Category: English

1 Five years into their marriage of convenience, Julian Thorne and Elara Vance remained strangers. Even their intimacies were polite. Julian would kiss Elara’s collarbone, “I’m beginning.” He’d undress her, “Is this alright?” And when he entered her, he’d hoarsely whisper, “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable.” After three hours, Elara gasped, “I can’t take any more. Can we stop?” Julian froze, apologizing, then pulled away. “I’m going to shower,” Elara said, heading to the bathroom. Julian, trembling slightly, dressed, hiding his kiss marks. While she showered, he pulled a divorce agreement from the nightstand. Five years. Time to end it. Everyone knew the Thorne-Vance union was a business alliance. Julian and Elara were a “model couple.” But secretly, each loved another. Elara’s heart belonged to Liam, her adopted brother, a forbidden love. Julian’s beloved, Seraphina Frost, had died five years ago. One, a brutal separation; the other, death’s finality. On their wedding day, they confessed their affections. They agreed to a five-year contract: fulfilling duties without emotion, for family business and to avoid marriage pressure. Now, it was time to part. Julian was about to speak when the bathroom door opened. Elara rushed out, hair dripping, grabbing car keys. “So late? Where are you going?” Julian asked. “Liam had a nightmare. I need to be with him,” she replied, her voice urgent. Julian always respected her visits to Liam. But tonight was different. “Could you spare five minutes? Important discussion.” Elara paused. “Very important?” Julian softly confirmed. Her phone rang. It was Liam, tearful: “Elara? Why aren’t you here? I need to tell you something…” Elara’s eyes softened. “I’ll be right there.” She hung up. “Just do as you see fit. No need to discuss.” Julian froze, then nodded, handing her the divorce agreement. “Then… sign here.” Elara signed without looking, then hurried out. Julian heard her car fade, then called his lawyer. “Divorce agreement signed. How soon can it be dissolved?” “One-month cooling-off period, Mr. Thorne.” Relieved, Julian booked a flight to Veridia, a southern city. His friend, Marcus, had seen a poor university student there, Clarissa, who looked just like Seraphina. Julian couldn’t bear her hardship. He decided to support her. Her grandmother was in Veridia, so she couldn’t move to Arcadia. Julian, with no ties in Arcadia, would move. Seeing Seraphina’s face daily would be enough. 2 That night, Julian dreamt beautifully, waking with a smile. Soon, he’d be free from his marriage charade, seeing Clarissa daily. He wished the waiting period would end. At breakfast, he heard Elara enter, followed by Liam and bodyguards. Elara, in blue, beamed. Liam, in black, slung an arm around her, looking intimate. Elara explained: “Liam’s had nightmares; he needs me nearby. He’s staying here for a while.” She offered Julian a gift-wrapped watch: “Compensation for you.” Julian gently refused: “No need. We have space.” Elara seemed surprised: “You’re not angry?” Julian, more surprised, countered: “Angry about what? He’ll be moving in anyway, next month.” Elara looked blank. Liam, however, smirked: “Thank you, Mr. Thorne.” Liam never called Julian “brother-in-law.” Five years ago, Liam had smashed Julian’s wedding suite, screaming that Julian stole Elara. Elara had calmed him, and her devotion to Liam never wavered. She still spoiled him, ignored Julian. “Elara,” Liam whined, shaking her arm, “amusement park?” Elara’s gaze softened. “Yes, darling. Soon.” She looked at Julian. He smiled mildly: “You two go. Let the staff know if you’ll be back for dinner.” Liam smirked again: “Thank you, Mr. Thorne.” Julian ignored the challenge, returning to his room. Julian packed all day. By dusk, Elara and Liam weren’t back. Julian showered, changed, and lay down. Just as he drifted off, he heard Liam’s petulant voice: “Elara, sleep with me, please. I’m scared alone.” Elara’s voice was gentle but weary: “Liam, my husband’s here. It’s improper.” “What’s improper? You like me, I like you! Julian’s just a placeholder!” Julian pretended to sleep. Elara murmured, “Liam, I’ll always be devoted, but nothing else. I’m married. It would damage your reputation. Just know I’ll always love you.” Liam’s voice was imperious: “Then you’re not allowed to touch him tonight.” Elara’s reply was too low to hear. Later, Elara entered. Noticing his suitcases, she asked, “What are these for?” Julian almost told her the truth, but recalling her earlier dismissal, he lied: “Seasonal change. Clearing things out.” Elara nodded, then entered the bathroom. When she emerged in a towel, water dripping, she approached Julian, instinctively leaning in for a kiss. Julian stiffened, pushing her away. “Didn’t your brother say he didn’t want you touching me?” Elara froze: “You heard that?” Julian nodded. She changed the subject: “I want you. Is that alright?” 3 Julian reluctantly nodded. “Alright.” Elara kissed him, embracing him fiercely. He groaned, his grip tightening. “My love,” she murmured, “again.” When Julian awoke, the room was empty. He went downstairs. Elara was gone; only Liam sat at breakfast. Julian asked politely, “Did you sleep well?” Liam ignored him. Julian sighed, noting Liam’s disrespect. He sat to eat. A bite of toast triggered nausea. He rushed to the bathroom, dry-heaving. Emerging, he found Liam at the door, face dark. “What did you two do yesterday?” Liam demanded. Julian froze. Liam exploded, “I tolerated your marriage, but how dare you sleep with my sister!” He spun, yelling at the bodyguards, “Hold him down! Fetch my riding crop!” The guards hesitated. Liam’s eyes turned red. “My sister told you to serve me! Is this how you obey?” The guards seized Julian. Julian struggled, “You misunderstand! It wasn’t my idea…” Liam, losing control, grabbed a leather whip from a toolbox. “You dare argue? I won’t let you have Elara’s love!” He whipped Julian repeatedly. Julian collapsed, cold sweat pouring, vision blurring, until he lost consciousness. He awoke in a hospital bed. He heard the doctor say, “Mr. Vance, even if it’s a game, you went too far. Mr. Thorne’s skin is covered in marks.” 4 Julian slowly opened his eyes. Elara sat by his bed, brows furrowed, guilt in her eyes. “I know. So sorry Liam did that.” Julian, still in pain, sighed. “Let the authorities handle it. He needs to reflect.” He reached for his phone, but Elara snatched it. “No! Liam didn’t mean to. Let it go.” Julian froze. “So I suffered for nothing?” Elara was silent. “My apologies. I’ll compensate you, but don’t trouble Liam.” Julian sighed again. “You indulge him too much.” Elara shook her head. “If your Seraphina were alive, you wouldn’t want her hurt, would you?” Julian stiffened. “I understand. Last time.” Despite his words, Elara felt a strange discomfort. She stared at him. “Still thinking of her? She’s been gone for years.” Julian didn’t understand. She knew he loved Seraphina. He never interfered with her and Liam. Why was she angry now? Liam called. Elara composed herself, the anger fading. “Liam’s causing a scene. I have to go. I’ll visit later.” Julian watched her leave. “Tell your brother… he seems worried about our intimacy. Don’t worry, I won’t let you carry my child. I had a vasectomy the day we married.” Elara froze. “What?!” Julian looked at her, surprised by her reaction. “I wouldn’t father a child with anyone but Seraphina. You understand, right?” Elara’s face darkened. “No, I don’t. Go reverse it, immediately. It’s a marital duty.” Julian shook his head. “We’re divorcing. I have no marital duties.”

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1 My childhood sweetheart had strung me along for eight years, constantly demanding I earn points by proving myself worthy before I could even be her boyfriend. So, I gave up a chance at a prestigious university, abandoned my secret crush on the girl of my dreams, and sacrificed a bright future. Yet, she turned around and married a rich heir, even mocking me after my parents died, saying I was too pathetic to even end it all. My heart turned to ashes, and I leaped. I never expected to wake up again, back on the very day I’d confessed my feelings to her. Given a second chance, I swore I’d never be her doormat again. I would embark on a life of limitless possibilities. As for her? Well, she was about to get a taste of real hardship. “Chris, I honestly don’t want a relationship right now. I’m sorry.” I looked at the beautiful girl clutching ninety-nine roses before me. She was Sarah, my childhood sweetheart. Seeing her again, though, all I felt was a wave of annoyance. Of all the people to encounter first after rebirth, it had to be her. What a jinx. A woman like her? Not even a dog would date her. “Chris, why are you silent? Can you not always be like this? I really don’t want to date right now.” Sarah’s eyes held a flicker of impatience. “Alright, as you wish.” I nodded, a thrill surging through me. Reborn, I wouldn’t degrade myself like that ever again. I would mend every single regret from my past life. Make money. Lots and lots of money! I wouldn’t let my parents get sick and hospitalized from overwork. I wouldn’t let the girl who secretly loved me wait endlessly. I wouldn’t… “Didn’t you hear me clearly? I just rejected you. Why do you look so happy?” Sarah challenged, her voice edged with irritation. She couldn’t fathom why my reaction to her rejection was such obvious excitement and joy. It clearly irked her. In her mind, I should have been devastated, heartbroken. I should have immediately vowed to prove my devotion, waiting for her to accept my proposal. Then she, satisfied, would have told me that if I passed her tests, she’d eventually become my girlfriend. To hell with that. A woman like you? You’re not even worthy. All I wanted now was money! The thought of it cleared my head, and my excitement intensified. Today, in this very commercial district, a lottery shop had sold a scratch-off ticket worth a million dollars. That winning ticket was the last fifty-dollar scratch-off left in the shop. I knew this with such certainty because, in my previous life, I had gone to buy drinks for Sarah and her friends, witnessing the entire event unfold. I immediately fumbled in my pockets. Only thirty-two bucks. Not enough! I almost slapped myself. If it weren’t for buying those roses for Sarah’s proposal, using up the three hundred-plus bucks I’d scrimped and saved, I wouldn’t be short on cash now. My gaze shot to the roses in Sarah’s hands. An idea sparked. “Give me back the roses.” 2 I didn’t wait for Sarah’s response, simply taking the roses back into my arms. “Those are the roses you gave me. How can you take them back?” Sarah watched, wide-eyed, as I reclaimed the bouquet, standing frozen in disbelief. “You rejected my proposal, so why would you keep my flowers? I can always give them to someone else.” I stated matter-of-factly, inspecting the roses as I spoke. Some parts were already wilting slightly. Annoying. Sarah sputtered, caught off guard. “Chris, I only rejected you this time. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance. Freshman year is so demanding, I just don’t have time for a relationship. When sophomore year settles down and it’s easier, I might want to date, and you’ll be the first person I consider.” Sarah quickly changed her tactic. I looked at Sarah with a flicker of disdain, almost gagging. The first person she’d consider? Was that even a human thing to say? My judgment these past years had truly been flawed, to have fallen for someone like this. “I’m being completely honest with you, but there’s one rule: you can’t like other girls, and you definitely can’t pursue them. Otherwise, we’ll truly have no chance.” “I think you should pass that ‘chance’ on to some other poor fool… cough… someone else. I’m just not interested in you.” I casually tossed the words out, then grabbed my bottled water to keep the roses fresh. My words, however, seemed to sting Sarah’s pride. “Chris, love requires perseverance. If you can’t even handle a small setback like this, how can I even consider being with you?” “Then find someone else to test. I have important things to do right now.” “You…” Sarah’s face flushed with anger. “Chris, stop acting up. Sarah genuinely doesn’t have much time right now. She actually cares about you, don’t hold a grudge against her.” “Sarah, you know Chris, he’s just talking out of anger.” At this moment, Sarah’s roommate and best friend, Clara, interjected, trying to mediate between us. Sarah paused, then the corners of her lips subtly curved upward, regaining her confident demeanor. “Chris, I know you’re upset, but didn’t I tell you not to give up? As long as you perform better in the future, you’ll definitely earn more points in my heart.” “I’ve been talking to you for so long, I’m thirsty. Go get Clara and me two bottles of electrolyte drinks, or I’ll never speak to you again.” I sprinkled the last bit of water on the roses. Now, they looked as fresh as if they’d just been wrapped at the shop. Satisfied, I tossed the empty bottle and strode quickly towards the lottery shop. Buy drinks? She just rejected my proposal and already wants to spend my money. How shameless! Sarah, go to hell! 3 Arriving at the lottery shop, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the sole fifty-dollar scratch-off ticket still there. “Excuse me, sir, can we make a deal? I’ll trade you this bouquet of roses and thirty dollars for that scratch-off ticket. These roses cost me over three hundred dollars, you can take them home and surprise your wife.” I approached the owner, proposing my trade. The owner paused, seemingly encountering such a request for a scratch-off for the first time. He glanced at the roses in my hand, then smiled. “Alright.” “Your word, right, sir?” “Of course.” I immediately handed him the money and the flowers, took the scratch-off ticket from his hand, and began to scratch. Seeing the winning pattern, I felt a surge of excitement, but kept my face as calm as still water. “Did you win, young man?” the owner asked with a smile. “Ah, no luck.” I didn’t excitedly blurt it out like the man in my previous life. What if the owner went back on his word? Holding the card, I walked out of the lottery shop and hurried to the State Lottery Office. Scratch-off tickets worth over ten thousand dollars needed to be redeemed at the main office. Thankfully, I had brought my ID. This lottery shop was conveniently located not far from the Lottery Headquarters. Soon, after taxes were deducted, eight hundred thousand dollars were deposited into my bank account. I walked out of the Lottery Headquarters, feeling utterly delighted. “Chris, what are you doing here?” An arm slung over my shoulder. I turned to see Ben, my high school friend and college roommate. In my previous life, Ben had been my best brother. When both my parents were hospitalized, he risked divorce by lending me the last ten thousand dollars his family had. It was a drop in the bucket, but I never forgot his loyalty. “Didn’t you say you were going to propose?” Ben asked, confused. “Alright, don’t even mention her. She’s bad news.” I smiled, shaking my head. “Holy cow! Chris, you finally came to your senses! Let’s go, let’s celebrate your escape from misery. I’m treating you to a big feast!” Ben was even more excited than I was. He knew more about my situation with Sarah than anyone else. He had constantly advised me not to be a doormat, but I had never listened, even arguing with him about it a few times. Yet, he never held a grudge and always looked out for me. “Nah, today, I won some money on the lottery. I’m treating you to a big feast. Seafood, let’s go!” I said, grinning. Now with eight hundred thousand in hand, I already had entrepreneurial ideas, but first, I was going to splurge and have some fun. “Are you serious, Chris?! A meal there could cost a grand! How much did you win?” “Eight hundred thousand.” “Oh, glorious benefactor! Allow your humble servant to bow before you!” Ben and I went straight to Ocean’s Bounty Seafood Restaurant, ordered a ton of seafood, and began to feast. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, after I had left, the smile on Sarah’s face had grown even brighter. “Hmph! He still listened to me and went to buy drinks. Chris was definitely just throwing a tantrum in front of me, wanting me to agree to be his girlfriend. How infuriating!” “Later, when he brings back those electrolyte drinks, we’ll just take them and leave without saying a word to him.” Sarah scoffed, her tone haughty. “Sarah, is that really appropriate?” Clara sounded a little hesitant. “Why not? What he said to me today was absolutely outrageous. I have to ignore him for a week to make him reflect on his mistakes. He needs to understand what it means to pursue me. And he actually said he’d give flowers to other girls, implying he was moving on right in front of me. How disgusting!” Sarah said, clearly annoyed. “Aren’t you worried that if you ignore him, he really will go after someone else?” Clara asked, a trace of doubt in her voice. “How could he? I’ve always disciplined him this way, and every single time, he comes crawling back, begging for reconciliation. It never fails. If I don’t let him know how important I am, how will he be completely devoted to me?” “You’ll see. He’ll come back to beg me.” Sarah’s face was full of confidence. “You’re amazing, Sarah!” Clara said, a hint of admiration in her voice. The two continued to chat, sitting on a nearby bench, beginning their wait. 4 Half an hour later, Clara’s throat felt parched from waiting. “What’s up with Chris? Half an hour just to buy a drink?” Sarah’s face was flushed with embarrassment. Clara had already asked several times why Chris hadn’t arrived, and Sarah had fended her off with various excuses. But now, after thirty minutes, she felt she had completely lost face. “I’m so mad! I’m calling him right now!” Sarah furiously pulled out her phone and dialed my number. Lobster, king crab… To celebrate the chance at rebirth I’d been given, I’d ordered a ton of things I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of in my previous life. Ben and I feasted, savoring every bite. Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at it—Sarah’s call—and immediately hung up, stuffing a piece of lobster meat into my mouth. The phone rang again; I hung up again. As calls kept coming, one after another, I simply blocked Sarah’s number. Not long after, Clara’s call came through. I sighed; I didn’t want to be harassed like this, so I answered. “What do you want?” “Chris, why aren’t you answering my calls?!” Sarah’s enraged voice blared from the other end. I held the phone a bit farther away. “Listen, I told you, I’m not interested in you anymore. Please stop harassing me, okay?” “Chris, what exactly do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like. Alright, I’m still eating. That’s enough. Let’s not contact each other again, I don’t want people to misunderstand our relationship.” Without waiting for Sarah’s reply, I hung up. “Father! You’re a man among men! This is the true hero I admire!” Ben watched my actions, giving me a big thumbs-up. On the other side, Sarah completely lost her composure. She bit her lip, her eyes misted over, and large tears began to drip. Clara, who had been annoyed by Chris’s no-show, froze. Logically, Sarah had rejected Chris’s proposal, so why was she crying? “Sarah, why are you crying?” “Clara, tell me honestly, haven’t I been good to Chris? Even when I rejected him, I left him a chance, so he wouldn’t feel so disheartened.” “But then he threatened me, saying he wouldn’t pursue me anymore, and that contacting me would lead to misunderstandings, as if he despised me. Isn’t he just going too far? He completely misunderstands my good intentions.” Sarah said, sounding aggrieved. “Chris did go too far, but are you crying because you’ve fallen for him?” Clara pondered for a moment, then decided Sarah had a point. A woman looking for a boyfriend should certainly test him properly. “How could that be? I admit I have a slight crush on him, but he’s been pursuing me for too short a time, only seven or eight years. It would have to be much longer before I might even consider liking him.” “That’s true. But if it’s much longer, what if you meet someone else you like?” Clara suddenly asked. “Then, of course, I’d choose the person I like. Clara, are you being silly?” “What about Chris, then?” “Then I’d just say we weren’t meant to be. If he truly loved me sincerely, he wouldn’t stop me from pursuing a better person, right? A woman fears marrying the wrong man; we women have to be very careful in choosing a boyfriend.” “But the thing is, Chris seems really determined this time.” Sarah paused, then began to calmly think it over. A moment later, she seemed to have reached a realization. She suddenly wiped away her tears, shook her head with a smile. “I almost fell for Chris’s trick. How could he possibly be truly determined? He’s just trying to annoy me.” “He’s probably just really hurt this time. When he proposed to me before, I always responded this way, and he’d be fine within a day.” “Never mind. I’ll go find him myself, encourage him a little, give him a bit of a sweet treat. He’ll probably stop being angry.” Sarah stood up and walked towards the commercial district. 5 Ben and I were enjoying our meal when two figures suddenly appeared by our table. “Chris, you’re too much! Not only did you not buy us drinks, but you hung up and blocked my calls! And then you sneak off to eat seafood here behind our backs!” “You’ve truly disappointed me!” It wasn’t long before two figures appeared beside our table, Sarah angrily accusing me. She had initially intended to encourage me, but seeing me eat such lavish food, she couldn’t hold back her fury and began to scold me. As she spoke, she glanced at the seafood on the table, unconsciously swallowing. Clara reacted in the exact same way. This meal cost over three thousand dollars, and as poor students, they rarely had money for this kind of luxury. I frowned. They were truly like persistent ghosts, managing to find me here. It seemed everything I had said to her today had fallen on deaf ears. “Chris’s money doesn’t grow on trees, why should he buy you drinks? Sarah, have you gotten used to spending Chris’s money? Not even his girlfriend, yet you spend his money. You’re truly ridiculous.” I hadn’t even spoken, but Ben, beside me, said with a mocking sneer, showing Sarah no respect at all. “Ben, what do you know? I’m testing Chris.” Sarah was momentarily speechless, glaring at Ben. “Testing? You mean letting Chris cater to your every whim, letting you order him around, so you can enjoy all the perks of a girlfriend without any of the responsibility?” Ben scoffed. “You’re talking nonsense! I never meant that.” Sarah’s chest heaved with anger, but her eyes held a hint of guilt. “Ben, Sarah and Chris are having a lovers’ spat. Why are you interfering?” Clara snapped, then looked at me. “Chris, I know Sarah rejecting your proposal made you very angry, but there’s no need to upset her like this. All she wants is a sign of your attitude.” “Exactly, Chris, I actually still have feelings for you. If you had just invited us to eat with you, I would have definitely given you bonus points in my heart. It would show that you still consider me the most important person. But you didn’t even bother to invite me.” Sarah, seeing she couldn’t argue with Ben, also looked at me, her face full of disappointment. I almost laughed aloud. This woman truly had a screw loose. I’m supposed to spend three thousand dollars just for her to give me points? Is her dignity plated with gold? Sure enough, the moment the rose-tinted glasses shattered, all that remained was brokenness and ugliness. The “dream girl” had become a woman with countless flaws, even annoying. “Sarah, I already made it clear on the phone. I don’t like you. Can we just part ways amicably?” I pushed aside my internal grumbling and said calmly. “What ‘clear’? What ‘part ways amicably’?! I came to find you myself! What more do you want? Do you, a grown man, need to be so petty?!” Sarah’s voice rose in anger. I was speechless. Talking to someone like her was a complete waste of energy. I scoffed, ignoring her, and continued to eat. I couldn’t let this woman affect my mood or my appetite. “Alright, alright, everyone calm down. Chris, this table must cost a lot, right?” Clara quickly tried to mediate, shifting the topic. “This table cost over three thousand, and my foster father won eight on a scratch-off…” Ben started, a triumphant look on his face. 6 “Ben…” I cut Ben off. There was no need to tell Sarah about this. She was nothing to me anyway. Ben quickly nodded, then shook his head in mock pity. “Too bad someone here doesn’t have that kind of luck.” “Eight what? Eight thousand?” Clara frantically squeezed Sarah’s hand. But Ben and I ignored her. Sarah was startled at first, then she shook her head, her breathing quickening. “It can’t be eight thousand. I know Chris’s personality; if he won eight thousand, he wouldn’t spend over three thousand on one meal.” She actually wasn’t completely clueless about me. “Eighty thousand?” Clara gasped. Eighty thousand dollars in this era was definitely a huge sum. Sarah’s eyes lit up. She was only a freshman in college, but she had matured quickly and already had a grasp of money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have found a rich heir as a boyfriend in her sophomore year. She was only stringing me along now because she didn’t have a better option. “Chris, I know you’re angry because I rejected you today, and that’s why you’re saying hurtful things.” “I honestly just felt your proposal was too abrupt, and I wasn’t ready, so I turned you down.” “Given how much effort you’ve put into me in the past, give me a little time to consider. In a few days, I might just say yes.” I almost spat out the lobster meat. From a direct rejection to a possible “yes” in a few days, all it took was eighty thousand dollars. Did she think her uncertain answer was worth eighty thousand? Was her mouth plated with gold too? I coldly ignored her words, continuing to eat voraciously. Sarah, seeing me lower my head, thought I was considering her words and immediately brightened. She believed her guess was right, that I was just being stubborn. “Clara, are you hungry? Why am I so hungry?” Sarah suddenly turned to Clara. Clara paused, then immediately understood Sarah’s meaning. “I’m so hungry too!” “Perfect, then let’s just eat with Chris here.” Sarah took the opportunity to sit down. Clara also sat beside Sarah, looking delighted. “Hey, what’s wrong with you two? Chris never said he was inviting you.” Ben couldn’t stand it anymore and immediately spoke up. “Ben, this is between Chris and me. What does it have to do with you?” Sarah said impatiently. “Exactly! Even Chris didn’t say anything, so that means he’s fine with it. Why are you poking your nose into other people’s business?” Clara was annoyed that Ben wouldn’t let her eat the seafood. “Chris, say something!” Ben looked at me anxiously. “Say what? Can’t you keep your mouth shut even while eating?” I didn’t even look at Sarah or Clara, pulling the seafood away from their reach, glaring at Ben and scolding him. Ben froze, disappointment flashing in his eyes. He thought I was falling back into my old habits, and even the seafood seemed to lose its flavor. Sarah, seeing this, became even more convinced I was playing hard to get, that I still couldn’t let her go. The corners of her lips subtly curved upward, confidence returning. “Clara, eat up.” Sarah reached for the seafood, but it was a bit far, and the plates we had eaten from didn’t look appealing. She frowned slightly in disgust, then directly called a waiter. “Clara, let’s order some fresh stuff. I heard online that caviar is good, and Australian lobster…” Sarah spoke with a triumphant air, ordering without a single concern. 7 Soon, their seafood arrived. It was worth at least six thousand dollars, even more lavish than what Ben and I had eaten. Ben watched all this, angrily setting down his lobster and refusing to eat anymore. Seeing me still eating with relish, he fumed at my apparent lack of assertiveness. “Burp…” Soon, I was full, letting out a satisfied burp. “Ugh, Chris, that’s disgusting! Go burp somewhere else, don’t pollute the air here.” Sarah said, her face contorted in disgust. I ignored her, waving at a distant waiter. “Waiter, check, please.” “Chris, we haven’t finished eating. Why are you paying?” Clara said, her mouth full of Australian lobster meat. “Let him pay, it doesn’t stop us from eating.” Sarah smiled, looking at me. “Chris, I’m very satisfied with your proposal today. You’ve definitely earned points in my heart. You’ll have to keep up the good work in the future.” I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. I looked at the huge pile of seafood on their side, then at the approaching waiter, and sneered. Sarah, I hoped this lesson would make you never approach me or disgust me again. “Sir, the total for this meal is eleven thousand one hundred fifty. We’ll round it down for you, so just ten thousand.” The waiter said, holding the menu. “Eleven thousand one hundred fifty?!” I asked, feigning exaggerated surprise. “We only ordered this much. Why is it so expensive?” “Uh… Sir, the items you ordered totaled three thousand one hundred. However, the seafood ordered by these two young ladies totaled seven thousand fifty.” The waiter quickly explained. “Chris, how can you be so cheap? You won eighty thousand, and you care about a little over ten thousand dollars?!” Sarah snapped, her voice low with fury, as she saw people looking our way. She clearly felt humiliated. Sarah’s parents were both salaried employees; their combined monthly income didn’t even reach ten thousand dollars. Yet, she treated my money as if it came from nowhere. I wondered how pathetic I had been in my previous life, trying to please this woman. Ben’s scolding words back then were absolutely spot on. Thank goodness I got to live again. “Them? They didn’t come with us. They just sat at our table, right?” “My order only consisted of these items, and I’m only paying for my own. You can’t put their bill on us just because they ate at our table, can you?” I asked, feigning confusion. As my words fell, everyone present froze. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir, I thought you were all together. My apologies. Your table’s total is three thousand one hundred.” The waiter quickly said, sounding guilty. “Chris, what do you mean?! You invited me to this meal, that’s why I ate it!” Sarah shouted, enraged. “I never said I was inviting you. You ordered these yourselves. What does that have to do with me? Waiter, card, please.” I handed my bank card to the waiter. Clara was so scared she couldn’t eat, stuttering incoherently. “Why didn’t you say this when we sat down and ordered? You’re angry with me, but you don’t have to screw us over like this, do you?!” Sarah slammed the Australian lobster onto the table, her chest heaving with anger. “You’re not related to me. If you come to a restaurant to eat, am I supposed to stop you? Neither law nor morality grants me that right.” I pressed my bank card PIN into the POS machine, shrugging. “Waiter, pack all these up, quickly, quickly!” Ben’s spirits lifted. A look of extreme delight on his face, he pointed to the pile of seafood in front of him with a hint of regret, shouting. After paying the bill, I smoothly stood up and walked out. Ben bounced along behind me, gleefully saying, “Father, well done! I completely misjudged you earlier.” “Chris, you stop right there! Pay for our meal! Otherwise, I’ll never speak to you again! I’m serious!” Sarah, disregarding all dignity, screamed in anxiety and anger, drawing stares from those around us. “Then you’d better be a person of your word.” I almost laughed, quickening my pace as I left the restaurant.

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“Tomorrow,” Eleanor Vance declared, her voice laced with casual indifference, “you’re quitting the company. Go find a woman and get married.” She nestled against me, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my chest as if I were nothing more than a plaything. “I’ve fallen for a handsome young man, and he’s taking your place. He’s too innocent; I don’t want him getting any ideas because of you.” I swallowed the bitter tang of jealousy, my gaze fixed on Eleanor. “Is this for real, this time?” Eleanor smiled, a soft, chilling curve of her lips. “Absolutely. I’m going to marry him. He’s pristine, unlike you.” … My body felt like shattered glass, my eyelids heavy as lead. Eleanor kicked me. Caught off guard, I tumbled from the bed, my lower back slamming into the dresser with a sharp, involuntary grunt. She watched me with that same casual indifference. “Don’t sleep. You’re resigning from the company today. I’ve fallen for a handsome young man, and he’s taking your place as my Chief of Staff. He’s too innocent; I don’t want him getting any ideas because of you.” I stared at Eleanor, unblinking. “Is this for real, this time?” Her smile was gentle, almost affectionate. “It is. He’s the one I want to marry. He’s pristine, unlike you.” A bitter laugh escaped me. Five years, and I still hadn’t melted Eleanor Vance’s heart. I’d known about this man for six months, but I’d always assumed he’d be cast aside, just like all the others before him. I never imagined it would be me who got discarded this time. “Clean out the villa. Take your things, or I’ll toss them. Don’t want him to be unhappy seeing them around. Move out today, then head to the company to process your resignation.” I lifted my head, meeting her gaze. When did she become so utterly ruthless with me? “I’ll move out, but I’m not resigning. I earned that position. Why should I give it up for him?” It was the first time I’d ever questioned her. “Earned it? The ‘skill’ of warming my bed, perhaps?” Eleanor always knew how to hit where it hurt. “You? An art student, becoming Chief of Staff? Do you honestly believe that was through your own merit? Julian Blackwood, that position was a gift from me.” Her dismissive words negated five years of my tireless effort. My palms clenched into painful fists as I listened, struggling to control my emotions. Finally, I managed a calm, even tone. “Fine. I’ll resign.” Eleanor leisurely rose from the bed and dressed. With a sneer, she pulled a card from her pocket and tossed it onto the floor. “There’s a hundred thousand dollars in there. Call it compensation for the past five years.” The card skittered to a halt at my feet. I lowered my gaze, then bent to pick it up. Eleanor scoffed. “Still the same gold-digger, I see.” “Money’s great,” I countered, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel, trying to keep my emotions from bleeding through. “More reliable than a sugar mommy.” “Go make breakfast,” she ordered. “We’re done. Eleanor, my dear patroness, why don’t you have your new pretty boy make it?” Her brow furrowed in displeasure. “Already giving me attitude after taking my money?” “Hm. You can pay, but I might not make it.” “Fine. Be that way.” With a final, dismissive glance, Eleanor stalked out of the room. After she left, I finally sank to the floor, all strength drained from me. It was truly over. … The first time I saw Eleanor Vance was at an art exhibition. The gallery buzzed with renowned figures and influential titans, and Eleanor was there, seeking a partnership. That day, I witnessed someone push their proposal with such unwavering determination. Rejected time and again, yet never deterred. That version of Eleanor made me fall in love at first sight. A passion ignited, deepening with every beat of my heart. I defied my family’s arrangements for a strategic marriage alliance, resolutely leaving my hometown to apply for a position at her company. Slowly, through conversations with employees, I learned her preferences. From then on, I hit the gym, meticulously cared for my skin, honed my cooking skills, and devoured every book on her industry. I wanted to become the person she’d most desire, even before she truly noticed me. To ensure she did notice me, I worked tirelessly to secure new clients for the company. Out of pure devotion, I wanted her company to thrive. Before every business dinner, I’d pop hangover pills, then drink as if my life depended on it. Within a month of working for Eleanor, I’d landed myself in the hospital multiple times. Alone in this sprawling city, I’d lie there, hooked up to an IV drip, but I was elated because I’d closed the deal. She would be pleased, I thought. Step by painstaking step, I finally made it to Eleanor’s inner circle. When my manager informed me I could join a project Eleanor was personally overseeing, my heart swelled with joy. I stayed by her side, watching her meticulously refine proposals, and I felt my affection for her deepen even further. The day we secured the project, Eleanor took me and the client out to dinner. At the table, just as I was about to intercept a drink meant for Eleanor, she pressed her hand over my glass. “Even men shouldn’t drink themselves to death like this. You’ll ruin your stomach.” The table erupted in teasing. “Since when does Ms. Vance care so much about her subordinates?” My face flushed, and I stole a glance at her, only to find her eyes on me. I quickly looked away. The dinner dragged on until past midnight, and Eleanor was visibly tipsy. I tried to ask where she lived, but she was too far gone. Reluctantly, I took her back to my place. I gave her my only bed, grabbing a blanket and settling onto the sofa. In the middle of the night, I felt a sudden shift in the room, a light tread. Half-asleep, I wondered if it was an intruder, my eyes snapping open. It was Eleanor. She stood before me. “You’re sleeping on the sofa?” “Yeah, I’m a guy. Tough as nails. The sofa’s fine.” “Hmm. Or we could just… sleep together?” The words tumbled out of her lips, a startling invitation. A strange impulse made me agree, and we simply fell into bed together. I was too desperate to be close to her. After we got together, Eleanor was good to me. She’d spend time with me, doing many things. If it weren’t for the parade of other men in her life, I might have actually believed I was her only one. But I was different from them; no one else had ever lasted this long by her side. I believed that if I stayed long enough, one day, she’d settle down. But I was wrong. … After packing up the villa, I realized how few of my own possessions were actually there. Most of what filled the house were relics of my time with Eleanor: the iridescent purple conch shell we’d found on the beach during our first trip together; the clay figurines we’d molded side-by-side, one for her, one for me; the portrait sketched for us by a street artist under a bridge. These were the things that had once convinced me Eleanor felt something for me, too. Looking at them, I knew Eleanor wouldn’t want them anymore. So, I decided to discard them all—these shared memories that were, perhaps, only my own. Once everything was gone, the house felt unnervingly empty. It struck me then that my five years of devotion had been just as hollow. Leaving the villa, I headed straight for the company. If I was resigning, there was no reason to stay in this city. When I reached the executive assistant suite, I found a crowd of people gathered around a strikingly handsome young man. He had a bright smile, impeccably dressed, with the naive air of a college student, clearly fresh-faced and inexperienced. Secretaries giggled as they accepted bubble tea from his hands. “Thanks, Ethan, you’re too kind! So thoughtful on your first day.” He beamed even wider. “It’s the least I can do, on behalf of Eleanor. It’s my pleasure.” He picked up another cup of bubble tea. “I’ll take this one to Eleanor.” Just then, Eleanor herself walked in through the door. She completely ignored me, walking straight to Ethan, a warm smile gracing her lips. “Did I hear you call my name?” Ethan’s clean, clear eyes fixed on Eleanor, an undeniable tenderness brimming within them. “This is for you.” I expected Eleanor to refuse. Six months ago, she’d somehow heard that bubble tea was full of artificial sweeteners and had ordered me to stop drinking it. Whenever I craved one, she’d unceremoniously snatch it from my hand and toss it in the trash. Yet now, Eleanor took the cup and drank, a picture of pure contentment. “Mm, Ethan’s bubble tea is delicious.” “Of course! It’s pure milk. I’d never let you drink that artificial stuff, Eleanor.” A bitter pang struck me. So, he was the one who told her about the sweeteners. It wasn’t that she disliked bubble tea; she just disliked my bubble tea. After a long moment, she finally noticed me standing to the side. “Oh, this one’s for you. You must be Julian, right? Eleanor mentioned you. I told her I wanted to start from the bottom, but she insisted I take your position directly. I’m so sorry about that. This is my apology.” I froze, and the bubble tea Ethan handed me clattered to the floor with a sudden thud. Ethan looked at me, his face a picture of confusion. “Julian, you… Are you upset I took your job?” His eyes were already glistening with unshed tears. Eleanor frowned. “If you don’t like it, don’t drink it, but why throw Ethan’s bubble tea on the floor? Go process your resignation, now.” I hadn’t even touched the cup, and it was still my fault. I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, walking slowly to my desk. “I’ll resign once I’ve packed my things, Ms. Vance. No need for you to worry.” “Eleanor, don’t be like this to Julian. He couldn’t have meant it. Besides, I’m new. I don’t know anything. Maybe you could keep Julian on for a while longer, to help me out?” Part of me did want to stay, because this position was something I’d earned. Eleanor could dismiss it with a flick of her wrist, but I knew the effort I’d poured into it. Yet, at this moment, it all felt absurd. This position was merely Eleanor’s to give and take. I looked up. “Thank you for the thought, but I’ve decided to resign.” I quickly packed my desk into a cardboard box. “Eleanor, please try to convince him!” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the look Ethan gave Eleanor, and a familiar ache tightened in my chest. My hands moved faster; I truly wanted to leave. Suddenly, a figure blocked my vision. “Ethan asked you to stay. Didn’t you hear?” “Ms. Vance, you’re the one who told me to resign. Have you forgotten?” Eleanor’s patience wore thin. “A hundred thousand. Stay and familiarize Ethan for a month.” I shook my head. “Two hundred thousand.” I looked up, forcing a smile. “Deal.” Eleanor’s eyes held an unreadable flicker of emotion, but she merely uttered, light as air, “Still a gold-digger, aren’t you?” It was only a month. I needed to hand over all my responsibilities. After all, I had poured my heart into this work. Once she left, Ethan approached me. “Julian, this is my desk now. Why don’t you sit over there?” Ethan pointed to a desk near the restroom door. I caught the mischievous glint in his eyes; he was clearly not as innocent as he seemed. I shrugged, unfazed, and carried my box to the designated spot. At noon, Ethan treated the entire company to lunch. Everyone fawned over him, gathering around and trying to curry favor. No one even called me to join them. I didn’t care; these petty tactics meant nothing to me. But when we returned, Ethan suddenly cried out, “My ring! It’s gone!” A swarm of secretaries immediately surrounded him. “What ring?” Ethan’s gaze swept over me. “It’s Eleanor’s and my engagement ring. It’s very expensive.” “What?!” Everyone’s eyes turned to me. Someone spoke up. “Whoever took Ethan’s ring, hand it over now.” Their gazes were filled with suspicion and disdain as they swept over me. I ignored them, continuing to pack my things. But someone couldn’t stand it any longer and walked directly to my desk. “Are you still going to pretend?” I looked up. It was the secretary closest to Ethan. I glanced at Ethan; he was watching me too, a flicker of triumph in his eyes. “What do you mean?” “What do I mean?” The secretary sneered. “We were all out just now. You know what you did.” “Some people are just shameless. No talent, so they get jealous of Ethan.” “Exactly! Still trying to cling to Ms. Vance, as if he’s even worthy!” Everyone began to close in on me. Ethan, meanwhile, put on his most innocent, pure expression. “Everyone, don’t make it difficult for Julian. He might just have made a mistake, maybe it wasn’t intentional. Julian, just hand it over, and I’ll pretend this never happened.” “I didn’t take it. I told you, if you don’t believe me, call the police.” I pulled out my phone, but in the next second, a secretary slapped it to the floor. “Who knows what you’re planning? Calling the police is too much trouble. Let’s just search him directly!” With that, he lunged at me. “You wouldn’t dare!” I pushed him away. He grew even more arrogant. “Afraid to be searched? I bet you’re guilty! Everyone, come on! Let’s help Ethan find his ring!” The others exchanged glances, probably considering Ethan’s position. Then, they all charged. I was outnumbered. I couldn’t fight off so many people alone, and soon I was pinned to the ground. I couldn’t believe this was happening. These were the colleagues I’d worked with for five years. Clearly, in the face of self-interest, everything else was false. A secretary ripped open my bag, spilling its contents onto the floor. After a quick rummage, finding nothing, he demanded, “Where did you hide the ring?” “Could it be on him? After all, that ring is so valuable, isn’t it?” Ethan’s vague suggestion prompted someone to start tearing at my clothes. “You wouldn’t dare! This is illegal!” I roared, pushing her away. “This company is not above the law. Today, anyone who dares to lay a hand on me will regret it bitterly.” Perhaps it was my ferocity, but for a moment, no one dared to advance further. “What are you all doing?” A voice cut through the tension. It was Eleanor Vance. Everyone fell silent, Ethan included, though he quickly ran to her. “Eleanor, it’s all my fault. I lost your engagement ring. Everyone was just trying to help Julian return the ring, but he…” Ethan was practically sobbing, playing the victim. Eleanor’s gaze fell on me. “Did you take it? If you did, just return it. It’s just a ring. When did you become so petty?” Her words were a final, damning verdict. Even though I knew what to expect, a chill still seeped into my heart. “I didn’t take it!” I stood there, resolute. Perhaps I had never defied her so openly, for Eleanor’s brow furrowed slightly. Then Ethan spoke again. “If Julian really doesn’t want to return it, then forget about it. Even though it means a lot to me, Julian has been with the company for so many years after all.” His face looked even more aggrieved as he leaned into Eleanor. Perhaps out of sympathy, Eleanor’s expression grew even darker. “I told you to return it!” Her eyes, sharp as knives, cut into my face. My heart clenched. Five years of devotion, Eleanor. What did I ever mean to you? “I think we should just search him! Won’t we know for sure then?” someone suggested. Eleanor’s frown deepened. However, the next second, Ethan looked at her with feigned adoration. “That’s a good idea. If he doesn’t have it, it will prove Julian’s innocence. Don’t you think so, Eleanor?” He maintained his clean, innocent tone, but a hint of triumph and malice laced his words. I instinctively shook my head. Eleanor seemed to hesitate for a moment, then she looked at me. “Since you say you’re innocent, you shouldn’t be afraid of a search, should you?” My eyes widened in disbelief. In the next instant, I heard something inside me irrevocably break. This was the woman I had loved for five years. I looked at her. “Eleanor Vance, do you truly want to search me?” “Will you strip yourself, or shall I have them do it?” Her voice was cold, decisive, sealing my fate. Perhaps she wasn’t unaware of Ethan’s petty schemes. She was simply willing to indulge him, willing to play along, even if it meant trampling my dignity underfoot. “Fine. I’ll strip.” I removed my jacket, then my shirt. Only my underwear remained. Everyone watched me, their gazes mocking and assessing. Eleanor Vance, from this day forward, let mountains and rivers separate us. We will never meet again. I raised my hands to finish stripping. “Enough!” Eleanor suddenly bellowed. I paused, but then continued. Eleanor suddenly rushed forward, grabbing my hands. “I said enough! I said strip, and you strip! Julian Blackwood, have you no shame?!” I looked up at the woman before me. Shame? “Oh, yes. For so many years, when have I ever had any shame?” I yanked my hand free. She seemed momentarily stunned. I laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. “Ms. Vance, is that enough? Or should I take off more?” Eleanor snapped back to reality, then erupted in fury. “Get out! All of you, get out!” A vein throbbed on her temple, but I didn’t spare her another glance. Walking out of the company building, I wiped away the tears stinging my eyes. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Mom, I agree. I’ll come back and inherit the company.” …

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In my past life, Claire took all our guards to stage a meteor shower for her lover Julian in the countryside. Enemies seized the chance to attack our estate. Mother Eleanor shielded me but was mortally wounded. My desperate calls finally brought Claire back reluctantly. Though we captured the intruders, tragic news arrived – Julian had disappeared, leaving a suicide note blaming me for “luring Claire away.” Claire burned it dismissively: “Just drama.” Father reprimanded her and surprisingly named me heir. That victory night, Claire strangled me in my bedroom. “You deserved this,” she hissed. “The inheritance was always mine.” I died resentful. When I reopened my eyes, enemies were breaking down our gates. 1. The deafening crash of the heavy iron gates of our estate being ripped open dragged me back from the suffocating grasp of near-death. I clung desperately to my mother, who was panicking, trying to rush out and see what was happening. Instead, I pulled her back, dragging her into my bedroom. Slamming the door shut and locking it, I gasped for breath. “Mom, help me!” I choked out, gesturing wildly for her to help me shove the massive mahogany wardrobe against the door. “Fred, what are you doing? We have security guards, what are you afraid of?” Eleanor looked at me, her eyes wide with a fear she couldn’t hide. She didn’t know yet. She didn’t know Claire, my sister, had taken every single security guard with her for her sugar baby Julian. “Mom, Claire took all the guards! It’s just us!” I gritted my teeth, straining every muscle to push the wardrobe. The heavy mahogany scraped across the polished floorboards with a teeth-gnashing shriek, leaving deep gouges in its wake. Eleanor froze, disbelief warring with terror in her eyes. Our family, the Montgomeries, stood at the pinnacle of influence. Security was always paramount. How could all the guards be gone? But then she saw my ashen face, and the truth, raw and horrifying, began to sink in. “Quick! Call your sister! Tell her to come back now!” Eleanor urged, her voice trembling. I didn’t answer. My gaze was fixed on the door, barely held in place by the wardrobe. My trembling fingers dialed 911, giving a terse, urgent explanation of our situation and address. I couldn’t rely on Claire for immediate rescue; in my past life, she had returned too late. Mom had succumbed to her injuries, missing the critical window for treatment. Hanging up, a leaden dread settled in my chest. Heavy snowfall had blocked the roads for days. Our estate was nestled on a hillside, a considerable distance from the nearest police precinct. I couldn’t bear to imagine what might happen before they arrived… “CRACK!” The door shuddered violently. I instinctively braced myself against the wardrobe, a wave of primal fear washing over me. Just then, Eleanor’s call to Claire connected. “Claire, you have to come back! Intruders… there are intruders!” Eleanor’s voice was laced with a desperate sob. From the other end, Claire’s impatient voice crackled through. “Alright, Mom, stop making things up. I’m still celebrating Julian’s birthday. I’ll be back tomorrow.” “I’m not lying! There really are intruders! Please, come back, or you’ll be collecting our corpses!” Eleanor practically screamed. Claire’s tone turned even colder. “I know you don’t like Julian, but you don’t need to invent such outrageous lies to scare me. And tell Fred to stop with his pathetic little games. I won’t fall for them again.” At her words, my heart plummeted into an icy abyss. Claire had also been reborn! But why did she believe this was a fabricated lie concocted by me? In the last life, she had witnessed firsthand the brutal torment we endured at the hands of those thugs. Why, in this life, was she so utterly indifferent? All because of Julian, that pathetic excuse for a man? All because of her flimsy accusation, “Fred did this on purpose”? The rhythmic thud of approaching footsteps grew louder, halting just outside our door. Then, a more violent CRASH against the door, and the wardrobe began to shriek, dragging across the floor. We watched, horrified, as our makeshift barrier slowly gave way, until—“SNAP!” A chunk of wood splintered from the wardrobe’s corner, revealing a gaping crack. Through it, a sliver of the hallway’s dim light cut through. The man outside chuckled, a low, guttural sound. “Thought you could hide, did you? You’re in here, just as I expected.” I instinctively stepped in front of Eleanor, retreating slowly toward the bed. My eyes fixed on that widening crack, the growing sliver of light revealing the horror lurking beyond. A crushing sense of powerlessness washed over me, cold sweat slicking my forehead. Then, the door was violently ripped open, the screech of the wardrobe’s broken base scraping against the floor piercing my ears. A pair of grimy boots stepped inside. “You thought bracing the door would save you? I don’t have the patience for a long game.” The man smirked, his eyes, yellowed and predatory, swept over the room. I froze, my gaze riveted on the glinting dagger in his hand, its cold steel reflecting off his dirty knuckles. His gaze settled on Eleanor, a greedy, sickening leer, like a snake’s tongue flicking over prey. “Well, well. Tonight, I get to have some sport with both mother and son.” Eleanor let out a piercing shriek. “Don’t you dare touch me!” I clenched my jaw, suppressing the surging despair in my chest. I turned to Eleanor, my voice low and urgent. “Mom, no matter what happens, don’t interfere.” “Step back. The trampoline is right outside the window. Jump. It should break your fall.” My voice was barely a whisper. “Then, run to the Thorne estate next door. Find Vivian. Tell her to bring people to save me.” The man with the dagger was closing in. We were out of time. I had endured their torment in the last life; this time, I would die before I let anything happen to Mom. “Fred, I can’t leave you alone!” Eleanor cried, tears streaming down her face. I gripped her wrist, my fingers digging into her skin. “Listen to me. Just jump. Then, run to the Thornes. As long as you’re alive, anything is possible.” Just then, the man shoved the shaking wardrobe aside and lunged toward us. “Mom, jump! Now!” I cried out, my voice laced with desperation. But instead, Eleanor lunged forward, throwing herself at the man. She clung to his arms, pulling and dragging, trying to hold him back. “Fred! Jump! Go! Mom won’t let them get you!” Her voice was choked with sobs, but it was resolute, final. “Mom!” I screamed, my heart tearing in two. I watched in horror as the dagger, in a swift, brutal arc, plunged into her back. That flash of crimson exploded in my mind, shattering every last shred of my stunned rationality. Eleanor gasped in pain, but she held on, clinging to the man’s waist, her voice still urgent, still resolute as she called to me: “Jump, Fred! Jump! Don’t you dare hesitate!” 2. My blood ran cold, yet the instinct to survive pulsed through my veins. A head-on fight was suicide. I sprinted to the window, throwing myself through it without a second thought. The impact, softened by the trampoline, sent a jolt of excruciating pain up my ankle and calf as I landed. But there was no time to lose. I bit down hard, struggling to my feet, and sprinted with every ounce of strength towards the Thorne estate next door. I ignored the agonizing cold in my feet, the snow turning red from the raw skin and frozen blood. All I knew was I had to run, to keep running. “Next door” was a relative term for these sprawling hillside properties. It was a good half-mile, maybe even a full mile, away. The icy air seared my throat, but I couldn’t slow down. I knew too well that in the last life, there hadn’t been just one intruder. When I finally collapsed against the Thorne estate’s formidable iron gates, I pounded on them, my voice hoarse. “Vivian! Open up! Help! Intruders at my house! My mom, please, save my mom!” The iron gate creaked open. Vivian stood there, a frown etched on her face. She wore a thick, luxurious cashmere coat, but her eyes held no warmth. She looked down at me, kneeling in the snow, and spoke, her voice slow and measured. “Fred, your acting has really improved lately.” Her tone was playful, laced with a hint of mockery. Blood pounded in my chest, and my head spun. “Vivian! I’m not playing around! This isn’t a joke! My mom is fighting for her life!” “Please, send someone with me to save her.” She surveyed my battered, snow-covered state, a faint look of amusement crossing her face. “If your sister hadn’t told me you were jealous of Julian, concocting some story about a home invasion, I might have actually believed you.” “Don’t listen to Claire! This is real!” I pleaded, desperation coloring my voice. “I already called the police, but they haven’t arrived yet. Please, my mom was stabbed, she doesn’t have much time!” In the previous life, I didn’t know if those three thugs had gone further. Mom and I fought tooth and nail, both of us brutally beaten. I was left with debilitating injuries, and Mom… Mom was gone. This time, I wouldn’t let her die for me! I fumbled for my phone, trying to show Vivian my call log to 911. She glanced at it, but her face showed no sign of belief. Instead, she scoffed. “Playing a really big game this time, huh? You actually called the police?” “A self-inflicted home invasion? This ‘pity play’ is so convincing, I almost believed it. I have to admire your persistence.” “Vivian! Are you insane?! It’s real!” I roared, my eyes burning, tears blurring my vision. But my desperate cry failed to sway her. She turned to leave, but I grabbed her arm. “Please! My mom needs help! If you don’t go now, she could die! She really could die!” She looked down at me, her gaze chillingly indifferent. “Fred, your sister specifically told me to ignore you, to let you throw your tantrum.” Her coldness pierced me. Before Julian, Vivian had been my childhood sweetheart, gentle and considerate. After our engagement, she had been unfailingly devoted. But everything changed when Julian entered the picture. Vivian grew distant, and even Claire began to alienate me. Both of them, in their efforts to please Julian, had done utterly foolish things. My sister, simply because another company shared the same name as Julian’s beloved dog, had maliciously driven them to ruin. That was what had brought this disaster upon our family! I knelt in the snow, utterly despairing, my pleas echoing in the cold air. “Vivian, I beg you! Just send someone to check on my house, please! Even if you want to break off the engagement, just help me!” I was on the brink of despair. I prayed, over and over, that Vivian would show a flicker of humanity, that she would remember our past and help save my mother. The butler, who had watched me grow up, couldn’t bear it any longer. “Miss, perhaps you should send someone to look. Master Fred wouldn’t lie about something like this.” Vivian hesitated for a moment. I seized the opportunity, bowing my head and repeatedly knocking my forehead against the icy ground. Each dull thud echoed in the stillness. “Please! Please, save my mother!” Finally, Vivian spoke, her voice still detached. “I’ll send someone to check.” “However, Fred, if this turns out to be another one of your self-directed schemes, you will pay for it.” I snapped my head up, a sliver of hope igniting in my chest. Whatever it took, as long as she went! She called for a few of her guards, but just as they began to gather, her phone rang, jarringly. It was Claire. Vivian glanced at me, then put the call on speaker. My sister’s languid, indifferent voice drifted from the receiver. “Fred hasn’t gone to you, has he? Don’t listen to her. Someone just called me from Mom’s phone, threatening to kill her. It’s absolutely hilarious.” I felt as if I’d plunged into an ice bath, my blood turning to slush. I hadn’t imagined that the sister who once vowed to protect me my entire life could be so heartless. For a man, she ignored our mother’s peril, turning a deaf ear to my desperate pleas. Rage and fear intertwined within me. I screamed into the phone, “Claire! Are you insane?! Do we have to die before you believe us?! You saw what Mom and I went through last time!” She scoffed. “That was just your pathetic attempt to seize control! I asked Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, and she said everything at home is fine.” “You’re a cruel, wicked person, Fred. I won’t believe you this time! If anything happens to Mom, it’s your own fault!” My heart completely shattered. Mrs. Davis had been on leave, visiting her hometown for a week! How could she possibly know what was happening at home?! I was about to retort, but a cold “beep… beep” from the phone signalized that Claire had hung up. Vivian’s face had darkened considerably. She looked at me with open disgust. “You really are lying! Guards, break his leg! Teach him a lesson!” The guards shifted, moving to grab me. I gritted my teeth, enduring the searing pain in my leg, and roared, “Don’t you dare! When my father returns, I will make you pay!” The guards exchanged uncertain glances. Vivian sneered, picked up a baseball bat leaning nearby, and walked over to me. She stood over me, looking down, her eyes filled with cruel amusement and mockery. “They might not dare, but I do.” I stared at her, despair rising in my throat. Her past gentleness felt like a fleeting dream. I couldn’t believe she would do this to me. I tried to scramble backward, but she kicked me, sending me sprawling in the snow. A searing pain shot through my abdomen. Before I could even recover, she brought the bat down, hard, on my already injured left leg. “Agh!” I cried out, my body trembling violently. The agonizing pain nearly sent me into unconsciousness. But she just stood there, cold and unfeeling. “That’s what you get for lying to me.” Just then, my phone rang. She bent down, picked it up, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Let’s hear who this is.” “Hello, is this Mr. Montgomery, the one who called 911?” “We’ve arrived at your estate. The intruders fled during the struggle, but your mother is in very bad condition and needs immediate medical attention.”

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Sylvia Albright’s first love had accidentally gotten himself locked in an office. As punishment for me, she had me confined to a disused cold storage unit, telling me to “reflect.” “You’ll get a taste of what Liam went through,” she’d sneered, “that’s how you learn your lesson!” She locked me inside, leaving me with only a bowl of water. But what she didn’t know was that it wasn’t a disused cold storage unit at all. The moment she walked away, it powered on. I shivered, shaking uncontrollably from the cold, screaming for help. My bloody handprints, etched with desperate pleas, covered the door and walls. Seven days later, she decided it was time for me to apologize. She sent someone to open the cold storage, only to find a frozen corpse. … Sylvia Albright spent the day busy, then glanced at the time. “It’s been three days. Has Daniel admitted his mistake yet?” “That man is as stubborn as they come!” Liam Thorne, her first love, entered, carrying a bowl of chicken soup. “Sylvia, let it go. He didn’t mean it.” “Three days is long enough,” he added softly. Sylvia’s expression softened instantly when she saw him. “You’re too kind, Liam. If only Daniel were half as understanding as you.” “Don’t be so angry,” Liam murmured, gently taking her hand. “He’s just too possessive of you.” At his words, Sylvia pulled out her phone and addressed her subordinate. “Has Daniel apologized?” “No, there’s no sound from inside, Ms. Albright. Could something be wrong?” “What could possibly be wrong? If he won’t admit his mistake, then let him stay there!” She hung up, her face reverting to its usual coldness. Liam Thorne, beside her, positively beamed with triumph. Sylvia Albright, you’ll never get my apology. Because, you see, I’m already dead. I died three days ago. That “disused” cold storage unit, the moment they walked away, hummed to life. I was alone inside, screaming to a sky that wouldn’t answer, to an earth that wouldn’t listen. At first, there were still voices outside the door. I pounded on it, begging, pleading, only to be met by the cold indifference of the guards. “Ms. Albright said you need to reflect, sir. Please don’t make things difficult for us.” “No! Please! The cold storage is on! Someone, help me!” But then, the voices outside vanished. They were gone. Initially, I tried to stay calm, searching desperately for a way out. But as the temperature plummeted, my thoughts scattered. All I could do was run circles, trying to generate some heat. In the end, I couldn’t even run anymore. My body felt like a block of ice. I curled into a corner, hoping to find a sliver of warmth. The unit had once stored seafood, but now, after the goods were moved, only empty shelves remained. I dragged them all in front of me, hoping to block the insidious chill. But it was useless. The moment I realized I was dying, my heart turned to ice. When I saw my own corpse, I actually flinched! There, in the corner, covered in frost, my eyes wide with despair. The door and walls were covered in my fingernail marks, my fingertips torn and bleeding. I was about to go closer, but the next second, I was swept away by an invisible force, drawn to Sylvia Albright’s side. Hearing her words now, I found them utterly ridiculous. Sylvia Albright, I paid for my “reflection” with my life. In the next one, I pray I never see you again! I stood beside them, watching Sylvia and Liam gaze into each other’s eyes. Liam pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “Sylvia, I booked tickets for the art exhibition. Will you come with me tomorrow?” “Alright. It’s getting late. You should get some rest.” Liam, however, held onto her hand. “I’m scared of the dark. Will you stay with me?” Sylvia’s shoulders stiffened. She sighed, then reluctantly rose. I’d forgotten. Liam was living in our house. After he returned from abroad, his first move was to contact Sylvia. He feigned helplessness, claiming he was unfamiliar with the area, and insisted on staying at our home. It was laughable. He was a native, but five years abroad had somehow made him a stranger in his own city? When I protested, Sylvia had simply looked at me with annoyance. “Daniel, his parents aren’t here. Do you know how dangerous it is for him to live alone?” I knew. Because before we got married, I lived alone in a rented apartment. Back then, Sylvia had told me, “Daniel, we need to respect ourselves. I don’t want to live together before marriage.” Thinking back, her double standards were a masterclass in hypocrisy. Sylvia accompanied Liam to the master bedroom. It was my room, originally. But the moment Liam arrived, he claimed it had the best light and he liked it, so Sylvia just handed it over to him. I watched, cold-eyed, as Sylvia led him to the master bedroom. Liam was about to leave when a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. CRACK! Thunder split the air. He shrieked and leaped into Sylvia’s arms. Sylvia’s body went rigid. Liam clung to her, trembling. “Sylvia, I’m so scared. Can you stay with me?” Sylvia’s hand hovered over his back for a moment, then patted him gently. “Alright.” At that moment, I felt like a complete clown. Because I was terrified of thunder too. I remembered when I lived alone, a sudden thunderstorm erupted at night, lightning flashing, thunder booming. The power went out, and my face went white with fear. I called her, hoping she’d comfort me. But what did Sylvia say? “How old are you, still so scared of thunder? Daniel, are you even a man? Don’t use such tactics to get my attention. You’re an adult now, independent. Behave, okay?” She hung up. That night, I huddled under my covers, relying on my phone’s flashlight. I only managed to fall asleep when dawn broke. Thinking back now, I was truly pathetic. Sylvia didn’t care at all. With me, she always seemed to have a wall between us. I forced a bitter laugh. Even though I was dead, the thunder still made me feel a chill. I hugged my arms, trembling, wanting to leave, but I couldn’t move. I was stuck there, watching Sylvia embrace and comfort Liam. Liam, nestled in Sylvia’s arms, shot me a sharp, triumphant look. I sighed. Liam Thorne would always be Sylvia’s cherished first love, the one who got away. What was I to her? I shook my head, glancing outside. Even in death, I was afraid of thunder. But mercifully, the storm didn’t last long. An hour later, the thunder faded, and Sylvia left the room. Liam watched her retreating back, a triumphant smile on his face. He muttered to himself, “Sylvia Albright, you’ll always be mine. No one can take you away!” I was startled by his words. Even now, he was still obsessed with Sylvia. Then why did he leave her all those years ago? And Sylvia, too. If she couldn’t forget him, why did she marry me? Back in her own room, Sylvia acted unusually. She stared at a photo of me on her phone, her voice heavy. “Daniel, I hope you’ve learned your lesson. If you just humble yourself and admit your mistake, I’ll let you out!” I looked at Sylvia’s face and found it comical. Humble myself? Admit my mistake? What did I do wrong? Liam getting locked in the office wasn’t my fault! But Sylvia wouldn’t listen to my explanations. Because Liam, with his manipulative, “green tea” tactics, had said he didn’t blame me, Sylvia was convinced I was guilty. She locked me in that cold storage, causing my death, and now she still expected an apology from me? How ridiculous. Sylvia was a smart woman, capable enough to be a company CEO. She wasn’t brainless. But when it came to Liam Thorne, she became deaf and blind. The next morning, the guards watching the cold storage felt something was off. They reported to Sylvia, trembling. “Ms. Albright, should we let Mr. Hayes out? There’s been no sound from inside the cold storage, and that one bowl of water won’t last five days!” Sylvia hesitated, then her voice hardened. “Without food or water, a bowl of water can last ten days. If he’s so stubborn, then let him stay. I want to see how long he can hold out!” “But… but there’s no sound at all. We’re worried, what if Mr. Hayes…” “Don’t worry. Daniel is just faking it!” Sylvia’s single sentence had sealed my death sentence. The guards said nothing more. Just then, Liam Thorne walked in. Hearing Sylvia’s words, a faint smile played on his lips. “Sylvia, let it go. It’s been several days now, and I’m perfectly fine!” “No. He trapped you in that office for so long, he deserves to be punished.” Liam’s smile widened, though he said, “Sylvia, isn’t it too much? After all, he’s your husband.” “He… he did it because of me. I keep bothering you, making him jealous. Just let him out!” Liam’s words were sweet, seemingly advocating for me, but each sentence only served to condemn me further. Sylvia, predictably, fell for it. “Liam, you’re always so soft-hearted. Fine, for your sake, I’ll give him one more chance!” Liam’s face stiffened for a moment. He hadn’t expected Sylvia to say that.

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After two years studying abroad, I cut my academic journey short, desperate to return home and fulfill my promise to marry her. But as I decorated our marital home, I stumbled upon thousands of meticulously preserved flight tickets belonging to the girlfriend I’d loved for a decade. At least once a month, she’d flown back and forth from France—yet never to see me. Not even when I was just a hundred kilometers from her destination. I arrived early at the venue where I planned to propose, only to watch from the adjacent hall as she accepted a proposal from another man, her true beloved: “Lana, will you marry me? Just say yes, and I’ll turn this very wedding into ours!” The sight of her, teary-eyed and radiant as she slipped on his ring, stopped me cold. I wasn’t the man she truly wanted to marry, so I supposed they could have this wedding after all. Yet, after I fled our own ceremony, she crossed oceans, searching for me across the globe. — The proposal venue, adorned with roses and bathed in warm, amber light, felt both romantic and illicit. Lana, dressed in a wedding gown, her eyes glistening with tears as she slipped on the diamond ring, perfectly matched the countless visions I’d had of her accepting my proposal. But the man kneeling before her, asking her to spend a lifetime together, wasn’t me! “Leo, I finally waited for you to ask me to marry you!” Lana gasped, one hand covering her mouth as the other pulled Leo Sterling to his feet. She wasted no time in pressing a fervent kiss onto his lips. Leo pulled her fiercely into his embrace, deepening the kiss. Their hushed, intimate sounds drifted on the breeze, creeping into my ears. Unconsciously, my fingers brushed against the matching couple’s ring Lana had sent me from across the ocean. I never told her it was too big. To keep it from slipping off, I’d wrapped half a loop of red thread around it, making it fit snugly. Perhaps it was the wear of years, but with a sharp tug, the thread frayed and unraveled. The ring, freed from its binding, instantly slid from my finger, tumbling away to roll into a distant storm drain. Just like Lana. In the two years I was abroad, she had drifted further and further from me, until there was no bond left. An ill-fitting ring lost needs no retrieval. A woman who doesn’t love me lost needs no retention. Then I heard Leo say, “Lana, I hope your wedding goes ahead as planned that day.” “Why?” Lana purred, her voice sweet. “I only want to marry you!” “Because… I want to crash your wedding!” Leo laughed, a triumphant edge in his voice. “That way, I can prove that you love me the most!” My steps, which had been leading me away, faltered. I was morbidly curious: how far would Lana go to hurt me for Leo? “Ugh, you’re awful! Only you could come up with such a mischievous plan!” Lana giggled. “Then I’ll need to pack an extra pair of running shoes,” Leo quipped back, “so I can run even faster when we escape your wedding!” “Lana, are you really going to do that to Caleb?” another voice, presumably one of Leo’s friends, asked. “As long as I show up at the wedding venue, I’ll have fulfilled my initial promise,” Lana replied, her voice cool and detached. “If he insisted on studying abroad and couldn’t hold onto his bride, and then she was stolen, he can’t blame me for changing my mind, can he?” Their joyous laughter erupted, piercing my heart. I turned, leaning against a tree, my legs too weak to move an inch. An overwhelming tide of pain threatened to drown me. I mustered every ounce of strength to flee that agonizing place. But halfway there, my legs gave out, and I stumbled, falling hard to the ground. Returning home, disheveled and defeated, I picked up the phone and called my doctoral supervisor, Professor Harding. “Professor, that research project you mentioned, I’d like to join the team.” Professor Harding’s voice was filled with delight, yet also confusion. “Didn’t you say you were settling down back home after your marriage? Or has your wife agreed to continue a long-distance relationship? It’s really not ideal for married couples to live apart, young women often lack security. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” I dabbed at my scraped knee, each touch sending a searing pain through me. “The wedding’s off, Professor. From now on, I’ll be your right-hand man, completely immersed in scientific research!” Professor Harding, who treated me like his own son, immediately sensed something was wrong. “Today’s the deadline, luckily. I’ll put your name down. Come back soon, and we’ll get to work immediately. When you’re busy, you don’t have time to overthink things.” He paused, his voice softening. “Don’t mind an old man’s nagging, Caleb. For two years, you were always the one flying back to see her. She wouldn’t even come to France once, not even when you were sick. That’s enough to tell you she didn’t love you that much.” “Once you’ve decided to let go, don’t wallow in the past!” If I hadn’t seen that thick stack of flight tickets, I might have, as always, confidently refuted my professor’s words with the excuse that Lana was a girl and I didn’t want her to travel. I felt sorry for her, not wanting her to travel back and forth, yet she willingly traversed thousands of miles every month for Leo. No wonder at the end of every month, she’d be so busy she’d disappear off the radar. Turns out, she was busy traveling thousands of miles to be with Leo! For two whole years, I was a fool, frantically rushing through coursework and publishing papers, all just to carve out time to fly back home, to be with her, to give her a sense of security. Those brief meetings after thirteen-hour flights were once the happiest moments of my life. But my love, which had crossed oceans, became a bitter joke in the face of Lana’s cherished stack of tickets. On my way to the church, I even tried to convince myself that maybe she went to London for sightseeing. But seeing her accept a proposal from Leo Sterling, the very person who had bullied me relentlessly in the past, I finally understood why, despite being only a hundred kilometers away, she never came to see me. Leo Sterling was fiercely possessive. If he didn’t want her to see me, she would simply sweet-talk me with tales of how much she missed me. She knew perfectly well that Leo and I were sworn enemies. To be precise, after my mother remarried, Leo and his father became the darkest shadows of my childhood. I had imagined countless scenarios over those two years of long-distance, that Lana might fall for someone else. But I never, not once, thought she would fall in love with Leo Sterling, or that she would agree to humiliate me at our wedding just to please him. I sank into a warm bathtub, chugging several mouthfuls of strong liquor until my body gradually stopped trembling. Lana’s call came through. “Caleb, why aren’t you here yet? I’ve been waiting for you forever!” I remained silent. Lana’s voice grew urgent. “Caleb, is something wrong?” “It’s okay if you can’t make it to surprise me, really. I’ve checked the wedding venue myself, it’s exactly what I wanted, and I know you’ll absolutely love it too!” She was still so considerate and understanding, even so generous about me ditching my own proposal. “I’m home. If you like it, that’s all that matters.” Lana paused for a moment, then continued to coax me. “Okay, I’ll be right home to be with you.” She didn’t question why I’d stood her up, nor did she ask why I hadn’t given her a diamond ring yet. It wasn’t because she loved me so deeply she could tolerate my capriciousness. It was only because she had already received the proposal and the diamond ring from her beloved, right there at her dream wedding venue. I was merely the man she’d chosen to marry because her true love had missed his chance. When Lana entered the apartment, I had just stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing Leo Sterling standing behind her, I couldn’t help but frown. “Why did you bring him back here?” Was she really so eager to bring him back and rub it in my face? Lana, a hint of guilt in her eyes, offered a sweet, playful smile. “Caleb, I ran into Leo downstairs and found out he lives in our building. He heard you were back in the country and insisted on coming up to apologize to you…” I watched her little performance with a cold gaze. “Caleb, what my father and I did back then was unforgivable. I’m here to apologize on his behalf. Can you forgive us?” Leo said, his voice laced with feigned sincerity. I swallowed down my rage, my voice trembling as I asked Lana, “So, do you think I should forgive him and his father?” The searing pain of perforated eardrums, the agonizing numbness in my legs from being whipped until they were senseless, the crushing grief of my father’s last possessions thrown into a brazier and burned to ashes— I didn’t debase myself by asking her why she had fallen in love with Leo. That would have made me seem too spineless. Lana’s fleeting guilt vanished as I stubbornly waited for her reply. “Caleb, Leo was just a mischievous, naive child back then. How could he have known right from wrong? He’s felt guilty about it for years, and he’s already apologized to you. Why do you insist on clinging to the past?” The emotional and physical torture that dragged me into an endless abyss—she called it “the past.” My refusal to forgive Leo—she called it “clinging to the past.” She was the one who called the ambulance and accompanied me to the hospital back then. She knew better than anyone how much I despised my stepfather and stepbrother. Yet, she chose to love Leo, placing herself directly in opposition to me. Lana tried to take my hand and extend it to Leo for a handshake of reconciliation. I slapped her hand away, my voice harsh and guttural. “Lana, what right do you have to ask me to forgive him and his father?” They abused me behind my mother’s back, manipulated her into despising me, and after she passed, they even neglected to arrange her final rites. Lana looked at her hand, red from my slap. Anger flared in her eyes, but she forcefully suppressed it. “Caleb, I’m doing this for your own good. You’re without a father or mother now. Leo and his father are practically your only remaining family. Why do you cling to the past, torturing yourself like this?” “One has to look forward, don’t they?” Lana’s words were earnest, but her pretty face, now tinged with a frosty edge, bore the familiar impatience I knew. But the familiar care and empathy were gone. I heard my own shattered heart, crumbling completely into dust. The pain was so intense, I could barely speak. And in Leo’s reddened eyes, the deep-seated smugness and provocation were exactly as they had been in the past. “Caleb, it’s alright if you don’t forgive me. But I will continue to feel remorse and guilt until you acknowledge me as family, even without a blood connection.” “Get out!” I gripped the hallway console tightly, trying to keep my body from trembling too violently. Lana’s impatience was now blatant. “Caleb, why are you being so unreasonable? To err is human, and who among us is perfect? Where is your generosity?” She had witnessed firsthand how Leo and his father had driven me to depression, even to attempt to end my life. Once, she would have confronted them, even cursed them, for my sake. What had happened to make her switch sides, to start defending Leo? I let the agony consume me, telling Lana, word by agonizing word: “Unless he dies in front of me, I will never forgive him!” Lana’s delicate brows furrowed, and a flicker of anger crossed her face. This was exactly how she looked when she used to scold Leo and his father for my sake. “Caleb! How could you become so malicious after just two years abroad? Fine, you don’t have to forgive him, but you *will* apologize to Leo! I don’t want people laughing at my fiancé for being a petty, effeminate man!” “Your father couldn’t cope and took his own life; that’s his weakness. If he’d cared about you as a child, your mother wouldn’t have had to remarry just to survive! Don’t blame all your misfortunes on Leo and his father. His father made mistakes, but not to the point of deserving death! If you’re as fragile as your father, getting trapped in your own head and unable to cope, then you deserve to have nightmares every day!” She spat the word “nightmares” through gritted teeth. The flicker of disgust on her face was something I clearly caught. So, the person who swore to stay with me for life, finally grew tired of me, haunted by nightmares. In the end, all my misfortunes and pain were twisted into weapons for her to use against me, carving me open once more. Once, she was the woman who would cry tears of heartbreak at the mere mention of my nightmares, who would hold me and say: “Caleb, with me here, no nightmare, no demon, will ever dare to harm you!” She had used love and care to guide me out of the abyss, and now, she was pushing me back in with her own hands. For Leo, she said I deserved it! My body trembled, a sharp cramp twisting in my stomach, and I could no longer grip the console. I stumbled backward. Lana, quick as lightning, steadied me, only then noticing my swollen, red knees. She immediately knelt down to examine the wounds. “How did your knees get so badly hurt?” “Never mind. If you don’t want to apologize, I’ll do it for you. But you can’t be so petty anymore.” I forcefully pulled my hand away, my face pale, and pointed towards the door. “Get out! Both of you, get out!” Lana, sensing my fragility, tried to hug me, to calm me down. But Leo, his eyes full of tears, bowed deeply to me. “Caleb, I’ll leave now. Please don’t torture yourself over me anymore.” With that, he ran out, but in his haste to turn, he crashed into the doorframe and stumbled sideways. Lana immediately let go of me, lunging to grab Leo, and they both fell outside the door. Leo’s head hit the doorframe, instantly turning red, with a faint seep of blood. Lana scrambled up, her hands trembling as she reached to touch Leo’s head, her eyes filled with a tenderness I knew all too well. But it was no longer for me. “Leo, does it hurt? I’ll take you to the doctor right away!” The doorway finally fell silent. My heart, too, sank to the very bottom. Ten years of knowing each other, ten years of loving each other, and it had all come to this—a dead end. I pulled out my phone and booked a flight for the day of the wedding. Seven days left, just enough time to clean up everything from the past. Lana was right, one has to look forward. From this moment on, I would sever all ties with the joys and pains of my past, completely! I threw away all the newly purchased wedding items I had personally arranged. There was no longer a trace of me in this home, which was never truly mine. All that remained were the flight tickets, which I had meticulously collected and crafted into a diary of our love. Hesitating for a moment, I tossed them, one by one, into a brazier. Each ticket swallowed by the flames represented a version of me that loved Lana. When it was all over, only a pile of ashes and acrid black smoke remained. It was a perfect metaphor for my ten years of love. The next day, the aroma of breakfast roused me. “Caleb, hurry and get ready. Breakfast is already made.” It was Lana’s voice. She was in the kitchen. “You eat first. I’m going to take breakfast to Leo. You don’t have to come.” “Alright.” Lana’s hand, as she packed the insulated box, paused. “Don’t feel guilty either. Leo is very magnanimous; he won’t hold a grudge against you.” “After breakfast, we’ll go choose new wedding rings. The custom-made ones had a problem and won’t be delivered in time for the wedding.” “Okay.” She liked playing games, and I was content to play along. Perhaps seeing my detached demeanor, Lana, with a guilty conscience, brought out the first-aid kit and dabbed ointment on my knee. “Caleb, we’ve loved each other for years. Everything I do is for your own good. I don’t want you to have no family by your side at our wedding.” “Didn’t you say you couldn’t find a groomsman? I’ve taken the liberty of arranging for Leo to be your groomsman.” “Alright.” Lana spoke cautiously, and when she saw me agree so readily, her eyes widened in disbelief. Then she took my hand and pressed a warm, wet kiss onto it. She didn’t return after delivering breakfast to Leo. As I frantically scrubbed my palm, her call came through. “Caleb, come down to the parking garage directly after you eat. I’ll be waiting for you in the car.” When I got to the garage, I instinctively opened the driver’s side door, only to find Leo Sterling calmly watching me, his hand resting on the steering wheel. I silently got into the back seat. Lana glanced at me a few times, clearly pleased by my apparent compliance. “Caleb, Leo is a jewelry designer. With him here, he’ll definitely help us pick out the perfect wedding rings.” I nodded, closing my eyes and feigning sleep. Inadvertently, I opened my eyes and saw Lana gently pinching Leo’s cheek. In the rearview mirror, our eyes met, and she immediately stammered an explanation: “Leo had something on his face. I was just wiping it off for him.” I closed my eyes again until we got out of the car. The three of us entered the jewelry store. The sales associate was incredibly enthusiastic towards Leo, who stood closely beside Lana. “Sir, what would you like to buy for your beloved today?” Leo and Lana both blushed simultaneously. Lana quickly pulled me forward. “Why are you standing so far away? Come pick out wedding rings!” The sales associate flushed a deep red, then quickly brought out wedding rings for me to choose from. But Leo was the first to inspect them, offering unsolicited critiques. “This pair is too old-fashioned.” “This pair is too flashy.” Compared to the exquisite, custom-made ring on his own finger, none of the men’s rings on display seemed to catch Leo’s eye. The sales associate glanced at me awkwardly, a hesitant apology on her lips. Leo, pretending not to notice, finally picked out a rather ordinary pair. “Caleb, let’s just go with this one for now. We can make do for the wedding. Later, I’ll personally design a ring for you that’s even more beautiful than the one on my hand.” The sales associate offered an embarrassed compliment about his good taste. Leo, not without a hint of smugness, thrust his hand towards me. “Of course it’s beautiful. My fiancée and I designed and had this one custom-made together.” Lana stood silently beside him, watching him flaunt his ring to me, neither stopping him nor showing any trace of guilt. The smile on her lips, however, was on the verge of melting into the spring air. “Then we’ll buy the one Leo chose!” Without even bothering with a fitting, Lana had already paid. She took out the wedding ring and, with an unreadable expression, slid it onto my finger. This time, the ring wasn’t too big. It was a tight squeeze. I knew Leo had done it on purpose. As a jewelry designer, he could accurately estimate sizes at a glance. It was impossible for him to make such a gross error. I couldn’t be bothered to expose him. I simply pulled the ring off. The sales associate kindly suggested I could choose a different style, but I refused. “It’s just for show, a formality. No need to trouble yourself.” Hearing that, Lana bristled at my sarcasm. “If you’re not satisfied, you don’t have to buy it. Leo can custom-design new ones for us later.” I shook my head, refusing again. “This one’s fine. It’s perfect.” But Leo’s face was etched with exaggerated guilt, his eyes welling up again. “Caleb, I’ll go to my studio right now and work overtime on the design. I promise you’ll have a perfect wedding!” With that, he swiftly departed. Lana called out, but he wouldn’t stop. “Caleb, what is wrong with you? We’re just buying a wedding ring. What are you making a fuss about?” I couldn’t help but be taken aback. “What fuss am I making?” She frowned, pulling me out of the store. “My company still has things to do. We can shoot the wedding photos whenever we have time.” “Or, you can go take your solo shots first. I’ll just have the graphic designer put my old artistic photos in to make do for the wedding.” “Fine.” Lana’s explanations caught in her throat. She watched me for a long time, then gently hugged me. “Caleb, after I’m done with everything, we’ll go on our honeymoon and take our wedding photos there.” Her casual offer of a honeymoon, at this point, felt like nothing but an insult. She had no time to visit me in Paris, yet she had plenty of time to accompany Leo to Antarctica to see penguins and to the Arctic to witness the Northern Lights. Watching her avatar on the GPS hurry towards Leo’s studio, I tossed the wedding ring into a street performer’s instrument case.

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My husband said he was a wanted fugitive. He claimed he didn’t want to drag me down, so he turned himself in, urging me to remarry. My heart ached for him. I scrimped and saved, providing for our son while waiting for his release. It wasn’t until my hair turned white that I saw him strolling down the street, hand-in-hand with his long-lost love, lavishing her with Hermès and Chanel bags. Only then did I realize that his imprisonment was a charade, a calculated move to escape me and our family. I opened my eyes again, and I was back. Back to the very day my husband pretended to be a wanted fugitive. I quickly called the police and handed over every piece of incriminating evidence in the house. So, you wanted to play the part of a fugitive, did you? Then enjoy rotting in jail for the rest of your life. 1. “Beth, I’m so sorry. After all these years of marriage, there’s something I’ve kept from you. But I can’t bear the guilt any longer.” My husband, Eddy Thorne, gazed at me across the dining table, his face a mask of profound sorrow. My heart skipped a beat, and my gaze swept around the room. I was back. I had been reborn. Reborn to the exact day my husband faked his imprisonment in my previous life! Looking at his utterly phony expression, I felt a surge of nausea. Eddy continued, burying his face in his hands, tears streaming down. “Beth, the truth is, I’m a fugitive. When I was eighteen, I was foolish and broke. I robbed someone, and in the process, the homeowner died, leaving his wife and child utterly destitute. Now, I want to atone for that sin.” He gripped my hand, tears welling in his eyes. “You’ll support me, won’t you, Beth?” Our son, Leo, and my mother-in-law were both seated at the table, but neither of them showed the slightest hint of panic. I almost laughed. So, they all knew, and I was the only one kept completely in the dark! In my past life, to atone for my husband’s supposed sins, I’d humbled myself every holiday, going to their home, bowing and apologizing. The little money I had for our children was spent on gifts for that family, while I subsisted on meager meals day in and day out. But only on my deathbed did I learn that the “victim” I was meant to atone for was none other than his long-lost love, Veronica Hayes. And the ‘widowed mother and orphan’? His illegitimate child. The thought of how self-satisfied I’d been, believing I was doing something meaningful for my imprisoned husband, while they were secretly laughing at me, mocking my foolishness in their messages, filled me with incandescent rage. My mother-in-law immediately clutched her chest, slapping her thigh dramatically. “A curse upon our house! A total disgrace! Our family, so respectable for generations, how could you turn out like this, you good-for-nothing! A life on your hands! Come on! Your mother will take you to turn yourself in right now.” With that, she hauled Eddy to his feet and began to pull him towards the door. 2. Eddy gripped my hand, his voice thick with feigned emotion. “I’m sorry, Beth. From now on, you’ll have to take care of Leo all by yourself.” He turned to leave. My heart hammered. Feigning sorrow, I said to my mother-in-law, “Mother, even if Eddy has done something wrong, he’s still your son.” “How about this? I’ll take Eddy. I happen to have a friend who’s a lawyer; they could see if there’s any chance of a lighter sentence for Eddy’s situation.” That was a complete fabrication. I had no lawyer friends. I was just trying to throw them off. “No!” The words were barely out of my mouth when both my husband and mother-in-law protested simultaneously. My mother-in-law stammered, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Aren’t you suffering from back pain today? The journey might be bumpy. We can go by ourselves.” I asked, feigning suspicion. “Mother-in-law, why are you so against me going? Is it because Eddy hasn’t committed any crime at all, and this is just a scheme to fool me?” Our son, Leo, lowered his head, averting his gaze, unable to utter a word. My mother-in-law, however, looked furious, accusing me of trying to abandon my husband and find an excuse to leave him. Eddy, meanwhile, put on his most aggrieved expression. “Beth, I know it will be hard for you to raise Leo alone, but how could I possibly lie about something like this?” He gritted his teeth, as if finally making a difficult decision. “Beth, after I’m gone, you can remarry. Just let my mother raise Leo. I don’t want to burden you. You’re still so young; you can find someone better. The divorce papers are already on the table.” “Daddy… I don’t want you to leave me.” Leo finally began his act, clutching Eddy’s leg. Eddy wore an expression of stoic resignation, as if he were bravely marching to his execution. If I weren’t the victim, I would have applauded them! Their acting was Oscar-worthy! I nodded, then feigning a threat, I pulled out my phone. “Then I’ll call the police right now! Let them come pick up Eddy. It’ll save Mother-in-law a trip.” 3. At this, Eddy’s face instantly drained of color. He frantically shot glances at my mother-in-law, a silent plea in his eyes. My mother-in-law flinched, startled, and quickly said, “Beth has a point.” “How about this, Beth? You rest at home for a bit. I’ll go with Eddy to apologize to the family; after all, we’re in the wrong here.” Clearly, they were trying to buy time, to stall me. I nodded, feigning intense worry, and went back to the bedroom. It wasn’t the right moment yet. I checked my bank balance: thirty thousand dollars, my pre-marital savings, untouched. To prevent Eddy from secretly transferring it, I’d moved the funds to a different account. Next, I searched the house again. One of my bank cards was missing! After we married, all our salaries were transferred into this card for joint expenses. And now, the card was gone. Who was behind it? The answer was painfully obvious. A cold premonition settled in my gut. I checked my wardrobe again. My gold and silver bracelets, my expensive handbags, and all my luxury items—they had all been replaced with fakes! My heart hammered against my ribs. Eddy, that despicable dog, had truly gone to extreme lengths! He left me not a single penny, yet expected me to pay restitution to his mistress, raise his son, and care for his elderly mother. He wanted to wash his hands of everything. Disgusting! I immediately called a private investigator, entrusting them with some urgent inquiries. But a cold shadow in my heart stubbornly refused to dissipate. Just as I was drifting into a hazy sleep, the bedroom door was violently pounded. My mother-in-law was pounding her chest, looking utterly heartbroken, as if she were about to collapse. “That… that family’s mistress refused to let Eddy come back for one last goodbye. They… they put Eddy away.” Leo rushed out of his room, clutching my mother-in-law’s leg, not letting go. “Daddy… I want my daddy…” I crumpled to my knees, my face contorted in despair. “How could this happen?” I clutched Leo, weeping uncontrollably. “Eddy, now that you’re gone, how will we, a widowed mother and orphan, survive?” On the surface, I was heartbroken, but inside, I was practically dancing with glee. 4. That wretched man had thought things through quite thoroughly. He’d faked being arrested right after his “apology,” saving himself from being genuinely sent to prison. I then suggested to my mother-in-law, “Mother, I want to go see Eddy now.” She immediately waved her hands, rejecting me as if I were the enemy. “The police said Eddy can’t have visitors right now.” My mother-in-law’s eyes darted around, and she quickly proposed, “Since Eddy’s gone in, perhaps we should send that family some money. It might help lighten his sentence.” My mother-in-law, tears and snot streaming down her face, didn’t forget to subtly eye Leo. “Mommy, save Daddy!” Leo burst into tears and immediately tugged at my hand. I sneered. What a cunning plan they were playing. It was clear they wanted me to funnel money to Eddy’s mistress and her child. Did they really take me for a fool? I nodded. “Mother-in-law, you’re right. I’ll go get the card.” I feigned compliance and went back to the room. A flicker of triumph crossed my mother-in-law’s eyes. I picked up the bank card, then, a thought striking me, put it back down. Instead, I gathered the incriminating documents from Eddy’s desk drawer. When we arrived at Veronica Hayes’s house, she opened the door, her expression sorrowful, yet her eyes held the same haughty, superior air I remembered from my past life. She gazed at us, her voice stern. “What do you want? Haven’t you caused enough trouble for me and my child?” She was clutching the hand of a frail, thin little girl, and her performance was truly heartfelt. Anyone who didn’t know better would truly believe her husband had died and she was living in abject poverty! At this, my mother-in-law seized Leo and dragged him down with her, kneeling before Veronica, sobbing hysterically. “Veronica, dear… we were wrong, so utterly wrong. Hit me, curse me, this old woman will bear it all, but please, please forgive my Eddy.” A single word she almost blurted out confirmed my suspicions. Then she tried to pull me down to kneel and apologize with her. 5. Was this a joke? The legitimate wife apologizing to the mistress? I wasn’t a fool! I yanked my hand away. My mother-in-law stumbled, her head hitting the floor with a thud, making her wince in pain. I blinked, feigning confusion, and asked, “Mother-in-law, how do you know her name is Veronica?” My mother-in-law’s eyes flickered, and she quickly explained, ignoring the pain. “At first… at first, I didn’t.” She spun a lie. “Eddy told me on the way there. He said we had wronged her, and that we absolutely had to compensate Veronica properly.” Leo chimed in, supporting her. “Yes, Daddy mentioned her before.” I glanced at Leo, my heart chilling to its very core. My own son, simply because Eddy promised him a new racing drone if he lied, had kept me in the dark, letting me slave away for this family for decades. What an ingrate! I looked at the little girl opposite me. She was watching us warily. Yet she bore a striking resemblance to me. A daring suspicion bloomed in my mind. Veronica subtly intercepted my gaze. She shot me a quick, dismissive glance, then demanded, with a lion’s appetite, “You want me to forgive him? Fine. Half a million. Not a penny less, or there’s nothing to discuss!” She was remarkably assertive. Then she turned and slammed the door shut. I didn’t move. My mother-in-law panicked, lunging forward to grip the doorframe tightly. Veronica couldn’t quite shut the door. She spat with disgust, “Get out! I don’t want to see your family for another second! If it weren’t for you, my husband would still be alive!” My mother-in-law whirled around and fell to her knees before me. “Beth, please, I beg you! Save Eddy! I’ll be your slave in my next life, I swear! He’s my only son; please, please save him!” Her cries tore through the air. My expression remained impassive, but a cold smirk played on my lips inwardly. My mother-in-law pretended to beg, but in reality, she was putting me on the spot, banking on my soft heart to give in! “Mother-in-law, what are you doing! Eddy and I are husband and wife. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get Eddy out…” I quickly helped my mother-in-law up from the ground. My mother-in-law was overjoyed, and Veronica subtly revealed a triumphant look. But then, the next second, I handed the documents I’d been holding behind my back to Veronica, sighing. “However, Mother-in-law is right.” “Since Eddy is so principled, I can’t let him be spoken ill of.” “Here are the proofs of Eddy’s crime. I’ll just take them to the police for him now. It’ll save the officers the trouble of searching.”

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The sudden power outage plunged the Pediatric ICU into darkness. Working the night shift, I felt no urgency, no impulse to cry for help. In my previous life, the moment the lights died, I’d immediately activated every backup power source, then painstakingly checked each child, ensuring their safety. Exhausted after my solo marathon, I’d finally collapsed onto a chair and drifted into a heavy sleep. I don’t know when, but my colleagues had suddenly swarmed in from outside, roughly yanking me awake. “Dr. Davies, how could you, a medical professional, lay a hand on these children?” “You’re a monster! You froze them to death! May you be struck by lightning!” It was then I realized: every single child was dead, without exception. The police took me away, stating I was the only adult in the room and that my fingerprints were found on the thermostat. My son, Eason, produced a video to aid their investigation. “She often complained about the patients, wishing they’d die sooner.” The furious parents cornered me in a back alley, torturing me for ten grueling hours until I finally succumbed. Even as I died, I couldn’t grasp it. The environment was temperature-controlled; how could the children have frozen to death? And why would my own son, my flesh and blood, play a fake video to frame me? A jolt, like an electric shock, ripped through me. I was awake, back on the very day of the power outage. 1 The blast of cold air from the air conditioner hit me, and I was instantly, sharply aware. “Mom, the power’s out! What do we do? I don’t know how to fix this!” Eason’s anxious voice pierced my ears. Calmly, I switched on my phone’s flashlight. He had just graduated from medical school and was interning at my hospital. Last time the power went out, he’d gone to report it to the hospital administration, leaving me to connect the backup power. But he never returned until it was too late. “Mom!” He saw me rooted to the spot and stomped his foot in frustration. “Why are you still sitting there? If these kids all die, we’re both finished!” He seemed to understand the gravity of the situation this time. So why, in my previous life, had he vanished completely? A few of the younger infants, sensitive to the temperature shift, began to cry loudly. The children on ventilators started to pale, their lips turning a faint purple. My heart ached, but I knew they wouldn’t be in immediate danger. On the surface, I remained indifferent. Eason, however, grew more agitated. He yelled at me, “You’re the Head of Pediatrics! How can you be so cold-blooded?” In the past, I would have rushed to check on the children and snapped back at him. But after experiencing my previous life, my entire outlook had shifted. As I calmed, I noticed that beneath his panicked facade, a flicker of cunning, almost triumph, danced in his eyes. Could this whole thing really be linked to him? I shrugged, responding without haste. “What am I supposed to do? There are over a hundred children here. Am I supposed to wheel each incubator out by myself?” My retort left Eason speechless, his face souring. His tone grew sharper, laced with impatience. “You’re the Head of Pediatrics! If you don’t save them, who will? We can’t just watch them die here!” I sighed dramatically, gesturing towards the crying children, raising an eyebrow at him. “It would take ages to wheel out this many children. Perhaps before I could save even a few, the rest would already be gone.” I paused, letting the implication hang in the air. “So, tell me, who should I save first? And who last? Rather than choose, maybe it’s better if they all die, and then I’ll just let the parents beat me to death.” Before he could react, I pulled him down beside me, offering a serene smile. “To die here with my son… it wouldn’t be a bad way to go, for a mother.” Eason sprang to his feet, violently shaking off my hand. “You’re insane! You want to drag me down with you? You don’t deserve to be my mother!” With that, he bolted, his legs pumping as if the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels. I watched him throw open the door and flee, a chill spreading through my entire body. Twenty years I’d showered him with love, and he abandoned me, leaving me to die, telling me I didn’t deserve to be his mother. More and more children began to cry, their wails swelling into a monstrous wave that threatened to drown the ICU. Yet, I simply stared at the closed door, a faint, detached smile playing on my lips. 2 The power outage lasted an incredibly long time, so long I almost thought the hospital had forgotten about us. Around six or seven in the morning, the parents, eager for visiting hours, began to gather outside. Through the viewing window, they saw the pitch-black interior and started shouting, their panic rising. “What’s going on? Every time we come, it’s brightly lit. Why is it so dark today? Is the power out?” “Don’t scare me! What about the children if the power’s out? I went through IVF for this child; if anything happens to him, I’ll die of a broken heart!” “Maybe we should just break the door down! We can push the children out, incubators and all. There’s power outside; maybe they’ll survive if we get them out!” The parents were beside themselves with worry. At the suggestion, they all agreed. Just as they were about to ram the door, I opened it from the inside. “Dr. Davies, you’re here! Thank goodness! With you inside, we have nothing to fear.” “That’s right, I told you all not to be impulsive. Dr. Davies is so responsible; I trust her with my child.” “Dr. Davies, can we go in and see our children now? It’s been a week, I wonder how he’s doing…” Several parents’ eyes welled up. Almost every child admitted here was battling for their life. The weekly visiting day was their only beacon of hope. I was about to speak when someone pushed through the crowd, pointing a finger at me, accusingly. “Even though you’re my mother, I won’t cover for you today! How could such a heartless doctor just watch these children freeze to death during a power outage?” His voice cracked with feigned outrage. “You even said you wanted to wait until they all died and then take me with you! You not only failed me, but you’ve disgraced your white coat!” Eason glared at me like I was his mortal enemy, determined to see me destroyed. He was my son; his direct accusation instantly ignited the parents’ fury. Some mothers, unable to bear the crushing blow, simply crumpled to the floor, their wails tearing through the air. The fathers clenched their fists, barely restraining themselves, their eyes burning with a desire to tear me apart then and there. Some, quicker than others, had already bypassed me and were pounding on the ICU door, desperate to rush in and save their children. But it was a steel, hermetic door. No one there could open it but me. Just then, I saw a figure, discreetly slipping into the crowd. It was my husband, Richard. Ah, he finally showed up. In my previous life, if I hadn’t drunk the red date and goji berry tea he prepared, I wouldn’t have slept so deeply, nor would the children have died so mysteriously. All the things I couldn’t understand before were suddenly starting to make sense. Since they wouldn’t let me off the hook, I might as well escalate things. I crossed my arms, my tone utterly nonchalant. “There are over a hundred children in the ICU. Tell me, who should I have saved first? And who last?” I paused, a slight smirk playing on my lips. “I’m not some mythological hero with three heads and six arms, capable of wheeling all your children out at once.” My gaze swept over their anxious faces. “Since I can’t move them all, the ones left behind would surely die. Who among you would willingly leave their child behind?” This was, in essence, what I wanted to say in my last life. Back then, I had poured every ounce of my energy into connecting all the backup power sources. Each battery weighed dozens of pounds, and by the time I was done, I was utterly exhausted, collapsing onto a rest chair. But seeing the children breathing evenly, sleeping soundly, I had felt a profound sense of satisfaction, believing it had all been worth it. Yet, when I woke up, everyone was screaming that I had frozen the children to death. Even these parents, who had always trusted me implicitly, refused to listen to my explanations. They dragged me into a dark alleyway, beating and verbally abusing me for ten agonizing hours, watching me gasp my last breath. As a doctor, I never expected their gratitude. But if they wouldn’t believe me, then I would simply give up, let it all burn. 3 As expected, my words left the parents in turmoil. Their faces flushed crimson, they advanced on me step by step, their collective rage mirroring the intensity with which they’d beaten me to death in my past life. Richard sensed the moment was ripe. He strode forward two paces, then, smack, landed a stinging slap across my face. “Sarah Davies! You’re the Head of Pediatrics, a highly decorated physician! How could you do something like this?” He leaned closer, his voice dripping with feigned disgust. “Our son nobly exposed the truth, and you still try to squirm your way out of it? Aren’t you afraid the children will haunt your dreams, transformed into vengeful spirits?” His voice rose, carrying to the agitated crowd. “No parent wants their child harmed, but if you had at least saved a few, it would show you tried! But look at you now, so utterly cold and indifferent! Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?” Their father-son gaze was eerily identical. I clutched my stinging cheek, remaining silent, calmly waiting to see what other tricks they had up their sleeves. Richard finished his speech and subtly nodded at Eason, signaling him to play the video on his phone. The screen flickered to life, showing me, a spitting image of a deranged banshee, ranting, spewing venom, and cursing. “So many sick children every day! My back is killing me, I’m exhausted!” “These premature and critically ill children don’t deserve to live! They’re just wasting medical resources! They should be humanely euthanized!” “They just cry and cry, it’s so annoying! I’ll kill them all eventually!” In my previous life, after Eason had released this video on social media, the parents had been consumed by a murderous rage. They’d used sticks, iron rods, and stones, torturing me for ten agonizing hours, watching me draw my last breath! The memory made me tremble uncontrollably. I lifted my gaze to the father and son. Richard’s barely suppressed glee was evident in his eyes, though his face still maintained a facade of righteous indignation. “Sarah Davies, in our twenty-five years of marriage, I never realized you were such a cold-hearted person!” He scoffed, looking around at the parents. “No other part of the hospital lost power, only your Pediatric ICU went dark for hours. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be?” Eason chimed in, his voice dripping with venom. “I’m ashamed to have you as a mother! Over a hundred lives! You deserve to be torn to shreds!” Their inflammatory words whipped the parents into a frenzy. Their eyes burned red, like famished wolves ready to devour me. “Bitch! And here I thought you were my child’s savior! Are you even human? How could you do this to such tiny children?” “You’re a devil in scrubs! I was forty when I had this child; you’ve ruined our entire family!” “They said you were more responsible than any doctor in the capital city! We traveled hundreds of miles to bring him here, and you killed my child! I’ll fight you to the death!” The parents who had been pounding on the door also turned, lunging at me with savage intent. Just then, a sharp command cut through the chaos. “Everyone, stop!”

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What does it feel like to be pinned to an operating table by your own mother, about to have a kidney removed? I learned at eighteen. Perhaps I understood she didn’t love me long before she divorced my father. I just never imagined her hatred ran this deep. 1 When I was seven, my parents joined the ranks of countless divorcing couples. In court, I watched my parents feign civility, shifting blame back and forth. Expressionless, I stood up and addressed the judge. “I choose to live on my own. I don’t want either of them.” Then, amidst the astonished stares of everyone present, I walked out. No one ever knew how I managed to grow up. My mother was a gambler, spending her days playing cards and seeking thrills with her friends. My father, disappointed I was a girl, worked away from home year-round, never even returning for holidays. Independence, for an ordinary seven-year-old, might seem a distant concept. For me, it was second nature. For the next ten years, they paid no attention to me. Then, at eighteen, my mother suddenly appeared at my door. No gentle inquiries about my well-being. She wanted my kidney. After she left, I went back inside. The house was stripped bare of anything that had belonged to my mother. My father said spitefully, “Your mother already found someone else. She was probably afraid you’d be a burden and scare him off, so she likely didn’t even mention she had a child.” Seeing my lack of reaction, my father grew annoyed and muttered, “I’m going to rent this place out. I’m always on the road anyway, and you…” I wasn’t surprised he was kicking me out, just shocked it was happening so soon. As I packed my meager belongings, a morbid curiosity made me ask him, “Dad, if I had been a boy, would you still have abandoned me?” My father froze, then averted his gaze, mumbling evasively. I hadn’t truly expected an answer. Once my things were packed, I held out my hand to him. “There’s a semi-basement storage room downstairs in this building. It’s too small to rent out. Give me the key. I need a place to stay when school’s out.” This time, my father was surprisingly quick to hand over the key, almost desperately so. That very night, after a trip to the real estate agent, he left without looking back. With the help of the community center and kind neighbors, a month later I successfully enrolled in a boarding school, not too close, not too far. Spring turned to autumn, years passed. I grew, vigorous as a resilient wild grass. In a blink, my eighteenth birthday arrived. It wasn’t a day for celebration; my financial lifeline was cut. And with it, my monthly contact with my parents ceased entirely. Truth be told, my grades were average, enough to get into a decent college. But I resolutely gave up on university and became an apprentice at the largest auto repair shop in our city. A girl learning auto repair? Not only did the owner find it unbelievable, even my master mechanic thought it a waste of time to teach me. But I persisted. Over time, everyone saw that I wasn’t just having a fleeting interest. I could endure more hardship than anyone, and I was eager to learn and improve. Gradually, not only was my master willing to teach me everything he knew, but my senior colleagues were also happy to share their experiences. I established myself at the shop, my skills growing steadily, and my bank balance multiplied. Everything was heading in the direction I had planned. If only my mother hadn’t shown up at the shop and caused a scene. She burst into the shop, hair disheveled, just as I was under a BMW, working on the car. All I could see were her feet. “Is Aubrey here? Tell her to come out. I’m her mother, and I need to see her urgently.” The people in the shop had never heard me mention parents, so they looked at her with suspicion. But upon closer inspection, her face bore a five-point resemblance to mine, making them hesitate. I quietly scooted further into the shadows under the car. My boss casually glanced over, his expression unwavering as he spoke. “What do you need her for?” My mother hesitated, then spoke with a forced maternal tenderness. “Isn’t it getting cold? I was worried Aubrey didn’t have warm clothes, so I wanted to take her shopping for a few things. Where is she? Tell her to come out! Do you think I’d lie to you?” This time, it was my master who spoke. He stood strategically, placing himself between my mother and the BMW. “Aubrey doesn’t work here anymore. Please leave. We’re about to wash the cars; you wouldn’t want to get your clothes wet.” Seeing that no one in the shop believed her, my mother dropped the pretense and began creating a huge ruckus. “Bullshit! I asked around! She works here! What are you trying to hide her for, you creeps?!” Her voice rose to a shriek. “A bunch of grown men hiding a young girl! I… I’ll go outside and yell that you’ve corrupted my daughter and won’t let me take her!” “Don’t stop me! I must find Aubrey today! I can’t wait; there’s no time left!” Her shouts attracted more and more onlookers outside the shop. My master and senior colleagues were honest, decent men. Faced with such a belligerent shrew, they didn’t even know how to respond. Yet, even as she hurled insults and smeared their reputations, they held their ground, protecting me. But I couldn’t hide any longer. I couldn’t let her hurt these people who had genuinely cared for me. I crawled out from under the car, grabbed a rag to wipe the black grease from my hands, and stood expressionless before my mother. “Brenda Lin,” I said coldly, “I’m giving you two choices: either tell the truth, or get out.” My mother pointed a finger at my nose and shrieked, “What did you call me?! I’m your damn mother! You call me Brenda Lin?! Are you even human, disowning your own mother?” I was too tired to argue. I simply stated, “I have all the time in the world to stand here and listen to you. You can curse for a day, a month, a year; I’m all ears.” Her urgency, her impatience from earlier, wasn’t feigned. Grasping her weakness was the fastest way to restore peace to the shop. Sure enough, Brenda stopped cursing. A flicker of guilt crossed her face, quickly masked by her deliberately raised chin and wide, defiant eyes. She said self-righteously, “Your brother is sick and needs a kidney transplant. You need to come with me for compatibility testing. The doctors say a biological sister has a high success rate. It’s your duty!” … The onlookers, who had initially joined Brenda in criticizing the shop for hiding a girl and me for addressing my mother by her first name, now fell silent. Their eyes on Brenda were filled with disbelief and outrage. I, however, burst into laughter, bending over with amusement. So, His Royal Highness was sick, was he? My laughter, sharp and piercing, unnerved Brenda. She swallowed, puffed out her chest, and issued a command. “Laugh, laugh, laugh! Your brother is sick, and you can still laugh? You’re worse than an animal! Get with me now! At most, after the transplant, I’ll give you two thousand dollars for supplements to recover.” She scoffed. “Hmph, I don’t even think you’ll need supplements. Your body’s tough as nails.” The smile slowly faded from my face. My expression darkened. I leaned against the counter, arms crossed, scrutinizing her shameless face. Tsk, tsk, tsk, truly unsightly. “Brenda Lin, from the moment you screamed ‘I don’t want this daughter!’ ‘I don’t want this daughter!’ in court when you divorced my father, you ceased to be my mother. The five hundred dollars in child support you sent me each month before I turned eighteen, I will now, in front of everyone, return to you in one lump sum. From this moment on, we are completely even. As for your precious prince needing a kidney transplant…” I deliberately drew out the last words. Brenda’s eyes held a flicker of desperate hope as she looked at me. Then, I spoke each word clearly, emphatically: “That has nothing to do with me. If you make another scene here, don’t blame me for personally dragging you to the police station. If you don’t believe me, feel free to test whether I’ll actually do it.” Watching the hope in Brenda’s eyes shatter into fragments, an inexplicable surge of satisfaction rose in my heart. She didn’t know. On nights spent in that basement, I too had trembled uncontrollably from thunder and lightning, hoping she would come to see me, or at least answer a call so I could hear my mother’s voice. Yet, she had blocked me. The thought of her comforting her son, telling him not to be afraid, letting him sleep soundly, made a wave of hatred instantly override my fear. In the thunder, I had opened the window level with the ground, stood on a stool by the sill, letting the wind and rain lash against me, fearless and unafraid. Brenda knew I meant what I said. She cursed me as an ungrateful wretch and a white-eyed wolf, then pressed me to transfer the money to her. Finally, she left reluctantly, defeated. I ignored the complex glances cast my way, slipped back under the car, and continued my work. By the time I finished, it was well past closing time. My boss sat by the shop door, smoking. Seeing me emerge from under the car, he put out his cigarette, looking as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t. All my life, I had seen mostly the cold indifference of the world. My boss’s hesitation, I interpreted as him not knowing how to fire me, a potential magnet for future trouble from Brenda. I thought for a moment, then, being considerate, spoke first: “Boss, could you give me a few days to find a new place before I leave?” My boss shot up, his voice tinged with anger. “What are you talking about, Aubrey? What kind of person do you take me for, John Bell? I… I was going to ask if you needed to borrow some money, since you gave her all yours? Or if you wanted an advance on a few months’ salary? I just didn’t want to hurt your pride.” This time, it was my turn to be surprised. Wasn’t my boss afraid Brenda would cause trouble again? She was a greedy, insatiable woman. Thinking this, the question slipped out. My boss grinned, showing off his pearly whites, and said honestly, “No businessman wants trouble, but I especially don’t want my employees to be bullied. I don’t look for trouble, but if trouble comes, I’m not afraid of it. Aubrey, you just keep working here steadily. If you have any financial difficulties, just say the word.” A warmth silently bloomed inside me, spreading through my whole body, and a moist light filled my heart. “Thank you, Boss.” My boss scratched his head uncomfortably as he closed the door, saying, “Oh, come on, we’ve known each other this long. ‘Boss, boss’ sounds too formal. Just call me John from now on.” I repeated the name to myself. The end syllable made me smile, as if every time I said it, I would be happy. Back at the dorms John rented for us behind the shop, the moment I stepped inside, I noticed a difference. Usually, by this time, snores would be echoing through the rooms. But today, there was no snoring, only the clinking and clanking of pots and pans from the kitchen. Hearing the door open, my master stuck his head out from the kitchen. This surprised me even more. My master owned his own house and didn’t live in the dorms. What was he doing in our kitchen so late at night? Soon after, a few senior colleagues also appeared, waving me to sit at the dining table. A feast was coming. Watching dish after dish being placed on the table, I suddenly understood. These men, not given to many words, were comforting me in their own way. During the meal, no one mentioned the day’s events. Everyone spoke of lighthearted topics. My usually quiet master even told me a corny old joke. I ate more that night than I ever had. I had always been used to fighting my battles alone. Now, suddenly, having people standing behind me, it felt like I had a strong support system, a new motivation. My fearless heart grew even stronger. After seeing my master off, I tidied the kitchen. I began to make careful plans. Over the years, although my contact with Brenda had been minimal, it didn’t mean I didn’t understand her. On the contrary, I knew her very well. She had tasted sweetness from me today; tomorrow, she would demand more. Rather than being passively exploited, I needed to actively bare my fangs. I needed to let Brenda know the price of provoking me.

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On my wedding day, my fiancée publicly called off the ceremony, walking down the aisle with my best man instead. I stumbled out, shattered, only to be struck by a car in a brutal accident. The crash left me paralyzed, ending my dance career. In my darkest hour, Julian’s aunt, Seraphina Hayes, pulled me back from the Silverleaf River, where I’d considered ending my life. She married me in what tabloids called the “wedding of the century.” But on our third anniversary, I overheard her whisper to her assistant: “Same routine—switch Henry’s leg meds to vitamins. Delay his therapy again.” The assistant hesitated: “But if we keep delaying, he may never walk… You had him hit to paralyze him for Julian’s sake. Now Julian’s the star dancer, favored by your family. Must you still guard against Mr. Goldstein?” Seraphina snapped: “What does it matter? I’ll support him forever.” Her gaze turned distant, voice heavy with sorrow: “Since society won’t let me be with Julian, I’ll ensure his happiness—no matter who suffers.” 1 The truth hit me like a physical blow. I clapped a hand over my mouth, stumbling backward in sheer disbelief. How could I have been so blind? Every misfortune, every moment I thought was salvation, had been meticulously engineered by Seraphina herself! Tears streamed down my face, relentless and scalding. My heart felt as if it were being torn apart. Footsteps approached from inside. Panicked, I spun my wheelchair around, fleeing to the villa’s secluded backyard. Just then, the door to Seraphina’s private storage room, a place she always kept strictly off-limits, stood ajar. Inside, the walls were adorned with countless photographs and portraits of Julian, charting his life from infancy to adulthood. His dance certificates, his trophies, even replicas of the dance shoes and costumes he’d worn over the years – Seraphina had meticulously collected them all, displaying them like priceless treasures in glass cabinets. Every item, every inch of this room, screamed of her obsessive devotion to Julian. In the very center of the room lay adoption papers, clearly detailing her true relationship with Julian. Seraphina, I learned, had been adopted by Julian’s grandfather in her teens, meaning there wasn’t a single drop of shared blood between them. I laughed, a bitter, broken sound, tears still streaming. Seraphina, you truly played me for a fool! Very well then. Since this is the stage you’ve set, I will ensure they get the performance they deserve. Gathering my shattered composure, I left the room. As I exited the backyard, I bumped directly into Seraphina, who was hurrying towards me. She froze. “Henry, darling, why are you out here? And so far from the house? You didn’t… see anything, did you?” “No,” I replied, my voice flat. “Just took a wrong turn. Haven’t been out in the garden for a while.” Seraphina visibly relaxed. She knelt beside me, gently stroking my hair. “Silly boy,” she chuckled, “you’re getting more absent-minded as you get older, aren’t you? The guests are all here. Your wife will take you in for our anniversary celebration.” Her warm lips pressed against my forehead, but all I felt was a chilling, bone-deep cold. As we entered the grand ballroom, guests watched, their eyes filled with envy, as Seraphina guided my wheelchair. My gaze, however, locked onto the three-tiered strawberry cream cake dominating the center of the room. I am severely lactose intolerant. And strawberries? They’re Julian’s absolute favorite flavor. Sure enough, no sooner had Seraphina settled me into the seat of honor than Julian practically bounced over, tugging on her arm. “Aunt Sera, when can we cut the cake?” he whined playfully. “It’s your and Uncle Henry’s anniversary, but you got my favorite cake! That’s just cheating!” Seraphina, without a hint of shame, playfully tapped his nose. “Little glutton,” she teased. “First, let me give your Uncle Henry his gift.” Seraphina produced a bracelet and fastened it onto my wrist. I remembered a collector friend recently telling me, excitedly, how Seraphina had commissioned him to acquire a unique, fifty-million-dollar Patek Philippe timepiece. As a thank-you, he’d included a complimentary bracelet. Now, that very Patek Philippe gleamed conspicuously on Julian’s wrist. Meanwhile, the ill-fitting bracelet dangled loosely from mine. Later, during the dance segment, I sat below the stage, just as I did every year. Julian linked his arm through Seraphina’s and then addressed me: “Uncle Henry, since you can’t move your legs, I’ll take the opening dance with Aunt Sera. You don’t mind, do you?” Without waiting for my response, they glided onto the dance floor. Seraphina’s left hand rested on Julian’s shoulder, a gesture both restrained and possessive. Her right hand was intertwined, fingers locked, with his. Her almond-shaped eyes, brimming with tender affection, held no one but Julian. Though it was supposedly our wedding anniversary, this moment had become entirely about her and Julian. I had always believed Seraphina grandly celebrated our anniversary each year out of devotion to me, to ensure other high-society figures wouldn’t look down on me. Now, it was painfully clear this was her true motive all along: using our special day as a pretext, to legitimately draw closer to her true beloved. Whispers drifted from nearby guests: “Wow, Young Julian truly lives up to his principal dancer title, doesn’t he? He dances with such flair! If he and Ms. Hayes weren’t related, they’d look far more suited for each other than her crippled husband!” “Exactly! And while Ms. Hayes’ husband was once a prodigy in the dance world, he’s a mere shadow of his former self now, practically a wash-out! I bet Ms. Hayes will only keep him around for a few more years, then this used, broken man will be utterly worthless!” Seraphina, however, was utterly engrossed, dancing one number after another with Julian, oblivious to my predicament. Without her presence, these so-called high-society elites never bothered to mask their contempt for me. Their mocking voices grew louder, more spirited. Helpless, I fled the scene. I called my lawyer, instructing him to draft a divorce agreement. While I was at it, I secretly arranged for a ‘staged death’ service. 2 When the banquet finally concluded, I watched from my bedroom window as the last guests departed. Beneath the shadow of a sprawling oak, Seraphina stood for a long moment, her gaze fixed on Julian’s retreating figure, before she finally turned and came upstairs. The moment she entered the master bedroom, she pressed me onto the bed with an almost desperate urgency, raining down a torrent of kisses. “Henry, darling… tell me you love me, won’t you? I love you so much, so incredibly much. You’re mine! Only mine!” Fragments of past memories began to click into place, a horrifying mosaic forming in my mind. I finally realized: every time Seraphina was most desperate for me, it was always after she had seen Julian. Was I truly nothing more than a convenient substitute for her affections? A wave of nausea washed over me. I choked back a sob, tears welling in my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. Seraphina kissed away the dampness, finally regaining some semblance of control over her earlier, almost wild abandon. “Darling, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you somehow?” She began to murmur reassurances, kissing my skin, but her touch only intensified my revulsion. I pushed her away, scrambling to the bathroom. I leaned over the toilet, retching again and again, emptying the contents of my stomach. Seraphina gently patted my back, her expression one of profound concern, as if her heart was breaking for me. “Are you feeling better, sweetie? Should your wife call for a doctor?” A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me. A doctor? To prescribe more useless vitamins? “It’s nothing,” I mumbled, pulling away. “Just ate too much. I’ll be fine now that I’ve gotten it out of my system.” Seraphina nodded, helping me back into bed. Her soft hands gently massaged my stomach, attempting to soothe my discomfort. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Julian. Her eyes lit up instantly. She answered the call, then rushed out of the room. “Julian has a stomachache,” she explained, already halfway out the door. “His wife’s out of town, and he’s terrible at looking after himself. I should go see what’s wrong.” I had no intention of stopping her. Once Seraphina was gone, I opened the divorce papers my lawyer had emailed, then went to the study and printed them out. On social media, Julian was already broadcasting updates: [Just mentioned I felt sick from too much cake, and Aunt Sera immediately rushed over to take care of me! ~] The photos showed Seraphina bustling in the kitchen, gently coaxing Julian to eat, and tenderly wiping his mouth. In three years of marriage, even when I was at my sickest, I had never once seen Seraphina cook for me. Another update popped up: The video showed Seraphina gently hand-washing a stained pair of Julian’s underwear. Julian, wrapping his arms around her neck, playfully teased: “Aunt Sera, you’re so good to me. What if I get divorced someday and marry you instead?” Seraphina’s expression turned serious. “You’re a grown man now, stop talking nonsense!” But I could clearly see the tremor of excitement in her hands when Julian said that. I switched off my phone and signed my name onto the divorce agreement. 3 Seraphina didn’t return that night. The next day, I made my way to the dance company alone. Today was the celebration banquet for Julian’s promotion to principal dancer, an event Seraphina and I were expected to attend together. Since my paralysis three years ago, I hadn’t set foot in this place, a place where I once earned countless accolades. And after the accident, the dance company had been swiftly acquired by Seraphina. She had told me then that she wanted to preserve this place for me, as it held so many of my memories. Now, it was blindingly clear: her sole intention, from the very beginning, was to personally elevate her beloved Julian to this coveted position. A bitter smile touched my lips as my gaze fell upon Seraphina, who was now stepping out of a car, arm-in-arm with Julian. She hurried towards me. “I’m so sorry, darling,” she began, a practiced apology on her lips. “The road was blocked last night, so I couldn’t get back.” Her excuse held no weight with me. I merely nodded, my expression blank. Seraphina seemed about to offer further explanation, but Julian suddenly stepped forward, taking control of my wheelchair. “Aunt Sera, there are so many industry bigwigs wanting to chat with you over there! I can keep Uncle Henry company here, so go on and network, don’t worry about us!” Seraphina hesitated, glancing at me with a flicker of indecision, before she walked away. The truth was, ever since Julian and my former fiancée betrayed me, I’d had no private dealings with him. Any interactions we had were usually due to his connection with Seraphina. I had no idea why he was suddenly acting so chummy. Before I could even speak, Julian wheeled me, unprompted, down the company’s Hall of Fame. Where my performance photos, certificates, and trophies once proudly stood, there was now only a display of his images and accolades. Julian didn’t even bother to keep up the pretense any longer. His smug voice drifted down to me from above: “So what if you were a prodigy? Henry Goldstein,” he sneered, “now you’re nothing but a pathetic cripple, stuck beneath my heel!” As he spoke, he moved in front of me, extending his leg in a blatant display of arrogance. “See these top-grain alligator leather shoes on my feet? Aunt Sera had them custom-made by the brand, just to congratulate me on becoming principal!” He paused, then his grin widened. “Do you like them, Uncle Henry? Oh, wait, how silly of me! You’re paralyzed, aren’t you? Even if you did like them, you couldn’t wear such precious shoes! Oh, and since I’m in such a good mood today, I’ll be merciful and tell you a little secret! Aunt Sera and I aren’t actually related by blood, you know~ Not only that, but we secretly dated for years! The only reason she married you was because I had my eye on your fiancée, and I didn’t want you getting in the way, so I asked her to string you along! Henry Goldstein, you’re truly pathetic now! You’ll never out-dance me again, and even the woman you married was just my cast-off, a charity case I threw your way. If I were you, I’d have died of shame by now, wouldn’t you?” I met his gaze, my eyes cold. “Shouldn’t you be the one dying of shame? You couldn’t compete with me on talent, so you only got your chance to shine once my legs were broken. With such dismal dance skills, have you ever considered a career change?” My words hit a nerve. Julian’s face contorted in a furious sneer, and he violently kicked my wheelchair. “Bastard! You’re a worthless cripple now, and you still dare to act so arrogant in front of me!” He wheeled me furiously towards the ornamental pond in the dance company’s outer garden, all the while chuckling darkly: “Doesn’t Aunt Sera just adore calling you Henry in bed? Oh, and my nickname is ‘Sugar,’ you know, because I loved sweets so much as a kid. Aunt Sera even gave it to me herself! Henry Goldstein, I want you to watch as I take everything from you! How about we conduct a little experiment? You can see for yourself who Aunt Sera truly cares about!” With that, Julian seized my wheelchair, pulling me, and himself, headfirst into the pond.

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