Category: English

After our college reunion, I ended up drunk and slept with my ex-boyfriend. Overwhelmed with guilt and feeling like I had utterly failed my husband, I decided to confess everything. I was ready to face whatever consequences my betrayal would bring. But when I got home, my husband wasn’t there. His laptop was still logged into his Instagram, and a message suddenly popped up on the screen. [That drug was incredibly strong. Chloe had absolutely no idea what was happening. She’s already left the hotel looking completely devastated. Just wait for her to ask for a divorce.] The message was from my ex, Tyler. My husband’s reply came almost instantly: [Once Chloe signs the divorce papers and walks away with nothing, your five hundred thousand dollars will be wired immediately. Not a penny less.] 1 Before I could even process what I was looking at, Marcus’s account logged out. My hands shook as I slammed the laptop shut. Staring at the black screen, I forced a pathetic smile. “I must be seeing things. Marcus loves me so much, he would never…” The words died in my throat. My chest tightened with a sharp, suffocating pain, and tears began to pour down my face. I covered my face with my hands and sobbed uncontrollably. I hadn’t even wanted to go to that college reunion last night. But Marcus had insisted. “The company is expanding right now, Chloe. You should go. Who knows? You might run into some potential clients.” Ever since I stepped back from the business to focus on starting a family, I had left the daily operations of the company my parents left me in Marcus’s hands. I thought he was just under a lot of pressure, so I agreed. At the dinner, I ran into my ex, Tyler. Our old classmates started teasing us, forcing us to sit next to each other. Since we had broken up ten years ago and I was happily married, I didn’t think much of it and sat down. Throughout the dinner, Tyler kept his distance and behaved like a perfect gentleman, only pouring my drinks and passing the food. But after a few drinks, my head started spinning, and I completely blacked out. When I woke up the next morning, Tyler and I were lying naked in a hotel bed. The soreness and aching in my body told me exactly what had happened. Tyler had looked utterly devastated, slapping himself across the face, begging for my forgiveness, and crying. I had scrambled into my clothes and fled the hotel in a panic. I felt so guilty. I didn’t want to lie to Marcus. A mistake was a mistake. I was prepared to confess and accept the consequences of my betrayal. But I never could have imagined that this was all Marcus’s sick, twisted trap! Now that I knew the truth, I wasn’t going to let them get away with this. I wiped my tears, picked up my phone with trembling hands, and dialed 91

“I want to report an assault. I was drugged and raped.” After a grueling medical examination at the hospital, a female detective escorted me back to my house. “Once the toxicology report comes back and we secure the evidence chain, we will move in to arrest the suspects,” she assured me. “Thank you,” I whispered. 2 I dragged my exhausted body into the house. Marcus immediately rushed over. “Babe! Where have you been? I was so worried!” Looking at his deeply concerned face, my heart went cold. I stared straight into his eyes. “I didn’t come home all night. Aren’t you going to ask me where I was?” Marcus smiled warmly, pulling me into a hug. “I called you last night, but Ashley answered. She said you had too much to drink and were sleeping it off at her place. “I remembered you guys were close in college, so I didn’t want to disturb you.” Ashley had indeed been at the reunion. But we sat on opposite sides of the room. We barely said two words to each other, let alone caught up. How did she get dragged into this? Marcus, Tyler, Ashley… what was their connection? My mind was spinning, and a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I rushed to the bathroom and threw up into the toilet. Marcus gently patted my back. “Look at you, drinking yourself sick. You know how much it hurts me to see you like this.” He handed me a glass of warm water. As I reached for it, our fingers brushed. For a split second, I caught a flash of pure disgust in his eyes. My heart sank into a dark, frozen abyss. After washing up, I went to lie down in the bedroom. Marcus followed me in, casually bringing up the topic. “Babe, you seem really off today. Did something happen last night?” I kept quiet. He continued, “You know, the most important things in a marriage are loyalty and trust. I trust you one hundred percent, so don’t carry any unnecessary burdens, okay?” I closed my eyes, letting out a silent, bitter laugh. Marcus really knew me too well. He knew that the more “understanding” he acted, the more eaten up by guilt I would be. If I hadn’t seen those messages, I would have broken down, confessed everything, and willingly signed away all my assets just to free myself from the guilt. Seeing that I remained silent, Marcus pulled the blanket over my shoulders. “Get some rest then. We can talk later.” I woke up very late the next morning. Marcus had already left for the office. On the nightstand was a glass of water and a single white pill. It was the prenatal vitamin he had been giving me every day for the past three years. We had been trying for a baby for three years with no luck. All my medical checks came back normal, yet I could never get pregnant. I used to blame myself constantly, feeling like I was failing him. But now, I realized it might not have been my fault at all. I slipped the pill back into the bottle, grabbed my keys, and drove straight to a private clinic. The doctor took one look at the pill and sighed. “This is a high-dosage contraceptive. It has to be taken daily to prevent pregnancy.” Of course it was. I let out a hollow laugh, feeling as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I went home, changed into a sharp business suit I hadn’t worn in years, put on some light makeup, and drove to the office. Since I hadn’t stepped foot in the company in three years, the receptionist blocked my way at the front desk. “Excuse me, ma’am, do you have an appointment? Who are you here to see?” I frowned. “I don’t need an appointment to enter my own company.” I started walking past her. The receptionist quickly ran ahead and blocked me. “I’m sorry, but you can’t just walk in. Tell me who you’re looking for, and I’ll page them.” I took a deep breath. “I’m here to see Marcus Vance.” She smiled politely. “Mr. Vance is only available by appointment. No exceptions.” I chuckled, amused by the sheer audacity. “Look at me carefully. I am the sole owner and legal representative of Flora Corp. Marcus is merely managing it in my absence. Do they not teach you who actually owns the company when you get hired?” The receptionist stared at me in confusion. “You must be mistaken. Mr. Vance is the only boss we know.” Wow, Marcus. He had truly gone out of his way to erase my existence from my own company. As I was trying to figure out how to handle this, an older employee walked past, recognized me, and immediately gasped. “What are you doing? Open your eyes! This is Ms. Sterling, the actual owner of the company!” The receptionist went pale and immediately stepped aside, stammering apologies. I looked at the older employee. “Thank you. But from now on, please address me as Director Sterling.” The employee blinked in surprise, then quickly nodded. “Of course, Director Sterling!” I walked straight to the CEO’s office. But when I pushed the door open, a very familiar face was sitting at the desk. 3 “Ashley?” “Chloe!” Ashley stood up, looking entirely unbothered. I frowned. “What are you doing here? Where is Marcus?” Ashley smirked. “Mr. Vance is out at a meeting. I am his executive assistant now. Didn’t he tell you?” Seeing the subtle malice and triumph in her eyes, I immediately understood what was going on. No wonder Ashley had helped Marcus set me up. But I wasn’t here today to catch them in an affair. I said calmly, “Ms. Brooks, page all department heads. We are having an emergency board meeting in ten minutes.” Ashley froze, then burst into a condescending laugh. “Chloe, have you lost your mind? Sure, you might be the boss’s wife, but Marcus runs this place. And…” She paused, looking me up and down with a nasty sneer. “With the way things are going, I highly doubt you’ll be the boss’s wife for much longer.” I stepped closer, narrowing my eyes. “Two nights ago, you told Marcus I was sleeping at your place.” Ashley raised an eyebrow. “You should be thanking me. I gave you and Tyler a chance to relight your old flame. “But you know, secrets always get out. If I were you, I’d confess to Marcus as soon as possible. It might make the divorce less messy.” I scoffed. “My marriage is none of your business. I will ask you one more time. Are you going to page the department heads, or not?” Ashley rolled her eyes. “Sorry. I only take orders from Mr. Vance.” With that, she turned on her high heels and strutted out of the room. I didn’t waste any more time. I picked up the desk phone and dialed HR. The HR manager, Mr. Henderson, was a new hire. He sounded hesitant when he spoke to me. “Mrs. Vance, holding a meeting without Mr. Vance’s approval… I don’t think that’s appropriate.” Without saying a word, I walked over to the safe, pulled out the original incorporation documents and the business license, and held them up. “Look at the name on these papers. Chloe Sterling. “This company has belonged to me and my family from day one. Marcus Vance was only a temporary manager.” Mr. Henderson’s tone changed instantly. “Director Sterling!” I let out a breath. “Get everyone in the conference room. Starting today, I am taking back full control of Flora Corp. “Also, Ms. Brooks just informed me she only takes orders from Marcus. Draft her termination papers immediately. She’s fired.” “Understood, Director Sterling!” An hour later, I was sitting at the head of the conference room table. Marcus had replaced a lot of the staff, but there were still several veteran managers who recognized me. When I announced my return to active management, the room went silent. The expressions on their faces ranged from surprise to deep concern. I looked around the room. “There is one more thing. I believe some of you know my maiden name is Sterling. My grandmother is Eleanor Sterling, the chairwoman of Sterling Enterprises.” The moment the words left my mouth, the room erupted into whispers. “No wonder Sterling Enterprises asked about her when we tried to pitch to them last year!” “If we partner with the Sterling Group, our company will scale to heights we never dreamed of!” “We fully support you, Director Sterling!” My grandmother indeed ran the massive Sterling Enterprises. But years ago, my father had cut ties with her to marry my mother. Under the current circumstances, however, using my grandmother’s name was the only way to quickly secure the loyalty of these managers. Before I could continue, the heavy conference doors were slammed open. Ashley marched in, her face red with rage. “Chloe Sterling! How dare you fire me while Marcus is out! “Just wait. I’ve already called Marcus and told him what you’re doing. He’s on his way here right now. Let’s see how you explain this to him!” Before I could even speak, Mr. Henderson, the HR manager, stood up. “Ashley, you have been officially terminated. Please leave the premises immediately, or security will escort you out.” Ashley stared at him, dumbfounded. “Are you insane, Mr. Henderson? You’re taking orders from her? She has no authority to fire me!” Mr. Henderson’s face was cold. “She is the sole owner and CEO of this company. She has every right.” Ashley let out a hysterical laugh. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been here for two years! I know who the boss is! Don’t let this housewife trick you!” The admin manager picked up the phone. “Security, please come to the main conference room. We have a terminated employee causing a disturbance.” Within seconds, two security guards walked in, grabbed Ashley by her arms, and began dragging her out. Ashley struggled wildly, gripping the doorframe and screaming, “Chloe, you bitch! Just wait until Marcus gets back! He’s going to ruin you!” Other employees in the hallway began to gather around, whispering and watching the drama unfold. Just as I was about to call the police to have her removed for trespassing, Marcus’s voice boomed down the hallway. “What is going on here? Get back to work, all of you!” The crowd quickly dispersed, and the managers in the conference room stood up. Ashley immediately burst into tears, throwing herself into Marcus’s arms. “Marcus! Thank God you’re here! Your wife came in and fired me out of nowhere! She’s accusing us of having an affair! How could she humiliate us like this?” Marcus’s face darkened as he walked into the room. When he saw me sitting calmly at the head of the table, he froze. “Chloe? What are you doing in that chair?”

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On the night before our wedding, the bridesmaids and groomsmen were too excited to sleep. Someone suggested playing an anonymous “Truth or Dare” game. Everyone had to write down one thing they wanted to say to me, the bride-to-be, on a slip of paper. I closed my eyes in anticipation, expecting sweet blessings. But when I opened the first note, I froze. “You bitch. If you hadn’t forced Ethan, Harper would have married him!” Harper, my best friend. Just three hours ago, she called me to apologize, saying she had a last-minute business trip and couldn’t make it to my wedding. My hands shook as I opened the next one. “The wedding ring he bought you? Harper actually picked it out first. She rejected it because it was too cheap, so he gave you her leftovers.” “Did you know? The day your mother died, he was in bed with Harper in your future home.” “The real reason Harper isn’t coming to your wedding is because she just gave birth to Ethan’s baby and is recovering.” When my eyes fell on the last note, I recognized the handwriting instantly. “I accept my fate of being ruined by you in this life. Just let me go in the next.” After the initial shock of this absurdity, a wave of cold mockery washed over me. I crumpled the notes into a tight ball, slipped the wedding ring off my finger, and threw them all into the trash can. Then, I looked up at Ethan. “Since things are like this, let’s turn tomorrow’s wedding into a birthday party for your baby.”

The room fell dead silent. Then, a scoff erupted from the corner, and soon, the whole room burst into laughter. “Chloe, cut the act. Everyone knows you practically begged for this marriage. How could you just call it off?” Ethan’s best friend, Logan, laughed so hard he slapped his knee, his eyes filled with pure mockery. “Seriously. You should be crying tears of joy that Ethan is willing to marry you. Stop drama-queening.” Another bridesmaid chimed in, taking a sip from her glass. I said nothing. Ethan knelt down, picked up the paper balls from the trash can one by one, smoothed them out, and read them. Then, he looked up at me. He was calm, as if he had expected this moment all along. “Since you already know, there’s no point in hiding it anymore.” “The wedding will go on as scheduled. I’ll give you everything I promised. Just don’t go causing trouble for Harper.” I laughed. My fingertips were shaking, and my chest ached. They were the ones who betrayed me, yet his words made me sound like the villain. A million words swirled in my throat, but when I finally spoke, only one question came out. “When did it start?” Was it when they always kept secrets from me, hung out alone, and claimed it was just a “coincidence” when I caught them? Or was it when the three of us ate together, and he always subconsciously catered to Harper’s taste? Ethan was silent for a few seconds before shaking his head. “Neither.” “It was four years ago, during our trip to Malibu.” During that trip, I had a terrible fever. Feeling dizzy, I went back to the hotel early to sleep. I left the two of them on the beach to watch the sunset. “We had a few drinks afterward. We couldn’t help ourselves and did it in the room right next to yours.” “It was supposed to be a one-time mistake, but later… we just couldn’t help falling in love.” As he spoke, a sense of relief washed over his face. Like he was finally able to say out loud what he had been holding in for four years. Seeing my clenched fists and my shaking body, he added. “Harper wanted to keep it from you forever. She didn’t want to ruin your happiness.” “I was the one who couldn’t take it anymore. Don’t go after her. She feels worse about this than you do.” I stared at his face, feeling the blood rush to my head. “She feels worse than I do?” “Ethan, she and I grew up together! My mother treated her like her own daughter!” “And yet, on the day my mother died, you two missed her funeral because you were sleeping together in our new apartment. Don’t you find yourselves disgusting?” I lunged forward and shoved him hard. Anger and resentment boiled inside me. He didn’t budge. He just stared at me. “I was in the wrong for that. If you’re angry, take it out on me. Don’t hurt her.” My eyes stung at his words. Once, he couldn’t bear to see me suffer even a little bit. He used to stand in front of me, shielding me from everything. But now, he was standing in front of me to protect another woman. Suddenly, all my strength drained away. I felt completely hollow. “Since you love each other so much, I’ll step aside.” “I’m not marrying you tomorrow.” He froze. The laughter around us vanished completely. The air in the room seemed to solidify. He stared at my face. After a few seconds, his tone softened. “Stop acting up. Everything has been booked.” “The makeup artist is coming at nine tomorrow. I’ll make sure they’re on time.” With that, he opened the door and walked out. The people around us looked at each other in awkward silence. No one dared to speak. Logan cleared his throat and muttered, “I’ll go check on him,” before slipping out the door. One by one, the guests dispersed, and the doors shut. I was left alone in the suite. The wedding balloons were still floating against the ceiling, and the room was fully decorated for tomorrow’s big day. Just three hours ago, Ethan had held me in his arms, laughing. He had promised me that no matter how hard the groomsmen made it for him, he would carry me over the threshold and make me his wife. But now, standing among the flowers and balloons, I only felt a deep, piercing irony. Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I looked down. It was a Snapchat message from Harper. “Chloe, I’m so sorry! The company suddenly sent me on a business trip. I had already booked my flight.” “Please don’t be mad. I’ll send you a huge wedding gift when I get back!” Her tone was urgent and apologetic, followed by several crying emojis. I stared at the screen for a long time. In the end, I only sent one reply. “Stop acting. I know everything.”

My phone vibrated on the table all night. Harper’s messages kept popping up, one after another. The screen lit up and went dark, over and over. I didn’t read them. I put my phone on silent. At nine in the morning, the door opened. Ethan walked in, followed by the makeup artist. He had changed into his charcoal-gray suit, wearing the tie I had specially bought for him. “Get your makeup done. It’s almost time.” I sat still. “I told you, the wedding is off.” His expression darkened, and he frowned. “The guests are arriving soon. What are you throwing a tantrum for now?” I met his gaze and let out a cold laugh. “I can’t pretend nothing happened. I can’t marry a man who slept with my best friend behind my back.” “Ethan, don’t you find yourself disgusting?” His lips parted, but before he could say anything, the door was pushed open. Harper rushed in. She was wearing a loose-fitting dress, her hair thrown into a messy bun. “Chloe, let me explain…” She lunged forward and grabbed my wrist. “It was just an accident!” I yanked my hand back. “Save your breath.” “Even if four years ago was an accident, is the baby an accident too?” “For four years, I treated you as my sister, while you were sleeping with my man behind my back.” Harper opened her mouth, tears streaming down her face. “Chloe, I…” I looked down, my eyes falling on her dress. On the collar, there was a small embroidered logo: Malibu Cove Recovery Center. I suddenly laughed and turned to Ethan. “No wonder you had to travel to Malibu every other week. No wonder you never picked up my calls or replied to my messages.” “You were there to take care of her. To see her.” “And there I was, praying for your flight to land safely every single day, waiting up until I got your text.” Ethan’s mouth tightened into a hard line, and he looked down. Harper sobbed loudly. “Chloe, I’m sorry… I didn’t want to hide it from you…” Ethan took two steps forward and held her up. “Harper, you just gave birth. Don’t stand for too long.” He helped her onto the sofa and knelt in front of her, gently patting her back. My gaze fell on the ring on Harper’s finger. It was three times the size of mine, the diamond facets sparkling brilliantly under the light. No wonder she thought mine was cheap. No wonder she let him give me her leftovers. “Ethan, I stayed by your side for eight years.” For a moment, I didn’t know whether to be angry at how cheap I was to him, or furious at their betrayal. “From that cramped, leaky studio apartment to this luxury penthouse. From the days we couldn’t even afford a decent meal to you making seven figures.” “And yet, the ring on my finger isn’t even a fraction of what you gave her.” “Am I really that worthless to you?” Ethan snapped up, his face pitch black. “Enough!” “She just gave birth. Her body hasn’t recovered yet. Stop it.” “Fine, I’ll stop.” I turned around, grabbed my phone from the nightstand, and walked toward the door. Before I could take more than a few steps, I ran straight into Ethan’s mother, Victoria. She was wearing a wine-red formal gown. When she saw me, the smile on her face vanished. “Chloe, what time is it? Why aren’t you in makeup? Where do you think you’re going?” “Home. The wedding is off.” She froze for a second. “What did you say?” “I said, the wedding is canceled. I’m not marrying him.” Victoria’s face flushed red with anger. “Chloe! Are you playing games with our family?!” Before she could finish her sentence, she looked past my shoulder and saw the people in the room. Harper was sitting on the sofa in her loose dress, tears streaming down her face. Victoria blinked, her expression shifting instantly. “Harper? You just had a baby! Why are you out here?” I stood frozen. When the truth finally clicked, a wave of cold mockery washed over me. Everyone knew. I was the only one kept in the dark.

Victoria brushed past my shoulder and rushed into the room. She grabbed Harper’s hands, her eyes filled with deep concern. “Harper, sweetheart, you just gave birth. Why are you out of bed?” Harper looked up at me, keeping silent. Victoria followed her gaze to me, her face instantly turning hostile. “Chloe, did you make Harper come here?” “Do you have any idea how weak she is right now? She needs rest!” I was so angry I laughed out loud. “And do you have any idea that I was the one your son was supposed to marry today?” “He had a baby with another woman behind my back, and all of you knew! Not a single person bothered to tell me!” Victoria let out a cold, arrogant laugh, as if my feelings didn’t matter to her at all. “Chloe, let’s be real. You begged for this marriage. Our family never approved of you anyway!” “You have no family background, no status. How could you ever be good enough for our Ethan?” “I told Ethan a long time ago to find someone from our own social class, but he wouldn’t listen. He let you cling onto him for years.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I clenched my fists and spat back. “No matter how ‘low-class’ I am, at least I didn’t raise a son who couldn’t keep his pants zipped and got his side-chick pregnant!” “Is this how you raise your son? Teaching him how to cheat…” Slap! Before I could finish, Victoria raised her hand and slapped me across the face. My head whipped to the side, my cheek burning like fire. Ethan rushed over. “Mom!” “Stay out of this!” Victoria pointed a finger at my nose, her face red with rage. “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?” “I’m telling you, Chloe, if you hadn’t shamelessly clung to Ethan for the past eight years, he wouldn’t have been dragged down by you for this long!” I slowly turned my head back, feeling the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. But she only sneered, enjoying my humiliation. “Harper is a hundred times better than you. She’s sweet, polite, and never forgets to bring me gifts on holidays.” “I’ve wanted her as my daughter-in-law for a long time. Having her join our family is a blessing. As for you? You’re nothing but a curse!” “Don’t say that!” Harper cried, rushing over to me. She reached out cautiously, wanting to touch the corner of my mouth but fearing she would hurt me, before dropping her hand. “Chloe… does it hurt?” I didn’t say a word. I just suddenly remembered years ago, when I cried and told her that Ethan’s family didn’t like me. She had been so angry on my behalf, her eyes turning red as she slammed her fist onto the couch. “That’s because they have no taste! They don’t deserve our Chloe!” “I swear, if Ethan ever treats you wrong, I’ll ruin him myself!” My thoughts snapped back to the present. I looked at her face and curled my lip in a painful smile. “Harper, are you satisfied now?” She shook her head violently, tears pouring down. “No, Chloe… that’s not what I…” I didn’t wait for her to finish. I turned and walked out. Ethan called after me from behind, “Chloe!” I didn’t look back. “Chloe, listen to me.” Ethan chased after me, grabbing my arm to force me to stop. “My mom has always been like this. You’ve known her for years. She just has a sharp tongue; she didn’t mean it that way.” “Can we just get through the wedding first?” “There are so many guests here today. Don’t make things difficult for everyone.” I shook his hand off, my eyes icy cold. “Ethan, in eight years, have you ever stood up for me once?” He fell silent. “If you had stood up for me even once, I would have felt those eight years were worth it.” “But you didn’t. Not even once…” By the end, my voice was barely a whisper. I turned around and walked out of the hotel lobby, never looking back.

I took a cab home. My phone kept vibrating the entire way, but I didn’t look at it. I turned it off, leaning my head against the cold window and closing my eyes. When I got home, the house was filled with signs of our upcoming wedding. Red ribbons hung in the living room, and wedding decorations covered the walls. The potted plants on the balcony were ones Ethan had bought from the market, knowing I was in a bad mood a few weeks ago. He had said that a little green in the house would make me feel better. I went into the bedroom, knelt down, and started packing my bags. When I opened the bottom drawer, I saw our photo album buried underneath. I opened the first page. It was a picture of us on the day we moved into this apartment. I was wearing a white dress, standing in the middle of the living room, while Ethan had his arm around my shoulder, smiling proudly. Like a hero returning from a victorious battle. He had said, “Chloe, I’ve finally given you a home.” I didn’t turn to the next page. I closed the album and put it back. Halfway through packing, the door swung open. Ethan rushed into the bedroom. Seeing what I was doing, he slammed his hand down on my wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?” “Isn’t it obvious?” I let out a cold laugh, my eyes filled with mockery. “Your mother hates me. I’m moving out to make room for you and Harper.” His face darkened instantly. “Chloe, is this really necessary? How long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum?” “Do you know how many guests are waiting at the venue right now? And you’re telling me you’re leaving?” “Are you determined to ruin everything today?!” I stared at him, silent. He took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly. But the words that came out of his mouth were like a physical blade, stabbing straight into my heart. “Chloe, when your dad cheated on your mom, your mom still stayed and raised you.” “Even your mother could handle it. Why can’t you?” I froze completely. “Ethan, say that again.” He looked away, his voice laced with irritation. “Am I wrong? Your mother tolerated your father. Why can’t you tolerate me?” “Shut up.” My voice was trembling. “My mother stayed because she was kind-hearted, and she did it for me. Do you have any idea how miserable her life was?” “I will not follow in her footsteps.” “Because I promised her I would make myself happy.” Before Ethan could reply, footsteps sounded outside the door. Harper had arrived. She was panting heavily. The moment she walked in, she threw herself in front of me, grabbing my arm. “Chloe, please don’t go. It’s all my fault. I’ll leave!” “I’ll never show my face in front of you two again. I’ll give everything back to you…” “Harper, what’s the point of saying this now?” I tried to pull my arm away, but her grip only tightened. “You slept together, you have a baby. Do you honestly expect me to pretend nothing happened and keep playing best friends with you?” She shook her head frantically, her nails digging deep into my skin. “No, Chloe, that’s not it…” “Listen to me, I really know I was wrong. Please don’t go…” “Enough! Let go of me!” I shoved her away with all my might. She lost her balance, falling backward onto the floor with a painful gasp. “Ah!” “Chloe! What is wrong with you?!” Ethan slammed his hand against my chest, shoving me back. His force was brutal. I stumbled back a few steps, my lower back crashing hard against the sharp edge of the vanity table. A sharp, burning pain flared up my spine. But he didn’t even look at me. He immediately knelt down to pull Harper into his arms, his face written with pure panic. “Harper! Are you okay? Where does it hurt?” Harper clung to his chest, crying. “My back hurts… and my stomach feels weird…” “Don’t worry, I’m taking you to the hospital.” Ethan scooped her up in his arms and walked toward the door. As he passed me, he stopped for a split second. “Chloe, no matter what, she is still your best friend. You went too far!” “Tomorrow’s wedding is postponed. When you finally come to your senses, we’ll talk about getting married.” With that, the door slammed shut. The bedroom fell dead silent, save for the sound of my own ragged breathing. I held onto the vanity, slowly forcing myself to stand straight. My lower back was throbbing in pain. Looking up at the giant wedding portrait on the wall, I laughed. But as I laughed, tears finally spilled over, burning my cheeks. I wiped my face, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out of the apartment without a single backward glance. When I got into the cab, the driver asked where I wanted to go. I looked out the window one last time and said coldly, “To the airport.”

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Ethan’s childhood dream was to be a hero. When I was younger, I was a victim of severe domestic abuse by my father, Frank. I was molested by a relative, fell into a deep depression, and tried to end my life multiple times. Ethan was the one who saved me. He found me a place to live. He confiscated my box cutters, threw away my bottles of sleeping pills, and never left me alone for too long. “I will always be with you, Iris,” he had whispered. “From now on, your tears go down, but you only go up.” When we grew up, we got together. But his savior complex never went away. When his new secretary, Vivian, faced office bullying, he was the first to stand up for her. When Vivian was harassed and became too terrified to walk home in the dark, he personally drove her to and from work every single day. When Vivian’s apartment was broken into and she was too traumatized to sleep alone, he stayed at her place all night, sleeping on her couch to keep her company. Gradually, He stopped caring if there were sharp objects around me. He stopped caring if I cried myself to sleep. He didn’t even care anymore when my abusive father, Frank, showed up at my door with a knife, demanding money. He only left me with one cold sentence. “Can’t you just be grateful? Vivian has it way worse than you. I need to look after her first.” But pain is not a competition. It shouldn’t be measured or compared. I wasn’t ungrateful. I just wanted a heart that chose me over everyone else. That was all. Since he couldn’t give me that, it was time for me to pack up and find my own way.

The night Ethan decided to sleep over at Vivian’s place yet again, I broke. I rushed forward and blocked the doorway with my arms spread wide. “Ethan.” I looked up at him, my voice trembling. “Are you her boyfriend, or mine?” The eyes that used to look at me with nothing but warmth were now filled with nothing but cold detachment. “Iris, I’m just trying to be an umbrella for everyone caught in the rain. Can’t you be a little more generous?” I froze. He continued without a hint of guilt. “A man is always a boy at heart. I’m just living out my childhood dream of saving people. You should be supporting me.” “Iris, don’t be so selfish. I can’t be your exclusive savior.” Of course. His heroism had to be distributed equally to every needy soul in the world. Back in high school, If anyone was bullied, he was the first to fight back. If anyone couldn’t afford lunch, he would share his allowance. And when I was beaten by my father, hiding in a dark alley covered in bruises, He was the one who found me and gently wiped away my blood. I didn’t want to go back to that house of horrors. So, he took me in. We relied on each other. We loved each other. When the rumors of my molestation spread and everyone labeled me as “damaged goods,” He was the one who held me and said, “Iris, they are the ones in the wrong, not you. To me, you are an angel.” But love and hate often stem from the exact same source. I fell in love with him because he was a hero. And now, I was losing my mind because he wanted to be everyone else’s hero too. Pulling myself back to reality, I grabbed his sleeve tightly, begging. “Ethan, please don’t go tonight… please.” I stared into his eyes, desperately searching for a single trace of pity or love. There was nothing. He gently but firmly pried my hand away from his sleeve. His tone was brutally calm. “I have to. Vivian is sick. If I don’t go take care of her, something terrible might happen.” Tears blurred my vision. I choked out, “But I’m sick too.” “Ethan, Frank said he’s coming to find me soon. I’m terrified…” Ethan clicked his tongue impatiently. “I’ve told you a hundred times, the security in this apartment complex is top-tier. He can’t get in.” Realizing his tone was too harsh, He softened his voice, patted my shoulder, and said seriously, “Iris, stop identifying so hard as a ‘victim.’” “Vivian studied psychology. She told me that the more I coddle you, the more you’ll think you’re broken. It’s time for you to learn to process your own emotions.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t have the strength to block him anymore. Slowly, my arms dropped to my sides. Ethan finally smiled. He nodded in approval. “That’s my girl. That’s the supportive girlfriend I love.” “I’ll bring you some cake when I get back tomorrow morning.” With that, He turned and left without a second look. The door clicked shut. Only a suffocating, pitch-black silence remained in the apartment. It felt like I was back in that dark alley years ago. The horrifying memories rushed back. Anxiety clawed its way through my chest. Right then, A loud, violent knocking banged on the door. *Thud! Thud! Thud!* I crept up and looked through the peephole. I met the bloodshot, drunken eyes of a man grinning wickedly. “Open the door, bitch! Your dad sold you to me to pay off his debt. You’re mine sooner or later!” “Just you wait!” The childhood terror of being violated paralyzed me. I shook violently. My instinct was to dial Ethan’s number. But his cold words echoed in my head. *“You need to learn to process your own emotions. Stop relying on me for everything.”* Slowly, I lowered my phone. I bit my lip so hard it bled, refusing to make a single sound. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. When the morning light filtered through the curtains, I dragged my exhausted body with heavy dark circles under my eyes into the living room, wanting to pour a glass of warm water to calm my racing heart. But the moment I looked up, I froze. A strange woman was sitting on my couch. She wore a short white skirt and had a bright, radiant smile. She stood up and greeted me warmly. “Hi, you must be Iris. I’m Vivian, Ethan’s secretary.” So this was the woman Ethan always talked about. The one who needed his constant protection. Before I could even process this, Ethan walked out of my master bedroom and announced casually, “Vivian is going to live with us from now on. The office is close to this place, so it’s much easier for her commute.” Years ago, He had felt sorry for me because I had nowhere to go, and he brought my bruised body to this very apartment. Back then, this place was my only safe haven. We lived together, fell in love, and built a life. But now, he used the exact same excuse to bring another woman into our home. How was I supposed to react to that? Seeing my eyes well up with tears, Ethan quickly opened a box of cake and held a forkful to my mouth. “Silky girl, are you seriously jealous of my secretary?” “Don’t worry. You’re the only one I love.” He raised three fingers to make an oath. But the promise felt so cheap, so utterly meaningless. “Iris, sweetie, I heard you suffer from depression,” Vivian said, putting on a show of deep concern, though her eyes flashed with pure provocation. “But don’t worry, I studied psychology. Ethan and I will heal you together.” Since she moved in, Everything changed. My personal vanity cabinet, which used to belong only to me, Was now overflowing with her dresses and skincare products. My antidepressants were pushed into a dusty corner, barely having any space. To “heal” me, They brought back all the knives they had previously locked away and placed them right in front of me. They even removed the safety locks on the balcony doors. “Vivian said that trapping you inside only makes you feel more like a patient,” Ethan explained. “Iris, live like a normal person. You can do this.” At night, the contrast was even more brutal. In the past, even if I just sighed in my sleep, he would immediately wake up to comfort me. Now, when I woke up screaming from nightmares, drenched in cold sweat, He remained completely unmoved. He didn’t even bother to look at me. “Vivian said you have to face your fears. Running away won’t solve anything.” But after a month of this “therapy,” My condition got drastically worse.

Vivian stood by my hospital bed, biting her lip as she apologized. “I’m so sorry, Iris. I didn’t mean to make your depression worse. But don’t worry, I will definitely find a way to cure you.” I let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Cure me? Where is your medical license?” She stiffened. She clearly didn’t expect me to be so direct. Instantly, her face crumpled into a perfect picture of innocence and hurt. “Iris, if you hate me that much, I’ll just leave.” Ethan instinctively stepped in front of Vivian, blocking my view. That protective gesture stabbed my eyes like a knife. “Iris! Vivian is only trying to help you. Why are you being so toxic and passive-aggressive?” “Why are you so ungrateful?” He got more and more worked up, finally spitting out the words that shattered my heart completely. “No wonder no one likes you! No wonder your mother chose to die just to get away from you!” My mother’s death was not a sudden rainstorm. It was a lifelong humidity. Years ago, when my father raised the knife to kill me, my mother blocked it. Before she passed away in the hospital, she told me, “Living is too painful, Iris. This time, I’d rather die to get away from him.” I had shown my deepest, most painful scar to Ethan. And today, he weaponized it to humiliate me in front of another woman. I thought I would cry, but when I touched my chest, it felt empty. Only a freezing coldness remained. When your heart goes completely numb, it doesn’t hurt anymore. “Ethan, you’re right,” I smiled weakly, a strange sense of calm washing over me. “So, you should leave me too.” I was done. I wanted out. A flash of panic crossed Ethan’s face. “Iris, I didn’t mean it like that…” He wanted to explain, but Vivian held him back. “Ethan, Iris is emotionally unstable right now. She won’t listen to anything you say. Let’s just give her some space to calm down.” Ethan hesitated, then nodded. He tucked my blanket in, and then walked out of the room with Vivian. He didn’t come back that night. It wasn’t until the next morning that they returned to sign my discharge papers. Looking at my pale face, Vivian smiled mysteriously. “Iris, guess what Ethan and I did for you yesterday?” I kept my face expressionless. “I don’t care, and I don’t want to know.” Her smile faltered for a second, but she quickly pulled a giant teddy bear out of a shopping bag, her face glowing with triumph. “Look! Isn’t it cute? I know this is your favorite limited-edition bear.” “Yesterday, the mall had a couples’ contest. Ethan and I had to kiss for a whole hour—our lips were practically bleeding—just to win this for you!” “See? Ethan and I care about you so much.” I had been with Ethan for years. We had never had any passionate physical intimacy. Because he always told me, “The highest form of love is cherish. I’m afraid to touch you too much because I don’t want to lose control and hurt you…” But now, He could kiss another woman for an hour in a public game. My stomach churned with intense disgust. I snatched the teddy bear and threw it straight into the trash can. Then, I looked at Ethan coldly. “I have emotional hygiene. I don’t want second-hand trash that other people have slobbered over.” Ethan’s face flushed red with anger. “Iris! Is your depression cured or what? How dare you speak to us like that!” “Vivian and I did that just to make you happy! Why do you have to be so petty about how we got the toy?” I smiled bitterly. “But I’m not happy at all.” “Ethan, let’s break up. I’m going back to pack my things.” Before Ethan could react, I turned, flagged down a taxi, and left.

Back at the apartment, I felt a wave of emptiness. This place was once my safe haven. But now, the storm inside was too violent, and there was no room left for me. Just as I finished packing my suitcase, Ethan and Vivian burst through the door. Ethan pinned me against the wall, his eyes bloodshot as he begged me not to leave. “Iris, we love each other so much. Why are you doing this over a silly fight?” “If you don’t want me to protect other people, fine! I’ll be your exclusive hero from now on.” “It’s too late tonight. Tomorrow, I promise I’ll make Vivian move out, okay?” Yes. We used to love each other so much. We had literally saved each other’s lives. The memories of his grand, romantic gestures flashed before my eyes. Once, when I said I wanted pastries from a bakery in Paris, he rented a private jet to fly them over overnight. On my birthday, He rented out an entire amusement park just to put on a private firework show for me. And when my father stabbed me, Ethan took two blows for me and bled out on the way to the hospital just to make sure I survived… But no matter how beautiful the past was, when it’s time to let go, you have to let go. Looking back at the past is like trying to catch a ghost. You only torture yourself. Ethan was stubborn. I knew I had to play along to get away safely. “Fine. I’ll trust you one last time.” Ethan gasped in relief and pulled me into a tight hug. “Go to sleep. I promise when you wake up tomorrow, there won’t be a third person in this house.” That night, I couldn’t sleep. At around 2:00 AM, I felt a sudden draft of cold air. I opened my eyes, and my heart stopped. Standing by my window was the man I feared most in this world—my father, Frank. He had somehow climbed up the pipes and slipped through the unlocked balcony door. He rubbed his filthy hands together, his eyes gleaming with greed. “Found you, you little bitch!” “Give me the money, or I’m dragging you back to sell you to my bookie!” The old terror paralyzed my lungs. But this time, I refused to let him destroy me. I clenched my fists, lunged forward, and bit down on his wrist with everything I had. My teeth sank deep into his flesh. The copper taste of blood filled my mouth. He screamed in agony and violently threw me off. I crashed onto the floor. My arm knocked over the burning aromatherapy candle on the nightstand. The flame immediately caught onto the sheer, flimsy curtains. In an instant, fire roared up the fabric. Within seconds, the room was swallowed by thick smoke and bright orange flames. Frank panicked. Forgetting about the money, he scrambled back out the window to save his own skin. It wasn’t until smoke began seeping through the cracks of the bedroom door that Ethan and Vivian finally realized what was happening. Vivian, coughing from the smoke in the hallway, fainted right into Ethan’s arms. Ethan looked at the raging fire blocking my bedroom door, then looked at me trapped inside. His face twisted with conflict. “Iris! This is between you and your father. Vivian is innocent, she shouldn’t be dragged into this!” “I have to get her to safety first! I’ll come back for you!” “You know fire safety! Find a way to survive! I’ll be right back!” The scorching black smoke stung my eyes, making them water. I let out a soft laugh. Since no one was coming to save me, I would save myself. Maybe Ethan was right. I couldn’t wait for someone else to hold the umbrella anymore. I had to walk through the rain myself. At that moment, I realized that the heart that chose me above all else… had always been beating inside my own chest. I stopped looking at the locked door. I turned around and looked at the open balcony. Below the balcony was a rushing, deep river. It was my only way out. I wiped the tears from my face, took a deep breath, And jumped into the water.

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Five years into our marriage, Brain could have ripped out his heart and handed it to me, but there was one taboo he would never allow. I could not wear my favorite white dress in front of him. At first, I did not believe in that superstition and wore one twice. The first time, he made me strip naked and kneel in the courtyard as punishment. The second time, he tore my white dress to shreds with his own hands and had someone throw me into the water. After I was rescued, I ran a high fever, and when I woke up, I furiously demanded a divorce. Brain held me with guilt written all over his face and apologized in a trembling voice: “I’m sorry, I thought of my sister who passed away…” “Aria, promise me you won’t wear white dresses again, okay?” Only then did I learn that Brain’s younger sister had been wearing a white dress when she was pinned down in an alley, violated, and tortured to death. From then on, the color white became a taboo in his eyes. I never dared wear white again, afraid that Brain would be triggered by the sight. But then, on our wedding anniversary, I went to attend a dinner and was hit by a girl’s car until I passed out. In my hazy consciousness, I saw Brain run over in panic, but he did not even look at me. He hugged the frightened girl and comforted her again and again. That girl made a scene about jumping off the rooftop, her skirt swaying like a pure white dove. In the end, Brain kissed her until her legs went weak, then lifted her by the waist and carried her into the hotel. At that moment, I knew we were completely over.

Fortunately, the car accident was not serious. My head had only slammed hard against the car door, leaving me with a mild concussion. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. “Five minutes. I want all the information on that girl.” I handed the bodyguard the photo I had taken with my phone before fainting. He pushed up his sunglasses, nodded, and turned to leave. Very soon. The information was sent to my phone. That girl was named Jessica. What she loved wearing most was a white dress, and the bodyguard had also contacted a private detective, who took over a hundred intimate photos of her and Brain. “According to the investigation, Mr. Wilson and this girl met at a university.” “Half a year ago, Mr. Wilson went to the university for a charity event, exchanged contact information with this girl named Jessica, and afterward, Mr. Wilson bought her a single apartment near the school.” “That is also where they… often meet for dates.” The bodyguard lifted his eyes and glanced at me. “And their fixed date time is every Saturday.” I silently looked at the photos one by one. A bitter smile appeared on my face. No wonder ever since half a year ago, Brain, who had never taken the initiative to work overtime, had stopped coming home on Saturdays. His explanation was that the company had launched a new project. It required short business trips. And every time that night came, he never replied to any of my messages. So it turned out he had another home outside. When Brain came back, his eyes were full of exhaustion, but he smiled and handed me a gift box. “Aria, something urgent came up at the company last night and delayed me, so I didn’t make it to that restaurant. You must have waited a long time, right?” “This is the gift I brought you. I should have given it to you yesterday.” Brain opened it on his own to show me, but he did not notice my expression. “It’s fine. I didn’t go to that restaurant either.” Because on the way there, I got into a car accident. And the person who caused the accident was his little girl, Jessica. When the accident happened, that little girl called him in panic, and Brain only focused on comforting her, never once looking up. If he had looked just once, he would have known. The person she hit was the wife he had been about to meet. When Brain heard that I also had not gone to that restaurant, he let out a sigh of relief. “Good thing you didn’t go, and you didn’t wait there for nothing.” “How about this? I have time the day after tomorrow, so we can celebrate our wedding anniversary again…” Before he could finish speaking, the words got stuck in his throat, and his face turned deathly pale the next second. I placed that stack of intimate photos in front of him. “Brain, explain this.” “What exactly is going on with this girl?” Brain’s expression stiffened. He stared hard at the photos for a long time, and when he reacted, his gaze grew somewhat panicked. “Amy, you investigated me?” Seeing the veins bulging on the back of his hand, I could not help but sneer. “There had to be something there for me to investigate.” If I had not gotten into a car accident yesterday and personally watched him carry another girl right under my nose, I never would have believed that Brain, who loved me like his life depended on it, could actually cheat on me. “Care to explain?” I smiled without warmth. “If you’re too lazy to make excuses, then let’s just divorce.” When he saw me throw out the divorce agreement, Brain’s face changed instantly. “Aria, don’t overthink it.” “These photos are all misunderstandings.” I listened in silence as Brain explained with a frown, without blushing or his heart skipping a beat: “I know you must be very curious why I’m close to her, and I can tell you the answer—”

“Aria, Lili is the same age as my sister. I only see her as a younger sister.” Brain’s younger sister was named Lily. Even their names sounded alike. If I had not seen Brain kiss her with my own eyes, I might really have believed him. “Brain, do you think I’m stupid?” I threw the photo of them kissing into his face. “You see her as a younger sister?” “The kind you can sleep with?” When those photos appeared before me one after another, I did not get angry, nor did I cry or make a scene. Brain had carried that girl by the waist into a hotel, and what would happen next was already obvious. I had already guessed the result and just wanted to see how Brain would explain it. “Aria…” Brain’s voice was heavy with pain and mixed with unbearable emotion. “I admit that Lili does have feelings for me, but I never accepted them, and I didn’t have the heart to ruin a young girl’s feelings.” “You know how terribly my sister died back then.” “I only see her as a younger sister and wanted to make up for things through her.” “In this photo, she was the one who kissed me. I didn’t refuse…” “Aria, I promise there won’t be a next time.” He knelt on one knee before me, his face full of devotion. In the five years after our marriage, Brain had rarely made this kind of mistake. He had always had strong boundaries and rejected any girl who tried to get close. But now he had not only fallen. He was also trying every possible way to cover for himself. I smiled. “Fine. Since nothing is going on between you two, take back the apartment she lives in, and I’ll pretend nothing ever happened between you.” I stared into Brain’s eyes. But he frowned. “No.” “Lili doesn’t get along with her roommates and has already been isolated by her classmates. If I kick her out, she’ll have nowhere to live.” I laughed. The scene from the car accident that night suddenly appeared before my eyes. She had clearly hit me while driving illegally, yet she acted like the victim and made a scene about jumping off a building. “Brain, I hit her because I was careless. I don’t want to go to jail. Can you settle it for me?” She cried pitifully as she begged Brain. “And that woman was still out driving in the middle of the night, so she’s responsible too.” In the end, Brain softened and took her to the hotel. And I had been knocked unconscious. If a kind passerby had not called an ambulance, I had no idea how long I would have been lying unconscious on the road. “Fine. Since I gave you a chance and you didn’t cherish it—” I threw out a lawsuit document. “Then don’t blame me for suing Jessica for hit-and-run.” Brain suddenly raised his head, and his face changed at once. “What hit-and-run?” Brain practically snatched the document from my hand. When he raised his head again, his eyes held a few shades of unreadable darkness. “The person who was hit that night was you?” He did not worry about my injuries, nor did he worry about how things ended for me that day. Instead, he closed his eyes and continued to plead for her. “Aria, let her go.” “She’s young and immature. That day, she had argued with me, so she drove illegally.” “And she’s planning to take the civil service exam in the future. She can’t go to jail, and she especially can’t have a criminal record.” I had already asked around, and that little girl was stubborn, refusing to accept Brain’s money and refusing to be his kept woman. Instead, she was focused on taking the civil service exam and building a career through her own ability, which made Brain admire her even more. I smiled without warmth, but my eyes carried a trace of coldness. “And if I say no?” “Brain, you should know what happens in the end to people who offend me.” “I insist on making her pay the price.” Brain lifted his eyes and glanced at me, then tore the document in his hand to pieces the next second. “Aria, don’t forget that I was the one who backed you up before.” “But this time—” “As long as I’m here, no one will dare take your case.” He told me to think it over carefully, then turned and went back to the study. The moment the door slammed shut, my heart went completely cold. Sure enough, with Brain stepping in, not a single lawyer dared to take my case. Even those top lawyers all tried to persuade me. “Mrs. Wilson, you know your husband’s power. It’s only a small hit-and-run. If he truly wants to protect someone, no one else can gain the upper hand.” “That’s right, Miss Brook. Everyone has known for years that you are President Wilson’s treasure. You get whatever you want, so what else are you dissatisfied with?” My grip on the teacup gradually tightened. There was still a cold smile on my face. So everyone thought that all these years, I had been a dodder flower living off Brain. But this time, I was afraid they were going to be disappointed. I made a call overseas. “Are you busy?” “I ran into some trouble and need you to come back to the country. Everyone on Wall Street says that as long as you handle a case, there’s no case you can’t win. Come help me out.” A man’s low laugh came from the other end. “Amy, you finally remembered that someone like me exists.” “Since you’ve opened your noble mouth, no matter how busy I am, I have to skip work and rush back to uphold justice for you.” After hanging up, my gaze landed on the little girl who had suddenly appeared not far away. She held a bouquet of flowers in her arms, and when she lifted her head, her gaze was proud. That white dress swayed in the wind. She looked exactly like me when I was eighteen.

Back then, I loved white dresses most, but because of Brain’s trauma, I gave away every white dress I owned. But why did this little girl get to wear a white dress and show off in front of me? She looked very familiar with Spring Mountain Manor. As soon as she entered, she smiled. “Butler, is Brain home? I’m here to bring him flowers…” The butler’s face instantly filled with terror, and he hurriedly invited her into a corner. “Miss White, why are you here at this time? Madam is home. If Madam sees…” Jessica was not afraid at all, and instead lifted her chin proudly. “So what?” “Brain has been sick of her for a long time, and with Brain protecting me, that jealous woman can only get angry. What can she do to me?” “Besides, Brain has already said that I can treat this place as my own home.” Her words reached my ears. I laughed. I had originally wanted to turn a blind eye, but unexpectedly, Jessica had come right to my door. “You’re Amy?” I was sitting on the swing in the pavilion and drinking tea when the little girl’s questioning voice came from behind me. I narrowed my eyes and looked her over. “So you’re that unwanted resentful wife. Brain stopped liking you long ago, yet you’re still clinging to the position of rich wife. Instead of doing anything else, why don’t you hurry up and give up your spot?” Jessica raised her hand and tugged her collar down, revealing the bright red, glaring hickey on her neck. “See that?” She looked proud. “The person Brain loves is me. He loves me in a white dress, and he loves whispering sweet words on my body.” “Even this Spring Mountain Manor—when you weren’t home, he brought me here many times.” “And that swing you’re sitting on—” “Here, we even tried out new positions.” Jessica looked at me with a face full of disdain and smugness. “But what about you, Miss Brook?” “I heard that in front of him, you can’t even wear a white dress, right?” Jessica covered her mouth and laughed softly, her eyes full of mockery. I looked at her in silence, and my gaze slowly shifted to the pure white dress she was wearing. “The white dress is quite pretty.” Before Jessica had time to feel smug, I directly waved my hand. “Strip her clothes off.” “Throw her into the lake.” The bodyguards behind me immediately moved out with expressionless faces. They grabbed Jessica and started roughly taking action. Jessica clearly had not expected me to do this. After her shock, she panicked and struggled desperately. “Amy, what are you doing?” “If you dare touch me, Brain won’t let you off!” I picked at my ear. “So noisy. Gag her mouth.” The white dress that had been taken off was immediately stuffed into Jessica’s mouth. The clothes left on her body could no longer cover her, and she looked terrified, panicked, and utterly miserable. The huge artificial lake was right in front of us. The arrogance in Jessica’s eyes faded away and turned into panic and pleading. But only muffled whimpers came from her mouth. “Throw her in.” When Brain rushed over, he happened to see this scene, and his face instantly darkened. “Amy!” “What are you doing? Let her go!” I turned the pinky ring on my finger. “I’m helping you punish someone who doesn’t know better.” Brain’s face was gloomy, and the veins on his forehead bulged. But I raised my head and smiled like a blooming flower. “Brain, don’t you hate women wearing white dresses in front of you the most? This girl doesn’t know better, so I’m helping you teach her a proper lesson.”

“What, shouldn’t you be happy? Why do you look so unhappy?” Brain gritted his teeth and forced out a few words. “Amy, you don’t have to do this.” “If you hate me, if you have any dissatisfaction, you can come at me. Let Lili go.” During Jessica’s struggle, she spat out the thing stuffed in her mouth. She cried and sobbed as she begged the man for help. “Brain, save me! This crazy woman Amy wants to kill me…” Brain clenched his fists, but his face showed restraint. “Aria, I don’t want this to get too ugly, and don’t make me say it a second time.” My face also turned cold, and I smashed the teacup in my hand hard against his forehead. Brain did not dodge at all and let his forehead be split open and bleed, without even blinking. “Aria, you can vent however you want. Let Lili go.” I sneered and slapped him again. “Aren’t you the one who can’t stand seeing girls in white dresses the most? Have you forgotten that when I wore a white dress back then, you had someone strip me naked and throw me into the lake, and you said that was how it should be done?” “You said a lesson had to be taught.” Brain’s gaze flickered for a moment, and he lowered his head with a bit more guilt. “I’m sorry…” “I don’t need an apology.” During those years after our marriage, every time I saw Brain pass a mall, he would stare at white dresses in a daze, his eyes gentle and lingering. So on my birthday, I wore a pure white dress and appeared before him for the first time. I thought he would like it, but I never expected him to fly into a rage. “Who told you to dress like that?” I did not understand and thought something about my outfit was inappropriate. But I never expected that the next second, he would make me strip naked and kneel in the courtyard as punishment. My eyes immediately reddened. “Brain, you can’t treat me like this!” But his attitude remained forceful. He made me kneel on the cold floor. He even made those bodyguards watch me, saying that I needed to be taught a lesson. I bit my lip until blood spread through my mouth, and I would never forget the humiliation of that moment. The second time, I thought Brain was not home, so I put on my favorite white dress in front of the mirror. But Brain came back halfway through and saw me dressed all in white. Ignoring my pleas, he tore my dress apart with his own hands and threw me into the lake. That time, I almost choked to death. Even the child in my belly was miscarried because of it. But Brain said coldly, “If you want to blame something, blame that white dress you’re wearing. You deserved to be taught a lesson.” As my memories returned, I looked at the miserable Jessica before me, and it was as if I were looking at the bullied me from back then. “Brain, what did you say back then? Have you forgotten?” “Why is it different now that it’s her?” I turned to look at the bodyguards. “What are you standing there for? Continue.” The torment Brain had inflicted on me, Jessica had to taste it too. “Brain, I can’t hold on anymore! Save me!” She grabbed at the bodyguard with one hand, and her other foot pressed hard against the edge of the lake as Jessica was about to be pushed into the water. Brain’s face turned extremely gloomy. “Amy, make them stop right now!” “Lili is just a simple young girl. How did she offend you? I’ll apologize on her behalf.” “Let her go!” But as soon as the words fell, Jessica was thrown into the lake. Her small face turned deathly pale, and she flailed desperately. “Brain, save me—” The veins on Brain’s forehead bulged, and he subconsciously wanted to rush over and stop them. But I blocked his path. “Brain.” I looked at him. “As long as you come with me now, I can pretend nothing happened.” “Jessica won’t be in any danger…” But before I could finish speaking, Brain did not even hesitate and practically sprinted out. He had always been a clean freak and hated his clothes getting wet more than anything. But now, he jumped straight into the lake and reached out to pull Jessica up. “Lili, don’t be scared. I’m here to save you…” What a pity about that expensive suit and those leather shoes. I watched Brain hold Jessica tightly in the lake with a helpless look on his face. He held her waist. He gave her CPR. That look in his eyes, as if he feared losing the love of his life, made my heart go cold inch by inch. I laughed at myself. “Let’s go.” When I left, I directly instructed the servants. “Take down this swing.” The servant looked confused and asked me in disbelief. “Why take it down, Madam? Isn’t this your favorite swing?” “And President Wilson made it for you with his own hands during the year you got married…” I sneered. I remembered the scene of Jessica showing off in front of me, saying Brain had brought her to try new positions on the swing. “I don’t want things that have been dirtied.” I had the lawyer draft the divorce agreement overnight and prepared to have Brain sign it the next day. But before I could even bring up divorce, Brain’s revenge came first. When I opened my eyes and woke up, my hands and feet were bound, and I had been brought onto a drop tower ride. My face turned pale, and even the color drained from my lips. “Brain…” “Aria, I know that what you fear most in this life is extreme rides, but I insist on letting you taste what it feels like to be forced into something you don’t like.” “This is the price you are destined to pay for bullying Lili.” Brain placed a kiss on the back of my hand. His voice was as gentle as a lover whispering sweet nothings. But the words he said were so cold. “I have to let you know that Lili is not someone you can bully whenever you want.” Jessica hid behind Brain and revealed a smug smile. “Don’t worry, Miss Brook. Your life won’t be in danger. I already prepared all the safety measures and safety rope for you.” He turned and left with Jessica. But after walking a few steps, Jessica turned back and gave me a provocative smile. Following her gaze, I looked at the safety rope and broke out in a cold sweat. Brain did not know that the rope had already been cut. Jessica wanted me dead.

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I played poor for three years, eating cheap cup ramen with Hale in a cramped studio apartment. He thought I was an orphan who grew up in foster care, and I never bothered to correct him. On the day of my prenatal checkup, he slid a gold-foiled invitation across the table. “Samantha and I are getting married at the end of the month.” “Windsor, I’m not a poor guy. I’m the heir to the Harman Medical Group.” “Her family has been partnering with mine for twenty years. My mother wants this marriage.” I stared at the gilded letters on the card, completely stunned. He continued in a flat, indifferent voice, “I’ll support the baby once it’s born. I’ll agree to any financial terms you want. But the wedding is happening.” I gently touched my belly. “Then what am I to you?” Hale was silent for a moment. “You are the most special person in my heart. But she is the daughter-in-law the Harman family needs.” “As long as you don’t cause trouble for her, my feelings for you won’t change.” Most special. So special that I didn’t even deserve a legal name. How ironic. “Hale, you think she’s a better match for you?” I let out a soft laugh. “Then tell me, do you know the last name of the largest investor in Harman Medical Group last quarter?”

“Whose last name?” Hale frowned. He looked at me as if I were a delusional patient talking in her sleep. “Windsor Higgins, there’s no need to make things up.” Whenever he called me by my full name, his voice carried a distinct, condescending edge. “Make things up?” “Aren’t you?” His tone was calm, almost brutally so. “Windsor, I know this is hard for you to accept. But the more you talk like this, the more it makes me feel…” He didn’t finish. His phone buzzed. Screen up, the caller ID read: Samantha Selby. He glanced at me, hesitated for half a second, and answered. “Yeah, they measured it… Right, no need to alter the main gown. The one with the long train… My mom said the ceremony needs to be perfect.” He turned his body away to talk, as if doing so would make me deaf. I looked down at my faded hoodie. It was a clearance item he bought on Amazon last year, two for twenty bucks. Back then, he still squeezed onto this twin bed with me, whispering that he’d buy me a mansion once he made money. It turned out his “future” never included me. He hung up. He pushed the invitation a little closer to me. “The Peninsula Hotel, the twenty-eighth. Everything is set. If you have financial demands, make them now. Don’t make a—” “Scene?” I finished his sentence. “Hale, it’s been three years. Have I ever made a scene?” He pursed his lips, silent. The doorbell rang. His face tightened. He clearly didn’t expect anyone at this hour. The moment the door opened, a wave of expensive woody perfume drifted in. Samantha stood in the hallway. “Hale, I just finished my lab and was passing by. My mom made some soup—” She stopped. She saw me. More specifically, she saw my belly. The air froze for about five seconds. She was the first to break the silence. She smiled at me and extended her hand. “Hi, I’m Samantha.” Hale stood beside her, adopting a practiced, sophisticated posture I had never seen before. “This is Windsor. My… friend.” Friend. I looked down at my swelling abdomen and suddenly found it incredibly hilarious. Samantha walked in and placed the insulated bag on the table. Her eyes swept across the tiny, 200-square-foot room. “You’re pregnant? How many months?” she asked, her tone dripping with concern. “Have you been getting your anatomy scans on time? You need to watch out for gestational diabetes in the second trimester. My father is an OB/GYN specialist.” She was a PhD candidate in medicine, the daughter of Hale’s mentor, Dr. Selby. “Five months.” “Five months? You have to be extra careful.” She turned to Hale, her voice holding a hint of gentle scolding. “Why didn’t you mention this? I could have got her an appointment with a top specialist.” A look appeared on Hale’s face—one I had never seen in our three years together. It was gratitude mixed with guilt, like a little boy who had done something wrong but was readily forgiven. “No need,” I said. She smiled and didn’t push. Hale went to the bathroom to take another call. The moment the door closed, Samantha’s smile didn’t fade, but it turned ice-cold. “Windsor, right? Hale told me about your situation.” She unscrewed the thermos, and the rich aroma of the soup filled the room. “Don’t be nervous. I’m not here to throw you out.” “Honestly, I understand you. No family, pregnant, living in a place like this… Anyone in your shoes would want to grab onto an opportunity.” She used the word opportunity. I said nothing. “But you have to understand Hale, too.” Her pace was slow and steady, like a therapist soothing a fragile patient. “The Harman family isn’t some ordinary family. What he’s offering you is already his utmost kindness.” “A legal marriage… demanding that will only hurt you.” The sound of running water continued in the bathroom. She took a sleek credit card from her designer bag, placed it on the table, and tapped it toward me. “A hundred thousand dollars. Hale asked me to give this to you. Use it to settle down after the baby is born.” She paused, her manicured finger tapping the plastic card twice. “If you’re willing to quietly disappear before the wedding, I’ll personally add another hundred thousand. Two hundred thousand. It’s a lot of money.” The water stopped. She withdrew her hand, and her perfect, calculated smile snapped back into place. “Hale, I saw the blueprint for that one-bedroom apartment on the East Side. It faces north, so it gets barely any sunlight.” “I’ll have my dad vacate one of his luxury apartments. It gets great southern exposure. A pregnant woman needs her vitamin D.” Hale hesitated. Samantha gently pressed his arm. “She’s carrying your child. She deserves a decent place.” I stood up and grabbed my coat. He asked, “Where are you going?” “Out for a walk.” Samantha called out behind me, “It’s chilly outside. Bundle up, don’t let the baby catch a cold.” I opened the door and paused, looking back. “Miss Selby, you sure love worrying about other people.” “But you can’t even tell who this soup was actually made for. Out of the three people in this room, I’m the only one who hasn’t eaten dinner.” Her smile didn’t break, but her fingers tightened around the thermos. As the door clicked shut, I heard Hale’s muffled voice through the wood. “What does she mean by that?” Samantha replied sweetly, “Oh, nothing. Pregnant women are just emotionally unstable. It’s totally normal.”

“I spent the entire winter knitting this scarf.” I stared at the charcoal grey scarf Hale was stuffing into his duffel bag. His hands paused. “Samantha gets terribly cold hands and feet in the winter, so I… Anyway, you’ve never been sensitive to the cold.” I wasn’t sensitive to the cold. Only because for the past three winters, he had always pointed the only cheap space heater in our room toward me. He had forgotten. On moving day, he drove a black sedan instead of his usual beat-up electric scooter. I glanced at the emblem but said nothing. Three years. Even the scooter was part of his act. The three cardboard boxes weren’t heavy. He moved them in one trip. The new apartment was on the East Side, a property under Dr. Selby’s name. A spacious one-bedroom with southern exposure. It was three times larger than our studio, with a view of the distant hills. “The interior is a bit simple,” Hale said, opening the window to check the draft. “Let me know if you need anything.” I didn’t answer. I knelt to unpack. First box: clothes, toiletries, a stack of prenatal records. Second box: a few books, an old desk lamp, the mug I had used for two years. The third box was half empty. I searched through it once, then twice. “Where is the photo?” He was mounting the curtain rod, his back to me. “Which one?” “The Polaroid. The one we took on the bridge on your birthday. I kept it in the second drawer of the nightstand.” His movements stiffened. He didn’t turn around. “I wasn’t paying attention when I was tossing out the old junk. Must have thrown it away.” He used the word junk. I crouched before the half-empty box, suddenly losing all desire to keep searching. He finished mounting the rod and brushed the dust off his hands. “The fridge is stocked. Samantha got some groceries for you. Stop eating ramen.” “She got them?” “She volunteered. Windsor, she genuinely wants to be good to you.” After he left, I opened the fridge. Chicken breast, broccoli, avocados, low-fat milk, all neatly organized. Next to them was a sticky note in neat, rounded handwriting: Daily intake for second trimester: 75-100g protein, 200mg DHA, keep taking folic acid. Avoid spicy and greasy food. — Samantha Everything was meticulously planned, but there wasn’t a single thing in that fridge that I actually liked to eat. Samantha showed up that afternoon. She carried two bags—one filled with baby clothes, the other with prenatal vitamins. The baby clothes were neatly folded, but they were visibly worn and washed. “These are hand-me-downs from my friend’s baby. The fabric is broken-in and safe.” “The baby market nowadays is sketchy. New clothes have a high risk of residual chemicals. These washed ones are actually much safer—don’t you think?” She shook out a pilled onesie in front of me, gesturing with it. “Thank you, but I don’t need them.” “Oh, don’t be polite.” She set the clothes down, her eyes falling on the coffee table. “What’s this?” It was my pregnancy journal. Since the day I found out, I had written a few lines every day, dedicated to the baby. She flipped open a page and read aloud. “‘Today, Daddy bought you your very first pair of socks. They’re white, only half the size of my palm. He said you’ll definitely be a fast runner…’” “Stop reading,” I said, reaching for it. She didn’t let go. Her fingers pressed hard against the words as she looked up at me, her eyes filled with pity. “Windsor, you write beautifully.” “But have you ever thought about what this child will feel when they grow up? When they read this journal and realize who their mother is, and who their father’s actual wife is… What will they think?” She handed the journal back. “Just a random thought, of course. Don’t take it to heart. A pregnant woman needs to keep her stress levels down.” Before leaving, she raided my kitchen, packing all the snacks I had hidden on top of the cabinet into her bag. “These contain too many trans fats. It affects the baby’s neural development. Didn’t your OB tell you that?” Her tone carried that same condescending concern, like a responsible doctor disciplining an ignorant patient. The kitchen felt half-empty after the door closed. I sat in the living room and opened the journal to the last page. I had written yesterday: Baby, Daddy said he’s getting married soon, but not to Mommy. Don’t be scared. Mommy will always be here. I ripped the page out, crumpled it into a ball, and clenched it tightly in my fist. That night, Hale sent a Snapchat message: Samantha said you rejected the baby clothes she brought? I replied: I don’t need someone else’s trash. He snapped back quickly: Suit yourself. Five minutes later, another message arrived. It was a photo. He and Samantha were dining at a high-end restaurant, bathed in warm light. She was leaning against his shoulder. Caption: Taking wedding photos at the end of the month. Stay off my social media feeds. I shoved my phone under the pillow. There was a water stain on the ceiling, shaped like a butterfly. I stared at it for a long time. I wanted to dial a number I hadn’t called in three years. My finger hovered over the screen, but in the end, I locked the phone. The phone vibrated again. From Hale: I can’t make it to your checkup tomorrow. Samantha’s dad has a thesis defense, and I need to be there. I replied: Understood.

“So you’re the Windsor girl?” A woman in a sharp black designer suit stood at my door. She was impeccably preserved, her chin tilted upward as her eyes swept from my slippers all the way to my belly. Hale’s mother, Victoria Harman. Samantha stood behind her, holding a bouquet of lilies, offering me her signature sweet smile. Victoria didn’t wait for an invitation. She walked right past me. Slapping her leather Chanel bag onto the dining table, she surveyed the one-bedroom apartment, her lips curling downward. “This is the best apartment Dr. Selby could offer?” “It’s not bad, Victoria. It gets plenty of sun—” Samantha started. Victoria raised a hand to cut her off. “Samantha, you are far too kind. Some people simply don’t deserve your generosity.” She pulled out a chair and sat down, retrieving a manila folder from her bag. She pulled out a few printed sheets. “Windsor Higgins. Female, twenty-six. Admitted to the Sky Care Orphanage at age six.” “Discharged at eighteen. High school graduate.” “Worked as a cashier, waitress, retail associate, and barista. Zero assets under her name.” She spoke slowly, like an HR executive reviewing a failing resume. “This is Hale’s so-called ‘friend’?” I stood opposite her, my hands hanging loosely at my sides. This background check was indeed thorough. Too bad they had only dug up the fake identity I had manufactured three years ago. She threw the file onto the table and tapped her finger on the paper. “Windsor, I won’t make this difficult for you. The Harman family will raise the child.” “Sign this agreement. Relinquish your parental rights, and I’ll give you a sum of money to leave this city.” Samantha poured a glass of water, placed it in front of Victoria, and turned to me with soft eyes. “Windsor, Victoria is doing this for your own good. Raising a child alone is so hard. With the Harmans—” “I have no intention of giving my child to anyone.” My voice was calmer than I expected. Victoria’s expression didn’t waver. She had clearly anticipated my refusal. “You think you have a choice?” She stood up, taking a step toward me. “This apartment belongs to the Selby family. Hale has already terminated the lease on your old studio.” “You have absolutely nothing in this city. A girl from an orphanage… how do you plan to support a baby?” “I said, I’m not signing.” “Windsor, don’t overplay your hand.” Her voice dropped an octave, turning menacing. “Hale offering you two hundred thousand is the absolute limit of my patience.” “Do you honestly think he cares about you? Last week, he bought a thirty-million-dollar estate in the Hamptons. That is his wedding gift to Samantha.” My fingers curled into my palms. Thirty million dollars. During those three years of eating instant ramen and riding crowded buses with me, thirty million dollars was apparently just a casual wedding gift to him. Samantha stepped forward, gently wrapping her arm around Victoria’s. “Don’t worry, Victoria. It’s Windsor’s first time being a mother. It’s normal for her to be emotional.” She turned back to me, her voice soft and coaxing. “Windsor, think about it rationally.” “If the baby stays with the Harmans, she’ll go to the best private schools and have the best resources. Isn’t that better than staying with you?” “I know it hurts your motherly instincts, but you have to think about what’s best for the baby—” “Enough,” I said, staring directly into her eyes. “Don’t you get tired of this, Samantha? Every word you say sounds like a cheap therapy session.” Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before recovering. Victoria picked up the agreement and a pen, pushing them toward me. “Sign it, and we can keep things civilized. If you don’t—” She glanced cold-bloodedly at my stomach. “I have a hundred ways to make you sign.” I took a step back. She lunged forward, grabbing my wrist with surprising force for a wealthy, middle-aged woman. “Let go of me—” My body was violently thrown backward. My spine collided heavily with the doorframe, and a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my lower abdomen. I doubled over, clutching my belly. Victoria let go, stepping back with an indifferent expression. Samantha murmured beside her, “Maybe we should let her rest? The impact might cause uterine contractions. That wouldn’t be good.” When she said wouldn’t be good, her tone was devoid of any real empathy. She was analyzing me like a specimen in a lab, not a living person writhing in agony. I looked down. A dark stain was blooming through my pants. Neither of them moved to help. Victoria calmly picked up the pen and the papers, placing them right in front of me on the floor. Samantha knelt down, her voice incredibly gentle. “Windsor, sign this first, and I’ll take you to the hospital right away, okay? I’ll handle Hale.” I forced myself to stand, gripping the doorframe to keep from collapsing. My hand slipped into my pocket and grabbed my phone. I didn’t call Hale. I dialed the number I hadn’t touched in three years. It rang once before a frantic voice picked up. “Miss Higgins? You—” I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end. “Audit all transaction records between the Harman Medical Group and the Selby family. I want the results in three days.” The line went silent for a second, and then the voice turned instantly respectful. “Yes, ma’am. Mr. Higgins has been looking for you everywhere. He—” I hung up. Victoria and Samantha stared at me, their faces painted with identical confusion. I picked up the agreement from the floor, ripped it straight down the middle, and let the torn sheets flutter down to their expensive shoes. “Tell Hale… this child’s last name is Higgins.”

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Late at night, our newly launched product crashed. We were losing millions of dollars every single second. As the Chief Technology Officer, I just sat there, calmly sipping my coffee. I did absolutely nothing. I watched those millions go down the drain in real-time. I watched our newly listed startup slide into bankruptcy, and my colleagues lose everything. In my past life, the moment the glitch appeared, I immediately rallied the dev team to patch the security loophole. Based on the source of the crash, I quickly drafted different emergency protocols. After securing the leak and saving most of the company’s assets, I finally relaxed, slumping exhausted into my office chair. But the next second, the police burst into the room and slammed handcuffs onto my wrists. “You’re under arrest for intentional sabotage of corporate property!” The employees and our CEO, Donald, screamed at me with pure rage. “We trusted you! How could you purposely code such a massive backdoor just to ruin us?!” “Why did you lock the servers and restrict our admin access when the crash happened? You blocked us from taking the product offline!” “Why did you ruin this company?!” It was only then that I realized the entire crash had been a setup. I had literally risked my life to save the company at the very first second. The servers had been hijacked by a hacker. I wasn’t the one who locked everyone out. I wanted to show the police my computer log history, but someone had already altered it. Even worse, my blood test came back positive for heavy hallucinogens. My closest colleague from the product team, Chloe, stepped forward with a video. “He’s been eyeing the company’s core assets for a long time. He coded this backdoor weeks ago.” My intern, Liam, cried out in faked betrayal. “He used this backdoor to siphon millions of corporate funds into his own offshore account!” While I was being held for investigation, several board members cornered me on the rooftop. In the chaos, they pushed me over the edge. After my death, those same board members who pushed me got promoted to major shareholders. Liam took over my position as CTO. And they claimed that I committed suicide out of guilt, jumping off the locked rooftop. A sudden shudder ran through my body. When I opened my eyes, I was back. Back to the night of the massive product crash.

“Ethan, have some coffee.” “The launch is in a few minutes. You need to stay sharp.” Hearing that familiar voice sent a chill straight down my spine. I looked up and saw Liam’s fake, smiling face. He handed me a cup of coffee with a warm grin. “Ethan, my girlfriend and I have a little emergency tonight. Can I take a three-hour leave? I promise I’ll be back right after.” “Please, man.” Liam knew I was a soft-hearted boss. He knew I’d say yes. In my past life, I agreed without a second thought. And that was the exact moment I stepped into his trap. Before the launch, I had tested the code hundreds of times. There was no way a glitch of that scale could happen naturally. The only person who could have done it was Liam—he was the only other person with access to the source code! How did he pull it off? Looking at my intern, a cold sweat broke out across my back. “Sure, go ahead,” I smiled, patting his shoulder. A dark glint flashed in my eyes. Since Liam was leaving, it was the perfect time for me to set up a little safeguard. A safeguard to protect myself. In my past life, I gave my blood and tears to this company, only to be framed and pushed off a roof. I wasn’t going to let them get away with it this time. “Ethan, drink up. I brewed it myself,” Liam urged, pushing the coffee cup closer to my hand. I picked up the cup and sniffed. The bitter aroma of roasted beans filled my nose, but underneath it, I detected something off. In my past life, on this exact day, I only had this cup of coffee and the takeout food sent by the product team. Yet, they found heavy traces of LSD in my system. “Woah, Liam is such a golden boy,” one of the junior devs teased. “You’re lucky to have an intern like him, Ethan!” Hearing the compliments, a smug smirk crept onto Liam’s face. I calmly set the coffee down. “Go on, don’t keep your girlfriend waiting.” “Come on, Ethan! Your favorite intern made it for you. At least take a sip!” the other devs chanted. My face went cold as I swept my eyes over them. Sensing the sudden shift in the room’s energy, a couple of the senior devs quickly ushered Liam out of the office. “Go, go, Liam. Ethan was nice enough to let you leave during a major launch. Don’t push it.” “Ethan, make sure to drink that coffee!” Liam called out one last time before the door shut. I didn’t reply. I felt sick to my stomach. A little while later, right before the launch. Chloe, the Product Manager in charge of the launch, walked in carrying a lunchbox. “We’re going live tonight. If anything goes wrong, we’re relying on you, Ethan!” She opened the box, presenting the food. “I made this myself. Can’t have our star CTO working on an empty stomach.” Looking at her sweet, caring face made me want to throw up. In my past life, I ate her food and felt incredibly drowsy. That drowsiness was the reason I couldn’t react in time when the system crashed.

I slid Liam’s coffee over to her. “I don’t have much to offer, but here, have this coffee to keep your energy up.” Without suspecting a thing, Chloe took the cup and downed it in a few gulps. “Make sure you finish all the food, Ethan!” She couldn’t stay in the dev department for long, so she waved and walked out. I watched her leave, my eyes dead and cold. “I’m not really hungry. You guys split the food,” I told the team. “Awesome! I’ve been dying to try Chloe’s cooking. Thank you, boss!” The devs cheered and dug in. Time ticked by. I looked at the corner of my screen. It was launch time. Right on cue, my phone vibrated. It was Chloe. “Ethan! We have a disaster! The system crashed right after going live!” “We are losing a million dollars a second!” I glanced around the office. The devs who had eaten Chloe’s food were all slumping over their desks, completely out of it. In my past life, I had eaten all the food and drank the coffee. Yet, I fought the heavy drugs in my system and forced myself to patch the system to save the company. And my reward? Handcuffs and a trip off the roof. I leaned back and spoke slowly. “I think you called the wrong number. Shouldn’t you report this to Donald first?” Chloe gasped, her voice dripping with disbelief. “Ethan, are you insane?! Report to Donald right now?!” “We are bleeding cash in real-time!” “If you don’t believe me, check the servers! People are exploiting the backdoor and draining our assets!” “The company is going to go under in minutes!” I let out a cold chuckle. “Didn’t Donald say we have to follow protocol? I’m waiting for the official ticket approval.” Seeing that I wasn’t moving, Chloe lost her mind. “Ethan! How can you be so selfish? I totally misjudged you!” “The entire company is dying, and you’re just sitting there—” I hung up on her. Seconds later, my phone rang again. It was Liam. I tapped accept. “Ethan! Everything is falling apart!” “There’s a massive exploit in the launch build!” “The company is losing a million dollars a second!” “I’m rushing back to the office right now. Please, do something to mitigate the damage first!” In the office, the devs were fast asleep, completely oblivious to the chaos. I held the phone away from my ear. “Oh. I’m waiting for the ticket to be approved.” Liam practically screamed through the speaker. “Ethan! A million dollars a second!” “Just lock down the servers first! Lock out the users so they can’t exploit it!” I stretched lazily.

Lock the servers? In my past life, I did exactly that. And because I locked the servers to stop the exploit, they accused me of restricting admin access and preventing the company from taking the product offline. I wasn’t falling for that twice. But I was curious: how did this exploit happen? I had checked the code repeatedly. How did Liam hide the backdoor? And who was the hacker who locked the servers in the past life? Only a few of us had root access. Who changed the core code? Before I could figure it out, Chloe burst into the tech department. “Ethan! Why are you just sitting there?! Why haven’t you told the team to patch the exploit?!” She was shaking with anger and anxiety. I leaned back in my chair. “Well, the official ticket hasn’t been approved yet. Why should I patch it?” My voice finally woke up the sleeping devs. One of them jumped up so fast he knocked his chair over. “Ethan! Why didn’t you wake us up?!” “You’re destroying the company!” “We’re losing a million dollars a second!” I calmly nodded. “Yes, it’s a major glitch. But management hasn’t sent me the official ticket to fix it.” The devs were furious. “Do you even know what responsibility means?!” “None of us are as fast as you! How can you just watch us burn?!” “Do you know how many people will lose their jobs and jump off buildings if this startup goes bankrupt?!” I shrugged and shut down my computer. “What does that have to do with me?” “At worst, I’ll just resign. No big deal.” Chloe’s face contorted. She whipped out her phone and played a video. In the video, I was sitting at my desk, complaining. “This company is a joke. Working until 3 AM every day is toxic. I’m going to make sure this launch ruins them. I don’t care if it goes bankrupt, as long as I get my revenge.” I saw right through it. It was a Deepfake. In my past life, right after I was arrested, Chloe leaked this exact video onto Snapchat and Instagram. I had begged the police to run a forensic analysis on it, but they claimed the video was authentic. I had to prove it was fake myself, because I had never said those words, nor had I ever thought them. No one wanted this company to succeed more than me—not even Donald.

This was the first company I joined after graduating from MIT. I built my career here step by step. Why would I want it to burn? But in my past life, before I could even explain, they dragged me to the roof and pushed me off. I never got the chance to clear my name. “I should have shown this video to HR weeks ago and had you fired,” Chloe cried out, though her eyes flashed with excitement. “I thought you were just venting.” “Do you know how many lives you’re ruining?!” “Do you know how many people won’t be able to pay their mortgages because of you?!” She played the victim perfectly, but her eyes betrayed her thrill. The devs surrounded my desk. Looking at their aggressive postures, it was clear that if I didn’t boot up my PC and fix the code, they were going to get physical. Losing a million dollars a second meant hundreds of millions were already gone. Forget their launch bonuses—their jobs were gone. “What are you waiting for?! Turn the computer on!” one dev screamed, his eyes bloodshot. “Ethan, I thought you were a mentor. You’re a monster! You don’t deserve to live!” They were shaking with rage. Chloe added fuel to the fire. “You’ve caused historic financial damage. You’re going to prison for life. If you want to reduce your sentence, you better fix it now!” I smiled slowly. “If you guys want it fixed so badly, why are you crowded around my desk?” “Does this company stop spinning without me?” Their faces froze. They realized none of them actually knew how to fix the core code without me.

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The night before our wedding, my fiancée, Lucy, insisted on going to a bachelorette party thrown by her childhood friends. When I kicked open the VIP room door, I saw her riding another man, completely naked from the waist down. Seeing me, there wasn’t a single hint of panic on her face. “Don’t overthink it, Christian. This is just a special pre-marital crash course they set up for me.” “Each of them is showing me a different… technique. It’s going to take a while. Go wait outside!” I clamped down on my raging fury and barked, “Lucy! Get the hell off him right now, or I swear to God, I’ll make you pay for this!” She rolled her eyes, ignored me, and went right back to her wild group session. Right then and there, I pulled out my phone and ordered my people to freeze every single asset under her name. I revoked access to all the luxury cars and villas I had bought her. And I pulled every single dime of my investment from the Fabian Group. Since she wanted to throw my kindness back in my face, she shouldn’t blame me for ruining her life!

After I made those calls, Lucy was still splayed on the sofa. A single red stiletto lay lonely on the floor. Her other shoe was still dangling from her foot, tangled with a lace thong. Her skirt was pushed all the way up to her waist, leaving nothing to the imagination. The fat guy next to her still had his hand resting casually on her thigh. It felt like an invisible hand was strangling my throat. Looking at this disgusting scene, my anger finally boiled over. “Lucy! I am asking you one last time. Are you getting the hell off him or not?!” “Stop screaming!” Lucy aggressively slapped the fat guy’s hand off her leg and shrieked, “Do you have to ruin my important night to be satisfied?!” “I told you, it’s a pre-marital crash course! Do you not understand English?” “Now, either shut up and watch so you can learn something, or get the hell out of here!” The blood rushed straight to my head! I froze on the spot, my ears buzzing. It took me a few seconds to process the sheer audacity of her words. “You absolute trash!” My whole body shook as I pointed my finger at the bastards who were enjoying the show. “Getting felt up by these pieces of garbage is what you call a ‘course’?! Lucy, have you lost your mind?!” Lucy’s face instantly darkened. Without a word, she stood up, raised her hand, and slapped me hard across the face. She hit me so hard my cheek burned instantly, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. “Christian, don’t you dare slander my friends!” “I am learning all this for your sake! Instead of thanking them, you’re standing here throwing a tantrum. You are being completely unreasonable!” I stared at her in shock, unable to believe such shameless words could actually come out of her mouth. Once I snapped out of it, I raised my hand and slapped her right back. “For my sake? Lucy, you are disgustingly shameless!” The force of my slap sent Lucy tumbling onto the floor in a messy heap. She held her cheek, glared up at me, and shrieked so hard her voice cracked. “Christian! How dare you lay a hand on me?!” Then, she shot a look at her childhood friend, James, who was standing nearby, and hissed, “Teach him a lesson! Make him realize who he’s talking to!!” Receiving his orders, James immediately kicked me hard in the stomach. Then, he and the fat guy pinned me to the floor, locking me down so I couldn’t move. James sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. “Do you know Jones Enterprises?” He ground the heel of his leather shoe hard into my hand. “That’s a top-tier company! Arthur Jones is my uncle!” “I’m doing you a favor by sleeping with Lucy. Instead of being grateful, you actually dare to cause trouble for her?” He pressed down even harder on my hand. “Say one more word, and I’ll make sure you disappear from New York tonight!” “Jones?!” That name sent a shockwave through my chest, and I almost laughed out loud. The same Arthur Jones who was practically begging me on his knees last month, trying to get into my good graces? Looking at James’s shameless face, I spat out a cold laugh. “Pfft! Arthur Jones? He might be a big deal to you, but to me, he isn’t even fit to carry my shoes!” Seeing how arrogant I was, James completely lost his mind. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he roared, “Motherfucker! You’re asking for death! Beat him to a pulp!!” The second the words left his mouth, a hail of fists and kicks rained down on me! “Alright! Don’t actually kill him. If you do, am I supposed to be a widow tomorrow?!” After what felt like forever, Lucy finally spoke up to stop them. Her voice was cold, completely devoid of emotion. She strolled over to where I was curled up on the ground and tapped my bloody head with the toe of her high heel. “Christian, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll behave.” “If you ever speak to my friends like that again, I’ll make sure you pack up your pathetic bones and get out of New York! The further, the better!” “Marry me? Maybe in your next life!”

With that, she turned around without a single backward glance, letting another man wrap his arm around her waist as they walked back into the VIP room. It was as if she had just swept away a piece of annoying trash. Watching her retreat, my heart felt like it was being pricked by a thousand needles. To make sure I wouldn’t cause any more trouble, James and his crew tied me up tightly. When the sky was just starting to turn gray, the door of the VIP room finally opened. Lucy walked out, surrounded by the guys. Her face was flushed unnaturally, and her steps were a bit unsteady. She frowned, looking disgustedly at the collar around my neck that they hadn’t taken off. She reached down, untied my ropes, and instinctively tried to touch my face. “Let’s go. If we hurry to the wedding venue now, we might still make it.” The next second, a suffocating wave of cologne mixed with another man’s scent invaded my nostrils! My stomach churned. Pure instinct took over, and I violently slapped her hand away. “Christian!” Lucy’s hand froze in mid-air. The impatience on her face instantly turned into sharp fury. “What the hell is your problem?!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and hissed through gritted teeth, “Lucy, the wedding is off.” Lucy’s pupils shrunk. “What did you say? Say that again?!” “I said, we are done!” I spat out every single word. Slap! A heavy blow landed on my face. She used all her strength. My ears rang, and blood seeped from my lip again. “Done?!” “I have tolerated you for so long, giving you the chance to climb into my family’s social circle! And you dare to say we’re done?” “Christian, who do you think you are?! You’re just a blue-collar contractor who got lucky. Without me, you’re absolutely nothing!” Looking at the woman in front of me and hearing her words, I felt nothing but bitterness. When I first started dating Lucy, her family was on the brink of bankruptcy. I was afraid she would feel insecure, so I hid my identity as the sole heir to the Franklin family fortune—the richest family in New York. Instead, I quietly funded her family from behind the scenes to help them rise again. Yes, the Fabian family was doing well now, but compared to my family, they were still peasants. Who would have thought that my good intentions would end up being trampled on like this? It was as hilarious as it was pathetic. While I was lost in thought, Lucy grabbed my collar and dragged me forward like a dying dog. “It seems you didn’t learn your lesson last night! James!” She turned and yelled. James and the fat guy strolled out of the next room, holding cigarettes, their faces wearing exhausted but cruel smirks after a night of indulgence. “This loser is acting tough. He wants to call off the wedding. Keep teaching him a lesson!” Lucy pointed at me, her eyes filled with pure malice. “Break him until he submits!” “You got it, babe. Easy!” James sneered, grabbing me by the hair and dragging me toward the pitch-black alley at the back of the club. The fat guy and another bald guy immediately stepped up, pinning my arms. “Take him to the back alley! It’s quieter there!” Lucy’s cold voice echoed from behind. The back alley of the nightclub was piled with garbage and rusty crates. They threw me onto the concrete floor like a sack of garbage. “Loser, I gave you a chance, but you just had to ask for death!” “I heard your construction site is rushing a deadline? You’re almost out of materials, right?” James squatted down with an ugly smirk, flicking a lighter right in front of my eyes. “Do you believe that with one phone call, I can make sure your newly ordered shipment of materials… turns to ashes before sunrise?” My chest tightened. That batch of materials wasn’t just about the project deadline; it affected the livelihoods of my entire construction crew! “If you touch my things, I swear…” I warned, my eyes bloodshot. “You swear what?” The fat guy laughed mockingly, pulling a thick iron pipe from the trash heap. He weighed the pipe in his hand, taking slow steps toward me, his eyes locking onto my right leg. “A dirty contractor trying to play the hero?!” “Looks like we really need to show you how things work. Broken arm or broken leg? You choose.” A chill ran down my spine. These psychopaths were actually capable of doing it. I gritted my teeth and roared, “Don’t you dare!” “Why wouldn’t I dare?” The fat guy spat, raising the iron pipe high and aiming straight for my knee.

Just as the iron pipe was about to swing down! “Stop!” A sharp voice rang out, and my assistant, Sean, rushed into the alley with seven or eight heavy-duty guards. Every single one of them was carrying crowbars and tactical batons! “Mr. Franklin!” Sean’s eyes turned red when he saw my bloody state. He let out a roar and charged. “You dare beat Mr. Franklin?! I’ll make you pay with your lives!!” James and his crew were startled by the sudden intrusion. “You piece of shit, you actually called backup?” James cursed, letting go of me and stepping up to Sean without a hint of fear. In fact, he looked excited. “Who the hell do you think you are?!” He grabbed Sean’s collar, spitting as he yelled, “Do you know who owns this turf? Arthur Jones!” “You dare to act tough here? One call from me, and you’ll all be buried underground by tomorrow morning!!” Sean and his men weren’t intimidated at all. They raised their batons, ready to swing. Right then, a sharp car horn echoed through the alley. The next second, a middle-aged man in a casual jacket and messy hair stepped out of a car at the entrance of the alley. Seeing the chaotic standoff, he frowned and yelled impatiently, “Who is causing trouble on my turf?!” Hearing the voice, James spun around. The moment he saw the middle-aged man’s face, his whole body shivered, and his cigarette dropped straight to the ground! In an instant, his face morphed into a groveling smile, and he practically crawled over. “Uncle Arthur! What are you doing in a dump like this?” He bowed so low his head almost touched the ground. “Hold on, let me guide you inside! I’ll get the cleanest VIP room ready for you!” Arthur Jones’s forehead creased with deep annoyance. He completely ignored James. His impatient gaze swept over the crowd and finally landed on my face. The moment he saw me. It was as if Arthur had been struck by lightning. His entire body shuddered violently. “Mr…. Mr. Franklin?!” His lips trembled so hard he couldn’t even control his limbs. He froze on the spot for a solid three seconds before snapping out of it. He stumbled forward, rushing to my side. “Mr. Franklin! You… how… how did you get hurt like this?!” Then, he stood up straight, his bloodshot eyes glaring furiously at the crowd. His gaze locked onto James, who was already frozen in shock. The next second, Arthur roared like a wild beast, “James! You absolute piece of trash!! What did you do to Mr. Franklin?!” “This guy wouldn’t behave, so my boys and I were just teaching him a lesson. Who knew he’d actually call backup!” James said, acting like it was no big deal. Hearing this, Arthur’s face turned from pale to completely purple. He delivered a brutal kick straight to James’s chest, sending him flying back and crashing heavily into the ground. “You brainless bastard!” Then, Arthur fell straight to his knees right in front of me, his voice shaking uncontrollably. “Mr. Franklin, it’s my fault. I failed to educate my nephew. I am so sorry you had to go through this.” “Please rest assured… I will make sure these bastards pay dearly!” James lay on the ground, his brain completely failing to process the situation. He yelled in frustration, “Uncle Arthur… what are you doing? Why are you being so polite to this loser?!” Arthur stood up, spun around, and kicked James in the ribs again. “Open your blind eyes! Mr. Franklin is the sole heir to the Franklin Empire—the richest family in New York!” “Who the hell do you think you are?! You dared to lay a hand on him?!”

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On our third anniversary, Clement pressured me to bring some files he had left at home to his campus. Heavily pregnant, I braved the pouring rain and headed out with the specific files he insisted on having. But less than five hundred meters from the school, a group of local thugs cornered me in a dark alley to rob me. To protect Clement’s files, I held onto my bag with all my might. Infuriated, the thugs stabbed me repeatedly. My blood stained the rain-slicked pavement a gruesome crimson. As I weakly tried to call Clement for help, his childhood friend Matt’s call came through first. Over the speaker, I could hear Clement and his friends laughing and making a bet. “Hey Clement, is Caroline really going to bring you those files in this storm?” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out the envelope only contains the sketch you drew of Grace and get mad at you?” Clement let out a soft chuckle, his tone dripping with sheer contempt. “She wouldn’t dare.” Clement’s words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled, lost my footing, and collapsed heavily onto the cold, wet ground. To the sound of Grace and Clement flirting and laughing through the phone, my consciousness slowly faded away as I lay in the dark. Two hours later, having lost a massive amount of blood, I was rushed to the ER. When I finally woke up, the doctor gave me a pitiful look and shook his head. It was too late. The baby was gone. I stared blankly at my now-flat stomach, letting the tears stream silently down my face. Clement, since you let me lose our child over a stupid joke with your friends, I’m done. I’ll let you two have each other.

As I was getting my IV drip, my phone on the bedside table suddenly buzzed. Clement’s Instagram had updated. It was a family portrait. It featured everyone in Clement’s family, with Grace leaning tightly against his shoulder. The caption read: “The happiest family dinner ever.” I couldn’t help but tap the heart button and leave a like. Almost instantly, Clement’s FaceTime call came through, his voice laced with annoyance. “Caroline, the family dinner has already started. Where the hell are you? If you didn’t want to come, you should’ve just said so!” “How do you even have the nerve to let Grace run around and host everyone in your place?” Before I could even open my mouth to tell him I was in the hospital, he hung up on me. My eyes welled up instantly, but I squeezed them shut, forcing myself not to cry. “Oh, Caroline, sweetheart. You just got out of a life-threatening surgery. You need to calm down. Don’t cry, it’s bad for your recovery!” The nurse saw my tears and quickly came over, her eyes filled with deep sympathy. “Caroline, the stab wound punctured your abdomen and severely damaged your uterus. You… you might not be able to get pregnant again.” Her words felt like a physical strike to my chest. My face went completely pale. That night, everything that had happened during the day replayed in my mind. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep as a sharp, throbbing pain radiated from my stitches. The next morning, in a daze, I felt someone gently tucking in my blanket. I opened my eyes. It was Clement. A container of pasta he had brought was sitting on the nightstand, still steaming. He reached out to touch my forehead. “You’re awake? Why didn’t you tell me you got hurt last night?” I subtly pulled back, avoiding his touch, and said half-heartedly: “I didn’t think it was a big deal, so I didn’t mention it.” A flicker of surprise crossed Clement’s eyes. In the past, even if I got a tiny paper cut, I would cling to him and whine for attention. He couldn’t understand why I was suddenly so cold. He picked up the pasta, blowing on it gently to cool it down. “I brought you breakfast. Come on, open up.” I stared at him blankly. Right now, this Clement looked no different from the gentle, caring husband he used to be. But when exactly did he change? I took small bites of the pasta, my mind drifting through old memories. Clement stepped out of the room to throw away some trash. Ding. His phone on the nightstand lit up. It was a Snapchat message from Grace, accompanied by a cute sticker. Driven by some strange impulse, I unlocked his phone and tapped on their chat. [Clement, what happened to Caroline? Is she doing any better?] [Don’t worry, she won’t die.] A mocking smile touched my lips as I put the phone back exactly where it was. When Clement returned, he glanced at his phone, then left without even looking back, throwing a careless promise over his shoulder. “Get some rest. I’ll come back to see you and bring you dinner after work.” The day dragged on in silence. I ate the bland hospital food the nurse had kindly bought for me from the cafeteria, aimlessly scrolling through my phone. Suddenly, an Instagram Reel posted by Grace popped up on my feed. My fingers trembled as I tapped on it. In the video, the two of them were standing at the edge of a bungee jumping platform. Grace was covering her eyes in fear, burying herself in Clement’s chest. He smiled dotingly, securing her safety harness before wrapping his arms tightly around her. Together, they leaped off the platform. The crowd around them cheered at their thrilling, romantic jump. The caption read: “Someone’s way of cheering me up is so romantic!!! No annoying third wheels around. What a perfect day.” Watching the video, my grip on the fork in my hand tightened until my knuckles turned white. Clement has a heart condition. Ever since I got together with him, I had given up all the extreme sports I loved just to keep him safe. I never imagined he would risk his own life doing something so dangerous just to make Grace happy. I took a deep breath and dialed Dr. Porter, my former advisor at NYU. “Professor, I’ve decided. I’d love to join your research team and work in your lab.”

“Caroline, are you absolutely sure? You know my lab has very strict rules. You’ll have to live on campus and be on call constantly…” “I’m sure, Dr. Porter. Please make the arrangements.” After hanging up, I booked a one-way flight to New York for a week later. The next second, Clement’s suspicious voice sounded from behind me. “Caroline, why are you looking at flights? Where are you going?” I calmly locked my screen and slipped the phone away. “Nothing. I just clicked on an ad by mistake.” He frowned, staring at me intensely. He knew I had no family or friends in this city. Years ago, I had abandoned everything to follow him to Miami, thousands of miles away from my hometown. During our years of marriage, I had sacrificed all my hobbies and social life, letting my entire world revolve around him. Seeing nothing unusual on my face, his expression softened. He handed me a takeout box. “What do you want to eat tomorrow? I’ll bring it over.” A strong, pungent smell of spicy seafood hit my nose. I recoiled slightly and shook my head. “No, thank you. I’ve already eaten.” Clement’s face immediately darkened. “Caroline, you’re just throwing a tantrum because I brought your food late.” “You have nothing to do but relax in this hospital room all day. Can’t you show some appreciation for how hard I work and how much I have to overtime?” Listening to his typical blame-shifting, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. My reaction seemed to infuriate him. He tossed the takeout box straight into the trash can. “Fine. Starve then.” As Clement was about to walk out of the room, I couldn’t help but ask. “Clement, as a prestigious university professor, do you really not know the basic medical common sense that post-surgery patients cannot have spicy food or seafood?” His footsteps halted. But he didn’t apologize. He walked out without looking back, leaving the room smelling of spicy seafood. Five days later, I discharged myself and went home. Before I even reached the door, I could hear laughter and music coming from inside. My hand froze on the doorknob. I pushed the door open. The living room was covered in Grace’s portrait posters, with birthday balloons floating everywhere. A crowd was throwing a huge birthday party for Grace. Surrounded by cheering friends, Clement was sharing a drink with a blushing Grace. Grace looked up, saw me, and smirked. “Caroline! You’re out of the hospital! Why are you just standing at the door? Come in!” Hearing her voice, everyone turned to look at the entrance. Clement quickly let go of Grace’s waist and walked over to help me sit on the couch. “Why didn’t you call me to pick you up?” I looked at him with a faint, tired smile. “I did call you. You didn’t pick up.”

The guests exchanged awkward glances, and a tense silence fell over the living room. Ignoring the awkwardness, I politely greeted everyone and made my way to our bedroom to start packing my things. Suddenly, Clement grabbed my wrist. He spoke in a casual, matter-of-fact tone: “Caroline, today is Grace’s birthday. Give your tenure promotion slot to her. Just consider it a birthday gift.” “You’re injured and need to recover anyway. Your old, less demanding teaching assistant job is much better suited for your recovery.” Thinking about how I would be leaving soon anyway, I simply nodded. “Okay.” Clement obviously didn’t expect me to agree so easily. Realizing his demand was indeed a bit selfish, he stood there, momentarily stunned. A few seconds later, a smile returned to his face. He handed me a slice of birthday cake. “Weren’t you looking at flights the other day? Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll take you on a trip abroad.” I found his attempt at compensation absolutely hilarious. In all our years of marriage, he had spent almost every vacation taking Grace abroad. The times he had traveled with me, his actual wife, could be counted on one hand. I set the cake back down on the table and shook my head dismissively. “We’ll see.” “I’m exhausted. I’m going to lay down.” With that, I walked straight into the bedroom. The next morning before classes started, Clement left my favorite breakfast on my desk. My colleagues giggled and teased me. “Clement is so sweet! He’s not only the youngest professor on campus, but he’s also so devoted to Caroline…” I just smiled, handed his breakfast to them, and opened my laptop to draft my resignation letter. During lunch break, an unwelcome guest walked into my office. Grace came in, wearing a fake, sweet smile to thank me for giving up the promotion. “Caroline, you’re so amazing. You can get promotions just by relying on your academic skills.” “Unlike me. I have to rely on Clement for everything.” A smug glint flashed in her eyes. She reached out to touch a trophy on my shelf. “Oh, this trophy is so pretty. Oops! How did it slip?” Before her voice even faded, the golden ceramic trophy shattered onto the floor, breaking into a million pieces. That trophy was won years ago when Clement, then a graduate senior, led our team to victory in an international competition. I was one of the team members back then. It was during that trip that I fell head over heels for him and chased him for three long years. That trophy held a special meaning for us. I had always kept it in my office, cherishing it. And now, shattered on the floor, it looked exactly like my fragile, dying marriage with Clement—broken beyond repair at a single touch. Quietly, I swept up the sharp ceramic shards and threw them all into the trash. As I walked out of the dean’s office after submitting my resignation, Clement stopped me. “Caroline, what were you doing in the dean’s office? What’s that in your hand?” He reached out, trying to grab the resignation letter from my hand. My heart skipped a beat. I quickly stuffed the letter into my bag, trying to hide my panic. Just then, Grace stepped out from behind him, her eyes red and watery. “Caroline, I really didn’t mean to break your trophy. Why did you have to go to the dean to complain and try to take away my promotion?” Clement’s face darkened, his gaze turning cold and demanding. “Grace already told me everything. It was just an accident.” “Stop being so petty.” I had skipped grades since I was a child. Technically, I was two years younger than Grace. I replied flatly, “I don’t care about it.” I tried to walk past them to leave. But Grace wouldn’t let me. She blocked my path, tears spilling over her cheeks. “Caroline, if you really don’t care, why are you lying? This promotion means everything to me. You already have Clement, why do you have to steal this from me too?” As she grabbed me, her fingers dug forcefully into my fresh abdominal stitches where Clement couldn’t see. The intense pressure caused my stitches to rip open. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Gasping in pain, I instinctively pushed her away. Grace stumbled back a few steps, falling right into Clement’s arms, sobbing hysterically. “Clement, I don’t know why Caroline hates me so much! What did I do wrong?” Clement’s eyes turned ice-cold. “Caroline, apologize to Grace right now!” Clutching my bleeding stomach, I gritted my teeth. “Why should I?” Slap! Clement raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “Caroline, stop playing these pathetic mind games behind my back. Do it again, and we are getting a divorce!” I stared at Clement’s back as he walked away, gently cradling Grace in his arms. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. “Clement, you got it.” I packed up the rest of my office belongings and mailed them directly to New York. Then, I mailed our house keys back to Clement. Looking around the empty office, I suppressed the final trace of hesitation in my heart and turned to leave. As I walked out of the campus gates, my phone buzzed with a message from Clement. He said Grace had received her official promotion email, and they realized they had misunderstood me. He wanted to buy me dinner to make it up to me. Perhaps this would be our final dinner together. Fine. Let’s consider this the official end of our relationship. I agreed. When I opened the passenger door of Clement’s car, I saw Grace sitting there. Clement said casually: “Grace’s parents aren’t home to cook for her, and she wanted to apologize to you in person for what happened this afternoon.” I simply nodded, climbed into the back seat, and closed my eyes to rest. All the way to the restaurant, Grace chatted excitedly with Clement about her promotion. She mentioned how her new office would be so much closer to his now. Clement kept checking my expression through the rearview mirror, remaining unusually quiet. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the restaurant. Halfway through the meal, Clement suddenly asked, “Why is your office completely empty?” “Oh, I just wanted to move to an office with better sunlight,” I lied, my voice devoid of any emotion. Near the end of the dinner, the chandelier above our table suddenly flickered, then crashed down with a deafening shatter. Glass shards flew everywhere as panic erupted in the restaurant. Since I was sitting closest to the blast, a sharp piece of glass sliced deep into my arm. Blood began to pour. Without even glancing at my bleeding arm, Clement instantly scooped Grace up in his arms and rushed out of the restaurant. Two hours later, after making sure Grace was safely settled in a hospital bed, Clement finally remembered me. A sudden wave of panic washed over him. He rushed back to the restaurant, but I was nowhere to be found. “Caroline!”

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My boyfriend brought me to his family’s private estate for the first time. His adopted sister, Chloe, had just climbed out of the pool. The strap of her bikini was broken. Summer swimwear leaves little to the imagination. She gasped, covering her chest with her hands, and ran straight to my boyfriend. “Asher, my strap broke! Quick, tie it for me!” The butler and the maids immediately looked down, avoiding their eyes. Asher acted like this was completely normal. He grabbed her hand, turned her around, and expertly tied a knot. His hand even slid across her bare, smooth back. “What cheap trash is this?” he murmured playfully. “I’ll buy you a better one next time.” Blood rushed to my head. “Asher Vance!” I snapped, my voice shaking. “Did you completely forget what I told you?” Chloe turned to look at me, her eyes wide and innocent. “Hazel, don’t overthink it. Asher practically raised me. This is nothing.” “If there were really something between us, I’d be the mistress of this house by now, wouldn’t I?”

She turned back to him, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Asher, how many times do I have to tell you? When you tie it, you need to push the fabric forward from the back. It makes my curves look better!” “You’re like a block of wood. You ruined the shape.” Chloe reached straight into her bikini top, adjusting herself right in front of Asher, completely ignoring my presence. And Asher didn’t even look away. He stared directly down, his eyes lingering on her cleavage for a solid two seconds. He sighed helplessly and actually reached out to help her adjust it. “Chloe, do you not have hands?” I finally lost my temper. I marched forward and shoved myself right between them. “Asher, am I invisible to you? Is this something a normal guy does for his sister?” “Even if you grew up together, there are boundaries. Do neither of you have any self-respect?” The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I always knew Asher had an adopted sister. But I never knew they were this close. They had completely crossed the line. There were so many staff members around, and they dared to do this right in front of me. I couldn’t imagine what they did when they were alone! The air went dead silent. Suddenly, Asher let out a soft laugh. He reached out and pulled me into his arms. “Are you jealous, baby?” He rubbed his nose against my neck. “You’re right. I’ll pay attention next time. Don’t be mad, okay?” “Besides, I just see Chloe as a kid. She’s like a daughter to me.” His words only added fuel to the fire. He still didn’t see the problem. A daughter? What kind of father strokes a twenty-year-old girl’s bare back while tying her bikini? Irritated, I shoved his hands off me. Before Asher could speak, Chloe let out an annoyed sigh. “Alright, Hazel. Asher apologized once to be sweet, but you’re being dramatic now. Don’t ruin the mood.” Asher’s mother, Victoria, walked over holding a fruit platter, a polite smile plastered on her face. “Hazel, dear, it’s your first time visiting the estate. Don’t let such a small thing ruin the mood. Asher and Chloe have always been close. You’ll get used to it.” She handed me a slice of melon. “Chloe lost her parents when she was young. We love her like our own. Asher treasures her like a prized possession. You need to be more understanding.” I was shaking with rage. Everyone around me was looking at me like I was making a big deal out of nothing. Even Asher didn’t think his behavior, or his mother’s words, were a problem. I took a deep breath, ready to blow up, when Chloe suddenly groaned loudly. She stamped her foot at Asher. “Asher, I’m starving! Didn’t you say the chef was making truffle lobster and caviar today? I can’t wait!” Asher’s brows furrowed instantly. He looked at me, his eyes turning cold. “Are you done making a scene? Can we go inside and eat now? Chloe has a sensitive stomach. She’ll get a flare-up if she waits too long.” In that second, my heart went completely cold. Was I the one making a scene? Every breath he took was about Chloe. Just because Chloe wanted to eat, I had to swallow my anger. With a “sister” like this, why did he even bother getting a girlfriend? I closed my eyes, forcing my tears back. “I’m done. And I’m done with you, Asher. Let’s break up.” As I turned to leave, I paused and looked back at Chloe. “Oh, by the way. Since you love each other so much, maybe you should share a bed to bond even more.” “I hope you two have a happy life together, and have beautiful, messed-up babies.”

I walked fast toward the main gate. Asher suddenly grabbed my arm, yanked me back so hard that I stumbled. His grip on my wrist was bruising. “Can you give me some respect in front of my family? Stop throwing a tantrum!” “What do you want to eat? After dinner, I’ll have the chauffeur take you to buy it. I’ll spend the whole day with you tomorrow, okay?” His voice softened, as if he were making a massive sacrifice. I laughed. Everything I wanted came second to his sister. What was I to him? I wrenched my wrist free and looked at the red handprint. I chuckled coldly. “No thanks, Mr. Vance.” Without another word, I turned and walked away. This time, Asher didn’t follow. Behind me, I heard Chloe’s mocking voice. “Asher, is she crazy? We’re family. She actually thinks we have something going on? Talk about paranoia!” Victoria was sighing too. “Asher, is this really the kind of girl you like? Her temper is way too big. She’ll cause trouble for us in high society.” Frustrated, Asher ran a hand through his hair. He casually threw an arm around Chloe’s shoulder and walked toward the dining room. “Mom, stop it. It’s annoying. Just let her go. If she wants to leave, let her leave.” “Let’s go, Chloe. I’ll take you to get your favorite lobster.” Tears finally spilled over. I held them in until I got into an Uber, and then I completely broke down. For this man, I had turned down a stable job my parents arranged for me. I had moved to his city completely alone. We had been dating for three years. I thought our love was unbreakable. I was such an idiot! The moment I got back to the apartment we shared, I started packing my things. For two whole days, Asher didn’t call or text me once. I forced myself not to reach out. I started planning my new life. I messaged the HR manager of a company I had previously turned down, asking if the position of Executive Assistant to the Director was still open. They replied quickly, saying the job was still mine if I wanted it. They asked when I could start. I told them next Monday. Just when I thought I was ready to start fresh, the doorbell rang. I opened the door. Asher stood there holding a massive bouquet of blue roses. There was barely any apology on his face. “Surprise!” He forced a stiff smile, shoving the flowers toward me like he was checking off a chore. “Baby, I’m here to make it up to you. Forgive me, okay?” As he spoke, his eyes drifted past my shoulder, scanning the apartment as if checking for something. Before I could speak, Chloe popped out from behind him. She shoved a luxurious gift box into my arms, smiling warmly. “Hazel, don’t be mad anymore. If a woman gets angry too often, her skin gets ruined.” Then, as if she owned the place, she kicked off her shoes and slid into my favorite pair of fluffy designer slippers. Asher walked right in after her, not even looking at me. His attention was entirely on Chloe. “Careful, don’t trip.” He pulled me to the sofa. “Baby, look. Chloe came all this way just to apologize to you.” He opened the gift box. Inside was a necklace. The diamond was huge and blindingly bright. “The ‘Heart of the Ocean’ necklace. You stared at it at the auction last time. I bought it for you. Do you like it?” My heart skipped a beat. Before I could process it, he stepped behind me and draped the cold diamond necklace around my neck. “Beautiful,” he whispered, his warm breath hitting my ear. “It suits you.” Chloe, who had been standing quietly, suddenly spoke up. Her voice held a perfect touch of jealousy. “Hazel is so lucky. You’re so good to her, Asher. I’m almost jealous.” She walked over, staring directly at the necklace on my neck. Her lips pouted, and her eyes welled up with tears. “Asher, I’ve grown up with you, and you’ve never bought me such an expensive gift. At the auction, I told you how much I loved the ‘Heart of the Ocean,’ but you pretended not to hear me…” The warmth on Asher’s face froze, replaced instantly by guilt and affection for his sister. He cooed, “Be good, Chloe. Next time I find something nice, I’ll buy it for you first.” “I don’t want next time. I want this one,” Chloe pouted, grabbing my arm. “Hazel, you have the kindest heart. Can I just borrow this necklace for a second? Just a second, to see how it looks on me…” “I…” Before I could even finish my sentence, Asher frowned impatiently. He looked at me and said, “Just let her try it. It’s just a necklace. Chloe likes it so much, why are you being so petty?”

Without even waiting for my consent, he reached out, unclasped the necklace he had just put on me, and fastened it around Chloe’s neck. “Asher, look! This necklace looks way better on me!” Chloe laughed, spinning around happily. Asher smiled, his eyes full of adoration. “Our Chloe looks good in everything. You’re a natural model.” Looking at the two of them laughing and playing, I felt a wave of nausea. The necklace that was supposed to be mine had stayed on my neck for less than a minute. Now, it was just a tool to please another woman. I forced a tight smile. “Did you two come here today just to disgust me?” Chloe looked at me innocently. “Hazel, how could you say that!” “Asher bought you the ‘Heart of the Ocean’ just to make you happy! He never bought me anything this expensive!” “He even called me to ask for advice before coming. I just got back from Europe and was sleeping off my jet lag, but his call woke me up!” “Seriously, he’s a grown man but doesn’t even know how to romance a girl. You need to teach him more, Hazel.” Asher laughed and tapped her head. “Alright, that’s enough. No sister talks about her brother like that in front of others.” “I’m not an outsider! I’m your favorite sister!” Within seconds, they were playing and teasing each other again. The diamonds of the “Heart of the Ocean” flashed in front of my eyes, making my chest ache. I wondered what was wrong with me. Why did I even open the door for them? Next to me, Chloe was being tickled by Asher, laughing hysterically. “Oh, you dare bully me? I’m going to show Hazel your embarrassing videos!” She broke free, ran to my side on the sofa, and opened her Snapchat memories. My face remained cold. I wanted to see just how much more they could destroy my sanity. She opened a video. The background was the Vance family library. Asher was working on some business documents. Chloe, wearing a silk slip nightgown, walked in holding a glass of milk. She set the milk on the desk but didn’t leave. Instead, she sat straight onto Asher’s lap. “Asher, you haven’t read me a bedtime story in so long.” Asher put down his pen and looked at her helplessly. “How old are you? You still want bedtime stories?” Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t care. I want one.” Suddenly, she leaned down and kissed him right on the lips. “That’s the deposit.” In the video, Asher froze. Then, his throat bobbed, and his eyes darkened. He didn’t push her away. Instead, his hand slid up her back. His voice was husky. “You little devil.” The video cut off there, shaking violently as if the person filming was trembling. In real life, Chloe laughed so hard she had to wipe her tears. “Hazel, let me tell you, Asher is so innocent. I was just teasing him, but his face went as red as a tomato.” “Of course, he didn’t disappoint me later. He carried me back to my room and read to me all night.” “By the way, Hazel… is your sex life not very active? Asher’s reaction was way too intense.” The video finished playing, leaving Asher’s lust-filled face frozen on the screen. Beside us, Asher flicked Chloe’s forehead hard. “What nonsense are you talking about? Hazel and I are perfectly fine. Mind your own business.” Chloe stuck her tongue out, and the two of them went back to flirting. Her phone was left forgotten on the sofa. I calmly picked it up. I forwarded that video, along with several other disgusting, intimate videos from her gallery, straight to my own Snapchat. Then, I deleted the chat history. Once they were done playing, Asher finally remembered me. His breathing was still a little shallow. He looked down at me, his voice carrying a tone of smug charity. “Alright, you saw it. Even in that situation, I only read her a story. You’re the one in my heart. That should be enough.” “So, stop throwing tantrums, okay? Let’s just get back to normal.” My chest felt tight. He actually thought he was the victim here? But I swallowed my anger and smiled, nodding gently. “Okay. I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again.” Oh, I was wrong indeed. My mistake was thinking I could just walk away quietly. For a toxic man and a green tea bitch like them, if I didn’t ruin their lives completely, I would be wasting the last three years of my life.

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Right before our engagement, my sight—which I lost in a car crash years ago—unexpectedly came back. I wanted to share the amazing news with Liam, but as I walked down the hallway, I froze. On the first-floor sofa, Liam and his young secretary, Amber, were having wild, breathless sex. The entire living room was filled with his heavy panting. He was cupping Amber’s mouth, keeping her from crying out. I had heard these sounds a few times before. Whenever I asked, Liam would always tell me he was just working out in the living room. Amber spotted me. There was no panic in her eyes—only pure provocation. She pulled Liam’s hand away and squealed, “Babe, let’s change positions. I’m tired.” Liam’s familiar, pampering voice reached my ears. “Alright, but keep it down. Otherwise, that little blind girl will start asking questions again.” “I don’t get what my mom is thinking. She raised a blind girl like a princess for ten years, and now she wants me to marry her.” His tone turned incredibly disgusted when he mentioned me. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I quietly retreated to my room, completely numb. 0

I sat in my room for a long time, until I heard the front door close. A moment later, Liam walked in. He leaned in close from behind. The smell of his sweat mixed with her perfume made me feel utterly sick. “What’s wrong, Chloe? Are you upset?” I did my best to suppress my disgust, pretending to know nothing. “Did we have a guest? I thought I heard Amber’s voice.” Liam paused for a second, acting as if nothing happened. “Yeah, she brought over an important contract that needed my signature. She already left.” “Anyway, Chloe, working out is so exhausting. I’m going to take a shower first.” While he was showering, his phone on the nightstand kept lighting up. I picked it up, typed in my birthday, and successfully unlocked it. His mother had forced him to set my birthday as his passcode, lecturing him constantly about how he had to love and protect me. Too bad Liam didn’t have a single ounce of love for me in his heart. I opened Snapchat. It was flooded with messages and videos from Amber, who had just left. “Liam, make sure to mute your phone before watching! I’ll be waiting for you at the Grand Plaza Hotel tonight.” The videos were incredibly explicit. What was even worse was that they had filmed themselves right in front of me just for the thrill of it. They took advantage of my blindness to stomp all over my dignity. Watching those two writhing vermin on screen, I swallowed my disgust, forwarded the videos to my own account, deleted the chat history, and put the phone back exactly as it was. When Liam came out of the bathroom, he didn’t check his phone. He went straight to the kitchen to make me breakfast. Over the years, he really did take good care of me. I used to hate breakfast because the maid’s cooking wasn’t to my liking, so he learned how to toast bread and make oatmeal himself, ensuring every morning meal was rich and nutritious. But looking at the breakfast he had lovingly prepared, my stomach churned with nausea. He blew on the oat milk to cool it down and held it to my lips. Seeing me hesitate, his bright face flashed with impatience. His lips moved, silently mouthing, *So damn demanding.* A second later, he forced a gentle smile and coaxed me. “Come on, drink up.” “I don’t want it,” I said quietly, turning my head away and fumbling on the table as if looking for a plate. He glared at me, shoved the sandwich into my hands, and pulled out his phone. Seeing Amber’s message, his annoyed expression instantly lit up. I took a bite of my sandwich, watching him rapidly type out his reply. “Baby, how about tomorrow? I have to take the little blind girl for her checkup in a bit, and we have a family dinner at my parents’ estate tonight.” “I’m sorry to make you wait, baby. I’ll come stay with you the second I’m free, okay?” Suddenly, his phone rang. He shot me a guilty look. “Eat your sandwich, Chloe. I need to take this business call.” He jogged over to the far end of the balcony. I held my breath and listened closely. Over the years, despite being blind, my memory and hearing had become exceptionally sharp. It didn’t take long before I heard his impatient voice. “If I don’t go back with her, my mom will skin me alive. Do you really want to see me get grounded?” “I must have owed her in a past life. Now I’m slaving away like her servant.” “She has to get those useless eyes checked regularly. No matter how many specialists she sees, she’s still just a little blind girl.” Those words struck my heart like a dagger. I remembered high school. A cruel boy had deliberately tripped me on my way out of the restroom, dismissively saying “my bad” afterward. But when I stepped outside, the hallway was in chaos. I heard Liam’s roaring voice as he fought the boy. He fought viciously, his voice trembling at the end as he screamed, “You piece of trash! How dare you bully a girl who can’t see! I’ll kill you!” He was suspended that day, and his father made him kneel for two hours as punishment. Liam used to be so good to me. He truly lived up to his mother’s expectations, protecting and shielding me from the world. For someone with a disability like mine, surviving in society is incredibly hard. I was an outsider, and the world is cold to outsiders. But Liam hadn’t cared. He pitied me for not being able to see the light, vowing that he would be my eyes forever. Now, my sight was back. I thought I was finally going to see the beautiful light of this world, but instead, I was forced to look at his pitch-black heart. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Even now, I couldn’t believe the boy I loved so deeply didn’t love me back. I returned to my room, threw the rest of the sandwich into the trash, and forced myself to calm down. After his call, Liam walked into the room, hesitating. After a few seconds, he spoke up. “Hey, Chloe… something urgent came up at work. I don’t think I can take you to the clinic today. Can we reschedule for another day?” As soon as he finished, his phone buzzed again. Another demanding message from Amber. Amber was his newly hired secretary. She was beautiful, sweet-talking, and had Liam wrapped around her finger. I offered a bleak smile. “It’s fine. Work comes first. As for the checkup, it doesn’t really matter anyway.” His eyes lit up instantly, filled with excitement. “Chloe, you’re the best. I’ll come home right after I’m done.” He turned to leave, but then remembered something, a hint of shame in his voice. “Uh, about the family dinner tonight… could you…” “It’s fine. I’ll call Aunt Catherine and tell her I’m not feeling well. I’ll skip the dinner.” *You must be thrilled, Liam. With me as your shield, you can run off to your precious Amber.* Perhaps sensing something off in my expression, his brow furrowed. But before he could ask, another ping from Amber summoned him away. The front door slammed shut. I walked barefoot to the floor-to-ceiling window, watching his car speed away. I slid down the glass, burying my head in my knees, my shoulders shaking violently. I didn’t understand how someone’s heart could change so fast. Just because I was blind, did I deserve to be treated like garbage? 0

I went to a different hospital alone to get my eyes checked. When the specialist confirmed my vision was completely restored, a massive weight lifted off my chest. At least I would never have to live in darkness again. Just as I stepped out of the clinic, I ran straight into Aunt Catherine. My heart skipped a beat. Thank God I had instinctively brought my white cane, or my recovery would have been exposed. Aunt Catherine rushed over to support me, looking puzzled. “Chloe? Why are you alone? Where on earth is Liam?” I couldn’t tell her that Liam was currently screwing Amber. I lied, “He had some urgent business to handle at the office.” “That idiot! How could he let you come to the clinic alone? He seriously needs a beating.” With that, she pulled out her phone to call him. I tried to stop her, but it was too late. Liam answered, but he sounded incredibly busy, panting heavily as he barked into the phone. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m busy? Why the hell do you keep calling?!” Through the speaker, I could faintly hear a woman’s soft whimpering. Aunt Catherine’s eyes widened. She shot me a glance, then walked a few steps away, covering the mouthpiece. “Liam Vance, say that again. Where are you? What are you doing?” The other end went dead silent. A few seconds later, Liam’s guilty voice drifted over. “Uh… Mom, sorry. I was swamped with work and didn’t see it was you.” “I don’t care how busy you are, you don’t leave Chloe alone at the hospital. I’m giving you exactly ten minutes to get to the Medical Center, or don’t bother calling me mom again.” No matter how resentful Liam was, he didn’t dare defy his mother. Aunt Catherine took me to a nearby coffee shop to wait. Before long, a disheveled Liam rushed in, his eyes burning with silent fury when they landed on me. Aunt Catherine scolded him severely for half an hour. He remained silent, but I knew he was absolutely seething inside. Once Aunt Catherine left to handle some errands, instructing him to drive me home safely, his facade crumbled. 0

The rage in Liam’s eyes boiled over. He grabbed my arm, dragging me out of the cafe and shoving me brutally into the passenger seat, not caring whether I could see or not. He buckled my seatbelt and slammed his foot on the gas. “Chloe Sterling, do I have to spend every single second of my life catering to you for you to be happy?!” Every word was laced with pure hatred and disgust. The car window was rolled down, and the freezing wind howled inside, instantly swallowing any words I wanted to say. “Liam… slow down… please… I’m scared…” Flashbacks of the car crash flooded my mind. My parents had been arguing in the front seat. In a fit of rage, my dad accelerated to the limit, crashing into an overturned semi-truck. My mother had shielded me with her body, dying alongside my father in that horrific wreck. “Liam… I’m begging you…” The wind roared past my ears. Liam’s profile remained cold and unyielding, completely indifferent to my terrified pleas. I gripped the seatbelt so hard my knuckles turned white. Just when I felt like I was going to pass out, he finally slammed on the brakes. Fumbling for the handle, I pushed the door open, but my foot slipped, and I fell heavily onto the asphalt. My stomach violently turned, and I dry-heaved, spitting up nothing but bitter bile. “Chloe… are you okay?” Liam’s voice sounded slightly panicked. I clutched my chest, ignoring him. “I was just angry. We had a deal, and then you went and ratted me out to my mom. How did you expect me to react?” I dragged my trembling body off the ground. He reached out to help me, but I shoved him away with all my might. Liam stared at his rejected hand, his brow furrowing deeper. “Chloe, can you stop acting like this? You’re the one who messed up, so why do I always have to be the one to apologize? Just because you’re bl—” He cut himself off, but my body went rigid. Tears spilled over my cheeks. He kicked the car door in frustration, scratching his head as he looked at me with a mix of guilt and annoyance. “Look… I didn’t mean it like that.” I shook my head, pretending not to care as I wiped my face. “No, you’re right. I ratted you out. I’m a cripple. You’re supposed to take care of me forever.” My words set him off again. He let out a cold laugh. “Chloe, I don’t owe you a damn thing.” “There are plenty of cabs here. Get home yourself.” He climbed back into the car and sped off without looking back. I stared at the empty road, feeling entirely dazed. Was this really the same Liam who had promised to protect me forever? He used to say he would never let anyone hurt me. But now, the one hurting me was him. With tears pouring down my face, I pulled out my phone and called my closest friend. “Ethan, is that voice-over position still open?” 0

Ethan Cross was my senior in college. He had recently finished producing an indie animated film and had invited me to voice one of the characters. I had turned him down because of my upcoming engagement to Liam. But now, I finally understood. I couldn’t be a vine clinging to someone else anymore. I had to grow into a tree of my own, strong enough to weather any storm. Ethan’s studio was in Seattle. Without hesitation, I booked the earliest flight for the next afternoon. I hailed a cab, planning to go home and pack my things. While waiting at a red light, a familiar figure caught my eye. In the restaurant across the street, Amber was sitting opposite a burly, intimidating-looking man. Instinctively, I pulled out my phone and started recording. Amber took a thick envelope from her purse and handed it to the man, her expression sour. Their English conversation drifted clearly through the open cab window. “This is all I have right now. Give me more time, I’ll pay it off.” The man took the envelope, looking at Amber mockingly. “Instead of working so hard to sleep with that rich pretty boy, why don’t you just submit to Mr. Miller? Not only would your debt be wiped, but you’d also get a legitimate status.” “That kid is about to get engaged anyway. You think he’s going to keep throwing money at you forever?” Amber grit her teeth, remaining silent. When the man went to speak again, she cut him off. “Don’t worry about that. I don’t just want his money.” She smirked. “I want his status and his name, too.” “Seems like you’ve got it all figured out, Miss Brooks…” The light turned green, and their voices faded as the cab pulled away. I quietly put my phone away. I could smell a conspiracy brewing around Liam. I asked Ethan for the contact info of a private investigator and hired them to dig into Amber. Even though I had decided not to marry Liam, I couldn’t stand by and watch Uncle Richard and Aunt Catherine get scammed. They were the ones who pulled me from the wreckage of that car crash and raised me as their own daughter. That was a debt of gratitude I could never fully repay. 0

Back at the penthouse, a framed photo sat on the coffee table—a family portrait of me, Liam, Aunt Catherine, and Uncle Richard taken at our college graduation. Amber had knocked it over and shattered the glass a few days ago, and I hadn’t had time to fix it. I slipped the photo out of the broken frame, sighed, and tore off the section with my face on it. “I’m sorry, Aunt Catherine. I guess I can’t be your daughter-in-law in this lifetime.” I went to my room and started packing for Seattle. I had a lot of belongings, but I only packed a few changes of clothes. Once I finished, the penthouse felt suffocatingly quiet. On the wall hung a photo of Liam and me when we were eighteen. The innocent boy in the photo was looking at me with eyes full of deep, genuine affection. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Liam. My heart fluttered for a split second, thinking maybe he had found his conscience and was calling to check if I made it home safely. I answered, only to be met with the heavy, breathless gasping of a man and a woman. “Liam… do you love me, or that little blind girl?” “You, baby. Always you.” Liam’s voice was thick with lust. After they finished, he spoke in a low, lazy tone. “Babe, don’t bring her up at times like this. I don’t want her ruining our mood.” My heart shattered into dust. Forcing down my rage, I raised my voice. “Liam? Is that you?” The other end went dead silent. A second later, the call was abruptly cut off. The floor-to-ceiling window reflected my pathetic, desolate state. How utterly wretched. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning, I called Aunt Catherine to tell her I was leaving for Seattle. She sounded shocked and confused, but then she remembered the suspicious noises she had heard during her call with Liam the day before. Over the phone, she let out a heavy sigh, sounding as if she was on the verge of tears. I declined her offer to send me off, grabbed my suitcase, and took a cab to the airport. Before boarding, I sent Liam one last Snapchat. [No one will ever ruin your mood again.] I forwarded all the Snapchat videos and chat logs I had saved to his account, blocked and deleted him, and switched off my phone.

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