Category: English

The day I got my driver’s license, my dad bought me an Aetherion Lux 8. The day I went to the dealership to pick it up, my boyfriend asked me to sign the title over to his sister. “Bella’s getting married soon,” Liam said, “and she needs a car for the wedding procession. Wouldn’t it be a great gift? A perfect wedding present?” I just smiled. “$150,000 for a wedding present? Yeah, right. A present for his sister, my ass.” 1 After I passed my driving test, my dad decided to gift me an Aetherion Lux 8. It was a limited-edition domestic model, a high-end electric vehicle worth over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. “Hannah, the money’s in your account,” he’d texted. “Don’t forget to pick up the car this weekend.” Seeing the seven-figure deposit in my bank account, I was so ecstatic I literally spun around in a circle. Liam, my boyfriend, saw how happy I was and asked what was up. I couldn’t help but share the news of my sudden windfall and the incredible car. His eyes widened, his jaw dropping. “$150,000?” he stammered. “Hannah, your dad is… that’s incredibly extravagant!” I tilted my chin up playfully. “A father’s love is just that simple and pure!” I pulled out my phone to start picking out a color online. The man beside me fell silent for a long moment before placing his hands on my shoulders. His voice was serious. “Hannah, listen. Bella is getting married at the end of the month. Why don’t… why don’t we put the car in her name?” He continued, his grip tightening slightly. “You know my family’s situation. She doesn’t have much of a dowry to speak of. This car… it could be her ‘something borrowed, something new.’ A show of strength from her future sister-in-law. It would give her so much standing with her new family. What do you say?” My brain short-circuited. A hundred and fifty grand. Not a hundred and fifty bucks. Was he even hearing himself? And how could he ask so casually? I was his girlfriend, not his personal charity fund. I immediately, if gently, shut him down. “My dad gave this to me. It’s a very personal, very valuable gift. It’s not appropriate for you to ask that, Liam.” His face froze, but the mask of calm slipped back into place almost instantly. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, forcing a smile. “I’m sorry. I just assumed you felt the same way I do, that you already see Bella as your own sister.” His voice took on a wheedling, manipulative tone. “I was just thinking ahead. We’re going to get married someday, right? This is just a way for you to build some goodwill, to make it easier for you to blend into my family. I meant it as a good thing, nothing else.” My expression had already soured. But Liam either didn’t see it or chose to ignore it, plowing ahead with his monologue. “Your dad is so rich, and you’re an only child. You can’t spend all that money yourself. It’ll be ours to share eventually, so what’s the big deal about giving a little to Bella now? She’s not like you, Hannah. She didn’t grow up with a silver spoon. My mom literally found her in a box next to a dumpster. She’s had a hard life.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “As her future sister-in-law, you wouldn’t want her to be humiliated at her own wedding, would you? Right?” …If I hadn’t seen pictures of his sister on his phone, I might have actually bought it. Pictures of a girl with a flawless, surgically-perfected “influencer” face that screamed “expensive.” I shot to my feet. “The audacity! Are you already counting my father’s money? What does my dad’s money have to do with you? Or your sister? Can you people have some boundaries?” Liam’s face flushed a deep, angry red. His carefully maintained image of a humble, good-natured guy shattered. He pointed a trembling finger at my nose, sputtering, “Hannah, you’re so selfish! And after Bella has been so excited, calling you her sister-in-law already.” “You’re just… ugh, forget it.” He took a deep, steadying breath. “Think about it. This is a golden opportunity to make a good impression on my family, and you’re just throwing it away. You’re nothing but a spoiled rich girl, completely out of touch, reeking of money and selfishness!” With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I stood there, completely stunned. He asks me for a $150,000 gift and then has the nerve to get angry at me? Is he actually insane? The excitement of getting a new car vanished completely. I threw myself onto my bed and buried my face in my pillow, a sharp, angry pain blooming in my chest. When we first started dating, Liam wasn’t like this. He was gentle, kind, and rarely said anything so outrageous. He was the one who pursued me. He never let his humble background become a source of insecurity; he was hardworking, optimistic, and won every scholarship the university offered. He worked part-time jobs to support himself and even paid for his sister to take makeup classes. I knew he came from nothing, that his family was poor, but I was drawn to his resilience, his refusal to bow to fate. When he was wooing me, he was always busy with work, yet he still found time to check in on me, to run errands, to buy me food. When I was down, he’d drop everything to cheer me up, a bottomless well of emotional support. And, of course, the main reason: he was drop-dead gorgeous, more handsome than any movie star. I’m a sucker for a pretty face. So, in a moment of weakness, I’d let my heart rule my head and became his girlfriend. But right now, I felt less like a girlfriend and more like a fool. In the middle of the night, just as I was drifting off, my phone buzzed incessantly. A string of messages from Liam. I opened them to find a groveling apology. “Hannah, I was out of line today. I didn’t consider your feelings.” “You can casually buy a $150,000 car, while my sister barely makes $500 a month. The disparity just hit me all at once, and I lost my balance. I’m sorry.” “What time are you going to the dealership tomorrow? Let me come with you. I can help make sure they don’t rip you off. It’ll be my way of making it up to you.” Reading his messages, I paused. The wealth gap between us was vast, and it wasn’t his fault. If I hadn’t been so angry, I probably would have been more sensitive to his pride. Since he was offering an olive branch, I decided to take it. By unspoken agreement, we dropped the subject. 2 The next day, at the dealership, I laid my eyes on the sleek, futuristic Aetherion Lux 8. I fell in love instantly and told the saleswoman I wanted it in a stunning, almost-blinding neon green. As the delighted salesperson led me to the VIP lounge to sign the papers, Liam, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly grabbed my arm. “Neon green is hideous,” he said flatly. “Get the cherry blossom pink. Pink is more feminine, more stylish.” I frowned. Did he forget that I loathe pink? It’s so girly, it doesn’t suit my personality at all. The neon green was vibrant and alive. Seeing my hesitation, the saleswoman just smiled and continued to lead me toward the lounge. Liam’s face hardened. He kept pace with us, muttering under his breath, “Hannah, it’s just… Bella likes pink, too. Even if the car isn’t in her name, you can still let her drive it, right? She’s already signed up for driving lessons. She could practice in your car. It’s a win-win.” I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, my expression cold. “Why should I accommodate your sister? Your sister is getting married, your sister likes pink, your sister, your sister, your sister. Am I buying this car, or is she?” He finally seemed to realize he’d pushed too far. He glanced nervously at the salesperson and lowered his voice. “Hannah, I know you’re buying the car. Why do you have to be so aggressive about it? If I had the money to buy Bella a car, I wouldn’t be here begging you.” His voice cracked with emotion. “I’m just a poor student right now. I want to give my sister a meaningful wedding gift, something to give her some clout with her in-laws. Is that so wrong? As my girlfriend, shouldn’t you be considerate of my feelings? Is your love all about taking and never giving?” I was incandescent with rage. “What are you trying to say, Liam?” I asked through gritted teeth. He scoffed. “Nothing.” “Look, if you still consider me your boyfriend, you’ll bring the car to the wedding for Bella. Green, pink, whatever. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled either way.” …Bella this, Bella that. Maybe he should just date his sister and leave me out of it. Fuming, I stormed into the VIP lounge. The saleswoman, sensing the tension, brought me a tray of sweets and urged me not to let a little disagreement spoil the mood. If we weren’t in public, I would have torn into him right then and there. But lending the car out for the wedding wasn’t a huge deal. I told myself to let it go and grudgingly agreed. The change in Liam was instantaneous. The dark cloud over his face vanished. He quickly stepped outside the glass door, which was slightly ajar, and I heard him on the phone, his voice bursting with excitement. “Bella, I’ve got your wedding car sorted! The new Aetherion Lux 8, the $150,000 one! Yeah! Don’t you worry, your big brother will make sure you’re the happiest bride in the world. Anything anyone else has, you’ll have it too!” Picking up the car should have been a joyous occasion. But Liam had sucked all the fun out of it. Since we started dating, his never-before-seen sister had been a constant presence between us, stealing the majority of his attention. After the purchase, Liam left for his part-time job, and I drove back to my dorm alone. On the way, an unknown number called me. I ignored it, but they were persistent. Finally, I answered. It was Liam’s sister, Bella. “Hannah? My brother said you bought a car for me, for my wedding. That’s great. But I’m still short on some outfits and jewelry for the big day. I sent you a list. It’s not much, just under fifteen grand. You can just pay for it, okay? You’re so rich, you wouldn’t want to be stingy and embarrass my brother, would you?” I slammed on the brakes, my blood pressure skyrocketing. I took a deep, steadying breath, then forced a sweet smile into my voice. “Is there a royal throne in your family’s future that I’m not aware of?” She paused, then her voice rose in pitch. “What’s that supposed to mean?” What did it mean? “It means that when God was raining down wisdom, he must have given you an umbrella!” 3 I returned to my dorm, fuming. My roommate, Sophie, noticed my mood and handed me a can of soda. “What’s up? Fight with the boyfriend?” At the word “boyfriend,” my eyes welled up. “Sophie, I think I made a huge mistake. Being with Liam is making me miserable.” Sophie patted my back comfortingly. Then her eyes fell on the car key on my desk. “The Aetherion Lux 8! You got the new car?!” she shrieked. “You can afford a $150,000 car and you’re moping? Let’s go! You’re buying me dinner!” She dragged me out for a fiery hot pot that seared my taste buds. With good food and good company, my mood finally started to lift. I told her everything that had happened with Liam and the car. Sophie was my best friend—sharp-tongued and with a fierce sense of justice. She plopped a perfectly cooked duck foot into my bowl and started her pep talk. “Choosing not to be a gold digger doesn’t mean you have to be a charity case for the poor. Love and money are two separate things, Hannah. You don’t have to mix them. You did nothing wrong.” She scoffed. “You’re just dating, and he already expects you to financially support his family? What happens later? You become their personal ATM just because you’re an only child and they’re poor?” Sophie laughed, a mix of anger and disbelief. “It’s absurd! He lost a little bit of pride, but you almost lost $150,000! Do you know how much overtime we’d have to work after graduation to earn that back?” “You’re right!” The cloud of emo hanging over me finally dissipated. After Liam’s tirades, I had started to feel guilty, wondering if I, as the financially secure one, should have been more tolerant. But Sophie’s words gave me back my confidence. Being poor didn’t give him the right to be an entitled jerk. Sophie and I toasted, and a plan began to form in my mind. Our different backgrounds and ways of thinking were a fundamental conflict. It hadn’t been obvious before because he’d never asked about my family’s finances. Now that his scales were unbalanced, and I was feeling suffocated, it was time for damage control. As for the snarky remark I’d made to Bella about the dowry, Liam called me, furious, demanding an explanation. When I confirmed what I’d said, he spat out a venomous, “You’ve got some nerve, Hannah,” and then ghosted me for a month. Fine by me. I figured it was a mutual, unspoken breakup, saving us the awkward conversation. But a few days before Bella’s wedding, Liam suddenly appeared at my dorm with his mother, Mrs. Evans. She grasped my hands warmly. “Liam told me you prepared so many gifts for Bella, and even arranged for a car for her wedding. You really shouldn’t have spent so much,” she said, her face beaming. “Just having you there is enough. Bella is so lucky to have such a thoughtful sister-in-law. What do you like to eat? I’ll cook for you personally.” Mrs. Evans worked menial jobs in the city. She was a simple, hardworking woman, and I’d always had a good impression of her. But her words left me completely baffled. Liam pulled me aside. “You haven’t forgotten about lending the car for the wedding, have you?” he whispered. “If you make Bella happy tomorrow, we can forget all about our fights. I won’t be mad at you anymore, and we can go back to being a couple. I’ve been busy helping with the wedding this past month… I wasn’t deliberately ignoring you.” A muscle in my cheek twitched. So he wasn’t ghosting me to break up, he was giving me the silent treatment as a punishment? The absolute confidence of this man. Fine. If he wanted me at the wedding so badly, I’d go. I was morbidly curious to see what kind of performance he and his precious sister were planning to put on. 4 8:00 AM. The moment I stepped into Liam’s family home, the bride, decked out in a vibrant red dress, rushed to “greet” me. “Hannah, you came empty-handed? On my wedding day? You’ve got some nerve,” Bella announced loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. “Bella, who’s this?” one of the bridesmaids asked. “She looks so fashionable. A friend of yours?” My Aetherion Lux 8 was parked right outside the door. From the moment I’d arrived, I’d been the subject of stares and whispers. Meeting Bella’s hostile gaze, I offered a faint smile and pulled out an envelope. A bridesmaid snatched it, and the one who opened it let out a shriek. “Wow! A voucher for a masterclass with that celebrity makeup artist! It costs thousands! I’ve always wanted to go!” “Bella, your friend is so good to you! I’m so jealous!” These were clearly Bella’s classmates from makeup school. They passed the voucher around, gushing over it, but Bella didn’t give it a single glance. She tilted her nose in the air and scoffed. “I thought you’d at least give me ten or twenty thousand in cash. For someone with your money, that’s a pretty cheap gift. I really don’t know what my brother sees in you.” I just smiled, refusing to let her get to me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393353”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day we were supposed to get married, Perry Vance jilted me at the altar. A shocked murmur rippled through the guests. One of his friends let out a low, appreciative whistle. “Damn, Perry. Only a Vance could be that ruthless. You win the bet, man. I’ll pay up.” Perry shot a lazy glance in my direction, his voice a study in casual indifference. “If she hadn’t kept threatening to kill herself, I wouldn’t have even bothered with this ridiculous wedding.” I stood frozen on the stage, the pristine white of my dress concealing the river of blood already flowing down my legs. The System’s cold, mechanical voice echoed in my mind. 「Mission failed. Male lead has refused to marry. Host termination sequence initiated. Three… two…」 1 A sticky warmth pooled between my legs; I could feel my life draining out of me with every drop. I bit down on my pale lip, the mocking laughter from the crowd washing over me like a toxic tide, battering my fragile sanity. After a few seconds of stunned silence, I forced back the tears, looking at him with disbelief. “Why? You promised… you promised you’d make me the happiest woman in the world. If I don’t marry you, I’ll actually die.” God knows, saying those words felt like my heart was being torn from my chest. He was the one who had stayed up for three nights straight designing every detail of this wedding. I couldn’t believe it was all just a joke. But Perry only spared me a fleeting glance, his reply light as air. “It’s exhausting, you know? The constant drama. Are you always like this?” he drawled. “We’re all adults here. If you take things so seriously, how is anyone supposed to have any fun?” His lazy tone hit me like a bolt of lightning, shattering the last of my composure. “Perry…” Before I could finish, his friends erupted in derisive laughter, their eyes dripping with contempt. “Haha, don’t you get it? Perry’s been in love with someone else for years—Bianca Sterling. You think a nobody like you could ever compare?” “You were just a bet, sweetheart. We didn’t think someone who acts so high-and-mighty would be so easy to fool.” Their words were knives, twisting in my gut. I started to tremble uncontrollably. Perry frowned but offered no explanation. I clenched my fists, a bitter, self-mocking smile touching my lips. I’d gotten into a car accident in the real world. While I was in a coma, I was inexplicably pulled into this one, forced to complete a “mission”: make Perry Vance fall in love with me. If he married me, I could return to my own world and live. If I failed, I would be punished by bleeding to death. I thought my months of devotion had finally won him over. I never imagined I was the punchline. But somewhere along the way, in this calculated game of seduction, I had truly fallen for him. A sharp cramp seized my abdomen, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. My heart felt like it was being shredded, but the pain was everywhere and nowhere at once, as if a saw was tearing my body apart. The warm liquid gushed faster now, trickling down my legs and staining the inside of my gown, slowly stealing the heat from my body. Suddenly, Perry shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and strode off the stage. 「Host’s life force is rapidly depleting!」 the System’s panicked voice screamed in my head. 「There’s still time! You have to stop him!」 The warning jolted me from my stupor. Ignoring the searing pain, I stumbled after him, my small steps leaving a shocking trail of bloody footprints that no one seemed to notice. “Perry, are you really leaving me?” My voice was thick with unshed tears. Even now, a part of me couldn’t believe that the man who had been so protective, so tender, could abandon me like this. He acted as if he hadn’t heard me. His gaze was fixed, burning with an intensity I’d never seen before, on a delicate figure standing at the entrance of the ballroom. He paused, and then a slow, genuine smile spread across his face. “You finally came,” he said, his voice soft. “I knew you wouldn’t let me marry another woman.” I froze. In that instant, my heart didn’t just break. It shattered. He had orchestrated this entire grand, beautiful wedding for one reason: to make his true love jealous. 2 I watched them embrace as if no one else existed. The guests, my wedding guests, erupted in cheers for them. The pain was a physical thing, a blade twisting in my chest as despair washed over me. Just then, a hotel waitress approached, nervously holding a velvet box with a pair of custom-made rings. “Miss Williams,” she began, her eyes full of pity, “Mr. Vance had these specially made for you.” My gaze fell to the rings, and I shook my head with a bitter laugh. “There must be a mistake. We didn’t order any custom rings.” Besides, a single glance told me they weren’t my size. The hotel did offer a ring customization service. I had begged Perry to get a matching pair with me, but he’d refused, claiming he was allergic to metal. At that moment, the two of them broke their embrace. Perry turned, calmly took the ring box from the waitress, and didn’t spare me a single glance. He walked back to Bianca, dropped to one knee, and slid the ring onto her finger. “Bianca,” he said, his voice ringing with emotion, “I had this made just for you. Will you marry me?” Bianca looked down at the ring, a shy, pleased smile on her face, but she didn’t answer immediately. “Say yes!” someone shouted from the crowd. The chant grew, a wave of voices engulfing the hall. “Say yes! Say yes!” And there I stood, on the edge of the crowd, a ghost in a wedding dress, completely out of place at my own wedding, where my groom was proposing to another woman. Their cheers were like spikes, driving deeper and deeper into my heart. The crowd parted. Bianca, radiant in a simple white dress, walked towards me on Perry’s arm. She moved with an effortless grace I could never hope to imitate. “Miss Williams,” she said, her voice soft and melodious, “on Perry’s behalf, I do apologize. I never imagined he would use such a drastic method to get me to see him.” “We’ve discussed it, and we’d like to offer you financial compensation. Please, don’t refuse.” She held out a check. For five million dollars. Her tone was gentle, but her words were a raw, public humiliation. “Wow, five million just like that. She’s set for life.” “You don’t get it. Some girls look all innocent, but they’re masterminds.” “I heard she chased after Perry relentlessly.” The whispers were the final straw. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the crimson drops on the floor. I couldn’t stand anymore. I clutched my chest, my vision blurring as the pain threatened to swallow me whole. “Was this your idea?” I managed to ask, my voice a raw, broken rasp, looking up at him. Don’t people like them understand that a human heart has value? Perry’s gaze flickered to my ashen face, his lips parting as if to speak, but he said nothing. The crowd’s murmurs had turned into outright hostility. They were shouting at me, the “homewrecker,” to get out. They were sycophants, eager to curry favor with the powerful. To please Bianca, some of them even started to push me. I was shoved back and forth until my head slammed against the wall with a dull thud. I sagged, using the wall to stay upright, my face contorted in agony. “Stop it!” Perry roared. His eyes locked onto my colorless face. “Are you alright?” At his side, Bianca’s brow furrowed. She shot me a venomous glare and tugged on his sleeve. It was as if her touch broke a spell. Perry forced his gaze away from me. “Go wait outside,” he said, not looking at me. “I’ll take you home later.” That flicker of concern, however fleeting, was enough to give me a sliver of strength. The fog of pain receded slightly. I glanced at his unreadable expression, then turned and stumbled out of the hall. “Miss Williams!” The waitress who had brought the rings was the first to see the bloody trail I’d left behind. She screamed. I looked back at her and shook my head, a helpless, bitter smile on my face. The blood was real, but there were no visible wounds. If Perry found out now, he would just accuse me of faking it. I couldn’t bear another ounce of humiliation. For the first time, I disobeyed him. I left on my own. I went back to my apartment, lay down on my bed, and quietly waited to die. When I opened my eyes again, it had been two days. To my surprise, I was still alive. My body was incredibly weak, but the bleeding had stopped. I immediately summoned the System. 「Unknown,」 it replied, its mechanical voice tinged with confusion. 「Mission failure was confirmed. By all logic, you should have expired on the wedding night. However, the Host’s life force has stabilized at 0.1 percent and is no longer declining.」 We concluded it must be a bug in the system. Not knowing when I might suddenly drop dead, I dragged myself to my office to resign. The moment I walked in, I was met with a wall of thinly veiled contempt. “I thought she said she’d die. Looks like she’s doing just fine to me.” “Pathetic. Trying to threaten Perry Vance with death.” A lump formed in my throat. I finished my handover in a daze and fled the building. When I got back to my apartment, I found a tall, familiar figure waiting at my door. 3 The second he saw me, his expression turned to ice. He lunged forward, his fingers clamping around my wrist like a vice. “Why didn’t you wait for me that night?” he roared, his voice so loud it made my ears ring. “Why didn’t you answer your phone? I found a pool of blood at the venue. I’ve been looking for you like a madman!” “I thought… I thought you…” As he got closer, I saw that his eyes were bloodshot, filled with a raw, undeniable worry. I stared at him, my heart pounding. A wild, impossible thought began to bloom in the back of my mind. “You…?” I whispered. In an instant, the storm of emotion in his eyes vanished, replaced by his usual cold composure. He looked me up and down, then released my wrist with a sneer. “Weren’t you supposed to be dead if we didn’t get married?” I rubbed my bruised wrist, my gaze darkening with self-pity. “I didn’t know you were looking for me. My phone died.” “Sorry to disappoint you by not dying,” I added, a sharp, bitter edge to my voice. He flinched, as if I’d struck him. A complex mix of emotions warred on his face. “That’s not what I meant.” 「System detects male lead is showing concern for Host!」 the System chirped excitedly in my head. 「Try again! Push him!」 A flicker of hope ignited within me. I decided to try. “Perry,” I said, my voice trembling with desperate hope, “I wasn’t lying. I really am dying.” “Can we please… can we have another wedding? Even if it’s just for show. I promise I’ll disappear from your life forever after.” The System had never said we had to be a real husband and wife. I was looking for a loophole, begging for just the ceremony. “Alright.” He only hesitated for a second before agreeing. I was stunned. This time, we planned a simple ceremony at a chapel, with no guests. But I waited from morning until the dead of night, and Perry never showed. He didn’t answer his phone. I sat alone on the chapel steps in my wedding dress, staring up at the stars as silent tears traced paths down my cheeks. I couldn’t understand. If it was all just a bet, he never had to go that far. When I was sick, he had abandoned a billion-dollar project and flown for twenty hours on the first international flight just to see me. When he fed me, he’d always cup his hand under my chin to catch any spills, despite his obsession with cleanliness. I wiped my tears and unlocked my phone to try calling him again. That’s when a headline caught my eye: “City’s Top Heir, Perry Vance, Engaged to Bianca Sterling.” My hand trembled as I clicked on the link. My world imploded. He and Bianca had gotten engaged. Today. He had promised me… A familiar, searing pain ripped through my body as the bleeding started again, more violently this time. I curled into a ball on the cold stone, feeling my life ebb away. A tidal wave of resentment and hatred surged through me, wild and uncontrollable. The System’s voice echoed, filled with something like regret. 「Male lead is now engaged to another. Host termination sequence will commence. Three… two…」 “Wait,” I begged. “Can you… can you let me die in front of him?” 4 The System paused. 「I have set a new program for you to die in the male lead’s presence. However, due to the alteration of game rules, the system is now unstable. I cannot predict the exact time of your death.」 I nodded. As long as I could die in front of him, it didn’t matter when. My wedding dress was soaked in blood. I walked, step by agonizing step, to the hotel where they held their engagement party. I arrived just as they were leaving. “What are you doing here dressed like that?” Perry hissed, rushing towards me. “Get out of here before Bianca sees you.” “And don’t try that ‘I’m dying’ trick again. I’m busy tonight. Go home.” He glanced at my blood-soaked dress, his eyes filled with disgust. He thought it was all an act. A bitter taste filled my mouth. I looked past him and saw Bianca’s pale, drawn face. She looked like she was recovering from a serious illness. A team of medical staff followed her. But I didn’t have the energy to care about anyone else’s problems. I fixed my gaze on his annoyed face. “Why didn’t you come?” I asked, my voice hollow. He heard Bianca’s footsteps approaching and his impatience grew, his expression darkening. “Are you a child?” he snapped. “What kind of nonsense is ‘I’ll die if we don’t get married’?” “Do you look like you’re dying? I felt guilty, that’s the only reason I agreed to indulge you. Something important came up today. Couldn’t it wait?” By then, Bianca had reached us. Perry’s expression softened instantly as he gently took her arm. “Why did you come out? I was just about to clear things up with her,” he chided softly. Seeing his tender care for her, I finally understood. His affection for me had never been unique. Bianca glanced at my attire, a smirk playing on her lips. “I was just worried you’d be too harsh and scare the poor girl,” she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. “She’s not from our world. One’s pride can be so fragile.” “Miss Williams, that check was terribly crass of us. My apologies. Please, think about what you’d like as proper compensation and contact my assistant.” She pressed a business card into my hand, her voice devoid of any real sincerity. I crumpled the card in my fist, then let it flutter to the ground, a perfect mirror of my shattered heart. I had given him my soul, and he had crushed it and handed it back to me. A flicker of pity crossed Perry’s face, but it was gone in a flash. They said nothing more and got into their car. As I watched them drive away, a pain so intense it felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest radiated through my body. I couldn’t stand. It was an agony that invaded every cell, threatening to tear me in two. I panicked, calling out to the System in my mind. 「Host, changing the game rules has a series of unknown consequences. The corresponding punishments are multiplied.」 I regretted it. My desire to make him feel remorse had only brought all the suffering back onto me. It wasn’t worth it. “She’s bleeding! Oh my God, she’s bleeding everywhere!” someone screamed. The cry was piercingly loud in the quiet night. My consciousness was fading, my vision blurring. I heard the screech of tires. A car door flew open. I heard Bianca’s frantic, angry shout. “Perry, come back! Where are you going?” The sound of urgent footsteps grew closer, ignoring her cries. The last thing I saw was Perry’s face, twisted in a mask of pure, unadulterated horror.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393372”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 On the eve of the speed skating finals, my boyfriend, to secure a spot on the national team for his childhood sweetheart, broke my leg. He’d done it before. He once locked me in a bathroom so I’d miss the initial team tryouts. When I finally arrived, breathless and frantic, the selection was over. “You’re a natural talent,” he’d said with infuriating nonchalance. “What’s one more year?” Now, it was the Winter Olympics. His precious sweetheart, Hailey, needed a chance to shine, to make a name for herself in the relay. So he decided to create one for her. By shattering my future. … A fierce wind howled across the hospital rooftop. I was surrounded, trapped. “Barry, please,” I begged, my voice swallowed by the gale. “Let me go. The finals are tomorrow. My legs… I can’t get hurt.” I was on my knees, pleading with the man I loved. My parents died when I was young, leaving me with my grandmother. She had been a speed skater, a rising star whose career was cut short by injury. Her dream, the one she never achieved, was to win a gold medal for our country. She saw her dream reborn in me. I had her talent, her passion for the ice. She poured everything she had into my training, shaping me into a short-track speed skater. Now, even with her own health failing, she never missed a single one of my races. It felt like fate, like the universe was rewarding her devotion. I excelled on the ice, surpassing even her own legacy. The national team had been in a slump, but my arrival reignited the nation’s hope. I was the favorite to win gold. Tomorrow’s final wasn’t just a race. It was everything. I couldn’t bear the weight of a nation’s disappointment. Even more, I couldn’t bear to see my grandmother’s dream die with me. And now, my boyfriend, Barry, was about to break my leg so his childhood sweetheart, Hailey, could take my spot in the relay. Even though it meant I would miss the individual finals, too. Barry’s expression was unreadable. He looked at me with a sort of weary patience, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. “Anita, don’t be like this,” he said, his voice maddeningly calm. “With you in the lineup, how is Hailey ever supposed to get her moment in the spotlight?” “You’re a prodigy. Winning gold a few years from now won’t make a difference for you. But Hailey’s not like you. She’s been waiting four years for this. An athlete’s career is short. She needs this chance.” I stared at him, my mind reeling. The absurdity of his words was a physical blow. An athlete’s peak is fleeting. No one, not even a prodigy, can stay at the top forever. Her four years were precious, but mine weren’t? My mind raced, searching for an escape. As Barry raised the hammer he was holding, a desperate idea struck me. “Barry, wait! Listen to me!” I cried out. “If you want Hailey in the relay, I can do it! I’ll tell the coach I need to focus on the individual final. I’ll withdraw. She can take my place!” Tears streamed down my face as I looked at him, my voice thick with sincerity. He hesitated, the hammer lowering slightly. A flicker of hope ignited in my chest. “The roster isn’t set yet! We can still change it!” I pressed on. “All I want is the final tomorrow. I’ll even retire after the race, I swear. You know I always keep my word, Barry. Please, just let me go.” He was wavering. The hammer was almost down. Then, Hailey appeared at the rooftop entrance. “Barry, are you done yet?” she whined, her voice laced with impatience. “I need to get back and rest. I have to be in top form.” He didn’t even flinch at her tone. Her presence was all it took. The hammer in his hand rose again. “I can’t risk it, Anita,” he said, his voice hardening. “Hailey’s mother was very good to me. I owe it to her to help Hailey achieve her dream.” His eyes met mine, a flicker of something that might have been regret, or maybe just pity. “It’s okay, babe. Even if your leg is too injured to skate again, it doesn’t matter. I’ll take care of you.” He nodded to the two burly men standing behind me. They grabbed my arms. “To make her dream come true, you have to break my leg?” I screamed, struggling against their grip. “Hailey, you’re a coward! You can’t win on your own, so you resort to this! And you, Barry… I hate you!” 2 I kicked and thrashed, trying to keep them away from my legs, trying to give Barry no clear shot. But I was a fish on a chopping block. It was useless. My resistance only hardened his resolve. More men came forward, pinning me down until I couldn’t move. Someone tried to cover my mouth. “Don’t you dare touch her like that!” Barry snapped. Then his voice softened as he looked down at me. “Don’t be scared, Anita. This will be quick.” He was right. It was quick. Before I could even process it, a bolt of white-hot agony shot from my leg to my brain. “Aaargh!” I screamed. As the men released me and I crumpled, clutching my shattered leg, Hailey’s voice floated down, light and airy. “Is that really enough? Anita is so tough. What if she gets a cortisone shot tomorrow and skates through the pain?” My vision swam with red. I glared at her, my hatred a physical force. An injury like this… a cortisone shot would do nothing. She had to know that. She didn’t just want me out of the race. She wanted me off the ice. Forever. But Barry didn’t know that. Or maybe he just didn’t care. “Then we’ll break it,” he said. Hailey widened her eyes, a perfect picture of innocence. “Oh, but won’t that hurt her terribly?” He waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine. A clean break, and there’s no way she can compete. Besides,” he added, “even if she can never skate again, my family can afford to support her.” Hailey looked down at me, a smirk twisting her lips. “Well then, thank you, Barry.” And with that, she turned and left. She couldn’t be seen here. If I was found injured, she needed to have an alibi. Barry knelt beside me. “Don’t worry, babe,” he whispered, his voice a gentle caress. “I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.” His words were a terrifying promise. The men lifted my leg, holding it steady. Barry raised the hammer high. He met my terrified gaze and brought it down. Hard. “Aaaaaaaargh!” The scream was torn from my throat, raw and primal. My leg was broken. Utterly, completely broken. I stared at the grotesque angle of my right leg and my world shattered. It was over. A decade of blood, sweat, and tears. My grandmother’s lifelong dream. The hopes of my team, my country. All of it, gone. Hot tears streamed down my face, mixing with the dirt and grime. I was a broken, pathetic mess on the cold concrete. A flicker of something—pity? regret?—crossed Barry’s face. He moved to pull me into his arms. I closed my eyes, unable to bear the sight of him. His voice, when it came, was a masterpiece of delusion. “Just forgive me this one time, babe. I know it’s not fair, but Hailey’s mom saved my life. I’m just repaying a debt. And if it wasn’t for her, I never would have met you. So, in a way, you owe her, too.” I summoned every last ounce of strength and shoved him away. My eyes, burning with hatred, met his. “Barry,” I rasped, “why didn’t you just die back then?” I was a cornered animal, and he was finally scared. He scrambled back, a flicker of panic in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a dark anger. “Anita, I only broke your leg. How can you say something so cruel?” He grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. A slow, terrible smile spread across his lips. “I get it. You’re jealous. You’re jealous of how much I care about Hailey.” He laughed. “Don’t worry, babe. You’re the only one I love. After Hailey’s race, we’ll get married. Just… don’t bring your dying grandmother to live with us. It would be bad luck.” I stared at him, revulsion churning in my stomach. What kind of monster could say such things? He was insane. “In your dreams,” I spat, my voice dripping with venom. “Barry, you and I are done. Forever. I’m breaking up with you.” 3 The moment he realized I was serious, his face twisted into a terrifying mask of rage. His hands closed around my neck. I couldn’t breathe. Black spots danced in my vision. Just as I was about to pass out, his bodyguards pulled him off. Damaging me was one thing; murder was a line even the powerful Sterling family wouldn’t cross. I collapsed to the ground, listening to him rant about how ungrateful I was, how I didn’t appreciate him. We had met on the ice, late one night. Hailey, consumed with jealousy, had made my training a living hell, constantly trying to sabotage me. The other skaters, intimidated by Barry’s family, looked the other way. One night, she stole the key to the rink. The arena was kept at freezing temperatures, even when closed. I always stayed late to practice. She had planned to lock me in overnight. But my grandmother had taken a turn for the worse that day, and I left early to be with her at the hospital. Hailey didn’t know. She ended up locking Barry inside instead, who had come looking for her. When I realized my key was missing, I went back to the rink and found him, shivering and on the verge of hypothermia. After that, he pursued me relentlessly. Flowers, romantic dinners, declarations of love. With him by my side, the bullying stopped. Eventually, I gave in. For the first two years, we were inseparable. The way he looked at me… it was like I was the only person in the world. But that was before Hailey and I moved up to the senior division. On my birthday, he took Hailey to see the Northern Lights. When I was injured, he spent his days shopping with her, carrying her bags. I tried to break up with him. He fell to his knees, begging me. “Babe, her mother died saving my life. I have to be good to her. But it’s just a debt. I see her as a sister. You’re the one I want to spend my life with.” Perhaps because I had also lost my mother, or perhaps because he threatened to kill himself, I gave him another chance. He betrayed me again. For the national team qualifiers, he tricked me and locked me in a bathroom. When I confronted him, he was dismissive. “You’re a prodigy. So what if you have to wait a year? Even if you don’t make it, I can support you.” Because I was absent, Hailey snagged the last spot on the team. I was so exceptional that year, however, that the committee made a special exception and recruited me anyway. But that didn’t change what he had done. I tried to end it for good. But then my grandmother’s heart condition worsened. He used her to blackmail me. “Babe, where are you going to get the money for her treatment on your own? The best cardiac surgeons in the country all work for my family’s hospitals. If you break up with me, do you think they’ll still treat her?” So I stayed. And it all led to this. Lying on the rooftop, the wind biting at my skin, I felt a coldness that reminded me of that first night at the rink. A bitter smile twisted my lips. My voice was flat, devoid of all emotion. “Barry, I should have let you freeze to death.” He roared with rage. “What did you just say?” But the pain and exhaustion were a relentless assault. My vision blurred. The world went black. When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital room. Barry was by my side. He saw I was awake and immediately dropped his phone, grabbing my hand. I looked at him, but his gaze darted away. He couldn’t meet my eyes. He wouldn’t look like this just because he’d broken my leg. A terrible, sickening suspicion began to form in my mind. “Where is my grandmother?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393388”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 When I gave up my spot as the team’s main carry for her old flame, my girlfriend, Adeline, saw how compliant I was. My reward? She moved our wedding date forward. But there, at the altar, her old flame held a dagger to his own skin, his eyes wild with jealousy. “Addie, I’m begging you, don’t marry him!” My fiancée, normally so cool and composed, completely lost her composure. She turned to me, her voice trembling as she pleaded with me to save Adam’s life. Every guest in the hall was staring, savoring my humiliation. But I didn’t raise my voice, didn’t cause a scene. I simply ceded my place as the groom. Seeing me so accommodating, just like always, her eyes welled up. “I promise, this is the last time I’ll put you through this,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “As soon as the wedding is over, we’ll go get our marriage license.” She’d forgotten. This was the 96th time she had hurt me. And I had no intention of continuing this life with her. I was just waiting for the last three promises to be fulfilled. Once the debt for her saving my grandmother’s life was paid, I would walk away and never look back. “He just stepped down, just like that. Pathetic.” “What else could he do? He was always just Adam’s stand-in. Now things are just going back to the way they should be.” “Look at them. They’re the ones who are truly meant for each other.” I followed their gaze to the stage. Adeline and Adam stood side-by-side, their fingers intertwined. A perfect couple, a match made in heaven. But the ceremony didn’t begin. Instead, staff members began to walk onto the stage, replacing the placards and signs. They even handed out new invitations to every guest. I received one, too. I opened it. The bride’s name was still Adeline. But the groom’s name had been changed to Adam. Adeline saw it all. She knew Adam’s little suicide attempt was just a dramatic play for attention, yet she still shot him a look of fond exasperation. “Adam, you’re being so childish. Don’t you ever do that again. What if you’d actually gotten hurt?” Her world revolved around whether or not he might get hurt. She’d completely forgotten that this wedding, this day, was supposed to be my reward for sacrificing my entire career. She had no idea that marrying her was the one wish I wrote down every single year on my birthday, a wish sealed in a glass bottle, a wish I never dared to show her. Only when every trace of me had been scrubbed from the venue did the ceremony finally begin. But when it came time to exchange the rings, Adam hesitated. After Adeline prompted him several times, he finally spoke, his voice meek and hesitant. “I’ve been sick for so many years… I don’t have many friends left. I was hoping… I was hoping Captain Liam could be my best man. But I was afraid to ask, afraid it would be rude.” Every eye in the room turned to me. I looked at Adeline. My wedding had been stolen from me. I was already the butt of every joke, the subject of every gossiping whisper. Would she really have the heart to make me stand on that stage and watch her marry another man? Seeing the once-bright young man she’d loved now so timid and careful, Adeline’s eyes softened. She looked at me, her gaze filled with a silent plea. “Liam… you already gave up the wedding. Being the best man… you wouldn’t refuse that, would you?” I’d almost forgotten. Adam had faked his own death and disappeared at the peak of their love affair. Adeline had only chosen me, his look-alike, because she could never forget him. And now, her long-lost love had returned. How could I have been so foolish as to imagine she might still hold a shred of affection for me? I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth. “Does this count as one of the things I do for you?” I asked. Adeline’s brow furrowed in annoyance, as if she were trying to recall something important but couldn’t quite grasp it. She was about to ask, but seeing Adam looking on the verge of tears, she gave up. “Yes,” she said. “It counts.” I nodded. “Fine. I’ll do it.” A long time ago, my grandmother, the only family I had left, was dying. Adeline had descended like an angel, hiring the world’s top doctors, arranging the most expensive private room. Because of her, my grandmother got one more year of life, a year she lived happily before passing away in peace. On the day she died, I asked Adeline how I could ever repay such a debt. Her gaze had lingered on my face. “Just stay by my side. That’s enough.” I knew then she was looking through me, at someone else. “There has to be a time limit, Ms. Croft.” “Call me Adeline,” she’d corrected, pushing down the sorrow in her eyes. “A time limit? Then let’s say… you do ninety-nine things for me, no questions asked. Or, after I’ve hurt you ninety-nine times. Then the debt will be paid.” She’d forgotten all of that. But it didn’t matter anymore. This was number 97. Only two more to go, and she and I would be even. I took a deep breath and started walking toward the stage. As I passed their wedding cake, a towering, multi-layered confection, I saw Adam flash a strange, cruel smile. I was still wondering what it meant when a powerful force shoved me from behind. My body pitched forward, out of control. I crashed into the cake trolley, sending it toppling over. The magnificent cake was flattened beneath me, and my knee slammed hard against the metal frame. A wave of searing pain shot through my leg. The guests gasped in unison. On the stage, Adam let out a theatrical sigh. “Captain, if you didn’t want to be the best man, you could have just said so. There was no need to fake a fall and ruin the cake I spent so much time planning.” The guests behind me had seen the whole thing, but they joined in the mockery anyway. “Captain Liam, stick to what you know. Don’t embarrass yourself with such a clumsy performance.” Adeline had started to move toward me, worried I was hurt, but hearing that, her expression hardened with disappointment. “Your clothes are ruined. Go change.” Adam looped his arm through hers. “It’s fine, Addie. I don’t mind little details like this. Let’s not delay the ceremony.” Adeline seemed about to say more, but seeing that I was already back on my feet and on the stage, she fell silent. I limped toward the center of the altar. Adeline noticed, a flicker of concern in her eyes. “What happened to your leg?” Beside her, Adam shrugged. “Poor form, Captain. If you wanted to fake an injury, you should have gone for your championship-winning hand. That would have gotten more of Addie’s sympathy.” He leaned in closer. “Try that next time.” A flash of anger crossed Adeline’s face. She wanted to reprimand him, but with so many people watching, she just lowered her voice to a hiss. “Cut it out with your petty games. Stop embarrassing yourself. We’ll talk about this when we get home.” I smiled, a bitter, hollow thing. The entire hall was filled with sycophants. When I was at the top of my game, they bowed and scraped before me. Now that Adam was the favored one, they were all terrified of him, desperate to distance themselves from me by kicking me while I was down. With them on his side, and with Adeline’s blatant favoritism, anything I said would be useless. Thankfully, Adam behaved for the rest of the ceremony. As the guests began to disperse, I prepared to leave as well. But Adam’s voice stopped me. “Captain, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. You know what happens on the wedding night. We’ll still be needing our best man.” My fists clenched instinctively. I looked at Adeline. She arched an eyebrow and, for once, actually scolded him. “That’s enough, Adam. Stop talking nonsense and go wait in the car.” After he’d gone, she turned to me. “Don’t listen to him. It’s just a get-together with some old friends tonight.” She glanced at my injured leg. “You’re hurt. I won’t take you with me. Go home and get some rest.” “We have a long life ahead of us,” she added, her voice softening slightly. “I’ll take you next time.” She turned and walked away. She had no idea. As soon as the debt was paid, I was leaving. There was no “next time” for us. There was no “us” anymore. 2 She arranged for a driver to take me home. When I rolled up my pant leg, my knee was already a swollen, dark purple bruise. As I was applying ointment, a delivery arrived—gifts from Adeline. One was a limited-edition collaboration watch. The other was the key to a brand-new Porsche. She had sent a note, specifying that the first was compensation for giving up my wedding, and the second was an apology for forcing me to be the best man. I carried them, my face a blank mask, to the collection room. There, I placed them into the glass display cases marked with the numbers 96 and 97. A maid, holding a tray, looked on with envy. “Ms. Croft’s gifts get more and more extravagant. She must truly love you to the bone.” I just smiled and said nothing. She didn’t know that these were not gifts of love. They were reparations. One for every time Adeline had hurt me. I looked at the wall of glass cases. Only two remained empty. I knew the day of my departure was coming soon. I went to my room to pack a few personal documents. I didn’t want to take a single thing she had given me. All I wanted was the one thing my grandmother had left for me. Even though I was the one marrying into her wealthy family, my grandmother had worried that Adeline would feel slighted. Without telling me, she had taken her own heirloom gold bracelet, her most precious possession, and had it melted down and crafted into a pair of earrings and a pair of wedding rings. The earrings and Adeline’s ring were Grandma’s gifts to her. All I wanted to take with me was my ring. A few days ago, Adeline had borrowed it from me for some reason. She must have forgotten to return it and tossed it into her jewelry box. But I searched through every drawer and compartment. The box was overflowing with glittering gems and precious metals, but my small, simple ring was nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to ask a maid, Adeline returned, with Adam in tow. She had brought me dinner. Not leftovers, but a meal prepared just for me, filled with all my favorite dishes. She was always so meticulous about these small things, gestures that had once fooled me into thinking she might actually love me. I ignored the food. “Where’s my ring?” Adam spoke first, holding up his hand to show me a heavy gold signet ring. “Captain, you mean the wedding ring, right? I saw how Addie never takes her gold ring off, so I got curious and borrowed the other one from her to play with.” He smiled, a disarmingly charming expression. “I’ve already had them both melted down to make this signet ring. I’m so sorry, I acted on my own and didn’t tell you. How much was it? I’ll pay you for it.” A sharp pain lanced through my chest. “Adeline,” I choked out, “that was our wedding ring!” Adeline paused. She picked up her chopsticks, selected a piece of my favorite dish, and held it to my lips. “Try this. It’s just a formality, Liam. If you want a new ring, I’ll buy you any one you want.” She had forgotten. It was the last piece of my grandmother I had left. It was irreplaceable. I turned my head away from the food. “No, thank you,” I said, my voice cold. “I don’t need one.” Adam’s face crumpled, his voice thick with emotion as he slipped the signet ring off his finger. “Captain, it’s all my fault. I had a sudden episode… I just had to have the rings melted down. Please, don’t blame Addie.” He looked ready to weep. “If I’ve damaged your relationship, I… I might as well just die.” But Adeline wasn’t short on money. Adam knew how important that ring was to me. He had done this on purpose. And yet, Adeline was completely blind to his manipulations. She had been about to apologize to me, but the sight of Adam’s emotional breakdown made her slam her chopsticks down on the table. She rushed to his side, her voice soothing. “It’s just a pair of stupid rings. I was worried that making them into a signet ring for you wasn’t good enough. You have nothing to apologize for.” Adam pointed a trembling finger at my retreating back. “But… what about the Captain?” “Don’t worry,” I heard her say as I walked up the stairs. “I’ll make it up to him.” I closed my bedroom door behind me, shutting out their voices. My parents died when I was young. My grandmother raised me. And now, I couldn’t even protect the last memento she had left me. Perhaps this was her way of telling me, from beyond the grave, that this twisted love affair had to end. I pulled a folded piece of paper from a notebook. It was covered in a grid of numbers. At the end of the list, I wrote down the number 98. I didn’t hear her approach. Adeline had entered the room without a sound. Before I could hide it, she snatched the paper from my hand. She stared at it, her brow furrowing deeply, a profound sense of unease rising within her. “What is this? What are you writing?” 3 I quickly snatched the paper back. “It’s nothing. Just doodling.” My unusually defensive reaction surprised her. Then, a memory seemed to surface. “You’re still thinking about that, aren’t you? That time we tried to win that stuffed animal and failed like twenty times.” She was talking about a day we’d spent at a street fair. She’d taken a sudden liking to a doll at a game booth. The challenge was to write the numbers 1 to 100 without a single mistake. I tried over and over, but I could never manage it. We left empty-handed. Since she had misunderstood, I saw no reason to correct her. I just nodded vaguely. The memory of that rare, happy moment brought a smile to her glacial face. “It was just a doll, Liam. It’s not like I can’t afford to buy one. Don’t take it so seriously. Now, come and see the gift I got for you.” She snapped her fingers. A moment later, several men entered, carrying a massive, solid gold trophy. “Liam,” she said, her voice soft, “may you win another championship next season.” She paused. “I’m sorry about the ring. Think of this trophy as my apology.” Everyone in the room stared at the trophy with wide, envious eyes. My reaction was flat. “Put it in the collection room.” Adeline looked taken aback by my lack of enthusiasm. “Isn’t this what you want? All of this?” She gestured around the opulent room. “This trophy is worth enough to buy a mansion. Why aren’t you happy?” I looked up at her, a wave of disappointment washing over me. So that’s what she thought. That I was only with her for her money. No wonder her gifts had become more and more extravagant. If she had paid even the slightest bit of attention, she would have realized that I had never used, worn, or touched a single thing she had given me. Some people might love a life of gilded luxury. All I ever wanted was to be with the person I loved. Adeline waited, but I gave her no satisfactory answer. Finally, she stomped her foot in frustration and stormed out, taking Adam with her. They didn’t come home all night. All through the night, Adam sent me a relentless stream of photos and videos, flaunting their time together, taunting me. I put my phone on silent and slept soundly. The next morning, Adeline sent me a single, cold message with an address, summoning me. She hadn’t come home, and I, for the first time, hadn’t gone looking for her. She must have been furious. I knew this was a trap, but I also knew it was the last time. After this, I would finally be free. I didn’t hesitate. I called a cab and went. The location she’d chosen was desolate and remote, far from the noise of the city. When I arrived, she was nowhere in sight. I was about to call her when Adam appeared, flanked by a group of men in black suits. “Don’t bother looking,” he said with a smirk. “I’m the one who asked you here.” I raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling creeping over me. “What is this?” “It’s not just the main carry position,” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “I want the captain’s title, too.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393405”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After the angel-demon war, my sister’s husband returned safely—but mine died in battle. Everyone pitied me. But I knew: The survivor wasn’t my brother-in-law. It was my husband Damon. Identical twins. Equal power. No one suspected. “Celeste,” Damon whispered, “This is for the realm. My brother was the Dragon Prince. His death would start a civil war. And your sister… she’s too fragile. I’m just comforting her—for now.” “When it’s safe,” he vowed, “I’ll return to you.” I believed him—until he sentenced me to death for “conspiring with demons.” As the blades fell, I saw him embrace my sister. Then I woke up. Back to the victory day when Damon first betrayed me. This time, I remarried instantly. He never knew: By abandoning me, he lost his only path to the Dragon Clan. … “Phoebe, Damon… he fell in battle!” The phantom agony of a thousand cuts made my body tremble. When I opened my eyes again, those were the first words I heard. The speaker was the Dragon King. He had only two sons. One was the crown prince, who had married my sister, making her the princess. The other was my husband, Damon. Now, the Dragon King, a man who by all rights should be dead and gone in my memory, sat upon his throne, gazing at the coffin before him, his face a mask of grief. But I couldn’t suppress the wild joy surging through me. I was reborn! Before I could speak, my sister’s voice cut in from beside me. “Little sister, I know you’re heartbroken. If you need to cry, just let it out.” She looked down at me, her expression one of pity, but her perfectly applied makeup was unblemished by tears. I looked up, my gaze passing over her to the man standing at her side. No, that wasn’t my brother-in-law. My brother-in-law was already lying in that coffin. The man before me was my husband, Damon. The man who should have been holding me close was now holding my sister’s hand, their fingers intertwined. He noticed my stare and turned to me, his eyes wide with feigned surprise. I scoffed inwardly. Damon’s acting was as superb as ever. In my past life, though I’d sensed something was wrong, it had taken me a long time to gather the proof I needed to confirm that the man beside my sister was, in fact, Damon. But this time, I saw right through him. A wail of grief tore through the hall. “My son, oh, my son!” The Dragon Queen threw herself onto the coffin, huge tears rolling down her cheeks. She then pointed a trembling finger at me. “It was you! You jinxed him! You, you cursed my son to death!” The Queen and I had never gotten along. She thought I wasn’t demure enough, not graceful enough to be worthy of her son. I had once worried about her disapproval. Damon had sworn to me, “If my mother ever gives you trouble, I will always, always take your side.” Smack! The Queen slapped me hard across the face. Still not satisfied, she raised her hand again. The King, jolted from his grief, quickly ordered the guards to intervene. “That’s enough!” The hall descended into chaos. Through it all, Damon stood silently to one side, holding my sister’s hand. He even seemed worried the commotion might frighten her. He pulled a shimmering aquamarine stone from his pocket and presented it to her like a precious treasure, whispering soothingly, “Serena, my love, I got this just for you.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. The phoenix clan is born of fire, yet I had always yearned for an aquamarine. In my last life, I had begged Damon to bring one back for me. He promised he would, but it never arrived. So, it wasn’t that he hadn’t found one. It was that the gift was never intended for me. Even though my sister had no need for it. Even though he had once promised to always protect me, yet now stood by and did nothing. Sensing my gaze, my sister, Serena, shifted uncomfortably, moving to block my view of Damon. “Little sister,” she chided, “why are you staring at my husband like that? Father is speaking to you.” The Dragon King spoke, his voice weary. “Phoebe, according to our customs, when one spouse dies in battle, the other must remain a widow for a hundred years.” He sighed. “I will not force you. I only wish to know your plans.” I shook my head. “I choose the second path. I will remarry.” A dead silence fell over the hall. Everyone stared at me in disbelief. Damon was the first to speak. “Absurd! Phoebe, how can you marry another?” Now, the King and my sister also sensed something was amiss. The King, though puzzled, spoke tactfully. “Caelus, this is your sister-in-law’s private matter. The decision should be hers alone.” Damon was silenced, able to do nothing but glower at me. My sister was even more agitated than he was. She took a step forward, her eyes filled with condemnation. “Phoebe, your husband has just died! His body isn’t even cold, and you’re not mourning him, you’re demanding to remarry? If word of this gets out, do you want everyone to think the Phoenix Clan is as heartless and disloyal as you?” The Queen’s glare was venomous. “If Damon hadn’t insisted on marrying you, I would never have allowed a venomous creature like you into this family!” I answered calmly, “If Damon loved me as much as you say, he wouldn’t want me to waste my life away as a widow.” “I will remarry!” I declared again. Damon started to speak, “You—” The King cut him off. “Enough. Since Phoebe’s mind is made up, we will respect her wishes. However, the pact between the Dragon and Phoenix clans stands. You may remarry, Phoebe, but you must choose a suitor from the Dragon Clan.” I turned to face the vast crowd of dragons and called out, my voice ringing through the hall, “Is there anyone here who will marry me?” No one stepped forward. Some looked like they wanted to, but were pulled back by their families. Others met my gaze and shied away as if they’d seen a viper. I felt a wave of despair. Heaven had only given me two paths: widowhood or remarriage. Was my fate truly unchangeable? Damon, seeing my predicament, couldn’t resist a sneer. “Phoebe, no one would dare marry a faithless woman like you. You’d better resign yourself to being a widow.” His voice was laced with smug certainty, and it made my stomach turn. Just then, a figure descended from the sky. “I will!” I looked up to see a man I recognized as Xylos, the Dragon Clan’s legendary Warlord. He had a fearsome reputation as a god of slaughter, yet now he was kneeling on one knee before the King. “Your Majesty, I am willing to marry Phoebe.” Damon’s eyes blazed with fury. “Xylos, what business is this of yours? Let me give you a friendly warning. My brother is barely dead, and Phoebe is already desperate to remarry. Are you sure you want to take a woman like that into your home? Aren’t you afraid she’ll curse you to death too?” Xylos stepped in front of me, his brow furrowed. “Your Highness, Phoebe is your sister-by-law. Instead of protecting her, you’re slandering her.” “I’m speaking the truth,” Damon retorted. Xylos ignored him and turned to me. “Phoebe, will you marry me? I will be loyal to you for all eternity. I will stay by your side. Let the heavens be my witness. If I break this vow, may my soul be annihilated!” My heart trembled. I saw nothing but unwavering resolve in his eyes. I couldn’t help but nod. “Yes.” With things settled, Damon had no more reason to object. Xylos and I performed the bonding ritual on the spot. The King, seeing the matter concluded, waved a tired hand at me. “Go.” He then announced to the assembly, “I am old, and I have lost a son. I no longer have the strength to be king. Three days from now, I will pass the throne to Caelus.” Caelus was my brother-in-law’s name, the name Damon had stolen. I pondered this. In my past life, the King never abdicated, not even up to the day I was executed by Damon. Why was it happening so much earlier this time? Before I could think further, Damon passed by me in the departing crowd. I heard him hiss, “You bitch. You’ll regret this.” That night, I moved from Damon’s palace to Xylos’s domain. The servants’ gossip followed me. “The Warlord is perfect in every way, except for his taste in women.” “The second prince’s body is barely cold, and Phoebe is already remarrying. What kind of woman is she?” “Didn’t the Queen say Phoebe was cursed to bring death to her husbands? I’m truly afraid for the Warlord.” … I listened to the whispers from outside my window with a wry smile. I turned to Xylos and nudged him with my foot, saying self-deprecatingly, “The great Warlord’s reputation, ruined by me.” Xylos frowned. “Don’t say that. Phoebe, give me half a day. I will make sure you never hear them speak ill of you again.” I sighed. “Honestly, I don’t care.” Compared to my last life, where I was a widow to a living man, enduring endless torment only to be publicly executed by a thousand cuts, this was paradise. Xylos provided me with the finest food and clothing, rivaling that of the royal family. I was living in comfort. I was already content. Before we blew out the lamps, I heard him mumble, “A little damage to my reputation is nothing. As long as I can have you, I don’t care about anything else.” I lay awake all night. Not long after, my sister sent for me. She was about to become the next Dragon Queen, and her handmaidens were presenting her with a heavy, ornate ceremonial gown. She eagerly held the crown to her head, turning to ask me, “Phoebe, who do you think looks better in this, me or the old Queen?” I remained silent. She continued, as if talking to herself, “Sometimes, you just have to accept your fate. So what if you were more talented than me? In the end, I’m the one who will be Queen.” She had always been like this, always needing to be one step ahead of me. My gaze fell upon the cluttered table, and I found myself staring at the aquamarine Damon had given her. A spark of insight flashed in my mind. When my sister was young, she had been dragged into the sea by a water spirit during a training exercise. She hated aquamarines. My brother-in-law, always so thoughtful, would have remembered that. After a long pause, I asked, my voice strained, “You really haven’t noticed that he’s not Caelus?” My sister’s hand froze. In that instant, I knew the answer. In my past life, I had never once suspected my sister. In my eyes, despite our lifelong rivalry, Damon was the sole perpetrator. But now, her reaction told me everything. She knew. Tears welled in my eyes. “Serena, are you insane?” I demanded. Smack! She slammed a phoenix hairpin onto the table. “So what if I am?” she retorted. I was stunned. My sister sneered. “Let me tell you the truth. As long as he is the Crown Prince, as long as I can be the future Queen, I don’t care who my husband is.” She glared at me suspiciously. “As for you, you’d better play the part of the grieving widow. If you behave, when I become Queen, I won’t treat you poorly. But if you dare to speak a word of this, I will not spare you.” A chill seeped into my bones. Her words were identical to the ones Damon had spoken in my last life. But in the end, neither of them had spared me. Just then, voices sounded from outside. Damon, the King, and the Queen swept into the room. They all froze when they saw me. Damon frowned, his voice laced with guilt. “Phoebe, what are you doing here?” The Queen’s tone was sharp and sarcastic. “Shouldn’t you be with your new husband? What are you doing in the palace?” Serena squeezed out a few tears, leaning against Damon. “Phoebe didn’t mean any harm. She’s just so distraught over losing her husband, that’s why…” Damon wrapped his arm around her, his voice full of resentment. “Phoebe, none of us wanted to see my brother die on the battlefield. Not only did you refuse to mourn him, you insisted on remarrying, and now you’re taking your anger out on your sister.” “Get out!” he roared. I stared at Damon, and then a slow smile spread across my face. “Fine.” Justice may be slow, but it is coming.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393421”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On my wedding day, my fiancé left me at the altar, announcing he had already married Stella. As the crowd’s laughter echoed around me, my childhood friend, Oscar, knelt with a diamond ring, his voice thick with emotion as he begged me to marry him instead. Moved to my core, I nodded. Seven months into my pregnancy, I was in a car accident. Oscar, a surgeon, operated on me himself. When I woke up, he told me the baby didn’t make it. And that I could never have children again. I was shattered. Oscar held me, his own tears streaming down his face, blaming himself for not protecting me and vowing to love me forever. But six years later, I accidentally received a recording of a phone call between him and a colleague: “Oscar, you did all that for Stella… faked her pregnancy certificate, staged a car crash just to make Mia go into early labor, and then gave her your own child. Do you have any regrets?” “Stella can’t have children. You expect me to just stand by and watch her future in-laws torment her? My only regret is that the baby was a girl. If it had been a boy, her position in that family would be unshakable.” All this time, I thought I had found true love. It was nothing but a meticulously crafted lie. … The sound of the shower was a steady hum from the bathroom. Oscar was washing away the day. In my ears, the recording played on. “But that was a huge risk. What if the crash hadn’t just induced labor? What if it had killed them both?” “It wouldn’t have. Stella and I spent months testing it. We ran simulations, hired people to stage crashes on junker cars, over and over.” The colleague’s voice was tinged with a strange sort of pity. “But Mia… they had to remove her uterus because of the accident. She can never have a child now. She wanted a baby so badly, and she loves you so much… Couldn’t you have just adopted one for Stella?” “No. It had to be my own. I wouldn’t trust a stranger’s child to love Stella properly.” “Have you ever thought about what you’ll do if Mia finds out?” A long pause from Oscar. Then, a heavy sigh. “She won’t. I’ll make sure of it. But if that day ever comes…I’m prepared to spend the rest of my life making it up to her.” The recording clicked off, plunging the room into silence. I clamped a hand over my mouth, a choked sob escaping my lips. Tears streamed, hot and uncontrolled, down my face as a chill that had nothing to do with the night air seeped into my bones, starting at my scalp and freezing me all the way to my toes. I never could have dreamed it. While I was cherishing the new life growing inside me, the husband I adored was plotting with another woman to steal her away. The profound love I thought he felt for me was just a calculated move to protect the woman he truly loved. He only proposed to me to stop me from going after my ex-fiancé, Julian, and disrupting Stella’s newfound happiness. I remember him placing the tiny, shrouded body of an infant in my arms, his voice breaking as he apologized, telling me our child was gone. I thought his heart was breaking with mine. But all along, he had already given our daughter to Stella, a pawn to secure her status in Julian’s wealthy family. What, then, was all my guilt? All my years of silent, gnawing pain? “Mia?” Oscar’s startled voice came from behind me. He saw the tear tracks on my face and rushed toward me, his knee catching the sharp corner of the bedframe. Blood instantly welled, but he ignored it, scrambling to pull me into his arms. “Mia, what’s wrong? What did I do? Did I upset you?” I carefully, deliberately, extracted myself from his embrace. “It’s nothing. I was just watching a movie. The ending was really sad.” Oscar pulled me back against him, a relieved sigh escaping his lips. A light chuckle followed. “You scared me to death. You really need to stop watching those tragedies. We’re not like them. I’m going to make you happy for the rest of your life.” His words used to feel like the sweetest honey. Now, they were just bitter poison. “Your knee is bleeding. I’ll get the first-aid kit and some milk.” Oscar never slept well. I’d read somewhere that warm milk helps, so no matter how late he worked, I always got up to heat a glass for him. “Okay. You’re the best, Mia. From now on, only comedies, alright? Hearing you laugh is the only thing that makes my life feel meaningful.” As I stood, another tear escaped and traced a cold path down my cheek. So, love could be faked. It could be a performance. And I was the fool who had been applauding in the front row for six years, never once seeing through the act. I quietly dissolved a small piece of a sleeping pill into his milk. After he drank it, Oscar fell into a deep, untroubled sleep. As I began searching for any other evidence, his phone, left on the nightstand, began to vibrate violently, the screen flashing with an insistent light. I’d always known he had special, high-priority alerts set up. He’d always said they were for his colleagues at the hospital, that he couldn’t risk missing an emergency call, a patient in need. But now, a cold certainty settled in my heart. I used his thumb to unlock the phone. Just as I suspected, a new voice message from Stella. I pressed play. It wasn’t her voice, but the high, lilting lisp of a little girl. “Daddy, Mommy wanted me to tell you that she loves the dove’s-egg diamond necklace you gave her!” My hand clenched around the phone, my entire body trembling. That voice… was that my daughter? Forcing myself to remain calm, I started scrolling through their chat history. The more I read, the colder I became. After Stella and Julian humiliated me at my own wedding, I cut off all contact with them. I’d only heard vaguely that after Stella discovered she was pregnant, Julian had sent her to the States to rest and be cared for. He was too busy with work to be with her constantly, but they’d filled social media with their long-distance romance until she returned home after the baby was born. During those same months, while I was wasting away from grief, so thin I looked like a skeleton, so lost in my pain I didn’t want to be a burden on Oscar, he was using “business trips” as an excuse to fly to America. To visit Stella. Oscar was a surgeon. I always believed his hands were for holding scalpels, for healing, for saving lives. I never let him touch a dish or a piece of laundry. But in the photos on his phone, there he was, wearing an apron, clumsily but earnestly simmering soup for Stella, not even flinching when he burned his fingers. He cooked for her. Did her laundry. Walked with her and the baby under the warm glow of a setting sun. In one photo, Stella’s head rested on his shoulder. They looked like a perfect, happy family. There were countless photos and videos like this, an unbroken chain of conversation stretching back six years. Not a single day was missed. And Oscar always, always replied instantly. No wonder he never let his phone out of his sight, even taking it into the shower. It wasn’t just to hide it from me. It was so he’d never miss a message from her. I had dreamed a thousand times of watching my child grow, step by step. I just never imagined I’d be watching as an outsider, a ghost in her life. And then I saw it. The message from Oscar that shattered what was left of my world. “Stella, Mia just delivered the baby. I’ll bring her to you soon. You can be a mother now.” Then what about me? I can never be a mother again. Wiping the tears from my face, I called my friend, a lawyer. “I need a divorce agreement. Get it ready for me by tomorrow.” “And that translator job you mentioned to me a while back? I’ll take it. I’ll be in France in five days to start.” Oscar, since you love Stella so much, I’ll grant you your wish. The next morning, Oscar woke up, mumbling about how quickly he’d fallen asleep. He nuzzled my neck affectionately. “Mia, I’m sorry. I’ve just been so tired lately. I didn’t mean to pass out on you.” “I’m heading to work,” he said, kissing my cheek. “Tonight, we’ll go to Mom’s birthday dinner, and when we get back, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He used to say things like that, and I’d blush and playfully call him shameless. Now, after seeing the torrent of affection and sweet nothings he poured out for Stella, his words just made me feel sick. After Oscar left, I went to the law firm. As I walked out with the divorce papers in my hand, my friend’s words echoed in my mind. “Getting your daughter back won’t be easy, Mia. She’s legally registered as Julian and Stella’s child. They’re her legal guardians.” “You’ll need a DNA test, either from you or Oscar. And even then, it will come down to whether the child wants to go with you.” I never even saw my baby after the accident. I had nothing of hers to use for a DNA test. My only option was Oscar. When I arrived at the hospital, the nurse at the front desk gave me a dismissive look. “Dr. Chen isn’t here. He’s downstairs on the playground with his wife and daughter.” “His… wife?” “Yeah. We’ve all seen her. She’s gorgeous, and her figure is incredible. They make a perfect couple.” A few other young nurses overheard and swarmed around, their faces alight with gossip. “Totally! His wife is always decked out in designer clothes, the limited-edition stuff. I heard Dr. Chen buys it all for her. The other day, I saw him give her a pink diamond the size of a dove’s egg. He spoils her rotten. I’m so jealous.” “The wife is stunning, and their daughter is adorable, like a little porcelain doll. How is anyone else supposed to compete with a family that perfect?” One of them finally turned to me, her eyes sweeping over my simple clothes with disdain. “And who are you, anyway? Don’t tell me you’ve got ideas about our Dr. Chen. I’ve seen plenty of delusional female patients like you. Do yourself a favor and take a good look in the mirror. He and his wife are deeply in love.” Their contemptuous stares made me feel small. I nervously tugged at the hem of my shirt, a bitter taste rising in my throat. Oscar rarely let me come to his hospital. And when I did, he never introduced me as his wife. He said the nurses were gossips who loved to stir up trouble, and he didn’t want me to be the subject of their talk. He never bought me designer labels or massive diamonds either. He said such things were too flashy, that they didn’t suit the pure, simple image I held in his heart. All excuses. I saw that now. I found him on the ground floor. Stella was standing beside him, her arm linked through his, as they watched the children playing in the hospital’s private playground. “Oscar,” Stella murmured, “are you sure Julian doesn’t suspect anything?” “He doesn’t. Ever since we had Lily, he’s been even more devoted to me. He treats me like a queen, buys me anything I want. He holds me tight when we sleep and calls me his treasure. He kisses me when he leaves for work and when he comes home… He’s nothing like the ruthless CEO everyone thinks he is. Oscar… thank you. For everything.” Oscar was silent for a moment, then a sour, pained smile touched his lips. “As long as you’re happy, I’d do anything.” Just then, a little girl in a frilly princess dress came running toward them, launching herself into Oscar’s arms. “Daddy! Mommy! I’m hungry!” She tilted her head, her bright, curious eyes landing on me. “Huh? Who’s this lady?” Only then did Oscar notice I was there. He quickly handed Lily to Stella, his expression a mask of awkwardness. “Mia! What are you doing here?” “Don’t get the wrong idea,” he stammered. “This is Stella’s daughter. I… I just thought she was so cute, I became her godfather.” Stella offered me a saccharine smile, her eyes gleaming with unconcealed triumph. “That’s right, Mia. Lily’s still little, she doesn’t quite understand the ‘godfather’ thing, so she just calls him Daddy. Please don’t be upset.” It was the same condescending expression, the same false sweetness she’d used at my wedding, all those years ago. She had stood there, clinging to Julian’s arm, saying the exact same thing: “Mia, Julian just loves me so much. Please don’t be upset.” Rage boiled up inside me. I raised my hand to slap her, but two hands shot out and grabbed my wrist. Oscar’s and Julian’s. Both of them, shielding Stella. That was the day Oscar had proposed to me in front of everyone, turning my day of humiliation into a wedding. But he didn’t love me. He just couldn’t stand the thought of me causing a scene and embarrassing Stella. Oscar pulled me away, making sure there was a safe distance between me and Stella and Lily. “Mia, is something wrong?” I tore my gaze away from Lily, my heart aching. “No… I just wanted to ask you what we should get your mom for her birthday tonight.” “Oh, is that all?” He sounded relieved. “Whatever you think is best, Mia. You always have the best taste.” He noticed the folder in my hand. “What’s that?” I took a breath. “Oscar, I need to talk to you. I want to… Can you give me L—” “Oscar, my stomach hurts,” Stella called out, cutting me off. “Can you come hold Lily for me?” Oscar didn’t hesitate. He rushed back to her side. “I told you not to drink that iced tea. It’s your time of the month, why can’t you listen, you big baby?” He glanced back at me over his shoulder. “Mia, you head home first. I’ll take care of Stella, it’s not easy for her with the kid. We’ll see you at the hotel tonight.” Of course. He remembered everything about Stella. That evening, I had just arrived at the hotel when Oscar walked in with Stella and Lily in tow.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393442”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Five years after I accidentally landed in this world, the System finally flagged me as a bug. It was preparing to send me back to my own time, granting me three days to say my goodbyes. On the first day, my wife, Valentina, held a wedding ceremony with her childhood sweetheart. I smiled as I personally placed the ring on his finger. On the second day, my birthday, she sent 999 roses to her sweetheart with a heartfelt public declaration of her love. I quietly liked the post on her social media feed. On the third day, she planned to take her darling sweetheart on a honeymoon to the Lake District—the one place I had always dreamed of seeing. I helped them pack. As they boarded the train, I turned and stepped into the portal that would take me home. 1 I was reading when Sam called. His voice was a storm of indignation, all on my behalf. “Valentina has lost her mind! She actually went through with a wedding for that childhood friend of hers, Noah, just because of some whimsical promise he made.” “You’re her actual husband!” “You should have been there, Leo. All her friends and family were calling Noah ‘son-in-law.’ He was smiling so hard his face was about to crack. And Valentina? She didn’t say a word. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were the real couple.” I wasn’t at the wedding, but I knew. After all, I was the one who put the ring on Noah’s hand. Besides, my social media feed had been flooded with them all day. Valentina, who never posted anything, had uploaded seven different stories dedicated to Noah. The funny thing was, when we got married, she’d said our friends list was full of unimportant people, that there was nothing worth posting. So now, everyone who saw their feed thought Noah was her boyfriend, her husband. I let out a soft laugh. “It’s alright, Sam. Don’t be angry.” He grumbled for a while longer before finally calming down, but his tone shifted to confusion. “Leo, how are you not angry at all?” My hand paused. Perhaps the old me would have been furious. I would have caused a scene, maybe even screamed at her, demanding an explanation. But I was leaving now. I was going back to my own time. That era wasn’t like this one, with its advanced technology and peaceful, prosperous society. In my time, many people still starved, still shivered in the cold. I needed to learn as much as I could before I left, to take that knowledge back with me. There was too much to do. I had no time for heartbreak. “Maybe I’m just over it,” I said with a wry chuckle. Then, my voice turned serious. “Sam, let’s meet up tomorrow. I think… I have to go soon.” Sam was my only real friend here, the only person I was reluctant to leave. Before he could answer, a voice came from behind me. It was Valentina, her tone sharp with a rare hint of panic. “Go? Leo, where are you going?” For some reason, hearing those words made Valentina’s heart clench. I didn’t say anything, but Noah, standing beside her, spoke up with a smirk. His eyes were full of mockery, but his voice was pitifully soft. “I knew it. The wedding today must have upset Leo. It’s all my fault. Valentina, you should comfort him. After all, in this world, you’re the only one he can rely on.” He finished with a light cough, pressing a hand to his chest. Valentina immediately rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern. But Noah’s words had reminded her: Leo didn’t belong to this time. Where could he possibly go without her? At that thought, her expression hardened into one of disgust. “Leo! I told you, I was just helping Noah fulfill a dream! Do you have to be so difficult about it?” She snorted. “You want to go? Fine. Go now. I’d like to see how far you get.” I stood frozen as the wind from the open window chilled me to the bone. Watching them walk upstairs together, a cold smile touched my lips. She said it was to fulfill a dream. Were the red marks on your neck part of his ‘dream’ too, Valentina? Whatever. In three days, I would be free of this place. 2 I was out the door early the next morning. Sam was already waiting for me at the restaurant we’d chosen. I showed our reservation, and the waiter led us to a table by the window. The moment we sat down, Sam grabbed my hand, his voice urgent. “What did you mean on the phone yesterday? About leaving?” I paused, then told him everything. His face crumpled. “Leo, does that mean I’ll never be able to find you again?” I thought for a moment, then remembered the inter-dimensional communicators the System had given me as compensation. I handed one to Sam. I had selfishly asked the System for two, but I suppose the other one was no longer needed. Just as I was lost in thought, a familiar voice cut through the air. Valentina was standing there with Noah, her eyes narrowed at me. “Leo, what are you doing here?” She looked around. “And in my reserved seat, no less.” I blinked. Just then, the waiter hurried over, his face apologetic. “My apologies, sir. It was our mistake. We seem to have mixed up Mr. Noah’s reservation with yours.” Valentina faltered. Noah spoke up, his voice gentle. “Valentina, I just wanted to have a nice meal with you. I didn’t realize it would bother Leo so much that he’d follow us here. Maybe I should just go.” Valentina immediately wrapped an arm around him, shooting me a cold glare. That’s when Sam’s voice cut in, sharp as ice. “Valentina, Leo is leaving for good, and you’re still taking Noah’s side?” Valentina barely glanced at me, her voice indifferent. “Sam, I know you’re Leo’s friend, but we both know where he comes from. Where could he possibly go?” Sam’s chest heaved with anger. He opened his mouth. “Do you have any idea what he—” Before he could finish, I grabbed his hand and shook my head. Valentina’s inquisitive gaze landed on me. “He what?” Noah chimed in, covering his mouth with a delicate hand. “Is Leo going to say he’s returning to his own timeline?” A mocking smile played on his lips. “That’s a fairytale for children, isn’t it? If you have a problem with me, Leo, just say so. I’ll leave.” With tears welling in his eyes, he turned as if to go, but Valentina grabbed him. She pulled him into a fierce hug. “Noah, don’t be silly. As long as I’m here, this is your home. No one can make you leave.” She shot me a threatening look. I had mentioned leaving countless times, and she had always dismissed it as a joke. But one flippant remark from Noah, and she was so distraught she would have torn her own heart out to prove her devotion. A strange, desolate feeling washed over me. My God, Leo. What a pathetic wreck you’ve become. 3 I had to drag Sam out of the restaurant, but he still shot a few last glares at Valentina. “Leo, why didn’t you just tell her the truth?” I gave him a bitter smile. “Even if I did, do you really think she’d believe me?” Sam’s words caught in his throat. It was evening by the time I got home. As I approached the house, I saw workers in the garden, digging up the camellia bushes that were in full bloom. I loved camellias. In my own time, I had planted a whole grove of them outside my home. I had only mentioned them to Valentina once or twice, and she, in an effort to make me feel a sense of belonging, had planted this garden for me with her own hands. But now… One of the workers wiped the sweat from his brow. “Miss Valentina’s orders. Said Mr. Noah likes roses, so she wants all these pulled out to make room for them.” For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I stood there for a long time before finally pushing the door open. It’s for the best, I thought. This isn’t my home, after all. When Valentina saw me, she looked away, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. It was a rare thing for her to offer an explanation. “It’s not really the season for camellias anymore.” It’s not the season for roses either. I set my things down and glanced at the dinner table. My appetite vanished. The table was laden with spicy dishes, every single one of them. She smiled, a hint of pleading in her voice. “See? All your favorites.” But Valentina, you know I have a weak stomach. You know I can’t handle spice. The one who loves spicy food has always been Noah. Still, I thought, this might be our last meal together for the next decade, or perhaps forever. So I sat down and forced a few bites. Just then, her phone rang. She had it on speaker, so I could easily hear the voice on the other end. “Valentina, the power went out at my place. I’m so scared.” Without a second thought, Valentina dropped her chopsticks. “Noah, don’t worry. I’m on my way.” She rushed for the door without another glance at me. As she reached for the handle, I couldn’t stop myself. “Valentina, tomorrow is my birthday. Will you come back?” Her hand froze on the doorknob. She paused, but in the end, she said nothing and left. Five years ago, I had stumbled into this strange, new world. I knew nothing, and it was Valentina who found me, who taught me the rules of this era. I remember my first birthday here. She bought me a huge cake. I had no friends, so she sat beside me, singing the birthday song, trying to create a festive atmosphere. The candlelight in the dim room reflected in her bright, shining eyes. “Leo,” she had said, “happy birthday.” That single glance cost me my heart. This would be my last birthday in this world. I wanted to say a proper goodbye. But Valentina never came. In the dark room, the extinguished candles dripped wax onto the untouched cake. On my phone, a new post from Valentina: a picture of her holding 999 roses, offering them to Noah, who stood beside her in a custom-tailored suit, while she made a public, heartfelt declaration of her love.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393458”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The wedding of the century was supposed to be my masterpiece. Instead, it was my undoing. All because my husband chose to protect his intern over me, deliberately concealing a critical change from our biggest client. After I finished my presentation, the truth crashed down on me. The client, a titan of industry, accused me of unprofessionalism. In that single, humiliating moment, I saw my husband, Steven, for who he truly was. If he was willing to gamble our company’s reputation to boost his new favorite, then I was done fighting for him. “You trust her so much?” I told him, my voice dangerously calm. “Then I wish you both the best of luck with the project.” My best friend was furious on my behalf. I’d poured six months of my life into this plan. But Steven, smugly holding my proposal, thought he had the world in his hands. He had no idea. The most crucial elements for this wedding—the rare flowers, the exclusive artisans, the bespoke decor—were things only I could secure. This time, even if he got on his knees and begged, I wouldn’t lift a finger to save him. … Our event planning studio had landed the contract of a lifetime: orchestrating the wedding for the children of two of New York’s most powerful families. Success meant we’d be catapulted to the top of the industry. I’d spent half a year meticulously preparing for this moment. I walked into the conference room, portfolio in hand, radiating confidence. I was ready to dazzle them. But as I began my presentation, a murmur rippled through the room. Mr. Sterling, the groom’s father, slammed my design portfolio onto the polished floor. “Ms. Thompson, you gave us your solemn promise that you would deliver perfection. And yet you weren’t even aware we changed the venue? You have a stunning lack of professional integrity. We want a new planner.” His accusation left me frozen. “Changed the venue? When was this decided?” I asked, my mind reeling. Before I could say more, my husband, Steven, lunged forward, his fingers digging into my arm as he yanked me aside. “Mr. Sterling, my sincerest apologies,” he said, plastering on a placating smile. “We actually have an alternative proposal ready. Why don’t you hear it? If you’re not completely satisfied, we’ll cover all associated costs.” Standing beside him was the intern, Maggie Hill. She shot me a fleeting, triumphant glance before striding confidently to the front of the room. As she spoke, a cold dread washed over me. Her plan… it was a ghost of my own, a 70% echo of the work I had poured my soul into. When she finished, a satisfied smile finally spread across Mr. Sterling’s face. He looked pointedly at me. “See? The younger generation gets it. They’re hungry. Not like some veterans who get complacent before they’ve even reached the top.” I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Steven cut me off, nodding in agreement with Mr. Sterling. “You’re absolutely right, sir. I’m afraid it’s my fault. I’ve been too lenient with Julie, given her too much freedom. I never imagined she’d betray my trust and forget something so fundamental. Thank goodness Maggie is so proactive and had a backup plan ready.” Mr. Sterling nodded, impressed. “This Maggie is sharp. I think it’s time you made her a permanent employee.” Listening to them, the pieces clicked into place, forming a picture so ugly I could barely look at it. Steven had deliberately hidden the venue change from me. All for Maggie. He was using this high-profile project, backed by the Sterling name, as a launchpad for her career. I remembered when we first landed the contract. Steven had suggested giving “the new talent” more opportunities. I see now he meant Maggie all along. Maggie beamed at them, a picture of innocence. “Thank you so much, Mr. Sterling. And I owe it all to Steven’s incredible mentorship. I promise you, I will personally oversee every detail of this event. There will be no mistakes.” Only after securing their praise did she feign to notice me, her expression turning to one of deep apology. “Julie, I… I never meant to steal your project. I just wanted to learn so badly, so I kept preparing my own proposals for Steven to review. I had no idea you’d make such a critical error and that mine would be used instead. It was an accident.” Before I could respond, Steven jumped to her defense. “Someone as hardworking, dedicated, and talented as you is an asset any company would fight for. How could we possibly blame you?” His words were like daggers to my heart. I was his wife, the person who was supposed to be his closest confidante. Yet here he was, tearing me down for a complete stranger. Maggie and I came from the same small town. She didn’t meet our company’s hiring criteria, but her earnest plea for a chance softened my heart, and I brought her on. At first, she was diligent and hardworking. Her skills were raw, but I believed in her potential. Things changed a few months ago when I had to travel internationally for this very wedding, sourcing materials. I’d asked Steven to supervise her in my absence. In the beginning, he complained constantly about how clumsy she was, how she nearly sabotaged one of his projects. I’d urged him to be patient, to teach her. Gradually, the complaints stopped. I assumed it was because she was improving. I never imagined it was because their relationship had changed. When I returned, I planned to have Maggie resume her duties as my assistant. But Steven protested. “Come on, I just finished molding this raw talent into something useful, and now you want to take her away? I’d have to start all over with a new assistant. Have a heart, honey.” It felt strange, but I let him convince me. I was a fool. The signs were all there. Now, finally, I understood. If Steven wanted to build her a pedestal, I wouldn’t stand in his way. “Fine,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “Since you have so much faith in her abilities, then I’m out.” I turned to them both. “I wish you the best of luck.” I walked away without a backward glance. Behind me, I heard Maggie’s anxious whisper. “Steven, I think she’s really angry. I’m just an intern, how can I possibly take over a project this big?” Steven’s voice was firm, unwavering. “She’s the one who lost her focus. You didn’t force her out; she gave up. I’ve seen your work, Maggie. You’re the future of this industry. I know you can do this.” I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to turn around and witness their touching moment of solidarity. That afternoon, Maggie celebrated by buying the whole office bubble tea. My colleagues immediately started singing her praises. “I knew all your hard work would pay off, Maggie!” “Don’t forget us when you’re a senior planner!” Seeing her smug, triumphant expression, I let out a cold, quiet laugh. Did she really think getting the proposal approved was the same as winning? That was just the first step. The real challenge—sourcing the materials—was yet to come. The Sterlings and their in-laws were old money. This wedding wasn’t just a ceremony; it was a statement of their families’ power and prestige. There was a reason I’d spent months flying back and forth across the globe. A moment later, Maggie pushed open my office door without knocking, a plastic cup of bubble tea in her hand. She casually dropped it on my desk. “Here, Julie. I bought you a drink. Hope you like it.” I frowned. I hate overly sweet things, a fact I’d mentioned to her countless times when she was my assistant. She must have forgotten, having spent so much time at Steven’s side. “I appreciate the thought, but I don’t drink bubble tea. You can have it,” I said, waving it away. Just then, the door opened again. It was Steven. Seeing him, Maggie suddenly stumbled, letting the cup of bubble tea slip from her grasp. It splattered all over her, the dark liquid and tapioca pearls staining the floor. She shot a quick glance at Steven, then immediately feigned panic. “Oh, I’m so clumsy! I can’t even do something as simple as giving you a drink, Julie.” She looked at me, saw the smirk playing on my lips, and her eyes widened in alarm. She dropped to her knees and started frantically trying to wipe up the mess with the hem of her own dress. “I’m so sorry, Julie! I’ll get it clean, I promise! I won’t bring drinks into the office again, please don’t be angry!” Steven strode forward, his brow furrowed in anger. He pulled Maggie to her feet. “Julie, is this how you treat our star employee? If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t just have a damaged reputation—we’d be facing a massive lawsuit!” I laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. “Who made the ‘mistake’? Who hid the fact that Mr. Sterling changed the venue? And that proposal of hers—who do you think really wrote it? Others might not know, Steven, but you do, don’t you?” He didn’t answer my question. Instead, he took off his own jacket and draped it gently around Maggie’s shoulders. “You’ve been through enough, Maggie. Why don’t you go home for the day?” Watching them, a chill crept through my veins. Once we were alone in the office, his anger finally erupted. “What is wrong with you? Why are you always imagining things? I was swamped with clients, I was exhausted, I just forgot to tell you! It’s that simple!” “And Maggie’s proposal?” I shot back. “I suppose it’s just a coincidence that it sounds exactly like something I would write, after months of you ‘mentoring’ her?” “If you don’t want to work, then just go home!” he snarled. “Go be a housewife. My mother’s been nagging me for a grandchild anyway. You can stay home, clean the house, take care of my parents, and raise the kids. Leave the business to me.” Maggie had deliberately left the door ajar on her way out. She wanted the whole office to hear me get humiliated. Fine. Let’s see who would truly be the laughingstock. I let out a derisive snort. “Steven, just because they call you ‘boss’ doesn’t mean you’re actually in charge. And as for me becoming a housewife? You’re not nearly man enough to make me.” I leaned forward, my voice dropping but carrying clearly through the open door. “And another thing. This company has always promoted based on merit. Seducing the boss might get you ahead for a little while, but it’s not a sustainable career path in this industry.” Steven’s face turned crimson with rage. “What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you slander a talented colleague like that? You’re just threatened by her! You’re afraid she’s going to replace you!” I shrugged. “Well then, I look forward to the day your ‘intensive training’ pays off.” Our argument echoed through the quiet office. I saw my colleagues exchange knowing glances. They understood exactly what I was implying. A brand-new intern with no experience, producing a flawless, high-level proposal in just a few months? Impossible without a lot of hands-on guidance. To celebrate Maggie’s “success” in saving the project, Steven decided to make her promotion official immediately. The company had a tradition of holding a welcome party for every new full-time employee. Maggie put on a show of inviting me, but Steven stopped her. “She loves to work so much, let’s not disturb her,” he announced to the office. “Everyone else, let’s clock out early and go celebrate!” A cheer went up, and moments later, the office was silent and empty. The sudden quiet was deafening. My heart ached. Steven and I had built this company from nothing, just the two of us. Now, he was shutting me out completely. I needed to get out. I called my best friend, and we hit a bar. After venting for an hour, I started to feel a bit more human. She, on the other hand, had her eyes glued to the dancers on stage and, with my blessing, eagerly dove into the crowd. I nursed a drink, feeling bored, and was about to find my own entertainment when I spotted a familiar group in a booth across the room: Steven and the team. Maggie was nestled right beside him, her cheeks flushed as she gazed at him adoringly. Someone tried to make her drink, and Steven smoothly intercepted the glass, downing it for her. It was a scene I knew all too well. He used to do that for me. “As long as I’m here,” he’d once said, “you’ll never have to drink anything you don’t want to.” Maggie saw me first. She immediately got up and rushed over, linking her arm through mine with practiced friendliness, pulling me toward their table. “Julie! You’re here! You should have told us. I bet you and Steven have made up.” She smiled brightly. “Every couple fights. Steven’s so forgiving, I knew he wouldn’t stay mad at you.” Every word was a carefully crafted barb, designed to paint me as the one at fault. She then gave Steven a little push. “Steven, come on. Julie is clearly extending an olive branch. Don’t let me be the villain in your love story. If you two don’t make up, all those nasty rumors about me in the office will just get worse.” Clever. She was publicly addressing the very rumors I’d started, framing herself as the victim. Steven puffed out his chest, playing his part perfectly. “Alright, since you’ve admitted you were wrong, I won’t hold it against you. For the sake of our marriage. But I will not tolerate a senior manager bullying a junior employee.” He fixed me with a stern look. “You’re my wife. You need to set an example. Apologize to Maggie, and I’ll forgive you.” He leaned back against the sofa, legs crossed, a condescending smirk on his face like a king addressing a peasant. Maggie picked up a glass of wine from the table and held it out, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393475”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 My colleague was just joking around, slapping a parking ticket on my windshield and snapping a picture to prank me about a violation. I fell for it. Logging onto the city’s traffic violations website, I wasn’t prepared for what I found. It wasn’t a parking ticket. It was a crystal-clear, high-resolution photo from a traffic cam yesterday. In the photo, Julian’s first love, Claire, was in the passenger seat. She was unbuckled, leaning across the console to press a kiss to his cheek. And Julian… he was smiling. A radiant, unreserved smile I’d never once seen him wear for me. Staring at that image, a cold clarity washed over me. This one-sided devotion, this decade of chasing a ghost—it was time to let go. I quietly paid the fine online. Then, I drove myself to the clinic and had the abortion. I drafted the divorce papers and had them messengered to his office. From this day forward, the mountains are just mountains, and I am just me. … My best friend, Tessa, got the news and burst through my door, frantic. “What the hell is going on with you and Julian? Did he cheat on you?” I lifted my swollen, red-rimmed eyes, managing a smile that felt more like a grimace. Ten years of looking up to him, of orbiting his world, had earned me a marriage that was nothing more than polite, respectful distance. I had mistaken it for happiness. Today, a single photograph had shattered that illusion. Marrying me… for Julian, it had always been a compromise, hadn’t it? Tessa looked at my pathetic, crumbling state, and her anger flared. “I told you, Liv. I told you Julian Vance was no good, but you wouldn’t listen. You were determined to follow that path until it led you off a cliff.” “Good riddance, I say! It killed me watching you trail after him like some pathetic puppy!” She took a breath, her tone softening slightly. “Listen, Ian has that international project he needs someone to lead. Why don’t you think about it?” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I managed a small nod, and only then did I realize tears were already streaming down my face, silent and unstoppable. I fumbled around for a tissue, but Tessa just sighed, pulling me into a hug. “Don’t hold it in. Just cry.” And I did. The dam of my composure broke, and I clung to her, sobbing out all the grievance. After she dropped me home, she had to run. I called Ian to get the details about the project and realized it was a perfect fit for my skills. I accepted on the spot. The departure date was in one week. I could handle the work handover online. Later, washing my face, I caught my reflection in the mirror—this haggard, miserable-looking woman. For the first time, I felt a surge of disgust at myself. My phone buzzed, jolting me from my thoughts. “Olivia,” Julian’s voice, infuriatingly polite. “Could you do me a favor and bring my black suit to the office? Thanks.” Habit took over, and I agreed before I could stop myself. The line went dead before the wrongness of it all sank in. After a moment of hesitation, I decided not to call back and refuse. Julian was often “too busy” to come home anyway. This was my chance to pick up the signed divorce papers in person. When I arrived, Claire was leaning over Julian’s shoulder, both of them focused on his computer screen. A stray strand of her hair brushed against his cheek. He gently caught it, tucking it behind her ear with a tenderness that stole my breath. His eyes flickered up and met mine. The softness in his expression vanished, replaced by a cool annoyance. “What took you so long?” he asked, his tone accusatory. Claire smiled, a soothing hand on his arm, and took the suit from me. “Don’t be harsh, Julian. He’s just stressed out by the team. Thank you for bringing this, Olivia. Don’t mind him.” She played the part of the gracious lady of the house perfectly, making me feel like the shameful intruder. If this had happened right after she’d returned to the country and become his secretary, I would have erupted. But now, my voice was flat, devoid of the fury she expected. “Are the papers signed?” Julian’s eyebrow arched. He let Claire help him into the fresh suit jacket. “What papers?” “Julian, we should go. We’re going to be late,” Claire interjected, cutting off our conversation. He gave a slight nod, tossing a dismissive remark over his shoulder as he followed her out. “We’ll talk at home.” As they walked away, Claire glanced back at me, a triumphant, unconcealed smirk on her face. I searched his desk, but the divorce agreement was nowhere to be found. My hand accidentally nudged the mouse, and the computer screen lit up. His desktop wallpaper filled the screen: Julian and Claire, leaning against a seaside railing, their gazes locked, their faces alight with a deep, shared affection. Another intimacy I had never known. I grabbed my bag and fled. Back home, I collapsed behind the front door and wept again. Letting go… it was so much harder than I’d imagined. But it was okay. One day, I would rip Julian out of my heart, root and stem. Mindlessly scrolling through videos to numb the pain, a “People You May Know” suggestion popped up. I meant to swipe past it, but my thumb slipped and opened the profile. It was Claire’s. The latest video was from a funeral. The caption read: In these difficult times, I’m so glad I have you by my side. The deceased was just a distant uncle of hers. And there, standing beside her, was Julian, playing the part of the devoted partner. Watching him on screen, so present and attentive, a bitter realization dawned on me. Julian wasn’t always “drowning in work.” He was just never available for me. He’d used that same excuse—”work is just too crazy right now”—to leave our own wedding reception halfway through. I remembered the flicker of apology in his eyes and thought it was guilt. I had even comforted him, telling him not to worry. How laughable it all seemed now. He was probably already regretting it back then. 2 That night, as expected, Julian didn’t come home. But I saw him the next day at the university’s alumni homecoming. He was on stage, holding Claire’s hand as they presented a large donation. I stood in the audience and listened as he shamelessly introduced her to the host as “the most important person in my life.” In that moment, I felt a wave of relief that I had honored his request for a “low-key” wedding and hadn’t invited a single friend from college. As if sensing my presence, he turned his head, and his eyes met mine across the crowd. A frown creased his brow, but his hand remained firmly clasped around Claire’s. A bitter taste filled my mouth. I lowered my head and walked away, heading toward the grassy banks of Mirror Lake on campus. Footsteps followed me. “You came to the homecoming? Why didn’t you tell me? I would have picked you up.” No mention of holding her hand. No explanation. No flicker of panic at being caught. A sardonic laugh escaped me. “Is there even room for me in your car anymore?” Julian rubbed the bridge of his nose, a picture of weary frustration. “Liv, do you have to be so aggressive? What happened to the considerate, understanding woman I know?” The woman I used to be? What was she like? She worshipped him as the god who had pulled her from the mire. His smile was her sun, his frown her storm. Her entire world revolved around him, a self-erased satellite in his orbit. Honestly, if Julian had just told me he wanted to be with Claire, I would have stepped aside. I knew from the start that our marriage was just a spiteful rebound on his part, a way to get back at her after they broke up. I was the secret admirer who saw it all unfold and willingly walked into the trap. Now that their old flame was rekindled, he should have been pushing me out the door. His deliberate avoidance of the topic was something I just couldn’t understand. “Julian, there you are!” Claire’s voice called out. She approached us, navigating the soft grass in her high heels. She feigned surprise at seeing me. “Oh, Olivia, you’re here too?” She walked right up to Julian, straightening his collar with a familiar ease. “The dean is looking for you for a photo. We should head back.” Julian glanced at me, waiting for a response I wouldn’t give. He sighed, then said, “Wait for me. We’ll leave together.” “Don’t you have that conference call to rush back for?” Claire reminded him with a sweet smile, then turned to me, her voice dripping with mock apology. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get a cab home, Olivia.” Julian hesitated. Suddenly, Claire shrieked, “A snake!” In a flash, Julian shoved me aside. He scooped a frantic Claire into his arms and sprinted toward the safety of the paved path. And me, standing right at the water’s edge, I was the one he pushed. The shove sent me stumbling backward, right off the bank and into the lake. The summer water of Mirror Lake should have been warm. But as it closed over me, it felt bone-chillingly cold, a frigid shock that seeped into my very marrow. Through the shimmering surface, I saw Julian’s eyes—wide with guilt and panic. He started rushing toward me, but I had already scrambled back onto the bank before he could reach me. “Liv, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see…” I managed a weak smile. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.” Without another glance, I turned and walked away, my body and soul dripping with a cold I couldn’t shake. I saw Julian’s fists clench at his sides. For the first time, he looked as if he realized I was slipping away, truly out of his reach. He started to follow, but a glance back at the still-trembling Claire stopped him. Instead, a text message arrived: Go home first. I’ll explain later. I let out a hollow scoff. Explain what? That his first instinct was to protect her? Or that his solution was to throw me into a lake? Whichever it was, I didn’t want to hear it. I was tired of his self-serving lies. That evening, a troubled Julian came home early for once. He found the kitchen cold and dark, me quietly eating takeout on the couch. A strange sense of relief seemed to settle over him. “Is this how you take care of yourself when I’m not here?” he murmured, his tone chiding but gentle. “We should hire a housekeeper. There’s too much to do around here. It breaks my heart to see you so tired.” My hand, holding my fork, paused mid-air. What a considerate, caring husband. These were the exact kinds of empty pleasantries he’d used to make me believe that, over time, he’d actually fallen for me. They were the reason I had become so hopelessly dependent on him. But a lie is still a lie. I wiped my mouth and spoke, my voice steady. “Let’s get a divorce.” 3 Julian froze for a second, then let out a weary laugh. “Still throwing a tantrum, are we?” he said, stepping closer. “Claire and I are in the past. You and I are married now. You need to trust your husband.” He reached out to pat my head, his tone placating, as if offering me an easy way to back down. I didn’t take it. “Make your own dinner.” It was perhaps the first time I had ever flatly refused him, and he looked genuinely taken aback. I had no intention of continuing the conversation. I moved to sidle past him toward the bedroom, but his hand shot out, grabbing my arm. “Liv, are you not feeling well?” he asked, his voice still infuriatingly gentle, painting me as the irrational one. I snapped. “What if I’m not? In five years of marriage, have you ever actually cared?” “We’re husband and wife. Who else would I care about?” “Fine. Then tell me, when was my last period?” His mouth opened, but no words came out. Of course he wouldn’t know. Just like he didn’t know I was pregnant. I’d had morning sickness in front of him several times, and he’d just casually told me to take some antacids. “But you know Claire’s, don’t you?” I stared at him, tears welling in my eyes. I expected him to get angry, to yell, to desperately deny his relationship with her. He did none of those things. He just sighed, a deep, world-weary sound. “You need to calm down. I’ll be working late at the office tonight.” There it was again. His escape hatch. Every time I tried to confront him, he’d retreat behind the shield of “work.” A cold war waged under the guise of mutual respect, and Julian was a master of it. Something inside me broke. I grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table and hurled it at him. He didn’t dodge in time. It struck him on the temple, leaving an angry red mark. His eyes, which had been full of weary patience, slowly filled with rage. “Olivia, there’s a limit to this nonsense.” He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him, leaving me in a crushing, dead silence. There’s no point in screaming into a valley that gives no echo; you only exhaust yourself. I slid down to the floor, my gaze landing on our wedding photo on the wall. I started to laugh, but the laughter choked into sobs. I don’t know how long I sat there, lost in a daze, before my phone rang. I pressed the answer button, and Julian’s furious voice crackled through the speaker. “Olivia, get over here and control your damn friend.” The mention of Tessa jolted me to my feet. I hung up and rushed to the restaurant he’d named. The moment I stepped inside, I saw it: Claire, clutching her cheek, weeping pitifully in Julian’s arms, while Tessa was being held back by two waiters, looking ready to commit murder. I hurried to Tessa’s side, trying to calm her down. Julian didn’t even look at me. His face was a thundercloud. “Tessa, don’t think for a second that because you’re Olivia’s friend, I won’t touch you.” His voice was dangerously low. “Apologize to Claire. Now.” “Screw you!” Tessa spat. “Don’t you dare try to frame me, you cheating piece of trash! I wish I’d slapped her, but I never got the chance!” Julian’s anger pivoted and crashed down on me. “Olivia, what kind of lies have you been feeding her? I told you Claire and I are just friends! Are you deaf?” His voice rose, drawing stares from the other patrons. “Today, neither of you is leaving until you apologize to Claire.” “Fine,” I said, my voice surprisingly calm. “But before we do anything, let’s have the manager pull up the security footage.” Tessa’s eyes lit up. Claire, however, just cried harder. “It’s okay, Julian, forget it,” she sobbed. “I… I didn’t realize Olivia misunderstood me so deeply. Maybe… maybe you should just stay away from me from now on.” With that, she turned and ran out of the restaurant, tears streaming down her face. Julian shot me one last venomous look before rushing after her. “Olivia,” he bit out before he left, “if anything happens to Claire, I swear, we are done.” My throat felt tight. I lowered my eyes, saying nothing.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393493”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I hadn’t been living with my biological parents for long when their mansion went up in flames. The servants and I scrambled out, choking on the thick, acrid smoke that clawed at our lungs. The heat was a physical presence, pressing in on us from all sides. Our maid, Anna, her face smeared with soot, grabbed my arm. Her voice was a panicked squeak. “Miss Sophie! Quick, call your father! He can send people to put it out!” But the housekeeper, Martha, a stern woman who had been with the family for decades, pulled me in the opposite direction. “His Lordship is celebrating Miss Kaley’s birthday tonight. He is not to be disturbed!” she snapped, her voice firm despite the chaos. “The young miss and I will handle the fire.” Anna shook her head, her coughing fits wracking her small frame. “What can you two possibly do? You have to call him!” The searing heat on my skin was a brutal reminder. I was back. I had been reborn. 1 In my last life, it had played out just like this. I’d been recently brought back from the foster system, a stranger in my own home. The mansion caught fire on the same day as the birthday of Kaley, the daughter my parents had raised by mistake. Anna and Martha had the exact same argument in front of me. Last time, I listened to Anna. I called my father. This time, I was dialing 911. This time, my fate was in my own hands. I covered my mouth and nose, ready to bolt outside to make the call, but Martha lunged, blocking my path. “And where do you think you’re going, Miss Sophie?” I ignored her, pulling my phone from my pocket and tapping the three digits. The call connected instantly. “911, what’s your emergency—” In the next second, Martha’s hand shot out and slapped the phone from my grasp. It clattered to the marble floor, the call abruptly ending. “What are you doing, calling 911?” she hissed, her face contorted with a strange fury. “Mr. Cooper is a man in the public eye. What would this do to his reputation? Having a house fire splashed all over the news?” She loomed over me. “And what if he comes back to deal with this? What about Kaley’s birthday? We will handle this ourselves. Come, we’ll use buckets.” Before I could react, her fingers dug into my arm like a vise, and she started dragging me back toward the inferno. I struggled, but Martha was a large, strong woman. The crackling roar of the fire grew louder, the smoke thicker. I was forced into a violent coughing fit, tears streaming from my stinging eyes. Martha shoved a metal bucket into my hands, her gaze sharp and cold. “Today is Miss Kaley’s eighteenth birthday, young lady. Nothing is more important than that.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t think a little drama like this will help you win their favor. Miss Kaley has been raised by Mr. and Mrs. Cooper for eighteen years. You can’t compete with that.” Even in the short time I’d been here, I’d noticed Martha’s fierce, almost fanatical devotion to Kaley. She saw me, the true daughter, as nothing more than an intruder, a threat to Kaley’s happiness. But I never imagined she’d take it this far, accusing me of vying for attention while the house burned down around us. The bucket was already warm in my hands, the metal growing hot from the ambient heat. I couldn’t stay here. This fire was beyond our control. If I didn’t get out now, I would die. 2 The moment she sensed my intention to flee, Martha’s grip on my arm tightened, and she yanked me deeper into the smoke-filled corridor. A chilling realization washed over me: Martha had started this fire. If I died here, I would be the perfect scapegoat, and Kaley’s only rival would be permanently removed. Was I doomed to repeat my fate, to die in a fire no matter what? In my past life, I had escaped this first fire, only to perish in another. I had listened to Anna and called my father. He had rushed back with a team, and they had managed to extinguish the blaze. But Kaley, waiting for her parents at The Pinnacle, the city’s most exclusive rooftop restaurant, had jumped from the 82nd floor when they didn’t show up. She was shattered beyond recognition. My parents, Richard and Eleanor, were unnervingly calm during her lavish funeral. But that night, as they performed the ritual of burning her belongings, my father suddenly set the entire memorial hall ablaze. As guests screamed and ran for the exits, they found my mother had locked the doors from the outside. Amidst the spreading flames, my father’s laughter was demonic. “I want every single one of you to join my Kaley in death!” he shrieked. He seized me, his grip like iron, and dragged me toward the pyre, forcing my face closer and closer to the flames. “It was just a fire!” he roared, his face a mask of grief-stricken madness. “Why did you have to call me? You knew it was Kaley’s birthday! You knew I was in the middle of a live-streamed keynote speech! Calling me forced my hand—I had to come back!” His voice broke. “If it weren’t for you, how could my precious daughter have died on her eighteenth birthday? You should have been the one to die!” My skin sizzled, an agony so intense it made my entire body tremble. I could barely force the words out. “I didn’t know… I didn’t know you were giving a speech. I was just scared.” “And I didn’t know a birthday was so important…” I had grown up in the system; birthdays were just another day. How could I have known she valued it more than her own life? How could I have known my father would want us all to burn with her? He shoved me toward the roaring fire. My hair and clothes caught instantly, the pain all-consuming. “You lying bitch!” he spat, his voice thick with hate. “Still making excuses! Kaley is dead, and you will pay for it!” He grabbed a can of gasoline and doused me with it. The fire exploded around me, silencing my screams forever. All their apologies when they first found me, all their promises that they loved both me and Kaley as their daughters—they were all lies. I had been a fool to believe that blood meant love. Back in the present, I forced myself to be calm. The fire was intensifying, and the heat was becoming unbearable for both of us. As Martha coughed, distracted for a split second, I wrenched my arm free and ran. Adrenaline surged through me, a primal need to survive overriding everything else. I burst out of the mansion’s front doors and collapsed onto the manicured lawn. As I gasped for the cool, fresh air, tears of relief and terror streamed down my face. This time, I would live. No matter what. I scrambled to my feet and spotted my phone lying on the flagstones where it had fallen. I snatched it up, ready to dial again. But in the next instant, a hand clamped around my ankle, and I was dragged back down to the ground. 3 Martha was pulling me back toward the burning house. The other servants, huddled at a safe distance on the lawn, stared in shock. “Miss Sophie! Why are you still in there? Did you call 911?” one of them shouted. “Martha, what are you doing?” The servants weren’t allowed to carry phones during their shifts. I was the only one who could call for help. With all my remaining strength, I hurled my phone toward them. It landed in the soft grass. “Martha’s trying to kill me!” I screamed. “Help me! Call 911! She has explosives on her! We’ll all die if you don’t call now!” The part about explosives was a lie, a desperate gamble to sow panic. It worked. One of the maids snatched up my phone while others started to scatter. “Explosives? I’m calling the police!” “Run! Everybody run!” “Martha, have you gone mad? What have Mr. and Mrs. Cooper ever done to you but be kind?” Seeing her plan unravel, Martha finally let go of my ankle. “What explosives? Don’t listen to her lies!” she yelled, her voice frantic. “She’s just jealous of Miss Kaley! She’s trying to make a scene so Mr. Cooper will come back for her instead of celebrating with his real daughter!” She tried to sound convincing. “Don’t you dare call the police! The fire isn’t even that bad! If I had explosives, would I be standing right here?” Her words hit their mark. The maid holding my phone hesitated, her hand lowering. “So it’s just a rivalry.” “Maybe Miss Sophie started the fire herself!” “Why would she even try to compete with Miss Kaley? She’s been part of this family for eighteen years.” “If I were Mr. Cooper, I’d prefer Kaley too. She’s so much prettier, more elegant—more like a true heiress than Sophie ever will be.” I watched them, a wave of despair washing over me. Our mansion was in the hills, isolated from our neighbors. If no one called for help, no one would know until it was too late. Just then, a loud BOOM erupted from inside the house. 4 Something had exploded. It wasn’t massive, but it was enough to send another wave of fear through me. I tried to crawl further away, but Martha lunged and grabbed me again. I locked eyes with the servants on the lawn. “The house is exploding!” I cried out. “It’s a smart home, full of electronics and batteries! If you don’t call for help now, the whole place could go up like a bomb!” My voice cracked with desperation. “I’m not trying to compete with Kaley! Please, just call 911! The fire is what matters!” Martha tightened her grip, dragging me again. “So a battery exploded? Big deal! Get back in there with me, Miss Sophie. You don’t want your father to come home and find you did nothing, do you?” The other servants just watched us, their faces blank. My heart sank. They wouldn’t help. Not when it meant choosing a side. And Martha was dead set on me dying in this fire. Suddenly, a high-pitched buzzing sound cut through the roar of the flames. A drone! Someone flying it for landscape shots must have seen the smoke! I threw my hand up, waving frantically at the small machine hovering in the sky. “HELP ME!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “PLEASE, CALL THE POLICE! SHE’S TRYING TO KILL ME!” I prayed it had a microphone, prayed its owner could hear me. Before I could say more, Martha clamped a hand over my mouth and swatted at the drone with her other hand. It nimbly ascended, just out of her reach. The owner had to have seen that. Would they help? Martha released my mouth, her hand pressing into the small of my back as she whispered menacingly in my ear. “What nonsense are you spouting, young lady?” A sick, triumphant smile spread across her face. “No one is trying to kill you. You’ll simply die a hero, trying to save the house. They might even give you a medal for it.” Her voice was pure venom. “It doesn’t matter what you say now. Those fools on the lawn will believe anything. You’re going to die, and when you do, Miss Kaley will be the one and only daughter of this house. You’ll never compete with her again.” She admitted it. A tremor ran through my body. She was doing this for Kaley. But why? She was a well-paid housekeeper. My father had helped her son get a job, even bought him a house. Why would she risk everything for Kaley? Just then, my phone, still lying on the grass, began to ring. The maid who had it shouted, “Miss Sophie, it’s your father!” He must have finished his speech. I didn’t care anymore if Kaley jumped off a building. I couldn’t die like this. “Answer it!” I yelled. Martha forgot about me, lunging for the phone. I scrambled to my feet and ran for it too, finally free. In the struggle, the phone tumbled to the ground, and somehow, the call connected. “Hello?” My father’s voice crackled through the speaker. It was a voice I now recognized as being laced with a faint, but permanent, thread of annoyance. “Sophie. We’re celebrating your sister’s eighteenth birthday tonight. You’ll have to eat dinner by yourself.” I was about to scream for help, but Martha beat me to it, snatching the phone. “Don’t you worry, Mr. Cooper. We’re taking good care of the young miss.” “Good,” he said dismissively, ready to hang up. Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the mansion behind us. “What was that?” my father’s voice shot back, sharp with alarm.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “393512”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel