Category: English

For all three years my son Liam has been in kindergarten, I haven’t made it to a single school event. It wasn’t that I didn’t try. Every time I mentioned it, he’d burst into tears and cling to my husband’s leg. “I don’t want Mommy to come!” This time, when his essay won a prize and there was an awards ceremony, my husband shut me down as expected. “Liam wrote about ‘My Mom.’ He’d be embarrassed if you were there. I’ll handle it.” I stayed silent and ironed my son’s little suit. But on the day of the ceremony, I slipped quietly into the back of the school auditorium. The spotlight found my son as he read his essay in a clear, proud voice. “My mom loves wearing red dresses. When she kisses me goodnight, she always smells like sweet perfume.” My blood ran cold. I’ve never owned a red dress in my life. And I never wear perfume. So who, exactly, was the “mom” in my son’s essay? The air conditioning in the auditorium was on full blast, but my back was already soaked with sweat. On stage, Liam continued. “It smells like roses!” “Mom loves roses, so Dad buys them for her all the time. She always picks the prettiest one for me and says she loves me even more than her flowers.” I gripped the armrest so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mind was a mess. I don’t have red dresses. I don’t wear perfume. And there’s no way I smell like roses. I’m allergic to them. They make me sneeze and my eyes itch. Both Derek and Liam know this, so roses have never appeared in our home. The mom Liam was talking about… wasn’t me. This horrifying realization was still sinking in when Liam’s winning essay was projected onto the big screen. Beside his childish handwriting was a drawing he’d made The moment I saw it, I couldn’t breathe. It showed a family of three eating ice cream in front of a Ferris wheel-a man in black, a woman in a red dress, and a beaming Liam in the middle. “Mom took me to the Disney castle and bought me a Mickey ice cream bar.” “Mom said she’ll buy me anything I want.” Liam had always dreamed of going to Disney. I’d brought it up with Derek countless times. But each time, he would check his schedule and give a weary sigh. “The company is in a critical growth phase right now. I just can’t get away. Soon, I promise. I’ll take a long vacation, and we’ll spend a whole week at Disney together.” I agreed. But then he turned to Liam. “Your mom won’t let you go to Disney.” Liam cried endlessly, taking all his frustration out on me. I wanted to explain, but Derek stopped me. “He’s still young. He won’t understand it. Just go along with it for now. When he’s older, I’ll explain it to him myself.” I had no choice but to agree. Eventually, Liam stopped bringing up Disney. I thought he’d lost interest, but I never imagined he’d already been there. Derek’s claim that he “didn’t have time” apparently meant he didn’t have time to go with me. The next page appeared, and Liam’s voice rang out again. “Dad and Mom took me to catch crabs. Mom bought me lots of shell toys…” “My mom is the most beautiful, the best mom in the whole world.” “I love my mom.” “Mom, when Liam grows up, Dad and I will protect you together!” The essay ended. Thunderous applause filled the auditorium. Only my hands and feet were ice cold. Liam loves sweets, so I strictly control how often he eats candy, especially ice cream. But he still developed several cavities. I took him to the dentist. He cried his heart out and called me a bad mom. He’s naturally allergic to seawater-it makes him break out in red rashes all over his body. So I never take him to the beach and even gave up my favorite beach camping trips. But he still gets allergic reactions frequently. I thought I was a complete failure as a mother, that somehow I had let him eat something else he was allergic to. I rushed him to the hospital for allergy testing. Again, he was miserable and called me a bad mom. I told Derek how much it hurt. He just frowned and brushed it off. “You’re the adult. He’s just a child. What’s the point in arguing with him? When he’s older, he’ll understand you meant well.” Liam turned six this year. For six years, I’ve been the “bad mom.” For six years, I’ve heard “your mom won’t let you.” And through it all, I kept believing what Derek said. I held onto the hope that someday, Liam would understand. But I was wrong. Derek said “your mom won’t let you,” but out there, that other mom indulged Liam in everything, gave him whatever he wanted. I was the bad mom because he had a good mom on the side. The applause slowly died down. Liam waved happily, and I followed his gaze to the front row. Derek sat right in the middle, wearing the suit I’d prepared for him. And the woman sitting beside him, also clapping, was wearing a red dress. The two of them went on stage together, each taking one of Liam’s hands. The woman’s eyes glistened with tears, and Derek tenderly wiped them away. Everyone stood up, marveling at this happy family of three. Only I remained seated, my nails digging into my fingertips until they bled. I had come here expecting happiness. But now I suddenly realized that happiness was never mine to begin with.

I didn’t stay until the end. I fled home in a panic. The house that once felt warm now seemed like a terrifying abyss. I stood in the entryway, leaning against the console table, feeling for the first time how utterly foreign this place was. But I couldn’t run. If I ran, I would lose completely. While they were still at the auditorium, I searched everywhere. Finally, at the bottom of Derek’s storage box filled with company documents, I found a hard paper bag. Inside was a brand-new red silk dress. The tag was still attached. Twelve thousand eight hundred dollars. Just last month, when my father got sick, I asked Derek for ten thousand dollars for medical expenses. But he showed me his bank balance-only two thousand dollars. “All the money’s been invested in the company’s new project. There’s really nothing left. If your father needs it urgently, I can try to borrow from friends.” I didn’t want him to owe favors, so I maxed out my own credit card and then scrambled to find part-time work to pay it back. And now, this twelve-thousand-eight-hundred-dollar red dress felt like a slap across my face. “My mom loves to wear red dresses.” Liam’s voice echoed in my mind. I swallowed my unease and opened the card hidden beneath the dress. It said: “My Beloved Rachel: Red is the color of home. The mother in Liam’s essay should have been you. Thank you for all you have done for our family. I wrap you in this crimson light, with a wish to walk beside you all my life. Derek.” I clenched the card, recalling that woman’s face. Rachel Sinclair, Derek’s high school classmate. She studied fashion design in college and opened her own studio right after graduation. Before I had Liam, I would occasionally check Derek’s company finances. Back then, half the investment funds went to Rachel Sinclair’s studio. I thought it was odd, but Derek said she was talented and it was a sure bet. Later, he convinced me to be a stay-at-home mom, and I stopped asking about company finances. Looking back now, perhaps even then, he was already with Rachel. In his heart, Rachel was his beloved, the woman meant to be with him for life. She had done “everything for their family.” So what about me? What was I? I put the dress back and opened Derek’s computer to check his transaction records. These past years, dealing with daily household chores, I always had endless housework. He was confident I had no time to look at his computer, so he never set a password. Over the past three months, there were several large purchases. Maldives hotel, three-person suite: thirty-eight thousand dollars. Jewelry counter: eighty thousand dollars. Disney resort: ten thousand dollars. Transaction after transaction-amounts I’d never seen before. Although Derek owned a company, all these years it was always “the company’s growth phase.” His money always had to go into projects, leaving me with only a few thousand dollars for living expenses. I thought if I just held on a bit longer, once the projects paid off, life would get better. But in reality, he’d been living well all along-the person enjoying the good life with him just wasn’t me. Around nine in the evening, Derek finally brought Liam home, his tone tinged with helplessness. “After the ceremony ended, the teacher organized a dinner for all of us. We just finished eating.” “Honey, have you eaten?” I looked at him without responding. At the auditorium, other parents had mentioned there was no dinner planned for tonight-everyone was supposed to celebrate with their own children. So where did you go, and who did you eat with? I clutched the sofa cushion. Beside me, Liam was yawning. “I’m so sleepy. I want to go to bed.” “Liam, want some ice cream?” His eyes immediately lit up. “Can I? Yes!” “Liam!” Derek suddenly snapped at him. “Only one a day!” As soon as he said it, he realized his mistake and quickly changed course. “The teacher gave him one as a reward tonight. You know the rule. He can’t have more.” Liam nodded along. “Right.” Father and son went to wash up. My temples were pounding. My son was only six years old, but he’d already learned to conspire with his father to deceive me-for another woman. What about the career I gave up for laundry and packed lunches? The friendships that quietly faded away? Every hobby that slowly gathered dust? Had every sacrifice I’d made over the years truly meant nothing at all?

The next day, I added the teacher on Snapchat, pretending to be Liam’s aunt. I’d missed all the parent-child activities over the past three years, but in the teacher’s posts, there was always Derek and that woman by Liam’s side. She was always in red, flawlessly put together, her hand tucked in the crook of Derek’s arm. The two of them beaming, cheering Liam on. In one video, Derek leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. Like punishing myself on purpose, I replayed that two-second clip again and again, until the ache in my chest finally faded into a hollow nothingness. That evening, I warmed some milk and brought it to the study. “I haven’t seen Liam’s essay yet. Did you take a photo?” Derek’s fingers froze for a moment before he spoke. “The essays were all kept at the kindergarten. It’s just a kid’s rambling anyway-nothing worth reading.” Silence filled the room. I glanced at the document storage box. The paper bag underneath was gone. He’d given it to her. I dug my nails hard into my thigh and said. “Tomorrow’s Liam’s birthday, and it’s the weekend. How about we take him to Disney?” Derek finally looked up, his face apologetic. “Honey, I forgot to tell you-I have a business trip tomorrow. Liam’s also going to a friend’s house. I’ll drop him off in the morning and then head straight to catch my flight.” “You’ve worked so hard all these years. Just rest at home tomorrow.” My thigh felt like I’d broken the skin. My once-calm heart was pierced again with fine needles-dense, searing pain everywhere. I left the study and went to find Liam. “Liam, it’s your birthday tomorrow. What present do you want?” His little head poked out from under the covers. “Didn’t Dad say all the presents are at the new house?” My heart lurched. “What new house?” He quickly ducked back under the covers. “Nothing, nothing! I didn’t say anything!” My legs grew stiffer. I turned and rushed out of the room. I asked the teacher to add me to the parent group. I immediately spotted the contact labeled “Liam’s Mom.” Rachel posted on Ins almost every other day. “My husband bought me another dress. My closet’s overflowing!” “Congratulations to Liam for winning first prize in the essay contest! Big dinner tonight to celebrate!” One week earlier. “Renovation’s done! Housewarming next week, and it’s also Liam’s birthday party. Everyone’s welcome to come celebrate!” In the photo, Derek had his arm around her in an unfamiliar living room, both their faces radiating happiness. I looked at it over and over in disbelief. Derek had bought her a house. My husband called her his beloved. My son said she was the best mom. My family had a new home-with another woman. Rage surged through me. I stormed toward the study, ready to confront him. But I heard Derek on the phone, his voice low and careful. “Don’t overthink it. Of course I love you. Liam adores you. I’m just waiting for the right moment to tell he…” “Rachel, please don’t cry. You have the fashion career you’ve always wanted. I won’t let you get trapped by chores and lose yourself…” I pressed my back against the wall. Hearing every devastating word. Recording every single one. I knew then that our eight-year marriage was over. Our bond as husband and wife was finished. Even the bond between mother and son had reached its end.

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Ten years after my falling out with my mother, she fell ill. My selfish sister Meredith wasted no time dumping her at the hospital. For the last three years of my mother’s life, I kept her alive with my life savings of a million dollars. But then I accidentally found her will. A ten million dollar check for Meredith. A handwritten blessing card from Mom for me. She avoided my eyes. “The inheritance was always meant for Meredith. You chose to come home and care for me.” “You ran away all those years ago because Mom only loved Meredith and ignored you, didn’t you?” “Now I’ve written you a card. Why are you still unhappy?” I laughed. I tore the card to shreds and ground them under my heel. Then I turned and walked out of the hospital room. “Pull the respirator. I’m done paying for her treatment.” “Ma’am, are you sure about removing all support? This will cause the patient significant distress!” “Ma’am, your mother just completed chemotherapy. Her body cannot withstand this shock!” “That’s right. Remove everything. Process her discharge right now.” I walked out, leaving no room for argument. Mom looked at me in disbelief. Meredith shot up from her seat. She was holding the will she’d just signed, filled with righteous indignation. “Miranda, have you lost your mind?! Look at Mom! Do you really want to pull all her support and send her home to die?” “How can you be so heartless?! I won’t allow this!” Mom’s eyes reddened as she looked at Meredith, gripping her hand tightly. I turned around. Looking at Meredith, who had only shown up twice since Mom got sick, I gave a cold laugh. “Do I need your agreement?” “From the first day Mom got sick, I paid the medical bills. I bought the supplements.” “Even the caregiver’s salary of twenty-eight thousand a month came from me. Have you paid a single cent from start to finish?” “Now I don’t want to pay anymore. All the medical services I paid for-I’m withdrawing them. Is there a problem?” “I…!” Meredith choked. Then her eyes reddened. “No! I can’t bear to see her suffer! You can’t remove them!” “Fine, I won’t remove them.” I made a “please” gesture. “This room plus all the medical equipment costs thirty thousand a month. If you pay that, Mom can keep staying here. Go ahead and pay.” “I…” Meredith’s face flushed red. She gripped that will tightly. Mom started coughing. The look she gave me was exactly like when I was a child, overflowing with disapproval. “Meredith just graduated. How can you ask her for money? You’ve been working for years. You have the money but you refuse to use it. What kind of person bullies their own sister?!” “Fine. If you won’t pay for my treatment, then don’t. I raised an ungrateful wretch who thinks I’m a burden. I’ll just leave on my own. Is that what you want?!” With that, she got out of bed herself. Because of her frail body, she collapsed at the doorway after just two steps. Everyone passing by in the corridor saw it all. Meredith rushed forward and knelt beside Mom, tears streaming down. “Miranda, Dad died when we were three. All these years Mom has been both father and mother to us. She literally worked herself to this state for us, and you’re driving Mom away over some medical bills. “You can’t be this heartless!” Everyone immediately gathered around. Mom started crying right away. “It’s all my fault. Miranda, you don’t need to drive me away. I’ll go home and wait to die on my own.” “Oh grandma, please get up!” A young woman rushed forward to help Mom up. Looking at her emaciated body, the girl’s eyes instantly reddened. “You’re going too far! If you treat the elderly like this now, don’t expect anyone to care for you when you’re bedridden later!” “Exactly, exactly! You’ve gone too far!” “Meredith is so good! Her heart and eyes are full of her mother.” “Look how thin your mother has become. Who do you think she did this for!” I let out a bitter, angry laugh. “That’s right. I’m throwing my own mother out. I’m heartless. But you tell me, Mom. Who was all that suffering for? All those years of struggle, was any of it ever for me? Not even one day?”

Mom wiped the corners of her eyes. “You… how can you say that? Who else would Mom work hard for if not you?” “Liar.” I smiled bitterly. “When I was eighteen, Meredith said I hit her. You slapped me ten times without asking why. I threatened to run away from home. What did you say? “You said if I had the guts, I could die out there. You said you only needed Meredith for the rest of your life!” Mom’s face went pale. Meredith panicked. “Miranda…” “What right do you have to speak?” I cut her off. “Meredith, I don’t want to dwell on how many times you’ve framed me. “But right now, you have the least right to call me unfilial! “When Mom got sick, the only thing you did was make one phone call to me. “And then? In these three years, besides coming now to see the will, who’s been taking care of Mom! Did you pay anything? Did you help at all? Did you spend all your savings on Mom?” Meredith avoided my gaze. I laughed coldly. “Three years without visiting, but when it comes to giving you the entire inheritance, suddenly you love Mom so much?” “Shut up!” Mom scolded me. “Meredith hasn’t come to see me because she’s preparing for graduate school entrance exams! Her concern for me hasn’t diminished one bit. She messages me every day! “But you-I knew all along you only came back for my inheritance. Otherwise, after being away from home all those years, how could you suddenly come back! You think I can’t see through you!” Everyone gave me disapproving looks. “Don’t be so heartless. You can’t measure family affection with a price tag.” “That’s right. Besides, a mother knows her daughter best. She left the entire inheritance to Meredith, which shows she knows who you really are. You must have misunderstood them.” Meredith wiped the corners of her reddened eyes. I looked coldly at Mom. “She couldn’t come take care of you because of grad school exams. What about me quitting my job for you?” Everyone froze. The next second, I snatched the will from Meredith’s hands, along with my three years of hospital expense records, and threw the long list of bills into her lap. “I spent the entire million I saved over ten years working on you. You normally wouldn’t even buy yourself a towel. I thought you were so hard up, so I scraped together every penny for your medical bills. “Ha! Turns out you have ten million. You’re not short on money at all-you just wanted to save every cent for Meredith!” “What?!” Even the girl supporting Mom’s eyes widened. I smiled bitterly. “Then what about me? What about me, who spent a million on you all these years? Should I just die? Am I supposed to be Meredith’s stepping stone!” The girl picked up one of the bills, looking at Mom in disbelief. “You have ten million dollars sitting right here, and you’re bleeding your eldest daughter dry instead of spending a single cent of it?” “I’m not…” Mom tried to explain. A family member from the next room couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough! For three years, Miranda has been busy taking care of the old lady, sleeping only three hours a day, working harder than the caregiver. You can be biased, but there has to be a limit!” Everyone’s gaze toward the two of them instantly changed. “Grandma, you’re too biased!” “Anyway, you have ten million. Either pay for your own treatment, or don’t blame your eldest daughter for being heartless!” “Exactly! If not, let your younger daughter pay!” Mom’s eyes reddened. “Meredith is still a child. How can I ask her to pay?” I laughed coldly. I pushed past Meredith and strode away, without looking back.

After leaving the hospital, I planned to return to my rental apartment. The Audi I’d bought with my savings five years ago had been sold these past years to pay for Mom’s treatment. I got on the subway in a daze. My phone buzzed with a message from Mom. “You’re just leaving like this? Leaving your mother alone in the hospital? The hospital is already trying to discharge me.” I replied, exhausted. “Don’t you have money? Just pay them.” “How can I do that! Meredith will need money for so many things in the future! That money is all reserved for her!” “Then go home and wait to die.” It was the first time I realized I could say something so cruel. After I sent it, I couldn’t help but break down sobbing. Everyone stared at me curiously. But I couldn’t care about their looks. Over these years, I’d lost my job, my savings, my car. All because of that tiny thread of mother-daughter affection, fantasizing that I could improve our relationship before Mom died. So she would understand I wasn’t the bad sister who only bullied people, like Meredith claimed. So she would know I was also her daughter. But in the end, she didn’t seem to care about any of that at all. She knew I wouldn’t abandon her. She had no fear. When I got off the subway, my eyes were already red and swollen. As soon as I opened the door, I found the place packed with people. “You guys…” I looked in disbelief at the apartment full of relatives. Right in the center, surrounded by everyone, was my crying mother. She gripped her phone. “I never imagined that after raising her all these years, she’d tell me to go die! “When she ran away from home back then, I worried about her every single day. “When she came back to take care of me, I thought she’d remembered our mother-daughter bond. I never expected that when she heard I was leaving more inheritance to Meredith, she’d turn around and tell me to die. “How much longer do I have to live? She can’t even pretend for that long!” I pulled out my phone. Only then did I discover the family group chat I’d set to “do not disturb” had gone 99+. Scrolling up, the first message was a screenshot Mom had sent of our conversation. The four words “go home and die” were particularly glaring. “Miranda, your father died early. Without your mother, would you have grown up at all!” “Apologize to your mother right now! If we hadn’t rushed over, your mother would have jumped off the building!” “Miranda, you left home for ten years. Meredith spent more time with your mother than you did. You didn’t fulfill your duty as a daughter, but you want more money. People can’t be this heartless!” Mom sobbed. “It’s fine, it’s fine. After all these years, I’ve come to terms with it. “Whether she wants to acknowledge me as her mother is her business. I’ve done my duty to her. If my daughter doesn’t want to support me, I don’t want to be a burden anyway!” With that, she shakily stood and lunged toward the window. Everyone stopped her. “Miranda! Get on your knees! This family has no room for an ungrateful wretch like you!” “If you don’t kneel and apologize, consider yourself disowned! Your father was a good man, so don’t you dare tarnish his name!” “After you apologize, you will take your mother back to the hospital and care for her properly. The entire family will be watching!” Crash! A glass shattered on the floor. I was furious. “Stop making a scene!” Everyone looked at me in surprise. I was breathing heavily. I pointed at my uncle Lucas. “You loaned her a hundred thousand for surgery, right?” He froze. I pointed at my another uncle Jimmy. “You loaned two hundred thousand.” Then I pointed at my aunt. “You loaned her a hundred and fifty thousand you were planning to use to build your son’s house, didn’t you!” Mom’s face went pale. “Miranda! Shut up!” “Do you all know she actually has ten million on hand, but won’t spend it-she’s planning to leave every cent to Meredith!” “What?!” Everyone looked at Mom in shock.

Mom frantically waved her hands. I laughed coldly. “The reason she didn’t say anything is because she’s waiting for this debt to fall on me, isn’t it? “But I’ve long since been drained dry by her. You probably won’t get this money back for the next ten years!” All the relatives’ faces went pale. I continued. “You all felt sorry for her. Knowing she ‘had no money,’ you were still willing to loan her money to save her life. But she never considered you family. “Rebecca! Is what she’s saying true or not!” Lucas stood up. “Right! When Miranda’s dad died on duty all those years ago, the government gave compensation. We never asked how much it was all these years!” “This, this…” Mom gripped the corner of her clothes, unable to say a word. “Since you treat us this way, Miranda did nothing wrong!” “Someone like you should go home and wait to die!” Everyone threw her aside and walked out one by one. “I’m telling you, if you can’t pay back this money, we’ll only ask Meredith for it, not Miranda. Figure it out yourself!” “You people!” Mom looked helplessly as everyone left. Finally, she turned her pleading gaze toward me. I coldly turned away. Before long, I’d packed up my luggage. “I’m going back to Los Angeles for work. Take care of yourself.” “What about your mother if you leave?” “Figure it out yourself.” With that, I closed the door. Over these years, though I’d lost my car and money, At least my fiancé of five years was still there. During these three years when my savings ran out, he’d transferred me five hundred thousand to help out. This time when I returned, he proposed to me. Seeing my haggard appearance, Ethan pulled me into a tight embrace. “It’s okay. From now on, I’m your family. I’ll fulfill my responsibilities as a husband.” At the peak of gold prices, he forcibly expanded the traditional five gold gifts to eleven pieces of gold. As one gesture of his sincerity in proposing. His mother also brought me home and prepared a huge table of delicious food. Things my own mother had never done for me. Moved to tears, I posted my first social media update in three years: “So glad I met you.” After dinner, I discovered my mother had already called countless times. When I answered, she launched into a scolding tirade. “You’re out there wearing gold and silver-did you consider my situation at all! “Your mother is suffering in the hospital while you’re having fun outside. What kind of person are you! Come back now! Meredith is getting married, and you need to come back and help! Stop just thinking about yourself!” I laughed coldly. Hung up. Blocked her. I no longer planned to have anything to do with this family. Since they didn’t consider me one of them, I might as well become a complete outsider. But that day while picking out a wedding dress, Ethan suddenly burst into the bridal shop. He yanked the dress I’d chosen from my hands. “You already have a fiancé at home-why did you hide it from me!” I froze. “What are you talking about?” He handed me his phone. On it was a wedding invitation sent by a familiar number. The bride… Miranda? I was stunned. “Ethan! I’m not engaged! This groom is just my middle school classmate. I have no idea how my name ended up on an invitation with him!” “Stop pretending!” His eyes were red. “Your mother called me.” “What…” I stood frozen in place. “I didn’t believe it at first, but the wedding venue, the officiant, the guest list, even the groom! I saw them all! “Meredith said you two started dating in middle school, and if it weren’t for your mother being sick and needing money, you never would have deceived me for financial support!” “Ethan…” I tried to explain, but he flung my hand away. “What am I to you? “The wedding’s off. We’re breaking up.” He left without looking back. I stood alone on the empty street, watching his taillights vanish into the distance. I gritted my teeth and dialed that familiar number. “Mom, you told him I was engaged?” “That’s right. Since you won’t spend money on your own family, don’t think you get to keep it all for yourself. We just changed the name on Meredith’s old invitation. She isn’t selfish like you.” The call ended. A cold laugh escaped me. I immediately bought a ticket home. So Meredith wants to get married? Fine. If I can’t have my happiness, then neither will she.

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My sister and I are both weightlifting athletes. After our family went bankrupt, my mother made us draw straws. Whoever drew the marked one would marry her friend’s intellectually disabled son. I was the one who drew it. From that day on, I gave up my own future. I became a full-time wife and caretaker, looking after both families while enduring constant criticism and abuse. Meanwhile, my sister climbed all the way to the national team and stood on the podium, bathed in glory. When I finally escaped and tried to start a new life, my sister found me. She cut my Achilles tendons with a knife. “Maya, if you leave, who will take care of the family?” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the drawing. My sister Melody and I had been training as athletes since we were girls. After Mom gave birth to two daughters in a row, Dad cursed his “bad luck” and left for good. I’d always worked odd jobs to help make ends meet, but then Mom got laid off. “You two are grown up now. It’s time to take responsibility and share the family burden.” Mom’s version of “taking responsibility” was simple: only one daughter could continue her athletic career and education. The other would marry her friend’s intellectually disabled son, securing a large payment for our struggling family. Before I could even speak, Melody clutched my arm and began to plead. “Come on, Maya, you always give in to me. Let me have this one too!” Looking at the seemingly innocent Melody, my body instinctively pulled away before my brain could even react. In my previous life, I was forced to give up my education and spent every day caring for my mentally disabled husband and demanding mother-in-law. Even with my strong physique, I was tortured into exhaustion and developed gray hair prematurely. When I was heavily pregnant and clearing the dinner table, I saw Melody on TV-selected all the way to the national team, standing gloriously on the podium. Later, when I finally had some savings and wanted to restart my training, Melody cut my Achilles tendons with a knife. “Maya, if you leave, who’s going to take care of the family?” Living this life over again, I would never hand over my future again! Seeing Mom and Melody both staring at me, I understood completely. They both wanted me to take on this “responsibility.” “Sure! Good things should always go to Melody, so-” Before Melody could get too excited, I continued. “So, I’ll let Melody have Mrs. Lewis’s son!” Melody’s face looked like she’d swallowed a cockroach. Her mouth twitched. “That’s not what I meant…” I pretended to suddenly understand. “Oh! So you think Mrs. Lewis’s son is mentally disabled and not good enough for you?” “What!? How can you say that about someone…” “Enough!” Mom cut off our conversation. She stared at me with a sinister look. She’d originally wanted me to volunteer to give in to Melody, so she wouldn’t be blamed for it. She hadn’t expected me to dodge it. “In that case, we’ll draw lots!” Mom made two slips of paper and put them in a black box, marking each with either a red or black pen. Whoever drew the red slip would have to end their education and marry Mom’s friend’s mentally disabled son. That single draw had been the starting point of all my suffering in my past life. This time, I must not pick the red slip.

I took a deep breath and slowly reached my hand into the black box. Melody stared at me excitedly, her expression gradually overlapping with her face from my previous life. Just as my hand was about to go all the way in, I suddenly pulled it out. “I thought about it, Melody. You draw first! I should let you go first, right?” Since childhood, Mom had instilled in me that I should always give in to Melody in everything. So much so that in my previous life, I foolishly handed over my bright future! Melody’s smile became somewhat twisted. “No, Maya, you draw first. You don’t need to give in to me this time!” I continued to defer. “No, how can I do that? You draw first. I’ll draw after you.” “No, you draw first…” “Don’t be shy, you draw first…” With a “clatter,” the black box fell during our pushing and shoving. Both slips of paper fell out. Both were red! This meant that whoever drew first, no matter which one they picked, would draw the red slip that meant marrying the mentally disabled husband! Mom’s face darkened. With her scheme exposed, Melody just collapsed on the floor and began to wail. “I told you to draw first! You’re my sister, why won’t you give in to me! I won’t get married, I want to go to school!” Melody, who usually skipped classes all the time, suddenly loved studying. I said in surprise, “Melody, you don’t want to marry him, but I don’t want to either. How could you deliberately try to harm me?” Melody froze for a few seconds, as if she hadn’t expected me to say this. Then she continued slapping the floor. “I don’t care! That idiot drools all the time, it’s disgusting. I’m not marrying him!” I sneered inwardly. So you think it’s disgusting too. Melody made such a fuss that it reached the village committee. After the village chief sorted out the whole story, he pointed at Mom’s nose and scolded, “What era are we living in! Still marrying off daughters for money!” “Your daughters are only in high school, you know that!? Human trafficking is a crime, you know that!?” Mom said weakly, “I’m their mother…” The village chief was so angry he leaned back. “If we catch this kind of thing again, next time the police will come and throw you in jail!” He consoled us. “Girls, don’t worry. Study in peace. If you don’t have enough for tuition, the village committee will provide it!” “I heard you’re both weightlifters? Train hard. If you make it to the Olympics in the future, our village will be honored!” After being lectured by the village chief, Mom reluctantly let us continue our education. And after the plan was completely exposed, Melody stopped pretending and started targeting me everywhere.

Since we needed to train intensively, we started boarding at school this semester. The dorm manager let us choose rooms. “There’s still one on the 2nd floor and one on the 6th floor…” “I want the 2nd floor!” Melody quickly rushed up to grab the key, then looked at me provocatively. I shrugged and took the key to the 6th floor room. In the days that followed, any chore involving stairs, such as delivering materials to the teachers, Melody found a way to push onto me with one excuse after another. I knew exactly what she was doing. We were weightlifters. Our training already placed enormous strain on our knees. Melody wanted to pile on more damage by forcing me to climb stairs constantly. Once they were shot, I’d be eliminated. Problem solved. Melody bragged to her friend. “Maya’s been climbing so many extra stairs these past few days, her knees must be toast!” “Once she gets eliminated from the team, she’ll have to marry that disgusting idiot!” Her friend scratched her head. “But she seems to be training pretty well lately. The coach even praised her!” Melody frowned. “That’s impossible. Even normal people can’t handle climbing that many stairs, let alone us weightlifters!” She thought for a moment, suddenly understanding. “I know! She must be pretending!” “Maya is really good at pretending! Just wait a few more days, the effects will definitely show!” Melody waited. She watched my snatch and clean-and-jerk weights climb, listened to the coach’s growing praise, seethed as my name made the shortlist for the city team. Finally, she cracked. Snatching up her phone, she vented to a friend training in another city. “What is going on? Are Maya’s knees made of iron? How come after all those stairs, there is no effect at all?” Poor Melody. She never learned that with proper form, stair climbing is actually good for your knees. With correct form, climbing stairs not only doesn’t damage your knees, it can even improve cardiovascular function. After climbing stairs for so long, even my long-distance running had become smoother. Even when going down stairs, which does cause some knee strain, I would rest after every few floors to give my muscles time to recover. Melody didn’t like studying theory in her daily life. As an athlete, she knew less than a fitness instructor. She was furiously tapping at her phone, oblivious to the banana peel on the ground. Her foot landed squarely on it, and down she went. “Aaah-!” I saw it all from upstairs and heard the continued screams. I shook my head If you want to ruin your knees, falling while texting is far more effective than just climbing stairs. After Melody’s fall injury, she quieted down for a while. Just a few days after she recovered, she was sneaking around again, up to some new scheme. But I was busy training and had no time to worry about her. I concentrated, gripped the barbell, took a deep breath, and lifted it in one go! “You’re amazing! You broke the record again!” The team members cheered and exclaimed for me, but the coach frowned slightly. “Maya, do that movement again.”

The coach was always serious, and the others didn’t dare make a sound. Though I didn’t understand why, I did it again. After watching, the coach thought for a moment, then asked me to take off my shoe and give it to him. He examined it carefully and pointed to a subtle detail. “What’s wrong with your shoe? The sole is higher on one side than the other. The left sole looks like it cracked and someone just stuffed something in there randomly.” Others crowded around to look, amazed. “It really is! You can’t even tell without looking closely! Coach, how did you know?” The coach said, “When I watched Maya do the snatch just now, something seemed off about her lower limb alignment.” “It’s fine short-term, but long-term misalignment will definitely cause disorder or even wear in all the joints.” The lifespan of joints is the lifespan of an athlete’s career. Fortunately, the coach noticed. Even I would have difficulty detecting such a slight change in alignment. The coach frowned at me again. “Maya, you’re not so afraid of spending money that you won’t throw away broken shoes, are you?” “If you need money, ask me! If I see you wearing these garbage shoes again, I’ll throw them away myself!” The coach was strict, but he treated the team members very well. In my previous life, when I drew the red lot and was forced to quit school, the coach urgently sought out many leaders and personally vouched for me, trying to keep me on the team. Although I was eventually forcibly taken away by Mom, I’ve always been grateful to the coach. My teammates also looked worried. “Maya, if you’re out of money, tell us. Don’t ruin your health. Everyone’s counting on you to get results.” “Mm, don’t worry.” I comforted them. I looked at the shoes, my eyes darkening. I should know who did this. Sure enough, a few days later, when I went to the locker room to change shoes, I heard a strange sound. I picked up the sneaker and turned it upside down. Clink! Clink! Sharp nails fell out one by one. Melody probably thought that just damaging my shoe heel was too slow, so she went big and stuffed nails into my shoes! Looking closely, some of the nails even had rust on them! If I wasn’t careful and stepped on them, at minimum I’d get stabbed, at worst I’d get tetanus! Melody knew that soon, the national team would come to select people. Once you enter the national team, you become a candidate for the Olympics. No matter what, even if she had to use every method possible, Melody didn’t want me to be selected by the national team! I picked up a nail and with a light effort, broke it in half. …… A few days later, a piercing shriek erupted from the locker room. “What happened?” Everyone was startled and rushed over. Inside, my sneakers lay tossed across the floor. And in Melody’s hand was a huge mousetrap!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “355918”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

My best friend stole my girlfriend. Five years later, I showed up to remodel their wedding house. Susan clung to Ethan’s arm, glaring at me like I was dirt. “Get out. You’re soiling my new home.” He laughed and threw a stack of cash at my feet. “For the help, loser.” I didn’t bend down. My gaze swept past them and fixed on the massive design rendering in the living room. It was clearly “Homecoming,” the same piece I had spent three sleepless months drawing for Susan five years ago. Now, the signature simply read “Design by Ethan.” I stepped on the bills and sneered. “A thief’s final destination is prison.” Ethan’s smile froze instantly. He had no idea. I’d already prepared a very special wedding gift for them next week. Jason’s POV At two in the morning, I sat in my moldy rental room, holding a package of expired bread. The dim light from my phone screen stung my eyes, but I couldn’t look away. The top trending post felt like a rusty nail, driving straight into my eyeballs. The title read: “I stole my best friend’s girlfriend-do I regret it now?” The anonymous poster’s answer had the most upvotes. “Why would I regret it? It’s been absolutely amazing.” “Five years ago, that guy was a stubborn genius. Handsome, smart, and childhood friends with this rich girl. Everyone thought they were the perfect match.” “So what? I just used a few tricks.” “First, I pretended to be depressed and used that to get close to her through sympathy. Then at a party, I deliberately provoked him until he hit me. I fell onto broken glass on purpose, blood everywhere, then acted magnanimous and forgave him.” “The girl went ballistic. She thought he was violent, unstable, completely unreasonable.” “While they were fighting, I brought her coffee every day, kept her company, played the victim. And him? He was still working multiple jobs like an idiot to buy her gifts, exhausted like a dog, didn’t even get a chance to explain.” “Then came the final move. I tampered with his university application and framed his gambling addict father for it. He fell apart, didn’t get into Oxford, and his life went straight into the gutter.” “Now? That rich girl is my fiancée. We’re not just partners in a publicly traded company-next week we’re having the wedding of the century.” “And that former genius? I heard he’s working construction now. That’s what they mean by choices matter more than effort. What good is a high IQ? Emotional intelligence is king.” The comment section exploded. Some cursed him out. “You’re shameless. Destroying someone’s relationship and being proud of it?” Others sucked up to him. “He’s just smart. If the guy couldn’t keep his girl, whose fault is that?” “Exactly. If a lover can be stolen, they weren’t really yours.” Reading these words, I felt my blood flowing backward, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. Not from anger, but from disgust. Even more so because of a blurry silhouette photo the poster had shared. It was from five years ago, on Susan’s birthday, a picture of me carrying her on my back under the fireworks. Only three people had this photo. Me, Susan, and Ethan, who had been holding the camera with that innocent smile on his face. I set down my phone, my stomach cramping, and rushed to the narrow bathroom to dry heave. So that was it. That inexplicably failed first love of mine, my ruined life caused by someone tampering with my application, these five years of living like a dog-it was all Ethan’s carefully designed trap. And Susan, the woman I’d loved for ten whole years, was about to marry the man who destroyed me. Suddenly, urgent knocking came from outside. “Jason! Open up! I know you’re in there!” It was the landlord. I wiped the cold water off my face and opened the door. The landlord looked fierce, jabbing a finger at my nose. “You’re three days late! When are you paying rent? I bet your vegetative mother is about to get thrown out of the hospital too, right? If you don’t have money, get lost. Stop squatting here!” “Tomorrow.” My voice was hoarse. “I’ll definitely pay tomorrow.” “Tomorrow, tomorrow, always tomorrow! If you don’t pay up, I’m throwing out all those crappy blueprints of yours!” I closed the door and slid down against it, powerless. Ethan was right in that post. He won. He became a winner in life. And me, Jason-I really did end up in the gutter. These five years, I didn’t go to college. To earn medical bills for my mother who became a vegetable after a car accident, I did hard labor, delivered food. Now I was the lowest level construction worker at a renovation company. That high-spirited Jason who vowed to design world landmark buildings-he died long ago. But I never imagined the “cause of death” would be so absurd. I wanted to laugh, but tears came out instead. Just then, my boss called. “Jason, urgent job tomorrow. That wedding house in Cloudcrest Villa-the owners are coming to inspect and want some design changes. The original designer bailed, and you’re capable, so you’re up. Pull this off, and there’s a three-thousand-dollar bonus in it for you.” Cloudcrest Villa. The most expensive rich district in the city. “Okay.” I agreed. For the three thousand dollars. For the ventilator that would keep my mother breathing next week. I had no choice. Even though I knew, deep down, that house was almost certainly Susan and Ethan’s.

Jason’s POV Early the next morning, I rode my beat-up bicycle to Cloudcrest Villa. The villa was incredibly luxurious. Just the entrance garden was several times larger than where I lived. I carried my toolbox, standing in the opulent hall, completely out of place. “Here, and here, the trim needs to be redone.” I was crouching on the floor measuring baseboard data when the sound of high heels clicking against marble came from the entrance. Then came a familiar male voice that made me stop breathing. “Susan, you’re just too much of a perfectionist. I think it’s already great. After all, this is our home-as long as I have you, it’s perfect.” My hand holding the tape measure froze. I looked up and met two pairs of eyes. Susan wore a well-tailored beige trench coat, her long hair pinned up. Her exquisite makeup made her look even more coldly elegant than five years ago. Beside her, Ethan wore a suit, a Patek Philippe worth a fortune on his wrist, his arm wrapped lovingly around her waist. Our eyes met. The air seemed to freeze in that instant. The smile in Susan’s eyes vanished immediately, replaced by shock, then undisguised revulsion. “Jason? What are you doing here?” Ethan paused for a moment, then a playful smile curved his lips. That look was like watching a stray dog begging for food on the roadside. “Isn’t this our genius Jason?” Ethan called out dramatically. “How did you end up like this? The worker renovating our wedding house is actually you?” I slowly stood up and brushed the dust off my pants. “I’m here to work. If you’re not satisfied, I can have someone else take over.” “Don’t!” Ethan stepped forward, blocking my path, looking me up and down. “We’re old classmates. We should catch up when we run into each other. Look at you, filthy all over. These years have been rough, huh?” He turned to Susan with an exaggerated sigh. “Susan, see? I told you Jason wouldn’t go far. If he’d just stayed on the right path back then, he wouldn’t be doing grunt work for us now.” Susan’s gaze cut across my face like a knife. Once, these eyes held only me. She would wipe my sweat when I drew blueprints, would cry from worry when I got injured playing ball. She said. “Jason, you’re my light. We’ll be together forever.” But now she looked at me coldly, as if looking at garbage. “Ethan, don’t waste words on this kind of person.” Susan’s voice was icy. “Make him leave. I don’t want to see him. He’s dirty.” “Dirty”-those words were like two slaps across my face. I clenched my fists, nails digging into flesh. “Miss Susan, I was sent by the company.” I looked straight into Susan’s eyes. “If you want to breach the contract, please contact our manager. I’m just doing my job according to the contract.” Susan frowned. “Jason, do you have no shame?” Susan was getting angry. “Five years ago you injured Ethan in a fit of rage, then gambled away your tuition and drove your father to death. Someone like you, who can’t be helped, appearing in front of me is an insult!” Gambling? Drove my father to death? I snapped my gaze to Ethan. He stood behind Susan, giving me a provocative smile, his lips moving silently. “I’m the one who said it. So what?” So that was it. Behind that post, he’d fabricated so many lies I didn’t even know about. My dad clearly died of a heart attack after being hounded by creditors that year. And those debts came from the so-called “guarantee contract” Ethan had tricked my dad into signing! All the rage surged to my head in that moment, but I forced it down. Right now, I had no right to get angry. My mom was still in the hospital waiting for this money to save her life. “Miss Susan,” I lowered my head, my voice low. “I’m just a renovation worker. After I finish today’s job, I’ll leave. I’m just trying to make a living.” Seeing me lower my head, Ethan looked even more smug. He pulled out a stack of bills from his wallet, about two or three thousand dollars, and tossed them at my feet like throwing change to a beggar. The bills scattered across the dusty floor. “Alright, stop playing pitiful.” Ethan put his arm around Susan. “Since we’re old classmates, I can’t be too heartless. Take this money and get lost. Don’t dirty our new house. As for the work, we’ll just find someone else.” Susan didn’t stop him, just watched coldly. In her view, this was probably the treatment someone like me at the “bottom” deserved. I looked at the money on the ground, then at Ethan’s hypocritical face. The words from that post echoed in my mind: “His life went straight into the gutter.” I bent down. Ethan laughed out loud. “That’s right, Jason. People need to accept their fate…” I picked up that stack of bills and weighed them in my hand. Then, right in front of them, I slapped that wad of cash hard across Ethan’s face! Bills flew everywhere. Ethan was stunned, his face burning with pain. Susan screamed. “Jason! Are you insane!” “Yes, I am insane.” I stared hard at Ethan. “Ethan, you really think you can hide what happened five years ago forever? You really think I deserve to rot in the gutter for you to step on?”

Jason’s POV Ethan stumbled back half a step, but quickly recovered and tried to rush at me. “You bastard, you dare hit me? Security! Where’s security!” Susan grabbed Ethan, blocking him, her eyes full of disappointment and disgust. “Jason, you’ve really disappointed me.” She pulled out a checkbook from her bag, scribbled a string of numbers, and tossed it on the nearby table. “That’s fifty thousand dollars. Take the money, get out of my sight, and never appear again. For the sake of your mother once taking care of me, this is the last time I’ll help you.” Fifty thousand dollars. For me right now, that was a fortune. Enough to pay for Mom’s hospital bills for three months. If it were yesterday’s me, maybe I would have knelt down and picked up that money for Mom’s sake. But not today. I’d read that post. I knew the truth. This fifty thousand wasn’t charity-it was hush money. It was a gag order, dirty money to trample my dignity. “Susan.” I looked at her, suddenly feeling such sadness. “Do you really understand him? Do you really know what happened five years ago?” Susan sneered. “I understand very well. For me, Ethan gave up his chance to study abroad and stayed to start a business with me. And you? You only knew how to drink, fight, and run from responsibility. The facts are right there-what more do you want to argue?” “Facts?” I pointed at Ethan. “Ask him-that architectural design assignment in sophomore year, who actually drew it for you? Ask him-the day your father’s company went bankrupt, who knelt in the pouring rain all night begging creditors for a few more days?” Ethan’s expression changed instantly. Susan froze, then frowned. “That was Ethan! He stayed up three nights straight to draw it until his hands swelled! As for that night… Ethan was with me too.” I laughed. Laughed until my lungs hurt. So he didn’t just steal my life. He stole everything I had ever worked for. That year, to help Susan complete her award winning design, I drew for three days and three nights straight in the dorm room of Ethan, who called himself my good brother. I worked until I passed out. When I woke up, Ethan had already taken the drawings to claim credit. He lied to me, saying my work was too terrible and that he had to fix it before submitting. And that rainy night, Ethan did go. But he stayed in his car the whole time. Only I knelt outside in the pouring rain like a fool. “Jason, you’re truly frightening.” Susan shook her head. “When you’ve accomplished nothing yourself, you steal others’ credit to put on your own face? What’s the point of such lies?” I looked at Susan’s determined eyes. My heart went completely cold. Five years, plus deliberate brainwashing, had completely demonized my image in her heart. Explain? What could I explain with now? With these dirty clothes or with my high school diploma? “You’ll regret this.” I said softly. “The biggest regret of my life was knowing you.” Susan struck back mercilessly. I didn’t glance at that check, picked up my toolbox, and turned to leave. At the door, I stopped, my back to them. “I won’t renovate this house. But there’s a problem with the structural diagram for that load-bearing wall in the living room. If you renovate according to the current plan, it’ll collapse within three years.” With that, I strode out of the villa. Behind me came Ethan’s furious voice. “Don’t listen to his nonsense! What does a construction worker know about structures! I hired a first-class designer for those plans!” Walking out of Cloudcrest Villa District, the sunlight outside was so blinding it made me want to cry. I got on my bicycle. Wind rushed into my collar, cold to the bone. My phone vibrated. It was the hospital calling. My heart tightened. I quickly answered. “Mr. Jason? This is the hospital. Your mother’s condition suddenly deteriorated. She has a serious lung infection and needs to be moved to ICU immediately for emergency treatment. Please come pay the fees and sign right away!” “How much?” My voice trembled. “Pre-payment of fifty thousand dollars.” Fifty thousand dollars. Again, fifty thousand dollars. What Susan had just thrown on the table was exactly fifty thousand dollars. Fate was like a cruel clown, laughing madly at me. I trembled. “Doctor, please save her first… I’ll get the money right away, right away…” “Hurry. We can’t wait much longer.” The call ended. I looked at the bustling streets, at the skyscrapers towering in the distance. That was where I once dreamed of designing. Now, I couldn’t even come up with fifty thousand dollars. I didn’t go back to the construction site. Instead, I turned my bike around and went to a pawn shop. The only valuable thing I had was the necklace I’d kept close to my body. It was a family heirloom, something Mom had saved for me to give to my future wife. But I couldn’t think about that now.

Jason’s POV The owner was a shrewd middle-aged man. He examined it with a magnifying glass for a long time, then held up three fingers. “Thirty thousand dollars.” “This necklace is excellent, worth at least eighty thousand!” I panicked. “That was before. The market’s bad now. Thirty thousand. Take it or leave it.” I gritted my teeth. “I’ll take it.” With thirty thousand dollars, I borrowed another ten thousand from coworkers and maxed out my credit card, finally scraping together fifty thousand. I rushed to the hospital, paid the fees, and watched as Mom was wheeled into the ICU. I collapsed onto the hallway bench. Through the glass, watching Mom covered in tubes, so thin she was just skin and bones, my heart felt like it was being ground in a meat grinder. “Mom, I’m sorry… I’m useless.” I covered my face. Tears poured through my fingers. Just then, the TV at the end of the hallway was broadcasting a news interview. “…Congratulations to Evergreen Group and Ethan Industries on their strategic partnership. Miss Susan and Mr. Ethan’s engagement ceremony will be held next week. Mr. Ethan, I heard you personally designed the wedding house?” On screen, Ethan had his arm around Susan, looking smug. “Yes. Although I’m not a professional designer, for Susan, I’m willing to try anything. I want to give her a one-of-a-kind home.” The reporters were full of praise. “Mr. Ethan is so romantic-not only a business genius but also a design genius.” I stared hard at the screen. Design genius? That person who couldn’t even memorize CAD shortcuts-he qualified as a design genius? Suddenly, the image cut to a design rendering displayed behind them. In that instant, all the blood in my body froze. That image… That villa design called “Homecoming” was clearly from my sophomore year sketch, the dream home I’d planned to give Susan someday! The “suspended corridor” and “light atrium” designs were my original concepts, praised by my professor as extraordinarily inspired. But later, that sketchbook went missing. I thought I’d lost it when moving. Turns out, it was stolen by Ethan too! He didn’t just steal my girl, steal my credit-now he was stealing even my last dream to use as his proposal to Susan! If he didn’t want me to live, then nobody would live! I pulled out my phone and found that post. The post was still trending. Ethan was still smugly replying to comments. “That idiot will never figure out that his most treasured design is about to become my masterpiece. This is what intellectual dominance looks like.” With trembling fingers, I registered a new account. Under that post, I typed a line. “Ethan, does it feel good using stolen things? I’m Jason. At next week’s wedding, I’ll send you a big gift.” After posting, I closed my phone. I was going to fight back. I couldn’t just accept defeat like this. I returned to my rental room, rummaged through everything, and found an old laptop I’d sealed away at the bottom of a box years ago. Though old, the hard drive contained all my original design files with timestamps. And also, those memories I’d buried. Five years ago, to frame me, Ethan had someone photoshop pictures of me in bed with another woman and sent them to Susan. He also drugged my drink, making me miss the most important scholarship interview. Before, I had no evidence for any of this. I could only accept my fate. But now, in that post, to show off, he’d laid out every detail of his schemes. Though anonymous, if I could prove that account was his, he was finished. And proving that wasn’t actually difficult. Because in the post, he’d shared that blurry silhouette photo. Though blurry, I remembered that when he took that photo, I was right beside him. If I could find photos from other angles that day, or surveillance footage… Wait. That day was Susan’s birthday party at “Cloudcrest Club.” Cloudcrest Club… wasn’t that the predecessor of the villa district where I just worked? I suddenly remembered-today at the villa, in the storage room, I’d seen several dust-covered old surveillance hard drive boxes labeled “Cloudcrest Club Archive 2018.” That villa was converted from the old club! My heart raced. If those hard drives weren’t damaged, if they just happened to capture Ethan’s little tricks on the terrace that day…

Jason’s POV For the next week, I worked like a madman. During the day, I worked myself to death at other construction sites earning money. At night, I lurked near Cloudcrest Villa. I had to find a way to get in and retrieve that hard drive. Susan and Ethan’s wedding preparations were in full swing. Their wedding photos were advertised all over the city, stabbing my eyes. I heard that to showcase his “talent,” Ethan had specially invited Professor Harrison, a titan in architecture, to attend the wedding and planned to publicly release that “Homecoming” design at the ceremony, announcing his entry into real estate design. Professor Harrison was once my professor, the one who had no choice but to expel me over the “plagiarism” scandal. Ethan really wanted to destroy me completely. Finally, an opportunity came. The day before the wedding, the villa needed final lighting adjustments and soft furnishing arrangements. The foreman called me. “Jason, they’re short-handed for moving stuff. You going? Even though things ended badly last time, this time it’s cash on completion-five hundred dollars.” “I’ll go.” I put on a mask and cap, changed into inconspicuous work clothes, and mixed into the moving crew. The villa was filled with flowers and balloons everywhere, dreamy like a fairy tale. Susan was in the hall directing workers to arrange champagne towers, her face glowing with happiness. That smile. I’d seen it countless times in my dreams. Ethan was surrounded by people flattering him. “Mr. Ethan is so accomplished for his age. This design is a masterpiece!” “Yes! I heard even Professor Harrison praised it highly.” Ethan waved modestly. “Not at all. Just drew it casually.” I kept my cap low, carried a case of wine, bypassed the crowd, and quietly slipped toward the basement storage room. The storage room door was unlocked. My heart pounded like thunder. I turned on my phone flashlight and searched through mountains of junk. Found it! The box labeled “Cloudcrest Club Archive 2018” was still in the corner! I was so excited my hands shook. Just as I was about to stuff the box inside my jacket- “What are you doing?” A cold voice suddenly rang out at the door. I froze, then slowly turned around. Susan stood in the doorway, arms crossed, looking at me coldly. “Jason, you really never change. Stealing things five years ago, still stealing now?” I removed my mask and took a deep breath. “I’m not stealing. I’m looking for the truth.” “Truth?” Susan walked in, her gaze falling on the hard drive box in my hands. “What is this?” “This is surveillance footage from your birthday five years ago.” I held up the box. “Susan, if you have even a shred of trust left in me, look at what’s in here. See who drugged the drinks that night, who took those photos from behind.” Susan’s expression wavered for an instant. “Give it here.” She extended her hand. I hesitated, then handed it to her. This was my last chance. Susan took the box and was just about to open it when urgent footsteps suddenly came from behind. “Susan! Don’t listen to his nonsense!” Ethan rushed in, snatched the box from Susan’s hands, and smashed it hard on the ground! Crash! The hard drive box shattered into pieces, the disk sliding out. Still not satisfied, Ethan raised his foot and stomped on that disk several times until it was nothing but fragments. “You…” Eyes red, I rushed forward to punch him. Several security guards immediately rushed in and pinned me to the ground. “Jason!” Ethan straightened his tie, grinning viciously. “You think you can slander me with some random broken box? This is my home! You trespassed and attempted theft. I can call the police right now and have you arrested!” Susan looked at the fragments on the ground, her expression complex. “Ethan, why are you so agitated?” She asked. Ethan’s face stiffened, then he put on a wronged expression. “Susan, I’m just too angry. We’re about to get married, and he keeps coming to cause trouble, trying to use this fake stuff to destroy our relationship. I just can’t take it anymore!” He grabbed Susan’s hand. “Darling, don’t pay attention to this lunatic. Just kick him out. Calling the police would be bad luck.” Susan looked at me, then at Ethan. Finally, she sighed. “Throw him out.” The security guards dragged me out like a dead dog and dumped me at the villa gate. Rain poured down. I lay in the mud, looking at that brightly lit villa, listening to the laughter and chatter inside. The hard drive was destroyed. The last piece of evidence was gone. Had I lost? No. I climbed up from the mud and wiped the filth from my face. The moment Ethan crushed that hard drive under his heel, the panic in his eyes had already given him away. But more importantly, he never knew. That hard drive was just a decoy. The real ace had never been the surveillance footage. It was the “Homecoming” design he planned to unveil at tomorrow’s wedding. Since you want to steal my life’s work and flaunt it as your own, I will make that dream the tomb that buries you. I pulled the USB drive, sealed inside a waterproof bag, from inside my jacket. It contained all the original design data I had compiled over the past few days, along with the digital evidence tracking that post back to its source. That’s right. I had spent the last of my savings to hire an expert hacker. Ethan, see you tomorrow. I’ll send you a gift you will never forget.

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Before the Wedding, My Fiancee’s Assistant Drunk Drove and Killed Someone. I rushed to the hospital, but my fiancée, Chloe, presented me with a confession. “Leo just turned twenty this year. If he goes to prison, his life will be ruined!” “When you get out, I’ll give you twenty percent of the company’s shares, and the wedding will proceed as planned.” Perhaps afraid I’d refuse, Chloe quickly added. “I’ve already investigated thoroughly. The victim was a homeless man, no family, no one. Dying was the best outcome for him.” “Don’t worry, the company will hire the best lawyers for you. You’ll be out of prison in no more than seven years.” I scoffed. I immediately canceled the wedding and called the police. The night before the wedding, my fiancée, Chloe, wanted to host a bachelorette party. I thought about it and didn’t refuse, only reminding her not to drive if she drank. But Chloe brushed it off, saying Leo had just gotten his driver’s license today, so it was a perfect opportunity for him to practice. No one expected Leo to drink and drive, hitting a homeless man scavenging by the roadside late at night. The victim was still lying in the emergency room, barely deceased, when Chloe impatiently started looking for someone to take the fall. “Five hundred thousand? Or a million? That’s not the point.” “The point is, Leo represents the company’s image; he can’t have anything happen to him!” Chloe didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with her actions, looking at me with a straight face. Mid-sentence, she suddenly remembered something and slapped her forehead. “Oh, right. If the police ask, just say the car is yours, and it has nothing to do with the company.” I involuntarily clenched my fists. “What if I don’t agree?” At that, the team of lawyers present looked at me in surprise. Chloe hadn’t expected me to refuse either, and her face immediately changed. “If you don’t sign that confession today, then don’t be my husband!” I suppressed my anger, my tone calm. “Do you think I really want to marry you? Something so major happened, and your first thought isn’t how to make amends, but to rush and find someone to take the blame. A woman with a heart like yours, it’s better not to marry!” As soon as I finished speaking, Chloe’s emotions suddenly flared up. “If my dad hadn’t forced me to marry you, a loser like you wouldn’t even be qualified to see me!” Actually, I was also puzzled. Usually, Chloe found me to be a nuisance, not even letting me near the company. Yet today, after the car accident, she called me first thing. Turns out she just wanted me to take the fall for her assistant! Thinking about this, my temper flared too: “In that case, let’s just call off this wedding!” But just as I turned to leave, Chloe immediately blocked my way. “You stop right there! How much do you want? Just say it!” Her sudden words stunned me. Did these rich people really believe a living, breathing life could be measured by money? Seeing my silence, Chloe thought she had swayed me and put on a condescending expression. “If you think the money’s too little, you should’ve said so earlier instead of beating around the bush. Ten million, for seven years of your youth, that should be enough, right?” I turned and met her gaze: “Chloe, you don’t really think money can buy everything, do you?” Three years ago, Peterson Holdings was just a small financial company with a dozen employees. Chloe’s father, Richard Peterson, arrived in Newport from thousands of miles away, holding an engagement agreement. My grandfather had agreed to the alliance between our families. To fulfill my grandfather’s dying wish, I reluctantly agreed to the marriage. My only condition was that my identity not be revealed before the wedding. Richard still didn’t know that the immense fortune he had so painstakingly sought had now been personally ruined by his own daughter. “It’s just a life, isn’t it? Even if Leo had hit and killed ten people today, I could still afford to compensate!” Chloe continued. I took a deep breath: “Since Chloe is so concerned about her assistant, why doesn’t she go take the fall herself?” At this, the legal team beside us immediately erupted. “That’s out of the question! Chloe is the future heir of our group. If she commits a crime, it will definitely affect the company’s stock!” “Exactly! Peterson Holdings is at a crucial stage for its IPO. We can’t afford any mistakes!” “Mr. Harrington, you should just sign it. With our team of professional lawyers, you’ll be released from prison in no time.” My gaze swept coldly across them, my tone unyielding. “A life for a life, that’s justice!”

I have to admit, Chloe was quite cunning. After the accident, she immediately sent the homeless man to a private hospital under Peterson Holdings. The scene was filled with Peterson Holdings’ senior executives. Leo, as Chloe’s assistant, was both an employee of the company and favored by the CEO’s daughter. Though I was nominally the son-in-law they had taken in, the wedding hadn’t taken place. For me to take the fall was the best option at the moment! At that moment, I felt like a lamb to the slaughter, completely at their mercy. “Shareholders, I want to clarify in advance, although I have an engagement with this man, we haven’t actually gotten married.” “As long as he signs the confession, the company’s IPO will not be affected in any way.” Chloe blatantly laid out her plan, not at all worried that I wouldn’t agree. Even I was curious where she got such confidence. “Chloe, I advise you not to be so quick to assume.” “If I don’t sign this confession, what can you do to me?” Chloe glanced at me from the corner of her eye and sneered. “Alex Harrington, you don’t even know whose territory you’re on.” “If you don’t sign, I have a hundred ways to make your life a living hell!” I casually scanned the bodyguards standing around, their eyes fixed on me, and remained composed. “By your tone, Chloe, you’re planning to use force against me, then?” The next second, Chloe waved her hand behind her. “Since you’re refusing the easy way and asking for trouble, don’t blame me.” “Believe it or not, even if I got rid of you here today, no one would ever know.” Facing the threats from Peterson Holdings’ heiress, I didn’t show a hint of panic. “Chloe, aren’t you overestimating yourself a little?” “Let me be clear upfront: if anyone here dares to lay a hand on me, the entire Peterson Holdings will fall with me!” At my words, the faces of the shareholders present instantly changed. “Pfft, who’s talking so big? Turns out it’s just a dog kept by the Peterson family!” “Exactly! A pretty boy who dreams of marrying into a rich family, daring to threaten us? He’s practically asking for it!” “With Peterson Holdings’ influence in Silverport, getting rid of you would be easier than crushing an ant!” Facing their mockery, I didn’t care at all; I even found it somewhat amusing. Though I don’t know how to do business, I at least know how to be a person. From the moment I entered the hospital until now, these so-called company executives weren’t discussing how to handle the aftermath but how to protect the company’s image. With shareholders like them, the group was probably not far from bankruptcy. As time ticked by, Chloe clearly grew impatient. “Alex, I’m asking you one last time, are you signing or not?” I looked up and met her gaze. “No!” “Then you can just die!” Along with Chloe’s angry shout, the surrounding bodyguards instantly surrounded me. “What? Is that all the heiress of Peterson Holdings has?” Facing Chloe’s repeated provocations, I didn’t retaliate, only endured. It wasn’t because I feared her, but merely repaying a favor my grandfather owed years ago. After this, I would have no further ties with the Peterson family. Just as everyone prepared to make their move, a sudden gasp came from behind. “Hold on!”

A young man in a patient gown quickly walked out of the room. “You’re Leo Hayes, Chloe’s assistant?” I sized up the man before me. I had to admit, my fiancée’s taste was pretty good. Over six feet tall, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, handsome and composed. “Are you having a change of heart, planning to turn yourself in?” “Hold it!” Before I could finish speaking, Leo impatiently raised a hand to interrupt. “I didn’t hit anyone, so why would I turn myself in?” Before I could react, Leo suddenly pointed at me. “Alex! You murderer!” At that, I was stunned. “It was you! Relying on being Chloe’s fiancé, you disregarded the law, drunk drove, and killed that poor homeless man!” Hearing this, I suddenly understood. This guy had planned it all along, to make me take the blame for him. “Leo, you’re quite good at framing someone, aren’t you?” Then, I suddenly changed my tone, my voice chilling a few degrees. “However, I’m curious to ask, you say I hit the person, do you have any proof?” Leo raised an eyebrow at me, a smirk of schadenfreude on his face. “You want proof, huh?” “There are so many people around, can’t they all testify for me?” As he spoke, he pulled out his phone in front of me. “Hello, Officer Miller? This is Chloe’s personal assistant. I was hoping you could do me a favor. It’s nothing major, just accidentally hit someone after drinking tonight, and I was wondering if you could delete the road surveillance footage.” The other end of the line stammered, not speaking for a long time. “Ten million. I’ve already transferred it to your account.” “Alright… but don’t let it happen again!” Hanging up, Leo grinned at me. “So, Mr. Harrington, can we talk properly now?” I had to admit, Leo’s methods were far more sophisticated than Chloe’s. With his series of actions, I was practically cemented as the killer. “Tell me, how do you want to talk?” Leo pulled up a chair and sat opposite me, looking remarkably confident. “Mr. Harrington, you now have two choices.” “Either you obediently sign the confession and receive compensation from Peterson Holdings afterward.” “Or I call the police right now, and you won’t get a single penny!” I looked at him with interest and retorted: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll recant my testimony in court?” The assistant smiled confidently at me. “You don’t need to worry about that, Mr. Harrington. Since I have a way to delete the surveillance footage, I also have a way to make the judge believe you were the one who hit the person.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but applaud. “Since you’ve put it that way, it seems I only have one path left: to sign, right?” “However…” I deliberately drew out the sound, changing my tone. “Before that, you’ll have to allow me to make a phone call first.” “No!” Chloe, standing nearby, seemed to detect something amiss in my smile. “Alex, get your facts straight!” “Our offering you a choice is a courtesy, not a negotiation!” I ignored her, pulling out my phone from my pocket in front of all the shareholders present. “Chloe, this call I’m making isn’t to anyone else, but to your father, Richard!”

“Hello, Mr. Peterson, this is Alex.” Hearing my voice, the other end of the phone immediately spoke cheerfully. “Mr. Harrington, isn’t tomorrow your and Chloe’s wedding? Is there anything you need to tell me at this hour?” I gave Chloe a meaningful look and spoke slowly: “Mr. Peterson, I don’t think this wedding is going to happen.” “Your beloved daughter is currently preparing to send me to prison.” I briefly explained the situation, and then I heard the sound of a cup smashing to the floor. “Nonsense! This is utter nonsense!” “Mr. Harrington, please calm down, I’ll be right there!” Just then, Leo snatched the phone away. “Mr. Peterson, I’ve arranged everything perfectly. I guarantee no one will trace anything back to our company!” “As long as this guy signs the confession, all problems will be solved!” Richard probably never expected his assistant’s methods to be so ruthless; he was so angry he couldn’t speak for a long time. Leo, at this moment, had no idea what I truly meant to Peterson Holdings, and he was trying his best to show off in front of his boss. “Mr. Peterson, rest assured, I guarantee no one else will know about this!” “With Peterson Holdings’ influence in Silverport, no one will suspect us.” “As for your son-in-law, I’ve also made arrangements. After he serves his time, the company will give him a substantial hush money payment.” Hanging up the phone, Leo looked at Chloe with an obvious display of pride. “Leo, I really didn’t misjudge you, you’re excellent! Your abilities are a thousand times better than his!” Leo seemed to enjoy the heiress’s praise; his head was practically in the clouds. Then, Chloe turned to me, her expression once again cold. “Alex, you’ve made your call, now it’s time to fulfill your promise, isn’t it?” She handed me a confession. “I’ve already written down the sequence of events for you; you just need to sign it.” Seeing this, the last shred of goodwill I had for the Peterson family vanished. If I hadn’t experienced it myself, I wouldn’t believe everything that happened today. From the initial phone call, to the collective threats from the company shareholders, and finally Leo appearing to coerce me into signing. “Alex, do you have anything else to say?” Chloe eyed me with the gaze of a victor. “Chloe, I must say, you’ve really hired a great assistant! To commit something like murder and trying to frame someone, his guts aren’t just ordinary!” Chloe completely disregarded my warning. “Alex, you have no one but yourself to blame for your current situation.” “Blame yourself, a pathetic loser, for trying to punch above your weight. How can you expect to succeed without paying a price?” I curved my lips into a slight smile and sighed softly. “Since the favor is now repaid, I will grant your wish! After today, your family will have no place left in Silverport!” As soon as my words fell, someone in the crowd shouted. “Look outside!” Over a dozen black Maybachs, all bearing the Peterson Holdings logo, were rapidly approaching the hospital… “Dad, why are you here?”

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My husband, Xavier Monroe, is known for being completely devoted to our daughter. But the new young nurse doesn’t believe it. She even made a high-profile bet with people about it. And on the very day our daughter’s heart condition relapsed and needed Xavier to perform surgery— She deliberately poisoned her own pet cat and came crying to beg Xavier to save it. Everyone thought Xavier would refuse in anger. But his eyes filled with heartache as he readily agreed. “Zara has depression. If she loses her emotional support cat, she might die!” From that moment on, he became her personal pet doctor. Meanwhile, my daughter, who missed the optimal rescue window, ended up in the morgue where they were having their affair. Until three months later, when Zara strutted around with a pregnancy belly she couldn’t hide, her eyes full of smugness. I screamed myself hoarse questioning Xavier. But he just looked at me with impatience. “All surgeries carry risks. No one can guarantee success.” “Stella’s spirit in heaven would be happy to have a little brother or sister!” I nodded with a cold laugh. Xavier, you think my daughter isn’t worth as much as her cat. But without me, you’re nothing.

My phone vibrated. It was a social media post from the young nurse, Zara. [When my little princess had complications during labor, thank goodness my boss stepped in to save both mother and baby! If I’m going to marry anyone, it’ll be a compassionate man like this!] In the photo, Xavier and the young nurse were holding a Ragdoll cat, smiling brilliantly like a happy family. Attached was a message Xavier had sent her. “She’s weak after giving birth and needs careful rest.” “I’ve booked her a three-month premium postpartum care package at the maternity center, with customized nutritious meals and a caregiver available 24/7.” “If she shows any adverse reactions, call me immediately.” Every word dripped with meticulous care. I used to think his tenderness belonged only to me. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. I couldn’t breathe. I had already planned to send my daughter abroad for treatment, but when the emergency struck, my husband Xavier repeatedly assured me. “Hope, I’ll perform Stella’s surgery myself. I’m the most authoritative cardiology director in the entire city. Don’t you trust my abilities?” But I never imagined he would delay Stella’s optimal rescue window for a cat. Xavier cooked a bowl of porridge and placed it in front of me. “Hope, you never eat properly. It breaks my heart.” He scooped up a spoonful to feed me. “I have something to tell you. Zara said stray cats are so pitiful with nowhere to go, and she wants to keep them at our place…” “I’m planning to clear out Stella’s room.” A roaring filled my ears. I even forgot to swallow. What? To please his mistress, he wants me to give up Stella’s room? “I don’t agree!” Xavier used a handkerchief to wipe the porridge from my lips, his eyes gentle. “Hope, I know you’re still grieving, but we can’t just watch stray cats starve and freeze!” I swatted away the porcelain bowl in his hand. “Xavier, my Stella is already gone. Are you trying to erase even the only traces of her existence?” “Using my daughter’s life to please her, and now helping her raise cats? Not a chance!” Xavier gripped my scalded hand and smiled helplessly. “Hope, you’re throwing a tantrum again.” “Besides, Zara’s pet cat is a show-quality Ragdoll worth a hundred thousand dollars! If anything happens to it, we can’t afford to compensate!” A doctor who leaves mid-surgery. A husband who prioritizes someone else’s pet cat. Past experiences had already killed my feelings for Xavier completely. Seeing the fresh hickeys on his neck, I found them glaring and nauseating. “Don’t touch me!” I struggled in resistance, and my forehead accidentally hit the glass coffee table. Blood flowed freely. Blood dripped down my cheeks onto the white wool carpet, blooming into starkly vivid red flowers. Xavier froze in place, but then his phone suddenly vibrated. He didn’t put it on speaker, but I could still hear a woman’s intermittent sobbing. “Boss, I had a fight with my family and have nowhere to go…” I covered my bleeding wound and watched helplessly as he gently comforted another woman. After a long while, he reached out to check my wound and hesitantly spoke. “Hope, I promise you—no cats in the room.” “But you have to promise me one thing. Zara has nowhere to go. Clear out Stella’s room for her to live in.” “Replace all the children’s furniture in the room. She’s pregnant and can’t run around. Go to the mall yourself and pick out new things.” I couldn’t believe my ears and immediately pushed his hand away. Back at the hospital, Xavier’s eyes had reddened as he choked out: “I’m sorry, Hope. Stella missed the optimal rescue window. She’s lost all vital signs. Please accept my condolences.” Those words struck me like a thunderbolt. My blood instantly froze. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I could only watch in a daze as Stella’s cold body was wheeled into the morgue. It wasn’t until Xavier handed me the urn that I couldn’t hold back anymore and broke down crying. Stella died from her untreated condition at the age of seven. And the culprits behind all this were my husband of seven years and his mistress! Seeing that I wouldn’t speak, Xavier’s eyes flashed with displeasure. “Hope Sinclair, all these years you’ve been eating my food, using my things, living in my house—are you really going to be difficult with me over this?” With that, he grabbed his car keys and hurried away. Before leaving, he planted an affectionate kiss on my cheek. “Be good. Once I become director, I’ll give you another child…” 2. The moment Xavier left, Zara sent me a high-definition video. In the morgue, Xavier was having kinky video sex with her, trying every position. “Hope, my condolences.” “But don’t worry, I’ll give the boss a healthy child, hehe—” I deleted and blocked this message that seemed like condolence but was actually a declaration of ownership. This absurd marriage should come to an end. Xavier was indeed the city’s top cardiology director. But with his qualifications, there was no way he could become hospital director. I hid my identity and fought against the entire board of directors to pave his way. I was afraid of breaking his proud spirit, afraid of damaging the pride he took such honor in. But he believed the next director position was rightfully his. I never expected Stella’s death would make me see just how laughable my dedication had been. In the hospital office, Xavier was massaging Zara’s pregnancy-swollen calves, looking every bit the devoted husband. When the other nurses saw me, their eyes shifted uneasily. They also knew this tenderness once belonged only to me. Watching the panic flash through Xavier’s eyes, I said word by word: “Xavier, let’s get divorced.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as his mouth opened but no sound came out. Zara immediately shrank into Xavier’s arms, squeezing out two innocent tears. “Hope, I understand your grief over losing your child, but you shouldn’t cause a scene at the hospital…” “After all, the boss is about to become director. We can’t have any problems at this critical moment!” “Get lost!” I coldly cut her off. “I’m talking to my husband. What are you?” Xavier immediately frowned. “Hope, whether you’re sad or angry, come at me! Zara is innocent!” My gaze swept over the family photo on the desk, which had been replaced with another picture. Xavier and Zara holding the Ragdoll cat, looking like a happy family of three. As if I were the outsider. I remembered how he used to hold that family photo like a treasure. “You and Stella will always be with me, right?” That family photo and his stubborn love once helped me through the darkest period of my life. But that Xavier in my heart had long died in my tears. I glanced at her slightly swollen pregnant belly and spoke with disdain. “Where’s your director? Call him here!” “Tell him the chairman of Sinclair Group wants to see him!” But Zara completely ignored my words and instead mocked me coldly. “Hope, even if you’re angry, there’s no need to pretend you’re rich! Everyone knows Miss Sinclair has never announced her marriage!” “If you’re jealous of me, just say so. No need to use such despicable tactics to steal the boss away.” I couldn’t help but laugh. When I first met Xavier, he was just a poor kid fresh out of school. To avoid pressuring him, I hid my identity. We got our marriage license but had no wedding. And now that’s become evidence she uses to slap me in the face! Xavier suddenly grabbed my wrist hard, his nails nearly digging into my flesh. “Hope, before you show off, shouldn’t you consider what you’re actually worth?” “Once I become director, who can stop me from marrying Zara!” He yanked me so hard I nearly fell to the ground. Xavier’s gaze fell on the bloodstain on the bandage on my forehead, and his tone softened slightly. “Making a scene won’t help! The director is on a business trip abroad and won’t be back until the handover ceremony.” Zara smiled smugly. “Hope, Director Smith is my father, and he’s the right-hand man of Ms. Sinclair from Sinclair Group. Do you think he’ll punish me and the boss for an outsider like you? What do you have to compete with me?” My right-hand man? No wonder Zara dared to be so unrestrained. I turned and left without lingering, heading to Stella’s grave. “You’re just showing off to get my attention. Don’t worry, I won’t agree to divorce. Stop being angry, okay?” Xavier was still spouting nonsense. I opened the photo Zara had posted of human specimens. It was Stella’s remains. “Care to explain, Xavier?” Xavier froze, then suddenly pulled me into his embrace, though his tone was dismissive. “Yes, I signed the body donation consent form. That’s because Zara’s technique with the scalpel isn’t steady yet and needs more practice. Don’t get upset.” “Besides, Zara looks somewhat like you. The child she gives birth to will probably look a lot like our Stella.” “Once she has the baby and the child calls you mommy too, consider it my compensation to you—” I slapped him hard across the face, my chest heaving violently. “What do you think my Stella is? Some defective product that can be replaced?” “Get out!” 3. Xavier and I parted on bad terms once again. Back home, I discussed divorce matters with my lawyer. Just as I was about to put down my phone, a livestream video notification caught my attention. The blood in my entire body rapidly froze. “Everyone! Welcome to the human anatomy teaching video. Please welcome our Nurse Zara!” By the time I rushed to the hospital, the operating table was a mess. Zara was holding a blood-stained scalpel, her face twisted with excitement. And my Stella lay there, pale and cold, on the operating table. “Stella—!” I instinctively rushed forward. Zara had no intention of stopping, and viciousness flashed through her eyes. The sharp scalpel sliced through my elbow. Searing pain instantly assaulted my nerves. Before I could curse at her, Xavier burst through the door. Immediately, a pig-like scream filled my ears. Xavier immediately shielded her behind him. Zara clutched her belly, crying out pitifully and innocently: “I was just practicing dissection… Why did she push me… Boss, I’m scared…” At these words, Xavier’s brow furrowed, his eyes carrying their usual annoyance. “Hope, even if you’re unhappy, you can’t lay hands on a pregnant woman!” I covered my still-bleeding elbow, my voice trembling with anger. “Are you blind, Xavier? Is the security camera just for decoration?” I was about to take Stella’s remains away, but he grabbed my wrist. “Apologize!” I struggled with all my might. The anger in his eyes could no longer be concealed. His nails dug deep into my wound, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead from the pain. “Hope, what’s happened to you? Zara is pregnant. You’ve been a mother too. Don’t you have any compassion?” “I’m so disappointed in you!” I should be the one saying that to him. Looking at my daughter’s disemboweled body on the operating table, my grievance and anger instantly broke through the floodgates. “Is that even human speech, Xavier? She disemboweled my daughter! And you want me to apologize to her?” Just then, Zara suddenly stepped forward, sobbing pitifully. “Hope, I know you’re jealous of me, but I’m already carrying the boss’s child.” “You can’t harm me and cause a miscarriage just because you lost your child and can’t stand seeing me pregnant!” Then Zara smiled viciously and pulled out a bone saw. The metal made a harsh scraping sound as it cut into flesh. “Stella—!” Ignoring the pain, I just wanted to stop Zara’s cutting motion. “Don’t go over there and cause trouble! Zara needs to do a live practice. So many eyes are watching the livestream. Do you have the heart to watch her make mistakes and be ridiculed?” “So what! You want me to just watch her desecrate my daughter? You’ll both pay for this!” At that moment, I desperately tried to break free from Xavier’s restraining hands. But my strength was no match for an adult male who worked out regularly. After the dismemberment was complete, the hands restraining me gradually loosened. I screamed until my voice gave out, the sound shrill as I shed two trails of bloody tears. “Xavier, without me! How could you have gotten where you are today?” “You actually cut open my daughter’s belly and displayed her bloodied body for everyone to see, to help your mistress practice?” “When you were in bed with her, weren’t you afraid Stella would come back to haunt you!” Xavier was momentarily stunned by my question, his face ashen. “I became director entirely through my own ability. What does it have to do with you?!” “Don’t throw all your dirty water on her. I was the one who decided to sign the body donation agreement! But that was also to accumulate merit for Stella, so she could have a better rebirth in her next life. How can you still blame me?” The day Stella’s heart condition relapsed, he had held that small hand and solemnly promised. “Stella, Daddy will keep you safe and help you grow up…” But now, he watched helplessly as his mistress desecrated my daughter’s body. I laughed coldly. I casually picked up the scalpel that had fallen to the floor and stabbed toward Zara! “You dare touch my daughter? I want you dead!!”

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When I returned from my business trip, I found my slippers still damp. I asked my wife Selena if we’d had any visitors. She paused for a moment, then smiled and answered: “How could that be? You know I’m terrible at socializing. I just stayed home alone all weekend.” I smiled noncommittally. When she went out shopping, I carefully checked every corner of the house. Someone had used the razor in the bathroom. The robe in the closet had been worn. Most egregious of all, an entire box of condoms was missing from the nightstand. Two days. Twelve condoms. Seemed like the guy had quite the stamina. I suppressed my rage and pulled out my phone to message the property manager: “Pull all surveillance footage from the past two days. Remember, this stays between us!” The next day when I got to the office, the surveillance email was already waiting in my inbox. I clicked it open and dragged the progress bar. The footage was clear, the timestamps precise. Starting three days ago, a man had indeed been frequently entering and leaving my home. The last recording stopped one hour before I arrived home: The elevator doors opened. He walked out with his arm around Selena’s waist. Outside the closed entrance door, they kissed passionately, unable to tear themselves apart. Selena’s hand even slipped inside his coat, with an initiative and fervor I’d never seen from her. I recognized him immediately. Gavin Sterling, Selena’s newly hired assistant. I’d seen his resume. Twenty-five years old, just back from studying in Europe. Six-foot-two, great physique, handsome face. The video froze on the image of him lowering his head to kiss Selena’s neck. A knock sounded at the door just then. The door opened, and in walked Gavin himself. He wore a perfectly tailored light gray suit that accentuated his height and long legs. His hair was impeccably styled, and his eyes carried the undisguised sharp energy of youth, even a hint of lazy arrogance. He held a file folder in his hands. “Mr. Carter. Ms. Hayes asked me to bring over this year-end bonus confirmation list. It needs your signature.” He walked to my desk and set down the folder. I looked up at him. He remained completely composed, even smiling at me. That smile carried some indescribable meaning. Usually with these kinds of documents, when Selena delivered them or had the secretary bring them, I’d basically scan the total amount and sign off. But today, I reached out, took the folder, and opened it. I flipped through page by page. The bonus amounts ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, consistent with the company’s performance this year. When I turned to the last page, my movement stopped. Gavin’s name read: Year-end bonus: one million dollars, plus a complimentary car. My gaze lingered on those numbers for two seconds before I looked up. Gavin. “Mr. Carter, is there a problem?” He inquired, his tone still polite, but with a hint of impatience. “Ms. Hayes is waiting for me.” I said nothing more and signed my name. “Thank you, Mr. Carter.” He took back the folder I handed him, flipped through to confirm the signature, and closed it. Just as he turned around, I clearly saw his lips move rapidly a few times. No sound, but the mouth shape distinctly formed three words: “Old bastard.”

He didn’t even bother closing the door as he left. I sat in my chair, unmoving. The cap of my pen slowly clicked back into place with a soft “click.” Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling across one corner of the desk, somewhat glaring. I pressed the intercom for my secretary. “Mr. Carter?” “Close the door.” “Yes, sir.” After a soft closing sound, the office returned to silence. I looked at the minimized icon of the surveillance email, my finger rubbing against the mouse, but ultimately I didn’t click it open again. Ten minutes later, the front desk called. “Mr. Carter, Ms. Hayes and Gavin just left together. They took… your Porsche.” “I see.” I hung up. I stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Downstairs, that black Porsche Panamera slowly drove out of the parking garage, merged into traffic, and quickly disappeared from view. The glass reflected my image—suited and expressionless. A few minutes later, I opened the in-car surveillance app. The image was clear, the audio crisp. Gavin’s left hand rested on the steering wheel, his right hand casually placed on Selena’s stockinged leg. His fingers stroked up and down with practiced familiarity. Selena had one hand on his arm, her face tilted slightly upward to look at him, her eyes and brows full of smiles, her cheeks flushed. The dignified beige suit jacket she’d worn at the office today had already been removed, tossed in the back seat. She wore only a silk blouse, the top two buttons undone. Where was even half the serious, professional demeanor she showed at the company? “You said earlier that he looked at it carefully?” Selena’s voice came through, carrying a soft coquettish tone and a trace of barely perceptible nervousness. “Flipped through several pages, even paused on mine.” Gavin chuckled lightly, his fingers tracing a line across her leg. “What, scared?” “I’m just a bit surprised.” Selena paused, her body leaning closer to him. “Usually with my documents, he never looks closely, just signs right away.” “You’re worried he noticed something?” Gavin glanced at her sideways, a smirk on his lips. “Relax, that old fool’s head is filled with nothing but business and money. Spends all day figuring out how to make the next million, never imagining he’s being played for a fool right under his nose.” Selena playfully swatted him, the force light: “That’s such an awful thing to say.” “Awful?” Gavin laughed out loud, his hand moving higher, slipping under the edge of her skirt. “There are even worse things I could say. Want to hear them? Yesterday, who was whispering in my ear—” “Shut up!” Selena covered his mouth, her face redder, but her eyes glistened with seductive charm. Red light. The car stopped. Gavin took the opportunity to grab her hand, pulling it to his lips and kissing her palm, then turned his head and kissed her. Not a chaste peck, but a deep and lingering kiss. Selena only gave his shoulder a token push before melting in his arms, her arms wrapping around his neck, responding fervently. I watched expressionlessly. Only when the car behind honked and the light turned green did Gavin reluctantly release her, licking his lips before driving on. Selena leaned back in her seat, straightening her disheveled hair and blouse, her chest rising and falling slightly, the flush still on her face. “Did you book the hotel?” She asked, her voice still slightly breathless. “Booked. The usual place.” “Suite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. You love that spot, don’t you?” “Mm.” Selena hummed softly, her hand returning to his leg, fingertips drawing circles. “So… what about my reward? I went to some trouble to balance those books. A million plus a car—those old fossils on the board nearly saw through it.” “I know my Selena is the most capable.” Gavin freed a hand to pinch her cheek, his eyes filled with undisguised desire and pride. “I’ll make sure to reward you properly later.” The car entered the busy commercial district, finally turning into a five-star hotel. I didn’t watch any further and closed the app.

Seven days later, the company annual gala. The banquet hall glowed brilliantly, crystal chandeliers illuminating clinking glasses below. I stood by the main table exchanging pleasantries with several board members, though my gaze occasionally swept toward the entrance. Selena and Gavin were the last to arrive. The two entered the hall side by side. Selena wore a wine-red off-shoulder gown, her makeup exquisite. The lingering flush on her cheeks was somewhat conspicuous, like the afterglow of a rushed arrival. Gavin walked beside her in a navy blue velvet suit, the youthful arrogance in his eyes completely unrestrained, even deliberately flaunted. I watched from a distance and let out a soft snort through my nose. I raised my glass, took a sip, and said nothing. “Mr. Carter.” Director Lewis beside me clinked glasses with a smile. “The company had excellent performance this year. We should be celebrating.” “Indeed we should.” I smiled back and drained my glass. After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The MC took the stage, voice energetic as he introduced tonight’s main event. The year-end bonus presentation. The hall erupted in cheers and applause, all eyes focused on the stage. I straightened my suit jacket and walked onto the stage. Taking the microphone, my gaze slowly swept across the crowd. Face after face filled with anticipation and excitement. Selena sat at the edge of the main table, posture elegant, though her hands resting on her lap tightened slightly. Gavin sat right beside her, back ramrod straight, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with complete certainty and pride. “First,” I began, my voice carrying through the speakers across the hall, “I want to thank everyone for their hard work this past year.” Thunderous applause. Following the list, I began announcing year-end bonuses one by one. Each name called brought an employee beaming to the stage, accepting their envelope with both hands and profuse thanks. Bonuses ranged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. Everyone wore broad smiles. Gavin watched the entire time. When a mid-level manager collected a two-hundred-thousand-dollar bonus, I caught him pulling his lips into what was nearly an undisguised sneer of contempt. He turned his head and said something quietly to Selena. She smiled with pursed lips and patted the back of his hand. The gesture was natural and intimate. Some in the audience noticed, casting curious glances their way. Gavin not only didn’t restrain himself but actually straightened his back even more, as if enjoying this secretive attention. Soon, the regular awards were distributed. The MC raised his voice appropriately: “Next up is tonight’s most exciting moment—the Annual Special Contribution Award!” “One million dollars cash, plus a BMW 7 Series!” The hall fell abruptly silent, then erupted in even more heated discussion. Everyone knew the weight of this award. “Who could it be? Maybe Vice President Smith?” “I think it’s Director Walker from Marketing. Their department doubled its performance this year.” “Could it be… Gavin?” someone said in a lowered voice. “He’s Ms. Hayes’ right-hand man.” Gavin clearly heard this remark. The curve of his lips deepened, a gleam of triumph in his eyes. Beside him, Selena gently smoothed her dress, maintaining a dignified smile on her face. I picked up the golden envelope and slowly opened it. “This year, the company welcomed a particularly special new member.” My gaze swept across the audience below. “She joined the R&D department less than six months ago, yet led the completion of the Starhaven Project’s core algorithm breakthrough, saving the company nearly ten million dollars and pioneering a new technical pathway.” Whispers began circulating below. Listening, Gavin’s triumphant expression slowly froze. Selena’s smile vanished as well. I continued: “She’s young, yet possesses astonishing talent and focus. She’s low-key, yet has achieved brilliant results.” “By unanimous decision of the board of directors, this year’s Special Contribution Award goes to…” I paused, my gaze landing precisely on Gavin’s face. His face had already begun turning pale, that smile frozen there like a crude mask. I withdrew my gaze and announced loudly: “From R&D, Quinn Rivers!” “Annual Special Contribution Award!”

Applause and cheers exploded simultaneously. The spotlight swept to an inconspicuous table in the corner. A young woman wearing black-framed glasses with her hair in a ponytail scrambled to her feet, her face written with bewilderment and disbelief. A colleague beside her gave her a push, and only then did she come to her senses, walking to the stage uncertainly. Gavin’s face, in that instant, turned completely purple. It was a color mixing shock, humiliation, and rage. He clenched his fists violently, knuckles white from the pressure, his previously straight back slightly hunched. He stared fixedly at Quinn on stage. Selena had clearly panicked as well. She quickly turned, one hand pressing on Gavin’s tense arm, her lips moving rapidly, saying something in a low voice. Gavin seemed not to hear at all, his chest heaving violently. Selena grew more anxious, finally secretly grabbing his hand under the table, her fingers tightly clasping his palm, trying to contain his about-to-explode emotions. From the stage, I saw everything clearly. Quinn had reached me, her face still dazed. I handed over the enormous bonus plaque and car key model. Her hands trembled as she received them. “Thank… thank you, Mr. Carter… thank you, company…” She was so excited she could barely form words. “You’ve earned it.” I smiled and shook her hand, patting her shoulder. Applause continued below. Many stood to cheer. Quinn clutched the awards, her face red as an apple, bowing repeatedly. After stammering through her acceptance speech, she walked off stage in a daze with her prizes. I cleared my throat and raised the microphone. “Everyone, quiet down please.” The banquet hall gradually fell silent, all eyes refocusing on the stage. “The year-end bonuses have been fully distributed.” “However, this year there is one more… very special reward.” Small commotion stirred below, curious whispers spreading. I nodded to my secretary standing at the side of the stage. She held a square gift box covered in deep blue velvet with silver ribbons, gleaming subtly under the lights. She walked onto the stage with steady steps and placed the box on the lectern before me. The box wasn’t large, but very refined. Gavin’s previously livid face underwent a change the instant he saw the box. The unwillingness and fury in his eyes receded like the tide, replaced by rekindled anticipation. He sat up straight, looking toward Selena. Selena also frowned slightly, confusion in her eyes. But soon, she gave Gavin an extremely subtle nod, as if reassuring him, or hinting at something. I reached out, lightly running my hand over the smooth velvet surface. “This reward has no set amount and isn’t related to performance.” My voice was steady, even carrying a trace of warm smile. “It only represents the company’s appreciation for a certain employee’s… unique ‘contribution.’” Gavin’s back straightened further, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably. His eyes flashed with “just as I thought” understanding and a trace of arrogance. He probably assumed the million dollars and car were just a public front, and this “special reward” was the real grand gift prepared for him. Perhaps an enormous check, or something even more valuable like equity or property keys? The audience speculated similarly, gazes moving between Gavin and me. I raised my head, precisely catching his gaze, and smiled slightly. “Gavin.” I called his name. In an instant, the anticipation on Gavin’s face reached its peak. He took a deep breath, straightened the navy velvet suit he wore, trying to appear composed, but the eagerness and pride in his eyes nearly overflowed. He walked to stand before me, his lips forming a smile that could be called brilliant. “Mr. Carter.” His voice rang out, unable to suppress his excitement. I didn’t say much, just gestured toward the box on the lectern. Gavin stepped forward and lifted the velvet box with both hands. It felt somewhat light. A flash of doubt crossed his eyes, but was quickly covered by greater anticipation. He turned to face the audience, holding up the box like displaying a trophy, glancing toward Selena. Then, facing the entire hall, he declared loudly: “Thank you, Mr. Carter! Thank you for the company’s recognition! I will definitely continue working hard and not disappoint this… special favor the company has shown me!” Scattered applause rose from below. Clearly, his popularity in the company wasn’t good. Selena in her seat also showed a relieved smile, gently clapping. Gavin looked triumphant, eagerly beginning to untie the silver ribbon on the box. The velvet lid was finally lifted. The smile on his face, the moment he saw what was inside, completely froze. Inside the box was no check, no keys, nothing of value. Only five chicken butts. Each one plump and glistening with oil.

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I was beaten to disability by the school bully and his gang, but my mom—a top-tier lawyer—became the defendant’s attorney. In court, she tore me apart with her words, delivering a flawless not-guilty defense for the guy who nearly killed me. All because that guy’s father was her benefactor who’d once funded her college education. When I confronted her, Mom said righteously: “Everyone is equal before the law. I can’t compromise my professional ethics just because you’re the victim.” “Jacob just got a little impulsive. I can’t bear to ruin his entire life.” Watching the assailant swagger out of the courthouse, I smiled. I pulled out the severance agreement I’d prepared from my bag and threw it in her face. “Since you’re so devoted to your professional ethics and repaying favors—” “I hope you can defend the rest of your life just as well.” Mom didn’t look at the agreement. To her, this was just another rebellious stunt from her teenage son. “Ethan, are you done with your tantrum?” She picked up the paper from the floor and, without even glancing at it, crumpled it into a ball and tossed it in the trash. “Tonight your Uncle Greg is hosting a party at The Golden Pavilion. You’re coming with me.” “Jacob will be there too. Perfect chance for him to apologize, and we can all move past this.” I stared at her in disbelief. Move past this? I was still in a wheelchair. The perpetrator had just walked free. And she wanted me to attend his party? “I’m not going.” I spat out three cold words and wheeled myself toward the exit. Behind me came Mom’s voice, seething with suppressed rage. “Ethan! Can’t you be less petty about this?” “Your uncle’s family doesn’t have much money. He spent half a month’s salary on this dinner.” “If you don’t go, you’re disrespecting me and disrespecting him!” I didn’t look back. I spun the wheels frantically, escaping this suffocating place. Outside the courthouse, the glaring sunlight made me dizzy. Dad’s car was parked by the curb. When he saw me come out, he rushed over, looking timid as always. “Ethan, how’d it go? What was the verdict?” Looking at this man who’d spent his whole life being a doormat in this family, I felt a wave of helplessness. “Not guilty.” Dad froze, his mouth hanging open, unable to speak. “How could… Your mom said it was just a formality, didn’t she?” “She said she’d try to get Jacob probation. How could it be not guilty?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Dad, your wife is a top-tier lawyer.” “Whoever she wants acquitted gets acquitted.” “Even if that person shattered her own son’s leg.” Dad wrung his hands, looking uncomfortable. “This… this… Your mom must have her reasons.” “That Greg guy really did help her…” “Enough.” I cut him off. “Take me to the hospital. I’m not going home.” Dad hesitated, glancing back at the courthouse entrance. “Um… Your mom just texted. She wants us to go straight to The Golden Pavilion.” “She said if we don’t go, she’ll freeze my credit card.” I looked at this man in front of me. Fifty years old, living like a dog. All his finances controlled by Mom. He didn’t even dare raise his voice. “Then you can go.” I pulled out my phone and called for an accessible ride-share. “I’ll manage on my own.” “Ethan! Don’t be like this…” Dad tried to grab me. I shook him off. “Dad, if you still want to call me your son, don’t go to that dinner.” “If you go, don’t bother visiting me again.” The ride-share arrived. The driver helped lift me into the car. Through the window, I watched Dad standing there, torn. Finally, he sighed and got into his own car. His destination: The Golden Pavilion. I closed my eyes. Tears finally streamed down. This was my family. A mom overflowing with misplaced kindness. A weak, incompetent dad. And me—the dispensable sacrifice in this household. At the hospital, I’d barely lain down when my phone started buzzing nonstop. On Ins, Jacob had posted a nine-photo grid. In the pictures, he raised a wine glass, beaming. Mom sat in the place of honor, smiling gracefully and elegantly. The caption read: “Thanks to Ms. Sullivan! Justice may be delayed, but it’s never denied! Cheers!” Justice? Fuck his justice. I opened the comments. Full of ass-kissing from Jacob’s loser friends. “Badass!” “Where’s the cripple? Not here drinking?” Jacob’s reply: “Probably crying at home, hahahaha.” I stared at the screen, fingers trembling. Suddenly, a new transfer notification popped up. From Mom. Amount: $2,000. Note: “Stop throwing tantrums. Buy yourself something nice to eat. I already told Greg he doesn’t need to pay your medical bills. Their family is struggling. We need to be understanding.” I stared at those words, my stomach churning. I wanted to puke. I hurled my phone at the wall.

I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, Mom never came to see me once. But Greg did show up—carrying a basket of rotten apples. He wore dust-covered work clothes and stood at my hospital room door with a simple, honest expression. “Ethan, Uncle came to check on you.” He set the apples on the bedside table and rubbed his calloused hands together. “Jacob doesn’t know his own strength, that kid.” “I already scolded him.” “Look, your mom got Jacob off the hook, so we’re even now, yeah?” Even? I looked at that basket of apples—probably picked from some roadside stand—and laughed bitterly. “My leg is worth this basket of rotten apples?” Greg’s expression flickered, but he quickly plastered on a smile again. “Hey, Ethan, you can’t put it like that.” “When your mom was in college, I scraped together that tuition from my own teeth.” “People need to have a conscience. Look how sensible your mom is.” “Besides, your family’s loaded. You’re not hurting for medical bills, right?” “My Jacob still needs to get married. Can’t have him saddled with debt.” In that moment, I finally understood the saying: “When people have no shame, they’re invincible.” This whole family were vampires. And my mom was the idiot who willingly offered her neck, complaining the blood wasn’t flowing fast enough. “Get out.” I pointed at the door. “Take your rotten apples and get out.” Greg’s smile froze. “What kind of manners do you have, kid?” “No wonder Jacob beat you up. You deserved it.” He stormed out cursing, carrying his apples. Before leaving, he spat on the floor. I rang the nurse’s bell and asked someone to disinfect. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. That afternoon, the head nurse came in with a billing statement. She didn’t look pleased. “Ethan, your account is overdue.” “If you don’t pay soon, we’ll have to stop your medication.” I froze. “Overdue? My mom… didn’t Ms. Sullivan pay?” The nurse shook her head. “Ms. Sullivan came yesterday and withdrew the $50,000 deposit.” “She said… she said the other party’s family is struggling, and she’s lending them the money temporarily.” “She told you to figure it out yourself.” A thunderclap in my brain. The last thread snapped. She withdrew my life-saving medical funds to give to the assailant who beat me? What kind of mother does this? My hands trembling, I borrowed the nurse’s phone to call Mom. It rang for a long time before she picked up. “Hello? Who’s this?” “It’s me.” Silence on the other end. Then came Mom’s impatient voice. “Ethan? Where’s your phone? Why are you calling from a strange number?” “Sullivan, did you withdraw my medical funds?” I called her by her first name. “How dare you talk to your mother like that?” Mom’s voice rose several octaves. “Greg’s family is buying a house in the city. They’re short on the down payment.” “I figured you wouldn’t spend much in the hospital anyway, so I lent it to them for emergencies.” “Don’t you still have birthday money in your account? Use that.” “People can’t be so selfish. You need to know gratitude.” Gratitude? She was taking my bones apart to show gratitude to someone else! “That’s my surgery money!” I screamed into the phone. “The doctor said I need a second reconstructive surgery next week, or I’ll be disabled for life!” “You gave the money to Jacob’s family for a house? Are you insane?” Greg’s voice came through the phone. “Oh, if Ethan really needs it urgently, we can hold off on the house…” Then came Mom’s firm voice. “Greg, don’t listen to this kid’s nonsense.” “Doctors just like to scare people. It’s not that serious.” “Buying a house is a big deal. Jacob’s about to get married—how can he do that without a house?” “Ethan, figure it out yourself. Stop bothering me.” “Beep beep beep…” She hung up. I held the phone, frozen. The head nurse looked at me sympathetically. “Ethan… why don’t you call your dad?” My dad? That man who had to ask for cigarette money? I shook my head. “No need.” “Please help me with the discharge paperwork.” “But your leg…” “I’m not treating it anymore.” Since this world was rotten to the core— I didn’t need to pretend to be a good son anymore. I went home once. While no one was there, I packed everything that belonged to me in that so-called “home.” Except for that severance agreement. I left nothing. My sneaker collection, limited-edition figures, and the gold bars I’d saved since childhood. I listed everything on resale platforms. Fire sale prices. Cash only. With that money, I rented a small apartment with an elevator in the neighboring city. Then I went to a private orthopedic hospital. Though I’d missed the optimal treatment window, the doctor said that with enough money, I still had hope of walking normally again. Just no more intense physical activity. I used to be captain of the school basketball team. Now I was a cripple who could barely walk straight. But I didn’t cry. I’d run out of tears that afternoon.

Half a month later. I was doing rehabilitation, drenched in sweat, gripping the parallel bars as I shuffled forward. The hospital room door burst open. Mom stormed in with Jacob and Greg, looking furious. Mom’s face was ashen. She clutched a document in her hand. “Ethan! What are you doing hiding out here?” “Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you?” I ignored her and continued moving my feet through gritted teeth. Every step felt like walking on knife points. Jacob chewed gum, looking annoyed. “Ms. Sullivan, I told you he was hiding.” “Such a drama queen. It’s just a broken leg, not like he died.” Mom slammed the document on my bedside table. “Sign this right now.” I glanced at it. A settlement agreement. For the school. “Jacob’s getting expelled for the fight.” Mom said self-righteously. “If you sign this settlement, admitting it was a mutual fight, the school will let him keep his enrollment.” “Jacob still needs to go to college. We can’t let this little incident ruin his future.” Mutual fight? I stopped moving, turned around, and stared at her. “Six people beating one. I spent the whole time with my head covered, taking hits.” “That’s a mutual fight?” “Ms. Sullivan, you can actually say that lie out loud?” Mom’s eyes flickered briefly, but she quickly regained her domineering demeanor. “As long as you say it is, it is.” “I’m a lawyer. I have ways to make it work.” “Just sign it. Stop wasting everyone’s time.” Greg chimed in from the side. “Yeah, Ethan, we’re all family. Why make things so tense?” “If Jacob gets expelled, how will he find work later?” “Why do you have such a rotten heart, kid?” I looked at these three people’s faces. Suddenly it all seemed absurdly ridiculous. “And if I don’t sign?” Jacob spat his gum on the floor and walked over, shoving me. I was already unsteady. I fell straight to the ground. My knee slammed hard against the floor. Searing pain shot through me. I screamed. Mom startled and instinctively moved to help me. But Jacob stopped her. “Ms. Sullivan, don’t spoil him.” “He’s just faking it.” “Ethan, let me tell you—today you’re signing whether you like it or not.” “Or I’ll beat your ass every time I see you.” He raised his foot, about to stomp on my broken leg. “Stop!” Mom finally shouted. Not to protect me. But because she was afraid of consequences. “Jacob, don’t! There are cameras here.” She pulled Jacob back and looked down at me on the floor. “Ethan, I’m asking you one last time. Will you sign or not?” “If you don’t sign, don’t expect another cent of living expenses from me.” “And don’t think about coming back to that house.” I lay on the ground, cold sweat pouring from the pain. But I laughed. “Home?” “The home that took my medical funds to buy the assailant a house?” “The home that defended the assailant and got him acquitted?” “Susan, did you forget?” “I already severed ties with you.” I pulled out my phone from my pocket. The screen showed a recording in progress. “Jacob pushing me just now, and you forcing me to sign a fake settlement—I recorded it all.” “This time, I won’t let you get away with it.” Mom’s face went deathly pale. “You… you set me up?” I braced myself against the floor and slowly got up. Like a dog with a broken spine, but with the eyes of a wolf. “You taught me, Mom.” “Everyone is equal before the law.” Mom panicked. She was a top lawyer. She knew better than anyone the importance of evidence. Jacob had just pushed me, causing secondary injury. Plus forcing a victim to sign a false settlement. If this got exposed, her career would be stained. “Ethan, give Mom the phone.” Her tone softened, trying to use family guilt. “We’re family. Let’s talk this out.” “Jacob just has a short temper. He didn’t mean it.” I stared coldly at her outstretched hand. “Jacob, grab the phone.” Greg shouted from the side. Jacob snapped to attention and lunged to grab my phone. I was ready. I hit send. The files uploaded directly to my cloud and simultaneously sent to several influencers I’d already contacted. “Too late.” I threw the phone on the ground. “It’s already out there.” Jacob stomped on my phone, crushing it, then grabbed my collar, ready to hit me. “You dare set me up?” Just then, the hospital room door crashed open. Several security guards rushed in, followed by my attending physician. “Stop! What’s going on here!” The doctor saw me on the ground, blood seeping from my leg, and erupted in fury. “The patient is in recovery! This is deliberate assault!” “Call the police! Call them now!” The police arrived quickly. Because this was a hospital—a public space—the offense was serious. Jacob was cuffed on the spot. Greg sat on the ground, throwing a tantrum, claiming I was scamming them. Mom stood in the corner, her face ashen. She looked at me, her eyes full of disappointment and heartbreak. “Ethan, you’ve disappointed me so much. Are you trying to destroy Jacob and me too?”

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I waited five years for my boyfriend to finally complete his mission and retire from the Special Forces, ready to come back and marry me. But then I found thirty-six farewell letters among his personal belongings. These letters were all written before he went abroad to carry out counter-terrorism missions, filled with his longing for the one he loved—but that person wasn’t me. Clutching my pregnancy test report with a shattered heart, I came to the snowy mountain peak, only to see him—always so proud—kneeling before Lillian Reed. “Lillian, give me a chance to redeem myself. If you’re willing, I’ll marry you right away.” His eyes were full of affection, his tone pleading. I tore up the pregnancy test report and scattered it across the snow mountain, deciding to leave. But on the day I ran from the wedding, he lost his mind. At the peak of a snow mountain 15,360 feet above sea level, I witnessed my boyfriend of seven years propose to someone else among the crowd. Adrian Cross, usually so cold and aloof, knelt on one knee. He held out a diamond ring, and the scene overlapped with the proposal I’d imagined he’d promised me. “Lily, I’ve thought about you every single day during these five years we’ve been apart. Will you marry me?” “If not for yourself, then for our child.” Amid the grating cheers and screams from passersby, Lillian Reed slowly extended her left hand. And just like that, the ring I’d waited five years for slipped onto her finger. Adrian stood up and pulled Lillian into his arms with trembling hands, then kissed her. As tenderly as if she were some priceless treasure. I clutched the crumpled pregnancy test in my hand, my heart feeling as though a blade had been driven through it. I turned and walked away, tearing up the test results as I went, scattering the pieces down the mountainside. Five years ago, Adrian told me he’d been selected by the organization to go to war-torn Country A to carry out counter-terrorism missions. He knelt before me, his expression pleading: “Luna, will you wait for me? Once the mission is over, I’ll come back and marry you.” Because of those words, I waited for him for five whole years, turning down any interest from other men. But now, my five years and the child in my womb had become nothing but a joke. On my way down the mountain, I ran into Adrian and Lillian again. Lillian rubbed her belly and huffed indignantly: “Adrian, after what Luna did to me back then, you have to help me get even with her!” Adrian smiled and asked: “What do you want to do?” “If you really want to marry me, then run away on the day of your wedding to her!” I hid nearby, clutching my swollen, aching foot, waiting for Adrian’s answer. We’d known each other for ten years, and he’d always been righteous, upstanding, and noble. I was curious which he would choose—morality or Lillian. “Alright, I promise.” Adrian’s cool voice drifted over. All the blood in my body seemed to freeze in an instant. Lillian giggled and collapsed into his arms: “Really? Aren’t you afraid she’ll be angry?” Adrian affectionately tapped her nose: “She’ll be angry, sure, but I risked my life to save hers once. If it weren’t for me, she’d be dead already.” “Running away from one wedding—she won’t say anything about it.” The injury on my leg suddenly flared with pain. I have an old injury in my right leg. Whenever I’m in cold places or during rainy seasons, it hurts unbearably. But to hear Adrian’s explanation with my own ears, I’d dragged this damaged leg up more than 13,000 feet of snowy mountain. My hometown is in a flat plains region. Between my leg injury and altitude sickness, I felt absolutely miserable. Still, I stubbornly needed an answer. I took a deep breath, forced down the pain in my chest, and made a phone call. “Hello, Mom? I miss you so much. Can I come visit?” My mother was stunned for a long moment before she responded. She quickly said: “Of course you can, Luna. Your room has always been ready for you.” “But…” She hesitated: “Aren’t you about to marry Adrian?” “If you come now, what about the wedding?” I paused. After all, Adrian was the one who saved my life. I didn’t want to tell my mother about his affair—I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle it. So I lied: “There’s no rush. Getting married is complicated, and we’re not ready yet. Besides, we haven’t seen each other in so long—don’t you miss me?” “Miss you, miss you so much.” My mother said joyfully: “Then Mom will wait for you.” After hanging up, thinking about these past seven years, I couldn’t help but curse myself for being so stupid. If I hadn’t seen those thirty-six farewell letters filled with Adrian’s love for Lillian, I might have still thought I’d won. On the way to the snow mountain, I kept telling myself it was fake, just a misunderstanding. After all, he’d once loved me so much he’d nearly died for me—how could he betray me? Until I saw Adrian propose to Lillian—the same Lillian who’d nearly gotten my entire family killed. He was even willing to publicly humiliate me for her sake. My thoughts were in chaos, and with my leg injury, I didn’t notice my footing and tumbled down the mountainside. At that exact moment, Adrian called me. “Luna, I’ll be back a bit late today, you—” Adrian stopped. The next second, his tone turned urgent: “Luna, why is it so noisy on your end? Where are you?”

I lay in the freezing snow, clutching my stomach, my face twisted in pain. When I didn’t respond, Adrian grew more anxious: “Say something, Luna!” My voice trembled: “I… I fell down the mountain.” “Which mountain?” “The one you know.” Adrian suddenly went silent. After a long pause, he asked: “Luna, why did you suddenly come here?” His tone couldn’t hide his guilt. I laughed, my eyes full of sarcasm. “Because five years ago you promised me you’d propose to me at the mountain peak. Now that you’re back, I wanted to familiarize myself with it in advance.” “I see.” Adrian let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, then immediately said: “Luna, wait for me. I’m coming right now.” By the time Adrian finally found me with Lillian in tow, I’d already been taken down the mountain by helpful bystanders to the emergency aid station. I lay in the hospital bed, looking at Lillian hiding behind Adrian and asking pointedly: “Why is she here?” Since he was planning to dump me anyway, was Adrian not even bothering to pretend anymore? Adrian said somewhat guiltily: “We just happened to run into each other. When she heard you’d had an accident, she wanted to come see you with me.” I laughed coldly and pointed out the window toward the distance, in the direction of the cemetery. “My brother is still buried there. How does she have the face to come here?” At my words, Lillian’s eyes immediately reddened. She pulled on Adrian’s sleeve, her voice plaintive: “Adrian.” Adrian patted the back of her hand soothingly, then turned around and self-righteously accused me. “Luna, Lillian came here out of kindness to see you, but you’re being so aggressive. Is this how your parents raised you? Apologize!” Lillian sobbed quietly to me: “Luna, I know you’ve resented me ever since what happened six years ago. Not only did I cause your brother’s death, I also left you with a permanent disability in your right leg.” “But I’ve always regretted it. I really know I was wrong. Please, for the sake of us once being best friends, can you forgive me?” Adrian watched Lillian’s aggrieved tears and couldn’t help but want to raise his hand to wipe them away. But when his peripheral vision caught me, he could only stiffly lower his hand. Seeing I remained unmoved, he quickly gave me a look, signaling for some kind of response. “Ha.” I let out a cold laugh and looked at Adrian. Even though I already knew he’d betrayed me, I still couldn’t control my reddening eyes: “Do you think I should forgive her?” Adrian sighed: “Luna, what happened back then was definitely Lillian’s fault. But she was just confused for a moment—the main responsibility doesn’t lie with her.” Momentarily confused? I only felt how laughably stupid I was. Back then, her father wanted to sell her to an old man as a wife. I felt sorry for her and begged my parents to take her in. My family treated her like their own daughter in terms of food, clothing, and expenses, never showing any favoritism. Whatever I had, she had too. But she colluded with criminals to sell out my brother. My brother was an undercover police officer. Six years ago, he’d infiltrated a criminal organization to collect evidence. Just as he was about to gather all the proof and close the net, his identity was suddenly exposed. The investigation revealed that Lillian had overheard my brother’s call with his superior and sold that conversation to the criminals for a hundred thousand dollars. And she wanted that money simply because she thought she wasn’t pretty enough and wanted plastic surgery. Because the information leaked, our entire family was targeted for revenge by the criminals. To protect me, my brother was blown to pieces by a bomb. Though I barely survived, my right foot was crippled. Even after recovery, I’d always walk with a slight limp. Thinking of this, I shook off his hand forcefully, my eyes full of a strangeness I’d never shown before, as if I’d never truly seen him for who he was. “Adrian, it wasn’t your family who died, it wasn’t your right foot that was ruined. What right do you have to tell me to forgive her?” “She didn’t do it with her own hands, true—but if it weren’t for her, would any of this have happened?” When I was kidnapped by the criminals, it was indeed Adrian who’d risked his life to save me. At seventeen, he’d fought hand-to-hand with the criminals and spent seven days in the ICU before he was saved. But I couldn’t use his life-saving grace as an excuse to tolerate everything without limits. Adrian’s face darkened. Stung by my unfamiliar gaze, he said angrily: “Luna, you bear half the responsibility for Lillian’s mistakes.” “You did help her, but when you were being kind, you didn’t consider her self-esteem because of your privileged background. That’s what twisted her psychology and made her do wrong.” “When she had no money for food, why did you give her money directly? You should have secretly helped her in other ways without letting her notice, protecting her dignity.” “If you’d considered Lillian’s feelings more back then, would things have turned out this way?” And in Lillian’s tear-filled eyes, there was now nothing but provocation. Where Adrian couldn’t see, she raised her middle finger toward the direction where my brother was buried. I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed the water glass from the table and threw it at them. “Get out! Both of you!”

I gripped the blanket tightly to keep myself from crying. Adrian had completely lost his patience too. His tone was irritable: “Luna, it’s been five years since this happened. No matter how deep the hatred, it’s time to let it go.” “Lillian has already paid for her mistakes. Why can’t you be more magnanimous and make peace? Do you have to drive her to death before you’re satisfied?” I looked at Adrian and found him terrifyingly unfamiliar. Back when I was kidnapped, he’d personally watched me kneel on the ground, holding my brother’s shattered body, sobbing in complete breakdown. To make Lillian pay, he’d hired the best lawyer and sent the then-underage Lillian to prison for five years. But now, he was telling me to let it go. I gave a bitter smile. “Even if Lillian killed herself in atonement, her worthless life wouldn’t make up for the sins she committed. Because of her, it wasn’t just my brother who died—many police officers on that mission were killed too.” “Adrian, do you know how many officers died in that operation? Thirty-one! Thirty-one people!” My eyes were bloodshot: “Someone like her should go to hell!” Adrian clenched his fists, his breathing ragged, clearly struggling to restrain himself. Just like when he’d ignored police orders and rushed forward to try to strangle the already-handcuffed Lillian. Adrian took a deep breath and said slowly: “I know losing your family was painful. But think about it—Lillian has had it so much worse than you. Her parents and brother never loved her, but you—at least your family loved you.” “Lillian causing your family’s deaths was wrong. But you insulting her today is also wrong. She apologized for what happened to your family, so you should apologize to her too.” “If you’re really this heartless, then everything you suffered—losing your family—is what you deserve!” I looked up at him in disbelief. Six years ago, many people blamed me for what happened, saying I deserved it. Out of guilt, I developed severe depression. When I used a razor blade to cut my wrists, it was Adrian who’d snatched the blade from my hand, letting his own hand get sliced until it bled profusely. He’d held me tightly and said it wasn’t my fault, that from then on he’d protect me in my brother’s place. But now, he’d become like those people, saying everything I’d suffered was my own fault, that I deserved it. Because of the heartache, I didn’t even realize I was bleeding until I felt warmth beneath me and knew I was miscarrying. The white bed sheet was instantly stained red, but Adrian remained completely oblivious. He continued his relentless lecture. Until I clutched my stomach, my face deathly pale, and said: “Hospital… take me to the hospital.” Adrian frowned: “I say two words to you and you start faking being sick again.” Just then, Adrian suddenly noticed the blood on the bed. He froze, then tremblingly lifted my blanket. When he saw what was underneath, he let out a sigh of relief. “I thought something serious happened. Turns out the bandage on your foot just came loose.” Adrian had only lifted the blanket casually, and with the bandage on my right foot having just split open, he mistook the blood for coming from that wound. “Wait here, I’ll get you a doctor.” Adrian was about to leave when Lillian suddenly stumbled after seeing the blood on the bed. Adrian quickly caught her, his tone anxious: “What’s wrong?” Lillian leaned against him, her voice weak: “Ever since what happened six years ago, I’ve been afraid of anything bloody. Whenever I see blood I get dizzy. My therapist says it’s psychological trauma.” She cried until her face was covered in tears, and before Adrian could react, she fainted. “Lily, wake up! Don’t scare me!” Adrian immediately gathered Lillian in his arms, his voice urgent, his eyes full of concern. Adrian had always been steady. Six years ago, before he’d even joined the Special Forces, he’d dared to infiltrate the criminals’ hideout alone to save me. But after just six years, he was holding Lillian and leaving—just like he’d once held me. I lay in the bed, feeling the pain from my abdomen. In the emergency room, a nurse called my emergency contact. But after seven consecutive calls went unanswered, Adrian finally sent me a message after the seventh attempt. “Reflect on yourself.” Then he turned off his phone. I said to the doctor: “If this child can’t be saved, don’t force it.” When I came out of surgery, touching my abdomen that no longer held life, I booked a ticket to France.

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When I pushed open the front door, Christmas dinner had just been set on the table. Mom poked her head out from the kitchen: “Is Claire home? Go wash your hands, we’re about to eat!” Dad sat in his usual spot, clutching the TV remote in his hand. Everything was exactly the same as the past twenty-six Christmas Eves. Until I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Thirty seconds. I was only gone for thirty seconds. When I came back, a strange man was sitting in Dad’s seat. A strange woman walked out of the kitchen carrying a soup bowl, her hair styled in trendy curls. It was still the same elm wood dining table, the same dishes, even the tableware hadn’t moved. But the people eating—they had all changed. Seven strangers, sitting around my family’s dining table, eating my family’s Christmas dinner. “Who are you people? Where are my parents!” My voice was shaking. All seven of them looked up at once. The white-haired old man in the head seat put down his fork: “Miss, who are you looking for?” “This is my house!” The curly-haired woman laughed first: “Miss, you must have the wrong place. This is our home.” “That’s impossible!” I pointed at the table. “This table has a burn mark on the lower left corner. I made it when I was seven.” Everyone looked down. The burn mark was indeed there. “Coincidence.” The curly-haired woman said. I pointed at the ceramic bowl: “This soup bowl has my name carved on the bottom—Claire . I carved it when I was ten.” They didn’t touch the bowl, but their expressions changed. The white-haired old man stood up: “Miss, I don’t know how you know these things, but this really is our home. My name is Robert Williams, this is my son James, his wife Sarah, and their children…” I didn’t answer. I turned and rushed into the inner room. My bedroom door was open, but inside it had become a children’s room. Family photos of strangers hung on the wall—the seven people currently at the dining table. James stood up: “Dad, what’s going on?” I finally broke down: “I should be asking you that! Thirty seconds ago when I came in, this was my parents’ house! Thirty seconds later, it became yours! The food hasn’t changed, the table hasn’t changed—where are the people? Where are my parents?” Sarah’s face turned pale: “Miss, are you… having hallucinations? We’ve been preparing dinner since this afternoon…” “Hallucinations?” I dragged over my suitcase, opened it, and pulled out a photo frame. The frame held a picture of me and my parents, taken last Christmas in this same living room. The photo was passed around among the seven people. James’s voice came out dry: “This photo… it’s photoshopped, right?” “I have videos on my phone too!” I patted my pockets. Strange, where was my phone? “Is that phone on the shoe cabinet by the entrance yours?” Sarah spoke up to remind me. I looked at her suspiciously, then found my phone where she said. I opened my recent files. It was a screen recording of a video call with Mom from ten days ago, the background identical down to the smallest detail. But halfway through the video, Mom’s image suddenly distorted. Amid the buzzing static, Mom’s face shook and warped, then transformed into Sarah’s face. Sarah in the video smiled at the camera: “Claire honey, when are you coming home for the holidays?” The phone clattered to the floor. By the time I picked it up, the video had returned to normal. From beginning to end, it was my mother. “What’s going on!” I jerked my head up. “Did you tamper with the video when I wasn’t paying attention!” Robert sighed: “Miss, if you can’t even tell what’s real in your own phone videos, I suggest you go to the hospital and get your head checked. Stop making a scene.” “I’m not making a scene! You’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you!” James’s face darkened: “If you keep talking nonsense, I’m calling the police.” “Go ahead! Let the police come see whose house this really is!” James really did call the police. During the twenty-minute wait, we remained at an impasse. The Williams family continued eating, though half-heartedly. I sat on my suitcase, staring intently at them, at this house. That door leading to the balcony—the paint had chipped off the lower right corner when I crashed into it with my tricycle as a child. The clock on the wall was the Roman numeral style Dad loved. Even the smell in the air was exactly the same as in my memories. How could this not be my home? The police finally arrived—one older, one younger. The older officer showed his badge. His name was Officer Mitchell. After hearing both our accounts, he frowned deeply. “You say this is your home. Do you have proof?” I pulled out property documents: “The homeowners are David and Linda—my parents.” Officer Mitchell looked them over, then turned to Robert: “And yours?” Robert produced property documents. Officer Mitchell compared the two documents, his frown deepening.

“They’re both real. Same address, same number, but different owner names. Issue date… both July 15, 2005.” “That’s impossible!” James and I said simultaneously. “See for yourself.” It was true. The certificate numbers were identical. The younger officer ran a search. Half a minute later, he looked up with a confused expression: “The system shows the owner is Robert Williams. David … no record found.” “What do you mean no record found!” I grabbed the police tablet. In the search results, both David and Linda ‘s names were followed by red exclamation marks displaying [DATA DOES NOT EXIST]. Officer Mitchell wiped his brow: “Miss, did you get the address wrong?” “I grew up here! I remember every single scratch on these walls!” I rushed to the TV cabinet and yanked open the bottom drawer with force: “Look! There’s a hidden compartment here—it’s where my dad used to hide money!” The drawer opened. The compartment was still there, but it was empty. James’s voice was calm: “This girl’s mental state might not be quite right. It’s Christmas, we don’t want to make things difficult for her, but she’s disrupting our holiday.” Officer Mitchell looked at me: “Miss, why don’t you find somewhere else to stay. After the holidays…” I interrupted: “I’m not leaving. This is my parents’ house. I have to be here tonight! Who knows where they’ll take my parents if I leave!” Sarah screamed: “What are you talking about!” Just then, Officer Mitchell’s phone rang. He answered and walked outside. Through the glass, I could see him nodding continuously, his expression growing more serious. Two minutes later he came back in: “I just received notification that David and Linda are involved in a financial dispute and fled the country this afternoon. This house… was mortgaged to Mr. Williams last month.” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning: “That’s impossible! I talked to them on the phone this morning!” “You can check the immigration records.” Officer Mitchell handed me his phone. On the screen were two familiar photos. Mom and Dad’s passport information. Departure time: 3 PM today. Destination: Cambodia. “This has to be fake!” I shouted. “Why would they run? They’ve always lived honest lives—where would a financial dispute come from?” “That requires further investigation. But right now, the house does belong to the Williams family. If you keep causing trouble, we’ll have to take you in for disturbing the peace.” “The evidence is conclusive.” Officer Mitchell put away his phone. “please leave.” I had no choice but to be forced out of what used to be my home. Late at night, I bought bread at a convenience store and sat on the sidewalk eating it. I called my parents several times. Each call went to [TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE]. “Mom, Dad, where did you go! I clearly saw you before I washed my hands for dinner!” Thinking about this, my tears stubbornly fell to the ground. In my phone gallery, I flipped through photos of my parents one by one. Last year’s birthday—Mom making me dinner while Dad snuck bites of cake. Family mountain hike—Dad panting from exhaustion while Mom laughed at his lack of exercise. Our chat messages stopped yesterday afternoon. Mom had written: [Dinner’s ready, just waiting for you to come home and eat.] Dad sent a cash gift: [For my girl to buy snacks.] Dad’s latest Instagram post was from three days ago, sharing a health article. Before that was last week’s photo of a gathering with old colleagues. He looked so happy. A relative had commented below: [Get together in a few days?] Dad replied: [Sure, once my daughter comes home we’ll all meet up.] That reply was timestamped yesterday at 4 PM. But the immigration records showed they’d already left the country at 3 PM today. All their social media accounts were updating normally, as if they were still somewhere living their ordinary lives. Except I couldn’t reach them. Except their home had been taken by strangers.

No, I won’t accept this! I stood up, dragging my suitcase, and knocked on the door next door. Mrs. Harper opened it—the woman who’d watched me grow up since childhood. “Mrs. Harper! It’s me, Claire!” I grabbed onto her like a drowning person clutching a life raft. “Something happened to my family! My parents are missing, and a group of strangers has taken over our house! Did you see my parents today? They…” “Claire? Are you confused? The house next door… that’s the Williams family. They’ve lived there for years.” I froze: “Mrs. Harper, what are you saying? That’s David ‘s house—my house! You came to borrow sugar from us last month, and my mom baked you cookies…” “That never happened!” Mrs. Harper suddenly raised her voice. “Young lady, don’t make things up! I don’t know any David !” With that, she slammed the door shut. I stood in the cold wind, chilled to the bone. I went to knock on other neighbors’ doors. The answers were all variations on the same theme: “Never heard of them.” “Miss, did you get the wrong address?” “That house has always been theirs. We all know them.” Just as I was losing all hope, I saw elderly Mrs. Murphy about to take out her trash. I rushed over and grabbed her hand: “Mrs. Murphy, you know my parents, right? Tell me where they went!” But Mrs. Murphy shook off my hand forcefully, quickly closed her door, and didn’t even take out the trash. I stood on the street, looking at door after door shut tight, and suddenly felt the whole world spinning. Could it be… I really did remember wrong? Could the parents I saw when I first came home just be my hallucination? I stumbled back to the front of the house. Through the glass window, I saw those seven people enjoying their meal harmoniously. The little girl pointed at something on TV and laughed. Sarah brought her fruit. Robert poured wine with a beaming smile. Everything looked so normal, so normal it was as if they’d been living here for twenty years. And I was like an intruder who didn’t belong, like a crazy person. No, wait—why am I starting to doubt myself? I shook my head, quickly pushing that thought away. Over the next two days, I haunted the area like a ghost. I checked into a small hotel and squatted across from the house before dawn every day, watching that door. On the morning of the third day, I blocked Sarah as she went out to buy breakfast. “Give me back my parents!” I stood in front of her, my eyes bloodshot. Sarah jumped, then composed herself: “Miss, why are you still here? Wasn’t what the police said clear enough?” “Those must have been fake police! You’re all definitely working together!” My voice was hoarse. “Tell me right now—where are my parents!” I grabbed her arm to keep her from leaving. Sarah shook me off forcefully and shouted loudly: “Help! A crazy person is attacking me!” Several neighbors out for morning exercise gathered around. Sarah pointed at me and said to everyone: “It’s this girl. On Christmas Eve she broke into our house claiming it was hers, saying I stole her parents! The police already came, and she’s still causing trouble!” The neighbors looked at me with suspicion, pity, but mostly the desire to keep their distance. “Looking at her, her mental state really isn’t right.” “Poor thing.” “Keep your distance, don’t get involved.” I looked at these familiar faces. The way they were looking at me now—like I was a stranger, a lunatic.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “355475”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn