Category: English

Two girls in court. One was our daughter. One was his first love’s daughter. As a lawyer, my husband chose to defend hers. Later, his first love’s daughter, the defendant, walked free. Our daughter, the plaintiff, lay dying in a hospital bed. Frantically, I kept calling him. He just hung up. My daughter’s desperate voice echoed. “Mom, why doesn’t Dad believe me?” I held my daughter’s lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. My heart shattered, I drafted the divorce papers. “Mommy…it hurts so much. Everything hurts.” My daughter’s face was a mask of agony. Her small body was a map of violence, bruises, torn nails, not an inch untouched. “Lily, hold on. Please, just hold on.” I stroked her hair, tears streaming down my face. My heart was a fist clenched in a vise. I ached to crush her to me, but I was afraid of adding to her pain. “Why won’t Daddy come? Why doesn’t he believe me? Is he mad at me? I didn’t bully anyone.” I dialed David’s number. Disconnected. Again. Disconnected. “Lily, don’t sleep. Daddy’s coming. He’s on his way. Stay with me!” She managed a ghost of a smile, sweat shining on her brow. “Mommy, don’t cry.” “Mommy… if I get better, I want to go… I want to go with… you and Daddy… to the amusement…” Thud. Her hand fell. A soft, final sound. The color drained from her face, leaving a terrible, lifeless purple. There was no hope left. I couldn’t hold back any longer. A scream tore from my throat, raw and guttural, until my voice shattered. My face was a mask of tears and utter desolation. I knew what Lily had meant to say. Four years ago, on her birthday, David had promised to take her to an amusement park. He never went. He was too busy with Rachel, his first love, and her daughter. Four years. A whole four years! He’d taken Rachel’s girl to every park, every place Lily had dreamed of. Just then, My phone buzzed. A text from David popped up. “What now? Your calls are disruptive. Rachel and Megan are still shaken from the trial. I’m with them. Can this wait?” I stared at the screen. A numb, buzzing silence filled my head. My daughter was dead. And he was comforting the killer’s family?!

I called David the day Lily was bullied. I needed him to help us sue Rachel’s daughter, Megan. Before I could even speak, he was ranting. “Sarah, look what you’ve raised! She assaulted Megan! You’ve completely spoiled her! You should be on your knees thanking God Megan is fine, because if she weren’t, I’d make sure you both paid” His lies twisted my stomach. “You have it backwards! Lily is the victim! That little monster you’re coddling did this!” Before I could finish, a girl’s hysterical sob erupted from his end. “Mommy, I don’t want to live anymore.” “Megan, sweetheart, I’ll protect you, okay? I won’t leave you!” David said, his voice soothing. The line went dead, leaving me with nothing but the dial tone. Desperate for justice, I hired another lawyer to take my daughter’s case. I never expected to see David in court. He stood beside Rachel, holding Megan’s hand, looking like a picture-perfect happy family. Heartbroken, I rushed forward, grabbing David’s collar. “David? You’re defending them? She bullied your daughter!” He shook me off, his face contorted. “Lily is a liar. You’ve spoiled her rotten. Look at Megan’s face! She won’t even apologize. And you have the audacity to sue? She’s arrogant and vicious, just like you” His brow was deeply furrowed, his eyes filled with displeasure. Arrogant? Vicious? He used such hurtful words to describe his own daughter? I thought of Lily fighting for breath in her hospital bed, and the hatred that shot through me was pure and cold. “David, you’d better pray Lily makes it. Otherwise, I’ll haunt you even from the grave!” David angrily started to say something, but Megan “timidly” spoke up from beside him. “Uncle David, I’m scared.” David immediately shot me a displeased look. “Sarah, stop being so unreasonable. You’re frightening her. Get back to your seat.” He turned and squatted down, his expression instantly transforming. His voice was so gentle it could melt butter. “Don’t be scared, Megan. I will protect you, remember? Uncle David is your prince.” Watching David patiently comfort Megan, my heart shattered. He had never spoken to Lily like that. Whenever Lily wanted to play with him, he would always sigh and say he was busy. Now he treated someone else’s child like a treasure? Inevitably, I lost the case. David was Rockford City’s top lawyer. Because he refused to help, and time was short, I could only find a decent one. But I never, ever thought David would stand on the defense side, helping Rachel and Megan. I had thought that even if David mistakenly believed Lily was at fault, he was still Lily’s father; he wouldn’t actually appear against us. But I never imagined he would be such an animal, helping Megan get off scot-free! All sorts of sorrow, anger, and disappointment surged through me like a gale, shattering my heart into a million pieces. I couldn’t help but want to confront him, to make him understand. But then, I received the news that my daughter was critically ill at the hospital.

Rachel was adopted into the Miller family as David’s younger sister. When rumors of an improper relationship between them surfaced, Mrs. Miller moved quickly. To protect the family’s reputation, She sent Rachel abroad and arranged for David to meet me. David, Rachel, and I had grown up together. Mrs. Miller was very fond of me and knew I had always liked David. Unfortunately, David didn’t like me back then. After Rachel went abroad, I stayed by David’s side, trying to cheer him up, and he slowly started to accept me. For all those years, even if our marriage wasn’t full of passionate love, we at least lived with a quiet respect. Until Rachel returned four years ago. David said Rachel had gotten married abroad, but her life was miserable. Her husband had constantly abused her, and she had barely managed to escape. David said he was her brother and should help and care for them, helping them through their tough times. So, David bought them a house in Rockford City’s best neighborhood. And he slid Megan into the elite high school which Lily had to claw her way into. I’d once asked David to buy a house near the school, to secure Lily’s enrollment and take the pressure off her commute. But what had David said then? He shut it down without hesitation. “Monthly mortgage payments are too much pressure. And Lily should get into her dream school through her own efforts.” Why did everything he said change when it was for someone else? But I told myself we went way back, and they had seemed genuinely happy together at the time. Even though I only got together with David after Rachel left, I felt a little guilty deep down. I told myself it was just to compensate them. But then, shortly after, the school called me, urging me to come immediately, saying Lily had been in a fight and was injured. I was stunned. Lily had always been a sweet, quiet girl. How could she possibly get into a fight? I rushed to the school and found my daughter, soaking wet, lying on the floor of the school bathroom… Her fingernails had been ripped off, and her body was covered in bruises. Standing nearby was a triumphant Megan, with several other scared girls hiding behind her. Seeing this scene, there was nothing left to misunderstand. Overwhelmed with grief, I quickly took Lily to the hospital. On the way, my daughter woke up once, continuously muttering. “Mommy, Megan… hit me… it hurts so much, Mommy, save me…” My heart was twisted in a knot. I swore I would get revenge for my daughter! When filing the lawsuit, I went to the school to get the surveillance footage. The school insisted there were no cameras inside the bathroom. But when I surveyed the school before Lily chose it, I saw that while there were no cameras inside the bathroom, there was one about a yard away. Given where my daughter was lying, it should have been able to show how Megan forced my daughter. I knelt and begged them, but they claimed that camera was broken. Even if the camera was broken, so many people were present, and those girls with Megan must have been involved. There had to be human witnesses. I demanded the school hand over those girls. Several teachers, annoyed by my persistence and wanting to protect the school’s reputation, the principal found me and urged me to keep it quiet, to handle it discreetly.

Lily was gone. I aged a decade in a breath. I forced myself to pull myself together, calling each family member one by one. Soon, my parents and my brother, Daniel, arrived. The sight of them broke me. The pain I’d forced down erupted all over again. “Mom, Lily’s gone… Lily’s gone!” The whole family gathered around Lily and me, their faces filled with grief. Daniel carefully stroked Lily’s hand. “Oh my God… who could have done such a monstrous thing?! Lily was only thirteen, how could anyone do this to her?” Daniel’s eyes were bloodshot. “Where’s David? What kind of father is he?” I trembled all over, my eyes burning with bitter resentment. “Him? He’s too busy with Rachel, falling over himself to be a father to her daughter.” “His own child is gone, and he’s with hers?” Daniel roared. “He’s not a father. He’s a monster!” My parents were silent. Their hands trembled. No parent should face this. No one. My father forced strength into his step, his hand heavy on my shoulder. “What are you going to do now?” My parents knew how much I used to love David. They were so happy for me when I married him, but now… I looked up, a surging tide of hatred threatening to drown me.

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After being killed by my sister, I could only watch as she wore my face and stepped over my corpse to return to my husband. She copied my voice, stole my habits, and forced herself into my life. But the moment Adrian came home, his brief hesitation cut through her manufactured perfection like a blade. I realized he had already sensed something was wrong. And my sister had no idea—she was about to face a man far more terrifying than she ever imagined. Today is the day Adrian Hawthorne returns from overseas. He’s been out of the country for over two months, and I’ve already been dead for a week. My sister, Faye Dawson, nervously stood as Adrian entered the house. “Adrian, have you had dinner yet? I had the housekeeper make your favorite—pumpkin soup.” This should’ve been their first time meeting. Yet Adrian didn’t seem to notice that his wife had been swapped. Faye had really done it—altered herself from head to toe to look exactly like me. Adrian handed his suitcase to one of the staff and rubbed his temples. “I’ll have a bowl.” Faye smiled, perfectly mimicking my gestures and mannerisms, exactly as she’d seen on hidden camera footage. Following behind Adrian, she entered the dining room. “Mrs. Jenkins, get a bowl of pumpkin soup for Mr. Hawthorne.” Adrian glanced at her briefly. Though there were plenty of staff, I had always preferred to do things myself. I never felt comfortable ordering people around, even though I’d been living in Harbor City for almost two years now. Before I married Adrian, I lived in a quiet rural town in South Carolina. And truth be told, Faye was supposed to be the one marrying Adrian. The Dawsons and Hawthornes had been close for generations. The Hawthorne family was second in influence in Harbor City—nobody dared claim first. Years ago, our grandfathers had arranged for a marriage between Adrian and Faye. But after both passed away, Adrian’s family was betrayed in the business world. Adrian’s father, in a last-ditch effort, tried to revive the old engagement, hoping the Dawsons would come to the rescue. But my father had already been courted by other powerful players, ready to divide Hawthorne Holdings, caring little for past loyalties. The Hawthornes went bankrupt. Adrian’s father died shortly after, and his mother vanished from Harbor City with Adrian and their butler. Two years ago, Adrian returned with Hawthorne Holdings, crushing every major player in the city. Anyone who had wronged the Hawthornes wasn’t spared—either left buried in debt or sent to prison. Businessmen quietly thanked their stars that this was happening domestically. Adrian’s ruthless reputation abroad was notorious. By the time the Dawsons were nearly bankrupt from Adrian’s moves, my father remembered the old marriage agreement. Faye, fearing Adrian’s wrath, begged me to take her place and marry him instead. My father, like many businessmen, was deeply superstitious. On the day Faye was born, my father landed a major deal, one that propelled the Dawson family to new heights. But on the day I was born, the deal went sour, and the Dawson family lost half its fortune. He believed Faye brought him luck, while I brought him ruin. If it hadn’t been for my grandfather, who fought to keep me alive, I’m certain my father would’ve drowned me at birth. Instead, he told everyone I was ill and sent me “overseas” to recuperate. The truth? I was abandoned in a small southern town, raised by a blind widow. Faye’s name symbolized peace and safety, while my father named me “Early Death.” He hoped I would die young and not curse the family’s fortune. The widow, who cared for me, pitied me and secretly changed my name to Elara. Though I escaped an early death, I still ended up dying young.

Faye snapped back to reality and spoke softly, “I’ve been feeling lightheaded lately. I was afraid I might drop the bowl.” Adrian stared at her for a moment. Faye swallowed hard. I saw the flash of panic in her eyes. How ironic. The night she stabbed me in the heart, she twisted the knife, just to make sure I didn’t survive. Now, she was pretending to be weak. Faye quickly changed her mind, “I’ll get it for you.” Adrian looked away and walked into the dining room. “No need. If you’re unwell, you should rest.” I froze for a moment. In two years of marriage, he’d never told me to rest. Now, after I’m dead, I hear it for the first time. It’s odd, though. Despite my frail health when I first arrived at the Hawthorne mansion, I didn’t get sick much in the last year. Two years of sharing a bed, and I finally mustered the courage to whisper his name in his ear. I wanted him to go to the Dawson mansion and get me out of there. Grandma Dawson had passed away, leaving me with no one to care for. Though I was furious about how I died, living had also felt exhausting. The freezer was cold—too cold for me. I’d always had poor circulation, and I just wanted a warm, sunny place to rest. And when I overheard them talking about dismembering my body, I was terrified. If I died in pieces, I’d rather have been drowned as a baby, at least then I would’ve been whole. I’d rather be burned to ash and have my body intact in death. Unfortunately, Adrian didn’t react. He just picked up the bowl and started eating. “I heard you’ve been going out a lot recently?” Hearing him ask that, I brightened a little. I knew no one in Harbor City aside from the Dawsons. On my wedding day, my parents had told me that if I didn’t want Grandma Dawson to lose her medicine, I should do everything I could to please Adrian Hawthorne. As long as the Dawson family remained stable, the medication wouldn’t stop. Once married off, I was told not to return. So after moving into the Hawthorne mansion, aside from an occasional trip to the grocery store, I hardly ever left the house. No wonder Adrian thought it strange. Faye replied sweetly, “The weather’s been unpredictable lately. My parents got sick, so I went to visit them.” Her mention of our parents reminded me of the night she tried to kill me. I fought back with all I had. But my mother, worried I’d hurt Faye, joined my father in holding me down. In that moment, all the strength left my body, and I let the knife sink into my heart. Adrian didn’t say much. “Better to go out than sit at home bored,” he commented indifferently. I felt defeated. Adrian, so cautious and suspicious by nature, hadn’t noticed anything strange. And now he was saying things to Faye he’d never said to me. On our wedding day, my parents had smiled apologetically at Adrian, telling him that I was to repay the Dawson family’s debts. He could do whatever he wanted with me—I was at his mercy. The Dawsons wouldn’t complain. Adrian hadn’t treated me as an outlet for his frustrations, but he was distant and cold. After the soup, the two of them headed to the bedroom. Faye sat expectantly on the bed, watching Adrian as he finished getting ready. Just as he leaned down toward her, his phone rang. He answered the call, quickly dressed, and left. I wasn’t surprised—he was probably going to deal with some urgent business at the company. Faye looked disappointed but smiled when he turned back. “You’re wearing too much perfume. I liked it better before,” he commented before walking out the door. Faye froze, then quickly lifted her arm to sniff herself, confused when she didn’t smell anything.

Faye hurriedly called Mrs. Jenkins into the bedroom. “Can you smell perfume on me?” Mrs. Jenkins leaned close, sniffing Faye’s arms and neck. “No, I only smell your shampoo.” Faye frowned, pacing back and forth. “When you worked for Elara, what did she smell like?” Mrs. Jenkins thought for a moment. “She didn’t wear perfume. She never used any of the bottles in her cabinet. Honestly, she smelled of nothing—like she didn’t care to enjoy life.” Mrs. Jenkins had been hired by my mother six months ago, supposedly to help me with herbal broths since I hadn’t conceived. I was thrilled by my parents’ sudden care for me. Even though Mrs. Jenkins never cooked for me, it filled me with hope that maybe, just maybe, my parents had started to care. But I later learned that from the moment Mrs. Jenkins stepped into the house, she was part of the plan. Her real job was to observe my habits and secretly film me, so Faye could perfect her impersonation. Faye smirked at Mrs. Jenkins’ remarks. “Not just unlucky—she was doomed from the start.” Mrs. Jenkins seemed puzzled. “Doomed?” Faye’s smirk faltered for a moment before she recovered and delivered her rehearsed line. “She was always sick. The old widow who raised her was constantly begging my parents for more money to take her to the doctor.” “All that woman ever did was ask us for money. A beggar raising another beggar! Elara was so pathetic, trying to do everything herself. No wonder she couldn’t even manage the house staff.” I lunged at Faye, throwing punches and kicks, but my fists went right through her. The Dawsons had only sent money for the first few years, and after that, Grandma Dawson paid for everything herself, collecting scraps to raise me. They only remembered me when they needed someone to take the fall. Mrs. Jenkins suggested, “Why don’t you wash your hair again? Maybe it’s leftover shampoo from your place that hasn’t worn off yet.” “Elara wasn’t picky about these things. She just used whatever Hawthorne Holdings provided. She wasn’t nearly as particular as you are.” Faye pursed her lips, irritated. “I wash my hair every day—why isn’t it gone yet? I’ll wash it again later.” Faye sent Mrs. Jenkins out of the room and then dialed a number. “Master Evans, have you trapped Elara’s ghost like you promised?” I hovered near the phone, listening to the reply on the other end. “Don’t worry, I’ve bound her soul to the amulet. She won’t even have a chance to reincarnate!” I rolled my eyes as I floated around the room. Master or not, the man had no spine. He sounded more like a salesman desperate to keep his business.

Adrian didn’t return for several days. Faye waited anxiously until 8 p.m., her favorite dishes laid out on the table. I licked my lips at the sight. It’s not that Adrian and I had no common ground—when it came to food, we had identical tastes. Faye picked at some vegetables and a piece of meat before setting down her fork. She was always strict about maintaining her figure. Her daily intake wouldn’t even match one of my meals. Not only did she care about how food was prepared, she never ate after 6 p.m. Grandma Dawson used to say, “If you can eat, it’s a blessing.” I never held back at mealtime. Mrs. Collins made the best honey garlic chicken. I was practically drooling, and it hurt to think that Faye had no idea what she was missing. Adrian paused, glancing at Faye. “You don’t like the food?” Faye smiled sweetly. “I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.” Adrian watched her for a long moment before replying, “The housekeeper said your appetite has been much better while I was away. Funny how it disappeared once I got home.” Faye quickly shook her head. “I’ve been feeling a bit off—probably from the heat.” Adrian looked down for a second before replying, “Lightheadedness, lack of appetite… we’ll have you checked out tomorrow.” Faye instinctively wanted to refuse, but in the end, she smiled and agreed. She probably figured that as long as it wasn’t a plastic surgeon, she had nothing to worry about. After all, only three people knew what really happened to me.

Hawthorne Holdings owns several hospitals, and whenever I got sick, I’d go there for treatment and bill it to Adrian. I was shocked when Adrian went with Faye for a checkup. The doctor handed Adrian the report. “Mr. Hawthorne, this is Mrs. Hawthorne’s full medical report. She’s in excellent health.” “I remember when she first came here two years ago, she had several vitamin deficiencies, but everything seems normal now. Looks like she’s been taking her supplements regularly.” Back when I first married into the family, I was constantly getting sick. The doctor recommended a full-body checkup. It turned out my poor health was due to malnutrition, so the hospital prescribed all sorts of supplements to help. But taking medicine for so long wasn’t my thing, so after feeling better, I stopped. Whether the medicine had worked or not, I wasn’t sure—but now they were looking at a healthy Faye, who had always been pampered and well-fed. Adrian flipped through the report casually, but then his hand paused as he turned the page. I was about to float over to take a peek, but he quickly flipped to the back. After reading it, he asked, “These symptoms—aren’t they usually linked to pregnancy?” I nearly choked in shock. Even though he wasn’t talking about me, he knew I had always taken birth control. Besides, with my poor circulation and chronic weakness, getting pregnant was never in the cards. The doctor shook his head. “It’s been a hot summer. A lot of people are feeling off. I’ll prescribe some peppermint tea for Mrs. Hawthorne. She’ll feel better after finishing a box.” Adrian stared down at the report, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Faye, noticing the conversation between Adrian and the doctor, felt uneasy. After grabbing her prescription from the nurse, she hurried over to interrupt. “Adrian, is there something wrong with me?”

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When the woman I had supported for seven years publicly accused me of stealing, handed my hard-won project to her new assistant, and allowed the entire office to mock me, I realized I had never been her partner—only her stepping stone. She repaid me by elevating Evan and erasing everything I built. So I didn’t argue, beg, or defend myself. I resigned on the spot, accepted a ten-times-higher offer from the client I had won. This time, I chose myself. I had just closed a major deal for the company when I received a ring from my girlfriend. Excited, I shared the news on Instagram, thinking she was finally ready to make our relationship official. But suddenly, my girlfriend’s newly hired male assistant slapped me and flipped over my desk: “You’re a director, for crying out loud! How dare you steal the gift my wife gave me? Have you no shame?” Instead of defending me, my girlfriend Victoria said I didn’t deserve my position and publicly announced that her assistant Evan would take over the big project I had just secured. That’s when I realized Victoria wasn’t planning to go public with our relationship – she was going public with him. The whole office was filming the drama on their phones, enjoying the spectacle. But I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled and handed my employee badge to Evan. “So you’re the CEO’s better half. Here, take the director position as my apology. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.” Seeing my unexpected reaction, a colleague pulled me aside and whispered: “Don’t do anything rash. You can always land another project.” But what he didn’t know was that I wasn’t being impulsive at all. Yesterday, as I passed by the office, I overheard Victoria’s assistant Evan pestering her: “Victoria, I want to make something of myself. Give me this new project you just landed. I promise I’ll do a great job and impress you.” At the time, I didn’t think much of it. Victoria and I had been secret lovers for seven years. I had turned down offers from big companies to help her start this business. I had secured 90% of the company’s projects. Victoria knew better than anyone how hard the journey had been. She was also a woman of principle who would never mess with important matters like projects. Moreover, she had once had a project stolen by an opportunist and hated that type of person the most. So when I saw the ring Victoria sent today, I thought she had finally realized I was the best choice and wanted to marry me. I never expected Evan to turn the tables on me, smearing my reputation by calling me a thief and humiliating me. I was even more shocked that Victoria would abandon her principles for Evan, who had only been with the company for a few short months. If that’s how it was going to be, I had no reason to stay at this crappy company. Victoria still didn’t realize I had seen through their childish scheme. She thought I was just jealous. She suddenly frowned at me: “What’s with the sarcasm?” Ever since Evan showed up, she always looked at me with prejudice. This time I didn’t waste my breath arguing. I just calmly said: “You’re overthinking it. I really am giving it to him.” I was giving him both my girlfriend and my job. I was about to leave when Victoria grabbed my arm and dragged me to her office, her face cold. The company wasn’t big, and the office had poor soundproofing. As soon as she closed the office door, the employees outside who had been watching the drama eagerly started sucking up to Evan, asking when he was getting married and having kids. Evan responded shyly: “Having children is hard on women. I can’t make that decision for her.” He was already acting like Victoria’s official boyfriend. And because of Victoria’s silence on the matter, the employees believed it wholeheartedly. Hearing this, Victoria’s hand froze as she was pouring water. Realizing she owed me an explanation, she softened her usually stern tone: “Evan’s just a kid who doesn’t know any better. He was just joking around, don’t take it to heart.” “He has relatives at the client company. This project was landed thanks to him.” I gave her a speechless look. How ridiculous! The client, Thunder Tech, had a professional in-house tech team and didn’t need to outsource. They had rejected collaboration from the start. I was the one who refused to give up, begging and gifting until I finally got a meeting with the person in charge. He generously gave me 30 seconds, and I seized the opportunity to pitch our product. Seeing my capabilities, he tried to poach me with a high salary. When that failed, he agreed to collaborate. I had been pulling all-nighters and running around for this project, but she didn’t see any of that. Yet she believed Evan’s casual claim without question. If she had given it even a moment’s thought, she would have realized that if Evan really had those connections, he wouldn’t be working as an assistant at our small, struggling company. Or perhaps she understood everything and was just playing dumb. Seeing that I remained silent, Victoria lowered her eyes for a moment, then took the initiative to make me a cup of coffee. She leaned close to my ear and whispered: “I’m just pretending with him. You’re the only one I’ll marry.” In the past, whenever we argued, I would forgive her without principle as soon as she softened her voice and made promises. So this time, she thought it would work the same way. She waved her hand dismissively: “Go back to work. I’ll handle the project situation.” But what she didn’t know was that I no longer wanted her. I pushed back my chair and stood up: “No need to go to all that trouble. I’ll just leave.” With that, I pulled out a resignation form, filled it out without hesitation, and walked out of the office.

Seeing that I was about to leave, Evan hurried to block my way, putting on an act of being wronged: “Felix, I know you’re an expert in the industry. You’re right, I’m not qualified for the technical director position. Here, take it back.” He grabbed the employee badge and tried to shove it at me. I simply pushed him lightly, but he took the opportunity to fall dramatically, knocking over a chair and pulling down a computer in the process, alarming the surrounding colleagues. Evan got up and waved off the concerned inquiries from coworkers, saying it was no big deal. Victoria, startled by the commotion, came running in her 4-inch heels. After making sure Evan was unharmed, she glared at me with furrowed brows: “Felix, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’re a long-time employee.” Hearing this, the surrounding colleagues jumped in to lecture me: “Yeah, Felix. The old giving way to the new is for the company’s development. Don’t bully the newcomer just because you have seniority.” The harshest words came from Jack, the protégé I had personally mentored: “So what if you landed a few projects? You’re acting like you own the place.” “Got addicted to playing favorites, huh? Can’t even respect a genius like Evan?” We had worked together for years, and I was the top salesperson. In the past, everyone respectfully called me “Felix” when they saw me. Now they were all gloating, staring at me with schadenfreude, eager for me to get lost. Whatever. Let them say what they want. I was done here. I left the company without another word. Victoria chased after me. Seeing no one else around, she rubbed her forehead and said: “You’re just overworked lately. I’ll approve some time off for you to rest.” “Today is our 7th anniversary. Wait for me at home, I have a surprise for you.” As she finished speaking, the elevator arrived. I stepped in without saying a word. Back home, I cooked myself dinner without waiting for her. She still hadn’t returned by nightfall. I put on my shoes and tidied up a bit before heading out to meet with the client representative, but I ran into a coworker on the way. This guy was slow on the uptake, so he hadn’t distanced himself from me like the others. He still greeted me enthusiastically. “Felix! Are you going to the promotion party Victoria’s throwing for Director Evan? Let’s go together and split the cab fare!” He happily said he finally didn’t have to take the subway, but I shook my head: “That’s not where I’m going.” He gave me an awkward look: “Victoria didn’t invite you?” I nodded indifferently and walked away. I faintly heard him muttering “Victoria sure plays favorites,” but I didn’t look back. She never played favorites. She just favored Evan. For Evan’s sake, she could do anything. Breaking promises to me wasn’t unusual. Previously, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia, she said she’d come see me after a meeting. I waited until dawn before she finally showed up, claiming she was working overtime when in reality she was watching a movie with Evan. A while back, we had an appointment to take couple photos. I waited in a suit until the store closed. She arrived unhurriedly, saying work had held her up, but she had actually taken Evan shopping for some well-fitting clothes. There were countless similar incidents. Every time I questioned her, she would coldly scold me with a “work comes first” attitude. This dynamic was exhausting. At the café, the client representative looked at the progress report I submitted and exclaimed in admiration: “Felix, are you sure you don’t want to switch companies? We can offer ten times your current salary.” This time, I didn’t refuse. The client representative was delighted and said we could negotiate any requests I had. After discussing the benefits package with him, I returned home to find Victoria sitting on the couch waiting for me, with takeout boxes packed. She had stood me up again. In the past, she would offer a litany of explanations, but this time she said nothing. After a moment of silence, she pushed the food containers towards me: “You must be tired today too. No need to cook, just heat this up and eat.” I glanced down. Various dishes were piled together unattractively in the plastic containers. There were stir-fried and boiled dishes, and even a piece of steamed cake soaking in the soup. It was clearly leftovers, carelessly packed up. She didn’t even bother to pack things separately, just mixed everything in one big container. It looked unappetizing just looking at it. I waved my hand: “No need, I’ve already eaten.” Victoria gave me a long look, and the usually cold woman took the initiative to wrap her arms around my waist: “I’m sorry. He just got promoted, so as the boss, I had to show some support.” “I know you were wronged today. Let’s get our marriage license this weekend.” Hah! Easy for her to say. But when I was promoted to director, I happily took the initiative to throw myself a promotion party. I waited expectantly in the private room. The waiter reheated the food five times. I waited until the restaurant closed, but not a single colleague dared to show up. I sent message after message, but they all sank like stones. A kind-hearted colleague secretly asked if I had offended the CEO. I was baffled at the time. It wasn’t until later that I found out. When I wasn’t in the office, she had coldly scolded each colleague who said they were going to attend the party: “Is your workload too light? Bored out of your minds?” “All you think about is eating, drinking, and having fun. Is this what the company is paying you useless people for? You might as well quit now!” Thinking of this, I pried her restless hands from my waist and said coldly: “There’s no need for that, Victoria. Let’s break up.”

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze. Victoria took a deep breath, unable to hold back her emotions any longer: “I’ve made all these sacrifices for the company’s development. Other men would be grateful, why can’t you see that?” I ignored her twisted logic. She continued muttering about the importance of the company’s development as usual, saying that when the company went public in the future, she would give me a place. I had heard this so many times my ears were growing calluses. I raised my hand to interrupt her: “No need. I’ll pack my things and move out now.” It was the first time Victoria’s words had been interrupted since she became the imposing boss. Her face flushed red with anger. She glared at me for a long while before coldly snorting: “No need. I’ll leave!” She slammed the door as she left. I didn’t chase after her, silently packing my things instead. The client company had arranged a free luxury single room in their staff dormitory for me, which I could move into anytime. I had just finished packing when I called a moving company. As they were nearly done moving things, I happened to run into Evan sending Victoria home. They were holding hands, chatting and laughing together. Victoria had also shed her cold CEO demeanor, lowering her head with a sweet smile as she stood beside Evan, the picture of a demure and virtuous woman. Evan noticed me first and deliberately held her hand tighter. Victoria sensed something was off and followed his gaze to see me. She hurriedly let go of his hand. She walked up to me, habitually about to explain, but when she saw me loading boxes into a van, she was stunned for a moment before changing tack to ask: “Where are you going so late at night?” Are you blind? Can’t you see the big “Moving Company” sign? I was about to continue loading boxes. But Victoria blocked my way, suddenly shoving the clothes she was carrying into my arms. Seeing I didn’t react, she took out the clothes and held them up against me: “I know you’ve been too busy to buy clothes lately, so I picked these up for you when I passed by the mall.” Bought for me? My build requires XL sizes, but this brand-name shirt was a size M. The receipt that fell out of the bag showed it was paid for with Victoria’s credit card, and the price was over $1000. This wasn’t something she casually bought for me. She must have taken Evan to the store to try on clothes. She sure was generous. Just two days ago, I bought a $20 shirt and asked her if it looked good. She coldly scolded me for wasting money, lecturing me for over an hour about how hard it was to earn money, saying that dressing well wasn’t as important as having real skills. What now? Has earning money suddenly become easy? I put my hands in my pockets and coldly looked at them: “No need. As they say, ‘clothes make the man, saddles make the horse, and bells make the dog run faster.’ These expensive clothes are better left for Director Evan.” Evan froze for a moment as he took the clothes, then reacted and angrily threw them down: “How dare you insult me?” He glared at me with reddened eyes, rushing forward to attack. I stood my ground and slapped him, sending him tumbling to the ground: “Not just insult you. I dare to hit you too.” Evan’s thin limbs were like sticks. The only reason he had managed to hit me earlier was because I was caught off guard. Now, I had returned that slap. Victoria cried out, hugging Evan protectively: “Felix! We can talk this out. Why did you have to hit him?” “If you want to leave, then leave! Don’t come back!” She didn’t need to tell me. I had no intention of coming back. I turned and got into the moving van, speeding off towards my new life. After resigning, I went straight to work for the client company, Thunder Tech, where I was entrusted with important responsibilities. When I returned to Victoria’s company as a client representative, I was welcomed in by the receptionist.

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I once believed Asher and I would grow old together, until Lila returned, Buddy died at my feet, and I realized I meant nothing to him. My project was taken, my reputation crushed, and even my mother’s last keepsake was desecrated. In that moment, I finally understood his love had never been mine. When the confidential space program reached out to me, I signed the ten-year anonymity agreement and ended our farcical marriage. And only when he stood in an empty home, with every trace of me gone, did he finally understand that he had destroyed the only love that had ever been steadfastly his. Staring at the NDA in my hand, I signed my name without hesitation. “Professor, I’m willing to join the Aquila Advanced Propulsion Program.” He studied me with a hint of regret. “You understand this mission is classified. Once you join, you’ll be stationed at the Redwater Desert Research Facility. Ten years of anonymity. No contact with the outside world. No one will be able to find you.” “Aren’t you getting married? You should at least discuss this with your fiancé.” Thinking of Asher’s cold, resolute expression, I gave a faint, bitter smile and shook my head. “There’s no need.” The professor fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Prepare yourself. We depart in seven days.” It was raining when I left his office, and I walked home through the downpour. Unsurprisingly, Asher still hadn’t returned. Lila had taken Buddy—the dog I’d raised since childhood. When I tried to talk to Asher, he blamed me instead and disappeared for three days. I slipped the ring off my finger and tossed it into the drawer. Asher had made it for me by hand, a symbol of lifelong love, meant never to be removed—even in death. I used to believe we would grow old together. But everything changed the moment Lila came back from overseas. Asher forgot my birthday, ignored my feelings, and I became the most invisible person in the house. I was about to change out of my soaked clothes when the doorbell rang. Opening it, I saw Lila standing there, malice flickering in her eyes as she kicked something toward me. “This mutt wouldn’t listen and ran into a car.” I stared in disbelief at Buddy’s small body, fur matted with mud and blood. A sharp, unbearable pain twisted my chest, and tears blurred my vision. Lila only shrugged with a mocking smile. “It’s just a dog. Do you have to cry like someone in your family died?” My restraint snapped. I shoved her. She screamed dramatically, collapsing into Asher’s arms as he rushed over. Tears filled her eyes instantly. “Asher, the dog ran out on his own… I never meant for this to happen. Why is she blaming me?” Before I could speak, she looked even more aggrieved. “I’m sorry, Cora… I know you loved him…” Touching Buddy’s still-warm body, my voice trembled with grief. “What’s the use of saying sorry!” Lila wilted pitifully into Asher’s chest. “I even brought the dog’s body back for her, and she speaks to me like this…” Asher’s face hardened with irritation. “It’s just an animal. It’s dead—so what? My grandmother left you so much money. You can buy as many dogs as you want.” With his protection, Lila cried even harder, soaking a dark patch on Asher’s shirt. As if that weren’t enough, he continued, “Cora, when did you become so petty and unreasonable?” Animal. The word echoed in my head like a blow. He knew what Buddy meant to me. Buddy was the last gift my mother left me before she died. Asher had once promised—at my mother’s bedside—that he would take care of both me and Buddy. Yet now, for Lila, he dismissed Buddy as nothing. His heart had already drifted far away. Exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t want to fight anymore. Thinking of the decision I had made earlier that day, I felt a strange sense of relief. Asher gently stroked Lila’s back and shot me a glare. “Are you satisfied now?” Then he tipped her chin up tenderly. “It’s raining. I’ll drive you home.” Lila nestled into his arms and cast me a smug, triumphant smirk from where he couldn’t see. Watching him leave without a backward glance, I felt the last of my illusions crumble. The Asher who once claimed he fell for me at first sight had never truly loved me. I had been a stand-in during his loneliness, and Lila was the one he really wanted. Now that the rightful owner had returned, I—the substitute—was expected to step aside. But it no longer mattered. I tucked the ring and the unsigned prenuptial agreement back into the drawer. Asher would never know that the agreement his grandmother forced him to give me—granting me half his assets—was never notarized. And I had never signed it. After cremating Buddy, I buried him beside my mother’s grave. On the third morning, the Professor sent me the precise departure time. I replied with a simple “okay,” then went straight to HR and submitted my resignation. They must have disliked me for a long time, because everything was processed without hesitation. The moment I stepped out, their whispers drifted through the door. “She really resigned. Well, she’s basically the CEO’s wife—Asher’s grandma left her half the property.” “Wife? It’s not even official. I heard she quit because Asher handed her project to Miss Daphne.” “That project was practically finished. Giving it to Daphne now is just handing her the credit.” “Please, Daphne is Asher’s true love.” I could not blame them for thinking so. The instant Daphne returned, Asher made her General Manager. Even if she had known nothing, he would have handed the project to her personally. He had me work overtime revising her proposals and entertaining her clients. Even when I landed in the hospital with a bleeding stomach, he told me I owed it to Daphne. Their mocking laughter barely touched me. My only wish was for the next few days to pass quickly. Everything was arranged; all that remained was to pack. When I arrived home with my boxes, Asher and Daphne were at the dining table, laughing as they fed each other. My hand trembled at the sight. Once, I had accidentally used Asher’s cup, and he hired a dozen cleaners to sanitize the entire house—warning me never to touch anything he used. So he never had a cleanliness obsession. He simply despised intimacy with me. Daphne noticed me first. Leaning coyly against Asher’s arm, she murmured, “Asher, if you give Cora’s seat to me, won’t she be upset?” Asher sneered. “I’m the company’s CEO. I don’t need her approval.” “But she hasn’t been home for days.” “She’s waiting for me to coax her. Don’t mind her.” Triumph glinted in Daphne’s eyes as she curled into his embrace. I said nothing and headed upstairs. Only then did Asher seem to truly see me. Guilt flickered across his face before he slammed his fork down and barked, “Stop right there!” I ignored him, but he rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Cora, what’s your problem? Do you even remember you have a home?” He reached for my box, but I turned away. “No need. Go back to your work.” Impatience flashed across his expression—until Daphne called sweetly, “Asher, I want another fried egg. Can you make one for me?” “Sure.” He left immediately. I tried to continue upstairs, but Daphne stepped in front of me. “What do you want?” I asked. Her gentle facade vanished, replaced with naked jealousy. “You heard him. Asher only cares about me. If his grandmother hadn’t forced him, he never would’ve married you. Don’t think the property she left you is actually yours.” She smirked. “Hand over the agreement. One word from me and he’ll throw you out.” She paused, then covered her mouth with a theatrical laugh. “Oh, I forgot. Your whole family is dead. No wonder you cling to Asher like a stray no one wants.” Her voice dripped with contempt. I could endure insults toward myself, but not toward my family. My blood iced over. “Daphne,” I snapped, “say one more word and you’ll regret it.” “Cora! What’s wrong with you?!” Asher’s voice cut in as he hurried over, clearly worried I might harm Daphne. I stopped short. Daphne arched a brow—and gave me a subtle push. My foot slipped. I fell down the stairs, pain shooting through me the moment I hit the ground. “Cora!” Asher dropped everything and rushed to me. Daphne leaned toward him, tears trembling. “Asher, I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have caused trouble.” Her panic looked impeccably sincere, and Asher softened instantly. He glanced down at me. “Are you alright? Do you need a hospital? Daphne didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t blame her.” I shook my head, bitterness rising as my gaze fell on the scattered items beside me. The resignation letter and confidential documents lay right on top. Chapter 3 I ignored the throbbing pain in my body and quickly bent down to gather the scattered documents. “I’ll do it.” Asher crouched beside me, immediately picking up the resignation letter with a deep frown. My breath caught. I prayed he wouldn’t notice the confidential files. Fortunately, his focus stayed on the resignation letter, giving me just enough time to slip the confidential documents beneath the rest of my belongings. “You resigned?” His voice was sharp with disbelief. “Yes.” I shoved everything into the box without looking up. He sounded irritated. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? When I asked you to hand over the project, you refused. What made you suddenly give in?” Maybe it was my pallor, or maybe he sensed something else—either way, his tone softened. “Quitting is good. Saves me the trouble. Grandma already left you so much money—you should be satisfied.” “You should focus on being Mrs. Asher and stop competing with Daphne. She’s kind and doesn’t understand your scheming.” I bit down hard on my lip, holding back the sharp sting in my eyes, nodding while my chest tightened painfully. I tried to stand. Pain shot up my spine. He reached to steady me. “Cora, walk Daphne through the project. She’ll struggle with the investors otherwise.” “She’s not like you—she can’t charm people into giving her property.” Not wanting to waste another second, I nodded. “Alright.” Asher seemed pleased with my obedience. He even smiled. “That’s better. I’m sorry for neglecting you lately. Once Daphne fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.” “After Grandma’s mourning period, we’ll get married. It’ll give her peace.” My nails dug into my palms. He had no idea those days would never come. In the days that followed, I quietly packed, drafted a full proposal for Daphne, and visited his grandmother’s grave to tell her my decision. She was the only one who had ever chosen me sincerely. She wouldn’t want me to stay and suffer. On my last day in the house, Asher stayed home, which made me uneasy. I looked for an opportunity to slip out. Unexpectedly, he opened a storage box and took out an old telescope. “Daphne wants to stargaze. I’ll take her camping tonight.” “Alright.” Relief washed over me. If he left early, I could avoid a confrontation. He added, “There’s a Charity Gala tonight. Prepare a dress for Daphne.” By then, I would be long gone. Daphne appeared at his side, gripping his arm with practiced fragility. “How can Cora get me a dress? Last time she gave me the wrong proposal and the investors scolded me…” “Asher, it’s fine. I’ll wear anything. I don’t want to trouble her…” Tears fell on cue. Asher immediately glared at me. “Cora, if you don’t want to help, just say so. How could you do something like that? You’ve disappointed me.” I didn’t want unnecessary drama on my last day. “I’m sorry. My mistake. It won’t happen again.” Then to Asher, “Don’t worry. I’ll prepare the dress.” A flicker of guilt crossed his face. After a moment, he murmured, “Cora… I’ll get you a new puppy tomorrow, just like your last one.” Before my mentor arrived, I ironed Daphne’s dress, placed the engagement ring—the one that supposedly meant “the only one”—and the prenup agreement neatly on the table. With my suitcase in hand, I walked downstairs. The Professor glanced at my blank expression and sighed. “Since you’re leaving, work hard and achieve something big out there.” “Okay.” I got into the car. Asher’s villa grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror until it disappeared completely. Early the next morning, slightly drunk, Asher returned with Daphne. The house was dark and silent. His irritation rose instantly. No matter how late he came home, I had always waited up for him. “Cora! Come out and make some hangover soup.” Silence. He switched on the lights. The ring and prenup lay neatly on the table. He froze—then abruptly shouted, “Cora! Who allowed you to take off the ring?!” Chapter 4 But the empty house offered him nothing—only layer upon layer of silence. Asher stood in the middle of the living room, stunned, a strange tremor spreading through his chest before he even realized what it meant.

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I tried to stay invisible. I let my roommate insult me, rummage through my things, spread rumors, and even parade her knockoffs around like they were superior to mine. None of it mattered—until she stole my scholarship and labeled me “unfit” for it. That was when my patience finally snapped. And when my father made one single phone call, the girl who called me “low-brow” finally realized who she had been provoking. Recently, my roommate Danielle Clementine has been dating a so-called “trust fund guy,” and she flaunts it around the dorm nonstop. “Hey, check out this Tiffany bracelet he got me. Isn’t it gorgeous?” She lifted her wrist toward the light, angling it so the metal glinted dramatically. “Wow, that must’ve cost thousands! Your boyfriend treats you so well!” “For real! Does he have any friends? Set us up!” The girls crowded around her, piling on compliments. Their worship made Danielle glow like she’d just won a pageant. She even tossed out a handful of high-end cosmetics, and the others scrambled to grab them, squealing in excitement. I sat off to the side reading, not joining the commotion. That, of course, caught Danielle’s attention. She shot me an annoyed look. “Sophie, don’t you think this Tiffany bracelet is stunning? Way better than that cheap silver bangle you always wear, right?” I glanced at the bracelet and immediately recognized the telltale signs—it was a knockoff. The “plain” silver bracelet on my wrist? Limited-edition Tiffany. Still, I stayed low-key. “Yeah, it’s pretty. My silver bracelet is nothing special.” Pleased, Danielle walked over and snapped my book shut. “Sophie, you really need to, like, invest in decent jewelry. It’s embarrassing standing next to you.” I didn’t respond. Everyone knew Danielle’s background wasn’t glamorous; she wasn’t even solid middle-class. Before this “boyfriend,” she lived in cheap T-shirts and jeans. Now she acted like a socialite. I quietly reopened my book, trying to find my place. Alexa Wind looped her arm through Danielle’s. “Forget her. You two aren’t in the same league anyway. Let’s go eat tonight—I want the full update about you and your boyfriend.” Danielle smirked. “Can’t. I’m going out with him tonight.” Jealousy flashed across Alexa’s face. “At some fancy restaurant, right? Don’t forget to post pictures!” Danielle didn’t answer. She spent fifteen minutes applying makeup, put on her only dress worth over $500, and strutted out like a swan. That evening, I ordered spicy gumbo and ate in the dorm while Alexa squealed, “Danielle just posted! Look—foie gras, caviar, red wine, steak… oh my gosh!” The roommates crowded around her. Alexa looked at my gumbo with disdain. “Some people go on luxury dates, and some stay home with cheap gumbo. Talk about contrast.” Gumbo was now a moral failing, apparently. She shoved her phone at me. “Look how perfect they look together.” I glanced at the photo—and paused. The “trust fund guy” in the picture? My family’s new security guard. My dad had made his fortune in Seattle after an early jackpot win, and during high school I’d had everything—designer clothes, a chauffeur. Unfortunately, that also made me a target, and I almost got kidnapped. Since then, Dad insisted I keep a low profile. Even though he bought a mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, near Columbia University, he encouraged me to stay in the campus dorms. I still liked quality clothing, but to avoid attention, I’d often call my things “knockoffs.” Eventually, everyone assumed I was a poser with a taste for fakes. I didn’t care. I was here to study. Dad always said: “We only have money. You have to earn the honor.” A whole wall of our home displayed my awards—each framed like a priceless treasure. Once, Dad climbed a ladder to fix a peeling corner on one of the frames. My goal in college was to win scholarships every year. Money meant nothing; the recognition did. Recently, we replaced our security guard, and the previous one recommended his nephew, Tony James. He seemed responsible. I had no reason to expect he’d pose as a rich boyfriend for Danielle. As the roommates gushed over her post, I couldn’t help but laugh silently.

Danielle returned from her date wearing a knockoff Chanel outfit and carrying a pile of gifts. One by one, she laid them out as the roommates crowded around. “Danielle, that Chanel looks amazing.” “Gucci perfume? Can I just hold it?” “Ugh, I’m so jealous!” Danielle smiled smugly and stole a glance at me before lifting one bag. “Sophie, I remember you have a similar Hermès. Want to compare?” I removed an earbud and watched calmly as she opened my locker and pulled out my Hermès tote. She placed hers beside mine and raised her voice dramatically. “Hmm? Sophie, yours looks a bit… different from mine.” Different was an understatement. Her bag had the shiny surface and thick piping typical of a knockoff. Feigning innocence, she said, “How strange. Mine’s a gift from my boyfriend. Yours is from home, right?” Alexa chimed in eagerly, “Oh yeah. Sophie started school with knockoffs. Makes sense her bag wouldn’t be real.” Then, as if she were some wise critic, Alexa continued, “Sophie, buying fake designer stuff doesn’t change your background. Flaunting knockoffs only distorts your values.” Danielle looked proud, as though she’d won a debate. I kept calm. “Danielle, did you even ask before going through my things? And Alexa, your flattery is impressive. You two make quite the duo.” Danielle scoffed, grabbed a pair of scissors, and said, “If I hadn’t checked, I wouldn’t have known how vain you are. Let me help you out by cutting this knockoff.” She raised the scissors while Alexa gestured for the others to hold me. I didn’t flinch. “Go ahead. But if you make even one cut, you’ll pay for it.” Danielle hesitated. “Even if it’s fake, Hermès knockoffs still cost thousands. Are you sure you can cover that?” A beat passed. Then she backed down and put the scissors away. I said lightly, “Clean up my locker when you’re done.” Alexa snapped, “Sophie, don’t push your luck.” Danielle ignored me, humming while cleaning. I gave her one last warning. “Danielle, I’ll only say it once more—clean my locker.” She rolled her eyes, so I stood up and kicked her chair. “I won’t ask again.” The room froze. Even Alexa went silent. Shivering, Danielle finally cleaned it properly. When she finished, I checked the locker, sat down, and began reading my textbook aloud. The entire dorm went quiet.

I didn’t think much more about Danielle after that. I threw myself into my goal: winning the scholarship. My GPA was the highest in the department. I aced every physical exam. I never missed any scholarship-eligible activity. So when award day came, I was stunned to see Danielle listed as the National Merit Scholarship recipient—while my name was missing entirely. Not even a minor award. All my effort, brushed aside. I checked my evaluation. Every score was top-tier—except “character.” Ms. Julia Lambert had marked me “unsatisfactory.” Heart racing, I went straight to her office. Danielle was already there, smiling triumphantly. “Wow, Sophie. Didn’t think luck would be on my side. Guess hard work doesn’t always matter.” I ignored her. “Ms. Lambert, I have a question about the scholarship results.” She sighed impatiently. “Sophie, academic ability alone doesn’t define you. You lack teamwork and good conduct, so I couldn’t recommend you.” I was speechless. I had always shared notes, helped classmates, and served as class rep. The only people I’d clashed with were my roommates. Danielle’s guilty expression confirmed everything. I steadied myself. “Ms. Lambert, basing this on one person’s word seems inappropriate.” Her expression darkened. “Are you questioning my professionalism?” Danielle added sweetly, “Ms. Lambert, don’t bother. Sophie can be pretty low-brow.” I glanced at Ms. Lambert’s “Tiffany” bracelet—also a knockoff. “Ms. Lambert, Danielle gave you that bracelet, didn’t she?” She froze. I stood. “If I can’t get justice here, I’ll speak with the Dean.” Danielle snorted. “Go ahead. I’d love to see you try.” In the hallway, people whispered about the scholarship. Alexa mocked loudly, “Look who’s here—the top student who can’t even get a scholarship.” I ignored her and called the Dean. When I couldn’t reach him, I emailed a detailed report with evidence. After a week with no response, I nearly gave up—until Dad texted: “Proud of you for winning. Don’t forget about your old man.” I called home, crying as I explained everything. Mom was furious. “Frank! Call the Dean right now and have that counselor fired!” I choked, “Mom… they won’t respond. What can Dad do?” Dad rubbed his head awkwardly. “Didn’t I tell you? I joined the board of trustees.” Before I could react, the Dean called personally, apologizing and promising immediate action. Danielle walked into the dorm just as the Dean’s voice came through the speaker: “As per school policy, your roommate will face disciplinary action and return the scholarship.” Danielle burst out laughing. “Seriously? Did you hire someone to pretend to be the Dean? That’s hilarious.” Alexa added, “Right? She must be losing it.” Then the Dean asked, “Who is speaking?” “That would be my roommate,” I said. He replied, “Understood. Sophie, the updated list will be posted tomorrow.” He hung up. I glanced at Danielle, blissfully unaware of the disaster awaiting her. Then I went to sleep. The next morning, I jolted awake to Danielle screaming like the world was ending. She was sitting upright on her bed, hair sticking out in all directions, gripping her phone as if it had

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Everyone knew Evelyn Hayes chose me out of spite, a desperate reaction to her first love. For five years, she was the picture of perfection in public–a celebrated, top-tier cardiac surgeon at a renowned medical center. But behind closed doors, only cold indifference remained between us. The topic of divorce has been brought up countless times. Then her ex, Liam Miller, returned from overseas for treatment, suffering from a severe illness. Evelyn dropped everything to be by his side, even warning me: “Liam’s condition is delicate. If you dare upset him, we’re completely done.” The hundredth time she brought up divorce, I finally agreed. On my way to the courthouse, I was in a car crash. She never arrived. Instead, she got the news Liam had found a matching heart donor. She rushed back to the hospital, scrubbed in, and performed the transplant herself, placing that heart right into Liam’s chest. Only afterward did the divorce agreement cross her mind. By then, my phone was unreachable.

As my consciousness detached from my body, the crushing pain finally dissolved. I hovered in the air, watching the twisted wreck in the pouring rain. The driver’s seat had collapsed on impact, the person inside unrecognizable. Today was our fifth wedding anniversary—and the hundredth time Evelyn had asked for a divorce. Before, I’d always dodged it, desperately trying to cling to our relationship, fragile as a spider’s silk. But this time, I’d nodded. It wasn’t until a month ago, when Liam, the one she could never let go of, returned home for severe heart treatment. Evelyn stopped coming home, pouring all her time into St. Mary Ann Medical Center, glued to his side. Everyone knew she’d only accepted my proposal on a whim that afternoon, purely to spite Liam. And me? I’d loved her in secret for seven long years. My thoughts snapped back to reality. I watched as a St. Mary Ann Medical Center ambulance carried away my shattered body, following it without conscious thought. Evelyn was the star cardiac surgeon here. Yet as her husband, I couldn’t even book a regular annual check-up under her name. On our wedding day, she’d made it crystal clear: “I don’t want my personal life crossing over into my professional one.” “And I certainly don’t want anything about you affecting my professional judgment.” So, the important thing I’d planned for months, hoping to tell her on our anniversary, would forever remain unsaid. Tears fell silently, a dense, hollow ache spreading through my chest. It was a hope I’d carefully, meticulously cherished for so long. My body wasn’t taken to the morgue. Instead, it was wheeled directly into the pre-op area on the fifth floor. The door opened, and two men walked in. “Mr. Miller, performing organ harvesting without formal consent and family approval is illegal, and besides…” The speaker was Alex Reed, Evelyn’s resident. In the past few years, I’d hosted him many times when he came to discuss cases at our home. Liam walked to the gurney, his gaze sweeping over the body before calmly moving away. “I’ve waited three years for a matching donor. There’s no time for bureaucratic red tape.” He turned to Alex, his tone brooking no argument: “Contact Evelyn. Tell her to come back immediately.” “I want her to perform the surgery.” Alex’s face showed his discomfort. Liam pulled a checkbook from his suit jacket, quickly signed a check, and handed it over. “This is for collateral. I’ll bear all consequences. My legal team will handle any procedural issues.” Alex hesitated, then took the check and dialed. After a few rings, Evelyn’s cool, clear voice came through, the background a little noisy. “Alex? This isn’t a good time.” “Dr. Hayes, they’ve found a matching heart donor for Mr. Miller.” Alex glanced at Liam, lowering his voice. “The donor is in OR Five. We need you back immediately to operate.” A moment of silence on the other end, then Evelyn’s voice, suddenly raised, barely containing her excitement: “Confirmed match? I’m on my way!” “Liam finally won’t have to wait anymore…” The sheer relief and joy in her voice pierced through my already un-beating heart like an ice pick. If she knew that was me, would she still be so happy?

Less than twenty minutes later, Evelyn burst into the prep room. She hadn’t even changed out of her trench coat, striding straight to Liam, gripping his shoulders, her eyes shining with a long-lost brilliance. “Liam, the match is successful. You’re saved.” Liam looked at her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile gracing his pale face, his voice low but steady: “Evelyn, if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t accept this heart.” Evelyn’s grip tightened. She promised solemnly, “Don’t worry, leave everything to me. I’ll handle it.” “And what’s between Daniel and me… it was always meant to be over.” That phrase, “meant to be over,” felt like a final verdict. Yes, everyone knew it, myself included. She’d chosen me purely out of spite, a desperate retaliation against true love. I watched Evelyn swiftly change into her scrubs, don a mask, and walk with Alex towards the operating table. For an expert like her, heart extraction was routine. Yet, as her gaze landed on the lifeless body on the operating table, her movements paused, almost imperceptibly. “Why weren’t the initial cleaning and sterilization done?” Her voice, muffled by the mask, carried a hint of displeasure. Alex lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. “Dr. Hayes, the donor is a special case. Mr. Miller’s side wanted to maximize organ viability…” Evelyn didn’t press further. She held out her hand, and the scalpel was accurately placed within her grasp. The blade reflected a cold light. Just before she made the incision, her gaze fell to my left hand. On my ring finger, the plain platinum wedding band I’d designed myself was stained with blood. When we married, I’d had a matching women’s ring custom-made for her. She’d only tried it on once before putting it, still in its box, into the back of a drawer, never to be seen again. “Dr. Hayes?” Alex prompted softly. Evelyn took a barely audible breath, her voice softer. “…I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for his family.” The sharp scalpel cut through my chest. Alex, handing her instruments, added quietly, “The initial forensic examination found that Mr. Stone’s personal effects only included this one ring. We haven’t officially confirmed his identity yet.” Evelyn didn’t respond. Only the cold clinking of surgical instruments and the rhythmic beeping of monitors echoed in the room. I watched her focused profile from a distance, suddenly remembering last flu season. I’d been laid up with a high fever, too delirious to even get water. Evelyn, rarely home that night, had pulled an all-nighter in her study, working on a paper. My neighbor found me almost dehydrated. When I got to the ER, even the on-call doctors frowned and shook their heads. When I woke up, Evelyn stood by my bed, her first words a cold accusation: “Daniel, don’t you think it’s childish to hurt yourself just to get attention?” I was too weak to explain. She was the one who said not to bother her with “minor things.” I followed her wishes so carefully, yet I was still wrong. Evelyn could show a flicker of compassion for a stranger, so why such utter indifference for the husband she’d shared a bed with for five years?

The heart was fully extracted and placed into a hypothermic transport system. Hours later, it began to beat again inside Liam’s chest. The surgery was a success. Evelyn left the operating room, waiting outside Liam’s room until his vitals stabilized before returning to her office. She leaned back in her chair, rubbed her temples, then pulled out her phone. The screen was blank, no new messages or missed calls. For the past five years, I’d messaged her daily – trivial updates, interesting tidbits, weather forecasts, even just a simple “Goodnight.” She rarely replied. Now, she stared at “Daniel Stone” in her contacts, a slight frown on her face, and pressed dial. Busy signal. Once, twice, until it automatically disconnected. Her patience finally seemed to run out. She opened SnapChat, sent a voice message, her voice edged with suppressed irritation: “Daniel, there’s no point in delaying. I’m already at the courthouse waiting for you. I expect you to keep your word and show up.” I looked at her sharp, cold profile, feeling only a sense of absurdity. Well, good. From now on, she would never be bothered by the name “Daniel Stone” again. My body remained unclaimed in the St. Mary Ann Medical Center morgue. Because I was an orphan. Raised in a church orphanage, getting into art school was one of the few bright spots in my otherwise bleak life. The other bright spot? Meeting Evelyn. In college, she was the undisputed genius of the medical school, the center of every social circle, an unreachable moon. Back then, by her side stood the equally brilliant Liam. I first saw her at an inter-collegiate charity event. She stood at the podium, calmly and clearly articulating the vision of Doctors Without Borders, radiating brilliance. Later, when someone maliciously targeted me, she calmly diffused the situation. That dormant heart, for the first time, began to beat fiercely, uncontrollably. But I knew the vast chasm between us. And besides, she already had a worthy companion. It wasn’t until later that news of her breakup with Liam circulated. Then, one dreary afternoon, I delivered custom-made cufflinks to her friend. She walked me to the door, then suddenly looked up, her gaze emotionless: “Daniel, do you need a marriage? Or rather, would you be willing to marry me?”

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Leaving the restaurant my sister owned, I was stopped by the manager. “Excuse me, sir, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, assuming he was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on my sister’s tab. She knows.” The male manager swept a dismissive glance over me. “Sir, this is a Michelin three-star establishment. We don’t have a ‘tab’ system here.” He finished speaking and handed me a printed bill. I glanced down. A single meal, fifty thousand dollars. Utensil Radiance Maintenance Fee: Three thousand. Exclusive Ambient Air Purification: Five thousand. VIP Serenity & Emotional Support Service: Ten thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my sister ran such a shady business. I laughed in disbelief. “I’m Mia’s brother, the owner. If there’s an issue, she can come talk to me at home.” But he wouldn’t let it go. “If you can’t afford it, just say so. Don’t try to pull rank or pretend you’re family with our owner.” I shot a text to my assistant: Tell my sister to either fire this guy or I’m pulling all my investments.

“Sir, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay up.” His tone was full of smug certainty and biting contempt, as if he’d already pegged me as a cheap opportunist trying to leech off women to get ahead. A few curious stares from nearby customers were already drifting my way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous situation. I pulled out my phone and dialed Mia’s number directly. But all I got was a cold, robotic busy signal. I tried again, same result. Workday. What the hell is she doing? I lowered my phone, fixing my gaze on the aggressive man in front of me. I reiterated, word by word: “I’m going to say this one more time. My name is Liam. I am Mia’s biological brother, your boss.” “Her phone’s off right now, but you can check her credit card. My photo and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But the male manager, Blake, after hearing my name, didn’t bother to verify. Instead, he burst into a loud, grating laugh. He laughed so hard he nearly doubled over, drawing even more attention. Then, he suddenly leaned in close, lowering his voice until only we two could hear him. “Still playing games? I’ve seen your face in Mia’s photo album countless times! You’re that persistent pest who always sticks his nose into our business! And now you have the nerve to waltz into her restaurant, trying to put your meal on her tab? Do you really think you’re someone important?” I froze for a split second, glancing at his name tag – Blake. Then, an overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Mia’s boyfriend, the one she’d kept so secret, refusing to even show me a single photo. It was this stupid, malicious man standing right in front of me. How could her taste be so utterly terrible? Turns out, this fifty-thousand-dollar “sky-high bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated setup designed to humiliate me. Before I could even speak, he’d completely lost his patience. “Since this gentleman wants to go dining and dashing, we’ll just have to detain him until the police arrive!” He waved a hand, and two burly security guards, who had been standing by, immediately stepped forward. They were two well-trained strongmen, and I was completely outnumbered. My resistance was quickly suppressed; my arms were twisted brutally behind my back. I struggled violently but couldn’t break free from their professional hold. They ignored my furious glare and the alarmed looks of the other customers, roughly dragging me towards the back kitchen. Then I was roughly shoved into a storage room reeking of stale food and harsh disinfectant. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from outside.

In the dark, the male manager, Blake, didn’t say a word. He raised his leather-shod foot and kicked me hard in the stomach. The sharp pain made me gasp, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for trying to freeload off my woman!” “That’s for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong!” He screamed, his voice warped by jealousy and rage. He looked down at me, ordering the two strongmen, “Beat him! Teach him a lesson he won’t forget!” The two security guards were clearly his loyal henchmen. Without hesitation, a relentless storm of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. His taunts continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic freeloader, living off his sister’s success!” “I told you I’m her brother! If you don’t believe me, ask Mia! Call her right now, I’ll tell her!” I struggled to explain, but the man ignored me completely. Only when I started feeling dizzy did he raise a hand to stop them. He nudged my shoulder with the tip of his leather shoe, looking at me triumphantly. “You’d better be a good boy and pay for that meal today, then cough up another hundred thousand dollars.” “That’s what you get for meddling in my and Mia’s business and trying to use her money.” “I’m not afraid of making a scene. Mia will sort it out for me.” I was curled up in a ball, aching all over, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask her.” His face changed. He kicked me, and the two security guards immediately understood, their punches and kicks raining down on me again. I knew he wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I could really be in serious trouble. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used my last ounce of strength to grope for my phone on the floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” He seemed satisfied with my surrender. He motioned for the two security guards to stop, then squatted down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Would’ve been easier to just do that from the start, wouldn’t it? You had to learn the hard way, huh?” “One hundred thousand dollars. Not a cent less.” I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored him and dialed my friend Ryan’s number. The call was answered quickly. “Ryan, bring two hundred grand to my sister’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Ryan paused on the other end, then sensed something was wrong. “Liam? What’s going on with you? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut him off and hung up. Blake’s eyes lit up at the mention of “two hundred grand,” a flash of greed crossing his face. He probably thought I was scared silly and was offering more money to beg for mercy. The triumph on his face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.”

Ryan was incredibly fast. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from outside. Ryan stormed in with two bodyguards. He was startled when he saw the blood on my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic posture, propped on the ground. He rushed forward to help me up. I shook my head, signaling him not to speak. I took the bank card with the sticky note on it from his hand and tossed it to Blake. Blake took the card and didn’t bother me any further, waving a dismissive hand. “If that’s a fake card, I have ways of finding you. Now get out.” I endured the agonizing, bone-deep pain throughout my body. With Ryan’s help, I limped out of that sickening place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Ryan. “Thanks, buddy. I’ll get this money sorted out and pay you back quickly.” He looked at me worriedly. “It’s just a small amount, don’t worry about it. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My sister found herself a wonderful boyfriend. I guess I need to have a little chat with her.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s deputy manager. He was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally recruited, and he was quite loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Blake.” “Otherwise, our family will pull all investments from the restaurant. Every single penny. Gone.” The deputy manager on the other end was already freaked out the moment he heard my voice. He must have detected the weakness and something wrong in my tone, agreeing frantically without daring to ask why. I hung up without hesitation and immediately had Ryan drive me to the police precinct. I stated everything that had just happened to the officer who received me, using the clearest, most logical terms. After giving a detailed statement at the station, I went to the hospital for a medical report detailing my injuries. Holding that thin report, the anger of betrayal in my heart felt like gasoline poured on a raging inferno, burning hotter and fiercer. I needed an explanation. I needed Mia to give me an explanation, herself. My assistant found Mia at her villa. My driver and bodyguards arrived, and we headed straight to Mia’s place. I had bought that villa for her years ago. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by ear-splitting heavy metal music and the raucous sounds of men and women spilling from the windows. She was throwing a party. No wonder she hadn’t picked up my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. A strange impulse kept me from pushing it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar male voice. It was Blake. He was complaining to everyone in the room, portraying himself as a helpless victim, bullied by some arrogant third party and then unfairly blamed. “…I just asked him to pay his bill, and he threw a hundred grand in my face, then got me fired!” “Mia, he’s gone too far! He clearly has no respect for you!” “He just wants to humiliate me, he just wants us to break up!” Inside, Mia’s usual crowd of hangers-on indignantly echoed his sentiments. Mia was loudly comforting Blake in her arms, her voice full of tenderness and doting affection. “Blake, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer like this!” Then, as if to prove her resolve, she vowed to everyone present, “When I find my brother, I’ll make him get down on his knees and apologize to you!” Inside, the spoiled brats were still siding with Blake, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Mia, just say the word, and we’ll go drag that guy out right now!” “Yeah! Make him realize who truly calls the shots here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised a hand, and my bodyguard kicked the villa door open. The party music ground to a sudden halt, and the raucous laughter vanished instantly. Dozens of startled eyes swung towards the doorway. “No need to search. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”

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My name is Eve Collins. My parents, Aaron Collins and Dianna Collins, along with my sister Kate Collins, were traveling by the sea when a tsunami struck, and all three of them perished. Leaving only me, about to start college, with a massive debt. The tuition I worked so hard to save, along with the house Aaron and Dianna left behind, were all taken by creditors. Helpless, I was forced to work in a factory. Working 16 hours a day, living in a rundown dorm with 10 people, eating the simplest and cheapest meals, living like a machine. I finally paid off the debt, only to accidentally see on TV that Kate, who was supposed to be dead, had become a famous dancer, and Aaron and Dianna even shared their thoughts. It turned out they took out a huge loan, faked their deaths, and ran off to Paris with Kate to pursue her dance dreams, leaving all the debt to me, who was just about to start college. I went to confront them, but was thrown out and got hit by a speeding truck, dying on the roadside. Before my consciousness faded, I heard Aaron curse, “Eve is so annoying, can’t even die somewhere far away.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day they faked their deaths. ***** My grandmother Daisy Collins’s sharp wailing slightly cleared my dazed mind. The excruciating pain of being crushed into pulp by the truck still spread throughout my body. I looked up and saw three bodies covered with white cloth neatly arranged in the mourning hall before me. Daisy sobbed uncontrollably beside me, “Oh, how did my son die so young?” I almost burst out laughing, thinking, “Dead? These three people are perfectly alive.” “Mom, don’t be too sad. Let them rest in peace soon.” My aunt Tessa Collins glanced at me and gently comforted Daisy. Tessa is a doctor, and the death certificates for Aaron, Dianna, and Kate were all issued by her. At this time in my previous life, I was heartbroken and only took a quick glance at the bodies; everything else was handled by Tessa. The next day, I received three urns and a massive debt. I watched them coldly as they acted. Clearly, those three weren’t dead, yet they put on a show of deep sorrow in front of me. The death certificates were issued by Tessa, so she must have known about Aaron and Dianna’s plan, yet she said nothing to me. In my previous life, when the creditors came knocking, I asked her for help, begging her to lend me some money first so I could finish my studies and pay it back gradually. The first time I came to her, she refused me. The second time I went to her, I found out she had applied to study further in Germany. Daisy was getting old, so all the debts ended up falling solely on me. I finally got into New York University, but I had to drop out because of overwhelming debt. To pay off the debt, I worked several jobs a day, but the creditors still thought I was too slow. In the end, they sent me to an illegal factory. I worked 16 hours a day, earning about $10,000 a month, but I only received $500, with the rest directly deducted for debt repayment. I lived frugally, ate vegetarian meals every day, and finally managed to pay off the debt. But I never expected that this was all a scam targeting me. Aaron and Dianna were never dead. They borrowed a huge amount of money and took Kate abroad for her dance training, leaving the massive debt to me. They exploited me to turn Kate into a glamorous dance star. I was nothing but a blood bag, drained of every drop to sustain their family’s glamour and dreams. This time, right under my nose, I want to see how they fake their deaths and escape. All the relatives and friends around were comforting Daisy and Tessa, but no one cared about me. It wasn’t until Tessa pushed me, causing me to fall to my knees, that others finally turned their attention to me. But they weren’t concerned about me; instead, they cursed me, “You jinx! Why wasn’t it you who died?” Maybe my expressionless face angered Daisy. She struck my back with her cane. Her force was so strong that it woke me up instantly. A relative tried to stop her, “Hey, don’t hit her, she’s just a child.” Daisy just glared at me and cursed, “Maybe she’s the one who jinxed her parents and sister to death. She’s been gloomy and unlikable since she was little. Now her parents are dead, and she doesn’t even shed a tear.” Facing the strange looks and whispers from everyone, I couldn’t be bothered to argue. I just got up, walked forward, and while they weren’t paying attention, yanked off the white cloth. Before Daisy could start cursing, I had already thrown myself onto Kate, punching her hard in the chest. I said, “You’re lying! I don’t believe it! My parents and sister are perfectly fine, they’re not dead, and you can’t curse them like this.” I deliberately messed up my hair, pretending to be deeply shocked, while my hand kept pounding on Kate’s chest. I kept pounding and shouting, “Kate! Kate, don’t sleep, wake up quickly, don’t scare me.” Every punch I threw was with full force, and to outsiders, it looked like I was heartbroken, trying to perform CPR on Kate. But Kate lying there probably didn’t feel so good. Getting hit several times and still having to pretend she felt nothing must have been tough for her. Daisy and Tessa’s faces changed drastically, and they hurriedly stepped forward to pull me back. “Stop messing with Kate.” If you’re acting, you have to take it to the extreme. I suddenly broke free from them, rushed toward Aaron and Dianna, and as usual, swung my fist hard, pounding their chests. I pounded as I cried out, “I don’t believe it! They can’t be dead. I’ll do CPR on them, they can definitely come back to life.” Daisy and Tessa couldn’t stop me and started cursing loudly on the side. A group of relatives swarmed in, trying to restrain me. I figured I’d gone crazy enough, so I quieted down and let them pull me to a chair nearby to sit. Then, I squeezed out a few perfectly timed tears. I cried and said, “I don’t believe it. Just a couple of days ago, my parents took Kate out to have fun and told me to earn my own tuition. How could they suddenly be dead?” “Aunt Tessa, you issued the death certificate. Are you sure you checked everything? Are they really dead?” I stared intently at Tessa, and everyone’s gaze instantly fell on her. A drop of cold sweat rolled down her forehead. She forced herself to stay calm and raised her voice, “Of course it’s true! I’ve been a doctor for so many years, how could I mess up a death certificate? The ones lying here are my family. Would I harm them? Are you out of your mind?” While Tessa was explaining to everyone, I glanced out of the corner of my eye at the three people lying over there. I trust my strength; I’ve been doing all the heavy work at home since I was a kid. With those punches, even if their ribs aren’t broken, they’re bound to bruise. It’s impressive they can still endure it, staying completely still. Especially Kate, she’s been pampered since childhood. Normally, if I accidentally bump into her, she’d run to Aaron and Dianna to complain, then come back to beat me up. I really want to see how long they can hold out. Daisy glared at me fiercely. “Eve, how much longer are you going to keep this up?” “Do you have to turn the house upside down? Your parents worried themselves sick over you when they were alive, and now that they’re gone, do you want them to be restless even in death?” Maybe she didn’t even realize it herself, but when she mentioned “passed away,” her gaze wavered for a moment. I ignored her and just glanced around at everyone. Daisy and Tessa know they faked their deaths; all that grief is just an act. The others are only here to pay their respects because of some distant family ties. It’s ridiculous—this fake funeral doesn’t have a single person truly grieving. I suddenly realized that Dianna’s parents, Julius Wallace and Clara Wallace, didn’t show up. They live in the countryside, far from here. In my past life, after Aaron and Dianna faked their deaths, I worked nonstop every day to pay off debts, leaving no time for anything else. Looking back now, it’s strange that Julius and Clara didn’t send any news or even contact me at all. When I was a child, I was raised by Julius and Clara, so I wasn’t very close to Aaron and Dianna. It wasn’t until Kate was born and I had to go to school that I started living with them. In other words, Julius and Clara might not have known and were somehow deceived by Dianna’s words, so they didn’t think to contact me. Thinking of this, I blurted out, “Such a big thing, why didn’t my mom’s family come? Didn’t anyone tell them the news? I’ll call them right now.” I took out my phone to make a call, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Dianna’s fingers seemed to move slightly. Tessa came over and pressed down on my phone, looking a bit nervous. “Eve, don’t tell them yet. They’re old and not in good health. I’m afraid they won’t be able to handle it. Let’s talk about it later.” “The most important thing now is to cremate their three bodies first. The weather is so hot, the bodies won’t last a few days before they start to rot.” “I’ve already arranged everything, no need for you to worry.” “How could that be, Aunt Tessa?” I wiped away my tears and looked at her with a mix of fragility and determination. “No matter what, they’re my family. Now that this has happened, how can I not do my part?” “I just made a call and contacted the best crematorium in the city. They’ll be here within five minutes.” “I’ll just take these three bodies there directly later, no need to trouble you.” Tessa got anxious. “Why didn’t you discuss this with me before deciding? Cancel it immediately.” I looked up, my eyes showing some confusion. “But didn’t you say it’s hot and the bodies need to be handled quickly? They’ll be here in 5 minutes, it’s fast.” Tessa said, “Oh, that’s not what I meant!”

Under everyone’s gaze, Tessa couldn’t find a suitable reason to respond to me and became flustered. They had already planned it, hiring people to pose as crematorium staff, pretending to take Aaron, Dianna, and Kate for cremation, but actually using the chance to send them to the airport. But my interference directly messed up their plan. Tessa and Daisy turned red with anxiety. They couldn’t just stand by and watch the crematorium staff carry three living people off to be burned, could they? Seeing them flushed and unable to say much, I was laughing like crazy inside, but outwardly I still maintained a mature and composed demeanor. I said, “Aunt Tessa, don’t worry, I’m not a child anymore. I know what to do.” The relatives nodded in agreement upon hearing this. “Eve has really grown up, so sensible and considerate, knowing how to ease the family’s worries.” “Sigh, poor child, just about to go to college, and something like this happens at home.” “How will she get through her days in the future?” They spoke so sincerely, as if they had forgotten their indifferent attitude earlier when Daisy was scolding me. In the end, it was Daisy who firmly made the decision. “Send them to the crematorium tomorrow! Let them stay at home for one more day. I only have two children, and my only son is gone like this. If you burn them right away, I’ll be heartbroken to death.” “Let them stay at home for one more night, just to keep me company.” Since Daisy put it this way, I naturally couldn’t insist further. I said, “Since you feel this way, fine, I’ll have them send over a few ice coffins first.” I glanced at the scorching weather outside and frowned, “It’s summer now, so hot outside. If the bodies are left overnight, they’ll definitely rot and stink by morning. My parents loved cleanliness the most when they were alive; how can they be treated so carelessly after death?” What I said made sense, even Daisy couldn’t argue back and just gave me a fierce glare. When the ice coffins arrived, I called a few relatives to help place all three people inside and turned on the low-temperature switch. I silently lowered the air conditioner temperature a bit more. Let them stay frozen for a while. Everyone was outside, so I took the chance to sneak into Aaron and Dianna’s room and rummage around. Finally, I found something. It was the organ donation consent form signed by Aaron and Dianna. I called the hospital using the number on it, asked them to come over, and contacted a few media outlets. Actually, Aaron and Dianna weren’t that noble and never intended to sign any organ donation consent form. It was just that once Kate felt her double eyelids weren’t deep enough and wanted to get them done. It just so happened the hospital had a promotion: sign an organ donation consent form, and you get 50% off double eyelid surgery. If I hadn’t just seen Kate’s exaggerated double eyelids outside, I wouldn’t have remembered this. In less than 10 minutes, the hospital staff and media arrived, packing the living room completely. Coincidentally, the person from the hospital was Tessa’s boss, the hospital director Henry Foster. As soon as Tessa saw him, she looked a bit flustered and asked with a flattering smile, “Dr. Foster, what brings you here?” Henry said, “Tessa, is the deceased your relative?” “They’re my brother and his wife.” She paused, trying to stay calm, “Is there a problem, Dr. Foster?” “I heard the news about your family’s passing, my condolences,” Henry offered some comfort before getting to the point. “Here’s the thing, they had signed an organ donation consent form during their lifetime, agreeing to donate their organs to the hospital after their death.” As soon as Daisy heard about organ donation, she immediately stepped forward to stop it. She said, “Who gave you permission to touch my son’s body? He’s already gone, and now you want to take his organs? Do you want him to rest in peace or not?” “I’m telling you, I absolutely do not agree with this.” It’s normal for the deceased’s family to react this way, and many of the elderly present also showed disapproving looks. “Exactly, even after death, they still have to endure this.” “Such disrespect to the deceased.” The crowd was buzzing with discussion, and Tessa pretended to look a bit troubled. She said, “Dr. Foster, I’m sorry, our family really didn’t know about this. How about we just forget it?” Henry took out a copy and handed it to her. “You can take a look. As a part of the hospital, you should understand this. The dead can’t come back to life, but his organs can save more people.” Tessa took the document, and it clearly showed Aaron and Dianna’s signatures, fingerprints, and the hospital’s official seal. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, “But we, the family, really can’t accept this. How about we just let it go?” Henry waved his hand. “It’s quite a coincidence. You know the billionaire Bruce Sterling, right? His son has heart failure and is hospitalized in our hospital. Bruce has been looking for a suitable heart for a transplant, but he hasn’t found one yet.” “The database shows that your brother’s heart is a perfect match. When he was still alive, we didn’t bring this up.” “It’s quite a coincidence. Your brother just passed away, and Bruce got the news immediately, urging us to act. Plus, he’s willing to offer ten million dollars as compensation to the deceased’s family.” That’s ten million dollars! All the relatives present were stunned by that number. “An average person couldn’t earn ten million dollars in a lifetime.” “This billionaire is being way too generous.” The crowd, who had just been talking about refusing organ donation, fell silent now.

That’s ten million dollars. An average person couldn’t make that in a lifetime. At first, everyone looked at me with pity, thinking I was about to become an orphan and wondering how I would manage my life afterward. Now everyone’s eyes are filled with jealousy and greed. For an orphan like me, suddenly holding ten million dollars is like carrying a piece of fresh meat into a pack of wolves. Everyone’s probably scheming how to get money out of me. I know exactly what these people are thinking. I rubbed my eyes, making them look swollen and bloodshot, as if I had just been crying. I took two steps forward and said to Henry, “Since my dad’s heart can save someone, then go ahead and take it. He loved doing good deeds when he was alive, always donating money. If he knew he could save someone, he’d definitely be very happy.” I then said to all the relatives, “You are all my elders, and this matter has troubled you a lot. After my parents and sister are buried, I’ll take out $1 million from the money given by the tycoon to cover grandma’s retirement and my college expenses.” “The remaining money, I will divide equally among everyone as a token of gratitude for your hard work.” There were only a dozen or so relatives present, and splitting it evenly, each could get seven to eight hundred thousand dollars. This is practically a windfall. Everyone looked at each other, and after a moment, someone finally stepped forward and said, “Since you’ve said so, we won’t hold back.” “Now we need to take the bodies to the hospital for organ retrieval, right? Everyone, lend a hand and help carry them up!” The relatives helped lift the person along with the coffin onto the vehicle. Nearby media reporters recorded the entire process, broadcasting the scene live. Netizens also started buzzing with discussions. [Oh my god, a single heart is worth ten million dollars? I’ve never seen that much money in my life!] [Bruce is the richest man. His assets exceed billions of dollars, so this amount is nothing to him.] [I initially thought she was quite pitiful, losing her parents and sister, leaving her all alone. I didn’t expect the plot twist to come so quickly.] [And she’s not greedy either. Her grandma is so old, and she still has to go to school. She only took a million dollars and gave the rest to her relatives. No matter what, for the sake of the money, these relatives should help them out with things now and then.] [She’s pretty smart.] Daisy and Tessa stood aside, completely stunned. Daisy anxiously pushed Tessa. “Go stop them! You can’t really let them take your brother’s heart!” Tessa watched the busy crowd in front of her, but she had her own plans in mind. She had originally agreed to help Aaron get a fake death certificate and secretly send them abroad. Aaron promised her $200,000, enough for her to study in Germany. If Aaron’s heart was really taken, as his sister, she should be able to get nearly a million dollars. This was much more cost-effective than $200,000. Having made up her mind, she let out a cold smile and reassured Daisy, “Mom, there are so many people here now, and cameras are recording. Rushing in to stop them will only cause trouble. Let them take him to the hospital first. Once we’re there, I’ll figure out a way to help Aaron escape.” Daisy was extremely anxious, but hearing this, she could only nod reluctantly. “You must hurry to the hospital and stay with him! Make sure nothing really happens to him!” Tessa said, “Don’t worry, Mom.” After sending Aaron to the hospital, Daisy initially wanted to persuade the relatives to go home and rest. After all, there were still two living people lying in the ice coffin, and they definitely wouldn’t be able to endure it. But the relatives were unwilling to leave, insisting on staying. “We didn’t do much, but took so much money, we really feel bad about it. Let us stay a bit longer, at least to show some care.” “Exactly, we didn’t do much but took so much money, it feels uneasy. You go rest first, we’ll take care of things here.” The group half-persuaded and half-forced Daisy back to her room, then grabbed a few stools, sat down, and started chatting. “Everyone, have some coffee. Thanks for your hard work tonight.” I brewed a pot of coffee and poured a cup for everyone present to help them stay alert. After all, in the middle of the night, you never know if something might suddenly pop out. I glanced at the two people in the ice coffin and smiled subtly. The internet is flooded with news about the richest man spending ten million dollars for his son’s heart transplant. I’m really curious about what Tessa can do to make my dad leave. Chatting made time fly. At dawn, the crematorium sent a vehicle to pick up the bodies. Relatives got up one after another to help, lifting Dianna and Kate onto the vehicle. Daisy wanted to stop them but didn’t know what to say. Tessa wasn’t by her side at the moment, so no matter how anxious she was, she could only watch as Dianna and Kate were sent into the cremation furnace. “Can’t cremate, can’t cremate,” she muttered incessantly, her eyes fixed on the cremation furnace. “Grandma, what are you saying?” I turned my head to look. “This is the highest standard I specially arranged—one person per furnace, clean and dignified. After it’s done, we can even go in and pick out the ashes ourselves.” “When my dad’s surgery is over, it’ll be the same process.” “Can’t cremate!” Her voice was small, only I could hear it. “They’re not even dead yet!” I didn’t respond, just smiled faintly. I thought, “Facing death already, and they still won’t get up?” At that moment, the crematorium staff ran out screaming. Closely following behind the staff were Dianna and Kate. Their faces were smudged with ash, hair slightly messy, looking both disheveled and comical. The relatives who followed instinctively wanted to run but abruptly stopped, probably thinking about those hundreds of thousands of dollars. A bold relative stepped forward and asked, “What on earth is going on? Are they dead or not?” “Of course, I’m not dead!” Kate couldn’t hold back and shouted first, “You just stood there watching us being sent for cremation?” Someone tentatively picked up a small stone and threw it, hitting Dianna’s shoulder. Only after hearing a cry of pain did they feel relieved. “It hurts! She’s really alive!” “This is coming back to life!”

Married for six years, Charlie Simpson finally agreed to hold a wedding for me, Evelyn Hayes. But our adopted son, Oscar Simpson, suddenly fell seriously ill, and Charlie and Oscar hurriedly flew abroad for treatment. Worried, I rushed over, only to find Charlie and his elder brother’s wife, Juliet Harrison, holding a wedding on the street. He knelt on one knee and said to Juliet, who was wearing a wedding dress, “Once we’re back home, life will push us forward again.” “No one knows us here, so let’s be reckless just this once.” I watched Oscar call her mom, the three of them looking so happy together, and quietly returned home, changing the bride’s name at the wedding venue to Juliet. Then, I called my teacher Valerie Harvey. “May I still have a chance to play a supporting role in your newly rehearsed musical?” “Have you figured it out?” On the other end, Valerie’s voice paused for a second, then was filled with excitement and joy. “Of course! You were my chosen successor back then. The troupe is heading to Paris for an exchange in half a month. Can you join us?” I said, “Mm, I’ll be there on time.” After hanging up, the wedding planning team quickly called to confirm. “Ms. Hayes, do you want to change the bride’s name to Juliet Harrison?” After receiving my confirmation and double-checking, they cautiously asked, “Has the bride changed? What about the plans…” “I’ll have the bride communicate with you in a few days,” I said calmly. After hanging up, that ache in my chest resurfaced. Charlie and I had been in love for years and were about to get married when his brother, Paul Simpson, passed away unexpectedly. Juliet was already pregnant at the time, and Charlie’s mother, Hazel Simpson, couldn’t bear to see her widowed so young, so she suggested that Charlie marry her too. At that time, I also found out I was pregnant and caused a big scene. Only then did Hazel back down and instead suggested adopting Juliet’s child to Charlie. Later, Juliet went abroad, and Charlie and I quickly got our marriage certificate. I became a stepmother at a young age and faced a lot of criticism. Charlie kept postponing the wedding, using Paul’s recent passing as an excuse. I was joyfully preparing for the wedding. But worried about Oscar, I dropped everything for the wedding and searched for a long time at the hospital address they gave me. But on the bustling street, I ran into Charlie, who was supposed to be waiting outside the operating room. In my shocked eyes, the reflection showed Charlie holding Juliet, dressed in a wedding gown. She covered her mouth, tears in her eyes, staring in disbelief as Charlie knelt on one knee, offering her a ring. I was stunned too. I never expected Charlie to have such feelings for Juliet. “Dad, Mom, I want you to stay together forever.” Oscar rushed over to hug them, his little face scrunched up. “I don’t want Dad to marry that woman.” Mentioning me, Charlie’s smile faded slightly, but his gaze at Juliet was filled with helplessness and pain. He said, “I don’t want to either. But there’s no choice.” “Your mom and I can’t be together. We each have our own lives.” He turned to Juliet, his gaze becoming gentle yet firm. “But now, we can let loose for once.” The crowd’s cheers erupted, like thunder splitting the sky above me. I staggered back two steps, watching them embrace and kiss deeply. The camera captured them, taking one wedding photo after another. Afterward, Charlie lifted Juliet’s gown for her. I followed behind them like a ghost. Juliet suddenly started sobbing, her affectionate eyes full of reluctance. “I’ll get married someday too, what will Oscar do then?” Charlie saw her tears and immediately got nervous. “Don’t cry, Oscar still has me.” “You know that’s not what I mean,” she said, biting her lip, aggrieved. Charlie said, “Don’t worry, Evelyn won’t have children. I’ve been giving her birth control pills all these years. When we return, I’ll get a vasectomy. From now on, she can only treat Oscar well.” Hearing Charlie say this, Juliet finally broke into a smile through her tears. At that moment, it felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over me, chilling me to the bone. For six years, Hazel had mocked me countless times for being “unable to conceive.” Each time, Charlie would stand up for me. “It doesn’t matter if Evelyn has children or not, I won’t force her. Besides, we have Oscar.” The words that once moved me now send chills down my spine. I didn’t dare to keep watching and had to flee back home in embarrassment. I looked at the carefully chosen gift boxes lined up, just waiting for Charlie to come back and pick one with me. Looking at the half-written wedding invitations, the joy and excitement I once felt turned into a pain that tore at my very soul. I stayed alone in my room, crying for days until my throat went hoarse and I could no longer make a sound. Today, I finally informed all the guests and let out a deep sigh. Since they can’t be together, I’ll give them a hand. I’m willing to step aside and let them be.

By the time Charlie came back, I had already composed myself. He held Oscar’s hand and naturally led Juliet inside. Seeing me sitting on the sofa, he paused and asked, “Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be picking out a wedding dress?” I looked at his instinctive move to shield Juliet behind him, feeling a dull ache in my chest. So he did remember that we had an appointment to pick out a wedding dress today. But he only sent me one text: [I might not make it back today, you go ahead and check it out.] He avoided my gaze and explained, “The flight changed, and I wanted to surprise you. I just happened to run into Juliet at the door.” Juliet gave an awkward smile and casually took my arm. “Perfect timing, aren’t you trying on wedding dresses? I’ll come along and give you some advice.” I agreed without hesitation. At the bridal shop, the staff saw Charlie and Juliet walking side by side while I walked behind with Oscar, and naturally asked Juliet, “Miss, what style do you like? We also have new arrivals inside.” Juliet was drawn to a wedding dress in the display window, her eyes lighting up as she instinctively looked at Charlie. I noticed it was the same style as the one she had worn abroad. The staff quickly said, “If you like it, you can try it on first!” Oscar also rushed forward excitedly, saying, “Aunt Juliet, this one suits you perfectly!” “Then go try it on,” Charlie said instinctively, a doting smile on his lips. As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized my presence, and a trace of panic flashed across his face. He explained, “Juliet is about to remarry, so she can try it on to get a feel. Evelyn, try on whichever one you like. As long as you’re happy, anything is fine.” He looked at me affectionately, but I just found it a bit amusing. He also knew that Juliet’s blind date was successful and that she was preparing to get married. The curtain was pulled open with a “swish.” Juliet, like an excited little bird, lifted her skirt and walked over lightly. “Charlie, look!” Charlie was instantly stunned, his usually indifferent eyes filled with amazement. “This wedding dress suits you so well, even the groom is speechless from your beauty,” the staff praised, clearly assuming Juliet was the bride. But Charlie’s attention was entirely on Juliet, completely ignoring me, the real bride. “Aunt Juliet, you look so beautiful. Let me take some photos of you,” Oscar said, grabbing Charlie’s phone and snapping pictures nonstop around her. Charlie smiled helplessly, happiness almost overflowing from his eyes. I watched the scene before me, gave a self-deprecating smile, and turned to find the staff to settle the bill. I said, “The one she’s wearing will do, and let’s have the styling done here as well. When the time comes, the makeup artist can just come over and do it for her directly.” The staff said, “Alright, let me confirm, the bride is Juliet Harrison, correct?” I nodded and smiled, saying yes. Then, I walked up to Charlie. “Let’s go, I’ve paid.” He finally came to his senses, his smile suddenly froze, and he awkwardly asked, “Didn’t you try it on yet? Aren’t you going to look at others?” I said, “No need, let’s go home.” As soon as we got home, Oscar suddenly tugged at my sleeve and said, “Mom, my head hurts a lot.” He frowned, his eyes watery, and my heart wavered for a moment. After all, he is the child I raised with my own hands. The first word he learned was “Mom,” which he called out while hugging my neck. Even though he later learned about his background and became somewhat distant, in my heart, my love for him has always been unconditional. Even just a few days ago, I saw with my own eyes how he and Charlie betrayed me, but seeing his pain now, I still grabbed the keys without hesitation. I said, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I walked out of the bedroom but didn’t see Charlie anywhere. However, I didn’t have time to care and immediately took Oscar to the hospital. The test results were all normal, but Oscar insisted on staying in the hospital. I had no choice but to stay with him. The next morning, I stepped out of the hospital, just about to buy breakfast for Oscar, but saw a couple passionately kissing at the corner. Juliet said, “Hurry up, or she’ll find out.” Charlie said, “It’s fine, Oscar is keeping her occupied. Juliet, I really want to marry you.” “If she hadn’t forced me to marry her by getting pregnant back then, I would have married you long ago.” I froze. Seeing Charlie’s face filled with resentment, I instantly felt a pang in my chest. Turns out, Oscar was faking illness to deceive me. Turns out, Charlie had long regretted marrying me.

I stumbled back to the hospital room. My heart, which should have been numb long ago, still ached sharply. Looking at the sleeping Oscar, I unconsciously reached out and plucked a strand of his hair. Before long, Charlie rushed over, his face full of apology. “Evelyn, I’m sorry. The company was too busy last night. I came over as soon as I saw your message this morning.” He pretended to pat Oscar’s head, glanced at the medical records, and finally let out a sigh of relief. “Luckily, everything’s fine. You must be tired. Take Oscar home.” I nodded, completed the discharge procedures, and handed two strands of hair to the doctor. When I returned to the ward, Juliet was sitting by the bed, feeding Oscar porridge. She took a small sip to check if it was too hot, leaving a bit on her lips. Charlie saw this and smiled, naturally reaching out to wipe it off for her. Seeing me come in, Charlie and Oscar both turned their heads, showing identical cold disdain. Charlie quickly put on a gentle expression. “Evelyn, you must be tired, right? Juliet came to visit Oscar and brought some seafood porridge. Have some too.” My throat tightened, and I gave a bitter smile, “I’m allergic to seafood.” He froze for a moment, awkwardly opening his mouth. “I’ve been so busy lately, I forgot about that.” I didn’t say anything else, just quietly packed my luggage. Oscar occasionally cast resentful glances at me. Realizing I was disturbing their family of three, I tactfully left the room. Soon, Charlie took us home. He glanced at me and tentatively said, “You’re busy preparing for the wedding these days. How about letting Juliet stay to take care of Oscar for now?” He signaled Oscar with his eyes, and Oscar immediately whimpered weakly, clutching tightly onto Juliet’s sleeve. I knew their intentions clearly. But I was tired and just went along with them. During the days Juliet stayed at home, I quietly wrote the invitations. I changed all my names on them to “Juliet Harrison.” A few days later, Charlie took us to Hazel’s house for dinner. As the door opened, Hazel warmly greeted Juliet and Oscar. When she saw me, her expression instantly changed, and she rolled her eyes. At the dining table, Oscar kept calling out “Aunt Juliet.” Hazel was happily chatting with Juliet, but as soon as she heard that title, her face darkened. “What Aunt Juliet? She’s your real mom!” She scoffed and glanced at my reaction. She never liked me anyway, probably waiting for me to argue so she could take the chance to scold me. But I just kept my head down, eating, pretending not to hear. Hazel’s face instantly changed, and she slammed her fork onto the table. Then she pointed at me and yelled, “Is it because you’re too jealous to let Oscar acknowledge his real mom?” “I haven’t even confronted you yet. Oscar was seriously ill and went abroad for treatment, but you stayed behind to plan a wedding? And just a few days ago, he was hospitalized again—is this how you take care of a child?” Oscar immediately started sobbing cooperatively, looking aggrieved. “I want to call her mom too.” I looked at Charlie’s silence, then at Juliet’s smug expression, feeling nothing but absurdity and exhaustion. I said calmly, “Fine, it’s my fault. I’ll take the punishment.” After speaking, without waiting for their reaction, I turned and went to the study. Hazel used to find every possible way to pick on me. As long as Oscar felt a bit unwell, she would blame me and punish me by making me kneel in the study. But now, I just sit on the chair for some peace and quiet. Unexpectedly, after a while, Juliet came over. She said, “Evelyn, don’t take what I said earlier to heart. Oscar is still young; he will definitely acknowledge you as his mom.” The mockery in her eyes was barely concealed. Before she finished speaking, seeing me scrolling on my phone while sitting on the chair, her expression changed. “Why aren’t you kneeling?” “This is the Simpson family’s rule. Hazel said to make Charlie a cup of coffee, why haven’t you done it yet?” She pretended to be anxious and shoved the coffee pot into my hand without giving me a chance to refuse. But her hands trembled violently, and the scalding coffee poured straight onto my hand. I clenched my teeth in pain and instinctively shook it off. “Ah!” She got splashed by the coffee, screamed in pain, and lost her grip, causing the coffee pot to crash to the ground. “What’s wrong?” Charlie and Hazel rushed in. Seeing the scene before them, their faces instantly turned pale.

My name is Mandy Jones. During the Independence Day holiday, I quit my job and traveled to Germany with my father Fred Jones, my grandmother Jessica Jones, and my 9-year-old brother Jeffery Jones. I covered all the expenses, but Jeffery either hit or scolded me the entire trip. Jeffery screamed, “Get lost, I don’t want you around. You’re a jinx, you’ll ruin everything for me.” Everyone thought Jeffery was just being unreasonable, but not long after, he actually fell into the Main River during the dragon boat race, leading to a lung infection. We immediately canceled the trip and returned home. On the plane, Jeffery was burning with fever, barely conscious, yet still yelled angrily at me. Jeffery cried out, “Help! Mandy wants to kill me. Grandma, save me!” That night, Jeffery mysteriously died in the hospital room. Everyone accused me, saying I was the one who killed Jeffery. Fred broke my leg, and Jessica directly pushed me toward a speeding truck. I was run over and died gruesomely on the street. But I was reborn on the day I took my family on the trip abroad. ***** “I don’t want Mandy. She’s not allowed in my house. She’s just an outsider.” The moment I regained consciousness, Jeffery’s disgusted voice pulled me out of the haze. Fred and Jessica heard this and just thought the child was speaking nonsense, paying no attention. But seeing Jeffery’s look of complete resistance, I felt a chill all over. The excruciating pain of being hit and crushed by a truck in my previous life was still vivid, filling my heart with fear. Jessica looked at Jeffery and said dotingly, “Jeffery is right. Mandy will get married in a few years, and then she’ll belong to someone else’s family.” I stood quietly on the side, not arguing. Jeffery, upon hearing Jessica’s words, immediately threw himself on the ground, rolling around and screaming curses. Jeffery cried and shouted, “I don’t want her, kick her out now, she can’t appear in front of me. She’ll kill me, I’m not lying, Grandma.” He lay on the ground, his face flushed red, his eyes filled with fear and disgust as he looked at me. Fred noticed the astonished gazes around him and felt utterly humiliated, so he sternly scolded, “Get up right now! How can you talk about your sister like that?” Jeffery, noticing Fred’s harsher tone, immediately turned his gaze to Jessica, who adored him. Jeffery said aggrievedly, “I’m really not lying, Mandy is a jinx, she will definitely ruin me.” “She just thinks Grandma only loves me, and she always warns me that everything in the house will be hers in the future.” Jessica immediately looked up and reproached me disapprovingly, “How could you say such things to Jeffery!” Seeing Jessica’s blatant favoritism, I felt that all my sincerity towards them in my previous life had been in vain. In my past life, it was my own grandmother who personally pushed me into the abyss of death. At this moment, Fred frowned and commanded, “Enough, there’s a dragon boat race on the Main River today. Take Jeffery to have a look and work on building some sibling bond.” I sighed obediently and reached out to grab Jeffery, ready to take him over. Just then, Jeffery suddenly slapped my hand away forcefully, his eyes red. Jeffery roared, “Get away! I don’t want you to take me there. You’ll push me into the river and drown me!” Jeffery’s heart-wrenching cries immediately made Jessica nervous. She quickly pulled him into her arms, comforting him while watching me warily. Jessica questioned, “What exactly did you do to Jeffery? Did you secretly hit him?” I stood aside, glancing at the bustling dragon boat race outside the hotel. There were five minutes left until the race started at 12, and ten minutes until Jeffery’s inexplicable fall into the water in his previous life.

In my previous life, I followed Fred’s advice and took Jeffery alone to the Main River to watch the race, trying to bond with him and be a good sister. As a result, Jeffery broke free from my hand and disappeared without a trace. It wasn’t until a commotion arose downstream of the Main River, and someone pulled out a barely conscious boy, that I realized it was Jeffery. Later, due to his severe injuries, the police suspected child abuse and reviewed all nearby surveillance, but found nothing. In just five minutes, Jeffery vanished from my side and ended up barely alive downstream of the Main River. I lowered my head in thought for a moment but still refused Fred’s suggestion. I said to Fred, “Dad, you should take Jeffery instead. I really don’t feel confident about his safety if I take him alone.” Fred glared at me after hearing this and said impatiently, “It’s just taking him to watch a dragon boat race! What’s so hard about that? Do you have a problem with Jeffery or are you unhappy with me?” After saying that, he stormed back to the hotel room without looking back. I turned to look at Jessica. I persuaded, “Grandma, there are too many people today. If a stampede happens, it would be terrible. Let’s not go and head back to the hotel instead.” I added, “After all, Jeffery is the only boy in the family.” Jessica looked down at Jeffery, who clearly wanted to watch the race. She hesitated and said, “It’s just a dragon boat race. We can watch from a distance. It’s such a waste to stay in the hotel after coming all the way to Germany.” I looked at Jeffery, a worried expression on my face. I said, “Better safe than sorry. If something really happens to Jeffery, our family line would end, wouldn’t it?” This sentence hit Jessica’s weak spot. In her eyes, only a grandson could carry on the family lineage. Seeing her waver, I immediately pulled Jessica and Jeffery back to the room. I could clearly feel the small hand in my left palm pinch me hard, his palm covered in cold sweat. I sneered inwardly, thinking, “I’d like to see how he plans to frame me without going to the dragon boat race or the Main River.” After returning to the room, Jeffery, sitting on the sofa, kept staring out the window, restless. Before long, he ran to Jessica, crying and acting spoiled. Jeffery pleaded, “Grandma, I want to watch the dragon boat race. I just have to go.” Seeing him cry, Jessica immediately became anxious. She said, “Well… Mandy, why don’t you take Jeffery to have a look? Just be extra careful.” I stood aside and clearly saw that Jeffery in Jessica’s arms wasn’t crying at all but was glaring at me sideways. I thought disdainfully, “Would I really be outsmarted by a kid?” I turned on the TV and switched to the live broadcast channel of the dragon boat race. I said to Jeffery, “Look, this TV screen is so big, much clearer than watching it live.” Jeffery, seeing this, started throwing a tantrum and shouted, “I don’t want to watch this stupid TV, I want to go there! Or I’ll tell Dad you bullied me.” I snorted lightly and said, “Do as you like, but you’re not stepping out of this room today.” My tough attitude instantly made Jeffery’s face turn red with anger. He screamed hoarsely, “All you do is bully me! I hate you! Get out of my house!” He lay on the ground crying and yelling, and before long, he started coughing violently, gasping for air as if he had respiratory alkalosis. Looking at his noisy behavior, I couldn’t help but frown. I thought, “He used to be so cute and clingy when he was little. How did staying with Grandma in the countryside for a few years turn him into such a brat?” Jessica saw him gasping for air as he cried and quickly picked him up, anxiously saying, “Jeffery, breathe slowly. If anything happens to you, it’ll be the death of me.” Seeing my indifferent attitude, Jeffery lay on the ground and started rolling his eyes, looking like he was about to faint. This completely panicked Jessica. Jessica quickly said, “Alright, alright, I’ll go watch the game with you, and Mandy will come too.” Saying that, she went to the bedroom to grab her bag. I took the opportunity to go to the bathroom and locked the hotel room door on my way. But when I came out after washing my hands, the living room was empty. Seeing Jessica come out of the bedroom with a bag on her back and a similarly pale face, my heart sank. I realized Jeffery had gone missing again!

This suite only has a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom, but now, apart from Jessica and me, there’s no sign of Jeffery at all. While I was in the bathroom, I clearly didn’t hear the sound of the door opening! I rushed to the door and found the safety chain still securely latched, instantly shocked. If Jeffery really went out, how could he latch the safety chain from the outside? Jessica and I, both anxious, turned the entire room upside down but couldn’t find any trace of Jeffery. I muttered to myself, “This is absolutely impossible. How on earth did he do it?” Thinking about what happened after Jeffery’s disappearance in my previous life, cold sweat broke out on my forehead, my spine chilled, and I panicked, utterly at a loss. Jessica immediately called the police. I dashed out of the room and ran to the dragon boat race site as fast as I could, frantically searching along the Main River bank, tears streaming down my face. When I returned to the room in a daze, the police had already arrived and were trying to comfort Jessica, who was crying so hard she could barely breathe. But she was too emotional to explain the situation clearly. I explained everything that had just happened to the police in detail. Child disappearance is already a serious case in Germany, let alone we are American tourists. The police immediately sent someone to retrieve the surveillance footage. However, the surveillance footage left me utterly shocked. It showed that ever since Jessica and I brought Jeffery into the room, the door had never been opened again! My mind went blank. Immediately after, the events following Jeffery’s disappearance in my previous life replayed. Half an hour later, the police were notified that a drowned child had been found downstream of the Main River and had been rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. The commotion in the room alerted Fred, who lived next door. He walked over in confusion, and upon learning about his son’s disappearance, he flew into a rage. He kicked me, knocking me to the ground. My head hit the bedpost, and blood started seeping out. Fred yelled angrily, “I told you to take good care of Jeffery! What the hell were you doing? You can’t even watch over a child, you useless piece of crap!” At this moment, Jessica, who was sobbing uncontrollably, suddenly remembered what Jeffery had said a few hours ago and glared at me, questioning angrily. Jessica questioned, “Jeffery said back then that you would get him killed! Was it you?” Fred immediately remembered this as well and nodded firmly at the police. In an instant, I went from being a victim’s family member to a suspect. The police quickly retrieved the hotel lobby’s surveillance footage, which clearly recorded Jeffery saying that I would harm him. I stared in shock at everything happening before me, shaking my head in disbelief. I murmured, “No, it wasn’t me…” Before I could explain, Fred raised his hand and slapped me, angrily yelling, “You wicked woman! How dare you harm your own brother.” I turned my head and fell to the side, ignoring the pain on my face, my mind racing, feeling that something was off. I hurriedly defended myself, “No! It really wasn’t me! The surveillance caught everything—I never left the room, and I was with Grandma the whole time!”