll stay for a couple of days. You’ll have to take care of things with Mom and Dad.” Message sent, I turned off my phone. After settling my daughter, I turned around and rented a single room right across from Liam’s parents’ place. I carefully observed their every move. I had accurately predicted everyone’s actions: My mother-in-law, for the sake of her unborn eldest grandson, would never admit she was seriously ill. She would definitely grit her teeth and power through, to avoid disrupting her son’s good time. Expecting her to ask Liam to come back and replace me? Wishful thinking. And the nanny at my father-in-law’s side was no ordinary worker. She had received strict training. She knew how to massage and play chess. And she provided extremely high emotional value. This was something my mother-in-law could never match. Since I knew Liam was a piece of trash, his father would only be worse. My sister-in-law? She wouldn’t bring up the mess at home either. After all, when her father collapsed in a pile of vomit, she was the first to pack her bags and leave. So, the only person responsible for this family right now was me. And now, I was gone too. Liam could finally wait in peace for his little brother to be born in that cozy love nest. No matter whose child it was, it was fine. I loved it all. Sure enough, for three whole days, Liam didn’t send me a single message. He didn’t even want to pretend anymore. The fourth day, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. I went to handle my mother-in-law’s discharge paperwork. As soon as I reached the door of the hospital room, I saw a picture of family bliss: A young woman with a noticeably swollen belly was sitting by the bed, massaging the old lady’s calf. And that man stood behind the woman, expertly massaging her shoulders. Sunlight poured through the window onto them, drawing envious glances from countless other patients. It was an incredibly heartwarming scene. If that man wasn’t my husband. Clearly, the male caregiver hadn’t caught the old lady’s eye. I slowly backed away. No. It wasn’t time yet. I constantly remembered my best friend’s warning: “Once the illegitimate child is born, your and your daughter’s destiny will be completely rewritten. Especially in this kind of family that favors boys over girls, to pave the way for the grandson, they will use every trick in the book to force you out with nothing, even colluding to manufacture debt and make you pay them.” I turned back to the rented room and picked up my binoculars. I saw the two inside acting distant, with absolutely no progress. My temples throbbed with anxiety. It was too late. Soon, the three of them returned. My phone vibrated. It was Liam. “I’m heading to my parents’ place, I have something to tell you.” My fingertips trembled slightly. I quickly put the phone on silent. It seemed they were going to lay their cards on the table. Upon entering, my mother-in-law was dumbfounded: “Who is this? So while I was lying in the hospital for three days, you were living like an emperor at home?” After a moment of dead silence, my father-in-law began to complain: “You had someone serving you in the hospital. I woke up covered in vomit, the house was freezing cold, not even a sip of hot water! If Chloe hadn’t called someone to help, I could have died at home and no one would have known!” The air froze for a few seconds. My mother-in-law looked at the nanny in annoyance: “Since I’m back, we don’t need outsiders in the house. Tell her to leave.” In the living room, the young woman spoke up timidly: “Auntie, we signed a formal contract, a six-month term… if you terminate it now, according to the rules, you have to pay a penalty equal to two months’ salary.”

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