Category: English

My handsome, rich boyfriend is mute—and I’m sure he doesn’t love me. He won’t speak or kiss me properly, and when I tease him in bed, he still refuses. Worse, he locks me in the basement monthly like a dark secret. Everything clicked when I heard a woman’s scream from his room, followed by violent slamming. I cried, then decided to leave. But stepping outside, the manor turned horrifying. Then, live comments appeared: 【Newbie in an SSS-rank instance?!】 【Why’s Bloody Mary chasing you?!】 【Alistair, stop twisting your OWN head!】 【Main BOSS ahead—she’s dead.】 I called Silas’s name—he sprouted wings and fled. 【BOSS just ran from a newbie?】 【Time for bed.】 1 After pinning Silas to the bed yet again, I swore to myself that this time, I would finally have him. I’d superglued the lock. I’d nailed the windows shut. I’d even reinforced the floorboards. I couldn’t imagine how he could possibly escape my grasp tonight. Silas propped himself up on his elbows, his usually immaculate black shirt now ripped open at the collar from my efforts. I impatiently bit down on his collarbone. His long lashes fluttered, and a deep blush crept across his face. “Please?” I whined, my voice syrupy sweet. “I promise I’ll be quick. Just once, I won’t be greedy!” Outside the door, the eavesdropping butler and head housekeeper let out a synchronized, thunderous cough. The sound jolted Silas from his haze of desire. Gently but firmly, he pushed me away, shaking his head to stop my advances. I was genuinely starting to get angry. “Silas, be honest with me,” I snapped. “Is it that you… you can’t?” He froze, a flicker of hurt and unspeakable grievance shimmering in his emerald-green eyes. With practiced ease, the butler burst through the door. “Miss Zoe, the staff have found signs of an intruder—an assassin. For your safety, would you mind spending the night in the safe room?” Again? This was the fifth time this month! Did these people think our home was some kind of tourist attraction? Alistair, the butler, had once explained that ever since Silas inherited his fortune and this manor from his scumbag father, his illegitimate half-brothers had been sending assassins every month to try and take him out. What was this, the Middle Ages? Well, obviously not. Silas was mixed-race, with sharp, sculpted features, porcelain skin, and a lean, powerful physique that was all muscle without being bulky. He’d captivated me from the very first glance. From what I could piece together, I’d been hiking, taken a fall, and they’d rescued me. The bad news: I had amnesia. The even worse news: after checking my phone, I discovered I was an orphan with no family to worry about me. And after a series of suspiciously convenient mishaps—my car breaking down, a sudden storm stranding my boat, a helicopter malfunction—I realized the universe was practically screaming at me to seize this opportunity. So, I stayed, my conscience perfectly clear. Silas couldn’t speak, but he had an incredible way of remembering my every whim. One day, I was looking at an illustration in a book and sighed, “How wonderful would it be to wake up to a sea of flowers every day?” The next morning, I opened my bedroom window, and the sprawling green lawn had been transformed overnight into a breathtaking expanse of crimson roses. The butler and the head housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, always watched me with warm, kind eyes. “Miss Zoe,” Alistair would say, “it’s been a very long time since the Master has smiled so happily.” “How long?” I’d asked. “Oh, several centuries, at least—” he’d begun with a chuckle. Mrs. Gable had swiftly clapped a hand over his mouth. “A figure of speech, my dear. Pay him no mind.” Silas gave me everything I could ever ask for, yet we rarely touched. We’d been together for a year, and he still wouldn’t take our relationship to the next level. Then again, I was the one who had relentlessly pursued him. Maybe he just didn’t like me that much. 2 Frustrated, I followed Alistair down to the basement. Silas had converted it into a massive home theater, fully stocked with everything you could want for entertainment, food, and drink. As Alistair watched, I sullenly put on a pair of headphones. “Do I really have to wear these? I’m not as fragile as you think. I’m not scared.” He adjusted his glasses, his smile gentle. “It can be quite terrifying, miss. The Master’s orders were absolute: you are not to be frightened.” “Fine.” “Don’t you worry,” he added. “Midnight will keep you company.” Midnight was a sleek black cat with a glossy coat who was incredibly affectionate with me. He was so smart that sometimes I got the eerie feeling he could understand human speech. Once Alistair left, I put on a horror movie, just like I always did. Midnight, curled up on my lap, was purring and yawning, fighting to stay awake for me. “Go on, go to sleep,” I whispered, stroking him and moving him to the cushion beside me. “I’ll play with the feather wand with you later.” He seemed especially tired today. With a soft meow, he was fast asleep. I was munching on chips and watching the movie when I reached for my drink and knocked the glass over. As I scrambled to clean up the mess, my headphones snagged on the corner of the table and slipped off. That’s when I heard it. A violent slamming sound from directly above. I froze. That was Silas’s bedroom! Was the fight really that intense? A surge of worry was immediately cut short by a woman’s high-pitched moan. Wait… do assassins make noises like that? It was followed by another round of rhythmic pounding, so forceful it felt like it was about to break through the thick floor. My mind instantly flooded with every cliché story about first loves and stand-in lovers. I cried for as long as the sounds from upstairs continued. I didn’t even dare to make a sound myself, afraid of waking Midnight. The fact that he slept through such a racket meant he must be used to it. Maybe the whole “assassin attack” story was a lie. After all, I’d never seen a single one. No wonder Silas wouldn’t get close to me. No wonder he had to hide me away. I was just his secret lover, a substitute for someone else, not even worthy of his touch. Sob. 3 I decided to end it. Alistair had locked the door, but he never would have guessed that I had a hidden key to open it from the inside. Choking back sobs, I walked up the stairs and stopped dead, rubbing my tear-blurred eyes. The manor, usually bathed in warm light, was plunged into darkness. I fumbled my way to the utility closet and found a flashlight. When I switched it on, the lavish, exquisite decor was gone. In its place was a scene of dilapidated decay, thick with a sinister chill. The peeling walls were smeared with one horrifying, bloody handprint after another, as if someone had been dragged away screaming. So there were signs of a fight. Maybe Silas wasn’t lying? Just as I was about to step forward, a series of glowing comments materialized in the air before me: 【Huh? A newbie? How is she still alive?】 【Hold on, did this new player break a cosmic law or something? How did she land in an SSS-rank instance on her first run?】 【It’s over, it’s over! The Head Housekeeper smelled her. This is too scary, I can’t watch!】 【She’s dead meat!】 The next second, the lights flickered on with a loud snap. Hiding behind a dusty shelf, I felt completely bewildered. The Head Housekeeper… did they mean the one I knew? “Hee hee, found you! Are you ready for me?” The voice had lost its usual steady tone, replaced by something… sleazy. But it was definitely her. I stepped out from my hiding spot. “Mrs. Gable, it’s me.” As the words left my mouth, we both froze. Her uniform was in tatters, she was holding a bloody axe, and her smile was literally stretched from ear to ear. I was horrified. “Who did this to you?” Mrs. Gable’s pupils constricted to pinpricks. Her hand trembled, and she dropped the axe with a clatter. “Miss Zoe, I… I…” Seeing her speechless, I started to walk toward her. But she let out a piercing shriek and, to my astonishment, turned and ran. 【???】 【Wait, Bloody Mary, the Head Housekeeper with the axe… why are you running from her?!】 【What happened to your ‘chop them in half’ power move? Who’s the real NPC here?!】 NPC? What was an NPC? I was about to follow her to get some answers when I heard another familiar voice from around the corner. “So, you managed to defeat the Head Housekeeper. You must have some fight in you. Your head will make a fine addition to my collection. Excited?” A dark shadow lunged toward me. I aimed the flashlight beam up from under my chin. “Alistair, it’s me.” He skidded to a halt right in front of me. His face, a ghastly shade of blue-black, turned pale with shock. I could even see beads of sweat on his forehead. My gaze dropped to his hand, where he was holding a freshly severed head. 【This is it! Go, Alistair, go!】 【She’s a goner now. The Butler doesn’t show mercy, hahaha.】 【Aren’t you the one who loves twisting people’s heads off for your collection? Get her! Wait… not your own head!!】 【Where did this newbie come from? Is she hacking or something???】 He twisted his own head off. I was so stunned that I rubbed my eyes. In that brief moment, he vanished, running for his life. Seriously? All I wanted to know was where Silas was! 4 I made my way toward Silas’s room. Creeeak— The sound of an old wooden door being pushed open by the wind echoed down the hall. The corridor was deathly silent, shrouded in an invisible gloom. 【THE BOSS IS HERE!!!】 I stared at the back of the figure—a figure I knew better than my own—and pondered for a moment. Learning from my previous encounters, I decided to approach without saying a word, lest I scare him off too. I took one step after another. The live comments were baffled. 【This newbie has some serious guts, walking right up to her own death.】 【My cringe-o-meter is off the charts. Her ancestors could kowtow until their heads bleed and they still couldn’t save her now.】 【I’m just here to see how she dies.】 【Hehe, this is gonna be good. Grab your popcorn, everyone!】 An aura of cold, ominous power radiated from Silas. I darted forward and grabbed his arm. “Silas, it’s me!” His body shuddered, turning as rigid as a statue. I lifted his hand. “Since when did you get your nails done?” WHOOSH— A pair of enormous black wings erupted from his back, the force of their unfurling making me shut my eyes. He used that moment to break free, stumbling as he launched himself out the window and into the night. The live comments froze for a second— 【Wow. Just… wow. Absolutely breathtaking.】 【Dude, what the…】 【LOL, the main BOSS just ran for his life from a new player. I think that’s my cue to go to bed.】 I stood there, dumbfounded. “Silas, you get back here!” Even an idiot would have figured out something was wrong by now. But I didn’t care! It wasn’t like he’d done anything morally bankrupt. He just wasn’t human. So what? I chased him down the stairs, only to be pulled into a room by a handsome man. He cupped my face in his hands, his expression ecstatic, as if gazing upon a long-lost treasure. “Zoe, it’s really you! Where have you been these past two years?” Uh, who are you? I tried to push his hands away, but he pulled me into a tight embrace. “As long as you’re alive, that’s all that matters. I’ll never leave you again.” The moment he finished speaking, an icy chill crept up my spine. The very walls and floor began to frost over. 【Holy crap, this is the first time I’ve ever seen the main BOSS get angry!】 5 My eyes were covered as I was led back to Silas’s room. Candles and incense were lit, and the familiar scent of roses filled the air. But all I could see was darkness. He had blindfolded me with a silk ribbon. And chained my hands and feet. These were the props I had planned to use on him! I was not happy. “Silas, I begged you to play these games with me before, and you refused! Now, just because of some strange man, you do this to me? I’m angry!” I huffed. “Was he the one you were really in love with all along?!” That made sense. Who said your one true love had to be a woman? The air went dead silent. Even blindfolded, I could feel the profound silence from both Silas and the live comments. I struggled against my restraints, but a grape-flavored candy was suddenly popped into my mouth. My favorite. I chewed thoughtfully, decided to forgive him for now, and waited with sneaky anticipation for what would happen next. And then… Nothing happened. Because Silas had used the opportunity to run away. Again. “Hey!” “Silas, get back here!” “Alistair!!! Mrs. Gable!!!” … After what felt like an eternity of shouting, the door creaked open. The sound of light footsteps approached me. “Shh, Zoe, don’t make a sound. It’s me.” I fell silent. His voice was laced with deep anger and sorrow. “I’ve been looking for you for so long. I never imagined you’d be imprisoned here by this demon.” He vowed, “Don’t worry, I’ll kill him and get you out of here!” He removed the blindfold. When his eyes met my blank, unfamiliar gaze, his expression faltered. “Zoe… you don’t remember me?” I nodded. “I have amnesia. I’ve forgotten everything. Who are you?” Hearing about my memory loss, he seemed to relax. “My name is Leo. We grew up together in an orphanage, we were all each other had. If things hadn’t gone wrong, we’d be married by now.” Lies. My phone wasn’t broken. According to my chat history, Leo had latched onto some wealthy heiress. He had repeatedly told me he only saw me as a sister and had warned me multiple times to get rid of any other ideas, all for her sake. I lowered my eyes. “Really?” Leo’s gaze fell to a bruise on my knee. His pupils contracted, and he gritted his teeth, looking away. “I’ll make the demon who hurt you suffer a very painful death!” Hurt me? I looked down. Oh, that was from when I’d accidentally bumped into a table. Leo produced a dagger carved from bone. “This is the only weapon that can kill Silas, the BOSS of this manor instance.” He pleaded, “Zoe, I need your help.” The live comments erupted. 【Holy shit, this player got insanely lucky! He found the ‘Matriarch’s Fang’! Is someone finally going to clear this instance?!】 【Legend says it was forged from the bones of Silas’s mother. Since Silas was born from pure malice, only this dagger can destroy him for good.】 【This Leo guy is insane. If he kills Silas, he’ll have enough points to top the player leaderboard!】 【The birth of a god-tier player! This is gonna be epic!!!】

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The intern was being rough on purpose, making my wife cry out just so I could hear. The next day, he swaggered out of the room next door, a constellation of hickies on his neck, and smirked at me. “So what if Aurora legally married you, Ian?” he taunted. “She’s still having a wedding with me, isn’t she?” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Oh, and I recorded it last night. Want me to send you a copy?” I stared at him for a beat, then a slow smile spread across my face. “Here’s the difference between you and me,” I said. “I’m not into sloppy seconds.” The intern choked, his face flushing with anger before he stormed off. Moments later, Aurora burst in, her face a mask of fury. “I told you the wedding was fake! What the hell are you saying?” she seethed. “Now look what you’ve done. Nicholas’s having a depressive episode, threatening to cut his wrists. Are you happy now?” Her voice was sharp, a weapon. “You will record a video apology. Right now. Post it on your feed, and once he forgives you, then maybe I’ll consider giving you a proper wedding.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Forget it. Let’s just get a divorce.” 1 “A divorce?” Aurora looked at me as if I’d just told the funniest joke in the world, one eyebrow arched in disbelief. “Drank a little too much champagne today, Ian? Did it fry your brain?” Her eyes raked over me, dripping with a contempt she didn’t bother to hide. “Let’s get one thing straight. Without the halo of ‘Aura & Associates,’ what is the name ‘Ian’ even worth in this city?” She took a step closer. “Who gave you the platform? Who gave you the chance to climb this high? Have you forgotten?” she sneered. “Without the ‘Aura’ brand, without the resources I handed you, you’d probably still be a glorified paralegal at some back-alley firm, chasing down pennies for chump change cases!” My hands, hanging at my sides, clenched into fists, the knuckles turning bone-white. Who gave me the platform? Right. As if my sacrifices meant nothing. The seed money for the firm? I mortgaged everything I owned. Those impossible, top-tier clients? I landed them, one by one, through sheer grit. The landmark cases that defined our firm’s reputation? I led the team, bled for them through sleepless nights and endless days. That plaque on the wall, the one naming us one of the ‘Top Ten Law Firms in the Nation’—I built that with my own sweat and blood. And now she was saying I was just riding her coattails? A white-hot rage shot through me, so intense it twisted into a grim smile. “So you and Nicholas get to play Romeo and Juliet on stage, and I don’t even have the right to ask for a divorce?” “Shut up!” Aurora’s voice cracked like a whip. “Nicholas’s family was trying to set him up with a woman in her fifties. I was helping him out of a jam. Do you have any idea how social obligations work?” “And now you’ve pushed him to the edge! If anything happens to him, can you bear that responsibility?” What had I done? Even a genuine depressive episode didn’t work like this. Looking at the face I once loved, all I felt was a bone-deep weariness, a cold, crushing sense of absurdity. “Is he really that fragile?” I asked, my voice flat. The whole performance was so clumsy, anyone with eyes could see through it. But Aurora was a true believer. “Drop the sarcastic act, Ian,” she said, her eyes like chips of ice. “I’m warning you. If Nicholas suffers any real harm, I swear I’ll call the cops. Verbal abuse, emotional distress, defamation—go ahead and try me. See how well your career holds up after that.” The cops. Ha. The bitter taste of ash filled my mouth. In her eyes, I was worth less than a stray dog on the street. She took a deep breath, visibly forcing her anger down, and issued her final command. “Right now. This instant. Record a sincere apology. Post it to your social media so everyone can see you mean it.” She paused, as if bestowing upon me a great mercy. “Once he’s calmed down and he’s willing to accept your apology… I’ll consider arranging an even grander ceremony to make it up to you.” A grander ceremony. That phrase had been a siren song, a curse that had haunted me for eight years. When the firm is stable… she’d said when we started. After we land this big project… she’d promised later. Once we make the Top Ten list… I waited and waited, only to watch her stand in the spotlight with another man on her arm. And now, she expected me to keep waiting, like a beggar hoping for scraps. The toxic resentment I’d swallowed for eight years finally detonated in my chest, the force of it stealing my breath. I was so tired. Done waiting. “An apology?” A humorless smile touched my lips, my voice clear and cold as a winter morning. “Maybe in the next life.” Without a second glance at her stunned face, I turned on my heel and walked away. “Ian! You get back here!” she shrieked behind me. I didn’t hear her. My steps never faltered. The moment I stepped out of the hotel, the cold wind hit me like a slap. As I walked toward the parking lot, a figure darted out from the shadows. “Mr. Archer! Finally caught you!” It was Mark, an assistant, panting as he shoved a heavy document box into my arms. “Here. The ‘Skyreach Merger’ case! Ms. Rose just gave the order. She said you’re to take full responsibility. The first draft of the legal opinion is due by midnight. The client is waiting.” I steadied the box, my brow furrowing. “Isn’t this Nicholas’s case? Why are you giving it to me?” Mark smirked, his tone dripping with disdain. “Nicholas? Please. He’s busy playing the ‘newlywed.’ He doesn’t have time for a ten-billion-dollar grind like this. Ms. Rose said she needed a ‘workhorse’ like you to step up.” He emphasized the word “workhorse,” his eyes flicking over me. “Her exact words were, ‘Have Ian handle it immediately.’” Looking at his smug face, I almost laughed. Skyreach. The beast of a case I’d spent six months wrestling to the ground, the one that gave me a bleeding ulcer but ultimately secured our spot at the top. The crown jewel. Nicholas had idly mentioned he wanted to “give it a try,” and Aurora had just handed it over. A goddamn intern who couldn’t even write a proper due diligence report was suddenly capable of handling a multi-billion-dollar merger. And now, they wanted to toss it back to me? Newlywed? What a fucking joke. “She told me to take it, so I have to take it?” I slammed the box back into his chest, my voice hard as steel. “You go tell Aurora that I am not touching this case.” Mark stumbled back, his face twisting in fury. “Mr. Archer! Don’t be ungrateful…” “You’re the one who doesn’t know his place!” All the pent-up rage erupted at once. I swung my arm, sending the box—the culmination of countless hours of my life—flying. A snowstorm of papers exploded into the night, dancing madly in the wind. Mark leaped back, his finger pointing at me, trembling. “Ian! You… you’re insane! Are you trying to get blacklisted?!” I gave him a chilling smile. “This place? I’ve been done with it for a long time.” Without another glance, I wrenched my car door open. The engine roared to life, tearing a hole in the night’s silence. Back at the cold, empty apartment. I didn’t bother with the lights, letting the neon glow from the city outside illuminate the space as I packed my last few things. Clothes, books, personal effects… everything I owned here fit into a single suitcase. The doorbell buzzed, sharp and sudden. It was a courier. “Urgent delivery for Ms. Aurora Rose. Sign here.” The delivery guy handed me a thin paper mailer and was gone. The address was right, the recipient was Aurora. But what was inside? A knot of dread tightened in my gut. I tore open the seal. My mind went blank. The blood in my veins turned to ice. Inside the bag were several boxes of ultra-thin, imported condoms and a piece of black lace lingerie so sheer it was practically transparent. It lay there, a stark, damning piece of evidence. “Ha…” A broken, dry laugh forced its way out of my throat. Just this morning, it was a “fake wedding.” Tonight, they were already stocking up for their honeymoon. The last, dying ember of hope in my heart was finally extinguished. I crushed the bag in my fist, the plastic groaning under the pressure. My phone screen lit up, Aurora’s name flashing frantically. I stared at the blinding light for a few seconds before swiping to answer, my movements stiff and robotic. Her shrill voice stabbed through the receiver. “Ian! How dare you throw the Skyreach files?! Are you looking for a fight?!” “The legal opinion better be in my inbox by midnight! Do you understand me?” She spoke with such entitlement, as if the drama from earlier had never happened. The sheer absurdity of it made my temples throb. “Why should I?” “Because I am the founding partner! And I am your wife!” Her voice shot up, the rage practically melting the phone. “Getting bold, are we, Ian? You think you can defy me?” “You want to see what happens? I’ll call a partners’ meeting tomorrow and have you demoted from senior partner to intern assistant! See how you like that!” “Hah.” Eight years of my life, my soul poured into this firm, and my name wasn’t even on the goddamn letterhead. All I got was the hollow title of “senior partner.” What a fucking joke.

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Out of state closing a deal, I got a text: “Mr. Coleman, your Patek Philippe is ready.” Attached was a photo of a $5M watch. “Wrong number,” I replied. “No mistake,” they insisted. “Your wife ordered it.” The invoice showed Isabelle’s payment, but the recipient’s name was smudged. Before I could ask more, the messages vanished. “Apologies, wrong person,” came a new text. The next day, I saw that watch on my wife’s assistant’s wrist. “A bonus for his hard work,” she shrugged. I laughed coldly, had security trash it. “What ‘work’ earns $5M?” I asked. “Sleeping with the boss?” 1 “Grant, what the hell are you talking about?!” “There is nothing going on between us! Stop making these baseless accusations!” Isabelle’s voice was a furious shriek as she stormed toward me. I curled my lip into a sneer. “Nothing going on?” My voice was pure ice. “You give a brand-new intern a five-million-dollar watch, and you expect me to believe you’re ‘just friends’?” “Isabelle, do you take me for a fool?” I gave her a look of utter contempt before my gaze shifted to the boy cowering behind her, Leo. A raw, red mark now circled his wrist where the watch had been. His eyes were wide and shimmering with unshed tears. I let out another humorless laugh. “Such a big man, and so very delicate. Is this the same pathetic act you used to convince my wife to buy you a five-million-dollar toy?” Isabelle’s face darkened. “Grant, watch your tone!” Leo immediately tugged on her sleeve, then turned to me, adopting a posture of respectful terror. “Mr. Coleman, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I… I honestly had no idea the watch was so valuable.” I smiled at him, but the smile didn’t reach my eyes. “You didn’t know?” I purred. “As I recall, our company just completed a major partnership with Patek Philippe in the first half of this year. As Ms. Coleman’s lead assistant, you’re telling me you were unaware of such a critical piece of company business? That’s not just ignorance; it’s incompetence.” My voice hardened. “And if you’re that incompetent, you’re of no use to me.” I pulled out my phone and dialed the head of HR. “Fire Leo. I want him gone by the end of the day.” The color drained from Leo’s face. The pitiful act vanished, replaced by sheer panic. He rushed forward, his voice cracking. “Mr. Coleman, I was wrong! I know I was wrong! Please, don’t fire me! I’ll never do it again!” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “My parents are both sick. They’re depending on my salary for their medical bills. I can’t lose this job!” With a thud, he dropped to his knees and began bowing his head to the floor. Isabelle couldn’t stand it. She hauled him to his feet and shoved him behind her, shielding him with her own body. She glared at me, her eyes blazing. “I’m the one who gave him the watch! It has nothing to do with him! Grant, if you have a problem, you take it up with me. Don’t you dare bully a new employee!” Seeing her protect him like a lioness defending her cub, I felt a bitter, ironic twist in my gut. “So quick to defend your little boy toy?” Before she could answer, my hand shot out. Crack. The sharp sound of my palm connecting with her cheek echoed in the silent office. She stared at me, stunned, her hand flying to her face. “How dare you hit me?” My eyes were cold steel. “A slap is the least you deserve. I’m out there breaking my back to expand this company, and you’re in here carrying on an affair with your assistant?” She clutched her cheek, her voice desperate. “The watch was a misunderstanding! I’m a woman; I don’t know much about these things. I just wanted to get him a bonus and asked the boutique to pick something out. They must have thought I was buying for you and chose something so expensive!” I cut through her pathetic excuse. “I don’t care about your convoluted lies. Leo is fired. That’s final.” I took a step closer, my voice dropping to a low, final command. “And effective immediately, every supplementary card under your name is suspended. From now on, every single cent you spend will require my personal approval.” Isabelle trembled with rage, but she couldn’t say a word. She shot me a look of pure hatred before spinning on her heel and storming out, her precious, sniveling Leo in tow. 2 After that day, a wall of ice formed between Isabelle and me. She didn’t come home for a week. Where she went, who she saw—I didn’t care to know. My entire focus was on the Apex Industries partnership. Their team felt our last proposal wasn’t quite there. Determined to perfect it, I lived at the office for a week straight. Finally, my team and I crafted a flawless proposal, one they couldn’t possibly refuse. This deal was the lifeblood of our company for the next two quarters. I spent three full days preparing for the signing ceremony. But when I walked into the conference room with my team, I saw them. Isabelle and Leo. They were laughing and chatting with Mr. Harrison, the CEO of Apex. Isabelle raised an eyebrow at me, a smug, triumphant smile on her face. “What took you so long? The contract is already signed. You can take your people and go home.” A roar filled my ears. I turned to Mr. Harrison. “Sir, what’s going on? We were scheduled to sign today at ten.” My voice was tight. “I wasn’t even here. What contract did you sign? And more importantly, Leo has been fired. He has no authority to represent our company!” Isabelle cut me off. “I never approved Leo’s termination, Grant. Your verbal dismissal doesn’t count.” Her smile widened. “Besides, he’s now the top performer on the team. Who would dare fire him?” Mr. Harrison frowned at me, his tone laced with confusion. “Mr. Coleman, I should be asking you what’s going on. Why would you fire an outstanding employee like Leo? The young man is talented, diligent, and hardworking. He’s been staying late every night to get this project over the line.” His voice grew heavier. “As a leader, you can’t just steal the credit for a young person’s work.” The sheer absurdity of it all made my head spin. “Mr. Harrison, you must be mistaken. I was the one working late. My team and I were the ones coordinating with your people every single day.” But he shook his head firmly. “No, Mr. Coleman. You were merely the intermediary. The person doing the real work behind the scenes was Mr. Leo.” He pushed a signed contract across the table. I flipped it open. Every detail, every clause, every projection—it was identical to my proposal. My head snapped up, my eyes locking onto Leo. “How did you get your hands on my project files?” Leo’s eyes immediately reddened. “Mr. Coleman,” he whimpered, “I… I made this proposal myself. Why wouldn’t it be in my hands?” Isabelle instantly moved to his side, shielding him. “I can vouch for him. Leo did all the work himself. Grant, stop trying to take credit for what isn’t yours.” As she spoke, a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. I understood everything. She would stop at nothing to keep Leo by her side. I didn’t know how she’d done it—perhaps a mole on my team—but right now, I had to prove the truth. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “I don’t steal credit from anyone. Because I have a complete record of all my work.” I signaled for my assistant to bring my laptop. But before he could, Leo plugged his own device into the projector. “Mr. Harrison, everyone, here are all the records I kept while creating this proposal.” On the screen, my source files, my edit history, my entire digital trail appeared. A cold dread washed over me. I opened my own laptop. Every related folder was empty. The source files had been wiped. I was shaking with rage. I pointed at Leo. “What did you do to my computer?” He flinched, shrinking behind Isabelle and starting to sob. “Mr. Coleman, please, just leave me alone. I really did do all this myself. If you want it, I can give it to you, but please, don’t fire me. I’ve worked so hard for this job…” His crying drew the attention of people outside the conference room. Whispers and pointed fingers followed. I ignored them and quickly logged into my cloud account. The access logs showed a login from an unrecognized device just thirty minutes prior. There was only one other person who knew the password to that account. Isabelle. I lifted my head and stared at her, my eyes burning holes into her. She couldn’t meet my gaze. A volcano of fury erupted in my chest. Crack! I lunged across the room and slapped her again, harder this time. “You shameless bitch!” I roared. “You stole my work just to protect your little lapdog!” She clutched her face, denying everything. “What are you talking about?!” Leo fanned the flames, his voice thick with fake tears. “Mr. Coleman, please don’t be angry with Ms. Coleman. It’s all my fault. I… I’ll just give the project to you, okay?” He picked up the contract and tried to shove it into my hands. Mr. Harrison had seen enough. He blocked Leo’s path and pointed a trembling finger at me, his face a mask of disgust. “I was wrong about you, Grant Coleman,” he spat. “Let me make one thing clear: I am signing this contract with Mr. Leo, and no one else! Security! Get this man out of my building!” Guards rushed in and dragged me out of the room. I went home and collapsed onto the sofa, a fire of rage and betrayal scorching my insides. I picked up my phone, ready to call my assistant and launch a crisis PR campaign, when a notification flashed across the screen. A trending news headline. Corporate CEO Grant Coleman Bullies New Employee in Vicious Power Play I clicked on it. The video from the signing had been edited into a masterpiece of manipulative fiction. In the clip, I was a snarling aggressor, while Leo was a weeping victim, looking as if he might shatter into a million pieces. The headline was pure bait: The Unfeeling Capitalist vs. The Helpless Worker: A Modern Tragedy. The comment section was a cesspool. [This Grant guy looks polished, but he’s pure evil.] [My heart breaks for Leo. Poor thing. All capitalists are scum!] [Stealing someone’s work and then acting all high and mighty about it? Unbelievable.] Just then, another notification appeared. A live broadcast from my company’s official account. It was Isabelle. On screen, she looked exhausted and burdened, with dark circles artfully smudged under her eyes. “Hello, everyone. My name is Isabelle Coleman. Regarding the events of this afternoon, I want to apologize on behalf of my husband, Grant.” Her voice was heavy with sorrow. “Grant has been under immense pressure lately, and his mental state has been… unstable. That’s why he acted out. I have placed him on an indefinite leave of absence from all his duties at the company so he can focus on his health. I hope that his personal issues won’t affect your opinion of our company.” I was trembling, my blood boiling. I dialed her number. On the live feed, I saw her glance at her phone, an expression of weary resignation on her face. Then, in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers, she declined my call. And turned her phone off. The chat exploded. “OMG, Isabelle is a saint. Her husband is a monster and she’s still protecting him.” “She married such a narcissistic asshole. What terrible luck.” “Poor Isabelle, having to deal with a crazy husband and save her company at the same time.” With one broadcast, she had successfully crucified me. Fine. Just fine. I laughed, a raw, humorless sound, and opened my own social media account to go live and tell the truth. Password incorrect. I tried every password I’d ever used. All wrong. I went through the recovery process, and the moment I logged in, my inbox was flooded with thousands of hate-filled, threatening messages. I ignored them and hit the ‘Go Live’ button. The camera activated. Before I could say a single word, a black screen appeared. “Your account has been suspended for violating platform community guidelines.” The screen went dark. I grabbed my car keys and stormed out of the house. The company building was lit up like a beacon. I kicked open the door to her office. She was sitting behind her desk, watching me with a calm, triumphant smile. “Isabelle, do you really think my parents won’t make you pay for this?” She laughed softly and walked toward me. “Grant, your parents are halfway across the world. By the time they hear about this, it will be old news.” Her eyes were cold, filled with contempt. “Besides, I’m sure that when they find out, they’ll understand my actions. It’s high time someone taught you to control that spoiled rich-boy temper of yours.” She had the audacity to act like she was doing me a favor. “Think of this as a small lesson. Once the storm passes, I’ll let you come back.” She sighed, her face a mask of false sincerity. “I didn’t want to do this, but Grant, you were being too cruel. I can handle being hurt, but Leo has done nothing to you. You can’t take your anger out on him. You have no idea how brilliant he is. You’re just too prejudiced, too impulsive.” Her words were so absurd they were almost comical. I looked her up and down, a cold smile playing on my lips. “Oh, please, Isabelle. He’s a fresh college graduate. Are you really interested in his ‘brilliance,’ or is it something else? You know the truth.” My voice dropped, filled with disgust. “I must have been blind to ever marry a venomous snake like you.” Another word would have been a waste of breath. I couldn’t stand the sight of her sickeningly false face for another second. I turned and walked away.

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Every single boyfriend I’ve ever had has been stolen by my best friend. And she always caps it off with the same smug little line: “If he can be stolen, he wasn’t worth keeping.” So, in a fit of rage, I found the ugliest, trashiest scumbag I could. That night, she showed up at my door, reeking of booze, a sneer on her face. “You’re really getting desperate, aren’t you? You’d even stoop to that kind of trash!” But as she spoke, tears started rolling down her cheeks. “You’d rather have him… than have me.” 1 The moment I told Sloane I had a new boyfriend, she did exactly what I knew she would. She showed up in a killer outfit, all tight fabric and strategic cutouts. A sliver of her toned stomach was visible above the waistband of a micro-miniskirt that showcased a pair of long, pin-straight legs. She sauntered toward me, but when her eyes landed on the man standing by my side, Ethan, her confident smile froze solid. “You’re telling me this is your boyfriend?” Before I could answer, Ethan blew a gasket. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Rachel and I like each other, so yeah, I’m her boyfriend! Let me tell you, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t even be wasting my time meeting you.” Underneath a disastrous explosion of bleached hair, his narrow eyes bulged with indignation. His skin had a sallow, unhealthy tint, and his leg bounced restlessly as he spoke. He was the perfect picture of a street-corner sleazeball. “Rachel,” Sloane said, her voice dripping with disdain, “you’ve really outdone yourself.” Seeing the disgust in her eyes didn’t hurt at all. In fact, it was thrilling. This was the first time I’d ever seen her look so completely thrown. The last time, when I was dating a slick corporate shark, she’d claimed she was just “testing his loyalty for me.” The next day, they were Instagram official. I was seething, but she just gave me that infuriatingly charming smile and said, “If he can be stolen, he wasn’t worth keeping.” Then there was the pretty-boy actor I dated. For him, she didn’t even bother with a pretense. She just showed up to his set looking like a supermodel and walked away with him. The actor broke up with me in a flood of tears, and when I furiously jumped on Sloane’s back and tried to bite her, she just calmly lectured me. “If he falls for a little temptation like that, he’s not worth your time anyway.” After that, I got smarter. I screened my boyfriends meticulously—career, looks, character. I even tried to keep them a secret from Sloane. But it never worked. She always managed to steal them, and then she’d have the audacity to lecture me about it. “Oh, my sweet Rachel,” she’d say, “compared to those snakes, you’re just a babe in the woods. How could I ever trust them with you? I’m just taking one for the team.” I racked my brain, trying to figure out a way to finally beat her at her own game. And then, I met Ethan. The second I saw him, I knew. This time, I was going to win. 2 Even after we sat down in the cafe, Sloane’s face was a thundercloud. I’d never seen her like this. While a part of me was secretly giddy, I slid the menu over to her. She didn’t even glance at it, just snapped at the waiter, “Iced black coffee. Extra ice.” Ethan, completely oblivious, slung an arm around my shoulders and pulled the menu toward him. “Babe, whatever you want, I’ll get it for you.” Watching Sloane’s expression darken even further, I decided to twist the knife. I snuggled into his side and purred, “I want a latte, something sweet just like you.” He leaned in to kiss my forehead. I braced myself for the impact, but just before his lips touched my skin, Sloane slammed her fist on the table. “Rachel, tell me. What could you possibly see in him?” Sloane and I were both daughters of Bridgewater’s most prominent families. The very first lesson we ever had was in etiquette and emotional control. But right now, the class valedictorian looked like she was about to erupt. Her face was pale with rage, her eyes burning with a volcanic fire. This was spiraling far beyond what I’d planned. I thought she would just swallow her disgust and try to seduce Ethan like all the others, and I would finally get to laugh in her face. But now, all I wanted was for this to be over. “Sloane, he’s actually… he’s…” I stammered, unsure what to say with Ethan right there. But he shot up from his seat, jabbing a finger in her direction. “You just can’t stand to see us happy, can you!” he snarled. “What, are you gay or something? Got a thing for my Rachel?” Every head in the cafe swiveled in our direction. I watched Sloane’s face drain of all color. Her hands were clenched into tight fists, and I could see the muscle in her jaw working as she ground her teeth. Ethan, the idiot, was completely unaware of the danger he was in. He was preening, proud of himself for silencing her. He didn’t know that Sloane was the state kickboxing champion. “Sloane, Ethan’s just joking, don’t take it seriously,” I pleaded, trying to defuse the situation. But she didn’t seem to hear me. Her gaze was locked on me, intense and piercing. “So, what’s your choice?” Her eyes were so deep, so sharp, that a strange knot of fear tightened in my stomach. “I… I…” I didn’t even know what she was asking. “Fine,” she said, her voice flat. “I get it.” She turned and walked out of the cafe. And in that moment, a real, gut-wrenching panic seized me. 3 It’s true that Sloane stole every boyfriend I had, and damn her, she succeeded every single time. I hated her for it, wanted to scream and tear my hair out. But that didn’t change the simple, undeniable fact that I couldn’t live without her. We’d been in the same schools since kindergarten. Our families did business together, our mothers were inseparable, so it was only natural that we became best friends. She was bold and confident; I was the quiet, well-behaved daughter. Because of that, I was an easy target at school. My mom always dismissed it as kids just being kids, but Sloane never saw it that way. The boy who pulled my pigtails ended up pinned to the ground with her sitting on his chest. The girl who called me a mute got a lovely caricature drawn on her face in permanent marker. Sloane even laid down the law: “Anyone who wants to mess with Rachel has to go through me on the playground first.” Overnight, I went from being the pathetic victim to the untouchable plague. Everyone gave me a wide berth. After we graduated and started learning the ropes at our respective family companies, I felt like she began to change. When I got my first real boyfriend, I told her immediately, hoping for my best friend’s blessing. Instead, she started undermining me, flirting with him, stealing him away. She did it again and again. I started to believe that we weren’t really best friends anymore. But then, during a major negotiation with the formidable Apex Corporation, she found out I was her main competitor. Without blinking, she dropped out of the running, handing me a two-hundred-million-dollar project. Just like that. In that moment, I felt like nothing had ever changed between us. Or maybe… maybe something had been added, something I couldn’t quite name. 4 I bolted out of the cafe without a second thought. Seeing her walking away, her shoulders slumped in a way I’d never seen before, my heart ached with a sour, unfamiliar pain. “Sloane! I’m sorry about today. How about afternoon tea at The Hilton? Just the two of us?” She didn’t even turn around. “I don’t need your pity brunch,” she said, her voice like ice. “Save your money and take your boyfriend.” She was angry, I knew that, but I couldn’t figure out why. “Where are you going? Let me give you a ride!” I caught up to her, but she deliberately hailed a taxi and slipped inside. As the car sped past, all I could see was her forlorn face in the window. A wave of frustration washed over me, which only intensified when I saw Ethan sauntering over, a smug look plastered on his face. “Babe, that friend of yours is just a stuck-up brat. With a temper like that, it’s no wonder she can’t get a man. You should probably hang out with her less.” That was it. The polite, gentle Rachel vanished. He’d been my “boyfriend” for all of two days, and he thought he had the right to criticize Sloane? “The only person I’ll be seeing less of is you,” I snapped. I waved at the cafe’s entrance, and a couple of security guards immediately came over to block Ethan’s path. 5 I drove around the city for hours, aimless and empty. Nearly all of my weekends were spent with Sloane. I was realizing for the first time just how unbearable a day could be without her. It was late when I finally got home. To try and lift my spirits, I drew a hot bath and lit a new scented candle. The sweet scent of bluebells mingled with a hint of cedarwood, and I felt my tense muscles finally begin to relax. Just as I was sinking into the water, a frantic knocking echoed from the front door. It was late, and my building had some of the best security in the country. I couldn’t imagine who it could be, but I knew it had to be someone I knew. They wouldn’t have let a stranger up. I swung the door open without a second thought, and my heart stopped. It was Sloane. She’d been gone for only half a day, but she looked like she’d been through a war. She reeked of alcohol, her usually perfect bob was a mess, and her eyes, red-rimmed and raw, sharpened with a familiar mockery when they landed on me. “You’re really getting desperate, aren’t you? Stooping to trash like Ethan!” A sharp pain, like a needle to the heart, shot through me. My chest felt tight, and my first instinct was to lash back. “Did you really come all the way here in the middle of the night just to insult me? Because if so—” My words were cut off as she threw her arms around me, pulling me into a crushing hug. Her chin dug into my shoulder, and I felt a sudden warmth spreading through the fabric of my robe. She was crying. “Why…” her voice was a choked whisper. “You’d rather have him… than have me…” My breath hitched. My heart started pounding against my ribs like a drum. “Sloane, I… I would never choose him over you…” Her head snapped up, her eyes locking onto mine. A flicker of hope ignited in their depths, so bright it made my cheeks burn. “We’re best friends…” As the words left my mouth, the light in her eyes died as quickly as it had appeared. She dropped her gaze, her expression sullen. It was only then that I started to understand. A cool autumn breeze drifted through the open window, and the silence in the room was deafening. It was the first time I’d ever felt this strange, fragile tension between us. “Sloane, the thing with Ethan…” I reached for her arm, wanting to explain everything. But she stumbled, falling against me, and promptly threw up all over my chest. The sight of the white, foul-smelling mess mixed with the acrid stench of alcohol obliterated every ounce of guilt and replaced it with a piercing shriek. “SLOANE!” 6 The ruined top went straight into the trash. I glanced over at her and saw that her own shirt was in even worse shape. Dressed in a clean slip dress, I hauled her toward the bathroom. She was swaying unsteadily but was surprisingly compliant. But when I reached out to pull off her shirt, she clutched it to her chest, her face turning a deep shade of red. “Are you… are you sure about this?” She was definitely drunk. “Positive,” I said firmly, leaving no room for argument. She smelled awful. Was she planning on keeping that shirt on until Christmas? But as my fingers brushed her collar, she suddenly leaned in, her body pressing against mine. The intoxicating scent of alcohol and something uniquely her washed over me. I saw her face, her flawless skin, getting closer and closer. The tip of her nose brushed against mine, and then I felt a soft, warm pressure on my lips. Sloane was kissing me. My face felt like it was on fire. My heart hammered against my ribs, and my palms grew slick with sweat. My brain completely short-circuited. I just stood there, frozen, a deer in the headlights. She slowly pulled back, a dangerous, unreadable glint in her eyes. “No,” she murmured, her voice husky. “That’s not responsible enough.” And then, her hand reached up and pulled down the thin strap of my dress. My mind exploded. I finally understood what she meant by “responsible.” Heat flooded my entire body, all the way to the tips of my ears. Mortified, I shoved her away. “I think you’re drunk out of your mind! Wash yourself!” I couldn’t even look at her as I fled from the bathroom and locked myself in my room. 7 Tossing and turning, I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, the image of Sloane kissing me flashed in my mind. Even more mortifying, I found myself replaying the feeling—that soft, warm, yielding pressure. I’d never felt anything like it from any of my boyfriends. Oh god. Am I actually gay? I burrowed under the covers, rolling back and forth in a cocoon of shame and confusion. Just then, I heard slow, deliberate footsteps outside my door. Is Sloane coming in? I shot out from under the blankets, quickly turned on my side, and squeezed my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. I waited. Five whole minutes passed, but the doorknob never turned. Is she mad at me? But I’m the one who should be mad! Then, I heard the click of a lamp in the living room, followed by the soft creak of the sofa. She was sleeping on the couch. A strange pang of disappointment hit me. We’d been having sleepovers since we were kids, always piling into the same bed. Why did this feel so… wrong? Was I really this upset just because she wasn’t sleeping in my bed? For the first time, I felt like I didn’t understand myself at all. I squeezed my eyes shut, determined to force myself to sleep. Just as I was drifting off, I heard my bedroom door creak open. It was Sloane. The room was dim, lit only by the warm orange glow of my nightlight. It cast a soft, almost melancholy light on her. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable. She walked to my bedside, took my hand, and gently traced the lines on my palm. Her expression was a raw mix of sorrow, loneliness, and guilt. “Rachel, I’m so sorry…” she whispered, her voice hoarse and still thick with the lingering scent of alcohol. I guessed she hadn’t slept either. I watched her through my eyelashes as she stood there, just looking at me. Finally, as if afraid of waking me, she turned to leave. But my hand shot out and grabbed her arm before she could. “I’m scared,” I mumbled, my voice sleepy. “Don’t go.” Her body went still. Then I heard a soft chuckle as she gracefully climbed into bed beside me. An instant later, I was enveloped in her familiar, comforting scent. Within seconds, I was fast asleep. 8 The next morning, I was woken by the soft rustle of fabric. I opened my eyes to see Sloane pulling on one of my dresses. At five-foot-nine, she turned my knee-length sundress into a very short mini-dress. She had a dancer’s waist and a lean build, but years of training had given her sleek, toned muscles that hinted at a quiet strength. “You have an amazing body, Sloane,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. She turned, and when I met her knowing gaze, I blushed. “Like what you see?” Her eyes traveled from my face down to my lips. The memory of last night’s kiss flooded back, and my cheeks grew hot. Without thinking, I blurted out, “Do you remember what happened last night?” The second I said it, I wanted to bite my tongue off. “Which part?” she asked, a smirk playing on her lips. “You know… the…” I stammered, unable to finish. She let out a sudden laugh. Confused, I watched as she wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into a hug. “I remember…” she began, drawing out the words, making my heart pound in my throat. “…that you insisted on giving me a bath, tried to rip my clothes off, and then you totally forced a kiss on me!” What? Looking at her mischievous, sparkling eyes, I realized she was teasing me. I was so mortified I could have died. I launched myself off the bed as she darted for the door. I grabbed pillows and cushions, hurling them at her, but I didn’t even come close to hitting her. “Sloane! You asshole, you’re messing with me!” I shrieked, stomping around the living room. She had just stepped out the door, but she suddenly poked her head back in. “Rachel, what did you think happened?” Her expression was suddenly serious, a hint of frustration in her eyes. “Because I only kiss people I have feelings for.” I froze, completely stunned. My brain felt like it was filled with cotton. I didn’t know what to think, what to feel, what our relationship even was anymore. I took a slow step toward her. We needed to talk. But right then, my phone rang. The name “Ethan” glowed on the screen, and Sloane’s face immediately darkened. “Rachel, it’s almost nine. Are you going to be late for work? Don’t tell me you’re turning into one of those lovesick fools who lives for romance.” Seeing the anger on her face, I immediately, and very obsequiously, declined the call. She turned and left without another word. I grabbed a jacket and raced out the door after her. “My beautiful, kind, generous Sloane! My car’s broken down, you have to give me a ride!” I whined, trailing behind her like a lost puppy. She kept her face set in a stony mask, but she didn’t stop me from getting into the passenger seat of her car.

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1 I was about to leave the restaurant my brother owned when the manager stopped me, her smile tight and professional. “Excuse me, miss. You haven’t paid your bill.” I didn’t recognize her; she must have been new. I offered a polite smile in return. “It’s fine, just put it on the owner’s tab. He’ll know.” Her eyes raked over me, a flicker of contempt in her gaze. “Miss, this is a three-Michelin-star establishment. We don’t do ‘tabs’.” She slid a printed receipt onto the table in front of me. I glanced down. The total was fifty thousand dollars. Luminous Cutlery Maintenance Fee: $3,000. Exclusive Air Purification Fee: $5,000. VIP Emotional Soothing Service: $10,000. And a dozen other ludicrous charges. I had no idea my brother was running such a scam. A laugh, sharp with anger, escaped my lips. “I am Mr. Thorne’s sister. If there’s an issue, have him take it up with me at home.” But she wouldn’t let it go, her voice dripping with scorn. “Can’t afford it, don’t pretend you can. Now you’re trying to claim you’re related to Mr. Thorne?” I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to my assistant: Tell my brother: either she’s fired, or I pull my funding. 2 “Miss, let’s not waste everyone’s time. Please pay,” the manager said, her tone sharp and certain. She’d already pegged me as some vain gold digger trying to dine and dash. A few heads had turned in our direction, sensing drama. I frowned, having no patience for this foolishness, and dialed my brother’s number directly. A cold, automated busy signal. I tried again. Same result. What is that idiot doing on a workday? I put my phone down and looked the woman square in the eye, enunciating each word with deliberate calm. “I will say this one more time. My name is Isabelle Thorne. I am the sister of your boss, Todd Thorne.” “His phone is busy right now, but you can check his personal account. My photo and information are linked to it for verification.” I thought that would be the end of it. Instead, upon hearing my name, the manager, Tiffany, burst into a shriek of laughter. It was a high, grating sound that drew even more attention. She leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper only I could hear. “Still keeping up the act? I’ve seen your face before. It was all over my Todd’s social media.” Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You shameless bitch, seducing my man behind my back.” “And now you have the nerve to waltz into his restaurant and try to charge a meal to his account? Is your skin made of concrete?” For a moment, I was stunned speechless. I glanced at her name tag—Tiffany Reed. This was her. The girlfriend Todd had been hiding, the one he’d never even shown me a picture of. How could his taste be this appallingly bad? It hit me then. The fifty-thousand-dollar bill wasn’t a mistake. It was a calculated, premeditated humiliation. Before I could speak, her patience snapped. “Since this lady wants a free meal, we’ll have to restrain her until the police arrive!” She gestured behind her. Two hulking security guards who had been standing by stepped forward. One clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling my protest, while the other twisted my arms behind my back with brutal efficiency. I struggled, but the disparity in strength was immense. My resistance was useless. Ignoring my furious glare and the shocked gasps of other patrons, they dragged me toward the back of the house. I was thrown into a supply closet that reeked of bleach and stale mop water. The door slammed shut, plunging me into darkness. 3 In the pitch black, Tiffany didn’t say a word. She simply lifted her stiletto-heeled foot and drove it into my stomach. The pain was explosive, coiling through me, and I crumpled to the floor, my stomach churning. “That’s for spending my man’s money!” she screeched, her voice distorted by rage. “That’s for trying to steal him!” She loomed over me, a dark silhouette. “Get her!” she ordered the guards. “And don’t hold back.” Her two lapdogs didn’t hesitate. A relentless storm of fists and feet rained down on me. I bit my lip, swallowing the groans of pain. It felt like my bones were being shattered, inch by inch, my organs knocked out of place. Her shrieking continued. “Who the hell do you think you are? Just another piece of trash throwing yourself at him!” “I told you, I’m his sister!” I gasped out. “If you don’t believe me, call Todd right now! I’ll talk to him!” She ignored me. The beating continued until my vision started to swim. Only then did she raise a hand to stop them. She pressed the point of her heel into my shoulder, her voice a triumphant purr. “You should have just paid the bill. And now, you’re going to pay another fifty thousand.” “This is what you get for seducing my man and trying to live off his money.” Her tone was smug. “Don’t worry, I’m not afraid of killing you. Todd will clean up any mess I make.” Curled on the floor, I forced the words out. “It’s my own money… I told you… ask him…” Her face darkened. She kicked me again, and the guards resumed their assault. I knew then that nothing I said would matter. If this continued, I might actually die in this filthy closet. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” Pleased with my surrender, she signaled for the guards to stop. She crouched down, patting my swollen cheek. “See? Was that so hard? You just had to learn the hard way.” “One hundred thousand dollars. Not a penny less.” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for air, my lungs on fire. I ignored her and dialed my best friend, Maya. She answered immediately. “Maya, I need you to bring two hundred thousand in cash to Todd’s restaurant.” My voice was a ragged whisper. “Right now.” Maya paused on the other end, her voice sharp with concern. “Isabelle? What’s wrong? You sound…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and ended the call. At the mention of “two hundred thousand,” Tiffany’s eyes lit up with a flash of pure greed. She probably thought I was so terrified that I was doubling the payment to beg for mercy. The smirk on her face was sickening. “Smart girl.” 4 Maya was impossibly fast. Minutes later, the closet door was thrown open. She strode in, flanked by two of her own bodyguards. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw me—the blood on my lips, my torn clothes, my pathetic state on the floor. She rushed forward to help me up. I shook my head, silently telling her not to speak. I took the bank card and password she held out and tossed it to Tiffany. With the card in hand, Tiffany didn’t press her luck. She waved a dismissive hand. “If this is a fake, I have ways of finding you. Now get out.” Ignoring the searing pain that shot through my body with every movement, I let Maya help me limp out of that disgusting place. At the entrance, I turned to her. “Thank you, Maya. I’ll pay you back as soon as I sort this out.” “Forget the money,” she said, her eyes filled with worry. “Isabelle, what the hell happened to you?” A bitter laugh escaped me. “My little brother found himself a real keeper. It’s time I had a little chat with him.” I took out my phone and dialed the restaurant’s Vice President. He was the one who actually ran the place, a man I had personally headhunted. He was loyal to me, and me alone. He answered on the first ring. I didn’t waste time with pleasantries, my voice flat and devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes to fire a manager named Tiffany Reed. Otherwise, the Thorne family withdraws all investment. Not a single cent will remain.” The VP sounded like he was about to have a heart attack. He must have heard the weakness and the steel in my voice. He agreed immediately, too terrified to even ask why. I hung up and, without a moment’s hesitation, hailed a cab to the nearest police station. With cold, clear logic, I recounted the events of the last hour to the attending officer. After giving a detailed statement, I went to the hospital for an official injury report. Holding that thin piece of paper, the quiet fury of betrayal inside me roared into an inferno. I needed an explanation. And I needed it from Todd himself. My assistant tracked him down to his villa—the villa I had bought for him. My own driver and bodyguards had arrived, and we drove there directly. But as we pulled up, the sound of deafening music and raucous laughter spilled out from the house. He was throwing a party. That’s why he hadn’t answered his phone. The front door was ajar. On a strange impulse, I paused before going in. Soon, I heard a familiar female voice, choked with tears. It was Tiffany. She was playing the victim for a crowd, painting herself as the poor, innocent girlfriend bullied by a vicious homewrecker. “…I just asked her to pay the bill, and she threw a hundred thousand dollars in my face and then had me fired…” “Todd, she’s horrible! She has no respect for you at all!” “She just wanted to humiliate me! She wants us to break up!” Inside, Todd’s sycophantic friends chimed in with righteous indignation. I heard my brother’s voice, loud and soothing, dripping with affection as he comforted her. “Don’t worry, Tiffany. I will never let you suffer like this!” Then, as if to prove his devotion, he made a grand promise to the room. “When I find that woman, I’ll make her kneel and apologize to you!” The crowd of rich idiots roared their approval, boasting about how they’d make me pay. “Just say the word, Todd! We’ll go drag her out here right now!” “Yeah! Teach her a lesson about who’s boss!” I had heard enough. I raised my hand, and my bodyguard kicked the door clean off its hinges. The music screeched to a halt. The laughter died. Dozens of stunned eyes snapped to the doorway. “No need to drag me out,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence. “I’m right here. Who was it that wanted to teach me a lesson?” 5 The air was frozen. The only sound was the sharp click of my heels on the marble floor as I walked, step by step, toward the couple entwined on the sofa in the center of the room. The expression on Todd’s face was a masterpiece of conflicting emotions. Shock, followed by a wave of pure, unadulterated fear. The color drained from his face. He instinctively started to let go of Tiffany, to stand up, but his gaze fell on her tear-streaked face, and he hesitated. In the end, a pathetic, blustering bravado replaced the fear. He remained seated, staring at me, as if a hard glare could mask the panic in his eyes. Tiffany, on the other hand, recognized me instantly. Her pupils contracted, but she quickly remembered where she was—this was Todd’s turf, surrounded by his friends. She burrowed deeper into his embrace, her sobs growing louder. “Todd, that’s her… She’s the one who bullied me…” she wailed, all while shooting me a look of venomous triumph. See? her eyes said. He’ll always protect me. I ignored her. My focus was solely on my dear brother. “Todd. I’m talking to you. Weren’t you just saying you were going to make me kneel and apologize to your girlfriend?” His throat worked, but no words came out. He was afraid of me. He always had been. He knew who really held the power in this family. His friends exchanged confused glances. One of them, a bleach-blonde idiot trying to impress Tiffany, stood up. “Who the hell are you? You can’t talk to Todd like that!” “You’d better apologize to Tiffany, or else—” He never finished his sentence. One of my bodyguards took a silent step forward, placing himself between me and the loudmouth. The sheer intimidating presence was enough to shut him up. I walked right up to Todd and looked down at him. “So, you’re not going to give me an explanation.” He finally found his courage, or a cheap imitation of it. He stood up, pulling me aside. “Sis, what are you doing?” he hissed, his voice a mixture of pleading and annoyance. “Are you trying to embarrass me in front of my friends? Tiffany didn’t mean it, she just has a temper. Can’t you just let it go?” I looked at him, and a wave of disbelief washed over me. Let it go? After she had me beaten and extorted me for a hundred thousand dollars, he wanted me to just let it go? “Todd Thorne,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “Are you joking with me?” “I…” He faltered, his eyes darting away. Just then, the sound of sirens cut through the night, growing louder and louder, shattering the party’s phony atmosphere. Everyone froze. A moment later, several uniformed police officers walked grimly into the villa. The lead officer scanned the room, his gaze landing on me. “Are you Ms. Isabelle Thorne?” I nodded. “I am.” He produced a warrant and turned to the trembling woman behind my brother. “Tiffany Reed, you are under arrest for assault and extortion. Please come with us.”

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I married a woman more alluring in her inspector’s uniform than silk lingerie, expecting handcuffs and passion. Instead, for three months, she’d tie me to the headboard only to leave when her phone buzzed with work. On the 99th time, pregnant and finally free for our first prenatal visit, her encrypted phone rang as we entered the hospital. A name flashed—she paled. “Code red,” she said. “Fugitive crossed the border.” Gone before I could argue. I crushed the appointment slip, hailed a cab, and pointed to her car. “Follow it.” A Red Notice fugitive? Pathetic lie. My father heads Federal Security—he’d know first. What “fugitive” would a city inspector chase alone? I’d find out which “superior” gave those orders. 1 The moment I muttered the words “catch a cheater,” the taxi driver slammed on the gas, and we were hot on Sera’s tail. I had no idea who she was rushing to meet, but a cold dread was pooling in my gut. To my surprise, after a series of winding turns, her car pulled up to the gates of the Oakhaven Estates, the exclusive residential compound for the department’s top brass. A wave of relief washed over me. At least it wasn’t a hotel. Sera had been assigned a villa here. Before our first child, we’d lived here for a few months. The neighbors were all pleasant enough. But as I looked closer, I saw the house was ablaze with lights and decorations, the driveway crowded with luxury cars. What was going on? Was it some kind of holiday I’d forgotten? I tried to follow her inside, but a guard stopped me at the gate. “Restricted access. No unauthorized personnel.” I managed a smile. “It’s alright. I’m with Inspector Henderson, who just went in. I’m her husband.” The guard shot me a look of pure contempt. “Inspector Henderson’s husband is Mr. Caleb Shaw. And who are you? If you’re going to impersonate someone, at least do your homework.” The world tilted on its axis. My blood ran cold, and I froze, rooted to the spot. Caleb Shaw. The man I had found for Sera… the living, breathing blood bank. Shaking myself from my stupor, I shoved past the guard and sprinted to the villa’s entrance. The scene inside was a glittering panorama of the city’s elite, their laughter echoing through the grand hall. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, who usually loathed social functions, was gliding through the crowd, a gracious hostess. And there, in the center of it all, was my wife, Sera. She was holding a baby, her pregnant belly prominent, smiling up at the tall man beside her with a look of pure, unadulterated happiness. The man was Caleb Shaw. A giant hand seized my heart, squeezing until I couldn’t breathe. My eyes burned. When Sera first joined the force, I was terrified for her. She had a rare blood type, and the thought of her getting injured in the line of duty was unbearable. I had scoured the country and found Caleb, then just a broke college student, to be her on-call donor. A living insurance policy. After our first child was born, Caleb had donated so much blood that his health had deteriorated. He couldn’t be a donor anymore. Sera had said we should send him on his way. But I felt a pang of pity. I’d pulled some strings, gotten him a comfortable clerk position at the precinct, and even asked Sera to look out for him. I never imagined this. That she would cheat on me with him. That she would move him into this house—the house she had decorated as our marital home after her promotion to Captain. She’d claimed it was too far from the hospital, that the stress of her first pregnancy was giving her panic attacks, and insisted we buy a new place downtown. I saw now that it was all a lie. This house hadn’t been abandoned. It had become their home. And they had a child… Wait. A child? “Congratulations, Captain Henderson!” a woman gushed. “Such a doting husband, and now your beautiful child is turning one! You truly have it all!” “Oh, Caleb is a lucky man to have landed our Sera,” another chimed in, patting my mother-in-law on the arm. Eleanor beamed, her eyes shining with pride as she looked at Caleb. “It is Sera who is the lucky one, to have found such a devoted man.” As she spoke, Sera leaned in and whispered something in Caleb’s ear. He blushed and then raised his glass to the crowd. “I have to apologize for the secrecy,” he said, his voice smooth. “I was worried that being publicly married to me might affect Sera’s authority at the precinct. Please, don’t hold it against us. Today is our child’s first birthday. Think of this as our belated wedding reception!” The crowd laughed and raised their glasses. “How could we be upset? We just owe you a ‘congratulations on the wedding’!” “I have an idea!” one of Sera’s subordinates shouted. “Why not relive the moment? A ceremonial toast, bride and groom style!” The room erupted in cheers. Caleb looked shyly hesitant, but Sera, ever the confident leader, grinned and linked her arm with his, raising her glass. But just as she brought it to her lips, her eyes met mine across the crowded room. “Finn…” she whispered. She shoved Caleb away so violently that he stumbled, red wine sloshing all over his pristine white shirt. I wiped the hot tears from my eyes, strode forward, and slammed my fist into Caleb’s face. CRACK! The sound of bone breaking echoed through the suddenly silent hall. “Caleb!” Sera screamed, rushing to his side. She turned on me, her face contorted with rage. “Finn! How dare you—” SLAP! The sound of my hand connecting with her cheek was just as loud. She staggered back, a red handprint blooming on her face, and fell into Caleb’s arms. I shook out my stinging palm. “Finn—” she started to yell again. “SERA!” My voice was louder, a raw, ragged roar. I pointed a trembling finger at the man she was cradling. “This,” I spat, my voice cracking, “is your ‘Red Notice fugitive’!” 2 Sera was speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, but no sound came out. The assembled guests—high-ranking officials and their spouses—stared, utterly bewildered. The tense silence was shattered by the piercing cry of a baby. Eleanor rushed to take the child, and the moment she had him soothed, she rounded on me. “Finn! You psycho! We’re divorced, what are you doing here harassing my daughter? Get the hell out before you offend someone important and end up in a cell!” The Deputy Commissioner’s wife chimed in, her voice shrill. “Even if you are her ex-husband, you can’t just assault people! That’s a police officer you just hit! Have you lost your mind?” The revelation of my supposed identity sent a shockwave through the room. The murmurs exploded into a cacophony of outrage, with people shouting that I should be arrested. I ignored them, grabbing Sera’s wrist, my mind reeling. Since when was I the ex-husband? But Caleb spoke first, shrinking behind Sera and looking at me with wide, pitiful eyes. “Finn… brother… Sera already divorced you. Why won’t you leave us alone?” Tears streamed down his face. “It’s all my fault. I’ll give her back to you, okay? Just leave us be…” His words had the opposite effect. Sera’s face hardened. “Finn, I told you, we are never getting back together!” she snapped. “Stop harassing us! Get out, while I still have some patience left!” She gestured, and several of her subordinates moved to grab me. In the struggle, I stumbled and crashed into Eleanor. And then I saw the baby’s face. The world shattered. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck me, leaving nothing but smoke and ash. Because the child in her arms, the child they were calling Caleb’s, was Leo. My Leo. Our firstborn. I had been the one to soothe him to sleep, the one to change his diapers, the one to love him with every fiber of my being. But Leo… Leo had died three months ago. How could he be here? Sera… My breath hitched, and a wave of pure agony washed over me. That goddamned woman. She had even given our son—the son I thought was dead—to her lover to raise as his own. “Give me my son!” I roared, my teeth grinding together. I shoved Eleanor aside, snatched the swaddled infant from her arms, and held him close, my own tears streaming down onto his tiny, crying face. Caleb panicked, lunging for the baby. “Finn, he’s not your son!” he sobbed, his voice trembling. “I know Leo is gone, and you’ve been… unwell since the divorce. You keep begging Sera to have another child with you… I feel for you, I really do, but you can’t steal my son!” He was practically hysterical. “Please, just leave our family alone… I’ll divorce Sera if that’s what you want, just give me back my son!” At that, Sera’s expression twisted in pain. She grabbed Caleb’s shoulders. “Don’t you dare say that, Caleb! No one is tearing our family apart.” “Then what about me?!” I bellowed, interrupting their tragic little melodrama. I held up the crying baby. “Sera, this is our child! You gave him to your lover and told everyone I’m your ex-husband! Do you even have a heart?!” Her lips trembled. She couldn’t meet my eyes. Caleb’s tears, however, fell even faster. He turned to the guests, the very picture of a wronged man. “I’m so sorry, everyone. Finn is Sera’s ex-husband. He… he hasn’t been well since they lost their son and divorced. He keeps begging her to have another baby, and when she refused, he… he started claiming our son was his. Sera has been trying to help him, out of pity for what they once had, but he just won’t leave us alone. Now he’s even threatening me…” His speech lit a match to the room’s simmering anger. “He’s an animal!” one of the society wives shrieked. “Security! Get this lunatic out of here!” I just held my son, a bitter, broken laugh escaping my lips. I looked at Caleb, my eyes as cold as ice. “Who’s the animal here, Caleb? Do you need me to remind you how much you used to charge me per milliliter of your precious blood? Thirty million dollars I gave you. And you were the one on your knees, begging me for a stable job.” Caleb’s face grew paler with every word, but I didn’t stop. “What’s the matter? Is the allowance Sera gives you not enough? Is the little mistress trying to claim the throne? Doesn’t it hurt, pretending to be the king when you’re nothing but a court jester?” Before I could finish, a powerful shove sent me stumbling. 3 “You’re the homewrecker who destroyed my daughter’s life!” Eleanor screeched. My back slammed into the corner of a heavy oak table. A bolt of white-hot agony shot through my abdomen. In that moment of shock, she ripped the baby from my arms and handed him back to Caleb. Before I could recover, Sera’s officers were on me, pinning me down, their faces alight with self-righteous fury. “Everyone at the precinct knows the Captain and Caleb are the real deal!” one of them spat. “If it weren’t for Caleb’s intel, do you think she would have solved all those high-profile cases? Do you think she’d have been promoted so fast?” “You’re just a useless ex-husband, holding her back! You’re the one who should be ashamed!” Intel? Promotions? Those were my contributions. Everything I had done for her, every lead I had chased down using my family’s resources, every late night I had spent poring over case files for her… she had taken it all and given the credit to him. To build him up, to give him a respectable façade. Why? “Exactly! Even if you are mentally ill, interfering with the marriage of a public servant is a crime!” “Stop pretending you’re the victim, you parasite! It’s only because the Captain is a saint that she’s put up with you this long!” The vicious accusations swirled around me. Pinned to the floor, I looked up, my face ashen, at the woman standing aloof from it all, watching me suffer. “Sera,” I gasped, my voice weak. “Tell them. Tell them how you really got your Captain’s shield.” Her fingers clenched into a fist. She turned her head, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of raw hatred in her usually placid eyes. I almost smiled. “You told me the front lines were too dangerous, that you just wanted a safe desk job. I made it happen,” I whispered, the words tearing at my throat. “After we got engaged, you said your rank was too low, that you weren’t worthy of me, so I went to my father. You complained the cases were too complex, so I stayed up night after night, feeding you the clues. And this is how you—” “Enough!” Sera’s roar cut through the room. She strode forward, waving her men off, and her hands closed around my neck. Her eyes were bloodshot, feral. “You’re lying! I earned everything I have myself! It had nothing to do with a useless piece of trash like you!” The pressure on my throat was immense. Black spots danced in my vision as my face turned purple. But my words had hit their mark. Her violent, over-the-top reaction had planted a seed of doubt in the room. The guests were whispering again. Sensing the shift, Caleb made his move. He fell to his knees beside me, clutching the baby, his voice choked with sobs. “Finn… brother… when you have your episodes, I usually just let it go. But in front of all these important people… if you keep saying these things, you’ll destroy Sera’s career! I’m begging you, Finn. I’ll get on my knees, I’ll bow to you, just please, stop this madness!” He shuffled forward on his knees, grabbing my pant leg as if to prostrate himself. Sera, alarmed, released her grip on my neck and bent to pull him up. In that split second, Caleb twisted, using my leg as leverage to throw himself backward, letting out a piercing scream. “Aaargh! Finn, just kill me!” Before I could even react, Sera’s hand cracked across my face in a vicious, hysterical slap. “Finn! I’ve had it with you!” The right side of my face exploded in pain. I tried to strike back, but a sharp kick from Eleanor caught me in the lower back, sending me flying into a tall display cabinet. Glass and porcelain shattered around me. Shards rained down, embedding themselves in my skin, and my shirt was instantly soaked with blood. As I collapsed to the floor, a pool of crimson spread out beneath me. I lay there in the wreckage, my body a symphony of agony. “My eye… Sera… my eye…” A piece of glass had pierced my eyeball. A tear of blood rolled down my cheek as I reached a hand out to her. But it was Eleanor who responded, stomping on my outstretched hand with her heel. I felt the bones grind together. “You bastard! Stop faking! My daughter won’t fall for your threats!” My vision was blurring. “Sera… I’m not faking… hospital… please…” She didn’t even look at me. She was fussing over Caleb, her voice cold and hard. “That’s enough, Finn. Stop the act and apologize to Caleb. Do you think I’d believe your lies?” She turned back to me, her voice dripping with rage, but when she saw my blood-soaked face, her pupils contracted to pinpricks of shock and fear. She knew who I was. She couldn’t just let me die here. Staring into her panicked eyes, I fought through the pain that felt like it was tearing my nerves apart. “Sera!” I bit out each word. “If anything… happens to me… in your house… you… the devoted wife… will be a murderer! My father… my brother… they will bury your entire family! Get me… to a hospital!”

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In my fifth year of pursuing Daniel Lutz, I gave birth to his child through IVF. But his affection level, which had reached 99, not only refused to budge to 100 but began to fluctuate wildly. Dragging my weary, post-partum body to find him, I was stopped by a burst of cruel laughter from inside his study. “She has no idea the egg wasn’t even hers, does she?” “The second the kid was born, Daniel dropped her affection score straight to zero.” “So what if she finds out? She should be grateful she has a face so much like Lily’s.” Then, Daniel’s voice, laced with a bored sigh. “Playing with her for this long… I’m getting tired of it.” It was only then that the horrible truth crashed down on me. What I thought was my hard-won happy ending was nothing but a punchline. I turned away, my voice a hollow whisper to the System in my mind. “Arrange my death. I want a new world.” 1 Are you sure, Host? The System’s voice echoed in my mind. Your mother is very ill. If you start over in a new world, she might not live to see you succeed. A wave of bitter sorrow washed over me. Five years ago, to save my mother from cancer, I accepted this mission. At first, it was deceptively easy. I fell into the trap of Daniel’s charm, losing myself in his manufactured tenderness. But reality soon delivered a brutal slap. All because I moved a photo album of his long-dead first love, Lily, and failed to wear a red dress he’d laid out for me—Lily’s favorite color. For that, he abandoned me in the slums of a foreign country and took my passport. I was nearly stripped naked by a group of men before I escaped onto a street and was hit by a car. It was only from a hospital bed that I was able to call him. His voice was glacial. “If you didn’t look so much like Lily, do you think I would’ve ever given you a second glance? Consider this a small punishment. When you’ve learned your lesson, I’ll come get you.” That was just the beginning. He made me kneel up thousands of stone steps to a remote temple to pray for Lily’s soul. He had his friends strip me and abandon me at a ski resort on a freezing mountaintop. He kicked me, a non-swimmer, into the ocean, forcing me to retrieve a bracelet he’d dropped. He called it “testing my sincerity.” Then he’d turn around and laugh with his friends, placing bets on how many “pranks” it would take to make me finally give up and leave. A few months ago, everything changed. He softened, telling me he wanted a child with me. I watched his affection score soar and naively believed my suffering was finally over. Now, the laughter from his study was deafening. “Daniel, including the baby, that makes an even 100 pranks, right?” “I bet she still won’t leave. The kid might not be hers, but it’s yours, man. She’s put up with everything else. What’s one more lie?” “Totally. Every time you throw her a few affection points after a prank, she comes crawling back like a pathetic puppy wagging its tail.” Each word was a scalpel, carving open my heart. So, he knew. Daniel knew I was a Host, and he could manipulate my system’s affection meter at will. “These disgusting mission-runners… just watch. I’m going to break her.” “This is gonna be good.” Daniel’s voice, dripping with amused contempt, was the final blow that extinguished the last flicker of hope within me. I closed my eyes, forcing the tears back. A bitter smile touched my lips. “I’m sure,” I told the System. “Arrange my death. The sooner, the better. I’ll find a new target in a new world.” After the System confirmed, I returned to my hospital room and stared silently at the sleeping infant in the bassinet. To bring him into this world, I’d endured countless hospital visits, so many hormone injections that my stomach was a canvas of bruises. The memory of the thick needle piercing my body for the egg retrieval still made me shudder. And it was all for nothing. I was just an incubator for his dead girlfriend’s frozen eggs. “Elara, what are you doing out of bed?” Daniel and his friends strolled into the room. “We’re here to pack your things. The doctor said you can be discharged. Oh, right, I brought you some seafood chowder. You should eat.” His affection level flickered, then settled back at 99. But when I looked into his eyes, I saw no love. Only the same mocking cruelty I saw in his friends. They were waiting. Waiting for me to pretend I wasn’t deathly allergic to seafood and obediently eat it, just like I always did. I smiled and thanked him. But this time, I ignored the soup. I packed my own bag and walked out of the room first. “You can carry the baby,” I said over my shoulder. His smile froze, his eyes darkening instantly. One of his friends nudged him with a smirk, and he forced the smile back onto his face. “Of course. I’ll carry him.” 2 When we got back to the villa, a woman was standing in the center of the living room. She wore a red dress. Her hair was long, black, and straight, with perfect bangs. Her smile was a gentle curve. I froze. She was the spitting image of Lily. Even the dimple at the corner of her mouth was identical. “Elara, let me introduce you,” Daniel said smoothly. “This is Janice. I’m sponsoring her. She’s going to stay with us for a while as our… nanny.” His friends snickered, drawing out the word “nanny” with lewd insinuation. Daniel chuckled, his gaze fixed on the girl, his desire and satisfaction utterly undisguised. This was a familiar scene. Though he called me his girlfriend, Daniel never tired of collecting Lily’s substitutes, and he especially loved parading them in front of me. Last time, I was sick with a fever, and his friends brought him a substitute dressed as a nurse. As I burned up in my room, I could hear them together in the room next door. The time before that, he took me to a gala and picked the most Lily-like woman from a line-up of aspiring starlets. Afterward, he would always placate me. “You’re still the best one. The most like her.” Then he’d toss me a few affection points like a scrap of meat to a dog. And I, desperate and broken, would swallow my pain and force a smile as I saw his latest conquest out the door. He’d been more restrained while I was pregnant, but I knew he still had a mistress tucked away somewhere. And now, he couldn’t even wait a day to flaunt this new one in my face. “You’re good at making desserts, right? Janice loves them,” Daniel said, smiling at the girl beside him. “She’s allergic to mango, prefers chocolate. Use that expensive French chocolate, the one she likes. Oh, and Janice rescued a stray cat. She can bring it here to live with us.” The girl’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude. “Daniel, I only mentioned that once. I can’t believe you remembered.” “Of course. When something is important to me, I pay attention.” The irony was so thick I could have choked on it. He could remember all that, yet he pretended not to see the hives that broke out all over my face every time I forced down seafood for him. He couldn’t remember that I had a deep-seated fear of cats after being badly scratched as a child. But then, I wasn’t important. I was just his favorite toy. That night, I went to our bedroom to change and found the two of them already in our bed. Janice was curled in Daniel’s arms, her face flushed an unnatural red. Daniel’s eyes were dark with a storm of passion. Seeing me standing there, he dropped all pretense. A lazy smirk played on his lips. “Janice didn’t have anything suitable to wear. The things in your closet fit her perfectly. You can sleep in the guest room tonight.” Janice pulled back a corner of the duvet, revealing the pale pink silk of my nightgown. Her smile was a triumphant, mocking slash. “I’m sure my sister won’t mind,” she purred. “This lingerie was never meant for her anyway,” one of Daniel’s friends chimed in from the doorway, leaning casually. “It belongs to whoever fits it best.” I understood his meaning. Every piece of clothing in that closet had been chosen by Daniel to match Lily’s taste. Now that someone who looked more like her had arrived, I was being replaced. “Go get some sleep, Elara,” Daniel said, his tone laced with that familiar, cruel amusement. He was so confident. “Don’t worry. In my heart, you’ll always be number one. You know how much I love you.” He was certain that with his affection score at 99, I wouldn’t dare say a word. I would just be his good little dog, grateful for any scrap of affection he threw my way. I did exactly as he expected. I turned and walked away without a word. The moment the door clicked shut, a series of messages lit up my phone screen. They were from Daniel’s group chat. “Didn’t you guys say bringing in a new girl right when she thought she was safe would be the ultimate mind-fuck?” “We practically did it right in front of her, and she still didn’t make a peep.” “Haha, Daniel, aren’t you planning something even bigger? You’ll never get rid of that leech.” “Shit, Daniel, wrong chat! Recall! Recall!” I watched as the messages vanished one by one. My breath hitched, and a sharp pain lanced through my numb heart. I used to believe that 99 was real. I was so happy, so terrified of losing it. I tiptoed around him, treasuring every rare crumb of kindness he offered. But it was all a lie. The rising affection score was just another tool to torture me. They were watching me like a play, entertained by my struggle and my pain. 3 A few minutes later, Daniel called. He wanted me to bring Janice a glass of milk. “You didn’t happen to look at your phone just now, did you?” he asked, testing me. “No,” I said, feigning ignorance. “I was about to check on the baby.” He sounded relieved. When I brought the milk, he even gave me a rare compliment. The next morning, the baby’s cries woke me. I rushed to the nursery to find him on the floor, having crawled out of his crib and fallen. He was screaming, his face red and tear-streaked. The baby bottle next to him was empty, and he was instinctively trying to suckle from it, clearly ravenous. Daniel stood by, looking completely helpless. Even though he wasn’t my biological son, the sight sent a pang of distress through me. I quickly prepared a bottle and picked him up to feed him. “What’s all that noise?” I looked up. Janice was leaning lazily over the second-floor railing, her silk nightgown hanging loosely, revealing a constellation of dark marks on her neck. “Oh, whoops. I forgot about the baby,” she said with a dramatic yawn. “It’s all Daniel’s fault. He kept me up all night.” She shot me a glance, her eyes glittering with smug satisfaction. “I really need to have a talk with him. I was hired as a nanny, but he can’t keep exhausting me like this.” She blushed, feigning shyness. She dangled a torn piece of silk over the railing and let it flutter to the floor. “Sorry, sister. Daniel got a little carried away and ripped your nightgown.” She giggled, waiting for my reaction. But I just held the baby, my face a blank mask. I didn’t even look at her. I had grown accustomed to silent endurance. The last time I’d shown any displeasure—spilling tea on one of his substitutes—Daniel had “punished” me. Believing his affection score was my lifeline, I had let him pour boiling water on my thigh. The skin there was now a permanent, puckered scar. After settling the baby, I went out to hire a proper, professional nanny. When I returned that afternoon with the new nanny, I found the baby asleep in his crib. But his face was an unnatural, flushed red, his features contorted not in peaceful slumber, but in pain. The experienced nanny’s face paled. She rushed forward, checked the baby, and gasped. “He’s been given a sleeping pill. A significant dose,” she whispered in horror. “And I think he’s having an allergic reaction. It looks like anaphylactic shock.” My heart seized. I scooped the baby into my arms. “We have to get him to a hospital. Now.” As I reached the front door, Janice blocked my path. “Where are you going, sister? And why are you taking the baby?” “You fed him sleeping pills? Are you trying to kill him?” The words tore from my throat, raw with fury. Janice flinched, her eyes darting to the baby’s discolored face. A flicker of panic crossed her features. “He wouldn’t stop crying! I just gave him a tiny piece. It just helps him sleep, what’s the big deal…? No, you can’t go! He’s fine! You’re just trying to tattle on me to Daniel!” I let out a cold laugh. I thrust the baby into the nanny’s arms, grabbed a fistful of Janice’s hair, and yanked. “Mrs. Davis, take a cab to the hospital. Go!” Janice shrieked in pain, flailing her arms. She knocked a glass off the coffee table. It shattered, and a shard flew up, slicing her cheek. “Stop!” Daniel’s voice was like cracking ice. He strode into the room, his eyes locking on the cut on Janice’s face. His chest heaved, a volcano of repressed rage about to erupt. He raised his hand to strike me, but hesitated, his eyes catching on my face—Lily’s face. Instead, he drew back his foot and kicked me, hard, in the abdomen. The force sent me flying. A tidal wave of agony engulfed me. Daniel glared down at me, his voice dripping with venom. “You’re just jealous of her face, aren’t you? I’ve been too nice to you lately. It’s made you arrogant.” He then turned, gently taking Janice’s arm, and led her away. 4 Mrs. Davis and I rushed the baby to the hospital. He was treated in time and was going to be fine. I, however, had to be admitted for a few days. The kick had torn open my C-section incision. Other than his affection score dipping and then climbing back to 99, Daniel had no reaction. When I returned to the villa, the front door was ajar. I could hear Daniel and his friends laughing inside. “She actually hit Janice! Can you believe it? I guess getting her score to 99 really did make her arrogant. At least it’s something new. The pathetic doormat act was getting boring.” “It’s a shame, though. Janice was the best look-alike yet, and now her face is ruined.” “Hey Daniel, you’re not even going to check on her? The kid’s in the hospital too, you know.” Daniel just smirked. “No need. With the affection score as leverage, she’ll come crawling back like the dog she is.” I felt a bitter mix of amusement and despair. He had no idea. I didn’t care anymore. I walked in, placed the baby’s medical report on the table in front of him without a word, and went upstairs. “Ooh, someone’s got an attitude. Aren’t you going to go smooth things over, Daniel?” “She’s the mother of your child now. She’s got more leverage. Gotta act like the lady of the house, right?” I ignored their jeers and shut my bedroom door, curling into a ball on the floor behind it. The tears I had held back for so long finally broke free, falling in heavy drops onto the hardwood. I cried out all the years of humiliation, grief, and pain. I cried until my eyes were dry and sore. Suddenly, the System’s voice returned. Host, your request has been approved. We can take you away immediately. Your next world has already been selected. I sat there, stunned, for a long moment. Then, fresh tears began to fall. But these were different. These were tears of relief, of liberation. “Good,” I whispered, and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep. It should have been the most peaceful night I’d had in years. But in the middle of the night, I woke up choking on thick smoke. My eyes flew open to a terrifying sight. Flames were climbing the walls, licking greedily at the ceiling. Primal survival instinct surged through me. I covered my mouth and nose and ran. The moment I burst through the front door, I saw Daniel on the ground, gasping for air. He saw me, his face a mixture of shock and relief, which quickly turned to panic. “The baby! I think the baby is still inside!” he yelled. “Elara, get out of here! The fire’s too big, we can’t go back in!” My heart plunged. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my throat, suffocating me. “It’s okay. I’ll go back. I know where he is,” I said, my voice steady. And without a second thought, I turned and ran back into the inferno. I gritted my teeth against the searing pain as flames kissed my skin and threw my body against the nursery door until it splintered open. The crib was empty. I stared, disbelieving. I searched the entire room, then the rest of the house, a frantic, desperate scavenger hunt. A cold dread washed over me. “Jasper! Where are you?” My voice was a raw, trembling croak, lost in the roar of the fire. I searched everywhere, but he was gone. As despair threatened to consume me, an image flashed in my mind, courtesy of the System. It was a view of the lawn below. Daniel and his friends were there, huddled together. “Move, let me see!” one of them said, snatching a pair of binoculars. “She’s still looking! She has no idea the baby’s not in there.” He laughed. “Man, Daniel, this is your cruelest prank yet. Cost you a whole villa, though.” Daniel just shrugged, a smirk on his face. “Whatever. I bet she still won’t leave me. She hasn’t completed her mission.” “I’ll take that bet. This is a new level of messed up. It’s psychological warfare.” The System broadcasted their casual cruelty directly into my mind. I stood there, surrounded by fire, an icy cold spreading through me that had nothing to do with fear. The flames illuminated my deathly pale face. My phone rang. It was Daniel. His voice was laced with amusement. “Sorry, Elara. The baby isn’t in there. And by the way, he isn’t yours. I used Lily’s eggs.” “You didn’t really think I fell in love with you, did you? I’ve been planning this little show for over a year.” “Surprise.” As his words landed, the affection score on my system interface plummeted from 99 to 0. This was his grand finale. To strip me of every last shred of hope. But I was about to disappoint him. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. Instead, I let out a soft laugh. “Yes,” I said. “Thank you. Thank you for finally setting me free.” I hung up the phone. “I’m ready,” I told the System. “Let’s go.”

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For our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband didn’t give me flowers or jewelry. He gave me divorce papers. “My mom’s sick,” he’d said, his face etched with exhaustion. “She’s dying, Zoe. And her last wish is to see me divorce you.” He swore it was just a sham. “I promise, it’s just for show. As soon as she’s gone, we’ll get remarried.” Looking at the haggard man I loved, my heart broke for him. I agreed. But the moment the ink was dry, he posted a wedding photo on his social media feed. With his first love. And there, beaming in the picture right beside them, was his supposedly dying mother. 1 “Zoe, when the hell did you and Ethan get divorced?” My best friend Maya’s brow was furrowed, her eyes clouded with worry. “Something this huge happens, and you don’t even tell me?” I was baffled, the question itself feeling absurd. Ethan and I had agreed our “divorce” was a secret, a performance for his mother. How could Maya possibly know? “Where did you hear that?” I asked, my voice laced with confusion. Maya’s eyes widened, her voice climbing in disbelief. “Where did I hear it? Ethan posted his new marriage certificate on his feed for the whole world to see! How could you not know?” She kept talking, but her words dissolved into a dull roar in my ears. The only phrase that cut through the noise was Ethan posted his marriage certificate. Everything else was static. Impossible. A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. “You’re kidding, right?” My voice trembled, a fragile, hopeful question in the face of a looming disaster. My relationship with Ethan had always been solid. Or so I thought. When he’d asked me for the fake divorce, the grief on his face had been so real. I remembered every pained expression, every tremor in his voice. How could he have been getting married to someone else? But Maya’s next words were a hammer blow, shattering the last of my denial. “I’m not joking, Zoe. It’s real.” Panic seized me. My hands fumbled for my phone, fingers shaking as I frantically dialed Ethan’s number. The line connected, but only to a cold, robotic voice: “The person you are calling is currently on another line.” I switched to our message history, a new wave of nausea hitting me as I scrolled. I hadn’t noticed before, but he hadn’t replied in days. The screen was a one-sided conversation—just me, sharing little moments from my day, whispering words of love into a void. Each message was now a monument to my own foolishness. Still clinging to a shred of hope, I tried to check his social media, only to find he’d blocked me. Maya sent me the picture. My hand trembled so violently it took several tries to tap it open. The woman in the photo was Serena. Ethan’s college girlfriend. I’d met her once, at my own wedding. She’d shown up in a designer gown, standing so close to Ethan she looked more like the bride than I did. I’d asked him about it later, if there was still something between them. He had denied it instantly, his voice firm and reassuring. But now, here they were, their smiles radiant, their bodies pressed together against a festive, celebratory backdrop. That brilliant red background felt like a blade twisting in my heart. Tears blurred my vision, hot and unstoppable. “Ethan, answer me!” I typed, my fingers flying across the screen. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you? This is all fake, right?” “You didn’t marry someone else. Tell me you didn’t.” My messages sank into the digital abyss, unanswered. I broke. A hollowed-out, disoriented version of myself drove to the hospital, only to be told by the front desk that Ethan’s mother had never been a patient there. When Ethan told me his mother was sick, his voice had cracked with emotion. He’d barely been able to get the words out. In just a few days, he had lost so much weight he looked like a ghost. My heart had ached for him. Was it all an act? A meticulously crafted lie? If he wanted out, why couldn’t he just tell me? I wasn’t the kind of woman to cling to a man who didn’t want me. I desperately needed to find him, to hear the truth from his own lips. It was only then that I realized something chilling: aside from the brief period his mother had stayed with us, I didn’t even know where he lived. His family home was a mystery to me. My only option was his office. But when I got there, his colleagues told me he’d taken a leave of absence. For his wedding. The irony was a bitter pill to swallow. When Ethan and I were planning our own wedding, I’d handled everything alone—from buying and renovating our apartment to choosing my dress and decorating the venue. He was always “too busy with work” to take time off. Now I understood. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take leave. It was that I wasn’t important enough to be worth his time. Sometimes, the less you know, the more obsessed you become with finding the answer. I took a leave from my own job and began a frantic search. I went to every place I could think of—our old haunts, his favorite bars, the parks we used to walk in. He was nowhere. It was like he had vanished from the earth. In the end, it was Maya who told me when the wedding was. And so, for the first time since our “divorce,” I finally saw Ethan again. At his wedding to another woman. I stood among the guests, a ghost at the feast, and watched as he slid a diamond ring onto Serena’s finger. The smile on his face was brighter than the sun, a dazzling, blinding light that seared my eyes. His mother, the woman who was supposed to be on her deathbed, stood beside him, beaming with pride and vitality. Gone was the woman who looked at me with nothing but contempt. “Ethan!” My voice was a raw, ragged thing, torn by anger and grief. He flinched, his body going rigid. Slowly, he turned. The brilliant smile on his face evaporated the instant he saw me, replaced by a flash of panic. His mother reacted instantly, rushing towards me and shoving me hard. “Keep the ceremony moving!” she barked at the officiant, trying to push me away. “Don’t let this ruin the happy occasion.” I sidestepped her, my eyes locked on Ethan. They were burning, and I could feel the tears welling up again. “What is going on?” I demanded, my voice rising with every step I took towards the altar. “You said it was a fake divorce! You said your mother was dying and you just wanted her to find peace!” With each step, the pain in my chest intensified. By the time I reached him, the tears were streaming down my face. He stood there in his perfectly tailored tuxedo, as handsome as the day I first met him. But looking at him now, he was a complete stranger. Time had flown by, but the most painful truth was that he was no longer the man who had once loved me with all his heart. Maya was right beside me, a protective barrier against the curious, whispering crowd, clearing a path until I stood directly in front of him. “Zoe,” he said, his voice strained, his eyes darting around nervously. “Can we please talk about this after the wedding? It’s not what you think. I can explain.” A bitter, humorless laugh escaped my lips. “Explain? Or are you just trying to trick me again so I don’t ruin your perfect day, Ethan?” We stood in a tense standoff, the air crackling around us. Then, Serena stepped forward, looping her arm through Ethan’s. She looked at me with the smug condescension of a victor. “Before you blame Ethan,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “maybe you should take a look at yourself, Zoe. You were married for five years and couldn’t even give him a child. My son—our son—is already five years old.” “What?” The world tilted on its axis. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, frozen in place, my mind a hollow cavern of white noise. But Maya, never one to hold back, exploded. “You absolute scumbags!” she screamed, her voice echoing through the silent hall. “You were cheating on her five years ago? You had a kid with another woman and then you married Zoe? What kind of monster are you, Ethan? You goddamn bastard!” Ethan and I had been together since college. After graduation, I had left everything behind—my family, my hometown—to build a life with him in his city. In the beginning, he was wonderful. He did all the chores, treated me with tenderness and care. But over time, he grew distant. He’d told me that passionate love naturally cools into the comfortable quiet of family life, that it didn’t need constant effort. And like a fool, I believed him. Now I knew the truth. His love hadn’t cooled. It had simply been given to someone else. All I’d ever gotten were the lukewarm leftovers. “Ethan,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. A deep, penetrating chill was spreading through my veins, extinguishing the fire of my anger. “Is it true?” He wouldn’t meet my eyes. He just stared at the floor and mumbled a faint, “Yes.” “Okay,” I said, the single word feeling like a final exhalation. “I understand.” My heart had turned to ice. I turned to Maya. “Let’s go.” I had to salvage what little dignity I had left. But as we turned to leave, Ethan lunged forward, leaving Serena at the altar. He grabbed my arm, his voice desperate. “Zoe, wait. There’s a reason for all this. I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry.” “I’ll come find you after the ceremony,” he pleaded. “I’ll explain everything.” “Explain what?” Maya snapped, shoving his hand off me and pulling me towards the exit. She cursed him the entire way back, a furious, protective tirade. I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but I couldn’t hear a thing. I was numb. When she pulled up to her apartment building, I finally broke the silence. “You can go on up, Maya,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “I’m going to go pack my things. I’ll come over when I’m done.” “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” she asked, her face a mask of concern. I managed a weak smile. “I’ll be fine. I promise.” We could at least part with some grace. I, Zoe, could handle losing. Besides, what was once a fake divorce was now very, very real. And there were things I would not let go of. The apartment we lived in was mine, bought and paid for in full before we ever got married. It was my property, and it was time to cash out. I was going to sell it, take the money, and go home to my parents. The day a potential buyer came to see the place, Ethan showed up. The moment he saw another man in my living room, he didn’t even ask. He just exploded. “Zoe! We agreed it was a fake divorce! Are you already so desperate you’re bringing other men into our home?” I ignored him, calmly rescheduling with the buyer and politely showing him to the door. But Ethan blocked the doorway, his face a thundercloud. “Nobody is leaving until we get this straight.” Back when we were dating, I had seen his flaws as charming quirks. Now, without the filter of love, I saw him for what he was: utterly obnoxious. “We are divorced, Ethan,” I said, my voice cold and flat. “You have no right to tell me what to do.” I pushed past him, apologized again to the buyer, and closed the door behind him. When I turned back, Ethan was still standing in the entryway, his face contorted in a mask of righteous anger. “Zoe, we agreed! It was supposed to be a temporary divorce!” I stared at him like he was insane. “Did you forget you just got married again?” “I had no choice! And my marriage to Serena is fake, too! The kid was an accident, I swear, I didn’t know how it happened. My mom found out about him somehow, and she used her ‘dying wish’ to see her grandchild have a proper family.” He spewed his excuses, a torrent of self-serving nonsense, as if I was the one being unreasonable for not understanding. But none of it mattered anymore. I didn’t want to hear it. Besides, his mother had looked perfectly healthy at the wedding. “Ethan, since this is a real divorce now, we need to divide our assets. I’ve already contacted a lawyer.” I took a deep breath. “As for this apartment, it’s mine. I’m selling it. Don’t come back here again.”

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My parents’ 19th attempt at a business failed. They were scammed out of two hundred thousand dollars. The night before school started, my mother brought me a glass of warm milk. I drank it, stunned by the rare show of affection. The last thing I heard before I passed out was my mother’s choked whisper: “Penny, Mom and Dad have to go.” “Your sister is too little. We can’t leave her all by herself.” “You be a good girl and stay here. As soon as we make enough money, we’ll come back for you…” When I opened my eyes, my parents and my sister were gone. 1 The room was pitch-black. I stood on a stool, stretching to reach the light switch. I flicked it again and again, but nothing happened. Then I remembered what Mom had said. We didn’t have money to pay the electric bill. My lip trembled. I felt around on the floor for my slippers and carefully put them on. Then, I pushed open the storage closet door and called out, my voice small and wavering, “Mommy? Mommy?” No one was in my parents’ room. Not in the living room. Not in the kitchen. And not in my sister Rosie’s sweet-smelling bedroom. A wave of panic washed over me. I scurried back to my own room like a frightened mouse. Back to the tiny little storage closet. My sister’s room had a big, beautiful princess bed. But Mom said I thrashed around in my sleep and she was afraid I’d fall off. So, instead of a bed, they just laid a threadbare blanket on the floor for me. I curled up on the blanket, my ears pricked, listening for any sound from outside. Maybe… maybe Mom and Dad just took Rosie to the morning market? They did that a lot. They would take Rosie out to play, out to eat, out to the park. They said Rosie was still little, so she didn’t need a ticket. I was too big; my ticket would cost extra. They said they used to take me to the park all the time when I was Rosie’s age. I felt a pang of regret. Why couldn’t I remember any of it? I wanted so badly to know what it was like to go to the park with Mom and Dad… I balled up my little fist and tapped it against my head. It’s okay, Penny. They just took Rosie out to play. They’ll be back soon. 2 I drifted off to sleep, curled on the floor. When I woke up again, the living room was bright with daylight. My stomach rumbled loudly. But Mom and Dad had forgotten to leave me breakfast. I stared at the big refrigerator, swallowing hard. I couldn’t open it. The fridge was for Dad’s beer, Mom’s face masks, and Rosie’s expensive imported fruit. There was no food in there for me. I patted my empty tummy, stood on my tiptoes, and filled a cup with water from the tap. I gulped it down. But that only made me feel hungrier. I wandered around the apartment. I still had the five-dollar bill I’d found on the street in my little backpack. I wanted to go outside. There was a bakery at the entrance of our complex. Five dollars could buy a lot of bread rolls. But I didn’t have a key. If I left, I’d never be able to get back in. 3 The lady next door started cooking. I stood on a stool on the balcony, greedily inhaling the scent of food wafting through the air. Today she was making barbecue ribs and my favorite—shrimp! Well, I’d never actually eaten shrimp, but I’d seen Mom make them for Rosie. They were bigger than my hand, with bright red shells. They looked so delicious. The cooking smells faded. I swallowed again and climbed down from the stool, disappointed. Suddenly, I spotted something under the living room curtains. A package of rice crackers! The ones Rosie had thrown away! I scampered over and snatched them up. It was a whole bag! The seal was broken and the crackers inside were a little soft, but I treasured them, eating every last one, bite by bite. Outside, the sky slowly began to darken. When were Mom and Dad coming home? Would they bring me leftovers from the restaurant? 4 Night fell completely. The power was still out. The apartment was dark, stuffy, and hot. No electricity meant no fan. Besides, Mom always said I was a kid and didn’t feel the heat, and that fans were dangerous anyway. I was never allowed to turn one on when she wasn’t home. I fanned myself furiously with a plastic advertisement fan Mom had brought back from the town square. Sweat poured out of me like rain. I fumbled my way to the bathroom and smacked my forehead on the edge of the sink. The pain brought tears to my eyes. Mommy, Daddy, where are you? Crying, I found my little washcloth, turned on the tap just a little, and wet it. I greedily pressed the cool cloth to my face. The relief on my burning skin was instant. The tiles below the sink were so cool. I lay down, pressing as much of my body as I could against them, and drifted into a hazy sleep. A sharp, urgent knocking at the door startled me awake. “Daddy! Mommy!” They must have forgotten their keys! That’s why they didn’t come home all night! I scrambled up and stumbled to the door. When I opened it, my parents weren’t there. Just a few men in black shirts with thick gold chains around their necks. One of them, a big man with a dragon tattoo on his arm, grabbed me by the shoulders and lifted me up. “Kid, where are your folks?” 5 I burst into tears, shaking my head frantically. “I don’t know! They took my sister out to play!” “Mommy said I have to be a good girl and wait at home. She said they’ll come back for me after they make a lot of money…” A skinny man crouched down, his eyes crinkling into a smile I didn’t understand. “They’re not coming back for you, kid…” “Your mommy and daddy don’t want you anymore.” I froze, tears welling in my eyes. The big man carried me inside and tossed me onto the sofa. The men in black shirts stormed through my parents’ room, Rosie’s room, and finally, my little storage closet. The skinny man spat on the floor in disgust. “They took everything valuable. All that’s left is this worthless brat!” “Hey boss, what if we sell the kid?” 6 The big man with the dragon tattoo slapped the skinny man hard across the face. “I told you, we’re professional collectors, not damn kidnappers!” “Ask the kid if she has any other relatives. We’ll drop her off with them and seize the apartment.” A bald man knelt in front of me. “Kid, where do your grandparents live?” I shook my head. The bald man clicked his tongue. “Any other family? Aunts? Uncles?” I kept shaking my head. The skinny man sneered. “What, is she stupid or something? Why else would her parents ditch her when they ran?” I glared at him. “I’m not stupid! And my mommy and daddy said they would come back for me!” The skinny man laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. He leaned in close, his eyes glinting. “You don’t get it, do you, kid? Your parents owe us a lot of money.” “They took your sister and skipped town yesterday!” “See? I was right. Your mommy and daddy really don’t want you anymore.” The bald man shoved him aside. “Kid, that guy’s right,” he said impatiently. “Your parents owe us money, and they took off with your sister. You get what ‘took off’ means? It means they abandoned you! Now think hard. Any relatives? Our boss is a nice guy; he’ll give you a free ride to their place. Otherwise, when we clear this place out, you’ll be sleeping on the street.” I sobbed, shaking my head. “I-I don’t know any relatives! Please, don’t kick me out!” “Mommy said to wait for her here! She promised she’d come back for me…” But tears and begging were useless. The skinny man grabbed me by the arms, lifted me up, and tossed me into the elevator. When it reached the ground floor, he dragged me out like a sack of potatoes and dumped me outside the building’s main entrance. I tried to run back inside, but the glass doors wouldn’t open. I remembered how Mom and Dad always had to scan their phones to get in. I didn’t have a phone. I was locked out. 7 I crouched by the door and cried for a long, long time. The sun was scorching, and I hadn’t eaten in over a day. My stomach ached with a sharp, stabbing pain. Suddenly, the bald man came out. He was carrying a big plastic bag. “Kid, you really don’t have any other family?” I shook my head, dazed. I didn’t know if we had relatives. I grew up in the mountains with my grandma. After she died, my parents brought me to the city and locked me away in that boxy apartment. The farthest I’d ever been was the bakery at the entrance of the complex. The bald man sighed and set the bag down in front of me. “See that security guard over there?” he asked, pointing. “Go ask him to call 911 for you. The police will take you somewhere you can get a hot meal.” He paused, a strange look on his face. “It’s a pretty good place. I grew up in one, too.” A place with food? That sounded wonderful. I grabbed the bag and stumbled towards the security booth. But when the guard with the little mustache heard my parents were gone, he reached out and pinched my bottom. In that instant, I remembered the old man who lived next door back home. He used to promise me candy and lure me into his house, where his stubble would scratch my face. Grandma saw him one day and chased him with a kitchen knife, screaming curses. That night, she scrubbed me in a big tub for what felt like hours, her voice rough. “Penny, from now on, if anyone tries to kiss you or touch you, you bite them! Bite them hard! You hear me?” I snapped back to the present. In the cramped, closet-like security booth, the guard was lifting up my little dress. 8 I opened my mouth and bit down as hard as I could. He howled in pain and let go. I shoved the door open and ran. I ran until my lungs burned. It was only then that I realized the plastic bag the bald man had given me was gone. The sun beat down relentlessly. I’d lost a shoe, and the black asphalt seared the sole of my bare foot. I saw a stray cat lounging in the shade of a bush. It looked so cool there. “Kitty, can I stay at your house for a little while?” The orange cat tilted its head, as if to ask, Don’t you have a home of your own? Tears streamed down my face. “I-I used to,” I sobbed. “But not anymore.” The men in black shirts said my parents owed a lot of money, and the apartment had to be used to pay the debt. I didn’t know what that meant, but the bald man had said our home belonged to them now. Seeing me crying like a mess, the orange cat disdainfully climbed a tree. I sat down in the shade, and soon, mosquitoes swarmed me. I’d swat one away, and another would land. I was hot, tired, and covered in itchy bites. I don’t know when I fell asleep. 9 As evening fell, people came out to walk their dogs and take out their trash. I saw bags filled with leftovers—half-eaten bread rolls and discarded crusts! I scrambled over and grabbed half a roll and two pieces of crust. Then I saw it: half an apple in the bin. The other half was still good! I had always wanted to eat an apple, but Mom only ever bought two. One for Rosie, and one for her and Dad to share. I’d secretly gnawed on the core once. It was so sweet! The bread was a little stale, but I wolfed it down, alternating bites of bread and apple. The food from the trash was so good, even better than Rosie’s old crackers. But a little while later, my stomach started to hurt. A lot. I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find a bathroom. I squatted behind some bushes and carefully pulled down my underwear. Suddenly, a cleaning lady charged at me, waving her broom. “Whose kid is this? Old enough to know better and still pooping in public! Are you an idiot?” She grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. I didn’t have time to pull my clothes back up, and my underwear fell into the messy puddle on the ground. Tears streamed down my face. The lady threw me to the ground, pinching her nose and pointing at me with her broom. “Which building do you live in? Go get your parents! Public defecation is a fifty-dollar fine!” I clutched my dress, sobbing. “M-my parents are gone. The uncles took our apartment. I-I don’t have a home…” Her eyes widened. “Well, what do you know. An unwanted little stray! And you dare make a mess here? You’re going to eat it!” I struggled, but she was too strong. She grabbed my neck and started shoving my face towards the mess. I screamed. Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through my terror. “Kid? Why didn’t you go to the police station?” It was the bald man!

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At a dinner with both our families, my wife’s protégé didn’t just put a bill on the table. He threw it in my face. He then had the audacity to announce that my wife was going to be his surrogate, and that I was expected to split the twenty-five-thousand-dollar bill for all the expenses, from conception to postpartum care. I looked at my wife, completely floored. Waiting for her to tell me this was some kind of sick joke, to give me any explanation at all. Instead, she took Julian’s hand and looked me dead in the eye. “I agreed to carry Julian’s child. As my husband, splitting the cost is your duty. Stop trying to run from your responsibilities.” And in that instant, everything became brutally clear. My nine-year marriage wasn’t a partnership. It was a punchline. And some people? They just belong in the garbage. … 1 The family dinner had barely started when my wife’s protégé, Julian, slapped a cost estimate sheet onto the table in front of me. He stood up, chest puffed out like a preening rooster, and looked down his nose at me. “Ariel agreed to be my surrogate. The total for her pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care comes to twenty-five thousand dollars. You’ll be splitting it.” A dead silence fell over the table. My parents, who had just been sharing a toast with my in-laws, froze mid-sip. I stared at my wife, Ariel, stunned. I was desperately hoping she’d tell me this was some kind of sick joke. We were a couple. Married for nine years, and child-free by choice. Now she was going to have a baby for another man, and this was the first I was hearing of it? It felt surreal, impossible. But Ariel wasn’t joking. Her hand was intertwined with Julian’s, their fingers locked together. The look she gave me was cold, brutal. “Nolan,” she said, her voice devoid of warmth, “I’m carrying a child. As my husband, you’re expected to share the costs. Stop trying to shirk your responsibility.” Emboldened by her support, Julian shot me a triumphant smirk and, right in front of me, pressed a kiss to the corner of Ariel’s lips. Then, he produced a printed document. “Regarding Ariel bearing my child,” he announced, “I have three conditions.” “One: From now until the baby is born, you will cater to Ariel’s every need to ensure a smooth delivery.” “Two: After the birth, Ariel will need to be with the child. She’ll stay with me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She’ll only be home with you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You are not to get jealous.” “Three: My child with Ariel will be her sole heir and inherit all of her assets. To guarantee this, you must go to a hospital and have a vasectomy.” The absurdity of his words finally snapped my parents out of their shock. My mother’s face darkened. “Have you all lost your minds?” she demanded, her voice shaking with rage. She turned to my in-laws. “Aren’t you going to say anything about this?” Julian just scoffed. “My godparents have already given their blessing.” My in-laws had informally adopted him years ago. At his words, they both nodded with cheerful smiles. “Yes, we’re aware of the arrangement,” my father-in-law confirmed. My mother-in-law even tried to reason with me. “Nolan, you know Julian’s father was Ariel’s beloved mentor. His dying wish was for Julian to have a child to carry on the family name. Ariel is just helping him fulfill that wish.” She added, with a tone of patronizing wisdom, “You’re an educated man. Surely you understand the concept of repaying a debt of gratitude?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “This sordid affair? You call that repaying a kindness?” Ariel’s expression soured instantly. “Nolan, this is a notification, not a negotiation! Julian is the father of my child. If you speak to him like that again, don’t blame me for what happens next.” I looked at her, a knot of disbelief tightening in my chest. “Ariel, say that again.” She rolled her eyes, her patience clearly gone. “I’m just honoring a debt, Nolan. Can you stop being so dramatic? Besides,” she added, a cruel edge to her voice, “Julian is brilliant, a top graduate from a prestigious family. His genes are far more worthy of being passed on.” “Worthy genes?” I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound raw and humorless. “The kind of genes that teach him how to be a homewrecker?” Julian’s eyes instantly welled with tears. Ariel shot to her feet, positioning herself in front of him like a shield. “Julian comes from a family of academics! What would a country hick like you know about class?” she spat. “And anyway, you wouldn’t have a child with me, so why can’t I have one with someone else?” Her words hit me like a physical blow, and the sheer audacity of it made me see red. Before we were married, it was she who had insisted on being child-free, who swore she would never have kids. To support her, I agreed. For nine years, whenever my parents gently hinted about grandchildren, I shut them down to protect her from the pressure. And now that was her excuse? In that single, blinding moment, I understood. Our nine-year marriage was a fucking joke. If she didn’t want this life anymore, then fine. Neither did I. I shot to my feet and kicked the dining table over. A chaotic mess of shattered plates and vibrant sauces splattered all over Julian and Ariel. Julian screamed. Ariel’s face turned a shade of mottled purple with rage. Before she could utter a word, I swung my hand and slapped her across the face. Then I turned my gaze to Julian. “This trash?” I said, my voice dripping with contempt. “I don’t want her anymore. You want her? She’s all yours.” My eyes locked with Ariel’s. “We’re getting a divorce.” I spoke each word with chilling clarity, then turned and walked away. My parents, their faces grim, rose and followed me, leaving behind a scene of destruction and the stunned, ugly faces of Ariel’s family. Ariel’s body trembled as she shrieked at my back, “Nolan Hamilton! You dare to ask for a divorce? You think that scares me? Fine! We’ll get a divorce! I’ll be perfectly happy without you!” I didn’t look back. With my parents in tow, I strode out of that toxic house, wanting nothing more than to escape a place I couldn’t stand for another second. Without me, Ariel? Your perfect life is about to end. After dropping my parents off, I headed back to the home I shared with Ariel, intending to pack my things. When I arrived, I found everything I owned dumped on the doorstep like a pile of garbage. The lock had been changed. My calls to Ariel went straight to voicemail. I tried a video call. Someone answered. But it wasn’t Ariel. It was Julian. He was wearing my favorite silk robe, lounging on my marriage bed. The robe was open, revealing a chest covered in fresh hickeys. He raised an eyebrow when he saw me, his expression a cocktail of smugness and provocation. “Ariel and I are a little busy trying to make a baby. Something important?” Before I could speak, he casually lifted his hand. On his finger was my wedding ring. My vision blurred for a second. It was the unique, diamond ring I had designed and crafted for Ariel myself. Just a few days ago, she’d told me she was taking it to be professionally cleaned. Instead, she’d given it to him. Even the decorative items on the nightstand had been replaced. Where our photos once stood, there were now framed pictures of him and Ariel—kissing, embracing. Noticing my gaze, Julian grinned. “Sorry about this, Nolan. Ariel said this house is mine now. All the old junk had to go, so I tossed your stuff out.” My hand tightened around my phone, knuckles turning white. I took a deep, steadying breath. “Where’s Ariel?” He blinked innocently. “Ariel? Oh, she’s in the shower.” He let out a theatrical sigh. “You have no idea how insatiable she is. Insisted on another round. So… here I am, waiting.” A wave of nausea churned in my stomach. “Oh, and by the way,” he added, “Ariel said since you’re the one who asked for the divorce, you can just take your junk and get lost. After all, she’s the one who bought this condo.” Before I could retort, the bathroom door opened and Ariel walked into the frame. She was wearing a semi-translucent piece of lingerie, her chest a canvas of red marks. Her eyes were hazy, post-coital. She immediately snuggled up to Julian. “Sweetheart,” Julian said, his voice laced with mock concern, “your husband is watching.” Only then did she seem to notice me. Her face hardened. “You wanted a divorce, remember? What are you doing calling in the middle of the night? This place has nothing to do with you anymore!” The dam of my anger finally broke. “Don’t you forget, Ariel, I paid for this condo! The seed money for your company came from me selling two of my tech patents! Your first big deal was through my network! A few people call you ‘Ms. Hamilton,’ and you actually start believing your own hype? Who the hell do you think you are to kick me out?” Ariel had been on her high horse for so long, she’d forgotten what it felt like to be called out. My words struck a nerve, stripping away her facade. Her face twisted in fury. “Don’t flatter yourself, Nolan! Everything I have, I built myself! It has nothing to do with you! In fact, if it weren’t for me, do you think a guy from the sticks like you would have this life? For nine years, you and your parents have been leeches, sucking me dry. What right do you have to bark at me?” A sharp pain lanced through my chest. I stared at her distorted, enraged face and felt the last vestiges of affection die. “Ariel, every single penny my parents and I have spent in the last nine years, I earned with my own two hands! Without me, do you really think a fraud like you could have ever reached the position you’re in today?” She gritted her teeth. “I’m a top-tier graduate, how dare you talk to me like that? Do you honestly believe the company can’t function without you? Nolan, who do you think you are?” She was practically vibrating with rage. “You want to make a scene? Fine! I’ll give you one! We’ll finalize the divorce tomorrow, and you can process your termination! I’ll show you that the company will do just fine without you!” “If you’re going to be ruthless, Ariel, then don’t blame me for being cruel.” “Your company,” I said with a cold smile, “can go to hell.” I was about to end the call, but she started screaming, her voice a furious roar just before the connection cut. “You think you can survive after leaving me and the company, Nolan? I’ve already put the word out to every major corporation in this city! You won’t find a single job! I’m going to run you out of town!” I hung up and turned away without a second’s hesitation, fighting the urge to storm in there and end both of them. The next day, I drafted the divorce agreement and went to the company to find Ariel. The security guard stopped me at the entrance. I frowned. “I’m the Vice President…” The guard let out a derisive snort. “What Vice President? An email went out this morning. You’ve been fired.” He grinned maliciously. “And Ms. Hamilton gave specific orders: no dogs or Nolan Hamilton allowed on the premises.” My hands clenched into fists, a hot spike of anger piercing my chest. Just then, Ariel and Julian walked out together. “Well, well,” Julian said in a singsong, mocking tone. “If it isn’t our former VP. Why aren’t you going in?” Before I could answer, he gasped in fake surprise, covering his mouth. “Oh, that’s right, I forgot. Ariel fired you. You’re less than nothing now.” The security guard chuckled along with him. Ariel watched, a contemptuous smile playing on her lips. I took a deep breath, ignoring him, my eyes fixed on her. “I’m here to discuss the divorce.” A flicker of triumph crossed Julian’s face. Ariel scoffed and handed me a folder. “I’ve already had the papers drawn up. Sign them.” I took it and opened it. My jaw tightened. “You want me to leave with nothing?” The agreement was crystal clear: I was to be left completely penniless. How dare she? “What did you expect?” Ariel sneered. Julian crossed his arms. “It’s only fair. This is Hamilton Enterprises. Everything you’ve enjoyed came from the Hamilton family. What right do you have to any of Ariel’s assets?” “Come on, if you have any dignity left, just sign it,” Ariel urged. When I didn’t move, she mocked me. “I knew it. You can’t bear to give up this lifestyle. All that tough talk was just an act, wasn’t it? Nolan, if you humbly agree to split my pregnancy costs and get that vasectomy, maybe I’ll consider keeping you around. Otherwise…” “No need. I’ll sign.” I cut her off, pulled out a pen, and scrawled my name across the documents. Ariel’s face fell, a flicker of shock in her eyes. “Nolan, you actually…” “Ariel!” Julian interrupted, grabbing her hand. “Everything he has, everything he’s wearing… it’s all yours, right? That custom-tailored suit, the car he drove here—they’re worth a fortune! Those are your assets. You can’t just let him walk away with them.” My head snapped up, my gaze locking with hers. Ariel hesitated for a moment, then a cruel smirk spread across her face. “Julian’s right. The car and the suit on your back were gifts from me. If you’re leaving with nothing, that means nothing.” She paused, savoring the moment. “But, if you get on your knees right now, apologize to me and Julian, and sign the commitment letter he drafted, I might give you another chance. Otherwise, don’t blame me for humiliating you.” The last bit of warmth in my heart turned to ice. “Fine.” With a cold laugh, I met the mocking and curious stares of the surrounding employees and began to strip off my jacket and trousers. I even kicked off my shoes. Finally, I threw the car keys, hitting her squarely in the face. “Is that good enough for you?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm. “The shirt and underwear are my own. I assume I can keep those?” A red mark bloomed on Ariel’s cheek. She was frozen in shock. I didn’t spare her another glance. With my back straight and my head held high, I turned and walked away as if I didn’t have a care in the world. Ariel, however, was trembling with fury. “Nolan! You insist on defying me, don’t you? Fine! Don’t expect any mercy from me!” For nine years, I had been the one to yield, to compromise. She couldn’t comprehend why, this time, I refused to bow my head. I ignored her, hailed a taxi, and left, enduring the stares of passersby. Since she wanted to be merciless, I no longer had any reason to show her any decency. Using the last of my cash, I took the cab to my parents’ house. They were there, along with my married sister, Sarah. The atmosphere was thick with tension. Seeing my disheveled state, my parents’ expressions grew even darker. My mother’s eyes filled with tears. “What… what happened to you? Was it Ariel?” My dad quickly ushered me inside. “Go get changed before you catch a cold.” Before I could say anything, my sister clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Honestly, Nolan, why do you have to fight with Ariel? Are you happy now that you’ve dragged the whole family down with you?” “Sarah, stop it!” my mom warned, shooting her a sharp look. But my sister was too upset. She stood up, her voice rising. “Am I wrong? Why can’t I say it? If it weren’t for him, would any of this be happening to us?” My mom tried to silence her, but I sensed something was terribly wrong. “What’s happened?” I asked, my voice low. “It’s… it’s nothing…” my mom said, forcing a smile as she tried to push me toward my room. My dad held my sister back. But Sarah broke free. “Mom, Dad, how long are you going to hide it from him? You were both fired today! I lost my job, and my daughter got kicked out of her preschool this morning! This is all his fault! He deserves to know!” I froze. “What?” Tears streamed down my sister’s face, her shoulders shaking. Over my parents’ protests, she told me everything. My parents weren’t the “country hicks” Ariel claimed they were. They were university graduates who had worked hard to build a life in the city and had become respected teachers at a local college. But that morning, both had been dismissed. My sister had been fired by her manager. Even my five-year-old niece was expelled from her preschool after a call from the director. When Sarah had pressed for a reason, she was discreetly told that our family had offended someone powerful. In this city, the only person with that kind of influence and a grudge against me was Ariel. “Nolan, can you just stop this?” my sister sobbed. “You can’t ruin all of our lives just for your pride! Please, just go back to Ariel, apologize, and agree to her terms!” Clearly, my parents had told her about Ariel’s demands. My dad couldn’t take it anymore. “Sarah Hamilton, if you say one more word, you are no longer our daughter! Your brother is the victim here! How can you pressure him like this?” My sister was frantic. “What else can I do? I just got my promotion! It was so hard to get Lily into that preschool, and now it’s all gone! I have a mortgage, a car loan… Lily’s life is just beginning…” My throat felt like it was closing up. I couldn’t breathe. Steeling myself, I pulled out my phone and started calling old business contacts, hoping to find a way out of this mess. I couldn’t let my family suffer because of me. But every person I called treated me like I had the plague. “Nolan, Ms. Hamilton made it clear. Anyone who helps you goes down with you. Our hands are tied.” A contact at the college said, “Mr. Hamilton, we received an anonymous tip claiming your parents had fabricated their credentials and exhibited unethical behavior. We had no choice.” I understood perfectly. Ariel was cutting off every possible escape route, leaving me with no way out. If this continued, it wouldn’t just be me; my entire family would be destroyed. That woman… she was utterly ruthless. Before I could process it all, my phone rang. It was Ariel. The moment I answered, her mocking laughter filled my ear. “So, have you learned your lesson about what happens when you cross me?” she taunted. “Do you see what you are now, Nolan? Without me, you are nothing.” “And without you, I’m still the powerful Ms. Hamilton. Oh, did you hear? I just landed that massive government contract. A nine-figure deal.” I knew which project she was talking about. It was the one I’d spent six months chasing, wining and dining clients until I nearly got a stomach ulcer, pouring my soul into securing it. We were just days away from signing. All my hard work had become her prize. And now, she was gleefully rubbing salt in my deepest wound. I hung up the phone. In the living room, my sister’s suppressed sobs grew louder, each one a dagger in my heart. I knew I couldn’t let this go on. “Don’t worry,” I said, my voice steady and calm as I walked back into the room, now fully dressed. “I’ll fix this. By tomorrow, at the latest.” I strode out of the house, my steps firm, my back straight. Every footfall was a promise to them: the sky hadn’t fallen. Not yet. Standing on the curb waiting for a ride, I took out my phone and made one last call. “Vivian? It’s Nolan. Let’s meet. That patent you wanted? I’m ready to sell.” Ariel thought that by forcing me to leave with nothing, she had taken everything. But she forgot one crucial detail. The core technology for the company’s most valuable projects… the patents were all in my name. And since I was no longer an employee of Hamilton Enterprises, I could sell them to whomever I pleased. She wanted to drive me to ruin? Fine. I would drag her down and expose her for the fraud she was. Ariel, Julian… it’s time to settle the score.

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