Category: English

I lost a bet during a game with my friends, and my punishment was being forced to post a specific status on my social media: [I’m two months pregnant. I suddenly really wanted some grapes, but my husband refused to buy them for me. Then I wanted some green grapes, and he still refused. The marriage is over, we’ve broken up, I got rid of the baby, and I finally ate my grapes. From now on, the creature known as a ‘husband’ no longer exists in my world.] The male lead of my loveless, ghost-town of a marriage was instantly summoned back from overseas overnight by our panicked parents. After a grueling three-way interrogation, the truth came out. When the man who took the blame for my prank finally came home, he had his assistant haul in three massive boxes of red grapes and three boxes of green grapes. His face was as cold as the Grim Reaper himself. “Since you love eating them so much, this time, I’m going to let you eat until you drop.” 1 After hitting “Post” on that status, I casually tossed my phone onto the luxurious marble table and lazily scanned the room. “How was that? Satisfied?” My friends around the table all gave me a thumbs-up. Leo even cursed in absolute disbelief, picking up my phone to verify it. “Serena, you are insane! You seriously didn’t filter a single person from seeing this.” I couldn’t be bothered to respond to their flattery, simply waving my hand to deal the next round of cards. I was used to doing whatever I wanted. As for the absolute tsunami this post would cause once my parents and my in-laws saw it? I didn’t even want to think about it. While shuffling the cards, Chloe leaned in close to me. With an “I-know-exactly-what-you’re-doing” smirk, she offered her expert analysis on my bold move: “If you didn’t want to post it, who could force you? You did this on purpose. You just wanted to summon CEO Thorne back from overseas, didn’t you?” Chloe had been reading way too many billionaire romance novels lately. Her head was full of cliché, dramatic plotlines. I decided not to argue with her and just gave a dismissive reply: “Mhm. You’re completely right.” In our elite New York social circle, whenever anyone brought up me and Ethan Thorne, they would always sigh and call it a spectacularly doomed, toxic karma. When we first met as college freshmen, I was the arrogant, high-and-mighty heiress of the Vance family, sitting comfortably at the absolute center of the Manhattan socialite scene. Whenever the Thorne family was mentioned, people would scoff and call them “tasteless new money who didn’t belong in high society.” Naturally, Ethan was completely ostracized by our circle. And I was the undisputed ringleader of that isolation campaign. But the eighteen-year-old Ethan couldn’t have cared less. His demeanor back then was entirely different from how he is now. He was loud, arrogant, and perfectly content doing his own thing. To crush his arrogance, I personally stepped onto the battlefield. I pretended to be deeply in love with him, chasing him relentlessly for over six months. Just when he had completely fallen for me, I ruthlessly dumped him. Then, I joined my friends in kicking him while he was down, mercilessly mocking him for thinking he was ever good enough for me. With such bad blood between us, we were supposed to hate each other for the rest of our lives. But fate has a twisted sense of humor. Three years ago, a massive economic crisis hit, severely impacting all the old-money families in New York. Desperate for capital and protection, my father swallowed his pride and went begging to the Thorne family—the only ones who emerged from the crisis unscathed—proposing a corporate marriage. I didn’t dare tell my father about the horrible things I had done to Ethan in college. I spent every day living in pure terror, waiting for my father to be thrown out onto the street. But to my utter shock, the Thorne family agreed. At first, I was certain this was Ethan’s grand revenge. The Thorne family was no longer just “new money.” Their business empire had expanded at a terrifying rate, becoming a top-tier conglomerate that everyone in the city looked up to. And Ethan, who had entered the family business early, was already a high-ranking executive, flying all over the world. Forget about revenge—in our three years of marriage, I had only seen him a grand total of three times. The first year, I lived in constant fear, treating every day like walking on eggshells, terrified that one wrong move would anger my billionaire husband. The second year, I comfortably spent my exorbitant allowance, lived in our massive, empty penthouse, and completely forgot my place. Chloe was hopelessly obsessed with our dynamic, treating us like her favorite fictional couple. “CEO Thorne is absolutely true love to you! Why do you think he travels the world working himself to the bone? It’s so you can buy priceless jewelry without blinking and rent out private islands for your parties!” I didn’t say a word. A few cards slipped from my fingers and fell to the floor. “I’m done. I fold this round.” If I hadn’t known that Ethan was keeping a bright, beautiful woman in his luxury mansion in Dubai, my romantically delusional brain might have actually believed he was tolerating me out of lingering affection. But as time went on, I figured it out. This marriage was completely optional to him. He just married me to have a mascot sitting at home to shut down the public gossip. This mascot could be Serena Vance, or it could be literally anyone else. 2 I was woken up by our housekeeper. The consequence of staying up all night drinking was that my sleep schedule was completely flipped. It had been exactly twenty-three hours since I made that fateful post. “Ma’am, the main estate sent a car for you. It’s waiting downstairs.” I frustratedly ran a hand through my messy hair, trying to calculate what important date today was. After washing up, I checked my phone. One look nearly gave me a heart attack. Aside from the countless frantic, concerned messages from my parents and in-laws, even Ethan—whom I hadn’t spoken to in four or five months—had sent me a single “?”. My hand trembled, and I replied with a “?” of my own. He replied instantly: > [I’m at the main estate. Come over.] My brain practically exploded. It was months away from Thanksgiving. Why the hell was Ethan suddenly back in the country?! On the ride to the estate, I scrolled through all the unread messages and finally remembered the post I made last night after losing that stupid game. Ethan’s time was unbelievably valuable. Even during our wedding vows, his assistant was standing nearby checking his watch. Now, because of a joke post, he was summoned back from Dubai overnight by our parents?! When I stepped out of the car, my legs felt like jelly. The Ethan I was most familiar with was the arrogant, reckless boy from our youth. The day he got his driver’s license, he totaled an obscenely expensive supercar. He didn’t even flinch, just kicked the shattered headlight and complained, “What a piece of junk.” He was not this terrifying, awe-inspiring CEO. From his perfectly tailored cuffs to his impeccably styled hair, every single movement screamed “corporate elite.” It was as if he was born in a boardroom. Right now, this corporate elite was occupying a single armchair, while our four parents sat opposite him on the sofa, looking incredibly stern, like a tribunal preparing to pass judgment. The moment I walked in, my mother-in-law’s expression softened. She smiled and came over to take my hand. “It’s my fault. I didn’t realize Serena was feeling so wronged.” My own mother followed closely behind, casting a hesitant, pointed look at my stomach. Thanks to my frequent, spontaneous vacations around the world, I had successfully created the illusion that I regularly flew out to visit Ethan. Therefore, they had absolutely no idea about the true, nonexistent state of our marriage. In their eyes, while Ethan and I might not have a fiery, passionate romance, we were mutually supportive and harmonious. I opened my mouth, struggling to find the words, and silently explained: “Mom… I’m not pregnant…” Compared to my mother-in-law, my own mother knew exactly what kind of trouble I was capable of causing. She instantly gave me a “I knew you were pulling some kind of stunt” look and stood back, waiting to see how I would clean up my own mess. Three other pairs of eyes stared directly at me, waiting for my explanation. I had never faced an interrogation like this in my life. Desperate, I looked at Ethan, praying that the male lead of this ghost-town marriage would throw me a lifeline. The man fought cutthroat corporate wars in Dubai, only for a massive scandal to drop on his head in New York. Yet, Ethan didn’t seem angry at all. And from the looks of it, he hadn’t sold me out yet. Time ticked by. Just as I was losing all hope and frantically trying to piece together a lie in my head… Ethan finally spoke: “I’ve been too busy with work lately, and I haven’t had time to spend with Serena. She was just throwing a tantrum at me. It’s a misunderstanding. I’m sorry for making you all worry.” Ethan was too brilliant and intimidating. He held absolute authority in the family. As soon as he said those words, the four elders immediately understood and nodded in relief. “We were just overreacting. But since you’re already back, you need to spend more time with Serena.” Ethan nodded in agreement. 3 For the entire ride back to our penthouse, I didn’t dare say a word. I drafted a dozen apologies in my head, only to swallow them back down every time. I was stressing so much my face probably looked like a wrinkled prune. When Ethan, pulling his suitcase with one hand and loosening his tie with the other, headed straight for the master bedroom, I finally snapped out of it and blocked his path. Under his confused gaze, I explained awkwardly: “The room is a bit messy. You should go shower in the guest room first, and I’ll bring your luggage in for you.” It was more than “a bit messy.” There was absolutely nothing belonging to Ethan in that master bedroom. He only came back to sleep here one night a year. The last time he was here, the moment he left for the airport on New Year’s Day, I packed up all his belongings and threw them into the guest room. “I’m just going to change my clothes and leave. I have a business dinner in a bit.” Ethan truly was a workaholic. Even though it was already nine o’clock at night, and he had only been back just long enough to take the blame for my prank, he had already scheduled a business meeting. He easily sidestepped me and pushed open the door to the master bedroom. By the time I reacted, it was too late. Ethan stood at the entrance of the massive walk-in closet, staring in absolute silence at the mountains of women’s clothing from every season. “Where are my clothes?” I laughed nervously. “I… I sent them out to be dry-cleaned and maintained. When they were delivered back, the staff didn’t know, so they accidentally put them in the guest room. I haven’t had time to move them back yet.” I didn’t expect this pathetic lie to fool Ethan. He just gave me a deep, unreadable look, took off his suit jacket, and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his dress shirt. It was like he had stripped off his cold, elite exterior. For a brief second, I caught a glimpse of the reckless, youthful Ethan I used to know. The doorbell rang. The next second, Ethan’s secretary walked in with several people, carrying large and small boxes into the apartment. When I finally saw what was inside those boxes, the room spun. My karma had finally arrived. Ethan appeared behind me, gesturing with his chin toward the boxes of red and green grapes. “Eat. Since you love them so much, this time, you’re going to eat until you drop.” I wanted to cry. “I’m sorry.” His face was as cold as ice. “I’ll be back in two hours. You can finish them all by then, right?” When Ethan returned from his business dinner, the apartment was in chaos. The housekeeper was busy moving his belongings back into the master bedroom, while I was squatting in the living room, frantically stuffing grapes into my mouth. I really tried my best. I managed to finish half a box. I thought that showing genuine effort would at least earn me a sliver of forgiveness. But when he saw my cheeks bulging with grapes, his expression grew even colder. He had clearly been drinking. His breathing wasn’t as steady as it had been two hours ago. He walked up and looked down at me. “Serena, where is your brain?” Honestly, no matter how bossy I acted behind his back these past three years, the moment I was in front of Ethan, I couldn’t help but cower. After all, when you have a guilty conscience, you’re always afraid of getting caught. “But I really tried my best! I seriously can’t finish them.” I was so pathetic! I sounded so weak, my voice was literally trembling. He reached out to pull me up, his brow furrowed deeply. “Get up. Go wash up and go to sleep.” He was letting me off the hook. I let out a massive sigh of relief and practically skipped to the bathroom. But the moment I laid down in bed, karma struck again. In just one short hour, I had to run to the bathroom three times. Ethan, sleeping next to me, finally lost his patience. Resigned to his fate, he got out of bed, threw on some clothes, and grabbed a cashmere blanket to wrap me tightly over my pajamas. “Get up. We’re going to the hospital.” I was so weak and dehydrated from diarrhea that I couldn’t even stand up straight. I waved him off weakly. “It’s fine. I’ll just find some stomach medicine.” Ethan’s patience had entirely run out. Ignoring my protests, he scooped me up into his arms. The last time I was this physically close to him was on our wedding day. 4 The wedding was entirely planned by our in-laws. The Thorne family favored traditional ceremonies, so everything from the bridal pickup to the reception was very grounded and classic. At 9:00 AM, the designated auspicious time, I sat drowsily on the edge of the bed. The priceless diamond tiara on my head was so heavy I could barely breathe. The sound of festivities grew louder. Surrounded by a crowd of groomsmen, Ethan calmly and flawlessly passed all the ridiculous “tests” my bridesmaids had set up. That day, he actually had a smile on his face. In a daze, I almost forgot that this was supposed to be a dull, arranged corporate marriage. When he finally found my hidden bridal shoe, the way he picked me up was incredibly gentle and reverent. Amidst the cheering crowd, a suspicious hint of red crept up the tips of his ears. For a moment, I forgot all our past grudges. Leaning against his chest, my heart pounded like a drum. That was the only moment of genuine warmth in our three years of marriage. When the driver pulled the car around today, Ethan had already been holding me at the entrance of our building for ten minutes. Miraculously, my churning stomach quieted down for those ten minutes. I felt incredibly warm. Because we had been holding the same position for so long, I tried to shift slightly in his arms. He looked down at me. The night was too dark for me to see his expression clearly, but I felt the arm around my waist pull me even tighter against him. I gathered my courage, raised my arms to wrap around his neck, and rested my head on his shoulder. “When is the driver getting here?” “Almost.” His voice was right next to my ear, his breath brushing against my skin, tickling me like a feather. Being young and impulsive, my heart was effortlessly stirred with thoughts I definitely shouldn’t be having. This highly inappropriate fluttering feeling lasted until the next day. The following morning, my face flushed as I reminisced about the decidedly not-safe-for-work dream I had the night before. I pushed open the bedroom door and walked out. The male lead of my dream was sitting in the living room wearing loungewear, a laptop balanced on his knees, looking intensely focused. “Why are you still here?!” My voice pitched up in shock, sounding a bit grating. “Serena, my name is also on the deed to this apartment.” I knew I had misspoken, so I quickly tried to explain while calming my racing heart. “No, that’s not what I meant. I mean, aren’t you going back?” “Back where?” “Dubai.” It had been three years. I had never, ever woken up the next morning to find Ethan still in the apartment. He kept looking at his laptop and replied coolly, “I’m taking a vacation. For a month.” I was shocked beyond belief. Ethan, the CEO of a multinational conglomerate, with a million things on his plate, right in the prime of his career, taking a one-month vacation? It felt incredibly extravagant. When Chloe heard my rant, she bravely defended Ethan: “Even a dog would shake its head at that! Machines get downtime for maintenance, but Ethan doesn’t?” I replied in agony: “Do you know what this means?! It means I can no longer stay out all night! I have to come home for three meals a day on time and play the role of the perfect, dutiful wife!” Looking at the text message my mother-in-law just sent, I felt even more dead inside. “It also means I might actually have to give Ethan a baby!” My mother-in-law told us to “work hard” and said she believed in Ethan’s abilities. I put my phone down and looked up, meeting Ethan’s gaze. He had clearly just finished replying to our parents’ messages too. His eyes held a rare hint of unnatural awkwardness. 5 Living alone with Ethan was awkward beyond description. Our only shared topic of conversation was that we went to the same Ivy League university. And in our only shared memories, I had repeatedly played him for a fool. After suffering through an entire day of awkward silence, I finally couldn’t take it anymore and tried to break the ice. I carefully chose my words: “Um… do you remember…” Every single mutual topic we had was a landmine. I suddenly felt like I was being too reckless, but the words were already out. Ethan generously looked up and gave me his full attention. I braced myself and stepped right on the landmine. “Carter’s kid… he’s already two years old.” Carter was the only son of the Carter family, a notorious playboy. In college, he worshipped the ground Ethan walked on, and his lifestyle was obscenely lavish. When our friend group used to get together, we would always bring him up, mocking him for slumming it with Ethan, saying he was useless and would probably die in a pile of women. Yet, out of everyone in our social circle, he was the first one to get married and the first to have a kid. When Ethan went abroad, Carter completely disappeared from our radar. The next time we heard about him, it was because he was marrying a young, brilliant university professor from a highly respected, academic family. It was an opulent, century-defining wedding that made everyone envious, giving their little-known, older-woman-younger-man romance the perfect happy ending. Ethan looked at me, seemingly speechless. He finally said, “Carter’s son is my godson.” My eyes widened in pure shock. “How did I not know this?” I realized with a jolt how terrible of a wife I was. My knowledge of his social circle was stuck in our college days. I thought everything had stayed in the past, and I knew absolutely nothing about his current life. Ethan casually dropped another bombshell. “And you are his godmother. For his one-month celebration, I gave him a solid gold lock on your behalf.” So it wasn’t like I had imagined. He didn’t just come back once a year and essentially live permanently in Dubai. For Carter’s son’s one-month and two-year birthdays, Ethan had flown back personally, and even stopped by our apartment each time. It’s just that our timing was terrible, and we never actually crossed paths. “On his first birthday, I called you to ask if you wanted to come with me.” Before I could object, he continued: “A man answered the phone. He said you were sleeping and told me to screw off.” I practically slid right off the sofa, my legs trembling and my heart hammering in my chest. Ethan, however, looked completely unfazed by the possibility that he had been cheated on, and gently helped me back up. “Listen to me, it’s not what you think.” No man would ever casually answer my phone, and I definitely wouldn’t be sleeping next to another man. Except for one person: my younger cousin, Mason. He was two years younger than me. We grew up so close we practically shared everything. He wasn’t my biological brother, but he might as well have been. Ethan knew Mason existed, but their only interaction happened back in college… when I dumped Ethan. To ensure my humiliation of him was complete, I chose to break up with him at Mason’s birthday party. In front of everyone, the usually wild and arrogant young heir lost all his composure. He grabbed my hand, and his first instinct was to apologize. He had no idea what he had done wrong; he just desperately, humbly apologized and begged me not to end it. I impatiently shook off his hand, looking down at him with extreme arrogance. “Out of all the boyfriends I’ve had, you are the hardest to get rid of. A breakup is a breakup. I’m bored of you. Understand?” The scene was pure chaos. Looking back on it now, I genuinely felt like I couldn’t breathe. Mockery and insults flew from every direction, piercing Ethan like knives. But his eyes were only on me. Even though so many people looked down on his background, he was always proud. He had this lazy, indifferent look in his eyes, and occasionally, when he felt like it, he would use his wealth to aggressively shut down the snobby cliques that tried to corner him. None of us wanted to admit it, but we—this group of people—didn’t actually look down on him. We weren’t isolating him. We were just deeply insecure that our status was being challenged by him, and we couldn’t do anything about it. Wearing the crown of “old money,” we were secretly jealous of Ethan’s freedom and audacity. And no one wanted to admit that ever since Ethan beat a trash-talking rich kid half to death and then casually threw down a massive stack of cash to settle it, we had subconsciously started to fear him. The ability to force a powerful family’s heir to swallow his pride and accept a payout—that required terrifying financial power. My harsh words struck a massive blow to Ethan. Someone laughed: “Look at him. He looks like an abandoned dog.” Mason shoved his way to the front of the crowd, kicked the devastated Ethan to the ground, and laughed with his hands on his hips. “Who the hell do you think you are? You think you’re good enough for my sister? We wouldn’t even let you be her dog; you’re bad luck.” Given that background, I didn’t even dare invite Mason to our wedding. “So, what is the truth?” Ethan looked at me, his tone perfectly calm. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. I prepared for the worst. “That was Mason.” Ethan’s expression softened. It wasn’t the angry, resentful reaction I had expected upon hearing his enemy’s name. Instead, he seemed to suddenly relax, the tension leaving his face. “Okay, I understand.” The storm I had braced myself for never came. Ethan answered a phone call. I sneaked a glance at him, and he caught me staring. The person on the other end seemed to be a close friend. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. He kept his eyes on me, but said to the phone, “Yeah, she’s home. Alright, let me ask her.” I snapped back to reality when I heard him ask me: “Do you have any plans later? Let’s go see our godson.” Caught red-handed staring at him, I felt incredibly guilty. I nodded frantically, agreeing to whatever he said. 6 Carter should absolutely hate my guts. In college, he followed Ethan’s every command. When I was dating Ethan, Carter treated me with the utmost respect, always greeting me with a huge smile. Later, when I teamed up with everyone to orchestrate that massive humiliation against Ethan, Carter stormed into my house, looking so terrifying I thought he was going to murder me. Somehow, he held back his rage. He just pointed at me and said, “Serena, don’t you ever regret this.” How could I not regret it? I regretted it to death. The moment Ethan was kicked out of Mason’s party, I instantly regretted it. A spot in my chest went numb with pain, but I still had to force a smile and deal with the empty flattery of my friends. I fully expected Carter to give me the cold shoulder today. But the moment I stepped through his front doors, he and his wife were holding a little toddler, greeting us with warm smiles. Honestly, I knew almost everyone in the room by reputation. Every single one of them was a top-tier talent in their respective fields, armed with power and influence. Birds of a feather flock together. I thought about my group of aimless, partying friends, and for a moment, I felt so inferior I couldn’t even lift my head. Someone joked, “When it comes to being protective of a wife, Ethan is on another level. It’s been three years, and you finally bring her out for us to see.” Ethan peeled an orange for me, meticulously removing the white pith. “Serena and I don’t get to see each other much. Whenever I come back, I barely have enough time to spend with her. Why would I waste time on you guys?” Even though I knew he was just playing the part for the crowd, my heart still betrayingly started hammering against my ribs. I looked up at him, and he was looking back at me. His gaze was intense and gentle, just like it was all those years ago. Someone walked in. When he saw me, he froze for a second before easily falling into familiar banter. “Long time no see, sister-in-law. You’re looking even more beautiful.” I looked up at him, taking a long time to dig his identity out of my memory. He was Ethan’s absolute best friend, Colin. They had known each other long before Ethan’s family struck it rich. After graduating, he followed Ethan overseas as his right-hand man. He had fought his way up and was now a powerhouse executive in the Thorne empire. When we got married, he was still in Dubai managing the mines. So, this was our first time seeing each other in six years. I smiled back. “It really has been a long time.” The little toddler, encouraged by his mom, waddled over to me. He timidly hugged my leg and handed me a paper airplane he had folded himself. “Godmother, you’re even prettier than my mommy.” Everyone burst out laughing. Blushing, I accepted my godson’s gift and dug a piece of chocolate out of my purse for him. The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted. Ethan stared at the chocolate in my hand, looking uncharacteristically distracted. The arrogant, eighteen-year-old Ethan had one fatal flaw: he was prone to low blood sugar. But he never cared. He still drank himself into a stupor every night. At the underground street racing tracks on the outskirts of the city, he would get behind the wheel of a supercar and slam the gas pedal like he had a death wish. While I was chasing him, I found out about this. I started stocking my purse with all kinds of snacks. Different types of candies, chocolates, and even a bottle of glucose water were always on hand. A dizzy, disoriented Ethan peeled open a candy I gave him, popped it into his mouth, and spit it out a second later. “Disgusting.” I patiently offered him other options. “I have other brands. See which one you like?” “They’re all disgusting.” To capture his heart, I put in an insane amount of effort. I heard there was a private, artisanal chocolate shop in the UK famous for its handmade chocolates. I flew thousands of miles just to buy it, carefully protecting it all the way back to New York. Finally, I earned a genuine look of appreciation from Ethan. After that, I always kept it stocked in my bag. When we were dating, every time we met, the first thing I did was pop a piece of that chocolate into his mouth. The little toddler was a good kid who knew how to share. He broke off a piece and gave it to his mom. Carter’s wife ate it and looked incredibly surprised. “I know this brand! But didn’t the owner of this shop turn out to be an international fugitive? He got interviewed by local media because his chocolate was so good, which blew his cover, and he was arrested and sent to prison, right?” As soon as she said that, everyone turned to look at me. Back in college, Ethan used to brag endlessly. He told anyone who would listen that his girlfriend was the absolute best, flying to the UK once a month like clockwork just to buy his favorite chocolate. So almost everyone in the room knew the backstory. I laughed awkwardly. “Um, I actually made this myself.” I didn’t understand why, even after breaking up with Ethan, I kept up the habit of flying all the way to the UK to buy that specific chocolate. Until one day, I went back to the shop, and it was completely empty. The only person left was the fugitive’s apprentice, sitting there crying over the recipe. I stayed in the UK for over six months. I enrolled in baking classes, visited every chocolate factory in the surrounding countries, and finally found a master chocolatier who could reverse-engineer and recreate the exact flavor. I learned the craft from him.

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On the day of my prenatal checkup, the doctor and my husband forcibly took me into the abortion operating room. I was just about to ask if there had been a mistake. But my husband calmly spoke up: “There’s no mistake.” “I’ve taken in a female college student, and she’s pregnant too. I promised her that in this life, I would only have one child.” My voice couldn’t stop trembling: “What do you mean?” He smiled and said: “I just want you to adopt Nina’s child. I’m making you abort your own child because I’m afraid you’ll be biased in the future and treat my child with Nina badly.” He calmly handed me the surgery consent form: “Be good, sign it, and my wife you’ll always remain.” I gave him a deep look, then turned and staggered toward the operating room. “Ethan Turner, I hope you don’t regret the decision you made today.” He didn’t know that in this world, I was the only one—the only one who could bear him a child. Because he, suffering from azoospermia, was destined to be infertile.

I woke up three days later. The first words I heard were: “Mr. Turner, you really took a huge risk this time. Not only did you force the abortion of an eight-month fetus, but you also demanded her uterus be removed at the same time. Your wife almost bled out—we nearly lost her.” Ethan’s indifferent voice responded: “I promised Nina that I’d only ever have one child in this lifetime—hers and mine. The safest way to ensure that is to have Sophia’s uterus removed so she can’t conceive again.” His gaze swept over and met mine directly. Ethan showed no sign of panic. He reached over to tuck the blanket around me, saying with a touch of helplessness: “You heard? I had no choice. Nina said that only if the wife is disabled and unable to bear children can we legally adopt. Since you needed the abortion anyway, I figured I’d have your uterus removed at the same time. Save you from going through another surgery.” Seeing tears in my eyes, he gently wiped them away, saying with slight mockery: “I didn’t expect removing the uterus during pregnancy would cause hemorrhaging. Lucky for you, the elite gynecologist I hired for Nina was already at the hospital. You benefited from Nina’s good fortune and survived.” My whole body trembled as I mustered all my strength to slap his face. My heart felt like it was tearing apart: “Ethan, you’re not human.” But my hand only grazed his cheek weakly, leaving not even a red mark. A petite figure suddenly screamed and rushed over, slapping me hard across the face. I fell back onto the bed, the oxygen tube slipping off as I gasped for air. Looking up, I saw a young woman with tears in her eyes, standing in front of Ethan, shouting at me: “How dare you hit him! Do you know he’s been standing guard outside the ICU for three whole days because of you? If I hadn’t brought him nutrition meals every day, he would’ve collapsed.” “The man I care so deeply about—why should he be your tool for venting your emotions?” I didn’t miss the flash of emotion and tenderness in Ethan’s eyes. I had seen that look before. It was the same look he gave me when I got alcohol poisoning from drinking on his behalf and miscarried our first child. It was the same look when debt collectors threatened to chop off his hand, and I knelt crying and begging them, pawning my mother’s only keepsake to buy his freedom. I had done so much for him. But in the end, it couldn’t compare to a single tear from his new love. My heart felt like it was being stabbed with a dull knife, over and over. I propped myself up, looking at their affectionate display, and laughed bitterly: “Should I be grateful to him then? Grateful that for you, he aborted my full-term baby, secretly removed my uterus, nearly killed me, yet still deigned to stay by my bedside until I woke up?” Nina’s tears fell like broken pearls. She stared at me stubbornly: “It’s all my fault, okay?! I’m the one who hurt you! I’ll atone for it, okay?!” Like a madwoman, she shoved Ethan aside, grabbed the fruit knife from my bedside table, and thrust it toward her own belly: “I’ll cut out my baby and my uterus right now to make it up to you, okay?!” Ethan grabbed her tightly, gripping the knife handle as blood dripped down continuously. He looked up at me coldly, frozen in shock: “Sophia, are you satisfied now?” He carefully lifted the unconscious Nina in his arms and left without looking back, leaving only one sentence: “Seems I’ve been too good to you, making you think you can do whatever you want. Since that’s the case, you’d better learn what suffering really means.” I watched his retreating figure, laughing through my tears. The man who once promised to cherish me forever and never let me suffer had finally died in the passage of time. Ethan’s bodyguard coldly dragged me up and threw me out the door. “Starting today, everything Mr. Turner gave you will be taken back. If you want to keep staying in this hospital room…” I smiled bitterly and turned to leave. “No need. I don’t want anything from Ethan anymore.” My phone and wallet were all confiscated. Because they were all things Ethan had given me. Penniless, I stood on the street, desperately trying to flag down a car to take me home. But every time a kind person stopped, Ethan’s bodyguard would dutifully say: “If you’re not afraid of offending Mr. Turner of Empire Group, go ahead and let her in your car.” They would shake their heads helplessly at me and quickly drive away. The bodyguard looked at my barely-standing body and said coldly: “Mr. Turner asked me to tell you, this is what happens when you defy him and refuse to obey. If you’re willing to apologize to Miss White and agree to personally care for her during her pregnancy, he’ll have me take you home.” I turned a deaf ear, simply started walking step by step toward home.

Blood dripped down my thighs onto the asphalt road, drawing sideways glances from passersby. But I was completely numb, walking step by step until darkness fell and I finally reached my front door. The brightly lit room drove away the cold of the deep night. I raised my already frozen fingers and entered the passcode, but was met with an error beep. I gritted my teeth and entered the code again and again, the system repeatedly telling me it was wrong. Finally, the maid, annoyed beyond patience, strode over and opened the door, saying coldly: “Ma’am, stop trying. Until you apologize to sir, you can’t use anything sir bought.” “This house was bought by sir. If you don’t apologize, you can’t come in.” She looked me up and down and sneered: “If you ask me, just apologize already. What kind of status does Mr. Turner have? There are plenty of women out there waiting to take your place. Look at yourself—no family background, no looks. Over thirty and now you can’t even have children…” “He has another woman pregnant outside, and he still hasn’t divorced you. He’s already being good to you. What are you making a fuss about…” I interrupted her softly: “I won’t go in. I just need to get one thing.” The maid choked, then said sarcastically: “Everything you own was bought by Mr. Turner. What could possibly belong to you? You’re not planning to steal Mr. Turner’s jewelry and bags to sell, are you?” I said calmly: “I just want to get my medical test results. Is that not allowed?” The maid rolled her eyes, went upstairs, and threw down a manila envelope at me. I picked up the envelope and looked at the azoospermia report with Ethan’s name on it, smiling silently. This was the pre-marital medical examination report from when Ethan and I got married ten years ago. The moment I received the test results, my feelings were mixed. I didn’t know how to tell Ethan about this. Proud as he was, how could he accept being a defective man? How would his peers use this to suppress him? But fortunately, the doctor told me a secret—my physiology was special. I could activate Ethan’s inactive sperm and conceive. “Miss Cole, Mr. Turner is truly blessed to marry you. You’re the only person with such a special constitution I’ve ever encountered…” I had thought I would bury this secret in my heart forever and never let Ethan know. But I never imagined that one day, I would have to reveal this secret myself. I took out the little change in my pocket, made more than a dozen copies of this document, and handed them to a courier. Each copy had the address of a company hostile to Ethan and the private contact information of those CEOs. I said softly: “Please deliver these as quickly as possible. Just tell them this is a gift from Mrs. Turner. They’ll definitely give you a generous tip.” Ethan, this is my final gift to you before I leave. I hope you like it. Leaving the marital home Ethan and I shared, I returned to the small studio apartment where we lived when we started our business ten years ago. Back then we were dirt poor, living only in the most run-down rental in the urban village. The environment was terrible, but we were happy then. Too poor to afford anything but instant noodles, Ethan would lie and say he’d eaten well at business dinners, dumping both portions into my bowl. And late at night I’d see him standing at the sink, drinking glass after glass of tap water to fill his stomach. Our wedding ceremony was held in that shabby rental too. No banquet, just a plain silver ring that cost less than a thousand dollars. This place meant everything to me. So even after we moved to a luxury villa worth a hundred thousand per square meter, I secretly bought that rental property, fantasizing that when Ethan and I grew old, we’d move back there to live. I never imagined that one day, when my marriage to Ethan ended, I would return to where we first began.

I turned the doorknob and pushed open the door to see two intertwined figures on the sofa. And the matching couple’s pajamas I had treasured in the closet—the ones Ethan and I once wore—were now on Ethan and Nina. My mind went blank. I couldn’t control my questioning: “Ethan! How could you bring her here! You know this is our—” Before I could finish, Nina had already efficiently slapped herself across the face. With a swollen face, she stood in front of Ethan, glaring at me with tears: “Mrs. Turner, I just wanted to understand Ethan’s past life, so I begged him to bring me here.” “If you’re unhappy, I can kneel and apologize to you. Just please stop hurting him.” Ethan was heartbroken. He cupped her face, blowing on it repeatedly. He looked coldly at the bodyguard. The bodyguard behind me immediately grabbed my arms. His hand like a fan slapped my face hard. Over and over, my ears rang. I don’t know how long it lasted before they finally stopped and released me. I fell to the floor. Ethan looked at me with an expressionless face: “Sophia, why do you insist on making yourself miserable? If you’re not feeling well, just go home and rest. Why did you have to follow us here to cause trouble?” I smiled bitterly: “Go home? Do I still have a home? Is it even my home anymore?” I looked at him with red eyes, tears mixing with nosebleed dripping on the floor: “Ethan, why did you bring her here…” “You can fool around with her anywhere you want! Why did you have to defile this place!” “The thirty-year-old Ethan is already rotten to the core. Why do you have to destroy the only memory the twenty-year-old Ethan left me?” Ethan’s eyes flickered for a moment, but then turned to anger: “I’m rotten to the core? How am I rotten? Sophia, don’t forget—if it weren’t for me, you’d be stuck in this cramped rental for life!” “Don’t forget, the money you used to buy this place came from my account! This place belongs to me too! I can do whatever I want with it!” He laughed bitterly in anger: “You say I’m defiling this place by coming here?! Forget defiling it—even if I blow up this dump, it’s none of your business.” He had his men drag me out and placed several pounds of explosives outside the shabby building. With one command, the house that held our only happy memories together was reduced to rubble. In the flames filling the sky, my tears wouldn’t stop falling. Ethan stared at the tears on my face. His anger dissipated somewhat, his tone cold: “Sophia, what do I have to say to make you understand?” “I gave you the status of Mrs. Turner. I let you live in the best villa. I let you carry bags worth hundreds of thousands. Even the clothes you’re wearing now are haute couture that ordinary people could never afford in their lifetime. Haven’t I been good enough to you?!” “You’re already thirty years old. You’re not young anymore. Do you really expect me to still love an aging you?” “I give you the dignity of being my wife, I give you a comfortable life. All you need to do is turn a blind eye and accept Nina and the child. Is that so hard?” I met his gaze and said word by word: “I’m not willing.” “Ethan, you’ve erased everything we had with your own hands.” “Let’s divorce.” Anger and irritation flashed in Ethan’s eyes. He looked at me and said flatly: “Divorce? Impossible. Even if I don’t love you anymore, you’re still my most important person. I won’t divorce you.” He looked at me, saying each word clearly: “Sophia, I’ve never wronged you. If anyone’s been wronged, it’s Nina—I couldn’t give her a proper status, making her stay with me without name or title in her best years.” “I was going to give you some dignity, but I didn’t expect you to be so unreasonable, making things this ugly.” He turned around, knelt on one knee, pulled out a huge pigeon-egg diamond ring from his pocket, and said affectionately to Nina: “Nina, I regret meeting you so late.” “I can’t give you a proper status in this lifetime, but I want to give you the grandest wedding and let everyone know you’re the one I love most.” Nina covered her mouth, her eyes reddening, but she still turned her head away, looking dejected: “I can’t accept! I love you, so I’m willing to put aside my self-respect and degrade myself to be your mistress, but I don’t want everyone to know I’m your mistress!” “Unless…” She turned to look at me: “Unless Mrs. Turner witnesses our wedding and admits in front of everyone that the unloved one is the real mistress, that she’s the third wheel!”

I looked expressionlessly at the malice in the young woman’s eyes. Seeing my silence, Ethan said coldly: “Sophia, don’t forget—your parents’ ashes are buried in the cemetery I bought.” “You wouldn’t want them to end up like this house… would you?” My heart felt like a huge chunk had been carved out with a knife. Even breathing tasted like blood. I slowly nodded. “Fine. I’ll go.” Nina broke into a smile and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. He took Nina to order wedding dresses and book the venue. Before leaving, he paused. Rarely, he explained to me peacefully: “Sophia, it’s just a wedding. It won’t shake your position as Mrs. Turner.” I said calmly: “Okay.” He looked at me deeply, finally showing a smile: “You don’t need to take care of Nina during this time. Rest well in the hospital. After the baby is born, we’ll take the child on a family trip. Consider it my compensation to you.” I still calmly said okay. Only then did Ethan leave satisfied. On the wedding day, Ethan was afraid I’d cause trouble, so he had bodyguards take me to the dressing room early to watch over me. Nina acted coquettishly, saying her wedding dress was too heavy and she couldn’t put on her shoes. “Mrs. Turner, help me out.” Ethan frowned slightly, instinctively looking at me. I lowered my eyes, knelt down, lifted the wedding dress, and helped her put on her shoes. Ethan looked at me with a complicated expression, pursing his lips as if wanting to say something, but Nina pushed him. “Honey, I’m thirsty. Go get me some orange juice.” Hearing this, Ethan smiled and ruffled her hair, then turned and walked out. As soon as he left, Nina kicked me in the chest. She looked at me mockingly and said: “Sophia, you don’t think I’m some gold digger clinging to a rich man, do you?” “You probably don’t know—Ethan and I have been in love for nearly ten years too.” Seeing the shock in my eyes, she smiled viciously: “Ethan said I was too young and shouldn’t suffer with him, so he only dated me while marrying you.” “He was afraid of wronging me. The first money he earned, he told you was taken by debt collectors, but actually he bought me designer bags. Every time I felt wronged, he’d have those people come to your house and stage debt collection scenes, taking the money to buy me bags.” “One million eight hundred thousand in total. Oh, and there was a worthless bracelet that I threw away.” My whole body trembled uncontrollably. One million eight hundred thousand—that was the money I earned over those years to pay off Ethan’s debts. At my most exhausted, I even collapsed on the assembly line and nearly got pulled into the machinery. When Ethan found out, he held me trembling, saying it was his fault. How ridiculous that I comforted him then, smiling and saying I didn’t blame him… It was all fake! He’d been lying to me all along! Nina kept chattering: “Later when you got pregnant, I was so angry I wouldn’t let him touch me. So he staged a scene with business partners, getting you so drunk you miscarried. You don’t even know—when you were unconscious in the operating room, he was calling me, begging me not to be angry at him.” These words hit me like a bludgeon. Everything went dark before my eyes. Nina’s face suddenly turned vicious, full of resentment as she looked at me: “But he loves me so much, yet still won’t divorce you and marry me!” “You’re just relying on Ethan’s soft heart and sentimentality, relying on the fact that you suffered through his startup days with him to suppress me.” She suddenly laughed: “Tell me—if Ethan knew you hurt the child in my belly, would he still care about that bit of history between you two?” All my hair stood on end. I immediately turned to run out. Behind me, Nina grabbed a champagne bottle and smashed it hard against her own belly, screaming. “Ethan! Save me!” The dressing room door was kicked open by Ethan. He grabbed my wrist and threw me to the floor. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Nina collapsed on the ground, blood spreading from under her dress. “It wasn’t me…” My explanation was choked off by Ethan’s hand around my throat. His eyes blood-red, he roared at me: “Sophia! You won’t even spare a child! You disgust me!!” “You caused Nina to lose her child. Don’t blame me for going after your dead parents.” Through my terrified, agonized tears, he directly ordered: “Dig up Sophia’s parents’ graves. Grind their bones to dust and flush them down the sewers.” “No!” I screamed: “Ethan! You maniac! The dressing room has surveillance cameras! Go check them! It wasn’t me!!” Sophia trembled as she stood up, turned and ran toward the window: “Without the child, what’s the point of living? I might as well die!” “Mrs. Turner, frame me however you want!” Ethan’s face changed drastically. He shoved me aside and rushed over to grab Sophia. He looked at me with a cold expression, saying each word clearly: “Sophia, you’ve exhausted the last bit of affection I had for you. For hurting my love and my child, I won’t let you off.” He said coldly: “Send her to prison. Tell the people inside to take good care of her.” “I don’t want her to have a single good day in there.” … Ethan ran red lights all the way to the hospital. He carried Nina and rushed directly into the emergency room: “Save my love and my child! If you can save my child, I’ll donate ten million to your hospital!” The on-duty doctor was startled and stared at Ethan in shock: “Mr. Turner?” He frowned, looking at Ethan, then at Nina lying pale and fragile on the bed. He asked in confusion: “Your child? Mr. Turner, you have azoospermia and are infertile. How could you have a child?”

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The boy I secretly loved jumped to his death. Given a second chance at life, I finally told him everything. But he threatened me, saying if I truly loved him, I had to die with him. 01 I woke up and realized I had traveled back in time. I was back to exactly one month before Leo Sterling’s suicide. Leo, the boy I had pined for over three years, had jumped from the roof of the library. His body sat in the morgue for a week. No one came to claim him. Not a single family member or friend appeared. I used every cent of my savings to pay for the storage and the service. In that moment, it felt like he finally belonged to me. The police had found a single, private post on his locked social media: In this world, no one loves me. This time, I was going to shout my love for him from the rooftops. But when I finally cornered him and confessed, he just gave me a polite, distant smile. “Thank you,” he said. That was it. “Can I have your number? Or your Instagram?” I was relentless. Eventually, he sighed and gave in. Leo was the star of the psych department, a year ahead of me. He was so brilliant, so untouchable, that I never dared to speak to him before. To catch up to him, I had spent my nights buried in textbooks, barely eating or sleeping, just so I could get into the same graduate program. But in my last life, he was gone before I could even say, “Hello, senior.” I didn’t waste time. My first DM was a direct hit: [Leo, I’m actually in love with you.] There was no response. I figured he was shy. I was about to send another message when I realized… he had blocked me. The little red exclamation mark mocked me. I looked like a total stalker. I tried to add him again. Blacklisted. I was banned from even sending a request. My plan had failed before it even started. I only had 29 days left. That night, I dreamed of his death on a loop. I couldn’t hold onto him. He kept slipping through my fingers, falling over the edge again and again. Finally, I broke. I jumped with him. The sensation of weightlessness snapped me awake, drenched in sweat. My roommate asked what kind of nightmare I was having. “I dreamed my uncle turned my pet fish into stew,” I lied. She didn’t believe me. It was just a fish, after all. I first noticed Leo because of a fish. He had been crouching in front of a vendor at a local market, insisting on buying a tiny, sick fish with pinecone scales—dropsy. The vendor refused to sell it, calling him an idiot. “The thing is going to die in an hour,” he’d said. I followed that “idiot” as he carried the fish across half the city. He ended up at the edge of a lake. “Go have some fun for your last few hours,” he whispered to the water. Back then, I thought he was just pure and kind. Now I realize he was talking to himself. Was he happy in his final hours? 02 The campus wasn’t that big. Finding Leo was easy. “What exactly do you want?” he asked, finally losing his patience with my stalking. I waved my phone. “Unblock me.” “No.” “Then I’ll keep following you.” He shot me a look but didn’t budge. “Suit yourself.” So, I became Leo’s shadow. Even if he ignored me, I was content. If I kept my eyes on him, he couldn’t jump, right? The next morning, I was waiting at the entrance of his dorm. Unlike before, he didn’t walk past me. He stopped. “Have you eaten?” I shook my head. I’d been there since 6:00 AM to make sure he didn’t sneak out early. He tossed a carton of milk into my lap. “It expires today. Don’t let it go to waste.” I knew it was his way of caring. I scrambled up and followed him. “Can I have my Instagram back today?” “No.” “Leo!” He turned, frowning. “What?” “I love you even more than I did yesterday!” He rolled his eyes and kept walking toward his advisor’s office. I went back to my room to catch up on sleep. My roommates were baffled. Leo was polite to everyone else, but he was incredibly prickly with me. But this was the real him. Not the masked, “normal” version he showed the world. Because I’d been up so early, I slept until noon. I completely missed the end of his seminar. I ran to the science building, hoping for a miracle. Leo was standing right in the sun, looking like a lost kid. I ran up and held my umbrella over him. “Why didn’t you wait in the shade?” He looked down at me. “Who said I was waiting for you?” Okay, fine. He just enjoyed the June heat. Sure. I followed him to the dining hall. His tray was piled with nothing but fried chicken. I started a lecture on balanced nutrition. “Mhm,” he grunted, ignoring me as he added more nuggets to his plate. “Leo, you’re going to get a stomach ache.” “Summer,” he said, staring at me like I was a simpleton, “don’t try to lecture a med student on basic biology. Your logic is flawed.” I shut up. I bought a double serving of vegetables, planning to force some on him. But by the time I got my food, the seat next to him was taken. Three girls were sitting there. Leo wasn’t prickly with them. He was charming. He laughed at their jokes. He was the perfect gentleman. I watched him from across the room. How could someone who looked so normal be planning to end it all? Someone bumped into me, spilling my iced tea all over my arm. “I am so sorry!” the guy said, frantically grabbing napkins. “I’ll get you a new one,” he insisted before I could say no. He ran off to the line. The seats near Leo were full. I sat down nearby to dry my arm. Someone sat across from me. I thought it was the tea guy. I looked up. It was Leo. He looked furious. “Who is he?” he demanded. I told him I didn’t know. He just bumped into me. Right then, the guy returned with a fresh tea, apologized again, and left. I pushed the tea toward Leo. “I only got it because I couldn’t carry two.” He stared at the cup. He didn’t touch it until I swapped my cup for his. “Good?” I asked. He dropped the act and went back to his chicken. I started moving greens onto his plate. He looked disgusted, but under my glare, he finally ate a piece of broccoli. “Don’t be a picky eater, Leo.” He swallowed it like it was poison. 03 Leo seemed normal, but after two weeks of watching him, I realized he didn’t have any real friends. He was a master of boundaries. He was “social,” but no one was close. But what about his family? His mentors? He was a top-tier grad student. Why did no one show up to his funeral? I didn’t have time to solve the mystery. I only had 15 days left. “Leo, when are you going to unblock me?” I asked, licking an ice cream cone. If it weren’t for the deadline, I would have enjoyed this slow, hidden tension between us. “Depends on my mood.” He wiped a drop of cream off his hand with a look of pure disdain. He hated sweets. “Sigh. I guess I can’t have dinner with you tonight.” He looked at me. He wanted to know why, but his pride wouldn’t let him ask. “Group meeting. We’re designing the new athletic uniforms,” I said. “I’ll be busy all night. You won’t hear from me.” My phone buzzed. A notification. Leo_S has sent you a follow request. He kept a straight face. Stupidly stubborn boy. At the meeting, I realized the guy who bumped into me—Ross—was there too. He was a junior in design. My advisor was a friend of his father’s; he was just there for the “legacy” credit. “I mean, I have the skills too,” Ross joked. During the meeting, I checked in on Leo’s dinner. He didn’t reply, just sent a photo of a salad. [Good boy! As a reward, I’ll come see you at your dorm after this.] I held my breath, wondering if he’d block me again. He replied with a single character. [.] A period. I guess that meant “Read.” It was after 9:00 PM when I finished. Leo was waiting in the lobby of the building, wearing a black hoodie. Ross followed me out, complaining about the late meeting. The moment Leo saw him, he turned and walked away. I apologized to Ross and ran after Leo. “Leo!” He didn’t answer. He sat on a stone bench. “He’s just a legacy student in my program,” I explained. “I don’t like him,” Leo muttered. I sat close to him. “I hate legacy students too. We are united in our hatred!” He didn’t say anything. Silence stretched between us. Nearby, a couple was making out in the shadows of the campus trees. I swallowed hard. “Leo… can we hold hands?” Silence. I gathered my courage and reached for his hand. I gripped it. He didn’t pull away. My confidence surged. I looked him dead in the eye. “Can we kiss?” He let out a short laugh. “Summer, do you have no shame?” I pointed at the couple in the trees. “They’re doing it.” “They’re a couple.” “Then be my boyfriend.” I felt his hand stiffen. I held on tighter, terrified he’d let go. He didn’t answer for the longest time. I was about to ask again when he reached out his other hand and covered my mouth. “Don’t say it.” He led me back to my dorm with one hand in mine and the other firmly over my lips. “If you stop talking, I’ll let go.” I nodded. The second he released me, I whispered in his ear: “Leo, I love you even more today.” 04 Work for the project ramped up. I saw less of Leo. Before, I waited for him. Now, he waited for me. My roommates thought I’d finally won him over, but my heart was constantly on edge. Then Ross found me. I didn’t want anything to do with him, but he wanted to talk about Leo. I had lied to Leo, telling him I’d be working all night so he’d go home. “Do you know about Leo’s parents?” Ross asked, getting straight to the point. “His parents were… well, it was a scandal. They were related. His dad bailed as soon as Leo was born. I think the guy is a total freak, Summer. You should stay away.” “Thanks for the info,” I interrupted. “But I know who he is better than you do.” “Why do you think he’s in psychiatry? He’s looking for his own cure,” Ross sneered. I couldn’t stand the slander. “I appreciate the warning, but we aren’t close enough for you to talk about him like that. You’re overstepping.” Ross looked stunned, insisting he was just looking out for me. I brushed him off, saying I’d keep it in mind. Leo heard that last part. “Looking out for what? Looking out for me?” Before I could explain, he grabbed my arm and dragged me away. His grip was tight, almost painful. He didn’t stop until we were in a secluded corner of the park. “Summer, you said you loved me.” I expected him to scream. Instead, he just sounded broken, like I’d betrayed him. I didn’t know what to say. He let out a bitter laugh. “Forget it. Go away. Don’t come back.” He turned to leave. I lunged forward and hugged him from behind. “Leo… was it really that bad?” I felt his body go rigid. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. I’m just here.” He turned around and pulled me into his arms. Ross was right. The story was dark. His parents’ “forbidden” love wasn’t a romance; it was a curse. His father saw Leo as a living reminder of his “sin” and vanished. His mother blamed Leo for everything. The verbal abuse was worse than anything physical. He realized he was “broken” in high school. By day, he pretended to be normal. By night, he struggled with the urge to disappear. One night, he was googling ways to end it without pain when a quote popped up: The world isn’t perfect, but there is always someone watching over you. “I thought… maybe I’ll wait. Maybe someone will actually come.” “Leo…” I whispered, stroking his back. “So, Summer, this is your last chance to run.” I shook my head. “I’m not running.” I had lost him once because of my cowardice. This was my second chance. “Leo, I won’t regret this.” He held me tighter. “So… are you my boyfriend now?” He pulled back immediately, his “prickly” persona returning. “No.” “Why?! You’re literally cuddling me!” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “You haven’t done a proper confession yet.” Was he serious? I confessed every single day. “A formal one,” he insisted. I sighed. Fine. I’d plan the most romantic confession ever. 05 The month was almost up. I set the date for the confession on the same day he was supposed to jump. I wanted to turn his death day into our anniversary. A rebirth. I found an empty classroom. I covered it in printed photos. Screenshots of every time I told him I loved him. Candid photos of him I’d taken. Every meal he’d “reported” to me. I was a nervous wreck. I should have been watching him more closely, but I let him go alone to see his advisor. I waited in the classroom for two hours. He didn’t show. My DMs went unanswered. I went to find him. As I was heading down the stairs, I saw his advisor, Professor Miller, rushing past the window. “Oh my god, someone jumped!” “Who would do that on campus?” My legs turned to jelly. Panic surged through me. I ran to the building and pushed through the crowd. The person in the pool of blood was unrecognizable, but I knew the clothes. “Leo…” I whispered. I tried to reach him, but hands held me back. A blinding white light swallowed my vision. I passed out. 06 I was in a loop. I woke up in my dorm room again. I checked my phone. It was five days before the jump. I tried to message Leo. He wasn’t in my contacts. “Fuck!” I cursed. The universe was playing with me. I ran to find his classroom. I waited for him to come out. When he did, he walked right past me like we were strangers. “Leo…” I grabbed his hand. He pulled away coldly. “Do I know you?” He didn’t remember me? Was I starting from zero? Or was the last loop just a dream? I was stuck in a circle of “is this real?” But I knew his death wasn’t a simple suicide. Everything had been getting better. He was trying to save himself. I wandered the campus, looking for clues. My advisor called me into a meeting. The advisor! I remembered that Leo always seemed darker after seeing his advisor. And I saw Professor Miller running away the day Leo died. He was involved. At the meeting, Ross was there again. I didn’t plan on talking to him, but he approached me. “How’s it going? Leo hasn’t been bothering you, has he? I told you he was a creep. Glad I could help.” “What are you talking about?” I demanded. Ross looked confused. “You said Leo was stalking you. Saying crazy things about ‘regretting’ things.” My heart stopped. Leo was in the loop too? Then why was he pretending he didn’t know me? I stood up abruptly, startling my advisor. “Summer, what’s wrong?” I didn’t answer. I grabbed my bag and ran. I had to find him. If he remembered, he knew what happened that day. He was hiding. I waited at his dorm for two days. He didn’t show. He was avoiding me because he thought I had “regretted” him. I realized that before, I only found him because he let me find him. He didn’t believe I loved him, but he’d made a bet on it. I went to Professor Miller. The man always gave me the creeps. When I asked for Leo, his expression shifted from tension to a forced smile. “Oh, so you’re the girl he said didn’t want him anymore.” I didn’t have time for small talk. “Professor, it’s urgent. Where is he?” He gave me an address. A tenement building off-campus. Before I left, I looked at him. “Are you seeing Leo the day after tomorrow?” His eyes flickered. “No. Why?” I lied. “It’s my birthday. I want him to spend it with me. I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t busy with school work.” He waved me off, telling me to have fun. 07 Leo wouldn’t open the door. “Leo! Open up! I’m sorry! Please!” I was begging like a stray dog outside his door. Whoever “Summer” was in this loop, she had ruined everything. “I have a secret! Just listen!” I whispered through the door frame. “The person before… that wasn’t me.” “You’re lying,” his voice came from inside, low and hollow. “I’m not! Just open the door!” “Go away.” “No!” I sat down on the floor. I wasn’t leaving. The hallway of the old building was damp. Then, the sky opened up. A downpour hit the city. The roof of the hallway leaked, soaking me to the bone. I shivered, knocking again. “Leo, I’m freezing. I’m going to get sick.” “I saw you walk into the rain on purpose,” he said through the door. Dammit. He’d been watching. “Fine. Then throw me an umbrella so I can go home and change.” I was ready to bolt the second the door cracked. It opened. He didn’t throw an umbrella. He threw a towel over my head. “Dry off and get in here.” He looked lethal. He leaned against the wall, glaring at me. “Talk.” I told him everything. From his first death to the loops. I told him the logic. He didn’t jump. The Summer in his timeline had disappeared and was replaced by a Summer who didn’t know him. He thought I was playing a game with him. I told him the jump had to do with his advisor. He laughed. “That’s a hell of a story. You spent days coming up with that?” “Leo, I know it sounds insane, but it’s what’s happening.” “You regretted being with me, Summer. Just admit it.” He tossed an umbrella at my feet. “Get out.” I grabbed his sleeve. “I’m not going anywhere.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “424280”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

During my last live interview, the host asked me, “If you weren’t in the entertainment industry, what would you be doing?” I answered casually, “I’d go home and inherit my family’s billion-dollar fortune.” With that one sentence, I immediately trended on Twitter. Everyone was mocking me, a D-list, no-name actress, for having such delusional fantasies. But after I left the industry, I actually became a major player behind the scenes in Hollywood. 1 Live interview. Chloe and I were on a show together because of a TV drama we co-starred in. We debuted at the same time. Five years in the entertainment industry, and I was still that lukewarm, D-list actress, while Chloe had long become an A-list superstar. During the interview, almost all of the host’s questions revolved around Chloe. I sat on the side like a prop. But after all these years, I was used to it. The live chat was also filled with cheers for Chloe. The occasional comment about me was just mocking me. [They debuted at the same time, but one is in heaven and the other is in the dirt. How does Maya have the nerve to be on the same show as Chloe? Isn’t she embarrassed?] [I heard Maya even had rumors with Liam, the Best Actor, back then.] [LMAO, how could Liam be with Maya? Maya definitely just wanted to create ship buzz with our Best Actor!] [Liam and Chloe are the perfect match.] Perfect match?! Looking at the comments in the live stream, I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Back then, I was dating Liam. But because he and Chloe worked together on a TV drama, I got cheated on. And from beginning to end, Liam never publicly acknowledged me. Now, people still dig it up to mock me, saying I threw myself at him and he didn’t even care. “Chloe, if you leave the entertainment industry, what would you do?” the host asked Chloe. “A housewife, maybe,” Chloe hesitated for a moment, answering with a soft smile. The live chat went crazy again. [Ahhhhh, are Chloe and Liam going to announce something?] [I heard they’ve already met each other’s parents.] [My OTP must make it to the end, otherwise, I’ll never believe in love again!] [Some people really need to know their place and stop trying to be the other woman.] “The chat is saying you and Liam might have some good news coming up,” the host teased. “No, you guys are misunderstanding,” Chloe quickly clarified. “Although things are very stable between Liam and me right now, we are still focusing on our careers. If there really is any good news, Liam and I will let everyone know immediately.” “Then why do you have the idea of becoming a housewife?” the host asked smoothly. “Because housewives are very great. My mother is a housewife. I admire her very much. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So if I ever really leave the industry, I will return to family life.” [Chloe has such good values. Whoever marries her is lucky.] [Chloe comes from a wealthy family. The education she received from a young age is different from ordinary people.] [Genuine question: Is Chloe’s family background really that good?] [Just search up the Vance family of Los Angeles online and you’ll know. Not the richest in L.A., but definitely top three on the wealth list.] I frowned. When did the Vance family of Los Angeles have anything to do with Chloe?! At this moment. The host suddenly turned and asked me, “Maya, if you leave the industry, what will you do?” Probably feeling a bit guilty for ignoring me the whole time. I thought for a moment and answered very seriously, “Go home and inherit my family’s billion-dollar fortune.” 2 “What?” The host thought she misheard. She repeated the question, “I just asked, what do you want to do after leaving the industry?” “Go home and inherit the family business,” I said frankly. The five-year deadline had arrived. When I insisted on entering the entertainment industry, I made a three-point agreement with my family. If I didn’t make any progress in the industry within five years, I had to go home and inherit the family business. A few days ago, my billionaire father even called to remind me. “May I be so bold as to ask, what does your family do that requires you to go back and inherit it?” the host asked me, amused, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. Sitting next to me, a flash of mockery also passed through Chloe’s eyes, though it was fleeting. After all, it was a live broadcast. In front of millions of netizens, Chloe had to maintain her persona, so she naturally wouldn’t show any real emotion. “A little bit of everything. Mostly commercial investments,” I answered. It really did involve too many fields to explain clearly at once, so I spoke in general terms. But in the eyes of others, they felt I was lying and being evasive. At this moment, the live chat went crazy again. [What exactly is Maya competing with Chloe for? Just now someone said Chloe comes from a wealthy family, and now Maya says she’s going home to inherit a billion-dollar fortune?] [You can’t even joke like that. She just can’t stand that Chloe is better than her in every way, right?] [If she has a billion-dollar fortune, I’ll eat shit live!] [So disgusting. She can’t compare to Chloe, so she starts scamming, saying her family has a billion-dollar fortune? LMAO, who would believe that?!] Watching the comments, I also got a bit angry. I wanted to explain. The host directly said, “Maya is very humorous and knows how to liven up the atmosphere in our live stream. Fans shouldn’t take it too seriously.” It seemed like she was helping me out, but in reality, she just didn’t believe me. She even slapped me in the face publicly. “I’m telling the truth…” I was speechless. “Next up, Chloe’s fans really want me to ask you some questions.” The host didn’t give me a chance to speak at all. “They really want to know how your skin is so good, what’s your skincare routine?” Chloe answered the host’s questions one by one, and the atmosphere between the two was very harmonious. For the next almost half an hour of the interview, I didn’t get to say another word. The live stream ended. Everyone walked out of the studio. Chloe’s agent and assistant were all waiting for her, as was Liam. He held a giant bouquet of roses and gave it to Chloe in front of all the staff. The sweetness between the two of them was truly enviable. I walked away from them coldly. For a D-list actress like me, naturally, no one was waiting for me. However, my brother just called and said he was coming to pick me up, but there was a bit of traffic on the way. Fully disguised, I stood by the door waiting for him. “Maya, you really don’t have to compete with Chloe on everything.” Behind me, a familiar voice suddenly sounded. I turned around and saw Liam, who had just been embracing Chloe deeply. 3 Liam and I were from the same talent agency. He debuted two years before me. When I met him, he was also a nobody, barely getting any work. As soon as I joined the agency, Liam said it was love at first sight. At first, I refused. I had finally convinced my family to let me develop in the entertainment industry, and I didn’t want dating to affect my career. But in the end, I couldn’t resist Liam’s excessive attentiveness and agreed to date him. However, the agency didn’t allow artists, especially new ones, to date, so we could only keep it “underground.” During our secret relationship, Liam’s acting career progressed by leaps and bounds. But what he didn’t know was that I helped him secure most of his jobs through my family’s connections. Especially that movie that made him explode in popularity. To get him the male lead, my dad directly became an investor. However, who would have thought that after he blew up, he would officially announce his relationship with Chloe, the female lead of the movie. At first, he lied to me, saying it was just for PR and hype. It wasn’t until later, when paparazzi caught him spending the night at Chloe’s house, that he confessed, saying he hid it from me because he was afraid I would be too heartbroken to accept it. The truth is, I knew perfectly well that Liam was just worried I would expose our relationship out of anger. He had always maintained a single persona before. He had finally made it big, and he was afraid of a scandal. I didn’t have that strong a desire for revenge. Even though I was indeed very angry at the time, thinking about how I hadn’t considered myself at all over the past two years just to support him… Of course, I admit that my main goal in entering the entertainment industry wasn’t to become famous, but to understand the market for future project investments. Sooner or later, I was going back to inherit the family business. Therefore, as an artist, I didn’t have huge ambitions. But that didn’t mean I should be the fall guy, unconditionally accepting Liam’s betrayal. I even never told him what I had done for him behind the scenes, afraid it would burden him… But in the end, I still chose to let it go. After all, everything I did for Liam was willing, and I never expected him to repay me. Moreover, life is so long, who can guarantee they won’t meet a scumbag or two? I just treated it as a lesson learned. And most importantly, I will be doing business in the entertainment industry in the future. Harmony brings wealth, and I didn’t want to make enemies with anyone. So after being cheated on, I still broke up with Liam peacefully. After breaking up, we had no contact or overlap. Even though Liam’s fans often sarcastically said I was throwing myself at him, I never responded. Until today, when Liam took the initiative to speak to me. I looked at him coldly. From the day we broke up, this person was meaningless in my life. “I know you’re uncomfortable that I’m with Chloe, so you try to compare yourself to her everywhere,” Liam said helplessly. “But someone like Chloe, born with a silver spoon and favored by God, looking at the entire entertainment industry, who can compare to her, let alone you who has nothing.” I was so angry I laughed. Chloe was born with a silver spoon? I have nothing?! He probably didn’t know how many times Chloe had been subjected to the “casting couch” to get a role. He even more didn’t know that if my family’s assets crushed down, they could crush this pair of scumbags into mush! “Don’t blame me for speaking harshly. We loved each other once, and I don’t want you to be too embarrassed. You should also know how ugly the outside voices mocking you are now.” Liam looked well-intentioned. “Although bad publicity is still publicity, a person still needs to have some dignity.” 4 “You still know what dignity is?” I fired back. “When you cheated, why didn’t you think about finding your dignity?!” Liam’s face instantly changed. He said, frustrated and angry, “Maya, do you know how busy I am right now? Do you know how full my schedule is? I’m telling you this for your own good. Do you think I have nothing better to do than waste my time on you all day?” “Then get lost, as far away as possible! It’s best if you never appear in front of me again, you’re an eyesore!” I snapped back at him. For this kind of scumbag, there’s really no need to give him any face. “Do you still not have any self-awareness?! Look at what you’re like now. I’m taking the initiative to care about you. Not only are you not grateful, but you’re acting so arrogant?!” “I originally thought if you still wanted a place in the entertainment industry, remembering our past, I’d introduce you to some resources. Since you don’t know what’s good for you, then forget it.” Liam looked arrogant. I snorted coldly. Who cares. If I want resources, if I want to pull strings, do I need your help?! I couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to Liam anymore. At this moment, my brother had already arrived in his Rolls-Royce to pick me up. I was about to walk right past Liam. “Maya!” Liam suddenly blocked my path. Being ignored by me like this, he looked like he was burning with anger. “No wonder you haven’t made any progress in the entertainment industry for five years. Someone like you who doesn’t seek improvement will never make it in the industry in your entire life. In fact, not just the entertainment industry, you won’t have a good life anywhere!” Liam said angrily. “Now I’m truly incredibly glad I chose Chloe instead of wasting time on someone like you!” “Liam, don’t speak too absolutely, it’s easy to get slapped in the face!” I mocked coldly. “But you’re actually right. I am very glad I didn’t waste too much time on you!” “You!” Liam was furious, and said viciously, “Maya, I’ll tell you straight. I’m about to take on an S-tier TV drama. Seeing you struggling so much, I wanted to help you out, introduce you to the director, and let you play the third female lead.” “Heh.” I sneered, my face full of disdain. “I really don’t care.” Liam still wanted to say something. I was truly out of patience. “Move! Good dogs don’t block the way.” I glared at him angrily. Liam was grinding his teeth in anger. But at that moment, he still didn’t move. It must be that psychologically he still couldn’t accept me being so cold to him. He probably thought that with him doing so well in the entertainment industry now, I should be fawning over him like a simp. Just like when we broke up, Liam always thought I would cling to him desperately. But unexpectedly, I was even more decisive and neat than him. During the stalemate. Liam was suddenly shoved hard from behind. The movement was a bit rough. Liam almost fell flat on his face. He turned around and angrily looked at the person who pushed him. My brother didn’t even look at him, just asked me, “Who is this guy?” “A stray dog,” I replied. “Maya!” Liam was exasperated. “Warning you, stay away from Maya! Otherwise, I’ll kill you.” My brother pulled me into his arms, threatening coldly. Liam looked at me and my brother fiercely. At that moment, naturally, he also saw the two tall and burly bodyguards standing behind my brother, and didn’t say another word. Moreover, Liam was a public figure and didn’t dare to cause trouble. He could only watch through gritted teeth as my brother and I got into that black Rolls-Royce and drove away. 5 Sitting in the car. Liam sent me another message. When we broke up, it was very clean, so we didn’t get to the point where we had to block each other’s contacts. [Maya, I really didn’t expect you to be subjected to the casting couch. I still felt guilty and worried about you, but it turns out I was flattering myself.] Even through the screen, I could smell Liam’s sourness. I ignored him. I was currently talking to my brother about me leaving the industry. But Liam was relentless. The message notifications didn’t stop, and his tone was getting nastier. [I really didn’t expect you to sink this low?! Don’t you feel cheap acting like this?] [You can’t even compare to Chloe. No matter how bad things get for Chloe, she would absolutely never do something like this.] [You really have subverted every image I had of you in my heart. I always thought you were very pure, but I overestimated you.] I was annoyed by the message sounds, and unable to take it anymore, I replied: [If you’re not afraid of me sending our chat history to the media, shut up!] That one sentence shut Liam up immediately. I sneered. It was truly ironic. For Liam, his career is more important than anything. Choosing Chloe back then was also out of vanity and social climbing, right?! Of course, I had no expectations of him. I had long seen through what kind of person he was. After finishing with Liam, I received a call from my agent. She asked coldly, “Where are you?” “On my way home.” “What nonsense were you spouting during the live interview today? Who do you think you are to compare yourself to Chloe?” The agent scolded me harshly. “Do you know you’re trending now because people are cursing at you?! I warned you long ago, our agency doesn’t need infamous artists. You insist on doing this, do you want the agency to completely give up on you?!” “Then give up.” I originally intended to terminate my contract with the agency anyway. Moreover, the agency indeed hadn’t promoted me. “What, are you threatening me?” The agent’s voice rose significantly. “Why do you think I signed you back then? If I had signed Chloe, who debuted at the same time as you, I would have made a fortune long ago!” “So who’s to blame?! Blame yourself for being blind?!” I mocked. “Enough, Maya, I don’t want to waste words with you. Hurry back to the agency now and record a video apologizing to the public, saying you were just joking to liven up the atmosphere during the live stream.” “I wasn’t joking.” I said, word by word. “You mean your family really owns a mine?” The agent mocked me. “If your family owns a mine, why haven’t I seen them spend money to promote you? If your family owns a mine, how could you still be such a loser after all these years?!” “I’m a loser, shouldn’t you look for the reason in yourself, as my agent?” “You!” The agent was speechless. “I don’t want to argue with you. Come back now and record the video.” “I’m not recording it.” “Maya, have you lost your mind? You dare to refuse the agency’s arrangement?! Believe it or not, the agency will freeze you out immediately!” “There’s no need for that much trouble. We can just terminate the contract,” I said coldly. “Terminate the contract? You think you can terminate it just because you want to? You still have half a year left on your contract. If you terminate early, can you afford the penalty?” “You don’t need to worry about that.” I didn’t want to waste words with her. I said directly, “I’ll come find you at the agency tomorrow.” Then I hung up. And turned off my phone. My brother watched my actions and asked with a smile, “Finally feel that the entertainment industry is boring?” “I felt it was boring a long time ago. I just stayed longer to investigate the market.” “Do you need me to go with you to terminate the contract tomorrow?” “No need.” “Indeed my family’s child, naturally domineering,” my brother praised. 6 The next morning, I went to the talent agency. The news of me saying I was going to inherit a billion-dollar fortune in the live interview yesterday was still hanging at the number one spot on the trending list. The comments below were all cursing me for being shameless. The few fans I had also turned on me, saying they wouldn’t support a liar. I didn’t care. I was leaving the industry anyway. When I arrived at the agency, besides the agent waiting for me with a cold face, Liam was also there. He looked at me with a half-smile. He was clearly here to watch me make a fool of myself. Really, a petty man gloating. “The young heiress of the Thorne family is willing to come to the agency herself?” The agent opened her mouth with passive-aggression. As soon as she spoke. Other staff members and some artists in the agency couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “I’m here to terminate my contract.” I remained unmoved, my expression cold. “Sure.” The agent unhurriedly took out my contract. “According to the contract, if an artist breaks the contract early, they must pay the agency thirty million dollars in penalties.” My brow furrowed slightly. I wasn’t scared by the figure, but in my memory, I simply didn’t need to pay that much. As a qualified businesswoman, how could I suffer such a loss?! I casually picked up the contract and started reading. Seeing my expression, the agent began to mock: “What, doesn’t your family have a billion-dollar fortune to inherit? You can’t even produce a mere thirty million?! But seriously, Maya, you’ve been in the industry for five years, have you made thirty million? Not even three million!” She was certain I couldn’t produce that sum of money. She continued chattering: “Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not! There are still ten months left on your contract. If you be a good girl and listen, the agency might still renew your contract. Otherwise, with your commercial value right now, no agency will sign you…” Smack, I threw the contract in front of the agent. The agent jumped in fright. She stared at me blankly, yelling with lingering fear: “Are you crazy?” “It’s written very clearly here. With less than a year left on the contract, the penalty is only 60%, which means I only need to pay eighteen million.” “Can you even produce eighteen million? LMAO…” “Swipe it!” I took out a black card and placed it in front of her. The agent looked at me in disbelief. “Eighteen million, and from now on, we have nothing to do with each other.” “Where did you get the money?” The agent looked at my card and asked me. After all, I really hadn’t made much money in the entertainment industry. “Where else could she get the money? The sugar daddy behind her,” Liam spoke up, seemingly casually. “Yesterday when I went to pick up Chloe, I happened to see her get into a top-of-the-line limited-edition Rolls-Royce…” “Maya, you really are something!” The agent flared up. “Back then, when I asked you to go to dinner parties to accompany executives, you refused. Now you turn around and latch onto a big shot, and you just flip the table, right?!” “That’s my family’s money.” I was utterly speechless. “You want to be a whore and erect a chastity monument?! If you had listened to me back then, you could have been as famous as Chloe. But in the end, you still went down this path?!” The more the agent spoke, the more disdainful she became. “I wasted five years on you for nothing.” “Wasted five years on me?!” I raised my voice, no longer indulging her. “Ever since I refused the casting couch, you completely ignored me! For the past five years, I negotiated countless jobs on my own. You have the nerve to say ‘wasted’? If anyone’s wasted anything, it’s me feeling sorry for myself!” 7 “Maya!” the agent screamed. In front of so many people in the agency, I didn’t give her any face at all. “Don’t think that just because you have a sugar daddy, you can be arrogant in the entertainment industry. I’ve been in the industry for twenty years. If I want to blacklist someone, it’s a piece of cake,” the agent threatened loudly. “Then, let’s wait and see.” LMAO. The capitalist big shot she was currently fawning over was my own father. Would I be afraid of her?! After terminating the contract with the talent agency, I left. Liam blocked my way at the door again. I really don’t understand how thick someone’s skin must be to appear in front of me so self-righteously. “Maya, do you want to offend everyone in the entertainment industry?” Liam asked me with a cold smile. “You offended me, offended Chloe, and now you’ve offended your talent agency! Isn’t it just because you latched onto the eldest son of the Sterling family? But if I remember correctly, the eldest son of the Sterling family is married.” The eldest son of the Sterling family Liam mentioned was my brother. Maya Thorne is my stage name. My real name is Maya Sterling. I changed it to my mother’s maiden name mainly because I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble in the entertainment industry. “I didn’t expect you to actually look into it, did you?” Liam saw I wasn’t speaking and smugly continued, “The Sterling family is the only one in all of Los Angeles with that limited-edition Rolls-Royce.” “And then?” I looked completely indifferent. “Once you’re exposed, who do you think the eldest son of the Sterling family will choose between you and his original wife?” “Me.” I said firmly. “Maya, you really think too highly of yourself! Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you’re pretty? Wealthy families aren’t as simple as you think!” “You know what wealthy families are like?” “Chloe comes from a wealthy family, of course I know.” “She comes from a wealthy family?” I really laughed out loud. “If she comes from a wealthy family, has she ever taken you to one?” “We haven’t reached the point of discussing marriage yet.” Liam made an excuse. “Now the whole internet knows how good your relationship is. Even at this point, you still haven’t met Chloe’s parents?” “Chloe’s parents are very busy. Do you think everyone is like you, with nothing to do?” “Don’t you think you’re deceiving yourself? Liam, you’ve been dating Chloe for three years, not three days. No matter how busy someone is, they can’t spare half a day in three years?!” The more I spoke, the more sarcastic I became. “My business with Chloe is none of your concern!” Liam was getting angry. “Likewise, my business is none of yours either!” “I’m doing this for your own good!” Liam said angrily. “I don’t care! If you have that much free time, you’d be better off focusing on your goddess Chloe. Who knows, you might get an unexpected surprise.” “What do you mean?” Liam obviously caught my insinuation. “Figure it out yourself.” “I’m telling you, Maya, no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to compare to Chloe in your entire life. With her background, you can’t even dream of catching up to her.” I smiled coldly. Before, I really never thought of using my background to show off. But right now, I kind of wanted to see what kind of expression Liam would have when he found out I was the daughter of the richest man. “Just wait and see.” I dropped that line and walked away from Liam. Right now, talk is cheap. Liam wouldn’t believe me. Anyway, he’ll be slapped in the face soon enough. 8 My contract termination with the talent agency hit the trending topics again. The comment section was filled with negative remarks. [Didn’t she have a billion-dollar fortune to inherit? Yet she was dropped by her agency for running her mouth? This is literally the biggest joke to start 2024!] [I was still waiting for Maya to make a comeback. LMAO, I definitely overestimated her.] [Some people are just too vain. The entertainment industry shouldn’t encourage this toxic behavior.] [She used to leech off Liam’s popularity, which gave her some recognition. Otherwise, who would know this D-list actress? Now she wants to leech off our Chloe’s popularity. Who knew she’d actually crash and burn? Serves her right!] Meanwhile, Chloe and Liam happened to have a New Year’s live stream for their fans. My trending topic actually brought a wave of traffic to their live stream. The live chat was all asking Chloe and Liam to comment on me having a billion-dollar fortune to inherit and getting dropped by my agency. Liam responded first: “I have the same agency and agent as Maya. Regarding her being dropped by the agency, there might be a misunderstanding. Maya requested the termination herself. The agency never mistreated her.” [What? Maya actually dared to terminate her contract? Who would sign her now?] [If an artist voluntarily terminates, shouldn’t they pay a penalty?] [Does she have the money to pay the penalty?] “I’m not too sure about the rest. I’m just telling everyone what I know. I hope you guys don’t spread rumors,” Liam said to calm the excited fans. The fans weren’t listening at all. The live chat kept scrolling— [Does Maya have a sugar daddy behind her? Otherwise, where did she get the money to pay the penalty?] [Forget the penalty, with her current status, how dare she terminate her contract? With her reputation, who would dare hire her?!] Because of Liam’s words. The news of #MayaPaysMassivePenalty,SuspectedSugarDaddyBehindHer# rushed to the top of the trending list again. I really didn’t expect that after leaving the industry, I would actually blow up. At this moment, Chloe also responded to my situation in her live stream: “I debuted with Maya and collaborated a few times before, but we’re just acquaintances, so I’m not clear on her specific family background. But since she says her family has a billion-dollar fortune, I think it’s not entirely unbelievable.” As soon as Chloe said this, the live chat filled with compliments— [Chloe’s personality is so great. Everyone knows Maya is a fake heiress, yet she’s still willing to believe her.] [Chloe is from a wealthy family herself, so she doesn’t think being wealthy is anything extraordinary.] [Why is there such a huge gap between people? I’m proud of my idol.] [Chloe, can you show us what a wealthy family’s home looks like? Can you do a live stream touring your mansion?] That last comment was spammed all over the screen. Chloe kept trying to change the subject, acting as if she didn’t see the live chat. Liam, who was co-streaming with her, suddenly spoke up: “Chloe, just fulfill the fans’ New Year’s wish.” With Liam saying it so bluntly, Chloe really couldn’t play deaf and dumb anymore. She smiled and said, “Of course I can fulfill my fans’ New Year’s wish. Once the time is confirmed, I’ll take my fans on a tour of my home.” [Chloe spoils her fans so much.] [Being Chloe’s fan is just too lucky.] [Looking forward to touring Chloe’s new home…] I watched Chloe’s awkward smile. The Vance family of Los Angeles has never had a daughter named Chloe; they only have one named Lily, and she is my cousin. I’d really like to know how she’s going to cover up this lie of the century. 9 After the two finished their live stream. I was pushed to the trending topics, and #ChloeSpoilsFansAgreesToTourMansion# also hit the trending topics. The whole internet was looking forward to touring Chloe’s mansion. And because of this sudden surge in popularity, talent agencies reached out to me offering work. I refused them all. I had already taken over the family business and become a major player behind the scenes in Hollywood. I had invested in several highly anticipated shows and was incredibly busy every day. I almost forgot about Chloe’s live stream touring her mansion. If Liam hadn’t smugly sent me a message: [Maya, didn’t you always envy Chloe and slander her? Today at 3 PM she’s live-streaming a tour of her mansion. Aren’t you going to watch?] Chloe really had guts! I thought she would just brush it off, but she’s actually live-streaming after barely half a month? Isn’t she afraid of getting exposed?! [Thanks for the reminder, I’ll tune in right on time.] I replied to Liam. Since Liam insisted on throwing himself onto the muzzle of the gun, I obliged him. I turned around and sent a message to my cousin: [Does your dad really have an illegitimate daughter?] [Are you kidding me? I’ve been putting up with that woman Chloe for a long time! Let’s see what kind of stunt she pulls today. If she pisses me off, I’ll tear her apart right then and there.] Even through the screen, I could feel Lily’s anger. 3 PM. Chloe indeed started her live stream as promised, taking fans on a tour of her “mansion.” It was fake at a glance. Where was this the Vance family estate? I don’t know what unknown, third-rate villa in what obscure area it was. The live stream went online. The fans started mindlessly praising her. [Wow, Chloe’s house is so big and beautiful!] [Worthy of the Vance family, ranking top three on L.A.’s wealth list. So luxurious!] [Chloe really peaked right out of the gate.] [Reminds me again of a certain unknown actress who claimed she had a billion-dollar fortune to inherit!] I was working while watching Chloe’s live stream. Seeing so many fans flattering her, it became increasingly hilarious. Chloe very “professionally” led the fans on a tour of her “mansion.” The fans were very supportive. The gifts in the live stream were even more extravagant. Chloe considerately asked people not to send gifts, saying helplessly that she didn’t know how to turn off the gift feature, which triggered another wave of frantic spamming from fans. My phone suddenly rang. It was Liam. He said smugly, “Maya, do you finally see the gap between you and Chloe now? You can’t even dream of a mansion like Chloe’s in this lifetime.” “Are you still hung up on me?!” I was truly running out of patience with him. “Me, hung up on you? Why don’t you look at the massive gap between you and Chloe? Am I blind?” “Then why do you keep bothering me?” “I pity you.” “Totally unnecessary.” I glanced at the live stream. “You better go pity your goddess Chloe!” After all, right now, the live stream was starting to get chaotic. Liam seemed to have noticed it too and quickly hung up the phone.

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When Chloe moved into my house, my mom split her love in half. Chloe took the lion’s share, and I got the scraps. “You still have a dad, but Chloe has no one.” So she justified her blatant favoritism. Later, I stopped wanting my mom. Unlike my mom, I couldn’t divide my love. I gave all my love to my new mom. 1 My mom said she couldn’t attend my parent-teacher conference. “Why?” My voice was thick with unshed tears. “Didn’t you promise?” Over the phone, her voice was cold: “Just because I promised doesn’t mean I have to go. Chloe’s homeroom teacher called; I have to go to hers, and it conflicts with yours.” “Chloe, Chloe, Chloe!” I finally lost control, yelling into the phone. “All you see is Chloe! You haven’t been to my parent-teacher conference in three years!” Three years. From middle school to high school. The high school entrance exams were fast approaching! My mom hadn’t attended a single parent-teacher conference during my middle school years. This time, my usually gentle homeroom teacher had a serious expression: “Maya, you must have your mother come this time. With the entrance exams only a hundred days away, your grades have dropped too much.” I had told my mom about this five days in advance. I thought she would care at least a little. But once again, she chose Chloe. On the other end of the line, my mom’s voice was full of coldness and impatience: “Maya, Chloe has no parents. Are you really going to fight her for her aunt? Why are you so ungrateful?” “But…” Tears welled in my eyes, and my throat tightened so much I couldn’t speak. But, Chloe’s aunt… is my mother! I didn’t cause Chloe to lose her parents, so why do I have to give my mother to her as compensation? When I handed the phone back to the bookstore owner, he looked at me with a strange expression. I handed him a dollar. I had two hundred dollars left in my pocket. I had saved it up over months of skipping breakfast, originally planning to buy test prep books. Thankfully, I had asked my mom a day in advance, giving me time to prepare. I was going to use this two hundred dollars to hire a mom to attend my parent-teacher conference. 2 The mom I hired didn’t look like a good person. She wore heavy smoky makeup, leaned against the school’s iron fence counting the money, and reeked of cheap perfume. Even as the Dean of Students walked by, she was still grumbling, “All these small bills? This is so annoying.” I had saved this money dollar by dollar; of course, it was in small bills. I thought she was unreliable and was about to ask for the money back and find someone else. But she quickly backed away to a safe distance and waved the wad of cash: “It’s a deal! Tomorrow afternoon, third period! I’ll come find you! “Room 308, right?” “Don’t wear that makeup tomorrow!” Too unreliable. That was my two hundred dollars! Maybe I should try to find someone else? But she had already run off. I wanted to call out to her, but the Dean was walking toward me— He spotted the money in the woman’s hand and asked with concern, “Student, are you being extorted by someone from outside the school?” “No, no,” I answered quickly. “That’s my mom. She was going to give me some pocket money, but I said no.” Good thing she ran fast. 3 “Your name is Sarah Smith,” I told her to put it in her phone’s notes app. “My name is Riley Jones,” she said, blinking her large eyes. She was dressed just like yesterday: exaggerated smoky makeup, pale foundation, a brown leather jacket, and the same cheap perfume. Only when her thick, fan-like fake eyelashes fluttered could I catch a glimpse of her beautiful eyes. But that look didn’t move me. “My mom’s name is Sarah Smith, so your name is Sarah Smith.” I mimicked my mom’s tone when haggling at the grocery store. “Be professional. Didn’t I tell you yesterday not to dress like this?” “I have to dress like this,” she mumbled. A moment later, she smiled and said, “Take me to your classroom. Room 308, right?” On the way, she wouldn’t stop talking. “Will your homeroom teacher keep me after to lecture me? I’m telling you, the two hundred bucks doesn’t cover getting lectured.” “You didn’t say that earlier!” I stopped in the hallway. “That’s the going rate, okay?” she said impatiently. “Ugh, fine! Consider it a freebie! “Consider it my charity work for the day, okay?” She had a very casual, street-smart attitude: “Don’t be so fierce, kid.” I wasn’t being fierce. I was just a little anxious. She didn’t know that the two hundred dollars was all the money I had. I had to skip lunch to save up for the test prep books. If she charged more, I’d have to skip dinner too. But her sudden generosity made me breathe a sigh of relief. Standing at the classroom door, I awkwardly mumbled, “Thanks.” “Hey, don’t mention it.” She waved her hand and was about to walk in. But I suddenly remembered something— “Um… Riley,” I called out to her. “Yeah?” My face flushed slightly: “Could you do me one more favor?” She gave me a look that said “don’t push your luck.” But I guess my desperation overrode my shame, and once the words were out, the rest flowed easily: “There are two students in my class, one named Jason and one named Lily. “Could you talk to them and their parents? Just say you’re my mom, you know what they’ve been doing to me, and if they dare do it again, you won’t let them off easy…” “Fuck!” Riley cursed. I didn’t know why she was swearing. “Is this extra? How much? Let me think…” Before I could finish my sentence. “You’re being bullied?” Her face darkened. With a wave of her hand, she marched into the classroom: “This service is free of charge!” 4 Riley was not professional at all. During the parent-teacher conference, all the students waited outside. I watched Riley rummage through my desk through the window. The teacher glanced at her a few times, but she just scowled and flipped through my books and notebooks, ignoring everything going on around her. The more she flipped, the heavier the hostility in her expression grew. I questioned myself again whether hiring her to play my mom was a mistake. This doubt reached its peak when Mia, from the class next door, walked out. The “hire-a-parent” service was actually introduced to me by Mia. She was the slacker of the class next door, but her parents were very strict. Terrified of them scolding her after the conference, she hired someone to go in their place. To avoid being caught, she even left the “fake parent’s” phone number with the teacher. She peered through the glass at my seat: “That’s who you hired? Look at her, what, fifty or sixty bucks tops?” Fifty or sixty? I stood frozen. “Don’t tell me you gave her a hundred!” Mia exclaimed. “I paid 80, and that included answering phone calls from the teacher!” Me: “…” 5 The parent-teacher conference ended. Before Riley rushed to confront Jason and Lily, I thought to myself: I need to get at least a hundred dollars back. But when she found those two students’ parents to reason with them, I realized eighty dollars would have been enough. Especially Jason’s dad, a large, burly man who tried to argue back. But Riley quickly shut him down, brandishing my textbook and attacking him with sharp, pointed words… The classroom was chaotic, and her loud voice drew a crowd of onlookers. The two parents, feeling embarrassed, grabbed their kids and ran. Riley walked out of the classroom looking victorious. “Wait, the teacher will probably want to see us in a minute. Leave after everything is done,” I told her. I didn’t ask for a partial refund right away. I wasn’t stupid. If I asked for the money back now, what if she refused to cooperate when the teacher wanted a one-on-one chat? “Those parents will definitely lecture them when they get home.” The homeroom teacher was surrounded by parents at the podium and didn’t have time for her, so she stood in the hallway chatting with me: “But they’ll definitely hold a grudge, and they might try to bully you again. Do you want to hire me to scare them a few more times?” she eagerly pitched her services. “Only thirty dollars a pop.” I recalled her fierce demeanor just now. Jason and Lily were definitely intimidated by her. I highly doubted they’d try to bully me again. She probably just wanted to squeeze more money out of me. I knew what she was doing, but to ensure she performed well shortly, I nodded in agreement. “Hey!” she snapped her fingers. “Told you I’m high quality and reasonably priced, right?” “High quality and reasonably priced” my foot! We didn’t have to wait long. Soon, the homeroom teacher came out of the classroom. Seeing Riley, she frowned first, then asked: “Maya’s parent?” She stood up straight in a second: “Yes, teacher! I’m Sarah Smith!” The homeroom teacher gave her a strange look: “Come to the office. We need to talk about Maya.” “You got it!” Riley happily trotted into the classroom and brought out my books and notebooks— 6 I actually had a vague idea of what Riley was going to say to the homeroom teacher. I was even a little expectant. “Maya’s parent, a child’s education isn’t just the school’s responsibility. Since Maya joined our class, I’ve never seen you. I understand you’re busy—” She glanced at Riley’s attire. “But, the child’s grades have dropped severely, from the top ten in her grade to past the top hundred. Don’t you care at all about what’s going on with her?” Riley shrugged. Thinking she was being defiant, the homeroom teacher was about to say more. But Riley spread open my textbooks: “I probably don’t care enough about Maya. But her drop in grades has nothing to do with that.” The teacher stared at her, seemingly shocked that a parent could be so irresponsible. But Riley tapped her finger on the pages: “Teacher, did Maya talk to you? “About her being bullied?” Those were the most disgusting pages among all the scribbled-on books. In the margins, between the formulas, it was filled with vile insults— [Bitch!] [Who are you trying to seduce?] [Do you have no shame?] Riley read them out loud, one by one: “This is just one page. Teacher, did Maya show you these? “Being insulted like this, how could she not have a mental breakdown? How could it not affect her studies? How strong a heart would it take to endure this? “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice?” The homeroom teacher hadn’t noticed. When I sought her out, when I told her I was being verbally humiliated and bullied… I showed her the pages, and she looked at them. But she just casually said: “Okay, okay, I’ll talk to them later. I’m so busy. Can’t you just get along with your classmates? Why is there so much drama?” Now, she was left speechless by the questioning. It took her a long time to ask: “You… you just now…” It turned out she had also seen Riley confronting the two parents for an explanation. But Riley ignored her response. “Yes, earlier I did what a mother is supposed to do. “And you, teacher? Have you done what a teacher is supposed to do? “Teacher, if you had, you wouldn’t have had to specifically ask to speak with me. “She would have adjusted her mindset herself, and might even be first in the school right now!” 7 After leaving the teacher’s office, I was still hesitating whether to ask for some of the money back. She did a great job, better than I imagined. But it was too expensive. A hundred dollars would make my life much easier for the next few days. She walked forward with her head down, mumbling to herself, completely oblivious to my inner struggle. “Your books are ruined, just buy a new set. They wouldn’t dare draw on your books again. “What kind of weirdo is your homeroom teacher? She really doesn’t care at all? How is she even a homeroom teacher?” I didn’t answer. Actually, the homeroom teacher didn’t completely ignore everyone. She had intervened when other students were bullied before. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have sought her help when I first started getting bullied. Later, after I pestered her several times, she finally agreed to help resolve the issue. But the ultimate solution was just vaguely criticizing the behavior in front of the class without naming names. As soon as that class meeting ended, Lily cornered me in the restroom and even got physical: “You little bitch! You told the teacher, huh?” Later, I wondered why the homeroom teacher would extend a helping hand to others but was so impatient with me. After thinking about it, I figured it was because my grades had dropped too much, and she didn’t like me. Also… she had asked to see my parents multiple times, but they never showed up. So, subconsciously, she probably realized I was a child no one cared about. A child whose own parents didn’t care about. She had no obligation to care either. “By the way,” Riley suddenly asked me, “has your mom really never been to a parent-teacher conference? Is she dead?” I didn’t have time to answer. Because the next moment, someone grabbed my sleeve. “Maya.” Chloe revealed a gloating smile. “Who is she? Why are you walking with someone dressed like a delinquent? “And why isn’t she scolding you for saying your aunt is dead?” 8 Slap— A sharp pain exploded on my cheek, instantly turning it burning hot. My ears rang. My mom did manual labor, and she was strong. It took me a long time to recover from that slap. “Auntie,” Chloe called softly. “Chloe, don’t stop me.” My mom yanked me so hard I stumbled. She looked at the homeroom teacher, an apologetic smile on her face: “I’m so sorry, teacher. This child has been a handful since she was little. I didn’t expect her to hang out with people outside of school, let alone have the nerve to bother you.” “What are you doing?!” Riley reacted and tried to stop her. But before she could get close, my mom shoved her away. Riley’s frame was too small. No matter how sharp her words were, they were useless against a “mature” woman like my mom, who resorted to vulgar curses and low blows. My mom cursed her out, then pointed at her: “I’m disciplining my own daughter! Is it your place to interfere? Just you wait, I’m calling the cops right now and pressing fraud charges! How much money did you scam out of Maya?” She glared at me again: “Where did you get the money? You have spare cash? Everyone in the family is strapped for cash, and you have money to hire someone to play your parent?! “Where did you get the money? Have you been doing shameless things?!” I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. I hadn’t cried from her slap just now, but seeing Chloe standing nearby with her arms crossed, looking at me with a detached, mocking gaze, I finally couldn’t hold back my tears. I felt ashamed. My mother was using the ugliest words to insult me. While the spoiled girl she doted on stood aside, watching me—her closest blood relative—being treated like I meant absolutely nothing to her. Just a moment ago, they figured out Riley was hired by me. My mom dragged me all the way from the hallway to the homeroom teacher’s office. During that time, Riley couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “So your mom isn’t dead!” My mom became even more furious. She clamored about calling the police, wanting to throw Riley in jail! “Call them!” Riley yelled back. “Call the cops and let them see! You’re a mother who doesn’t even know her own child is being bullied at school! A teacher who turns a blind eye to toxic behavior in the classroom! What a great role model! “I earned this two hundred dollars with my labor! I suffered emotional trauma! I was disgusted by you people! “What? You act like you’re dead and refuse to attend your daughter’s parent-teacher conference, and you won’t even let her hire someone to do it?!” The homeroom teacher quickly said there was no need to call the police. “Maya! Look what kind of friends you make! How can she talk to your aunt like that?” When the argument was at its fiercest, Chloe shouted loudly, trying to shift the focus back to me. And my mom, predictably, gave her exactly what she wanted. “She cares? How could she care? Those words are probably what she wanted to say!” My mom snapped her head toward me and grabbed my hair tightly. “Others don’t get bullied, only you get bullied, right? “Why are you the only one causing so much trouble? “Chloe and you go to the same school, she’s even a grade below you. Why doesn’t Chloe get bullied, only you? “You hang out with these lowlifes in society, of course you get bullied! Why should the teacher care about you? It’s up to you to be good at school. Does the teacher owe you?” “You motherf—!” Riley interrupted from the side. “You have time to attend your niece’s parent-teacher conference, but no time for your daughter’s, right? “Could this niece be your illegitimate daughter?” she lunged forward, trying to free my hair. “Let go, let go of her, you bitch!” Initially, I felt complete despair. When my mom called me a worthless person. When she demanded to know why others only bullied me. When even the homeroom teacher looked at me with pity. But, the moment Riley lunged forward and pulled my hair outward, for some unknown reason, I felt a surge of strength… It felt like… all the pent-up resentment of years finally found an outlet… With one hand, I shoved my mom hard just as she was about to slap Riley. Despite her strong build, my mom stumbled backward. “Auntie!” Chloe moved to support her. “Enough!!” My scalp throbbed with pain. I screamed with all my might. “What do you want to do? Keep making a scene! Keep going! Make a scene until security comes! Call the police right now!” “Are you crazy?” My mom was stunned by my roar. No wonder. She had seen countless versions of me. The gloomy me, the insecure me, the me begging for just a tiny bit of motherly love. But the stubborn, loud, rebellious me had disappeared long ago, right after Chloe moved into our house. The classroom fell silent. The look my mom gave me was a mix of shock and grievance. What did she have to feel aggrieved about? My heart ached, and I spoke hoarsely through tears: “You just asked me why they don’t bully anyone else, only me? “Mom, it’s all thanks to you. “Do you remember when I asked you to help me buy a bra? “Do you remember what you said?” 9 I had an unfortunate nickname: “Bunny.” And it didn’t mean cute and cuddly like a real bunny. It referred to the “bunnies” bouncing up and down on my chest when I ran. The first time I felt insecure about my chest was during a P.E. class. The gym teacher had us run the 800 meters. I was in the last group to run. By the time I started running, the finish line was already crowded with my classmates. My eyes were only fixed on the finish line, so I didn’t pay attention to the classmates standing there—both boys and girls—who were already laughing uncontrollably. Before I even caught my breath, Jason, whom I rarely interacted with, came right up to my face, making exaggerated gestures: “Maya, let me give you a nickname. How about ‘Bunny’?! “You know, the ‘bunnies’ jumping up and down when you run!” At first, I didn’t understand, but his gaze drifted downwards, slimy and gross. Other classmates burst into jeering laughter. Like a flash of lightning, I instantly realized what he was talking about and shoved him hard. The bullying initially started with this simple nickname. The next day, my desk was covered in scribbles. In the quiet classroom before class started, I stood up, scanned the room, and saw Lily staring at me self-righteously, her gaze meeting mine head-on… My desk mate, Emma, gently tugged my sleeve and whispered: “Lily wrote it. Everyone saw, but no one dared to say anything. “I heard she and Jason are dating, and she said you were seducing him when you were running yesterday. “But seriously, you should wear a bra!” If her first sentence left me feeling baffled, her next sentence left me mortified. “I… I am wearing one!” I explained. “That’s a training bra!” she whispered even lower. “I mean a real bra! A training bra can’t support you! Didn’t your mom teach you any of this?” “I…” My face turned even redder. “I’ll try…” Actually, who notices physical development earlier than oneself? I had noticed a long time ago that my training bra was feeling a bit tight. I nervously told my mom, asking her to buy me a bra with padding. But as soon as I finished speaking, she frowned and said fiercely: “Money, money, money! We only have so much money, raising the two of you. You don’t know how to be frugal. Do you want us to starve?” But it was only ten dollars. A bra at the wholesale market cost ten dollars at most. And my mom said “raising the two of you,” but I hadn’t had an allowance outside of lunch money for half a year. Before Chloe came, I got ten dollars a week for allowance. I could at least buy some snacks or something. That wasn’t a problem. After Chloe arrived, it was as if my mom forgot about me. She would buy Chloe pretty clothes and sign her up for extracurricular activities… I used to have extracurriculars too. But the month Chloe was signed up for hers, my dad’s paycheck happened to be a little short. “Maya, I feel like your swimming class isn’t doing much. Let’s pause it for a bit, okay? “Yield to Chloe a little,” she said. “Chloe just came to our family, just consider it being considerate of mom. It’s not easy for mom either.” But I never thought that this “yielding” would last for three whole years. From the tutoring classes at first, to my bedroom, to my home, and finally, even the money for my bra had to be yielded. My mom didn’t take me to buy a new bra. So, I figured out how to save money from my breakfast allowance to go buy a bra myself. The owner at the wholesale market wouldn’t let me try it on, and I had no experience haggling. The bra I bought was a bit small. When I went back to the seller, she refused to exchange it. But it was fine, it was much better than the training bra I had before. However, after wearing it for three years, the straps inevitably became loose, and it couldn’t keep up with my developing body. I thought it was time for a new one. But I never expected that I had already reached the point where I needed to wear a real bra.

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After my mother-in-law retired, she fell into an online romance, insisting she’d found her second chance at love. I’d worked at the Anti-Fraud Center for years. I recognized this scam pattern immediately. So in my previous life, when my mother-in-law was about to wire three hundred thousand dollars of her retirement savings to support her boyfriend’s “business venture,” I stepped in to stop her. Her boyfriend quickly blocked her, and she had a complete breakdown,pointing at me and screaming: “You think everyone’s like you, eyeing my three hundred thousand in retirement savings!” My usually reasonable husband, Nathan Williams, turned cold toward me too: “Mom’s been single for years. It’s normal for her to find a boyfriend.” My mother-in-law posted my intervention video online. The internet tore me apart, saying I wanted to steal my mother-in-law’s money. Depressed, I died in a car accident. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my mother-in-law held her phone, ready to transfer the money. This time, I didn’t stop her: “Linda, is three hundred thousand enough? If not, I can help you scrape together more.”

“None of you better even think about my money. I’m absolutely giving this three hundred thousand to support my boyfriend’s business.” When Linda May’s voice rang in my ears again, I instantly realized I’d been reborn. In my previous life, after my mother-in-law announced her online romance, she spent every day calling him “baby” and “sweetheart.” Before long, she couldn’t wait to pull out three hundred thousand to support her boyfriend’s business venture. Working at the Anti-Fraud Center, I immediately recognized this as a scam. My mother-in-law was over sixty, a rural woman with limited education. Besides money, what else could this person possibly want from her? When I discovered the three hundred thousand had already been transferred, I nearly fainted. I worked through the night, getting colleagues to help freeze the scammer’s account. After that, I pulled strings and called in countless favors to recover the money from the account. But once the money was recovered, my mother-in-law could no longer contact her boyfriend. She flew into a rage: “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t insisted Raymond was a scammer, I would’ve made who knows how many more hundreds of thousands by now. Now he’s blocked me!” She maliciously edited surveillance footage of me trying to warn her and posted it online, claiming I was preventing older women from pursuing happiness. I never imagined a good deed would destroy my entire life. Fortunately, fate gave me a second chance. “Mia Johnson, are you deaf? Can’t you hear me talking to you?” I snapped back to reality and pretended to look apologetic: “Linda, is three hundred thousand enough? Let me have Nathan scrape together more.” Linda scrutinized me for a few moments before pursing her lips. “Nathan’s my son, of course he’ll support me. What about you—how much are you planning to contribute?” I froze. From her tone, Nathan’s contribution apparently didn’t count. I needed to chip in money too. I pointed at Nathan, who stood silently nearby. “Nathan and I are family. What he gives represents both of us.” Linda swatted my hand away, her cloudy old eyes widening: “You married into this family to serve us! Nathan’s money has nothing to do with you!” So marrying in meant I’d been sold to the Williams family? If Nathan hadn’t gotten on his knees before my parents, begging them to let their daughter marry him, I never would have married down. I’d genuinely considered myself part of this family. But them? This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. I didn’t argue with Linda. Instead, I looked dejected: “Linda, I’ll be honest with you. My parents need money for surgery recently.” “I’ve already taken out one loan. If I apply for another, the bank probably won’t approve it.” When Linda heard I was giving money to my family, she immediately started cursing. “Look at you! You haven’t brought much money into this house, but you’re giving it all to outsiders!” Her words got increasingly ugly, dragging my parents into it too, her face full of disgust. In my previous life, my parents already had high blood pressure. To clear my name, they’d rushed around speaking up for me. Finally, while arguing with Linda to defend me, they got so worked up that they both passed away. Thinking about it, I clenched my fists, my resolve hardening. This time, I would make this family pay a terrible price. “Linda, that’s not fair. When Nathan was unemployed, wasn’t I the one supporting the household? Why don’t you mention that?!” Seeing the topic shift toward him, Nathan stammered: “Linda, three hundred thousand isn’t a small amount. Who would…”

Linda put her hands on her hips and yelled at him: “What do you mean? You think your mother can be scammed?” Recently, to secure Linda’s retirement savings, her online boyfriend had gone all out. Various anniversary transfers and birthday gifts. That gold necklace alone was worth at least ten thousand dollars. Seeing Linda throw a tantrum, Nathan looked to me for help. “Mia, why don’t you check in the system at work? Then we can all feel reassured.” I sneered internally. In my previous life, Nathan had also tried to smooth things over like this when the money was being transferred. But after I recovered the money, he stood on Linda’s side. “Mia, Mom just wants to find someone to talk to. Why are you making such a big deal out of it!” Starting over, I wouldn’t be so stupid. “Nathan, that’s not necessary. I trust Linda’s judgment.” “And if we make money, our whole family will have a better life!” Linda immediately nodded smugly. “That’s right, Nathan. Why don’t you come to the bank with me and transfer a hundred thousand?” Nathan’s eyes also showed a hint of greed. But he was still uneasy. “Linda, all my money went to the mortgage. I don’t have any…” Before he could finish, I quickly interrupted. “Nathan, money’s not a problem. We can take out a mortgage on our house.” “I can get a clean divorce first, with the debt under my name. Once the money comes through, we can remarry.” “That way the bank won’t have any issues.” Linda’s expression finally improved. “Alright, let’s do it your way!” Probably afraid this money-making opportunity would slip away, Linda dragged Nathan and me to the Registry Office first thing the next morning. After completing the paperwork, I used work as an excuse to leave early. Looking at the divorce certificate in my hands, I couldn’t help but laugh. From now on, whatever happened to this family had nothing to do with me. Living under the same roof with these people—even one more day felt suffocating. Linda pointed at my retreating figure and cursed: “Look at what you married! She’s useless every single day!” “Good riddance. I didn’t even know she’d been quietly taking so much money home to her family until yesterday.” I hadn’t been at work long when my phone rang. Nathan’s anxious voice came through. “Mia, this bank account is showing as abnormal. Can you check it out?” I gripped my phone and answered crisply. “Sure, I’ll check for you.” Five minutes later, I called back, my tone certain. “Nathan, I looked into it. The account is fine, no problems at all.” Nathan’s voice clearly dropped. “Really no problems? But the bank is showing a warning…” “It’s probably a system error. Large transfers often trigger risk controls. Just go ahead and transfer it.” The line went silent for a few seconds. “Really? Let me think about it…” I deliberately sighed. “What, you don’t even trust me?” “I’ve worked at the Anti-Fraud Center for years. Can’t I tell if someone’s a scammer?”

I was about to add a few more reassuring words when Linda’s furious cursing came through the phone. “Stop being so paranoid! She already said it’s fine. Why are you asking so many questions!” “This kind of money-making opportunity—people are fighting over it. If you keep hesitating, you won’t even get scraps!” Imagining Nathan cowering on the other end, unable to speak up, a mocking smile crossed my lips. “That’s right, Nathan. Just listen to Linda. Opportunities don’t wait.” Two days after the money was transferred, Linda received a deposit of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In the following days, she went around the neighborhood endlessly sharing her investment wisdom. She even claimed that anyone who wanted to make money could come to her for advice—five thousand dollars per consultation. The neighborhood was full of retired folks with pensions and nothing to do. “Linda, you really made three hundred fifty thousand? That’s not pocket change!” “What kind of business is this? Can you bring me in on it?” “Of course!” She patted her chest, guaranteeing everyone they wouldn’t lose money. Watching one consultation fee after another roll in, Linda’s smile never faded. Nathan became even more arrogant, completely reclaiming his masculine pride. “Mia, I told you that you don’t have your priorities straight, always supporting your family.” “Now you’ve missed out on such a great opportunity to get rich. Being jealous won’t help.” I watched their smug displays, secretly sneering inside. That three hundred fifty thousand was just bait the scammer threw out to hook bigger fish. Just wait—this was only the beginning. The happier they were now, the more miserable they’d be when they lost everything. From that day on, I never returned to that house. I used the excuse of caring for my sick mother to move back to my parents’ home. Seeing my parents again, I couldn’t help but throw myself into their arms and cry. Seeing me return alone, my mom looked worried. “Mia, be honest with us. You and Nathan…” I wiped my tears and said: “We’re divorced.” After I spoke, I felt anxious, but I saw her breathe a sigh of relief. “Good. Your father said all along that boy wasn’t good enough for you.” “I’ll have your aunt set you up with some better prospects.” Her words made me laugh, and the depression and grievance I’d been carrying lifted considerably. During my time at my parents’ house, I completely avoided the Williams family’s troubles and focused on spending time with my parents. Linda was too absorbed in her get-rich-quick dream to bother with me. But calculating the timeline, it was almost time for the scammer to close the net. Sure enough, within two days, I received frantic calls from Nathan. When I didn’t answer, message after message flooded in. “Mia, you knew all along, didn’t you? That person was a scammer!” “Now the bank’s coming to collect debt every day. This is all your fault. You have to take responsibility!” Seeing his crazed state, I simply changed my social media accounts and contact information. My phone finally fell silent. The next news I heard about Linda came when I was leaving work and two old ladies downstairs were gossiping. When I heard the total amount collected, I couldn’t help but gasp. I knew Linda would scam money from people, but I didn’t expect her to raise an amount that could lead to a life sentence. Linda’s online boyfriend had vanished without a trace. The mortgage on the house worth hundreds of thousands, the loan sharks, and all those retirees’ pension money—all gone. Now they couldn’t even go home. Every day, people demanding their money back blocked the door. “At her age, falling for an online romance. Does she really think anyone would be interested in an old lady?” “What about her son and daughter-in-law? Why aren’t they doing anything?” “Oh my, her son can’t even take care of himself. I heard he borrowed from loan sharks and got one of his legs broken.” I was munching on sunflower seeds, enjoying the gossip, when I caught sight of two familiar figures.

I quickly dialed the police. “Hello, I’ve spotted suspicious individuals from a wanted notice.” Seeing me, Linda lunged forward viciously, her nails scratching several bloody marks on my skin. “You bitch! You knew that account had problems all along, didn’t you? You tricked us into taking out loans! How did our family end up with a daughter-in-law like you!” I gripped her hands tightly, struggling to speak. “I have… nothing to do with your family anymore!” Just then, my parents suddenly appeared and kicked the thrashing Linda away. “Let go of my daughter!” Linda collapsed on the ground in pain, rolling around and wailing loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear, drawing a crowd of onlookers. “Help! Someone’s trying to kill me!” “She said the account had no problems. Now something’s happened, and she’s working with the scammer!” ” You married into this family! You’re one of us, whether you like it or not!” “You have to pay our debts!” Many neighbors stood around with folded arms, watching the show. Some eyes darted between Linda and me, seemingly speculating about something. “Mia, let’s talk this through. Don’t make such a scene in public. Let’s go inside and discuss this.” Nathan, who’d been silent the whole time, finally spoke. His words seemed to give me an out, but he was actually desperate to pin the scam on me. Waves of contemptuous voices rang out. “Could what the old lady and her son are saying be true?” “The Johnson family’s daughter works at the Anti-Fraud Center. If everything was fine, why would her mother-in-law get scammed out of so much money?” “She’s been staying at her parents’ house lately. Who knows if it’s out of guilt!” I steadied myself with my parents’ support and clenched my fists. In my previous life, Linda had done the same thing—shamelessly slandering and spreading rumors, ultimately dragging me into the abyss. This time, I would never repeat that mistake. I looked at Linda still throwing her tantrum on the ground and sneered: “Do you have any evidence for what you’re saying?” “I moved out simply because Nathan and I got divorced. That’s all!” Clearly not expecting such a firm, decisive response, Linda’s face turned alternately pale and flushed, her neck stiff as she shouted: “I have evidence!”

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After getting back together, Ashton Blackwood spent one hundred million to buy his first love’s virginity. When I went to confront him, I found them tangled together, naked, in our marital bedroom. Right in front of me, Ashton calmly dressed Vivian, whose skin was still marked with traces of their intimacy, his movements gentle—almost tender. He said, “Be understanding and gracious. Vivian once saved my life. I still can’t forget her.” He was certain that, this time too, I—Seraphina—would swallow my pride and endure it. But faced with Vivian’s taunting smile, I was tired. I took out the divorce agreement. “Let’s get divorced. I really don’t want you anymore.” Seraphina’s POV I dated Ashton for four years. The moment I discovered his affair, I didn’t hesitate to break up with him. The first day after our breakup fight, Ashton knelt outside my apartment building for a full day and night, trying to win me back. I ignored him completely. A week after the breakup, Ashton learned to bake my favorite strawberry mousse himself. I fed it to the dog without even looking at it. A month after the breakup, Ashton bid on my favorite antique piano at auction. I donated it to a children’s home on the spot. After that, Ashton publicly announced that he was transferring all his shares to my name. If he ever wronged me again, he’d be left with nothing. After a whole year of going back and forth, I was moved. I agreed to get back together with him. On our wedding day, Ashton rented every billboard in the city, displaying our photos on rotation, announcing our wedding of the century in the most high-profile way. He kissed me under the fireworks. “Everything I have is yours now, Seraphina. You’re my everything. From now on, I’ll never let you go.” In that moment, I truly believed he would love me like his own life and never betray me again. Until that charity gala night. Ashton brought me to the event, but during the auction segment, he saw a girl in a white dress with a pale face. She was brought on stage by the host as a “special auction item.” Dinner with the highest bidder. With just one glance, Ashton’s expression changed completely. “Ten million.” “Twenty million.” “Fifty million.” The gavel rose and fell. Ashton’s bids grew more frantic each time, every raise of his paddle carrying absolute determination. The numbers climbed to absurd heights. Even the auctioneer started sweating. “One hundred million! Sold!” The final strike of the gavel. Ashton won the “dinner rights” at an astronomical price. The entire venue erupted. Before the applause even stopped, Ashton was already striding onto the stage. Under everyone’s gaze, he took off his suit jacket and draped it over the girl’s trembling shoulders. “Mr. Blackwood?” The gala host approached in surprise. Ashton ignored him. He grabbed the girl’s wrist, his voice low. “What are you doing here? Do you know what this so-called dinner right actually means?” “I…” Tears instantly welled up in the girl’s eyes. She looked pitiful. “I need money. They said if someone was willing to bid on my dinner rights, I’d get one-tenth of the auction price. My mom is sick and hospitalized. I need a lot of money. I had no choice…” Ashton’s thumb gently wiped away her tears, the gesture painfully tender. “How much do you need?” The girl named a figure. Without a word, Ashton signed a check and handed it to her. The gala host, reading the room well, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over. “Mr. Blackwood, what is your relationship with this young lady…?” “She’s the daughter of an old friend.” Ashton said, his gaze never leaving the girl. “Her father saved my life.” I stood frozen in place, nearly crushing the pearl clutch in my hands. I recognized her, of course. A year ago, I broke up with Ashton because of her. Under the host’s subtly changed expression, Ashton finally looked at me. “Seraphina, don’t misunderstand.” He quickly turned and came down from the stage to my side. “Her father died saving me years ago. Now her mother is sick and hospitalized and needs money. I can’t let her go down the wrong path for money. You know what this dinner right really means.” Those words were like a key, unlocking the floodgates of my memory. A year ago, when I discovered those intimate text messages on Ashton’s phone, he said the same thing. “Seraphina, let me explain. Her father died saving me. I’m only taking care of her to repay that debt.” But later, when I caught them in bed together, he had another righteous explanation. “Seraphina, listen to me. I was drugged last night. I thought she was you.” And now, hearing his excuses that barely differed from a year ago, I couldn’t help but laugh. “A year ago, you took care of her in every way, saying it was to repay a debt. Later, when you were in bed together, you said you’d been drugged and mistook her for me. Now you’ve spent a hundred million on dinner rights with her, saying you don’t want her to go down the wrong path for money.” My heart felt like it was being carved with a knife, my voice trembling. “Ashton, how many more reasons and excuses do you have?” Ashton hadn’t expected me to question him publicly. His face immediately darkened. “Seraphina, that’s enough. Don’t make a scene here.” “A scene?” I laughed. “Ashton, am I the one making a scene?” Behind him, the girl timidly tugged at his sleeve, her voice barely a whisper. “Mr. Blackwood, please don’t fight with Ms. Hart because of me…” Ashton stepped forward, shielding her behind him, his gaze falling on me. “We’ll talk about this at home.” I watched him protect another woman and found the whole situation absurdly laughable. “Ashton, do you remember what you said to me before?” He said he would cut all ties with this girl. He would never wrong me for another woman again. Ashton’s expression flickered. He was about to speak when I turned and left. “Seraphina!” He called after me. I didn’t look back, just walked quickly away from this suffocating gala. Ashton instinctively moved to chase after me, but the girl gently held him back. “Mr. Blackwood, Ms. Hart seems really angry… It’s all my fault…” He paused mid-step, turning back to look at her.

Seraphina’s POV After leaving the charity auction, I drove aimlessly. When I came back to my senses, I’d stopped by the lake near the university district. The lake surface glittered with fragmented silver light under the moon. This was where Ashton and I had our first date, first held hands, first kissed. Ashton and I first met at a party. At the time, I’d rejected the advances of a man in our circle, and he publicly dumped a drink over me and verbally humiliated me. Everyone knew I was the adopted fake heiress of the Hart family. With the return of the real heiress, I’d fallen out of favor. When no one was willing to speak up for me, Ashton stepped forward and punched the man to the ground, forcing him to apologize to me. From that moment on, I fell helplessly for him. And Ashton seemed to like me too. He pursued me actively. After we got together, he treated me incredibly well. My friends all envied me. If only there had been no Vivian… Vivian appeared two years ago. Ashton said that when he was a teenager, his family’s enemies came for revenge. Vivian’s father had taken a fatal knife blow meant for him. He owed the family a life, so he had to take responsibility for taking care of her. At the time, I thought it was right to repay kindness. But then Ashton started frequently taking Vivian’s calls, even during our dates. He remembered all of Vivian’s preferences. He knew she was allergic to mangoes, knew she was afraid of the dark, would take care of her during her period. “Her father died for me.” Whenever I showed even a hint of insecurity, Ashton would explain it this way. “Seraphina, I have to repay this debt.” Back then, I naively believed that Ashton’s special treatment of Vivian was purely because she was his savior’s daughter. Despite my misgivings, I endured it. Until a year ago, when I saw Vivian running out of Ashton’s bedroom wearing my pajamas. Even then, Ashton claimed he’d been drugged and mistook Vivian for me. I thought after that, I’d never cry over Ashton again. But now, the tears still wouldn’t stop. My phone vibrated in my bag again and again. All calls from Ashton. I didn’t answer. Finally, I just turned it off. At one in the morning, I finally returned to the villa. The massive house was empty. The festive wedding decorations in the bridal suite hadn’t been taken down yet. They looked particularly glaring now. I took a shower, buried myself in the blankets, and fell into an exhausted sleep. The next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing. I groggily answered. Before I could speak, my best friend Lily’s urgent voice exploded through the line. “Seraphina! Have you seen the news? Look now! Right now!” “What news…” My voice was hoarse. “Ashton and that Vivian! They’re trending!” I was instantly awake. I hung up and opened social media. No need to search. The top trending topic was #Blackwood CEO Spends Fortune on Mystery Woman’s Dinner Rights#. I clicked in. Nine photos arranged in a grid. The first three were from last night’s charity auction. The rest were candid shots from various angles. In the photos, Ashton and Vivian shared dinner at an upscale restaurant. After they left the restaurant, they got into Ashton’s car together. The car stopped at a five-star hotel entrance. Ashton and Vivian walked in side by side, eventually entering a hotel suite together. The caption was suggestive and detailed. “Blackwood Group CEO Ashton Blackwood spent one hundred million to win the ‘dinner rights’ of mystery woman Vivian. The two shared a romantic dinner before entering a hotel together, not leaving until this morning. Reportedly, Ashton and his wife Seraphina Hart were recently married, having held a high-profile wedding of the century. The vows are still ringing in our ears.” The comment section had exploded. “One hundred million! Just for dinner? Only an idiot would believe that! This is obviously ‘dinner’ turning into ‘all night’!” “This Vivian’s got something. She can make Mr. Blackwood throw money around like that and publicly slap his legitimate wife in the face.” “Ashton is so handsome though. Spending a fortune just for one dinner? Why do I find this kind of sweet?” “Am I the only one who feels bad for his wife? She was there last night, right? Watching her own husband bid frantically for another woman. What kind of hellish scene is that? Their wedding billboards aren’t even down yet…”

Seraphina’s POV When Ashton came home, I was sitting in the dining room eating breakfast. On the tablet to my left was the entertainment news about him and Vivian. “Seraphina, it’s all false reporting. Don’t believe what these journalists write.” A flicker of panic crossed his eyes as he stepped forward. “Last night, Vivian was too upset about her mother’s illness. I only took her out to eat. She got drunk, so I had to get her a hotel room.” I ate my eggs and smiled slightly. “You got her a hotel room, but forgot to leave yourself? You slept in the hotel with her all night?” Ashton’s expression stiffened, guilt flashing by. “Last night she kept crying and vomiting. I had no choice but to stay and take care of her. But I really didn’t touch her. Nothing happened between us.” I looked at the fresh kiss mark barely hidden beneath his collar. My stomach churned, nausea rising. “Ashton,” I put down my knife and fork, closing my eyes. “Make her leave. Send her back to the countryside, or another city, or anywhere abroad. I don’t want to see her again.” He was silent for a few seconds, impatience creeping into his expression. “She only has her mother left. Her mother is seriously ill and needs surgery. If I make her leave now, it’s like sending her to her death.” “Then let’s get divorced.” I looked up. “Since you can’t send her away, let’s get divorced.” “Seraphina, you’ve pulled this stunt before. It won’t work twice.” Ashton’s eyes darkened. “The first time you made a scene about breaking up, I was willing to humor you and let you throw your tantrum. But now we’re married. Do you think the position of Mrs. Blackwood is something you can take or leave as you please?” His tall figure loomed over me with oppressive pressure, his tone ice-cold. “The Hart family raised you for years. They won’t pass up your value. Without me, you’re nothing but a bargaining chip for the Hart family to trade for profit. They could marry you off to someone else at any time.” Those words were like a blade, stabbing straight into my heart. “Be realistic. Stop threatening divorce at every turn, because this time, I might not humor you.” Then he made another declaration, firm and final. “Vivian needs money and a job. Starting tomorrow, she’ll join the company as my personal assistant.” My last shred of rationality completely crumbled. I raised my hand and delivered a resounding slap across his face. “Ashton, you disgust me.” He turned his head, running his tongue along the inside of his cheek. When he turned back, his eyes were ice-cold. “It seems we both need to cool down. I’ll stay at the company for the next few days. I won’t be coming back.” With those words, he turned and left without hesitation. My chest felt like it had been brutally carved open, a gaping wound. I laughed softly. After a moment, I picked up my phone from the table and made a call, my heart turning to ash. “Prepare divorce papers for me. I want a divorce.” For several days in a row, Ashton didn’t come home. But an unfamiliar number I didn’t recognize sent me photos almost daily. In the photos, Ashton brought Vivian to yacht parties, accompanied Vivian to the hospital to visit her seriously ill mother, and at business receptions, held her waist while introducing her to everyone. Unable to bear it any longer, I drove straight to Blackwood Group. Ignoring the reception desk’s attempts to stop me, I swiped my card and entered the executive elevator. In the office area, Vivian was talking with someone. Hearing footsteps, she looked up. “Mrs. Blackwood?” I didn’t pause. I walked right up to her and slapped her across the face. The crisp sound exploded in the quiet air. “Miss Vivian, Ashton wants to repay his debt and keep you by his side. I have nothing to say about that.” I said coldly. “But we both know exactly what you’re thinking. As long as I haven’t signed divorce papers, you’re nothing but a homewrecker.” Vivian covered her rapidly swelling cheek, tears welling in her eyes. “Mrs. Blackwood, you misunderstand me. I really didn’t…” “Seraphina!”

Seraphina’s POV Ashton’s voice came from the end of the hallway. He strode over quickly, pulling Vivian behind him and completely shielding her with his body. His gaze fell on me like a frozen pond. “Seraphina, know your place. Don’t bully people.” Anger simmered in his eyes. “Do I need to remind you how you were publicly drenched in alcohol at that party years ago? How people bullied you and said those horrible things?” Something squeezed my heart viciously. That party years ago. He was the one who came to my rescue, stomping on that man and forcing him to apologize to me. But now, this same person was digging up my most shameful past. He once pulled me out of that humiliating situation. Now he was laying it bare before everyone. Ashton’s tone was harsh. “It seems I’ve spoiled and indulged you too much all these years. You’ve forgotten that you’re just the Hart family’s fallen-from-grace fake heiress who once endured endless bullying and ridicule from others.” “Go home.” He commanded, brooking no argument. “Go home and accept your punishment.” I couldn’t believe it. I pointed at Vivian, whom he was protecting behind him. “You want me to accept punishment for this woman?” “I just want you to understand. Don’t forget what you went through. And don’t think that sitting in the position of Mrs. Blackwood means you can abuse your power and do whatever you want.” Nearby, Vivian tugged at his sleeve, her voice fragile and uncertain. “Mr. Blackwood, forget it. Punishment is too severe. Please don’t fight with Mrs. Blackwood because of me. I’m fine already… See, my face doesn’t even hurt anymore.” “She must accept this punishment.” Looking back at me, his expression grew dark and oppressive again. “As Mrs. Blackwood, you should be tolerant, generous, and dignified. Not run to the company like a madwoman and hit people.” I’m like a madwoman? I was so shocked I almost laughed. I pressed my lips together. “What if I refuse to accept this punishment?” His presence was intimidating. “Seraphina Hart, I’m not negotiating with you.” The atmosphere was nearly frozen. Just as we reached a stalemate, suddenly Vivian let out a weak moan. Her body swayed and she fell backward softly. “Vivian!” Ashton’s expression changed. He reached out to catch her. Vivian leaned in his arms, unconscious. Ashton swept her up into his arms. When he looked at me again, his eyes were filled with barely suppressed fury. “You’d better pray nothing’s wrong with her. Otherwise, I won’t forgive you.” He didn’t spare me another glance. Carrying Vivian, he strode quickly toward the elevator. I stood there, feeling eyes on me from all directions. My heart felt like it had been stabbed and twisted repeatedly with a knife. The last bit of light in my heart went out. I took the elevator downstairs. As soon as I walked out of the company entrance, two bodyguards in black suits grabbed me from either side. “Mrs. Blackwood, our apologies. Mr. Blackwood ordered us to take you to the basement for punishment.” I struggled, but it was futile. I was shoved into a car. The car drove toward the suburbs, finally stopping in front of the Blackwood family estate. The bodyguards dragged me out and pushed me into the basement. “Accept it, Mrs. Blackwood.” I straightened my spine. “I did nothing wrong. I won’t kneel!” The two bodyguards exchanged a glance. Then one of them kicked the back of my knee directly. Caught off guard, my legs gave out and I crashed heavily to my knees. Searing pain shot through my kneecaps. I gasped. I struggled to stand, but the two bodyguards pressed down hard on my shoulders, forcing me back down. “Mr. Blackwood ordered that you must kneel for a full twenty-four hours before you can get up.” The Blackwood family’s punishment. Kneeling in the basement, atoning for a full twenty-four hours. But on our wedding night, Ashton held me in his arms and said he’d never let me suffer this kind of humiliation. Ashton, your words truly can’t be trusted. Not a single one. But I was too foolish before. I believed him again and again. I’ll never love him again.

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On our fifth wedding anniversary, I once again received a family photo of my husband, my son, and her. I looked at the radiant smiles of that family of three in the picture. At that moment, I suddenly let go of the obsession I’d held for five years. “Mrs. Harrison, the five-year term is up. Can I leave now?” On the other end of the line was my mother-in-law in name only, who was also my employer. “Are you sure about this? If you leave now, you won’t get the child or the money. Why can’t you hold on a bit longer?” “No, school starts soon. Divorce is complicated enough as it is!” “Fine. Give me ten days. I’ll help you handle all the paperwork. You’ll get every penny of what the contract promised!” With Mrs. Harrison’s words, a bitter smile crossed my face. As the clock struck twelve, I blew out the candles on my cake. Late that night, I sat on the couch binge-watching shows. Ever since I’d had Ethan as my son, I’d been working like a nanny, exhausted day after day. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d watched a series. I never imagined that in just a few short years, my favorite actor had filmed so many TV shows. I really wanted to catch up on all of them during this time. But even such a small wish was hard to fulfill. My phone rang, piercing the silence. “Sophia, get to the hospital right now. Our son is sick and getting an IV. He’s crying for you!” Zachary didn’t say which hospital the child was at, and when I called back, no one answered. Thinking that he was my biological son after all, I searched hospital after hospital through the night. I searched all night long, and only found out through Autumn’s social media that my son was actually at the Harrison family’s private hospital. I didn’t dare delay and rushed to the hospital immediately. Last night while looking for the child, the first place I’d thought of was the Harrison family’s private hospital. I’d run over to ask, but they said they’d never seen Ethan. And today was the same. “That’s impossible. My son is right here. How could you not know him? Let me in!” The hospital nurses kept blocking me, and finally they called security. Three or four large men pinned me firmly to the ground. A young, pretty nurse frowned with disgust in her eyes. “We already told you he’s not here. Can you please stop disturbing their family of three? You’re so annoying!” As I was being dragged out, I happened to see Zachary and Autumn walking out of a hospital room, carrying Ethan. The three of them really did look more like a family. Just like the countless times they’d appeared together on public websites participating in variety shows. And that young nurse was apparently a fan of this family of three. Just like that, I was thrown out of Harrison Hospital. The last thing I saw was my biological son in Zachary’s arms, planting a kiss on Autumn’s face and calling her “Mom.” The rough concrete scraped my knees and wrists raw, leaving me disheveled. When I limped home, I was greeted by yet another picture-perfect family scene. “Autumn’s cooking is still the best. Even ordinary scrambled eggs taste better than what that woman makes. She tricks me with fake eggs every day. I’m so sick of it!” “If you like it, have some more. Whenever you want it in the future, Mom will make it for you!” “Okay!” My son, whom I’d carried for ten months and given birth to, was clinging to someone else and calling her Mom. And my husband sat nearby, his usually stern face showing a rare gentle expression. The man who was normally ice-cold to me was now so tender. If this had been before, seeing this scene would have made me frantic with worry. Because Ethan would get diarrhea from eating eggs, yet he insisted on seeing eggs at every breakfast. I would use other ingredients to substitute for eggs. But suddenly I realized that my heart wasn’t anxious at all. It was filled only with bitter relief. I let out a rueful laugh. At least in ten more days, it would all be over.

Though my laugh was very soft, it still startled the family of three inside. When Autumn saw it was me, she immediately assumed the demeanor of the lady of the house. “You’re finally back. Where have you been all night? Don’t you know how pitiful little Ethan was, crying because he couldn’t find you?” “Hurry up and make him some porridge. He’s been craving it all night and kept praising it to me!” Before I could open my mouth to speak, Ethan threw an apple at me. The apple hit my injured leg, making me gasp in pain. “I don’t want her porridge! Who knows where she was last night, not even caring about her own son!” Beside him, Zachary’s face darkened. Seeing my disheveled appearance, anger flashed across his face. “Where the hell did you run off to yesterday? The child was seriously ill in the hospital. I called you and said he wanted porridge. How could you have no reaction at all? Do you even deserve to be called a mother?” I didn’t respond to their accusations, only asked coldly in return, “Which hospital was the child at yesterday?” Zachary sneered and raised an eyebrow at me, as if looking at an idiot, his tone full of self-righteousness. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know which hospital your son was in. I clearly sent you a message yesterday!” Zachary had indeed sent me a message, but he quickly recalled it. I had no idea where the child was. I held up my phone. Our chat window was filled with glaring green screens, each message followed by a conspicuous red exclamation mark. Zachary looked confused and instinctively pulled out his own phone, but couldn’t find our chat. Just as he was frowning in puzzlement, Autumn beside him suddenly burst into tears. “I’m so sorry, Zachary. I didn’t know this would happen. Last night while I was helping Ethan fall asleep, your phone kept going off.” “I was afraid it would disturb you two, so I blocked her. I’m the one who recalled that message, because Ethan said he didn’t want to see his mom!” Zachary’s frown deepened. He seemed somewhat displeased with Autumn. But Ethan wouldn’t allow Autumn to be scolded by his father. He jumped up from the couch like a hero, standing in front of Autumn. “Dad, what are you trying to do? Don’t yell at Autumn! Mom isn’t completely innocent either.” “Even if she couldn’t reach you, I was only at our family’s private hospital. Was it really that hard to come and check?”

Zachary found this reasonable and turned to glare at me, but I cut him off first. “No need to say all that. I went to no less than thirty hospitals looking for you last night. Every hospital has a record of my inquiries. You can go check for yourselves.” “And the first place I went was Harrison Private Hospital. But your father once gave an order that anyone or anything related to me is absolutely forbidden from entering Harrison Private Hospital!” “I went there this morning too. I was dragged away right in front of your family of three. Ethan, you don’t need to pretend you don’t know anything. I saw you!” Zachary frowned slightly, turning to look at Ethan with some confusion. Ethan’s expression turned panicked. When their family of three had left, he had turned his head and seen me. He had watched with his own eyes as his biological mother was beaten bloody by a group of security guards and dragged out like a dog, yet he hadn’t made a sound. He’d even kissed Autumn right in front of me. When I was thrown out earlier, I’d still been thinking that maybe it was just my imagination, that the child hadn’t seen me. But seeing this scene now, I was completely heartbroken. Perhaps I really shouldn’t have appeared here at all. Zachary was very displeased about this. He wouldn’t allow a child raised by his family to be labeled as someone who abused his biological mother. After all, this was his designated heir. “Ethan, did you see your mother?” Ethan had always been most afraid of Zachary, but he had a solution. Using Autumn’s usual trick. “Oh no, Dad, my stomach is starting to hurt again. I feel terrible!” He clutched his stomach, hunching over, though being so young, he couldn’t help but steal glances at his father while putting on the act. Such crude acting, yet these two adults both believed it. Autumn cried inconsolably beside them. Anyone who didn’t know better would think I was bullying their family of three. “Zachary, stop it. The child is so young and he’s sick. It’s perfectly normal that his eyes were blurry and he didn’t see Sophia clearly!” “Besides, the child was calling for his mom all night. Have you forgotten how pitiful he was?” Hearing this, Zachary sighed and picked up the child to leave. Autumn, following close behind, shot me a challenging look before smiling and catching up with the father and son. I let out a bitter laugh and returned to my room, gritting my teeth as I peeled off the clothes stuck to my wounds. The instant the fabric tore away, the barely clotted wounds began bleeding again. The pain was bone-deep and piercing, yet I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Because on my way home, I’d received a message from Mrs. Harrison asking me to fill out various application forms. After simply treating my wounds, I immediately filled out the application forms and sent them to Mrs. Harrison, then let out a breath. It would finally be over soon. Since I hadn’t slept all last night, I was now completely exhausted. I collapsed on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. Perhaps because I was about to leave, I actually dreamed of the year I first met Zachary. Everyone thought I was the one who had broken up Zachary and Autumn. In truth, Zachary and I had known each other since we were twelve years old.

I was born in a remote area. My parents didn’t want me to go to school and wanted me to drop out and work to support my younger brother. I refused, so my parents forcibly dragged me back home. It just so happened that Zachary’s parents were conducting a charitable outreach activity and came to our mountain village. Zachary got lost and accidentally saw me chained up in my family’s cattle shed. In a moment of kindness, he saved me. From that moment on, my heart was completely occupied by Zachary. My life seemed to have light, a direction to move forward. From then on, I became everyone’s known lapdog for Zachary. Later, I received sponsorship from the Harrison family. I successfully left the mountains and carved out a world of my own. When I learned that Zachary had fallen into a life crisis after a breakup, I came to his side without hesitation. Mrs. Harrison knew my background and identity, which was why she signed a five-year agreement with me. As long as I could help her son regain control of the company and drive out the Harrison family’s illegitimate child. Mrs. Harrison would give me fifty million dollars and send me abroad to study. I agreed to these terms, not only for my own future, but also for the hero who had appeared in my life as a child. Later, although I never officially married Zachary, I did have a child with him. And Mrs. Harrison seemed to care more and more about me, as if I really were the daughter-in-law of the Harrison family. Mrs. Harrison even began to think I would marry Zachary and then carefully nurture their family’s future heir. Zachary also gradually changed from being cold to me at first to becoming doting. I thought we would continue like this for a long, long time. Until Autumn returned to the country. Everything seemed to change. Zachary gave all his care to Autumn. Even the child I’d carried for ten months and given birth to began calling Autumn “Mom.” And I seemed out of place in this family, like an outsider. Actually, the contract had long since expired. I was just clinging to that unrealistic beautiful dream in my heart. Now the dream was over, and I should return to my own world. In the evening, the father and son came home for once. But the house was unusually cold and quiet today. Zachary had always hated having too many strangers around, so the household chores were usually my responsibility. No matter how late the father and son came home, there would always be a light left on for them, and the table would have a late-night meal prepared. But today the house was pitch dark, and there were no sumptuous dishes on the table. Seeing this scene, Zachary’s heart suddenly seized. For some reason, a feeling of panic welled up in his chest. Ethan pouted. “Dad, why isn’t there any food today?” Hearing this, Zachary frowned, patted Ethan’s little head, and said gently, “It’s okay. I’ll have your mom make some right away.” “Sophia!” Zachary called out, but the room answered him only with dead silence. He strode quickly to my bedroom and raised his hand, pounding heavily on the door. Seeing that the door was locked from inside, he seemed to relax and let out a sigh of relief. “Sophia, are you in there?!” Zachary’s voice had clearly softened a few degrees.

Zachary had a bad stomach, so I always made light, bland meals for him. Our son Ethan was very sensitive to food and would have allergic reactions easily, so I was always extra careful when cooking. Seeing that I wasn’t responding from inside the room, Zachary seemed to get anxious. “Can you stop making a scene? I called you all day today and you didn’t answer. I sent someone to the house to find you, and you wouldn’t open the door. What exactly do you mean by this?” Ever since this house had only me left in it, I’d always had trouble sleeping at night. I would wear headphones and listen to music to fall asleep. I truly hadn’t heard the commotion when this father-son duo came home. Never having been ignored before, Zachary was completely angry. He found the spare house key to unlock the door, then kicked it open with one foot. The violent noise made the nightstand in the room shake. The medical books piled high on top fell all over the floor. One book happened to land by the headboard, and only then did I slowly wake up a bit, sitting up with drowsy eyes. Ever since I’d given birth to the child years ago, Zachary had been unwilling to stay in the same bedroom as me. What was going on today? Why had he suddenly come here? “Do you need something?” I asked softly. Hearing such a calm question, Zachary was instantly speechless. Hearing his son still crying and making a fuss outside, he said irritably, “Our son is hungry. Aren’t you going to come out and make food?” “I don’t think so. It’s too late and I’m very tired. If you want to eat, restaurants outside serve food twenty-four hours a day.” Zachary froze. If this had been before, if I’d heard that he and the child wanted to eat, I would have been overjoyed. But today I’d just refused them so bluntly? “Our son is sick, and you want him to eat outside fast food? What kind of mother are you?” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh mockingly. “Didn’t you say I’m not fit to be the child’s mother? That I give him the wrong medicine, make a big fuss over small things, and that even the food I make might be poisoned!” “Besides, Ethan also said today that my cooking tastes terrible. Since you all don’t like my food, why should I exhaust myself making it?” Zachary stood frozen in place. These words did sound very familiar. Before, Autumn had fed Ethan fried chicken, which gave him diarrhea. I’d urgently made him throw it up and brought him medicine to take. But Ethan had knocked it to the floor, saying I wasn’t a doctor and shouldn’t randomly give him medicine. Zachary was silent for a long time before speaking. “Enough. I’m the child’s father, and I also run a pharmaceutical company. Medicine has side effects. How can you just give it to a child casually?” “I think you’ve gone crazy with wanting to do medical research, haven’t you? Using your own son as a lab rat for experiments. I’m warning you, stop bringing your food in front of our son!” “Making a big deal out of nothing. Ethan is a boy. You’ll ruin him acting like this!” That was the first time Zachary had blamed me.

Zachary stood by my bed, frozen for a long time. “Do you have to be so passive-aggressive? We’re family. Is it necessary to be so petty about everything?” “I’m not family with you people. In all those family reality shows and family gathering photos, the woman by your side has never been me!” “Even in your spouse column, my name has never appeared. What kind of family is this? At most, I’m just a nanny!” Zachary looked somewhat bewildered, a flash of panic in his eyes. Then, as if he’d figured something out, he said: “Sophia, I already told you that Autumn and I have no relationship. We’re just friends. Do you have to be so petty?” “Besides, we haven’t even gotten our marriage certificate yet. What right do you have to restrict my freedom!” “If you want to marry me, you can just say so. There’s no need to talk in circles. And I never said I wouldn’t marry you. Do you really need to put on such a show?” Hearing these words, I wanted to laugh, but today I really didn’t want to argue with this man anymore about these things. “Who you marry has nothing to do with me, as long as you don’t marry me. I never thought about restricting you. After all, I have no right to. Now can you leave? I need to rest!” Zachary listened to me using his own words against him and stood frozen in place. For the first time, I, who had always been obedient to him, was being so sharp-tongued. It stuck in his throat. Although he’d never said he would marry me, he did want to give his son a family. And over all these years, I had always stayed within bounds. Zachary had been thinking that in another two years, he’d go get the marriage certificate. But my words today seemed to turn Zachary’s plan into wishful thinking. For a moment, he flew into a rage from embarrassment. “Fine! This is what you said. Don’t come begging me to marry you later!” With that, Zachary slammed the door hard. Outside, Ethan had cried himself hoarse. Zachary thought that since I had taken care of this child for so many years, I couldn’t possibly ignore him completely. So Zachary left his son on the couch and went back to his own room to sleep. Before long, Ethan’s voice gradually weakened. The next day, when I went out. I happened to run into Zachary anxiously carrying Ethan in his arms. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me. “You didn’t check on Ethan at all last night?!” I was somewhat speechless. “Didn’t I already tell you that?” Zachary gritted his teeth. Not having time to think much, he carried the child and left without another word. The child’s gastroenteritis hadn’t been effectively relieved and had instead caused a fever. But the company needed Zachary to rush over to handle things, so he had no choice but to call me. I didn’t want to answer, so Zachary just kept calling relentlessly. I simply blocked his number.

I had been out handling my affairs for going abroad, but there was one thing I still couldn’t let go of. After getting into graduate school, I met a very good mentor. This mentor had dedicated his life to researching medicine for children with cerebral palsy. I followed this mentor down the same path, but after getting together with Zachary, I gradually abandoned this experiment. And this experiment was directly declared dead in the water after my professor passed away. But even so, the rough prototype of this new drug had still been developed by my professor. And this experimental result ultimately remained in my hands with the help of my professor’s son. Before passing away, my professor had always hoped I could return to this experiment, but unfortunately, I let him down. Now that I’d decided to study abroad, I wanted to restart this project. But when I tried to restart the project, I discovered that someone had beaten me to it. I spent three full days running around before learning that this project had somehow fallen into Zachary’s hands not long ago. The development of this new drug was my professor’s life’s work. Thinking of this, I didn’t dare delay and immediately ran to the company, wanting to ask Zachary about it. Who knew that right at the entrance of Harrison Group, I would run into a group of reporters interviewing Zachary and Autumn. “This special medicine specifically for children with cerebral palsy is the result of five years of persistence I maintained abroad. I’ve brought it back this time hoping to benefit newborns everywhere.” “Harrison Group is very honored to welcome back this top student in pharmaceutical research to continue benefiting newborns.” Autumn stood before numerous media outlets with a brilliant smile, brazenly claiming this project as her own. And Zachary beside her was helping to coordinate, the two of them interacting with such intimacy that no one would believe they had no relationship. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was clearly the lead on this project. Without my signature, who could have taken it away? Unless Zachary had schemed against me. There was a period when Zachary had me sign various agreements, saying he wanted to plan ahead for marriage and needed to sort out finances in advance. I wasn’t with Zachary for money to begin with, so of course I wouldn’t refuse to sign. But while reviewing the contracts, Ethan had been shouting and making a fuss beside me, insisting on going out to play. In my flustered state, I’d hastily signed those documents. At this moment, I couldn’t think about anything else. I just wanted to reclaim my professor’s project. But before I could take two steps, I was grabbed by the bodyguards beside Zachary. Clearly Zachary had already guessed I would come looking for him and had prepared for it in advance. After everything below was mostly resolved, Zachary finally saw me, restrained, in his office. “So you finally came. I really didn’t expect that worthless project to be more important to you than your biological son. Your son was so sick, yet you didn’t come to the hospital even once!” “Now this broken project appears and you show up immediately. Didn’t you say you had such backbone? Didn’t you dare to block me? If you’re so capable, don’t come back!”

I glared at Zachary through gritted teeth. I never imagined this man would take the project and rush to launch it, all just to force me to show up. “Zachary, have you lost your mind? That new drug hasn’t undergone clinical trials yet. And many of the ingredients and dosages are still uncertain. Rushing it to market like this could kill people!” “Enough!” Zachary’s face was full of impatient reproach. “Don’t think you’re the only top student from medical school. I already had Autumn look at that drug!” “Autumn also had people test it. That drug has absolutely no problems. It just needs clinical trials. And we’ve already had people conduct clinical testing without any issues!” “I really didn’t expect you to be so selfish. When my company was on the brink of collapse, I never saw you bring out this drug!” “You just watched me struggling there. All these years you’ve said you love me, but you’ve never once considered my needs!” “Now you go to the hospital right away and take good care of our son. That’s the only use you have left. If you can’t even take care of him properly, get the hell out of here!” I struggled to move forward, but the two bodyguards behind me gripped my arms tightly. I used so much force that I even heard the sound of bones grinding together. “Zachary, that drug can’t go to market. It can’t undergo clinical testing. That drug has problems. It will kill people!” “Autumn’s credentials are fake. She made it all up while she was abroad!” “Shut up!” When Zachary heard me talk about Autumn this way, he became furious. Without a word, he stepped forward and slapped me across the face. “You have no right to slander Autumn. When I was at my most difficult, Autumn knew to introduce me to domestic pharmaceutical experts. But what about you?” “You clearly had such a good project in your hands, yet you weren’t willing to think of me at all. Now you even dare to slander Autumn. Who gave you the nerve?” After taking that slap, I couldn’t help but laugh. Back when the company had problems, I had no choice but to seek out my professor, who was seriously ill, hoping the professor could help Harrison Group get through the crisis. At that time, my professor was gravely ill and couldn’t appear in person. That credit was brazenly stolen by Autumn. After my professor passed away, the matter was completely swept under the rug. Even though I’d explained many times, he never believed me. As for Autumn’s fake credentials, a simple investigation would reveal the truth. When Autumn first entered the company, I was a bit worried and asked a former classmate to help investigate, which was how I discovered the truth. I had reminded Zachary about it many times, but he refused to believe me. He attributed all my actions to jealousy and insisted on bringing Autumn into the company’s core despite everyone’s opposition. For all these days, I’d been keeping a close eye on Autumn, afraid she would bring trouble to the company. But this slap had finally woken me up completely. “You’re right. You’re not worthy of my love at all. Since you’re so eager to die, suit yourself!” With that, I completely stopped resisting. The bodyguards on either side, seeing I was no longer struggling, slowly released their grip. At this moment, Zachary felt somewhat panicked. He had a feeling something was about to leave him completely, but his control over me made him dismiss the thought.

“Enough, stop making a scene. You’ve been away from the lab for so many years. Just because you can’t do something doesn’t mean Autumn can’t.” “This project can immediately establish Autumn’s reputation domestically and take the company to the next level. I don’t want to hear any negative comments about Autumn from the outside world.” “Otherwise, you can forget about ever seeing our son again.” I smiled, my eyes and tone full of mockery. “No need. Starting today, I don’t want to see either you or that son of yours. You three enjoy your family life together!” After speaking, I staggered out of the office. Behind me, Zachary flew into a rage, scattering everything on his desk across the floor. “Fine, Sophia Reed! If you’ve got the guts, don’t come back! Even if you kneel before me like a dog in the future, I won’t spare you a glance!” “Go put up a sign outside the company: No dogs or Sophia allowed!” Hearing this, I only smiled lightly. When I walked out of the company, I happened to see someone putting up a sign. Even more ridiculous, the sign had my photo on it. Looking at those nearly humiliating words, I pulled out my phone and decisively chose to report it. Good thing the paperwork would be ready today, and I could leave for good. Zachary, we’ll never see each other again. Not wanting to be entangled with Zachary anymore, I packed my things and went to a nearby hotel. I still needed to explain to my former fellow students about my professor’s research being stolen. But by unfortunate coincidence, the place where they’d arranged to meet was where I ran into Zachary again. I’d chosen a high-end teahouse, and coincidentally, Zachary was there today to discuss business for producing the new drug. By sheer bad luck, the three of us ran right into each other. Seeing me, Zachary instinctively wanted to step forward, but was held tightly by Autumn at his side. “Sophia, are you here looking for Zachary?” “I’m not trying to lecture you, Sophia. I know this project means a lot to you. But you should also care more about Zachary.” “The company’s projects haven’t been doing well lately. You should at least consider your husband. And you moved out without a word. Ethan hasn’t had anyone to take care of him these past two days!” “That poor child is still in the hospital. As his mother, how can you not go visit him?” “If I weren’t still going over regularly to bring him food, who knows how thin the child would have gotten?” “Autumn regularly going to bring Ethan food. I knew about that.” Ever since I’d moved out, Zachary had been deliberately showing off, sending me photos of the three of them living in harmony every time. But with just one glance at those meals, I could tell Ethan absolutely couldn’t eat them. Although Ethan’s stomach was weak, after so many years of careful management it had recovered. If he weren’t constantly eating these things, how could he still be in the hospital now? “Is that so? Well, you’d better put in the extra effort, since you’re about to marry into the family!” Hearing me say this, Zachary became even more furious. “Sophia Reed, you’re something else. When we get engaged, you’d better not forget to come celebrate with us!” “No need. We’re not that close!” After speaking, I left without looking back. But afterward, I took note of their business partners and sent them a report on the drug testing anomalies. After doing all this, Mrs. Harrison’s call finally came. “Sophia, are you really unwilling to stay?” I shook my head. “Mrs. Harrison, there’s no need. This place never belonged to me anyway.” Mrs. Harrison was silent on the other end of the phone for a long time, then let out a long sigh. “Have a safe journey.” My fifty million dollars and plane ticket finally arrived. Standing at the airport, I let out a long breath and received another call from Zachary. “Did you contact my business partners behind my back? Does seeing me do well make you so uncomfortable? You don’t care about our son or our home anymore?” “I don’t want them anymore. I’m giving you everything. The project, you, the child. They all belong to someone else now. You got what you wanted!” With that, a relaxed smile crossed my face. I pulled my suitcase and boarded the plane.

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My family has a tradition: everyone, regardless of gender, must hide their identity and never reveal their family background. Only the first descendant to conceive a child earns the right to return home and take over the family business. I was the first in the entire family to get pregnant. The moment I found out, I was so excited I ran home without even putting on my coat. With this child, I could finally stop hiding our poverty from my husband, Ethan Moore. And his struggling little company wouldn’t have to worry about next month’s rent anymore. But when I got home and opened the door, I found my husband kissing another woman on the sofa. Ethan held the half-dressed woman and looked at me. “Blair’s back. Let’s get a divorce.” I shoved the pregnancy test back into my pocket. What he didn’t know was that his poor wife who’d suffered alongside him had a world behind her that he could never reach in his lifetime. Fine. I’ll keep the child and leave the father. Goodbye forever. 0

“The divorce agreement is on the table. There’s a pen next to it.” Ethan’s tone was flat. Blair slowly straightened her clothes, her neck covered with intense kiss marks. She sat in my usual spot, glanced at me, and curved her lips slightly without saying a word. As if she were the mistress of this house. I walked over and picked up the agreement. Three pages, densely written. The house goes to Ethan. Company shares go to Ethan. Savings go to Ethan. The car goes to Ethan. I get nothing. “I leave with nothing?” Ethan finally looked at me. “The agreement includes compensation. Thirty thousand dollars. That’s not nothing.” Thirty thousand. I’d been married to this man for three years. Ten thousand per year. Blair set down her teacup. “Vivian, with thirty thousand you can rent a nice studio apartment.” I stared at her. “When did you get back?” “Yesterday.” Blair tilted her head. “Ethan picked me up from the airport. He waited four hours—my flight was delayed.” Yesterday. Yesterday Ethan told me he had to work late at the company. Blair stood up and walked to Ethan’s side, naturally linking her arm through his. “Ethan said you’re a good person and wouldn’t make things difficult for me.” Ethan didn’t pull away from her touch. The phone in my pocket pressed against the pregnancy test, jabbing painfully into my thigh. I’d planned to come home and tell him—Ethan, we’re having a baby. You won’t have to lose sleep over rent anymore, won’t have to grovel and drink with clients until you get stomach bleeding. I thought today would be our best day. “Where’s the pen?” Ethan pointed to the coffee table. I crouched down to get the pen. From this angle, I could see Blair’s hand resting on Ethan’s waist. When I uncapped the pen, the pregnancy test nearly slipped out of my pocket. I quickly pressed it back in. “Sign on the last page. Date it today.” Ethan’s voice came from above. I signed my name. Vivian Stone. Put down the pen and stood up. “Fine. The agreement needs to be filed at the courthouse to take effect.” “Tomorrow morning at nine. I’ll come find you.” After speaking, Ethan picked up his phone and unlocked it right in front of me, scrolling to his contacts. He changed my label from “My Darling Wife” to Vivian Stone. Then he closed his phone and put it back in his pocket. Blair leaned on his shoulder. “Ethan, I want to eat your spaghetti.” “Alright, I’ll make it right now.” Ethan actually turned and went into the kitchen. Three years, and he’d never cooked for me once. I’d asked him if he could cook. He said no, said he couldn’t even fry an egg without burning it. Now he tied his apron with more practiced ease than tying his shoelaces. Blair shrugged at me. “Vivian, don’t just stand there. Hurry and take whatever you need. Tomorrow I’m having people come redecorate. I looked at your clothes—they’re all pretty worn. Don’t bother taking them. They’re too shabby even for cleaning rags.” I went back to the bedroom and grabbed my important documents and a cloth bag containing a few things I’d brought from home when I got married—things that had nothing to do with Ethan. When I came out and passed the kitchen, Ethan was cutting tomatoes. The knife thumped against the cutting board. He didn’t look up. I changed my shoes at the door. Blair followed and leaned against the doorframe. “Vivian, I don’t know if I should say this.” “Go ahead.” “When Ethan’s with me, he never sighs. In these three years with you, I’ve heard him sigh so many times on the phone.” She lowered her head, her voice soft. “Maybe you two really aren’t compatible.” I looked at her. Ethan sighed because of broken funding chains, clients backing out, the company nearly collapsing. Every crisis, I’d been the one supporting him from behind. After he sighed, the next day he’d wake up and the problem would be solved. He thought it was luck. “You’re right,” I bent down to tie my shoelaces. “We’re not compatible.” The moment the door closed, Blair’s voice came from inside. “Ethan, let’s change the door lock code. I want to set it to our anniversary.” 0

I moved into a studio apartment near the university that rented for three hundred dollars a month. Next door was a restaurant. Cooking oil fumes seeped in through the window cracks. I sat on the hard bed and stared at the pregnancy test for a long time. Two bright pink lines, piercingly clear. My phone rang. Ethan. “Vivian Stone, you still haven’t canceled that company credit card.” “I’ll take care of it tomorrow when we go to the courthouse.” “Fine.” I was about to hang up when Blair’s voice came from his end. “Ethan, does she still have the company access card? I saw it in her bag last time.” Ethan paused. “Bring the access card too.” “What else?” “That’s it for now.” He hung up. The phone screen glowed, showing three years of chat history with Ethan. His first message to me was: Miss Stone, thank you for helping me out today. That day he’d been negotiating with a client who suddenly raised the price. He was sweating profusely. I happened to be there and discreetly helped him reorganize the contract terms. The other party signed on the spot. Ethan didn’t know that client was already connected to my family. He only knew his wife worked as a supermarket cashier making thirty-five hundred dollars a month. For three years of marriage, I’d maintained that persona. The next morning, Ethan’s mother called. “Vivian, have you finished packing?” “I’m packing.” “Don’t bother with those clothes of yours—they’re nothing special anyway. Also, those pickles you used to make, Blair said they’re pretty good. She wants the recipe.” I’d made pickles for three years. Ethan ate them every day. My mother-in-law had never praised them once. “I’m not giving it to her.” “What kind of attitude is that?” Her mother-in-law immediately changed her tone. “You’re already divorced and you’re still being petty? Blair’s family has real status. She’s doing you a favor by asking for your pickle recipe.” “What status?” “Blair’s parents run an import-export company in New York. Not everyone’s a supermarket cashier like you.” Her mother-in-law lowered her voice. “Vivian, I’ll be honest with you. I was never really satisfied when Ethan married you in the first place. You’ve been hardworking these three years, I’ll give you that. But people move up in the world. Ethan’s company is growing now. You can’t keep up.” “Blair and Ethan were college classmates. They’re a perfect match. Now that she’s back, don’t stand in the way.” Last year when Ethan nearly went bankrupt over a bad debt and couldn’t even pay employee salaries, I used my family’s connections to recover that bad debt. Ethan thought the debtor had a sudden attack of conscience and repaid voluntarily. He was so happy when he came home that day. He hugged me and said, “Honey, we’re so lucky.” “I’m not giving her the pickle recipe. Do you have anything else to ask?” My mother-in-law hung up angrily. Half an hour later, Ethan sent a message: My mom says you had a bad attitude. We’re already divorced—don’t make this uglier than it needs to be. I didn’t reply. I turned my phone face-down on the bed and touched my stomach. In three months, I’d start showing. By then I’d return to the family as the only heir who’d successfully conceived, and take over everything. Ethan’s company that he’d worked so hard to build was worth three million. In front of the Stone family, that wasn’t even pocket change. That afternoon I went to the hospital to register for prenatal care. While waiting in the queue, my phone rang again. Blair, calling from Ethan’s phone. “Vivian, sorry to bother you. I found a bottle of folic acid in your old bedroom. I wanted to ask if it’s yours or if it was left by the previous tenants?” Folic acid. That was what I’d been taking while trying to conceive. I gripped my phone tightly. “Throw it away. It’s expired.” “Okay. By the way, Ethan asked me to ask you—when are you canceling the credit card?” “Tomorrow.” “Great, bye then.” She hung up. My hand was trembling. Not from anger, but from fear. Blair had found the folic acid. “Will she figure it out?” I stared at my phone, talking to myself. No one answered. 0

The day my prenatal test results came back, I sat on a bench in the hospital corridor in a daze. The doctor said everything was normal, the baby was healthy, and told me to watch my nutrition and rest. The baby is healthy. I repeated those words three times. “Vivian?” I looked up. Blair stood at the end of the corridor holding a bag of fruit. She smiled and walked over. “What a coincidence! You’re at this hospital too?” “What are you doing here?” “Visiting a friend.” She sat down next to me and casually glanced at my hands. I turned the test results face-down, but her eyes had already caught something. “Obstetrics?” Blair’s tone changed, no longer that sweet enthusiasm. She stared straight at my face. “Vivian, you’re not…” “It’s none of your business.” “Pregnant?” I stood up. “Blair, this isn’t your concern.” “Of course it’s my concern.” She stood up too. “If it’s Ethan’s child, then it is my business.” People were passing back and forth in the corridor. She lowered her voice and moved closer. “Vivian, are you planning to hide this from everyone and have the baby? And then what, use the child to threaten Ethan?” “I don’t need to threaten anyone.” “But Ethan won’t want this child.” Blair’s tone was certain. “He said his child should be born into a complete family. The family he’s chosen doesn’t include you.” “He told you that?” “He tells me everything.” Blair pulled out her phone and played a voice message. Ethan’s voice came from the phone: Blair, once I get through this busy period, we’ll have a wedding ceremony. We’ll deal with the future later. Just settle in for now. “Did you hear that? He’s already planning our wedding. If you show up pregnant now, everyone will think you’re being clingy and desperate.” I took a deep breath. Blair watched my reaction, as if confirming something. “Vivian, I have a suggestion. Get rid of the baby, and we’ll go our separate ways. I won’t tell Ethan, and I won’t tell anyone.” “Or else?” “Or else I’ll tell him. What do you think he’ll do when he finds out?” She pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to me. “What’s this?” “Open it.” Inside the envelope was an ultrasound report with Blair’s name at the top, dated two weeks ago. It clearly stated: Intrauterine early pregnancy, 7 weeks. “I’m pregnant too.” Blair put away her smile and looked at me seriously. “Ethan already knows. He’s thrilled. He bought a ton of pregnancy supplies.” “So you understand now? His first child can only be born to me.” I stared at that ultrasound report. Seven weeks pregnant. Blair had only returned to the country yesterday. Seven weeks ago she was abroad, but this ultrasound had the stamp of the city’s maternal and child health hospital. The timeline didn’t match. But I said nothing. Now wasn’t the time to expose her. “Think about it.” Blair patted my shoulder. “Before things get messy.” She turned and left. I clutched that ultrasound report. You say you’re pregnant too. Seven weeks ago you were abroad, but the ultrasound has this city’s stamp. “Blair, what the hell are you?” 0

The next day at ten a.m., Ethan appeared at the door of my studio apartment. “I know.” He stood outside, his expression complicated—not angry, more like a kind of patronizing helplessness. “Know what?” “That you’re pregnant. Blair told me.” She hadn’t kept her promise after all. Ethan walked in and looked around the room—less than a hundred square feet—and frowned. “Vivian Stone, what are you planning to do with this child?” “Have it.” “Have it and then what?” His voice rose slightly. “You make thirty-five hundred a month. You can barely support yourself.” “You don’t need to worry about me.” “I’m worried about myself.” Ethan sat on the only plastic chair, hands clasped. “Blair’s pregnant too. You know that, right? She’s further along than you—already seven weeks.” “She showed me the ultrasound.” “Right.” Ethan nodded. “Let me be clear. My first child should be with Blair. Yours… isn’t appropriate.” “Ethan Moore, are you sure you want me to abort your child?” “We’re already divorced. Even if you have this child, it’ll be a single-parent family. That’s not good for anyone.” He stood up. “Get an abortion. I’ll pay for the procedure and nutrition costs. Is fifty thousand enough?” The door was pushed open from outside. My mother-in-law. She walked in carrying a plastic bag and looked around. “This is where you’re living?” My mother-in-law put the plastic bag on the table. “There’s twenty thousand dollars in there for the abortion. Plus the thirty thousand from Ethan, that’s fifty total. Enough for you to start over.” “I told you, I’m keeping the child.” My mother-in-law’s face darkened. “Vivian, don’t be ungrateful. You know what Blair’s family is like. She’s Ethan’s legitimate wife. You’re carrying a bastard…” “This isn’t a bastard. It’s Ethan Moore’s child.” “If my son doesn’t acknowledge it, then it isn’t.” My mother-in-law’s voice rose. “You think getting pregnant means you can latch onto our family?” “Vivian Stone, I’ll say this one last time.” Ethan didn’t look up from his phone. “Get rid of the child and we’ll part on good terms. If you don’t, I’ll go to court and apply for a paternity test and fight for custody. I have a house and a company. You have nothing. The court will award me the child.” “And then I’ll let Blair raise this child.” Let Blair raise my child. That sentence was like a knife, stabbing precisely into me. My mother-in-law pushed me. “Did you hear? Don’t think pregnancy gives you leverage. You’re nothing in front of us.” Ethan’s phone screen lit up. A message from Blair popped up. I glimpsed a line of text: [Ethan, is it handled? I bought your favorite cheesecake.] Ethan replied, locked the screen, looked up at me, waiting for my answer. My mother-in-law stood beside him with her arms crossed, like a supervisor. I touched my stomach. This child was the Stone family heir, the child my entire family had waited over a decade for. Ethan wanted to fight for custody? He had no idea who he was challenging. I took out my phone and found a number I hadn’t called in three years. I dialed. It was answered after one ring. “Dad, come pick me up. I’m pregnant.” Ethan and my mother-in-law both looked at me. My father’s voice came through the phone, very calm, but every word carried undeniable weight. “Give me twenty minutes.” I hung up. Ethan frowned. “Who did you call?” “My father.” My mother-in-law laughed mockingly. “Your father? Didn’t you say your father was a farmer in the countryside? Calling some old farmer to back you up?” I put my phone back in my pocket. “Ethan Moore, you just said you want to fight for custody.” “That’s right.” “Fine. Then wait.”

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My husband Ethan Shaw and his childhood friend Chloe got pregnant at the same time. To protect Chloe’s reputation, Ethan said her child was his. And my child? The bastard I conceived from an affair. He even used AI to generate photos of me having sex with different men and sent them to friends and family. Faced with my breakdown, he only said indifferently: “Chloe’s family has always been strict with her. She can’t handle gossip.” What about me? I’m his wife! I looked at the man I’d loved for seven years and decided I would never love him again. Learning that Ethan planned to go abroad with Chloe in three days to rest during her pregnancy, I called my mother-in-law Margaret. “I want a divorce.” My mother-in-law on the other end of the line just sighed. “It’s Ethan’s fault. He’s wronged you.” Ever since Ethan publicly claimed that my child was a bastard, we had the worst fight of our seven years together. But after he learned I wanted a divorce, he had people lock me in the villa. Even when I went for prenatal checkups, a dozen bodyguards followed behind me. He said, “I still love you, and our child must be healthy.” So he still knew this was his child. His hypocritical, casual words could ruin my life and our child’s. Even though he knew our child was his own flesh and blood. And Chloe’s child was the real bastard of unknown paternity. Gently stroking my already swollen belly, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness. As if sensing the warmth of my palm, my belly moved. It was like a telepathic connection between the child and me. Knowing I was sad, as if comforting me. Tears instantly flowed down. I withdrew my hand, covered my face, and cried. The villa door opened from outside. Ethan walked up to me, looked at my swollen red eyes, and said flatly: “For the baby’s sake, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t always cry.” Easy for him to say. If I could control my emotions, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with the man in front of me in the first place. I knew he had always kept a place for Chloe in his heart. I knew his feelings for me weren’t true love. The person I loved deeply was also the one who hurt me the most. “You’ve done so many things to wrong me, trapped me, taken away my freedom.” “What, don’t I even have the right to cry anymore?” He just looked at me, his eyes slightly red, with a trace of guilt, but he couldn’t say a word. Just like a few months ago, when I first suspected I was pregnant. When I went to the hospital to confirm, I happened to run into Ethan accompanying Chloe for her checkup. He was considerate and attentive, afraid she might bump into something. “Ethan, feel our baby, I think he just moved.” Ethan’s face showed a tender light. He let Chloe pull his hand and place it on her flat belly. The next second, he looked up and saw me standing at the corner. Not a word of explanation, just standing there in a daze. What a loving couple. If I weren’t Ethan’s wife, I would definitely say such envious words sincerely. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say it. And he didn’t deserve it. The man in front of me was silent for a while before seeming to remember something. He said perfunctorily: “Tomorrow is your birthday. I’ll throw you a birthday party.” “Oh, and Mom just told me she’s coming back to the country to take care of you. With Mom taking care of you, I can feel more at ease.” He could certainly feel at ease. At ease going abroad with his Chloe to rest during her pregnancy. Not having to come back for months. But he didn’t know why his parents, who had been enjoying their retirement abroad, would suddenly return home. Nor did he know that his parents already knew about the despicable things he’d done to me. I sneered coldly and didn’t object. I was the one who asked his mother to come back. Because I knew that with just my current self, I couldn’t escape from Ethan’s grasp. Seeing I had no reaction, he crouched down and looked at me with a somewhat affectionate gaze. “Joanna, I do love you.” “After Chloe gives birth, I’ll definitely come back to you.” I treated such words as air. Even if he really thought that way now, with just one word from Chloe, he would mercilessly break his promise to me. So I would never believe his words again. Three more days. Then he could completely get rid of me. And focus wholeheartedly on being the father of Chloe’s child.

That night, Ethan didn’t stay home. Because Chloe said her baby was moving a lot and her stomach hurt, he immediately found an excuse to go keep her company. Four years of dating, three years of marriage—I had always thought Ethan loved me. Until Chloe came back. Until she got pregnant with someone else’s child. It seemed like everything suddenly changed. My husband, who had loved me reasonably well, devoted himself to caring for another woman. I was locked in this dark prison. Slowly wearing down all my love for him. Disappointment accumulated until it disappeared completely. So it was time for me to leave. The next day for my birthday party, Ethan said he’d pick me up himself and called several times to urge me. But when I went out, only the bodyguard’s car was at the door. “Joanna, I have something to deal with here.” “You go ahead first, I’ll be right there.” I had no hope to begin with, so how could there be disappointment? The biting winter wind cut across my cheeks like a sickle. But I couldn’t feel any pain. Just like my feelings for Ethan. From disappointment to despair—no pain could hurt me anymore. The car stopped in front of a club. I frowned but still got out. Led by the bodyguard, I walked into a private room. But I didn’t recognize a single person inside. Their strange looks seemed to see right through me, full of mockery and disdain. As if I were trash, they kept their distance. “She cheated on Ethan and still has the nerve to let him throw her a birthday party.” “Ethan is so pathetic, and he’s even allowing her to keep that bastard child.” “I don’t know what Ethan sees in her. She can’t even compare to Chloe’s little toe.” They spoke loudly enough, deliberately saying it for me to hear. See? This was Ethan’s masterpiece. He couldn’t bear to watch Chloe face her parents’ criticism. But he never thought about how the harm I suffered because of them was a thousand times worse than what Chloe faced. I could not care about myself, but I couldn’t bear for my child to be condemned by everyone like this. I stood up, planning to leave. This birthday party didn’t seem to welcome me anyway. But when I pulled open the door, I saw Ethan and Chloe standing outside. One looked away guiltily, the other showed a triumphant smile. I knew they had been at the door listening. Listening to how the people in the room insulted me. Listening to how the people in the room mocked me. But he said nothing, just let Chloe pull me back inside. “So the birthday girl arrived first. It’s all my fault—I’m clumsy moving around with this belly.” “Ethan was worried I’d be uncomfortable in another car, so he insisted on picking me up.” Chloe proudly stroked her own belly, then looked at mine. As if saying, so what if you’re pregnant too? Because of her words, jeering sounds erupted around us. “Since childhood, Ethan has always doted on Chloe exclusively.” “When your baby is born, will there be good news soon?” “Don’t forget to invite us to the wedding.” Amid the congratulations, they seemed to forget I was still Ethan’s wife. They also seemed to forget this wasn’t some engagement party. But rather a birthday party Ethan was throwing for me to make up for his guilt. Watching their faces, I couldn’t control a wave of nausea. I had just stood up to leave when somehow I caught Ethan’s attention. He frowned at me and said coldly: “This is your birthday party. What would it look like if you left?” “It’s just morning sickness. Endure it and it’ll pass.” But the next second, Chloe also retched. He immediately nervously helped her sit down and pulled a sour lemon candy from his pocket. Personally tore open the wrapper, personally fed it into her mouth. Jeering sounds erupted around us again. I closed my eyes. My birthday party had become part of their public display of affection. They acted like a real married couple, chatting and laughing with their mutual friends. While I was just forgotten in the corner. They hadn’t even prepared a birthday cake. How absurd and laughable. This was the birthday party Ethan prepared for me. I held back my tears and swallowed all the bitterness. I should really say congratulations, Ethan. Because in two more days, I would completely leave him. He could give the position of Mrs. Shaw to the person he cared about.

That night I didn’t leave. I just sat alone in the corner and watched this absurd birthday party to the end. It wasn’t until everyone was leaving that Ethan finally noticed me in the corner and offered to drive me home. Even though he was my husband, it was as if he wasn’t going to his own home. But just as he finished speaking, Chloe came over and grabbed his arm. “Ethan, I’m tired. I want to go home and rest.” Ethan affectionately touched her hair. “Is the baby bothering you again? Let’s go home first.” He put his arm around Chloe and left, while I could only get in the bodyguard’s car again. I felt like a clown. I touched my cheeks. The tears I thought would fall didn’t appear. So it was true—when pain reached its extreme, you really couldn’t feel it anymore. I really couldn’t understand. If he cared so much about his childhood friend, why did he marry me and have a child with me? If he wanted so badly to prove to the world how much he cherished Chloe, why wouldn’t he divorce me? Why insist on keeping our child, letting us be cursed and mocked together? That night, I didn’t sleep well. It wasn’t until late morning that I was awakened by the doorbell. Chloe brought her parents and suddenly showed up. As soon as Chloe’s mother saw me, she mocked coldly: “Pregnant with someone else’s bastard, and you still have the face to occupy the position of Mrs. Shaw.” “I don’t know how your parents raised such a shameless daughter.” Chloe’s father also looked at me with contempt. “Enough, why waste words on this kind of person?” “Even looking at her makes me feel dirty.” With that, he and Chloe’s mother carried several large suitcases upstairs. Watching their backs going upstairs, I didn’t understand either. How, as parents, could they raise such a shameless daughter? Seeing only me left in the living room, Chloe walked closer with a mocking smile at the corner of her mouth. “So what if you’re married to him? So what if you’re carrying his child?” “You still can’t compare to me and my child.” “Oh, and Ethan said after the baby is born, he’ll make my child the eldest son with the Shaw surname.” “And your bastard—he’ll only adopt him as a foster son with your surname.” Looking at Chloe’s glaring smile, I just felt a bit bored. I’d seen this kind of trick from her too many times. I moved aside to let her pass and planned to leave. Chloe suddenly fell to the ground crying, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.” Chloe’s crying brought her parents running. Her mother lunged at me like a madwoman. Just then, the villa door opened and Ethan rushed in. I was about to explain to him when Chloe’s mother knocked me down, slapping my face while cursing with filthy, crude words. As Ethan stopped her, a flash of heartache crossed his eyes. He was about to speak when Chloe threw herself crying into his arms. “Ethan, you promised that after our baby is born, you’d let my parents come take care of us.” “My place is small, there’s no room for all five of us.” “I just wanted to ask Miss Carter if she minded us living together, but she suddenly hit me…” She covered her own face, then her own belly. And cried even louder. I was getting dizzy from the noise. Where I’d been hit felt numb with pain, probably already swollen. And under Chloe’s palm, her skin was white as ever. Nothing there at all. Feeling Ethan’s conflicted gaze, I wiped away my tears and silently stood up. The husband who once said he’d protect me and cherish me for life had become the confidence that allowed another woman to act shamelessly when I needed protection most. Perhaps our marriage was wrong from the start. If he couldn’t let go of his childhood friend, he could only let go of our marriage. Because in one more day, I would leave him.

Chloe was afraid something had happened to the baby and insisted on going to the hospital for a checkup. Chloe’s mother insisted I apologize. Ethan was caught in the middle, looking at my already swollen face. In the end, he still had to choose the childhood friend he couldn’t let go of. “Joanna, I’ll take Chloe to the hospital first.” “Mom’s back from abroad. When I get back, I’ll take you to her place.” “I promised Chloe. You need to understand—I don’t want to be someone who breaks his word.” Looking at this man who had shared my bed for three years, speaking of promises to someone else. He had long forgotten that when he married me, he also said he would love me forever. And every single thing he had solemnly promised me. Things he could have done, things he had done halfway and then abandoned. After Chloe came back, he hadn’t kept any of them. I put away the desolation in my heart, just wanting to end this farce quickly. “Joanna, I do love you.” Seeing my expressionless face, Ethan added urgently: “No matter what you’ve done to wrong me, my love for you has never changed.” Hearing his words, I found them truly laughable. “What have I done to wrong you?” I moved closer and asked him softly, “Has Mr. Shaw told so many lies that he’s forgotten whose belly his child is really in?” Ethan froze, then remembering Chloe’s family was still there, was about to question me. But I waved my hand, cutting him off. “Don’t worry, I’m leaving right now. I won’t disturb your family reunion.” Hearing that Ethan was sending me away, Chloe’s stomach suddenly didn’t hurt anymore. She didn’t insist on going to the hospital either. She even ‘warmly’ urged Ethan to help me pack. I sneered and pointed toward the bedroom. “My luggage is already packed. Just bring it down and I can leave now.” Ethan looked at me in shock. But I had already put on my coat and walked outside. “I was planning to stay at Mom’s for a few days anyway.” He breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran upstairs to bring down my luggage, even thoughtfully calling a car for me. Because I knew his car was already filled with Chloe’s personal belongings. There was no room for me. I sat in the taxi, watching the villa where I’d lived for three years grow farther and farther away. I felt no attachment. The car was quiet. I closed my eyes, feeling utterly exhausted. I seemed to have had a very long dream. Long enough that I relived the first half of my life. Loving him took up a third of my life. Seeing him clearly took me only three months. Once I saw clearly, I stopped loving. The car slowly stopped in front of his mother’s house. When I pushed open the car door to get out, my slightly swollen belly and heavy coat made my movements somewhat clumsy. Ethan sent a message: “Joanna, wait for me a few more months. I’ll definitely come for you.” “Once Chloe’s matter is resolved, I’ll clear your name and our child’s.” “Then our family of three will never be separated again.” Looking at his solemn assurance, I smiled and didn’t reply. I pulled my suitcase and walked toward his mother’s house. No more disappointment and compromise. Only relief. Goodbye, Ethan Shaw. This is the last time we’ll see each other. From now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other. The next day, crossing the street, I was hit by a car running a red light. Sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen. I could feel blood flowing from below. As they lifted me into the ambulance, I knew that as soon as I closed my eyes and opened them again, this child would leave me forever. That was fine. This way, I would never have any blood connection to that scumbag for the rest of my life. In the hospital operating room, as consciousness gradually faded, I slowly closed my eyes. Tears still couldn’t help but fall. At the same time, Ethan, who was about to board a plane, suddenly received a phone call. It was from a friend. “Ethan, congratulations! You can finally get rid of that burden at home.” Ethan’s expression shifted, and he frowned. “What do you mean?” His friend was stunned, clearly not expecting him to ask. “You don’t know? I just saw Joanna at the hospital.” “She was in a car accident and miscarried. She’s already in the operating room.” Ethan’s whole body went cold, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. He hung up the phone with trembling hands. Without time to think, he left Chloe, who was still urging him to board, and ran madly toward the airport exit.

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