Category: English

On our third wedding anniversary, I tricked Sera into signing the divorce papers. The doctor had just told me I had terminal stomach cancer and only three months to live. Sera just thought I was being difficult. Annoyed, she signed, then jetted off to Europe with Leo, her adopted brother and childhood friend. Later, she tried every trick in the book to threaten and retaliate against me, desperately hoping I’d come back to her. But all she got was the video I left for her at my funeral. When the first words flashed on screen: “Sera, by the time you see this video, I’ll already be dead…” The once utterly arrogant Sera completely lost her mind. I was in the hospital, my stomach bleeding from overwork, while Sera and Leo watched a private fireworks show in our backyard. Facing the cameras practically shoved in my face, I forced a weak smile onto my pale lips. “Everyone, stop guessing. Sera and I are doing great. The guy she’s leaning on is just a family friend, her adopted brother, that’s all.” The crowd of reporters surrounding me looked disgusted, as if my answer was too rehearsed. Actually, it wasn’t entirely false. Leo wasn’t her biological brother; he was an orphan adopted by the Harrison family. Sera and I were in an arranged marriage, and she was a perfectly suitable partner for a business alliance. But three months ago, after Leo returned from overseas, Sera’s personality completely shifted. She clung to him constantly. She utterly forgot she was a married woman, and she forgot the media once hailed her as the perfect wife. All the household staff had been sent by Sera to prepare the fireworks show for Leo. I called her several times, but she didn’t pick up. I had no choice but to drag my weakened body through the discharge process and take a cab home. The quiet night, my silent self, seemed utterly out of place amidst the raucous celebration. Watching the fireworks explode across the sky in the backyard, Sera attentively lit a cigarette for Leo, feeding him cake. Suddenly, I realized I was the outsider in my own home. It was deep autumn. Leaves littered the ground, rustling underfoot. Leo was the first to spot me. He jumped up, startled like a bird, looking genuinely pitiful. “Myles!” “Please don’t misunderstand, Sera and I were just celebrating the company’s revival, that’s all.” Ha! Celebrating the company’s revival? *Just* that? What did he have to do with our company clawing its way back from the brink of collapse to reach its peak today? Seeing the contempt etched on my face, Sera rushed forward, shielding Leo behind her. “Myles, stop acting like you’re on your deathbed all the time, okay?” “Haven’t you had enough of faking your calm, collected demeanor for the cameras and interviews every single day?” “You want me to pity you? Feel sorry for you?” “Dream on!” Leo, still behind her, looked scared by her outburst. He sniffled, his eyes red, and tugged on her arm. “Sera! Please don’t be so angry!” “I’m scared.” This grand performance almost made me applaud, but I no longer had the energy to compete with them. Unexpectedly, I forced a smile and stepped closer, putting on a pathetic act for Sera: “Sera, I absolutely didn’t misunderstand anything between you two.” “It’s just… it’s my birthday today. I know you’re busy, so you forgot. I don’t blame you.” She froze for a second, then any trace of guilt on her face was quickly hidden. “Birthday?” She scoffed, a sneer twisting her lips. “Didn’t you say you hated celebrating your birthday?” My mother died giving birth to me; my birthday is the anniversary of her death. My father cherished my mother deeply, and every year he would prepare elaborate memorials for her, so I had never celebrated a birthday growing up. But she had forgotten that it was *she* who, for two consecutive years after we married, celebrated my birthday, pulling me out of the darkness. I remember her eyes sparkling as she leaned in close, whispering to me, “Myles, from now on, you’ll never feel alone on your birthday again.” “You were never a curse; you are my lucky charm.” Looking at her now, defending Leo with the same unwavering devotion, my heart no longer ached. She didn’t know. A week ago, I had tricked her into signing the divorce papers.

The stomach bleeding today wasn’t a coincidence. A week ago, I was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, with barely three months to live – the memory still vivid. I remember it was our third wedding anniversary. I was sitting alone in the hospital corridor, the sweat on my hands dampening the diagnostic report. My legs felt like jelly; I tried to stand several times but couldn’t. My taut heart was slowly torn to shreds when Sera finally answered on the tenth call. “Myles! Are you sick or something?” “Just because you’re bored to death doesn’t mean everyone else isn’t busy, does it?” She actually got it right. I was sick, and critically so. A man’s voice in the background made the words I wanted to spill catch in my throat. “Sera! I knew you’d come!” “You must miss me, right?” Sera’s laughter echoed from the other end, followed by an abrupt hang-up. This wasn’t the first time. The first time Sera stood me up was to pick up Leo from the airport. The first time she hit me was because Leo broke my architectural model. My initial shock had gradually evolved into indifference. The searing pain in my chest had now become a dull throb. More than once, I made excuses for her, telling myself it was all because Leo was her adopted brother, and she was helpless. But eventually, I had to face the truth: she wasn’t helpless; she was willing. Sera saw me as a temporary distraction when Leo wasn’t around, trampling on my dignity and my feelings. So I decided to make her taste the agony of unrequited love, to force her to fall for me, to make me unforgettable. If she wouldn’t see me, I would become the thorn buried deep in her heart. Alive, I’d cause her constant pain. Dead, I’d make her wish she were dead. I recorded three videos, determined to give Sera a grand parting gift.

During that last month, I abandoned my former pride and dignity, even ignoring Leo’s blatant provocations. But he wasn’t done with me. He spilled coffee all over my design blueprints. When Sera returned, she found me furious at Leo. “Do you have to be so aggressive?” I silently raised my hand. The angry red marks on my wrist from the hot coffee were stark. “Sera! Don’t you know he—” She glanced at Leo, who was trembling with fear, then a sharp slap echoed as her hand connected with my face. “If your hand is hurt, go to the hospital! Why are you throwing a fit here?” “You’re nothing but a savage!” All the glory and aspirations of my first half of life vanished in that moment. And my wife, my supposed rock, mocked me with disdain. “The designs are ruined, so what? They’re just tools for you to grab attention anyway.” My hysterical questions sounded like a madman’s ravings to her. “How dare you compare yourself to Leo?” “He studies design because it’s his dream, but you? You’re just after a bit of superficial gain.” Leo picked up a glass of water, poured it over his head, then smashed the glass on the floor, leaving a mess. He looked at me pitifully. “Myles, I didn’t mean it, are you satisfied now?” Sera hurried to comfort him, helping him change clothes. As she left, she shot me a cold glare: “Myles, Leo is my adopted brother. Watch yourself.” Her gaze flickered to my reddened hand, and for a fleeting second, a hint of emotion sparked in her eyes. Leo seemed to notice Sera’s change in demeanor. He closed his eyes and fainted into her arms. “Leo!” Her resolute departure extinguished the last glimmer of light in my heart. In the end, I took a cab to the hospital alone to treat my injury.

I sent all the recorded videos to my sister, Rowan. She knew about my illness and my plan. Our family relations were always distant. Under our father’s influence, my sister had always believed I was the reason she grew up without a mother. “Myles, your cancer is your karma. You should have paid for Mom’s life a long time ago.” That was the first thing she said to me after learning of my illness. I promised her the company, and she agreed to play the video at my funeral. My phone kept flashing on and off, a relentless stream of messages. It was Sera, the IP address indicating she was overseas. “Myles, don’t worry, I’ll definitely make it back for the family dinner tomorrow night.” “You’re not mad, are you?” “Myles, you have to understand. Leo threatened to kill himself, I had no choice but to go.” “That’s a human life at stake! I can’t just stand by and do nothing!” My lips felt numb, my limbs heavy. Messages popped up on the screen, one after another, until I gradually lost consciousness. As I fell to the ground, the question in my heart remained unanswered: “Sera, how miserable will your end be?” My soul drifted out of my body. I watched my own pale, rigid form lying on the floor. Perhaps my deep unwillingness to accept my fate touched the heavens, granting me this chance to stay and witness their end. My phone had one bar of battery left, the message list already 99+. Sera had just sent me one last message. “Myles, stop making a scene.” “My flight might be delayed, so go to the old family estate and wait for me first.” I scoffed. My consciousness traveled to the Harrison estate, waiting for the show to begin. Sera seemed to be in a hurry; her tie was still crooked. She ran breathlessly into the estate. “Grandpa, where’s Myles?” “I need to talk to him about something first.” Grandpa Harrison looked flustered, his brows still furrowed. “Sera!” “Always rushing around like this, what kind of manners are those?” “And from now on, you can’t let Leo run wild just because he’s throwing a tantrum. Our Harrison family isn’t completely free from the Rowan family’s support. If he hadn’t insisted on going abroad to study design back then, and you hadn’t secretly embezzled company funds, the company wouldn’t have ended up in such a state.” “You can’t afford to anger Myles away, so rein in your temper!” Sera’s brows furrowed instantly, her eyes flashing with annoyance. “Grandpa! Why are you still talking about that now?” “If Myles hears any of this, everything will be ruined!” Watching this, my heart still ached. So, the company’s financial black hole I had worked myself to death to fix was all Leo’s doing. And her kindness to me before? It was merely a calculated act, preying on my ability to revive her company. “Myles? What Myles?” Grandpa Harrison asked, bewildered by her agitated tone. Sera froze for a second, then panic flashed in her eyes. “Myles… he hasn’t arrived yet?” She sighed, pulled her phone from her pocket, and dialed my number. After three calls with no answer, standing rooted to the spot, she finally grew anxious. “Answer the phone, Myles!” She paced frantically, stamping her foot a few times in frustration. Grandpa Harrison suggested they sit down; the entire family was already assembled. Just as Sera sat at the dining table, a call came in. I clearly saw her face shift from excited joy to confused bewilderment. Rowan’s voice came through the phone. “Sera, come to Myles’s funeral tomorrow.”

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My husband was the literary world’s most celebrated genius. Then one evening, he confessed to me. “Stella, my inspiration has run dry. I found someone online, an ‘inspiration provider.’ Ten thousand a month.” “But it’s just work. You are the only one I love.” later, I learned the truth. He and that provider, the one he had promised never to meet in person, already had a seven-year-old son. “Chloe, you must hide the child well. Don’t let anyone find out.” “After the new book launch, I’ll figure out a way to get Stella out of the picture, and give you and the child a proper place.” “Don’t worry, she’s just a clueless housewife.” I smirked, silently closing the message-sharing app on my phone. A way out? I’ll help you find one. How kind of me. Suddenly, the lock turned. Julian strode in as if he owned the place, an adult and a child trailing behind him. “What is this?” I sneered. My own voice sounded eerily calm. He turned awkwardly, a guilty smile on his lips. “Stella, you’re home! Perfect, let me introduce you.” “This is Chloe Hayes, the inspiration provider I mentioned. And this is her son, Leo.” Leo? How fitting. “Didn’t you promise you’d never meet in person?” I cut him off with a cold laugh. Julian’s expression tightened. He hadn’t expected me to be this direct. Chloe’s eyes welled up instantly. She stepped forward, a picture of wounded innocence. “Stella, please don’t blame Julian. This is all my fault. If my presence upsets you, I’ll leave right now.” She turned as if to go. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Julian quickly moved to block her path. He turned back to me, his face etched with impatience. “Enough, Stella, stop making a scene.” “I had no choice. This is all for my work.” “Can’t you see it? Chloe’s insights are brilliant. She’s a single mother, raising a child alone. That mix of strength and fragility she carries…it’s exactly what my writing needs. Having her here is purely to facilitate the creative process.” “A single mom? Sounds like a woman with a story.” “So?” I met his gaze, a dismissive curl to my lip. Julian frowned, annoyed. “For now, Chloe and the boy will stay here. I’ve had the guest room prepared. Everything else can wait until after the new book launches.” His tone sharpened abruptly. “And enough with the interrogation. Everything I do is for the work. There’s nothing personal in it.” I almost laughed. If I hadn’t been ready, I might have believed every solemn word. Three months ago, Julian did mention his writer’s block. He was, after all, the most celebrated literary genius of his time. Nearly every book he wrote became a sensation. But that night, he was smoking uncharacteristically. “Stella, I don’t think I can write anymore.” “Every word feels like a stone lodged in my mind…impossible to move..” My heart sank. At our wedding ten years ago, he had declared to everyone. “Meeting Stella was the beginning of all my inspiration.” But now, his eyes were as lost as a child’s. “Stella, I’m truly desperate. The pressure is crushing. The publisher has called three times. Readers ask about the new book every day on social media. The entire world is waiting.” “So I hired someone online-ten thousand a month. She shares life details and emotional stories through messages, just to spark something in me.” He suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “It’s a fair trade. She needs the money. I need the inspiration.” My breath hitched. “You won’t meet her in person?” “Of course not!” He grabbed my hands at once, his voice certain. “It’s strictly professional. Stella, don’t read into this. You’ll always be my wife. The only one I love.” And yet now, he was secretly planning how to remove me from his life. I sank slowly back into the couch and turned on the newest film. Julian, you didn’t really think I was just some useless housewife, did you?

The very next morning, Chloe was already at the dining table, wearing my clothes, her child beside her. She looked like a conqueror holding court. “Stella, you’re awake? Come, have breakfast..” “I heard you love soy milk, so I asked the housekeeper to make you a cup. Consider it a welcome gift.” She smiled, pushing the cup towards me. “No.” I had no words to waste on her and turned to leave. But Chloe suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. “Stella, where are you rushing off? You haven’t touched your soy milk. It’s a gesture from my heart.” “Let go!” Without a second thought, I jerked my arm free. Suddenly, Leo’s face flushed, and he started struggling to breathe. “Mommy, I…can’t breathe…” “Leo, what’s wrong?” Chloe’s scream was perfectly timed. It drew Julian’s attention instantly. He rushed downstairs without hesitation. “What happened?” Chloe spun around, tears already streaming down her face. With a practiced thud, she dropped to her knees before me. “Stella, I know you don’t like me, but how could you hurt a child?” “Whatever you feel toward me, take it out on me. Leo is just a boy. He doesn’t understand any of this.” Julian’s face instantly changed. He quickly, tenderly, helped Chloe up. “Chloe, what are you doing? Don’t worry, with me here, no one will dare to bully you.” Then, he erupted in anger, pointing his finger at me. “Stella, what did you do?” “Why would you hurt a child?!” I scoffed. Looking at the man who once swore I was his entire world, I almost laughed out loud. “Julian, are you blind, or just willfully ignorant? Which part of you saw me lay a finger on anyone?” “No, no, Julian, Stella didn’t do anything, it’s not her fault.” Chloe cut in perfectly, tears already tracing down her cheeks, her expression a masterpiece of wounded sorrow. “I shouldn’t have moved in. I shouldn’t have disturbed Stella’s life.” “And I definitely shouldn’t have mentioned carelessly that Leo is allergic to soy milk, only to still offer it to him… just to try and please her.” “Still, regardless of fault-Julian, please, just take Leo to the hospital first.” “Tsk, what a well-rehearsed script.” “Ms. Hayes, your performance is wasted here. It’s a shame you never pursued acting.” I applauded softly, a smile on my lips. “Stella, that’s enough!” Julian was livid, his hand rising as if to strike me. I scoffed and leaned in closer. “What’s wrong, famous author? Can’t bring yourself to do it?” “Or are you worried your wife might say something…untimely at your book launch in two days?” “You!” Seeing his face freeze, I knew he was afraid. Because I understood better than anyone how desperately Julian craved success. I had watched him claw his way up from obscurity, from a writer no one knew into the “genius” everyone praised. His expression shifted. He released me angrily. “Stella, you’ve disappointed me.” He scooped up Leo, shoved past me roughly, and rushed out. Caught off guard, I crashed into the sharp corner of the table, the impact jolting through my abdomen. Disappointed? I laughed, and the tears came instantly. I had once been pregnant, too. Seven years ago, during Julian’s most hectic book launch, I had lost the child in an accident. Back then, he had held my hand, his eyes filled with a sorrow that felt genuine. “It’s okay, we’re still young.” “There will be other chances.” I still remembered the grief in his eyes. After that, he never mentioned trying for a child again.. But now, I recalled everything I had uncovered last night. My miscarriage. Chloe’s pregnancy. The timing aligned with a precision so chilling it froze the blood in my veins.

“Stella, you have the nerve to be sleeping here!” Julian stormed in. He grabbed my hair, roughly dragging me downstairs. A searing pain instantly shot through my scalp. My vision went black. “Julian, are you insane?!” “Insane? Well, you drove me to it, Stella! Do you know, if we had been ten minutes later, Leo might have died!” “Anaphylactic shock can kill someone! How could you be so vicious?!” He violently flung me to the floor. I sneered, lifting my head to glare at him. “What, Mr. Famous Author, so worried about a child who’s an outsider? Could it be that he’s related to you?” “Stella, what are you talking about?!” Julian immediately roared, his face flushed with shame and anger. “I’m talking nonsense?” I scoffed. “To think you’d strike and scream at your own wife over another woman’s child. Anyone who saw it would think he was your secret son.” Sure enough, his face paled. I knew him too well. Julian valued his reputation above all else. Countless envious eyes were watching him, waiting for him to slip. If a scandal broke now, especially at a critical moment like his new book presale launch, his meticulously built image would be completely shattered. “Stella, how many times do I have to tell you? They are inspiration partners for my work. I brought them home for my writing. What is wrong with that?” “It’s you who’s petty and narrow-minded, constantly bullying her and her child.” “Now the new book’s presales have broken industry records on the very first day. They helped achieve that. How dare you, with such a malicious heart, slander our benefactors?” Benefactors? More like a conquest in the bedroom, wouldn’t you say? But when I turned and saw what Chloe was holding, my blood turned to ice. A scream lodged itself in my throat. “Julian, what have you done?!” It was unmistakably my mother’s urn. Why was it in her hands? Without Julian’s silent permission, how could she ever have reached it? Julian’s expression faltered, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “Stella, let me explain.” Chloe suddenly stepped forward, a mask of panic on her face. “Oh? Was this so important, Stella? Here, I’ll give it back right now!” Before I could even move, her eyes darted sideways, a vicious smile touching her lips. In one swift motion, the urn dropped from her hands. It shattered against the floor with a sickening crack. “Chloe!” Rage surged through me, hot and blinding. My vision flushed crimson. I lunged for her, past all reason. But Julian’s arm shot out, blocking my way. Chloe immediately cowered behind Julian. “Stella, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, it was an accident! I didn’t know it meant so much to you. It’s all my fault. My hand just slipped. Please, please forgive me.” “Chloe didn’t mean it.” Julian watched me crumble, my voice breaking, and frowned with distaste. “Stella, get a hold of yourself. It’s only an urn.” Only an urn? I laughed, a bitter, furious sound. I bit down hard, forcing the words out slowly. “Julian. Tell me. Why did you give her my mother’s ashes?” Julian lowered his gaze. Chloe smugly peered out from behind him. “Stella, it’s my fault, all my fault. There’s an old belief where I come from… if a child in the family falls ill from fright, the ashes of an elder can absorb the bad luck. I was just so worried about Leo’s condition.” “So I begged Julian for help. I’m begging you, please don’t blame Julian, and don’t let this cause any trouble between you two because of me.” She cried and whimpered, making to kowtow again. Julian moved without hesitation, stepping wordlessly in front to shield her. “That’s enough, Stella. What happened to Leo is, in part, tied to you. And your mother is gone. Keeping her ashes is just clinging to the past.” “Just gather them up. We’ll get a new urn.” Ward off evil? If the moment weren’t so grave, I might have laughed until I cried. Julian. You, the celebrated author of our time. You would actually believe such a pathetic excuse. “Fine.” The word tore from my throat, bitter with the taste of blood I kept forcing down. “Perfect.” I dug my nails into my palms, clinging to the pain to stay calm. I’m so sorry, Mom. I let them defile you. Don’t worry. They will pay. Then I took out my phone and texted Julian’s assistant: “Change of venue for the launch. Await my instructions.”

When I first met Julian, he was just an obscure writer, not even worthy of the title author. His writing couldn’t even sell as scrap paper. But even then, I saw his dedication and hard work. For him, I hid all my own brilliance. I retreated behind the scenes, pouring vast resources and connections into his career, handing him opportunities on a silver platter. I never imagined I was feeding an ungrateful ingrate. “Stella, I want to talk…” The next morning, Julian stood outside my door, a look of apology on his face. “I thought about yesterday all night. I was too impulsive, I didn’t think things through.” “Didn’t you want to go to a luxury spa retreat? How about this, I’ll make arrangements today, and take you out to relax, just like when we first got married.” I looked up and saw Chloe standing at the corner, glaring at me with resentment. I raised an eyebrow. Pretending? Who couldn’t? I leaned in, feigning deep affection, and whispered in his ear. “Okay, honey. I was out of line too, ignoring how stressed you’ve been lately.” “It has been a while since we went out together. Maybe we could even try for a baby while we’re there.” Sure enough, Chloe went rigid, all color draining from her face. I smirked. Hook, line, and sinker.. At 3 PM, Julian’s message arrived right on time.. “Stella, I’m so sorry. The publisher called an emergency meeting. The spa day will have to wait. I promise I’ll make it up to you next time.” My reply was gracious, sent with a smile. “No worries, your work comes first. Don’t overwork yourself.” I even added a hugging emoji. Then, I opened the GPS tracker on my phone. I texted Julian’s assistant again. “Launch the new book. Immediate release. Alert all major media and news outlets. Be ready.” Next, I scrolled through Chloe’s latest update. A carousel of photos, each more boastful than the last. “They say this is the most expensive hot spring bath in the world!” “With the right person, even the air tastes sweeter.” “Turns out, the one who isn’t loved will always be the third wheel.” Location: The Hot Spring Resort. A cold smile touched my lips. All they knew was that the place was private and expensive. They had no idea I had bought it years ago. Meanwhile, I had already contacted all the major players in the industry and arranged for them to accompany me to the resort. Our cars had barely reached the foot of the mountain when a swarm of cameras and microphones surged toward mine. “Why was the launch date moved up so abruptly? Are there additional plans?” “Is Julian already at the resort? Why was this location chosen for the launch?” “It’s said this is Julian’s long-awaited masterpiece after two years of reflection. Pre-orders have sold out before the official release. Can you share where his inspiration came from?” I smiled. “Thank you all for your attention. There will indeed be a special program today. As for the details…” I paused, letting my smile deepen. “You’ll just have to wait and see.” As I walked, I dialed Julian’s number right in front of the rolling cameras. His voice came through, raspy and uneven between breaths. “Honey, I’m…having hot pot with some colleagues.” “Of course.” I smiled and ended the call. What a “business dinner,” Julian. Or should I say, a couple’s retreat? A sharp-eyed reporter caught the discrepancy. “This doesn’t look much like a restaurant.” The guards at the entrance saw us and their expressions shifted instantly. “Sorry, it’s a private event. We’re not admitting any guests!” I didn’t slow down. “Out of my way.” Then, I kicked the door open. The internet broke.

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I Don’t Love You Anymore I purposefully left the door open, ensuring my husband heard every single sound of me and my lover making love all night. The next morning, his eyes were bloodshot as he pinned me against the bed, demanding: “How many times did he satisfy you last night? Did he make you feel good? Why not me?” But I just tugged my bathrobe tighter over the angry red marks blossoming all over my body and shot back: “We’re just playing by our own rules now. Has your little nurse stopped satisfying you?” Daniel Blackwood’s gaze blazed red, but he couldn’t find a single word to refute me. The moment he caused our daughter’s death, our love story was over. I drove alone in the biting cold wind to the cemetery on the outskirts, searching for our daughter. As I passed the old site of the small clinic my dad used to own, tears streamed down my face. I had once been the youngest associate professor at the medical academy, but I’d given up the chance to study at a top-tier institution for my husband, Daniel Blackwood. That year, he was ambushed by a patient’s family after a malpractice suit, almost beaten to death. It was my dad who bit the bullet, selling the clinic he’d run for thirty years and draining his entire life’s savings just to pull him out of that legal mess. To help him establish himself in the hospital, my dad handed over his invaluable surgical notes and his entire network of professional contacts. He even sacrificed himself by self-testing an experimental drug, which caused acute liver failure, and he never recovered. That’s how Daniel Blackwood became the youngest chief surgeon in the city. I once naively believed that such a profound debt of gratitude would tie him to me for life. But everything changed the day he brought that nurse, Chloe Sterling, home. The Daniel Blackwood who once agonized over my slightest frown, tore my heart into a million pieces with his own hands. I’ll never forget it. My mother was in the late stages of lung cancer and needed a crucial imported targeted medication. To make Chloe Sterling happy, Daniel gave the drug to her purebred Ragdoll cat, which only had a skin condition. And I’ll never forget the day our daughter stopped breathing. Daniel Blackwood was in Chloe Sterling’s hospital room, intimately entangled with her. I found my daughter’s small niche in the cheapest public columbarium. A space no bigger than my palm, not even a photograph was placed there. Night fell, and I sat on the cold floor tiles. Just like I used to sing her to sleep, I hummed “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” all night, her favorite song. The next morning, I was jolted awake by a cacophony of shouting and cursing. Opening my eyes, I saw a crowd of neighbors from our community surrounding me, all filming with their phones: “That’s her! Mr. Blackwood’s crazy wife!” “Miss Sterling said she went insane last night and trashed our entire community garden!” “Those flowers and plants were just planted by the property management, they cost tens of thousands!” “Such a venomous woman! No wonder Mr. Blackwood locked her up!” Daniel Blackwood emerged from the crowd. His face was filled with a look of deep sorrow: “Neighbors, I apologize for not handling my family matters better. My wife, due to some misunderstandings, has suffered a mental breakdown, which led her to do this. I will cover all losses, please don’t blame her.” His words instantly cemented my reputation as a “lunatic.” I stared at the man I had loved with all my heart for so many years, shaking with fury: “Daniel Blackwood, you’re lying! I never left the cemetery last night!” “Still trying to deny it!” A security guard held up his phone. “The surveillance camera caught a woman’s back, and she was wearing exactly what you have on!” “This crazy woman is bad luck, and her daughter’s grave is bad luck too!” “Throw out the urn! Don’t let it dirty our cemetery!” I lunged forward to stop them, but several men held me down firmly. My face pressed against the cold floor tiles, tears mixing with dust, blurring my vision. All I could manage were guttural screams. They pried open the small niche and pulled out the black urn. I struggled desperately, and the urn crashed to the ground with a sickening thud. The lid flew open, and the grayish-white ashes scattered across the floor. A gust of wind blew through, stirring up a cloud of dust. I watched, helpless, as my daughter’s last trace in this world simply vanished. The crowd dispersed, muttering curses. Daniel Blackwood slowly walked over. He looked at me with complex emotions: “Sarah, you’ve always been so strong… It’s just a place for ashes. I’ll buy a better burial plot later…” “You know, Chloe Sterling has been pampered since childhood and has never suffered any grievances. What you did yesterday, sprinkling medication ash into her bowl, was truly too much.” I gritted my teeth, every word tinged with blood: “My daughter only had these ashes left in this world.” “I understand,” he sighed. “But if I don’t appease Chloe Sterling like this, what if her depression acts up? What if it affects the baby she’s carrying? Sarah, you should understand my difficulties.” He paused, his voice softening slightly: “Sarah, you need to be strong.”

Strong? What a cruel joke! My dad died of liver failure after participating in clinical trials to help Daniel develop a new drug. To spare Daniel any guilt, I forced myself to handle my father’s funeral arrangements alone, not shedding a single tear. My mother had late-stage lung cancer, and he gave the only imported life-extending medication to Chloe Sterling’s cat. Before my mother passed, she held my hand and said: “Daniel Blackwood… he probably has his difficulties, don’t resent him…” My throat tightened, tears welled in my eyes. But I forced them back. Yet all this pain I endured, the grievances I swallowed, the tears I held back— In his eyes, they became reasons for me to be “strong”? I laughed, my body shaking: “Daniel Blackwood, is Chloe Sterling’s mood more important than my daughter’s ashes?” “Can’t you be so petty? She didn’t mean it.” It was always like this; I was always in the wrong. It was the same before; I merely pointed out that she was prescribing the wrong medication to a patient. In her enraged fury, Daniel Blackwood locked me in the basement for a whole year. “Sarah, it’s been a year. Have you thought things through?” When Daniel Blackwood reopened the basement door, the light streaming in from outside stung my eyes. Chloe Sterling, visibly pregnant, walked over, feigning concern to help me up: “Be careful, Sarah. It’s damp down here, don’t fall.” Fall? I almost laughed. A year ago, the day I was locked in, our daughter had just taken her last breath. I knelt, grabbing Daniel Blackwood’s pant leg, my forehead bleeding from hitting the floor: “Please, save Lily! I swear I’ll never touch Chloe Sterling again!” He looked down at me, his eyes as cold as a surgical blade: “Sarah, you’re sick. How could Chloe Sterling harm a child? You’re the one losing your mind.” He embraced a trembling Chloe Sterling, his voice sickeningly tender: “Don’t be afraid. I’ve locked her up; no one will hurt you again.” Seeing a tenderness in his eyes I had never experienced, the blood in my veins ran cold. “Daniel Blackwood! My daughter is dead!” My reply was the *clunk* of a lock. To get out sooner and bury my daughter, I remained quiet, no tears, no tantrums. But by the time my daughter’s body began to decompose in the hospital morgue, Chloe Sterling, while I was asleep, had someone send the body directly to the crematorium. I frantically pounded on the door, my throat raw from screaming: “Daniel Blackwood! That’s your daughter! How could you let her die without a proper burial?!” My palms bled from hitting the door, and in return, rats were thrown in through the vent in the middle of the night. They bit my feet, gnawed at my fingers. I huddled in the corner, my wounds festering, my fever raging repeatedly. “Are you alright?” Chloe Sterling’s voice pulled me back to reality. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, looked up at Daniel Blackwood, my voice hoarse: “Where are Lily’s ashes?” No one answered. My heart sank, and I stumbled towards the children’s room on the second floor. I had decorated it myself when I was pregnant. The closer I got, the more my heart ached. But the moment I pushed open the door, I froze. The room was filled with lingerie, whips, and handcuffs. The walls were covered with nude oil paintings of Chloe Sterling. My fingers dug into the doorframe, my knuckles white. Daniel Blackwood’s footsteps approached from behind, his tone impatient: “I let you out not for you to cause a scene.” “The dead cannot be brought back to life, can’t you just move on?” “No!” I spun around and slapped him across the face. “This filthy place is your explanation to our daughter?! Daniel Blackwood, do you even deserve to be a father?!” “I’m only asking you, where are her ashes?” At the mention of our daughter, his gaze darted away. “Chloe Sterling is pregnant and emotionally unstable; I just painted some pictures to cheer her up…” “She’s suffering from prenatal depression, I couldn’t help it.” “Couldn’t help it?” When Chloe Sterling moved into my house, and neighbors pointed fingers at me, he pretended not to see—he couldn’t help it. When Chloe Sterling put peanuts, to which I’m severely allergic, in my soup, and I went into anaphylactic shock, he didn’t bat an eye—he couldn’t help it. When Chloe Sterling caused our daughter’s death, he protected her—he couldn’t help it. I laughed, tears streaming down my face: “All these ‘couldn’t help it’ moments have nearly cost me my life.” I rushed into the room, grabbed a paint can, and hurled it at the paintings. “Sarah Moore, have you gone mad?! What did Chloe Sterling ever do to you?!” Daniel Blackwood grabbed my wrist but suddenly froze. Beneath my sleeve, my arms were covered in festering wounds. “You… How did you get these? I explicitly ordered them to send you food every day, to take good care of you…” “I’m doing just fine.” “You can just kneel here. When you’ve reflected enough, then you can come back.” Daniel Blackwood’s cold voice brought me back to reality, and I pursed my lips, unable to utter a single word.

I knelt on the ground, my forehead pressed against my daughter’s tiny tombstone, sobbing inconsolably. “Sarah looks so pitiful like this.” Chloe Sterling’s voice drifted from behind me. “Even after all this, why won’t she be sensible and just get a divorce and leave?” She stood before me, her pregnant belly prominent, exuding the air of a victor: “But you know, everything you’re experiencing today, I planned it all, step by step.” She crouched down, leaned close to my ear, her voice laced with a smile: “I personally dragged your daughter out of the morgue and threw her into that stray dog den on the west side of town.” “I watched those dogs… tear her apart bit by bit, it was truly satisfying.” She paused, her tone laced with a hint of cruel pride: “Do you know how Daniel treated me when I came home that night, covered in the smell of blood?” “He held me… and took me all night.” “You bastard! You bitch!” I shrieked, scrambling to my feet, my hands clamping tightly around her throat. I was going to kill her! Avenge my daughter! Chloe Sterling’s face turned crimson, but she was still laughing: “Serves you right… Hahaha…” She found a nearby shovel handle and brought it down hard on my back. The searing pain made my vision go black. After more than a year of torment, my body was already broken. I collapsed to the ground like a rag doll, unable to move. I don’t know how much time passed, but then she crouched down again, dangling something in her hand. A soft *clinking* sound. My pupils contracted sharply— It was the string of golden pearls. Three years ago, before Daniel Blackwood’s heart surgery, I had flown to the Philippines, almost dying in the deep sea to collect them. Every single pearl was polished by my own hands. Chloe Sterling laughed mockingly: “Do you remember these? Actually, I should thank you for these pearls.” “Daniel loves to play with them in bed… one by one, he slowly inserted them…” “He said that way, he could feel your intentions.” The genuine affection I’d risked my life to acquire now felt like countless poisoned boomerangs piercing my heart. My chest tightened with a sharp pang, and nausea spread throughout my entire body. “Get out! Chloe Sterling, get out!” Her eyes were icy, her words venomous and vicious. “Sarah Moore, you deserve to die!” My vision swam, and I collapsed.

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The Speech That Stole My Mind Everyone said Julian Thorne, the genius scion of the Thorne family, was a master manipulator. He’d kept Scarlett Hayes, the fearless heiress to a billionaire fortune, by his side for seven years without a title or public recognition. All she wanted was for Julian to conquer the research on Alzheimer’s disease so he could finally marry her properly. But even as his company, started from scratch, effortlessly broke into the global top ten, his progress on Alzheimer’s research remained at zero. I didn’t blame Julian. I just silently straightened his messy tie before he left for the forum. Julian didn’t know that while the whole world celebrated his career’s success, I had just received my Alzheimer’s diagnosis. That wedding, it seemed, I’d never get. Soon, I would forget him, and even forget who I am. 1 “She shouldn’t be, she’s only in her twenties. How can she have a disease like Alzheimer’s?” The doctor’s words echoed in my mind. Even after I got home, they didn’t stop. The computer screen beside me flickered off. Four hours earlier, clinging to a final sliver of hope, I had searched for news of cured Alzheimer’s cases. But the news laid out the cruelest facts right in front of me. Losing basic motor functions, Unprovoked violent outbursts, Incontinence. These were all symptoms of late-stage Alzheimer’s. No one was spared. My chest ached, a dull, heavy pain. I closed the page, trying to temporarily escape the nightmare, but accidentally clicked on a folder. His entire family were doctors. Only by solving pressing medical challenges could one inherit the position of family head, marry, and start a family. As a once-in-a-generation genius, Julian had voluntarily increased the difficulty, stating he would only marry after his startup finance company achieved success and renown, and he had solved a major medical problem. With dual Ph.D.s in medicine and finance, he believed only by reaching the pinnacle of both fields could he live up to the family’s investment in his education and upbringing over the years. Coincidentally, the medical challenge Julian chose was Alzheimer’s disease. But now, the folder for Alzheimer’s research was an empty shell; not even the first step had been taken. Beside it, the plans for how his new company would go public and break into world rankings had been executed flawlessly. I stared blankly at the screen. Suddenly realizing a devastating truth. For seven years, Julian Thorne had never intended to marry me. The moment the screen went dark, the door suddenly opened. I instinctively swept the scattered medical reports off the table. Julian, however, frowned slightly at the open laptop. “Can you please not touch my things when I’m not around?” Julian closed the laptop, abruptly changing the subject. “Can you help me find my tie?” “There’s a charity event tonight I need to attend.” “I need to look formal.” In the drawer, His ties were perfectly categorized by color, neatly placed in small boxes. I found the most suitable one and handed it to Julian. “We’ve lived here for five years now.” “You really should start remembering where things are.” My reminder made a flicker of impatience cross Julian’s features. “It’s just a small thing, isn’t that what I have you for?” Julian packed the laptop from the table into his bag. Watching him skillfully tie his tie, I suddenly felt like I didn’t know him at all. I met Julian’s gaze in the mirror. It felt like only today I had caught a glimpse of the real man beneath the surface. Watching his back as he closed the door, a completely ordinary sight, I couldn’t control my tears, letting them stream down my face. The doctor said that within a year, my memory would be severely impaired. Forget remembering where his ties were; I might not even know who I was. Choking back a sob, I dialed a number. “Dr. Harrison, it’s me.” “I’m willing to donate my body, to provide you with a young patient sample for Alzheimer’s research.” Since Julian never intended to marry me, that wedding I would never get, I didn’t want it anymore.

All night, Julian didn’t come home. As the CEO of a startup that had broken into the global top ten in just seven years, he was a hot commodity. Changes to his schedule were common. The doctor settling back into his chair pulled me back to reality. The latest report lay on the table. My brain’s deterioration was progressing faster than average. Perhaps in half a year, I would forget everything. I quietly absorbed the devastating news. A familiar voice drew my attention. On the screen, Julian seemed to be giving an interview. The host’s laughter was hearty. “Mr. Thorne, have you ever wanted to thank a particular woman in your entrepreneurial journey?” Ever since Julian first made a name for himself, reporters had relentlessly dug into his private life. But not once had they managed to get a single scoop out of him. During his school days, Julian was a once-in-a-century genius. He skipped grades in elementary school, fast-tracked through high school, and completed all his university credits in just one year. He devoted himself entirely to his studies and career, never having any romantic entanglements. Just as everyone wondered what kind of partner this genius would choose, the news of Julian’s engagement to me broke. New York’s most notoriously wild and extravagant heiress, paired with a genius who only cared about books and had no sense of romance – somehow, they became a couple. The more desperately people tried to uncover the inside story, the more Julian refused to reveal anything. Just when I thought this interview would also end with his usual detached silence, Julian’s previously serious expression slowly softened, and his voice softened with tenderness. “Actually, for the company to achieve this ranking so smoothly, there is indeed a lady I need to thank.” In the hospital room, my heart pounded like a drum. “The person I want to thank…” “…is my company’s Chief Technical Officer, and also a junior from my undergraduate years—Chloe Jenkins.” The smile froze on my lips. The doctor’s pitiful gaze fell on me, and a thousand words of comfort compressed into a single sigh. Five years ago, a company employee called me, their voice urgent. “Ms. Hayes, can you reach Mr. Thorne? There’s another problem at the lab!” Opening the study door, I found Julian napping. Before I could speak, he opened his eyes and spoke first. “Are they looking for me?” Seeing me nod, a flicker of annoyance crossed Julian’s previously impassive face. My heart ached with sympathy and guilt. He had been working non-stop, pulling weeks of overtime abroad. I shouldn’t have disturbed him. As he was leaving, Julian looked down, his face tired. He said softly, “I’m really tired.” “I don’t understand why Mr. Miller and the others absolutely need me there.” “It seems like such a simple problem to me, but they just can’t figure it out.” It was the first time Julian had opened up emotionally, and I clumsily tried to comfort him. “Maybe it’s because you’re a genius.” He paused. “Do geniuses really have to bear more than normal people?” My heart ached for Julian. I spent an entire afternoon studying the company’s basic operational procedures and financial knowledge. I wanted to lighten his burden, to buy him some time to breathe in his suffocating schedule. But when I tried to discuss the company’s future strategies with him, Julian waved his hand dismissively, his face alight with undisguised delight. That day was the first time I heard Chloe Jenkins’ name. He said that Chloe, who had only started that afternoon, had solved all the problems before he even arrived at the office. He said that while the new girl was pretty, that was her least remarkable trait. Her charisma, decisiveness, and intelligence surpassed all the other employees in the company. Watching Julian speak animatedly about Chloe, my initial enthusiasm slowly faded. I tried to convince myself that I should be happy Julian had found a capable subordinate. I held my notebook, filled with meticulous notes, wanting to prove that his future wife was just as capable. “Don’t bother me.” “The company isn’t your playground. Add another dish my mother likes to the dinner menu tonight.” Two consecutive rejections made me realize that in his heart, I was never a teammate fighting alongside him. He was convinced I could only be a demure, virtuous, and ultimately useless rich wife. But Julian didn’t know that my notes were identical to the company development strategy he later formulated. The proposal I left on his desk slowly gathered dust, becoming a coaster for his coffee cup. Chloe Jenkins’ name, however, appeared in our conversations with increasing frequency. Julian’s daily commute was no longer his usual numb routine; he became anticipatory and appreciative. I started to feel uneasy. My old domineering personality resurfaced, and I demanded he take me to the company, to give me a position. But no matter what I tried, nothing worked. He just gave me a cold stare. Telling me to stop making a scene.

“Your tie today is very distinctive; it’s the perfect accent to your outfit.” “Mr. Thorne, do you usually have an interest in fashion?” The host’s question seemed to jar Julian. For the first time, he paused for three seconds before speaking. “My tie?” “My fiancée picked it out for me. Yes… for seven years, the company’s smooth operation has also been inseparable from her meticulous care and support behind the scenes. I’m very grateful to her, and I will definitely conquer the challenge of Alzheimer’s and marry her.” Those old vows now sounded like an empty promise. The person who would no longer be able to take care of him so meticulously wouldn’t be me. Soon, my memory would rapidly decline, and I would even wet myself, becoming a pathetic fool despised by everyone. I desperately wanted to ask Julian. At that time, would he regret not conquering Alzheimer’s and staying with me, or would he be relieved he never married me? Back home, I sat blankly on the sofa until evening. Julian opened the door, carrying a trendy strawberry cake from the new popular bakery down the street. That shop had an unspoken rule: a minimum purchase of two. Now, in the box, only one cake lay lopsidedly at the bottom. I couldn’t hold back, voicing the thought in my heart. “Was the other cake for Chloe Jenkins?” Julian stopped on his way to change clothes. “If you’re not going to eat it, I can take it back to the office tomorrow.” “There’s no need to make such pathetic assumptions, being so aggressive…” He turned, saw my tears rolling down my face, and the rest of his sentence caught in his throat. “Why is she the woman you’re most grateful for?” My voice trembled. “Why didn’t you even bother to tell me you didn’t come home last night?” Recalling all the little slights and compromises over the years, my vision blurred. “Why is Chloe Jenkins always ahead of me?” “Julian, it’s been seven years.” “Seven years! Have you ever actually thought about marrying me?” My heart ached with a dull pain with every breath. I didn’t hear his response, my eyes burned, and uncontrollable sobs echoed through the living room. I finally managed to steady my breathing. Wiping away my tears haphazardly, I unexpectedly met Julian’s utterly blank eyes. “Are you losing your mind?” “Once you’re done crying, go to bed early.” “Company matters are already bothering me enough; can you please stop adding to my troubles?” He closed the door and went into his room, leaving me alone in the living room. The TV reflected me: disheveled hair, cheeks flushed from crying, exhaustion in my eyes impossible to hide. I looked like a madwoman. I slept on the sofa all night. When I woke up, a soft, thin blanket was draped over me. Julian placed an iced coffee in my hand. “Your eyes are swollen from crying. Use the coffee to reduce the swelling.” He paused. “There’s a dinner party tonight. Do you want to come with me?” Seven years of engagement, and this was the first time Julian had ever actively brought me into the public eye. Seeing me nod, he reached out and ruffled my hair. “Okay, I’m heading to work then. I’ll send you the address later.” All afternoon, I prepared for the dinner party. I pulled out a gown I’d bought years ago but never had the occasion to wear. I put on the most perfect makeup. I didn’t even eat lunch, just to cinch myself into the perfect silhouette. In front of the mirror, I double-checked everything multiple times, and at the appointed time, I left, satisfied. But I had forgotten one thing: the stove in the kitchen was still on. The herbal tea I was preparing to drink was still brewing on high heat.

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Fresh out of college, I decided to move in with three of my roommates. The apartment was mine, right in the heart of the city and a short walk from my office-a world away from the dump they’d been sharing out in the suburbs. For three months, everything was perfect. Harmonious, even. Then one day, I came home early from work and found them-Madison, Brittany, and Jessica-huddled in the living room, voices low. “I looked it up,” Madison was saying, her tone hushed but eager. “A place this size in this neighborhood goes for at least ten thousand a month. We’re only paying four, right? What if we sublet the master bedroom? We could pocket an extra four thousand.” “Let’s do it,” Brittany cut in, her voice sharp. “Why should Chloe get that whole room to herself?” “I’ve always hated her superior act,” Jessica added with a sneer. “Just thinking about her ending up on the street is already satisfying.” Listening to their plan, a slow smile touched my lips. They wanted to see me homeless? Funny, since I was the landlord.

The voices from inside carried on. “Anyway, the lease is up in three days. We just won’t renew hers.” “Serves her right! Who does she think she is, ordering us around like that?” “And that story about it being her ‘relative’s’ place? That’s why it’s so cheap and we should ‘take good care of it’? Please.” “I actually reached the real landlord. He agreed to rent to us next quarter-same price.” Just like that, in a few sentences, they decided my fate. But they’d forgotten one thing. After graduation, they couldn’t afford anywhere near work. They were stuck in a cramped apartment way out in the suburbs, waking up at four every morning for a three-hour commute by bus and train. It was out of pity that I lied. I told them my “relative” owned a place we could get cheap, and invited them to live with me. This apartment was actually a graduation gift from my parents. It was right next to my office, a five-minute walk away. Prime real estate, four bedrooms, two bathrooms-it was never hard to rent out. My parents had always taught me to be discreet about money, so I never revealed I was the landlord. I just symbolically collected a thousand dollars in rent from each of them, covering all utilities and maintenance fees myself. Now, my kindness had been completely twisted. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The laughter inside abruptly ceased, and the air instantly froze. Madison was the first to react, forcing a smile onto her face. “Chloe, you’re home early today. Have you eaten? We made noodles, you should have some.” She pulled me to sit at the dining table. She cleared her throat and began, “Chloe, the landlord called to ask if we’re renewing the lease.” I kept my head down, eating my noodles, not saying a word. She secretly watched my expression, then continued, “We’re not planning to renew.” My hand paused, and I looked up, feigning a bewildered look. “We found a cheaper place,” she said, her eyes darting nervously. “You asked us to move in with you because the rent for the whole place was too much for you alone, right? Now that we’re not renting, you’ll move out too, won’t you?” My voice was flat. “No worries. If you guys aren’t renting, I can take the whole place myself. I just finished a big project at work and I’m getting a nice bonus.” Madison’s face visibly changed. “But it’s such a big place, isn’t it a waste for just one person? Listen to me, you should get a smaller studio. You could save a lot of money.” If I hadn’t overheard their scheming with my own ears, I might have actually believed she was looking out for me. “I’m used to living here. Too lazy to move.” “Chloe!” Brittany, who had been quiet until now, finally snapped. She slammed her fork down on the table. “We wanted to spare you some dignity, but you’re being incredibly dense!” “Fine, I’ll spell it out for you. We don’t want to live with you anymore. We hope you’ll move out willingly, don’t make us have to get ugly!” I stared at her coldly. “I found this place. I signed the contract. Why should I be the one to move out just because you say you’re not renting anymore?” Jessica, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. “Chloe, it’s been awkward living with you. If we keep going like this…I don’t think we can even stay friends.” Jessica was my best friend. Her family was a mess. Her mother left after she was born. Her dad gambled and drank, and took his anger out on her when he was drunk. She fought her way into college anyway, only for her father to try and sell her off. One night, I helped her run away. I helped her apply for student loans, and throughout college, I shared every bit of my living expenses with her. We scraped by, and I supported her until she graduated. After graduation, I couldn’t bear seeing her frail frame squeezed onto buses and subways every day. That’s why I suggested we rent together. And to spare her pride, I even brought the other two in. Jessica bit her lip,  looking at me with timid eyes. “You’ve always put me first, Chloe. Please just agree to move out today. We can still be good friends.” I looked at her blankly, then suddenly laughed. “Fine, I’ll move.” Their eyes lit up at my words. They kept telling me that even if I moved out, we’d still be good friends. I didn’t want to hear another word from them, so I turned and went back to my room. Closing the door, I pulled out my phone and called my dad’s contact. “Raise the rent to twelve thousand.”

It wasn’t long before there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find the three of them standing outside, glaring furiously at me. Brittany shoved me hard. “You contacted the landlord to raise the rent, didn’t you?!” My back hit the corner of a table, making me wince in pain. Jessica’s eyes were red. “How about this, Chloe? If you talk to your relative and tell him to rent to us for four thousand again, and you move out of the master bedroom, we’re still willing to live with you.” I crossed my arms, looking at her with cold eyes. “Where would I sleep?” “You can just sleep on the couch, can’t you?” Madison replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I’m paying rent, and I have to sleep on the couch?” “Get real, you’re the one clinging to us, desperate to stay. Letting you sleep on the couch is already pretty generous.” Jessica took my arm. “We’re good friends, how could I not think of you? I’ve already found you a new place. It’s fully furnished, you can just move right in. Most importantly, it’s only ten feet from your office. Perfect for a workaholic like you.” “Where is it?” She covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. “In the security guard’s doghouse, of course!” “Right outside the company’s security office! How’s that for close? And in winter, the guard dog can even keep you warm for free!” Brittany chimed in mockingly, “Oh, wow, and you call yourself her best friend, telling her to live in a doghouse? How mean! But…” Her gaze landed on me, a nasty smirk on her face. “Chloe, remember to pay Jessica a finder’s fee! Fully furnished places like that are hard to come by!” Jessica waved her hand. “We’re friends, no need for a finder’s fee.” I watched their performance coldly, not saying a word. Jessica looked at me, her face serious. “Chloe, living with you has been utterly exhausting, mentally and physically. You’re such a control freak. You wouldn’t let us put anything on the walls, wouldn’t let us decorate our rooms. You even nagged us about a single strand of hair on the floor. We just couldn’t stand it anymore.” “You’ve driven me to depression. For next quarter’s rent, why don’t you pay for us? Consider it compensation for our emotional distress.” I almost laughed out loud. I didn’t let them stick things on the walls because the emulsion paint was custom-mixed. Once damaged, it was almost impossible to restore it perfectly. I didn’t let them decorate their rooms because they wanted to knock down a load-bearing wall to expand their space. I nagged them about hair because they never cleaned the drain after washing their hair. It clogged the plumbing, flooded the downstairs neighbor’s apartment, and I had to quietly pay a huge sum to settle it. In the six months they’d lived here, the money I’d shelled out far exceeded their paltry rent payments. Now, they wanted me to pay them for emotional damages? What a joke! “Either you move out, or I move out, and you pay the twelve thousand rent yourselves.” With that, I closed the door. Outside, their furious shouts erupted. “Chloe, you’re really asking for it, aren’t you?!” “Don’t you dare push us!”

The next day, I got off work at 11 PM. When I reached my front door, I froze. My luggage was piled in the hallway like trash. I tried the door code several times, but it wouldn’t open. They had clearly changed the password. A surge of anger shot to my head. I dialed my dad. “Dad, can you send a driver over? I need something delivered…” Hanging up, I started banging hard on the door. Bang, bang, bang. My knocking echoed piercingly in the dead of night. The noise drew complaints from neighbors, who came out to demand why I was disturbing the peace. Someone even called security. More and more people gathered. There was movement inside the door. Click. The door opened. Brittany, wearing pajamas and a face mask, frowned. “What’s with all the racket in the middle of the night, Chloe? You’re ruining my beauty sleep!” I forced myself to suppress my rage, pointing at my luggage on the floor. “How dare you throw my things out?” Hearing the commotion, Jessica walked up, looking at me timidly. “Chloe, we really had no choice. Please, just do us a favor and leave us alone…” She shot a glance at Madison, who caught it instantly. Madison raised her voice, calling out to the neighbors and the security guard. “Everyone, you be the judge! We’re her roommates, and she brings different men home every night. The noise from her room is so loud we can’t even sleep!” Then she turned to me, putting on a pleading tone. “We know you have…a special job, and you have to work at night. We don’t judge what you do, but we have to get up for work in the morning! Please, just find another place to live.” The moment she finished, the neighbors’ eyes shifted toward me-full of disgust, as if I were something filthy. Jessica offered the crowd an apologetic bow. “I’m so sorry, everyone. Her lease is up, and we’ve made it clear we won’t renew. Even the landlord won’t rent to her anymore. But she just won’t leave, so we had no choice…We’re really sorry for keeping you all up so late.” The neighbors began to whisper. “She looks so decent. How could she do such dirty work?” “No wonder she comes home at all hours…” “Just our luck, living on the same floor as her!” A middle-aged woman jabbed a finger toward me, furious. “Weren’t you the one blasting music that night? The bass was shaking my ceiling. I didn’t sleep a wink!” I’d been away on a business trip all last week and only got back yesterday. Brittany’s face flashed with guilt before she pointed at me. “Yes! It was her!” Another neighbor stepped forward. “And wasn’t it your hair that clogged the drain and flooded my place last time?” Jessica, who had the longest hair and never cleaned the drain, paused for a beat before frowning at me. “Chloe, how many times do I have to tell you? Clean your hair out of the drain after you shower. Why do you never listen?” “And wasn’t she the one who wanted to tear down a wall? She practically put the whole building at risk!” Madison, who had been the one wanting to knock down a wall to enlarge her room, rubbed her nose. “Yeah, that was her! We tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t back down!” The neighbors’ anger was fully ignited. “She’s a menace! Get her out of our building!” “Security! Kick her out immediately!” “Call the police, arrest her!” Seeing the situation, the security guard grabbed my arm and tried to drag me away. Furious and desperate, I yelled, “I’m the landlord! You can’t just kick me out!” Brittany scoffed. “If you’re the landlord? I’ll eat dirt!” Jessica put on a trouble look. “Chloe, I’ve already called the landlord. He’ll be here any minute. If you leave now, at least you’ll save face. It’ll be so much worse if he has to drag you out himself.” I was trembling with rage. “Fine! Call the landlord! I’d like to see who dares to throw me out!” “Who’s looking for me?”

I turned to see a sleazy-looking guy with dyed hair, swaying as he walked over. “I’m the landlord. You looking for me?” He squinted, looking me up and down. “Where’s Mr. Peterson?” I frowned. My apartment had always been managed by Mr. Peterson, a very responsible property manager. “You did your homework, huh? You even know my uncle’s last name. Let me tell you, my uncle’s out of town. This place is my responsibility now!” He pointed at my nose. “I’ve heard all about your little drama from these pretty ladies. I’m not renting my place to someone as morally corrupt as you! Be smart, grab your junk, and get out!” I looked at him coldly. “Do you even know whose name is on the deed before telling me to leave?” “It’s my uncle’s place. Of course his name is on it. Not yours, got it?” The thug, Damon, smirked. Jessica tried to smooth things over. “Chloe, just stop. The landlord’s here. Accept it.” Damon ignored me, strutting into the apartment to look around. When he came back out, he snarled, “Hey! Where’s the LEGO set from the TV stand? Did you steal it!” “That was a limited edition, worth two hundred grand! Hand it over now!” That LEGO set? My niece, Lily, loved it last time she visited, so I gave it to her. “It’s my stuff. Do I need to inform you if I give it away?” “Your stuff? That’s the landlord’s-my uncle’s-stuff!” Damon stomped his foot in anger. Madison immediately jumped in to support him. “We can testify! That LEGO set was here since we moved in. How could it be yours? It clearly belongs to the landlord!” Jessica frowned. “Chloe, you really should get it back. Stealing is a crime. If the landlord calls the police, you’ll be in big trouble.” I watched their charade, finding it utterly absurd. “Then call the police.” My indifferent attitude completely enraged Damon. “You bitch! Stealing and acting so arrogant?!” He slapped me across the face. Smack! The crisp sound rang out, my ears buzzed, and I tasted blood in my mouth. Jessica held back Damon, who looked like he was about to hit me again. “Stop, stop. It’s hard to get back something that’s already been given away. Chloe, why don’t you just pay him some money? Since the landlord says it’s worth a hundred grand, just pay him two hundred grand. You… you make good money, it’s just pocket change for you. Pay him quickly, and this whole thing will be over.” I laughed, a humorless sound. That LEGO set looked big, but it was actually a model I bought for three thousand dollars. I finally understood. They had been secretly colluding with Damon, setting a trap to extort money from me. Seeing I was unmoved, Damon shoved me again. “Damn it, did you hear me?! Pay up! Two hundred grand! Every penny! Otherwise, you won’t be leaving this hallway upright tonight!” “I told you, that’s my property!” “Damn it, you’re asking for it!” Damon cursed, raising his hand for another slap. He hit me, and I stumbled backward, falling to the ground. My vision blurred. Brittany’s eyes darted around, and she pointed at my luggage, screaming, “She’s a thief! I need to check her luggage carefully, in case she stole any of my stuff too!” With that, she squatted down and started rummaging through my suitcase. She pulled out a gold necklace, a flash of envy in her eyes, then turned and shouted, “Oh my god! My gold necklace! It’s been missing for ages, I can’t believe I found it here!” “Jessica, Madison! Come help me search! She must have stolen a lot of our things!” Madison’s eyes lit up at the news, and she also started tearing through my luggage. They were like vultures, pulling out jewelry and brand-name cosmetics from my bags. They claimed everything was theirs, stuffing them into their pockets without a word. The other neighbors watching also began to stir restlessly. Jessica smiled sweetly at the crowd. “Everyone, feel free to look around too. See if she stole any of your things.” As soon as she spoke, the crowd surged forward like a swarm of locusts. CRASH. The trophy I won in college was smashed to pieces on the floor. RIP! The sweater my mom hand-knitted for me was torn to shreds. My down jacket was ripped open, feathers flying everywhere. I even saw a creepy middle-aged man pick up my underwear, sniff it deeply, then stuff it into his pocket. “Stop! All of you, stop!” I screamed, rushing forward to intervene, only to be roughly shoved back to the ground. Jessica looked down at me, a sickeningly innocent smile on her face. “Do you think the things she stole might be hidden on her body?” All eyes snapped to me. Damon licked his lips. “Strip her. Let’s see what else she’s hiding!” I yelled, “Touch me once, and I swear none of you will walk away clean!” “Oh yeah? Show me.” Damon reached for my collar. I fought like a wild thing, but Brittany and Madison pinned my arms and legs down. Jessica pulled out her phone and took a photo of me at my weakest. She mouthed three silent words. “You deserve it.” In that moment, I truly regretted ever letting these wolves into my home! “Excuse me, is Miss Chloe here?” A driver, sent by my father, stood holding a document envelope. “I have a document for her.” While everyone was still stunned, I gathered the last of my strength and shoved the people holding me down away. I ran toward the driver and tore open the envelope. Inside was the bright red property deed. I held the document high, my voice sharp and clear. “Look carefully! I am the landlord!”

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Three days after getting terminated, I still walked into the company’s conference room. My ex‑girlfriend, Skyler, looked me over with open contempt. “Carter, given your current situation, you don’t even belong in this room.” She paused, her tone turning patronizing, almost generous. “Hand over your client portfolio and transition everything properly for Dax.” “Maybe then I’ll let you stay—scrubbing toilets.” After ten years by her side, this was how it ended. Mopping floors in the company I helped build. I didn’t move. The door opened, and her assistant stepped inside, stopping beside me. “Let me introduce everyone,” “This is our new CEO.” When Skyler, my ex‑girlfriend and former CEO, gleefully told me that her earlier attempt to win me back was just a joke, I didn’t get angry. I just pulled out my phone to call a cab home. The colleagues around us stared with mocking eyes, sneering: “Carter, the CEO said she doesn’t want you around. Why are you still here? Go on, book another flight!” “Didn’t you say you got an offer overseas? What happened—they changed their mind about you?” Skyler watched them cold‑shoulder me with indulgence, making no move to stop them. This kind of suffocating, humiliating workplace bullying had surrounded me for years. In the past, I would’ve fought back, hurt that my CEO girlfriend wouldn’t speak up for me. Now, I felt nothing—like watching clowns perform. “My business isn’t your concern, is it?” I said calmly. Skyler snorted, her eyes sweeping over me with disgust: “Still acting tough at a time like this?” “With your limited skills, if I hadn’t carried you all these years, you might not even have food on the table!” “Going abroad? What a joke.” Yes, I was a top‑tier graduate who’d turned down a dream offer to help her build a company from scratch. But in Skyler’s eyes, I was worthless—someone who’d only survived because of her. It almost made me laugh. I’d loved Skyler completely. Even staying in a mid‑level role forever wouldn’t have bothered me. But then she started reassigning my projects to her new assistant, Dax, without consulting me. She even pinned Dax’s mistakes on me, forcing me to take the fall. Then she used that as an excuse to cut my pay and suspend me, while promoting Dax and giving him a raise. That’s when I finally woke up. This one‑sided relationship had to end. So I quit on the spot, broke up with her, and decided to pursue my career abroad. I never expected her to show up just before my flight to play this “joke” on me. For a moment, I didn’t feel sadness—just bewilderment. How blind had I been, falling for someone like her? I shook my head, not bothering to argue: “You’re right about everything. Can I go now?” I stepped around Skyler, ready to leave. But she grabbed my arm, staring me down with disdain: “You’re really committed to the act, aren’t you? Your ‘overseas offer’ is exposed, and you’re still pretending?” “For old times’ sake, I’ll give you an out.” “Come back with me, and I’ll make you Dax’s assistant.” Seeing her condescending act, I finally understood the real point of her joke. On the surface, it was a bet with Dax to see if I’d take the bait. Really, she just wanted to keep me at the company as a workhorse for her and Dax. I had to admit, Skyler had planned Dax’s career carefully—promotion, raise, even an assistant. As for me, I’d helped her achieve her dream of running a company, and she’d taken everything from me to pave Dax’s way. I laughed coldly. “Dax isn’t skilled enough to deserve my help.” Skyler’s face darkened. “Carter, it seems I’ve been too soft on you all these years. That’s why you’re so full of yourself—” Before she could finish, a figure approached from across the terminal. “Skyler!” Her expression instantly softened. “Dax!” Dax was the only one in the whole company who didn’t call her “CEO”—he used her first name. Even I, her actual boyfriend, never had that privilege. Dax glanced at me and smiled at Skyler. “See? I knew Carter’s ‘overseas move’ was just an excuse. He never actually left.” Skyler shot me a sidelong glare, her eyes full of contempt. “Some people overestimate their importance—think the company can’t run without them!” “Not like you, Dax. You’re capable and humble. Since he won’t take the offer, let’s drop it.” “Let’s go.” But Dax held Skyler’s hand, putting on a pitiful look. “Skyler, wait. Ever since Carter quit, I haven’t been able to find my watch.” “It was my grandmother’s heirloom.” Then he turned to me, pleading: “Carter, please give it back to me.” Before I could process what was happening, Skyler glared at me furiously. “Carter, you stole something?” I started to deny it, but she cut me off coldly. “Don’t even try. Why would Dax make this up?” “You’re jobless now—who knows what you’re capable of?” Then she ordered the others: “Open his suitcase and check!” I stared at Skyler in disbelief. After ten years together, she knew my character better than anyone. But on Dax’s word alone, she would publicly rummage through my luggage? Earlier, with her cruel joke, I hadn’t wanted to engage. But now, this bullying crossed a line. Not disappointment. Not heartache. Just anger and disgust. “Stop!” I shouted, but Dax pretended to be sincere. “Carter, why so defensive? You didn’t actually take it, did you?” That made Skyler look at me with even more disgust. She signaled two people to block me as she said coldly: “Ignore him. Keep searching.” Watching my suitcase being dumped, my clothes and belongings scattered on the floor, my anger peaked. I yelled for airport security. Only then did they sheepishly back off. “It’s not here,” Dax said, sounding disappointed. “Forget it. Let’s not make things harder for Carter. He’s having a tough enough time.” But Skyler shot me a fierce look. “I think someone already sold it.” Then she said gently to Dax: “It’s fine. I’ll buy you a new one.” As she left, she threw me a cold glance. “Carter, when you’re living on the streets, don’t come begging to me.” With that, she left with the group, Dax shooting me a挑衅 look over his shoulder. I said nothing, just laughed coldly inside. They didn’t know yet—the company’s projects had imploded. It was about to go bankrupt and be acquired. And I’d turned down the overseas trip because the new parent company had appointed me as the incoming CEO.

My new company was headquartered overseas—a well‑known enterprise. Back at graduation, I’d received an offer from them thanks to my record. But Skyler talked me into staying to build a startup with her, so I’d turned it down. After the breakup, they’d reached out immediately, inviting me to join. But just before boarding, I got a call: their domestic subsidiary was acquiring local firms to consolidate resources, including Skyler’s company. They wanted me to be the new CEO. After dropping my luggage at home, I set a meeting with Mr. Quinn, the domestic liaison. I arrived early at the restaurant to wait. But unexpectedly, I saw Skyler and Dax there, laughing over lunch. When they noticed me, Skyler froze for a second. She walked over with an irritated look. “Carter, are you stalking me now?” “Weren’t you all tough earlier? Having regrets already?” Before I could speak, Dax smiled and said: “Skyler, there were a lot of people at the airport. Carter was just saving face.” “Tell you what—if Carter apologizes sincerely, I’m sure Skyler would still give you a chance.” “Right, Skyler?” Skyler looked at me with disapproval, pretending reluctance. “Since Dax is sticking up for you, fine. Finish this bottle of wine, and I’ll let you be an assistant.” She pointed to a full wine bottle on the table. I laughed inwardly. Skyler knew perfectly well I had stomach issues and couldn’t drink. She was just making me beg. But she’d miscalculated. “You’re overthinking it. I’m waiting for someone.” “Waiting for someone? Hah, you’re really committed to the act.” Skyler sneered. “I’ve known you for years. I know your little games.” “You just think being Dax’s assistant is beneath you, don’t you?” “But these days, what’s pride worth?” Just then, Mr. Quinn, the person I was meeting, walked over. He offered his hand. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Evans.” I ignored Skyler and shook his hand with a smile. “Mr. Quinn, let’s talk inside. There’s a bit of noise out here.” “Of course.” Skyler stared in disbelief. As I turned to enter the private room with Mr. Quinn, I heard Dax say loudly: “Looks like Carter scheduled a meeting with a headhunter. Still job‑hunting, huh?” The next moment, Skyler stepped in front of me. She smirked. “Carter, you’ve really grown a spine, huh? You’d rather scrape for jobs than ask me for help?” “But let me remind you—given your track record, I’ve already talked to every firm in town. No one will hire you.” “Starting to regret it now?” She looked at me with a half‑smile, waiting for me to fold. But she was wrong. Skyler’s influence wasn’t enough to threaten me. And because of my departure, she’d let Dax take over all major projects, pushing the company to the brink of collapse. She had no idea. I said calmly: “Skyler, confidence is good. I hope you keep that attitude when your company goes bankrupt and gets acquired.” “You—!” Skyler was about to snap, but instead she turned to Mr. Quinn. She shoved a business card into his hand. Arrogantly, she said: “Skyler Vance, CEO of McAsh Group. Carter is a former employee of mine—fired for misconduct.” “I’d advise your firm to be careful.” With that, she glanced at me, linked arms with Dax, and strode off. Mr. Quinn frowned at the card, then looked at me. “This…” “Just clowns. Let’s talk inside.” I smiled slightly. Mr. Quinn tossed the card into a trash can. Inside, we discussed acquiring Skyler’s company. We’d capitalize on McAsh Group’s project failures and buy it at a low price. Mr. Quinn handed me the current staff list, asking me to help optimize it. I knew everyone’s capabilities and conduct intimately, and promised a plan soon. After the meeting, I headed home. But as soon as I stepped inside, I saw Skyler on my couch. Crossing her legs, she glared coldly. I frowned. “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at the door. Then I remembered I hadn’t deleted her fingerprint after the breakup. Skyler didn’t answer, just said coldly: “Who told you my company was going bankrupt?” I was changing my shoes and ignored her. Skyler’s face darkened further. “You got your wish. The company collapsed.” I raised an eyebrow, surprised Mr. Quinn had moved so fast. Mentioned at noon, done by afternoon. Skyler went on: “Carter, I don’t know how you got that tip‑off.” “But don’t celebrate too soon.” “The firm acquiring us is a major player. They’ll handle the project issues.” “I’ll still be in management.” I made myself tea, unsurprised. Of course I knew. My optimization list wasn’t final yet, so existing staff were temporarily retained. “And?” I asked flatly. Skyler stared intently. “Hand over your client portfolio to Dax, and I’ll arrange a manager role for you in the new company.” “You know with the parent company’s backing, McAsh will be stronger than ever.” “A manager title is a generous offer.” I almost laughed. She said it so righteously, as if granting me a favor. But I knew the truth: after the acquisition, Mr. Quinn had circulated the development plan I’d drafted. One key point: roles would be based on merit under my leadership. Skyler just wanted to use my contacts to boost Dax into a VP role. Her love for Dax ran deep. Too bad she’d backed the wrong horse. “Skyler, you’re naive.” My words darkened her face. She stood and stepped toward me. Her gaze was piercing. “Carter, I know you’re jealous of Dax.” “You’re upset I changed, that I treat him so well.” “But get this—our statuses are different now. I’m the boss. The capitalist.” “And you? You work for me. A boyfriend like you hasn’t been on my level for a long time.” “But Dax… he brings me freshness. The joy of being a woman. You can’t compare.” Skyler looked at me deeply, her voice oddly soft. “I’ll give you one night to decide.” With that, she turned and left. I shook my head, annoyed. I deleted her fingerprint immediately, then opened my laptop and sent the layoff list for the next day. The following morning, I started at the company officially. As I entered, colleagues were buzzing about the acquisition. Skyler was painting a rosy picture as usual. Saying she’d remain in management, and if everyone worked hard, things would stay the same. Until someone noticed me. Her eyes lit up. She walked over, sounding like she’d expected me. “Changed your mind? Ready to hand over the client list to Dax?”

I laughed and shook my head. Skyler’s face fell. Before she could speak, Dax smiled and said: “Carter, why the act?” “If you weren’t handing over the contacts, why come?” “Don’t tell me you’re here to work.” The other colleagues chuckled. I raised an eyebrow. “Actually, I am here to work.” That drew louder laughs, fingers pointing. “Work? He’s probably job‑hunting, thinks he can sneak in after the acquisition!” “Dream on.” “Carter, what about that overseas offer? Applying here now? Hilarious!” I was about to reply when Skyler cut in, her expression dark. “Carter, when will you drop the act!” “I told you—give Dax the contacts, and I was giving you a chance. Still being stubborn?” “Didn’t you hear me yesterday? Do you really want to stay unemployed?” I shook my head, almost pitying her. “Skyler, you’re the one about to be unemployed. You should plan ahead.” Skyler looked at me and burst into mocking laughter. “Listen to him! Has he lost it? Telling me to plan ahead?” “What, I’m the former CEO. You think you can fire me?” “Carter, I bet that with me here, you won’t even get a janitor role—” Just then, two people entered through the main doors. It was the team Mr. Quinn from headquarters had sent to help me restructure. Skyler recognized them. Her expression shifted, and she forced a smile as she approached. “Mr. Higgins, you’re here. Has the new CEO arrived? I should greet him.” Mr. Higgins glanced at her, said nothing, walked straight to me, and gave a respectful nod. Then he announced to everyone: “This is our new CEO, Mr. Evans!” For a moment, Skyler’s smile froze. She asked, strained: “Mr. Higgins, you’re joking, right?” “This… Carter is a washed‑up nobody. How could he—” Suddenly, Mr. Higgins pulled out the layoff list I’d drafted the day before and thrust it toward her. Pointing at her and Dax, he said coldly: “You’re both terminated. Pack your things and leave. Now.”

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My employees dragged my name through the mud online, calling me a cheapskate for only giving out $1,000 gift cards for Christmas. But that $1,000 gift card was their own choice, determined by a vote. What I had originally prepared was a $10,000 Hermès bag for each of them. Now, the entire internet was calling me stingy. I smiled and sent out a company-wide announcement: “Respecting the democratic decision, the Christmas bonus will officially be $1,000 gift cards. The surprise is canceled.” The moment the announcement went out, AstraCorp blew up— Because the Hermès order confirmation was now being frantically shared in every WhatsApp group. A week before Christmas, Monday morning meeting. I stood at the front of the conference room, looking at the room full of employees, and decided to set the stage early. “This Christmas, the company has prepared a special surprise for everyone.” I paused deliberately. “It’s a secret for now, but I promise, this will be the most thoughtful Christmas gift you’ve ever received.” A buzz of curious discussion rose from the audience. Chloe, a new employee, her eyes brightened, but she immediately whispered to Mark next to her: “A surprise? It’s not going to be our own products again, is it? I gave last year’s custom thermal mug to my dad.” Mark, a five-year veteran at AstraCorp, chuckled. “The boss loves this kind of thing. It’d be more practical to just give us cash.” The next day, the buzz in the breakroom shifted. Chloe held up her phone, her voice clear enough for the entire open-plan office to hear: “Look! Our competitor is giving out $2,000 Amazon gift cards this year! The company downstairs is giving out cash directly!” She sighed. “Our company isn’t small either. ‘Surprise, surprise,’ who knows if it’ll actually be surprising?” A few young employees gathered around to look, envy etched on their faces. “If only we could get gift cards, then we could buy whatever we want.” “Exactly, what if I don’t like it?” By the afternoon, Chloe knocked on my office door. Behind her were Mark, and three or four department representatives. “Boss,” Chloe smiled sweetly, “we all discussed it, and we have a small suggestion.” Mark took over, his expression earnest: “Boss, we know you put a lot of thought into it, but everyone’s giving out gift cards this year. Should we perhaps go with the general sentiment?” I scanned each of them. “The surprise I prepared is worth far more than a gift card.” “But boss,” Chloe blinked, “Gift cards are the most practical. Everyone can buy whatever they want for their families. That’s true freedom.” Another employee chimed in, “Yeah, boss, the surprise is your good intention, but what if someone doesn’t like it? It’s better to let everyone choose for themselves.” They all looked at me with expectant eyes. I paused for a few seconds, then nodded. “Alright. Since this is everyone’s wish, then this year we’ll switch to gift cards.” “$1,000 for each person, to be distributed before Christmas.” Cheers erupted, almost shaking the building. Chloe shot Mark a triumphant glance. They had won.

After the announcement about switching to gift cards was sent out, the company was jubilant. The SnapChat group was flooded with “Boss is wise!” and “Thank you, boss!” I instructed my assistant, Sarah, to cancel the Hermès order. The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon. Sarah was rushing through the office, documents in her arms, when a delivery confirmation slip slid out of her folder. She didn’t notice and walked straight into the conference room. The paper fluttered to Chloe’s feet. She bent down to pick it up, intending to return it to Sarah, but her gaze fixated on the paper— Hermès Official Order Confirmation Item: Birkin 25 Leather Handbag x 230 Ordered by: AstraCorp Total Amount: $2,300,000 Notes: Christmas employee gift box, greeting cards to be imprinted with “Thank you for being with us.” Chloe’s hands began to tremble. She mechanically looked up and saw Mark walking over. “What’s wrong, Chloe?” “Mark.” Her voice was trembling. “Look at this.” Mark took the receipt, his eyes instantly wide. He sucked in a sharp breath and read the amount twice more. “Over two hundred Birkins? About ten thousand dollars each?” His voice was barely a whisper. The number exploded like a bomb in both their minds. They had exchanged a $10,000 bag for a $1,000 gift card. Chloe suddenly snatched the receipt back and pulled out her phone to take a picture. “What are you doing?” Mark asked urgently. “Posting it in the group!” Chloe’s fingers were shaking. “Let everyone see! We’ve been tricked!” “Wait—” But it was too late. The photo was dropped into the company’s 200-person main SnapChat group. Along with Chloe’s question: 【@Boss What is this? The “surprise” you prepared, was it this?】 The group fell silent for a full minute. Then, it exploded. 【Hermès Birkin???】 【One for each person???】 【So this is what we were originally going to get???】 【I traded a $10,000 bag for $1,000???】 Questions, shock, regret, and anger flooded the screen like a tsunami. Mark’s phone started vibrating wildly as private messages poured in: “Mark! Is this real?” “Why didn’t you say the surprise was this?!” “Can we still switch back now?” Mark watched the chaos in the group, and a thought suddenly sparked in his mind. He private messaged Chloe: 【We can’t just let this slide.】 【We need to get the bags back.】 Chloe replied instantly: 【How? We’re the ones who asked for the switch.】 Mark typed quickly: 【We’ll say the boss deliberately misled us! If he’d been clear it was Hermès, who would’ve chosen $1,000?】 【This is fraud!】

That night, small discussions began to appear in industry forums. An anonymous account posted: “Gossip time: a tech company boss played mind games, giving employees a choice between two Christmas benefits. He deliberately didn’t mention option A was Hermès, misleading employees into choosing option B, a $1,000 gift card. Now the employees are furious.” Someone in the comments asked: “Is this for real? Hermès as an employee benefit?” The original poster replied: “Got the order confirmation as proof, but the boss says since they chose B, they can’t change it. He’s incredibly cheap.” This post was forwarded to a private company SnapChat group. Chloe watched the rising number of likes and said in the group: 【We need to stand united. One person complaining won’t do anything; if we all do it together, the boss has to give us an explanation.】 Mark immediately agreed: 【Exactly! This is the boss’s trick! He deliberately wasn’t clear because he didn’t want to give out the expensive one!】 Someone timidly asked: 【But, we’re the ones who asked for the switch.】 Chloe immediately replied: 【That’s because we didn’t know what the options were! This is fraud through unequal information!】 【If we’d known it was Hermès, who would’ve chosen $1,000? Is that fair?】 Emotions flared. Regret and greed festered, turning into anger. The next morning, a jointly signed petition from over a dozen employees lay on my desk. It demanded a “fair re-selection of benefits” and “compensation for emotional distress caused by lack of transparency.” I looked at the familiar signatures on the petition— The intern whose rent I paid for half a year. The single mother I specially approved to bring her child to work. The technical backbone who always said he’d “work with the boss for a lifetime.” I pushed the petition aside. “Inform everyone: the benefit plan has been democratically decided and will not change.” When the news spread, the company erupted. Chloe directly filed a complaint with the labor union, crying about “corporate fraud against employees.” Mark, meanwhile, started sending private messages to peers, partners, and investors: “The boss might have funding issues, otherwise why would he go back on his word?” “I heard they’ve been delaying payments to suppliers for a while.” “They can’t even afford Christmas benefits, is the company going under?” Rumors spread like a virus. In the afternoon, three partners called to inquire about the situation. That evening, a screenshot of a chat log circulated within the industry— “AstraCorp’s capital chain is broken, Christmas benefits shrink to $1,000, employees protest en masse.” The source of the screenshot was shown to be an internal company email.

On the third day of the fallout, I received a call from Michael, Executive Vice President of Okovia Group, our largest client. His voice was as cold as ice: “Alex, I’m hearing some disturbing rumors.” “Our collaboration for the next quarter is based on the premise of your company’s stable operation.” “Now, the industry is buzzing that you have financial issues and widespread employee protests.” I tried to explain: “Michael, this is just a small misunderstanding regarding a benefit plan.” “Misunderstanding?” Michael cut me off. “My inbox received five anonymous tips, all from your employees.” “One of them even included your company’s cash flow analysis for the past three months—internal data, Alex.” My heart sank. Someone had leaked financial data. “I’m giving you 24 hours,” Michael said. “If by this time tomorrow, I don’t see your genuine commitment and a plan to completely resolve this issue—” He paused. “We’ll initiate the process of replacing vendors.” The call ended. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the scattered media vehicles gathering downstairs. Sarah cautiously knocked and entered: “Boss, two more media outlets are requesting interviews. Also, Chloe and Mark are here with over a dozen people, saying they want to see you.” “Let them in.” The door was pushed open, with Chloe leading, Mark following, and a dozen or so flushed employees behind them. Chloe showed me her phone screen— It displayed her live stream data: 120,000 viewers online. “Boss,” her voice was shrill, “the whole internet knows how you ‘defrauded’ your employees now.” “Our demands are simple: either distribute the Hermès bags as originally planned, or compensate the difference—$9,000 per person.” Mark feigned a sympathetic tone: “Boss, everyone isn’t unreasonable. But your actions were indeed not ethical. Now that it’s blown up, it’s not good for the company’s image. Why not compromise?” I looked at them. At those whom I had helped, trusted, and considered my comrades. Their faces were etched with greed. “What if I say no?” I asked calmly. Chloe smiled. She tapped another screen on her phone— It showed fragments of our core product’s design source code, redacted and posted on a tech forum. The poster was anonymous, but the title read: “AstraCorp Core Code Leaked, Company May Face Bankruptcy.” “Then maybe tomorrow, it won’t just be fragments that are leaked,” she said softly. “Boss, what do you think? Are a few dozen bags more expensive, or is the company going bankrupt?” The office fell into a deathly silence. I slowly stood up and walked to the window. Then I turned around, looking at each of them: “Inform everyone: tomorrow morning at nine, in the main conference room.” “I will provide the final solution.” Chloe’s face flashed with a victorious smile. They thought I had caved. After the crowd dispersed, I called in the legal and IT department heads. “I want to see a complete chain of evidence before tomorrow’s meeting.” My voice was devoid of warmth. “You know what to do.” I gave them diamonds, but they threw them away like worthless trinkets. And after throwing them away, now they want to snatch the diamonds back. Fine. Then I’ll show you. You don’t even deserve the glass beads.

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A month after I gave birth,, he flew overseas. Alone in the house, I was tidying his study when I found a hospital bill beside the shredder. The date on it matched my delivery date exactly. Stella’s POV A month after I gave birth, Julian flew overseas for a conference. In the sprawling mansion, I had little to do, so I began to tidy his study. Near the shredder, I noticed a crumpled piece of paper. He must have missed it. Against my better judgment, I picked it up and carefully smoothed it open. It was a hospital bill from a private clinic. The date was the same as the day I’d given birth. My eyes froze on the patient’s name at the top. Luna Evans. Luna Evans? Julian’s childhood sweetheart, the woman who should have disappeared from my life three years ago. Back then, she had harassed Julian relentlessly. She had even charged at me with a knife during our engagement party. Julian kicked her away, and his family forced her overseas. How could she be back? And why was her hospital bill in his study? My heart dropped. A cold dread wrapped around me. I forced myself to breathe, my eyes scanning down, line by line. Emergency C-section… Postpartum hemorrhage protocol… Specialized neonatal care… … Total: three hundred seventy-eight thousand dollars. My fingers turned cold. I remembered everything so clearly: Julian told me I’d given birth naturally that day. He said he’d hired the best obstetrician for me, and the total cost was just over a hundred thousand dollars. But here it was-C-section, postpartum hemorrhage. Every item on that bill contradicted what I remembered. An absurd, chilling thought began to swell uncontrollably inside me. If this bill was real…then what had really happened to me? And whose child was this, the one I had tenderly cared for all this past month? I had to see Julian immediately and get to the bottom of this. I dialed his number. His voice, as gentle as always, came through the receiver. “Stella, what’s wrong? I’m at an out-of-town conference, and the signal here is bad.” Another conference. My heart clenched, and I abruptly hung up. I didn’t believe he was out of town. Clutching the paper, I spun around and ran towards the underground parking garage. The huge mansion was deserted. I headed straight for the parking garage. Just as I reached the elevator, a familiar black Bentley glided silently in, pulling into its exclusive spot not far away. The car door opened, and Julian, who should have been hundreds of miles away at a conference, stepped out. He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and carefully helped a woman out. It was Luna Evans. Julian had his arm half-around her waist, his movements tender. My blood instantly froze. I yanked myself back, hiding behind a massive supporting pillar. The cold concrete pressed against my back, a bone-chilling cold. Their conversation drifted clearly to my ears. “My sweet girl,” Julian’s voice was filled with doting affection and concern. “The doctor said you had a postpartum hemorrhage. You need to rest properly. Why are you running around?” Postpartum hemorrhage?! Exactly like the bill. I clamped my hand over my mouth, desperate not to make a sound. Luna leaned weakly into his embrace, her voice soft, “I miss Leo. Julian, will Stella treat Leo well?” Leo was the nickname Julian had chosen for our baby. My heart ached painfully. Julian sighed, pulling her closer. “Luna, I know I owe you too much. But don’t worry. I arranged for her to undergo deep hypnosis and used new medication. She will only remember giving birth to Leo herself, fighting for him. She will love him more than anything. It is foolproof. No one will ever know.” Tears fell from Luna’s face. “But I hid it from you back then. I thought I was dying, that’s why I insisted on keeping the baby. I’m afraid she might break.” “She won’t.” Julian’s voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “From today, Leo is Stella’s son. Her only purpose is to be his mother.” I slid down behind the pillar, my stomach twisting. All the sweet words that had once made me so happy now echoed like a cruel joke. He had said, “Stella, I’ll only love you in this life.” He had said, “Stella, marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.” He had said, “Stella, I’ll give you and our child the most perfect home.” …To use drugs and hypnosis to steal my life, to make me willingly mother his and another woman’s child. It was sickening. My hands and feet went cold as my mind slowly cleared. Then I remembered. Years ago, when Julian’s grandfather was still alive, I had helped him organize his study. I’d seen a secret file, locked deep inside his safe. He had looked at me with a complicated expression and explained it was a medical report from Julian’s teenage accident. The conclusion was clear: Julian had been left permanently infertile. To protect the family’s stability and Julian’s peace of mind, his grandfather and father had suppressed the report together. They hid the truth from everyone, even from Julian and his own mother. His grandfather only urged me to forget what I’d seen and never speak of it. Back then, I was already pregnant. I’d thought the old man was confused, or that it was someone else’s report, or a misdiagnosis. I hadn’t given it another thought. But now I knew. It wasn’t a mistake, and the old man hadn’t been confused. That was the truth. A bitter, self-mocking smile touched my lips as I made my decision. First, I would contact an immigration agency and expedite my application for permanent residency abroad. I didn’t want to stay here a moment longer. Second, I remembered that secret report on Julian’s infertility. I would package that diagnosis into the most exquisite of gifts-a parting present for him. I suddenly burned with curiosity. What expression would that man wear, so arrogantly sure of his own virility, when he discovered the heir he had schemed so carefully for was not his at all.

Stella’s POV Back at the house, a piercing cry erupted from the nursery. The sound stabbed at my eardrums. I stood at the doorway, watching the tiny life in the crib kicking its legs, a surge of repulsion swelling within me. The nanny walked out, her face full of reproach. “Ms. Stella, where have you been? You didn’t answer your messages. Leo has been crying for almost half an hour, and nothing seems to comfort him.” I ignored her, my gaze fixed on the baby’s small face. The resemblance. It was too striking. Those eyes, those brows, they were clearly Luna’s spitting image. How could I have been so blind before, never once suspecting? As I was thinking, I heard the front door open. Julian was back. He first frowned, chastising the nanny in a tone filled with protectiveness. “Stella isn’t feeling well. Why are you rushing her?” After that, he skillfully picked up Leo, gently bouncing him. In just a moment, the baby’s cries gradually subsided. He carried Leo over to me, reaching out to caress my face, his voice soft. “Stella, why do you look so pale? Didn’t you get enough rest?” My stomach churned, and I instinctively turned my head away from his touch. His hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of darkness crossing his eyes, but it quickly returned to normal. He handed Leo back to the nanny, saying softly, “You take Leo back to his room. I’ll talk to Stella.” The nanny seemed to sigh in relief, hurrying away with the baby. Only the two of us were left in the living room. Julian wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin in the crook of my shoulder. “What’s wrong? Are you upset because I sounded rushed on the phone?” I closed my eyes, letting him hold me, my body rigid and unmoving. “I’m tired,” I murmured. “Alright, I’ve prepared some herbal tea for sleep. Drink it and get some rest.” He turned and walked to the kitchen. A moment later, he returned with a steaming cup of richly fragrant herbal tea. This was the custom sleep-aid blend he had started making for me when I was preparing for pregnancy. He said it would relax my nerves and help me sleep better. I took the cup, my fingertips icy cold. Meeting his expectant gaze, I obediently brought the cup to my lips, pretending to take a sip. While he turned to straighten the sofa, I swiftly poured the tea into a nearby potted plant. “It tastes good,” I said, putting down the empty cup, my voice calm. “Glad you like it,” Julian said, walking over and smiling with satisfaction. “Go get some sleep now.” I nodded, not looking at him again, and went back to the bedroom. Lying in bed, my back to the door, I forced my breathing to remain steady. Late at night, rustling sounds came from beside me. I snapped my eyes open in the darkness. I felt Julian lift the covers and get out of bed. His movements were extremely light, as if he was afraid of waking me. I immediately got up, stealthily following him. I watched him go to the elevator and press the button for the top floor. The top floor of this building was a penthouse apartment, not for sale to the public. My heart sank inch by agonizing inch. I didn’t follow him into the elevator, turning instead towards the fire escape. In the stairwell, the sound-activated lights flickered on and off. I walked barefoot on the cold concrete, step by step, upward. At the stairwell landing on the top floor, I stopped, slipping into the deep shadows. The elevator doors opened. Julian stepped out. And the apartment door was already ajar. Luna, wearing a sexy silk nightgown, immediately rushed into his arms. “Baby, what took you so long?” Her voice held a playful whine. “Having to wait for Stella to fall asleep every night must be so hard.” Julian lowered his head and kissed her lips. “Don’t worry, the medication I give her not only ensures deep sleep but also continuously reinforces the memories I’ve implanted in her. There won’t be any slip-ups.” “That’s good.” Luna stood on her tiptoes, pecking him on the lips. “Come in, I miss you so much.” They embraced, kissing passionately, and walked into the brightly lit apartment. The door slowly closed before my eyes. I leaned against the cold wall, my blood running cold. So, that sweet-smelling herbal tea every night was a sedative. So, my husband would wait for me to fall asleep every night before going upstairs to meet his lover. This deception was even more sickening than I had imagined. I fought back the urge to rush over and smash that door open. I turned and went downstairs. Julian didn’t return until dawn. As usual, he embraced me from behind, placing a soft kiss on my neck. “Stella, how about we take Leo to the beach for a getaway this weekend? Just the three of us.” I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears that welled up. “Sounds good.”

Stella’s POV At the private fitness club, in the indoor pool. Julian put his arm around my shoulder, pointing to a woman in a bikini not far away. He smiled as he introduced her, “Stella, this is the new swimming instructor I hired for you. She’s won several championships.” My gaze fell on the woman’s face, and my heart turned icy cold. It was Luna. She had short hair and wore exaggerated sunglasses, but I’d recognize that pitiful, delicate look anywhere, even disguised. I didn’t say anything, just nodded faintly. Luna walked over, giving me a smile. “Hello, Ms. Stella. Let’s do some warm-up exercises first.” I obediently walked to the edge of the deep end, bending down to stretch. The moment my hands touched my toes, a cold hand suddenly shot out from beneath the water, clamping onto my ankle! A tremendous force pulled me, and I instantly lost my balance, being dragged violently into the water. “Mmph!” The cold pool water instantly flooded my mouth and nose. I couldn’t swim at all, and the pain of choking made it impossible to call for help. I could only struggle desperately in the water. On the shore, Julian’s face changed drastically, and he was about to jump in. “Julian, don’t rush!” Luna, however, held him back. “I’m a good swimmer. I’ll save Stella!” With that, she dove into the water and quickly swam towards me. Julian stood at the edge of the pool, a flicker of emotion in his eyes as he watched Luna’s selfless actions. I felt Luna not only fail to pull me ashore but instead use all her strength to press me firmly down towards the bottom of the pool! Luna was trying to drown me! A strong will to survive erupted. I fought back with all my might, my nails leaving several bloody scratches on Luna’s arm. The suffocating sensation intensified. Just as my consciousness began to fade, the pressure from above suddenly loosened. Luna finally dragged me ashore. “Stella!” Julian rushed over, but his first reaction wasn’t to check on me, who was barely conscious. Instead, he knelt down, tenderly cupping Luna’s arm. Several scratches on it were beading with blood. “How did you get so hurt?” His brows furrowed, his voice full of reproach. Luna began to sob pitifully. “I was just too anxious, Julian. If this leaves a scar, it will affect my future endorsements.” Julian’s heartache deepened. Ignoring me, who was still lying on the ground, he pulled Luna into his embrace, comforting her softly. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll call the best dermatologist. There won’t be a single scar left on you.” In my hazy state, I heard their conversation clearly. Suddenly, I coughed violently, spitting out several mouthfuls of pool water. Julian finally snapped back to reality. He released Luna, quickly walked to my side, and swept me into his arms. “Stella, are you alright? I’m taking you to the hospital!” Holding me, he turned to Luna and said, “Luna, you come too. Bring Leo. We’ll meet at the hospital.” Leaning against Julian’s broad chest, I could clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat. How could this man, without a flicker of emotion, tenderly soothe his lover, then turn around and play the devoted husband to me? Did he have no heart at all? I closed my eyes, letting cold tears stream from the corners of my eyes. I might as well have drowned.

Stella’s POV I woke up in a private hospital room, completely alone. From the hallway, I heard two orderlies whispering. “I’ve truly seen it all. Julian was so worried about those scratches on Luna’s arm that he called in the best dermatologists in the entire hospital for a consultation. But his legitimate wife, who was unconscious from drowning, was just left with a temporary orderly, not even a single inquiry.” “You don’t know the story? That Luna is Julian’s true darling. I heard Stella is the real homewrecker, using her family’s status to steal Luna’s boyfriend. Now she’s faking a drowning to get sympathy? Serves her right!” I listened quietly, my heart feeling numb. So, in everyone’s eyes, I was the malicious homewrecker. The hospital room door opened, and a young orderly walked in-one of the two who had just been talking. She looked at me with disdain. “Awake already? Tough one, aren’t you?” she sneered. “I advise you to be smart and divorce Julian immediately. Stop occupying someone else’s lover. Luna is my best friend. Julian is deeply in love with her. A woman like you, who destroys other people’s relationships, doesn’t deserve happiness.” I was too weary to argue with her. I simply closed my eyes and said calmly, “I need to rest.” Seeing my aloof demeanor, the orderly flew into a rage. She picked up a new IV bag, hung it on the stand, and roughly jammed the needle into the IV port on the back of my hand. As she adjusted the flow rate, I caught a flash of malice in her eyes. She deliberately twisted the knob to its fastest setting. “Hmph, putting on airs,” she muttered under her breath, then turned and left the room. Not long after she left, I knew something was wrong. A cold liquid was spreading through my veins, and my heart began convulsing out of control. My breath turned ragged. The orderly had given me the wrong medication. I fought to reach the call button beside my bed. The hallway outside stayed silent-no nurses came running. I suddenly realized they were probably all in Luna’s room. My vision began to blur. My body grew colder. With the last of my strength, I fumbled for the phone on my pillow and dialed Julian. A long series of tones echoed before the call finally connected. I tried to speak, but his impatient voice cut through first. “Busy.” Then, the line went dead.

Stella’s POV When I woke up in the hospital, Julian was standing by my bedside. Seeing my eyes open, he immediately grasped my hand, his voice hoarse. “Stella, I’m so sorry. I was dealing with an urgent overseas matter, and my phone was on silent. I never thought…” The regret in his eyes seemed genuine, but I merely watched him perform, numb. “What about that orderly?” I asked. “I’ve already fired her and instructed my lawyers to sue her. There will be no leniency.” He gently stroked my hair. “Don’t worry, nothing like this will ever happen again.” I listened to his reassuring words, but my heart felt empty. After comforting me for a few moments, he quickly glanced at his watch and stood up. “I have an important meeting at the office. I really have to go. You rest well. I’ll be back to be with you as soon as the meeting is over.” With that, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then left in a hurry. I watched his retreating back and gently curved my lips into a slight smile. His excuse was always “a meeting.” Discharged from the hospital, I arrived home to see Julian’s mother gleefully video-calling someone on her phone, holding the baby. On the other end of the screen was Luna. “Come on, say ‘Mommy’,” Julian’s mother said, her voice full of doting affection. The baby babbled. She beamed, unable to hide her joy. When she saw me enter, her face immediately darkened. She ended the video call and coldly swept her gaze over me. “So delicate, just a little drowning, and you have to stay in the hospital for so long. How many company matters has Julian delayed because of you?” She shoved an insulated container into my hands. “Take this soup to Julian. Learn to be a supportive wife. Stop causing him trouble all the time.” I took the container, turned, and walked out without a word. Arriving at Julian’s company, I pushed open the door to his CEO’s penthouse office and, to my surprise, found Luna already there. She wore sunglasses, covering half her face, but the triumphant smile on her lips couldn’t be hidden. “Stella, here to see Julian? Bad timing, he just stepped out for a meeting.” I couldn’t be bothered with her. I placed the insulated container on the table and turned to leave. “Stop!” Luna suddenly stood up and grabbed my arm. She deliberately bumped into me, at the same time, spilling the hot coffee she was holding all over her own chest! “Ah!” She cried out in pain, and a large brown stain instantly spread across her white shirt. Her eyes turned red, and tears streamed down her face instantly. “Stella, I know you misunderstood me, but how could you lay hands on me?” Just then, the office door opened. Julian walked in. Seeing this scene, Luna cried even harder, her face stained with tears. He walked straight past the sobbing Luna, quickly came to my side, and anxiously scrutinized me from head to toe. “Stella, are you alright? Did anything splash on you?” I shook my head. He finally sighed in relief, then turned, his face dark, and sharply rebuked Luna. “Who told you to come here? Get out!” Luna froze, she seemed stunned by his reaction. Under Julian’s cold gaze, she could only sob pitifully and run out. Only the two of us were left in the office. He pulled me into his arms and whispered, “Stella, I love you. Only you. Don’t read too much into things, alright?” His voice was soft, but then it shifted. “But your emotions have been unstable lately. You get provoked too easily…you’ve hurt people.” I broke free and looked at him coldly. “I didn’t push her.” “Alright, alright, I believe you.” His reassurance was perfunctory. He glanced at his watch. “I really have to get to this meeting. You go home and wait for me.” He left in a hurry once again. I didn’t move. I just stepped closer to the door and looked out through the gap. Down the hall, he caught up with Luna. “I’m living like I’m in hiding!” Luna sobbed. “Julian, about what happened back then…I found new evidence. I can prove Stella framed me.” He pulled her gently into an embrace and promised softly. “Luna, don’t worry. I’ll clear your name. From now on, you can walk anywhere openly, proudly.” I watched them hold each other, silent. My heart had turned to ice.

My boss went on a business trip for a month, leaving his girlfriend in charge of the company. She immediately accused me of being late and docked my entire $100,000 commission. Even my $48 taxi reimbursement request? Rejected! When I confronted her, she threatened to fire me. Fine. If that’s how it’s going to be, I decided to take my sales team and jump ship, all of us together. It was ten in the morning, and I walked into the office right on time. I’d been up till midnight talking to a client yesterday, and my head was still pounding. I was just about to grab a coffee when I checked my phone and saw that my taxi reimbursement request had been rejected. Forty-eight dollars. That was from last week, when I met Mr. Lee to discuss a new order. We talked so late that I had no choice but to take a taxi home. The rejection note had Tiffany’s name on it. Tiffany was Mr. Harrison’s new girlfriend. She was notoriously arrogant and domineering, always snapping at anyone she didn’t like. But because she had a sweet tongue and knew how to manipulate him, Mr. Harrison usually just let her do whatever she wanted. He was away on a business trip this month, so he’d put her in temporary charge of the company. I couldn’t believe she was giving me such a hard time. I marched straight to Mr. Harrison’s office. The door wasn’t quite shut, and Tiffany’s sugary laughter drifted out. I knocked, then pushed it open. She was sprawled in Mr. Harrison’s swivel chair, glued to her phone. She looked up, raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” I took a deep breath. “Tiffany, why wasn’t my taxi reimbursement from last week approved?” She glanced at the screen and scoffed. “You took the taxi yourself, of course you have to pay for it. Is this company your personal fund? You expect us to pay for your cab rides too?” “I was talking to Mr. Lee until 10:30 PM that night. The area was pretty isolated, and public transport had stopped hours ago.” I met her eyes. “And we were discussing a three-million-dollar order for the second half of the year.” “So what?” Tiffany tossed her phone aside, her bright red nails tapping on the desk. “You need to understand, the company isn’t here just to pay for you! If everyone in sales acted like you, how would we even stay in business?” “But company policy states…” I took another deep breath. “If you work past 10 PM, the company reimburses your taxi fare.” Tiffany leaned back, crossing her arms. “Policy?” She rolled her eyes at me. “What policy? The company gives you a job; you create value for the company. Do you treat this place like your own living room, expecting us to pay for your taxi rides too?” I looked at her, enunciating each word. “Company policy is set by Mr. Harrison.” Tiffany suddenly shot to her feet, her finger practically jabbing at my face. “Riley! Get this straight! I’m in charge now! If I say no, it’s no! You’re just a salesperson; how dare you challenge me?!” Her voice was piercingly shrill. The open-plan office outside instantly fell silent. “What’s wrong with being a salesperson?” I took a step forward. “Eighty percent of this company’s current revenue comes from the sales department, from the clients I handle. Last year, the company was on the brink of collapse. I was the one who closed a five-million-dollar deal and saved it.” Back when Mr. Harrison’s company was about to go under, he accidentally hired me. And in my very first month, I generated five million dollars in sales, putting the company back on its feet. Since then, Mr. Harrison had always treated me with respect and usually listened to my advice on major decisions. Tiffany slammed her hand on the desk, her face contorted into an ugly grimace, mouth agape. “Oh, really? You’re just an employee, do you really think this company belongs to you now?” “Should I just give you my position too, then?” “Let me tell you, this company will be just fine without you! Now get out!” I stared at Tiffany in disbelief. “You’re firing me? Have you even asked Mr. Harrison?” I generated 80% of the company’s profits; how dare she fire me? Tiffany sneered, looking at me with utter contempt. “You’re just a salesperson! A dirty peddler! What’s wrong with me firing you?” “This is my boyfriend’s company! I can fire whoever I want!” “Besides, who knows if you got those sales by sleeping with old men, leveraging your looks!” She just outright slandered me. I gritted my teeth, taking a deep breath. Mr. Harrison had always treated me well, I couldn’t just walk away like this. So I sat down on the sofa. “You should really ask Mr. Harrison what he thinks first.” Tiffany rolled her eyes. “Who do you think you are?” With that, she dialed Mr. Harrison’s number directly. Mr. Harrison’s voice on the other end sounded tired. “What is it?” Tiffany, who had just been yelling at me in a shrill voice, immediately softened, speaking sweetly. “Honey, I miss you.” Mr. Harrison sighed. “Just tell me what you want.” Tiffany shot me a triumphant look. “There’s a salesperson here who’s breaking company rules! I want to kick him out.” “Whatever. I need to rest.” Mr. Harrison casually dismissed her and hung up. Tiffany then looked at me, utterly smug. “Hear that? I can fire whoever I want! Now get out!”

I let out a cold laugh, staring at Tiffany. “Are you sure about that?” “If Mr. Harrison comes back and finds out you fired me, he might get angry.” I was trying to be helpful. Headhunters had been offering me huge sums for ages, but I’d stayed out of loyalty to Mr. Harrison all these years. My leaving wouldn’t affect me one bit, but Tiffany? That was a different story. Tiffany glared at me. “Who do you think you are? Just a salesperson. I’m my boyfriend’s future wife, the lady of this company.” “Let me tell you, as long as I’m around, you’ll never get to seduce my husband!” Hearing her say that, I just shook my head. Well, if that’s how it was going to be, then so be it. I turned and walked out of the office. My colleagues outside had already heard our argument but didn’t know what had happened, staring at me intently. “Boss, what’s wrong?” Marcus asked. I efficiently started packing my things, a slight smile on my face. “What’s wrong? I got fired, that’s what.” My colleagues’ eyes widened. They looked at me in disbelief. “Fired you? Is Tiffany out of her mind? Everyone knows you’re Mr. Harrison’s favorite! Isn’t she afraid he’ll break up with her?” I shook my head, chuckling softly. “I can’t worry about that. It’s her decision; she has to live with the consequences.” “Besides, I’ve been working so many years; I’ve been wanting a good long break.” I had long saved enough money to be financially independent, but I’d never taken a break or felt comfortable asking for one. This was the perfect opportunity. Marcus was fuming. “No, seriously, why did she fire you? Did you offend her, Boss?” I frowned, thinking back carefully. “Maybe it was last time, when Mr. Harrison called me to talk about work, and I didn’t answer her call. She probably thought I was having an affair with him.” “She’s been looking for excuses to pick fights with me ever since.” Yesterday, Tiffany had posted a photo of herself and Mr. Harrison in the WhatsApp group. Everyone had replied with ‘perfect match.’ I was the only one who’d seen it but didn’t bother to reply. That was probably the final straw. “I should call Mr. Harrison right now. You’re the backbone of this company; you can’t just leave.” I shook my head, a light laugh escaping me. “No, it’s fine. Even if I were to come back, it would only be after Tiffany and Mr. Harrison break up. I really can’t stand her behavior. We’ll see about it later.” I finished packing my things and headed to the finance office to collect this month’s salary. Although I’d only worked ten days this month, I’d closed a three-million-dollar deal last month. According to my contract, I was owed a $300,000 commission. I informed Chloe, the finance girl, that I’d been fired and asked her to transfer my salary to my account. Just then, Tiffany suddenly appeared at the office doorway, glaring at me. “Riley, didn’t I tell you to get out? What are you doing here?” I gave her a bland look. She was gloating, smug and self-satisfied because she’d snagged a rich boyfriend. It was particularly nauseating to watch. Seeing I didn’t respond, Tiffany immediately got agitated, stepping forward and grabbing my clothes. “Didn’t you hear me talking to you? What are you doing in the finance office? These are important company documents! Get out now, or I’m calling the police!” I frowned, forcefully shaking off Tiffany’s hand. “Let go!” “I’ve resigned. Is there a problem with me collecting this month’s salary? You should be grateful I’m not asking for compensation.” Tiffany glared at Chloe. “How much is her salary?” Chloe nervously answered. “Three hundred thousand and five thousand dollars.” Tiffany’s face immediately soured. “How much?” After Chloe repeated the amount, Tiffany pointed at me. “You violated company policy by being late, so your entire salary for this month is docked.” I let out a cold laugh. “Being late once means a $200 deduction. How did you calculate that? Did you even finish elementary school?” Tiffany, however, looked at me with full confidence. “I just set a new rule: three lates, and your entire month’s salary is gone. Now get out!”

“What gives you the right to make rules?” Tiffany crossed her arms, shamelessly. “I’ll have a share in this company in the future, so what’s wrong with me making rules?” I couldn’t be bothered arguing with her. “Then you can expect a lawsuit from me.” With that, I stormed out. I grabbed my things and drove home. As soon as I’d put everything away, I saw Tiffany had sent a message in the company WhatsApp group, which I hadn’t left yet. “From now on, everyone must reply to my messages. Anyone who doesn’t will face the same consequences as the person who was fired today.” “Also, from now on, the company will not reimburse your taxi fares. Don’t always think of the company as your personal piggy bank!” It seemed she really did fire me because I hadn’t joined in the praise. Mr. Harrison was truly unlucky to have found such a girlfriend. Everyone below immediately replied to her message. I found it annoying, so I just exited all the groups. My phone instantly became much quieter. But since Tiffany wouldn’t let me take my last month’s salary, I had to teach her a lesson. All of the company’s important clients were stored in my personal email. So I sent a group message to all these clients, basically informing them that I had resigned and would no longer be handling business at the company. Most of these people were clients I had brought in, and they cooperated with the company largely because of me. If I left, they would most likely follow me. Sure enough, within two minutes, my former clients started flooding me with messages, asking which company I was moving to and expressing their willingness to transfer their contracts. I explained the situation to each of them, saying I hadn’t found a new job yet but would contact them immediately once I did. There were so many clients; I was still replying until it got dark, eventually falling asleep from exhaustion. When I woke up the next day, Marcus sent me a message. “Boss, a lot of our partners are saying they want to terminate their agreements and won’t be renewing their contracts. Was that you?” Looks like my plan was working. I chuckled softly. “I didn’t do anything; I merely stated the fact that I’ve resigned.” “You’re amazing. Tiffany came in this morning, heard about it, and blew up at several salespeople, demanding to know why they couldn’t retain clients. Now several salespeople are preparing to resign, saying they won’t put up with her attitude.” It seemed many people in the company were unhappy with Tiffany. I wondered how she would handle this mess. Meanwhile, I prepared to contact a lawyer to file a lawsuit and get my salary back. Even though I didn’t desperately need the money, I couldn’t let her get away with it. To my surprise, a few days later, Tiffany actually called me. I was startled, picking up the phone with confusion. “What is it?” As soon as I answered, she launched into a furious tirade. “Riley, are you even human?! Where are all the company’s client contacts? They all say they’re with you! Hand over those phone numbers right now! Those are company property! I’ll sue you, I swear!” I paused, then realized Tiffany was getting desperate. “You’re disgusting! Give me those client numbers now! Or I’ll kill you, you hear me?!”

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My Christmas vacation was meticulously planned, but my boyfriend kept complaining about my spending. To save money, he actually put me up for “auction starting at one dollar” on a travel companion app. Whoever bid the highest would get my companionship for the next three days. He even called it “resource sharing.” Watching the bidding price on the app steadily climb, and seeing my boyfriend’s smug face, I just smiled. He had no idea that the top bidder on the list was someone I’d called in. It was Christmas break, and my boyfriend, Brendan, and I were on vacation in Hawaii. Standing by the ocean, with the gentle breeze blowing, it should have been utterly blissful. But Brendan, standing right beside me, was lecturing me about money for the third time. “Aurora, I just don’t get it. This Airbnb is over three hundred dollars a night. What’s the difference between this and one that’s a hundred bucks? Don’t they all have a bed and a bathroom?” “We’re here for a holiday, not a budget trip.” I stared at the distant horizon, unwilling to argue with him on our first day. “So a holiday means wasting money? Look at you, you just *had* to buy that new dress before we left. Five hundred dollars! That’s my whole month’s grocery budget!” Here he went again. Brendan’s cheapness was practically coded into his DNA. When we ate out, he’d always find the cheapest coupon deals or bargain combos. For movies, he only bought the Tuesday discount tickets. For my birthday, the gift he gave me was a thermal mug he’d won in a raffle at his company’s annual holiday party. I always tried to tell myself he was just frugal, that he still cared about me. But this trip, his stingy nature was amplified in this unfamiliar environment, turning him into a truly selfish and petty jerk. At lunchtime, I wanted to go to a popular, trendy restaurant I’d found online. Brendan’s face immediately darkened. “One hundred forty dollars for a single chicken stir-fry? They might as well just rob us!” He dragged me through the winding alleys of the old town, finally stopping in front of a grocery store. “Here, instant noodles, all kinds of flavors. Problem solved.” I looked at the instant noodles he was offering, my stomach churning. “Brendan, we’re on vacation.” “So what if we’re on vacation? Does that mean we don’t have to be responsible with money?” “Aurora, I’ve noticed you’re spending more and more lately. We’re going to get married and buy a house eventually. You’re putting a lot of pressure on me.” I yanked my hand away from his and walked straight into the restaurant. “Eat it or don’t. I’m going.” I ordered two dishes for myself. The chicken soup was fresh and delicious, the stir-fried meat sweet and tangy. Not long after, Brendan showed up anyway. He didn’t say a word to me. He just sat down and grabbed a fork. He ate faster than anyone. When the bill came, he stood to the side, fiddling with his phone, showing no intention of paying. I paid the bill. Two hundred sixty-eight dollars. He glanced at the receipt, a sarcastic smirk on his face. “How lavish, Princess.” “One meal, and you’ve blown three days of my salary. Impressive.” I couldn’t be bothered with him. I just walked straight out. Back at the Airbnb, I was exhausted and just wanted to lie down and rest. But Brendan was sitting by the window, messing with his phone. He kept glancing up at me, a strange look on his face. I couldn’t help but ask, “Brendan, what are you doing now?” He turned the phone screen towards me, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. “Aurora, I’ve figured out a great way to earn back our travel expenses.” “Look, this TravelBuds app, it’s really popular.” I leaned closer to look. The screen showed an interface similar to a dating app. He pointed to a post and said, “See this? Someone’s looking to split gas money. They could save hundreds of dollars on a trip.” “What does that have to do with us? We didn’t drive here.” Brendan’s smile widened. “We can share other ‘resources’.” He typed rapidly on the screen, then shoved the phone in my face. The screen displayed a newly published post: 《My girlfriend is too extravagant. This Christmas trip is breaking the bank. Starting bid of one dollar for three days of her companionship. Highest bidder wins. Photos included. Absolutely worth it.》 Below the post was a candid photo of me by the beach. In the picture, I was wearing my new dress, smiling brightly. All the blood rushed to my head, and my face burned. “Brendan! Are you insane?! Delete that right now!”

What did he think I was? An item to be auctioned? Brendan, however, casually pulled his phone back, even turning on the speaker, listening with relish to the constant “ding-dong” sounds from the app. Those were the notification sounds of people placing bids. “Delete what? It’s fun!” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, looking like a mastermind with a brilliant plan. “It’s performance art, Aurora. You wouldn’t get it.” “Besides, if someone actually bids high, won’t we make back our travel expenses? We might even turn a profit.” I literally couldn’t believe my ears. “You’re publicly humiliating me!” I lunged to snatch his phone, but he easily dodged me. “Aurora, don’t be so dramatic! It’s just a joke.” “Anyway, people are bidding. That means you’re popular. You should be flattered.” I was trembling with rage, but he was admiring his handiwork. “Oh, someone’s already bid fifty dollars. “Not bad, not bad. Looks like you’re worth something.” He even showed me the chat logs of his friends in their group chat, practically worshipping him. “Dude, you’re a genius! How’d you even think of this?” “Aurora’s hot enough to fetch thousands, right?” “When the money rolls in, drinks are on you!” I stared at those disgusting messages, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. So, in their eyes, I was just a commodity, something to be bought and sold. “Brendan, I’m telling you one last time: delete it!” “No.” He held his phone high above his head, a defiant smirk on his face. “Unless you promise me that for the next few days, you won’t spend a single extra dollar, and all expenses will be decided by me.” He thought he had me exactly where he wanted me. But watching his smug face, the fury in my heart slowly, strangely, cooled. Getting angry over a scumbag like him wasn’t worth it. I sat back on the bed, staring at him coldly. “Fine.” “I’d like to see how much I’m worth.” Brendan froze for a second, surprised I’d given in so quickly. The smirk on his face widened even more. “That’s more like it, Aurora.” He walked over, intending to hug me, but I recoiled in disgust. “Don’t touch me.” He just shrugged, didn’t push it, and turned his attention back to the auction post. “Whoa, one hundred! This user ‘SilentBreeze’ is serious!” “And ‘MountainMist’ isn’t bad either, up to one hundred twenty!” I pulled out my own phone, opened SnapChat, and found a contact I barely ever spoke to. It was my boss, Alpha. I just sent him a message: “Are you there?” He replied instantly. “Yes. Everything alright?” I took a deep breath, sent him the link to Brendan’s auction post, along with our current location, and started typing. “Alpha, I know this is incredibly presumptuous. I’m in a bit of a bind right now.” “My boyfriend, to save money, put me up for auction on this app.” “I don’t want anything to do with him anymore. Could you do me a favor and turn this farce into a full-blown spectacle?” After sending the message, I felt a knot of anxiety. Alpha was the CEO’s son, a classic corporate heir. At the office, he was always impeccably dressed in a suit, his expression stern, radiating an aura that kept everyone at a distance. Our only significant interaction was at a company retreat, where I got blackout drunk and threw up on him. The next day, I went to apologize, terrified I’d be fired. But he just gave me a blank stare and mumbled, “Maybe don’t drink so much next time.”

After that, he seemed to pay a bit more attention to me, occasionally offering me advice on work matters. But after Brendan and I got together, we hadn’t been in touch. I wondered if he’d think I was crazy, or if he’d laugh at me. My phone vibrated. It was Alpha’s reply. “Alright. What do you need me to do?” I glanced at Brendan, still gloating over the bids, and smirked to myself. I replied to Alpha. “It’s simple.” “Bid for me at a price he can’t refuse.” “Then transfer the money to me.” Alpha was silent for a few seconds. “Understood.” “Send me your account details.” I sent him my PayPal QR code. After doing all that, I put down my phone, feeling like the pent-up frustration in my heart had finally found an outlet. Meanwhile, Brendan was still giddy over the small, steadily climbing numbers. “Two hundred dollars! Aurora, look! It’s already two hundred dollars!” “Oh my god, we’ve almost made back the cost of our Airbnb for this trip!” I looked at him coldly. “Really? Just two hundred dollars, and you’ve sold three days of my freedom. You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you?” Brendan stiffened, then retorted self-righteously. “How is this ‘selling’? This is ‘resource exchange’, ‘experiencing life’.” “Besides, the money isn’t the point. It’s the thrill of the game.” Just then, his phone’s notification sound suddenly became frantic. “Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!” Brendan looked down, his eyes widening instantly. “Holy crap!” He cursed, jumping up from his chair in excitement. “Aurora! Look! Someone just bid! One thousand dollars! Straight to one thousand dollars!” He shoved the phone in my face. I saw a user with the ID ‘G’ had instantly upped the price from $200 to $1,000. Brendan’s friend group chat exploded too. “Dude! A whale!” “One thousand dollars… who *is* this person?” User ‘G’ seemed to be in a personal bidding war. When others added $10, he added $500. When others added $100, he added $1,000. The price surged upwards at an insane speed. $2,000… $5,000… $10,000! When the price jumped to ten thousand dollars, Brendan was speechless. He stared intensely at the screen. His friends in the group chat started sucking up to him. “Brendan! Let me cling to your leg! This isn’t finding a companion, this is finding a millionaire!” I looked at Brendan’s wide-eyed, like he’d never seen money before, and felt only contempt. He was losing his mind over a measly ten grand. I picked up my phone and sent Alpha a message. “That’s enough. Any higher and it’ll look too fake.” Alpha replied quickly. “Not enough.” “The price for your humiliation can’t be this low.” Then, I watched as the price leaped from $10,000 to a number that made my heart pound. $88,888. Eighty-eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight dollars. The moment that number appeared, the entire bidding page went silent. Those who had been adding tens and hundreds of dollars earlier vanished instantly. Only that glaring $88,888 remained, high at the top of the list. Brendan was utterly speechless. He held his phone, repeatedly checking the number, rubbing his eyes several times, even restarting the app. “Eight… eighty thousand dollars?” He mumbled to himself, “I… I’m not dreaming, am I?” He suddenly looked up, his face filled with wild joy. “Aurora! We’re rich! We’re rich!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “321845”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn