Category: English

The day Damian Thorne and I finalized our divorce, I was three months pregnant. Divorce papers in one hand, his long-lost love in the other, he sneered at me. “Claire, you really think I can’t live without you? Let me tell you something—you don’t control me.” I saw the woman on his arm, Sienna, shift uncomfortably. I offered him a soft, almost pitying smile. “Damian, everything has always come so easily to you. That’s why you never learned to cherish anything. It’s rare to get a second chance with your first love. I hope you find the happiness you’re looking for.” From sixteen to twenty-eight. For twelve long years, I’d catered to his every whim. I was just so, so tired. 1 I collapsed at my desk after pulling an all-nighter. My junior colleague, Lily, rushed me to the hospital. Clutching my lab results, her expression was a tangled mess of emotions. “Claire… you’re pregnant. Three months along.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she threw her arms around me, her voice trembling. “Did something terrible happen to you? Please tell me.” Her dramatic fear made me chuckle. “No, nothing like that,” I said softly. “I’ve actually been married for three years. I’m sorry I never told you.” To all my colleagues and friends, I was single. Some things, I’d simply never felt the need to mention. “You scared me to death!” Lily swatted my shoulder, her pout adorable. “I was worried sick! Marriage is a huge deal, how could you keep it from me?” I smiled. “I may have kept the wedding a secret, but you’re the first to know about the divorce. How’s that for an exclusive?” Lily froze for a second, then burst into tears all over again. She was such a sweet girl, young and full of tears. “Hey, no more crying. I have the day off tomorrow, a rare treat. Let me drive you home.” She clung to me, sobbing dramatically. “I want to see the face of the son of a bitch who broke your heart! How could anyone be cruel to someone as gentle as you?” I dabbed at her cheeks with a tissue, a curious thought popping into my head. “What if… what if I was the one who broke his heart?” “No way!” Lily said, her loyalty fierce and unwavering. “You’re too kind, too beautiful. You speak so softly… The first time I met you, I was afraid to even talk too loud, scared I’d startle you. And for three years, you’ve known I’m bad at staying hydrated, so you bought a little electric kettle just to brew fruit tea for me, every single day.” The more she spoke, the harder she cried. “Forget him! Good riddance to bad rubbish! You’re out with the old and in with the new. Our Claire deserves better! The best!” In the end, I was the one comforting her, patting her back until she finally calmed down enough for me to put her in a cab home. I suppose I’ve always been good at soothing people. I’d had twelve years of practice with Damian. When I got home, the living room lights were on. The man on the sofa shot me a look of pure displeasure. “Three in the morning, Mrs. Thorne. Care to offer an explanation?” I hadn’t seen him in three months. He was a little thinner. The financial news had been full of his latest successful acquisition abroad; Damian’s talent was never in question. I brewed a pot of herbal tea, the fragrant steam filling the air. As I poured him a cup, the tight line of his jaw seemed to relax, ever so slightly. He glanced at me, his words still sharp. “Don’t think you can distract me. You’ve been pulling that trick since we were kids, Claire. Whenever you don’t want to answer a question, you offer tea.” A small, genuine smile touched my lips. He did know me, at least a little. I waited for him to finish his cup, then retrieved the divorce agreement from the drawer and handed it to him. Damian’s handsome brows shot up. He flipped through the pages, a cold laugh escaping him. “How considerate of you. You’re leaving with nothing? The press would have a field day, make it sound like Damian Thorne mistreated his wife.” My voice was even, placid. “In our three years of marriage, I made no financial contributions. You bought the house, the cars, furnished everything. If you’re worried about public opinion, we can agree on a story to tell.” “Oh, thank you so much for your consideration!” he snarled, his face a mask of fury. He snatched a pen, scrawled his name across the signature line, and slammed the document on the floor before storming out of the house. I sat on the sofa, calmly finishing the rest of the tea. An hour later, my phone buzzed. It was a picture from Sienna. Damian, in a plush bathrobe, holding a glass of red wine, lounging languidly on a sofa. I swiped up. Another picture of him, this one from three months ago. He was flushed from wine, his head resting in Sienna’s lap, just like when they were children. Sienna’s text read: Claire, you stole a love that wasn’t yours. It’s time to give it back. I typed my reply, imagining the fury it would ignite. She was always so proud, so easily wounded. Don’t get too comfortable. I am the one he married, the one the Thornes recognize as Mrs. Thorne. As long as we’re not divorced, you’re nothing but the other woman, hiding in the shadows. Stole her love? That wasn’t quite right. The moment I saw Damian Thorne at sixteen, my only thought was how to pluck that magnificent, untouchable flower from the heavens and plant it in my own garden. And now, after twelve years of admiring it, I was done. 2 I was sixteen when I first met Damian Thorne. My parents died in a car crash when I was young, so I lived with my grandfather. When he passed, he left me twenty million dollars and donated the rest of his vast fortune. He’d lived a wild life, driving away his one true love before remarrying. That true love, as it happened, was Damian Thorne’s grandmother. “Claire, I’m giving you one last chance because you’re my niece. Now tell me! Where did you hide the old man’s inheritance?” my uncle snarled, his finger jabbing at my face. “Such a devious little thing!” “I’m going to lose my mind! The old man was worth hundreds of millions, and you expect us to believe he didn’t leave a dime for his own children? That he donated it all?” my aunt shrieked, her face contorted with greed as she lunged at me. I calmly pointed to the security camera on the ceiling. “Touch a single hair on my head, and the footage instantly uploads to every news outlet in the country. ‘Prominent Art Curator Assaults Niece Over Inheritance Dispute.’ You won’t see a cent of Grandpa’s money, and you’ll lose your job. Doesn’t seem worth it, does it?” Her hand froze inches from my face, her eyes burning with a hatred so intense it could have drilled holes through me. “Claire, if it wasn’t for your birthday, your parents would never have been driving on the highway in that storm! You’re a jinx! A curse! You killed your parents, and now you’ve killed him too!” “You’re still as clueless as ever, Auntie,” I said, looking at her with genuine curiosity. “What makes you think words like that could possibly hurt me?” My uncle, lighting a cigarette, cut in. “Fine, let’s put that aside. The twenty million. You keep one, and your aunt and I will split the rest.” I stood up, snatched the cigarette from his hand, and slowly crushed it out in an ashtray. “Don’t smoke. Grandpa hated the smell,” I said with a serene smile. “As for the money, you won’t get a penny. And this house? It’s already been donated to the state as a historic landmark. Don’t come back.” He exploded, enraged that I’d given away a property worth a fortune. I would never forget their faces when I was eight, after my parents died, the ugly greed as they plotted to steal my inheritance. My aunt had the gall to blame me for their accident, conveniently forgetting that it was her drunken phone call, demanding my father detour to pick her up, that forced them onto that treacherous, truck-filled highway. “Damn it! I’m going to teach you some respect on your father’s behalf!” My uncle raised his hand to strike me. That’s when Damian appeared. He lazily caught my uncle’s wrist, the veins on the back of his hand popping as he twisted with surprising force, shoving him to the ground. “Picking on a kid. Real tough,” he scoffed, his brow furrowed in disdain. I discreetly slipped the mini taser I’d been holding back into my pocket and looked up at him. Damian Thorne. He was truly dazzling. Dark hair, stunning eyes, the face of a young prince born to wealth and privilege. Every arch of his brow, every glance, was a breathtaking sight. The bodyguards and lawyers he’d brought with him handled everything. Before he died, my grandfather had warned me that my aunt and uncle were wolves. He feared I wouldn’t be safe in my hometown of Havenwood, so he’d arranged for an old friend in New York to take me in, promising they would treat me well. “Claire,” he’d said, his withered hand stroking my hair, “I know you can take care of yourself, but my old heart still worries. They say the brightest flames burn the fastest, and the deepest loves don’t last. You seem so cool and distant, but you feel things more deeply than anyone.” His voice was gentle, full of love. “Strangers see a quiet, obedient girl, but I know how stubborn you are. Remember in elementary school? That boy who always pulled your hair? You’d cry and tell the teacher, but then you’d turn around and dump a bottle of hair dye on his head, forcing the poor kid to shave it all off.” Tears streamed down my face, but I was smiling. “I could never hide anything from you, Grandpa.” He smiled back. And as he smiled, his eyes closed, and his hand fell from my hair. From that day on, I was alone. Damian came to pick me up. I didn’t say a word the entire flight. It was only when we arrived at the grand Thorne estate in New York that the reality hit me: I no longer had a home. Suddenly, Damian spoke, his voice a little stiff. “Don’t be scared. From now on, this is your home. I’ll be like your brother.” I turned to look at his exquisite face, at the awkward attempt at comfort, and felt a flicker of something new. A seed of a sixteen-year-old girl’s fancy, planted in that moment, destined to be watered and nurtured daily. Who could have known then that twelve years later, I would be the one to rip that beautiful camellia from my heart? That day, Grandma Eleanor, dressed in an elegant cheongsam, came out to greet me personally. I’d seen photos of her, and even in her sixties, she carried herself with the same grace and poise of her youth. “That old rogue, Arthur Sterling, he certainly had a fine granddaughter,” she said, taking my hand and leading me inside. I glanced back at Damian. “Grandpa mentioned you,” I said softly. “I was born three months before you. Technically, you should call me ‘big sister.’” I watched, delighted, as a flush crept up his neck and stained his ears red. He shot me a glare and stomped off. So easy to tease, I thought. I’ll have to do it more often. Years later, Sienna would scream at me, calling me a siren, a temptress who had seduced Damian. I think it was at his eighteenth birthday party. He couldn’t hold his liquor and was passed out on a sofa in a private lounge. He wore a deep velvet suit, the collar open, revealing the elegant line of his collarbone. His usually pale face was flushed with a rosy hue, like a camellia in full, drunken bloom. I approached with a warm towel, my fingers brushing his lips. “Damian,” I whispered, “can I kiss you?” His eyes flew open, his ears turning crimson, but he didn’t pull away. “I’ll take that as a yes,” I murmured, and leaned in. His lips were just as soft as I’d imagined. Two seconds later, Sienna burst in, her face a mask of heartbreak. She shoved me hard, sending me staggering to the floor. “Claire! So it’s true! You’re in love with him! No wonder you’ve been so nice to him all these years.” I hit a decorative shelf on my way down, scraping my arm. “Yes, I love Damian,” I said, clutching my bleeding arm. I looked at Damian, who was still frozen on the sofa, and let tears well in my eyes. “Damian, I’m so sorry. I’ve hurt Sienna. I promise, I’ll never get close to you again.” I fled the room, closing the door behind me and wiping the crocodile tears from my eyes. Sienna and Damian had grown up together, and she’d always acted as if he were her exclusive property. I didn’t care if Damian loved me back; just looking at his face brought me a sense of peace, and that was enough. But Sienna, who pretended to be my friend, had secretly bullied me, even destroying precious things my grandfather had left me. Damian knew about the bullying, but he always tried to smooth things over, never willing to truly punish Sienna. He was drawn to me, I could feel it, but he couldn’t let go of his childhood bond with her. I’ve never had any use for a wavering heart. I was going to break this beautiful, sleeping camellia myself, and make Sienna regret everything. As for Damian? Once a flower is broken, who cares when it withers? 3 After giving Damian the divorce papers, I quit my job to focus on my health. While packing, I found a box of old trophies, gathering dust. If not for these tarnished awards, I might have forgotten the brilliant youth I once had. My grandfather was an internationally renowned watercolorist. I started learning from him at three, showing a natural talent. Many called me a rising star, the heir to his legacy. But now, my right hand can barely hold a paintbrush. The year I graduated high school, at eighteen, Sienna and her friends cornered me in the girls’ bathroom. She shattered my right hand with a baseball bat. For years after, even peeling an apple was a struggle. Damian came to see me, his face etched with exhaustion. “The Thornes and the Vances are at war over this. Sienna is a wreck, she regrets it, she’s in pain every day. Claire, can’t you just let it go? Drop the charges.” I looked up at his beautiful, troubled face, tears blurring my vision. “So this is the price of loving you, Damian? If it were Sienna lying in this hospital bed today, would you be asking her to just let it go?” He was silent for a long time before he finally whispered, “Claire… I’m sorry.” In the end, Sienna was sent abroad, and in everyone’s eyes, the matter was closed. She thrived overseas, living her life as the same proud princess she’d always been. And I, forced to withdraw from the art world, vanished amidst a chorus of ful sighs. I polished each of those trophies until they gleamed, then put them carefully away. At six that evening, Damian picked me up for dinner at the estate. It was a Saturday ritual—if we were in town, we’d have dinner with Grandma Eleanor. As I settled into the passenger seat, I was hit by a wave of perfume. Gardenia. Sienna’s favorite. It hadn’t changed in all these years. I opened the window, letting the crisp, desolate autumn air rush in. At a red light, Damian’s fingers drummed restlessly on the steering wheel, a clear sign of his agitation. I knew he was waiting for me to speak, waiting for me to surrender. He was so used to me placating him. When he was a rebellious teen, racing his car on winding mountain roads, I was the one in the passenger seat, staying with him until he’d had his fill of madness. When his father’s anger left bruises on his back, I was the one who crept into his room late at night to apply ointment and coax him to eat. When he was fighting with his family to start his own company, working himself to the bone, I was the one who brought him every meal. When he threw a tantrum and went drinking, calling me but saying nothing, I was the one who took a cab to the bar in the middle of the night to bring him home. When I was too busy with work to dote on him, he’d contact Sienna just to get a reaction out of me. The perfume in the car today was just another warning shot. A declaration of war. You’re the one who’s desperate for my love, Claire. If you don’t hold on tight, I can leave at any moment. It was a tactic that had never failed him before. Whenever he reached out to Sienna, I would panic and cling to him even tighter. “Damian, we need to find time to get the divorce certificate,” I said, my voice calm and even. “And you can tell Sienna she doesn’t need to send me photos anymore. You’re free.” His brow furrowed into a tight knot. “What did she send you?” I forwarded him the pictures. He scrolled through them, and then his anger flared. “Claire, your tolerance is truly something else. I was in the States for three months, I called you, and you didn’t say a single word about this. I was lying in her lap, and you didn’t care? Do you even have a heart? Do you even love me?” His chest heaved with suppressed emotion. He pulled the car over to the side of the road, got out, and smoked a cigarette in tense silence. When he got back in, he thrust his phone at me. On the screen was a blurry, pixelated photo. His voice was laced with a pain he couldn’t hide. “Claire, what have I been to you all these years? Huh? A replacement? A stand-in for Caleb Thorne?” In the photo, I was young, my hair in a high ponytail, wearing a school uniform, my cheeks flushed. Beside me, a boy with a radiant, sunny smile. His hand, hidden behind his back, was gripping my wrist tightly. In the springtime of my sixteenth year, I had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a boy, bathed in sunlight, the gentle breeze on our faces.

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A thousand years ago, the Luminar clan sacrificed their greatest mages to help the Sovereign imprison the Abyssals in the dark chasm at the world’s edge. A thousand years later, because the Abyssal princess casually remarked, “I’ve heard that Luminar marrow can cure my migraines,” my people were slaughtered to the last. I stood amidst the smoldering ruins of my home, a single thought echoing in the silence. “Mother,” I whispered to the ashes, “you always told me the realms were at peace, that the Sovereign was a benevolent ruler. You said my untamed power was a cataclysm waiting to happen, a danger to this fragile world.” “You had my magic bound, my true strength suppressed. Well, what about now? Do you still believe that?” 1 The day before the massacre, my little brother—still a formless, chittering ball of light—had been begging me to go to the mortal realm to buy him candied star-apples. He was being annoying, and I was about to swat him away with my paw. But Mother stopped me, her voice a gentle chide. “Lyra, that’s your brother.” “He is your closest kin in all the heavens and all the earth. You can’t treat him like some mindless beast.” Closest kin? I was born with a muted soul, the full spectrum of emotions a language I could not comprehend. But I always listened to my mother. I retracted my claws and promised to bring him his treat the next day. He was so overjoyed he tumbled across the ground in a dizzying spiral of light. I watched him, disgusted. “So noisy,” I muttered. But when the first rays of dawn broke, I was already soaring through the clouds, heading down to the mortal markets to buy his candied apples. 2 Now, I stood at the threshold of my home, the sticky-sweet apples still in my hand, staring into a nightmare. The ground was littered with the corpses of Luminars. My little brother, whose bright face had been turned up to me in laughter just this morning, now lay in two pieces. His head was severed from his body, his skull shattered, his brains pooling on the scorched earth. With trembling fingers, I pried open his tightly clenched fist. Inside was the lumina shard I had casually tossed to him on his hundredth birthday. I stared at the shard for a long, silent moment before my voice came out, a dry rasp. “You fool. You’re dead. Why were you still holding this?” “Then again,” I murmured, tracing the cracks in its surface, “the shard is warped. It must have hurt a great deal, didn’t it?” I sat there, frozen in the field of death, from dawn until the deepest dark of night. 3 When Lord Caelus, the Celestial of Mercy, arrived, his eyes widened in shock to see me alive. Then, a slow shake of his head. “Thank the heavens, a survivor. The Luminar line is not truly extinct.” I looked up at him, my mind a hollow void. “What do I do now?” I asked. It took him a moment to understand my question. He sighed, a sound heavy with practiced pity. “Rest easy, child. I will protect you.” “Sovereign Kaelan was… reckless this time. To cause such a catastrophe over a whim of the Abyssal princess… I have already reprimanded him.” “He won’t trouble you again.” The words didn’t make sense. “But… Mother told me there’s a law,” I said, my voice flat. “A life for a life. Why did you only scold him?” At my question, the benevolent mask on Lord Caelus’s face began to crack. A spark of anger ignited in his eyes. “Absurd! Do you have any idea who you speak of?” “He is the Sovereign of all creation! The one who vanquished the demons and quelled the monsters, who bought a thousand years of peace for these realms. He is the God-King!” “How dare you entertain the thought of deicide?” A crushing divine pressure slammed down on me, squeezing the air from my lungs. I opened my mouth to speak, but only a mouthful of warm, metallic blood spilled out. I gritted my teeth, forcing the words out. “You’re wrong.” “Mother told me. This peace was never his alone to claim. The Luminars gave nine-tenths of our great mages. The dragons were nearly wiped out. That is the price of this peace. It wasn’t his work alone.” With every word I spoke, the weight on my soul doubled. I could feel my bones grinding to dust, my very essence on the verge of being snuffed out from existence. Just as I was about to break, the world itself began to tremble. I felt them—a countless, overwhelming tide of my kind, of all the ancient beasts, their spirits rushing towards me from every corner of creation. “Lord Caelus, show mercy!” “Lord Caelus, stay your hand!” “Lord Caelus, have mercy!” The cries grew louder, a chorus of roars and shrieks and bellows. I could hear the roar of a dragon, the cry of a phoenix, the snarl of a great cat… Their collective will formed a protective barrier around me. And then, I sank into darkness. 4 When I awoke, I was in the Celestial Palace. Sovereign Kaelan looked down at me from his throne, his gaze that of a man studying an insect. “Elara’s migraines are much improved,” he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. “Your clan has proven its use. Your existence was not entirely in vain.” “I will issue a decree. You will be granted the title of a Divine Maiden. Do not cause any more trouble.” Ignoring the deep, throbbing pain in my bones, I met his gaze stubbornly. “But my mother said a life for a life is the highest law.” “I don’t want to be a Divine Maiden.” “I only ask that the Sovereign respects the highest law.” Kaelan studied me for a long moment, then a slow, cruel smile spread across his face. “Do you know who Elara is?” “If we are to speak of the highest law, then healing Elara is the most important duty in all the realms. A thousand years ago, Elara was a Celestial Goddess. She willingly sacrificed herself, her own flesh and blood, to mend this broken world.” “If we are to speak of laws and debts, then every living thing in this universe owes her their existence.” When he spoke of Elara, his eyes shone with a brilliant, fervent light. It was the same light I used to see in my father’s eyes when he looked at my mother. I lowered my head and said nothing more. I tried to think, to understand if what he said was true. But my mind is simple, and after a long time, I still couldn’t grasp it. If only Mother were here. She would have told me if he was right. Kaelan seemed to have lost interest in the conversation. He waved a hand, a gesture of dismissal. But I didn’t move. I stubbornly believed that the deaths of my mother, my father, my little brother, my uncles and aunts… they couldn’t just be forgotten. He was beginning to get annoyed. “What more do you want?” I thought for a moment, then held fast to the one truth I understood. “A life for a life.” The instant the words left my mouth, a bolt of pure energy slammed into me, throwing me across the polished floor. I coughed up a pool of blood. Kaelan’s voice dripped with scorn. “You are an ant. Only the strong have the right to speak their desires. Only the strong hold the power of life and death.” “And truth? Truth has always been a luxury of the victor.” I clutched my chest and staggered to my feet, nodding numbly. So, I have to be stronger than him to kill him. So, as long as I’m stronger than him, I can kill him. He should have just said so from the start. It would have saved me so much time. What a pity. My mother never taught me that might makes right. She only ever told me to win others over with reason. 5 As I stumbled out of the throne room, clutching my chest, I bumped into a woman in a green dress, her face alight with a joyful smile. The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up. She threw herself at Kaelan. “Oh, Kaelan! There’s still one more Luminar!” “Quick, carve her brain out for me!” “Do it while she’s alive! The last one, the little one with the fiery crest, I ate him while he was still alive, you know. The effect was so much better!” Her words hung in the air. I couldn’t stop myself. I turned my head and looked at him. In the entire Luminar clan, only my little brother had a fiery crest on his head. Kaelan stroked her hair, his voice dripping with affection. “This is the last Luminar in the world, my love.” “We cannot kill her. Otherwise, the other beasts will be difficult to control.” Elara pouted. “It’s just one animal. What’s the big deal?” I didn’t listen to another word. I limped out of the celestial realm, my body a vessel of cold, hollow pain. Mother, you used to tell me that the gods loved all their children. But why… why does it feel so different from what you said? 6 When I returned to the mortal realm, Lord Dragon and Lady Phoenix were waiting for me at my ruined home. When they saw me return, battered and broken, they both trembled with a silent, helpless rage. Then, they sighed, their anger collapsing into grief. Lady Phoenix stroked my hair. “Lyra, child. Don’t provoke them again.” “Just live. Please, just live.” I looked at her, uncomprehending. “Why?” “Shouldn’t a life be paid for with a life?” “No,” she said, shaking her head, tears welling in her eyes. “Living is what matters most.” “Lyra, you are the last of the Luminars. You are the last drop of their blood. Nothing is more important than your survival.” “Your mother… she would not have wanted you to seek revenge.” “She would only have wanted you to live.” I said nothing more. I turned, found a shovel, and began to dig. My father, my mother, my foolish little brother… they deserved a proper burial. As I held my brother’s severed head, I remembered Elara’s words—that she’d had his brain carved out while he was still alive. It must have hurt so much. It must have hurt terribly. No wonder the lumina shard in his hand was cracked and bent out of shape. This morning he was a vibrant, chittering life. Now he was as cold as a block of ice. No one would ever chirp “sister, sister” at me again. It was so quiet. Yes, it was quiet, but… it was too quiet. A gust of wind blew past, and my eyes stung. Why were there tears? Mother said I was born with a muted soul. It must have been the wind. Yes, that’s all it was… 7 After burying my parents, I leaned against the stone marker I’d erected. I began to talk, my words a low murmur. “Mother, you told me the realms were at peace, that the Sovereign was benevolent.” “What about now? Do you still believe that?” “Mother, I still believe a life should be paid for with a life.” “Mother, I’m going to the Whispering Glade. I’m going to take back the other half of my power.” “Mother, I don’t want to listen to you anymore.” “Mother, you can’t blame me for this…” “Mother… I just… I miss you a little. And I miss my brother, too.” “Mother…”

The day I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I discovered my in-laws had never paid into my health insurance as they’d promised. Staring at the zero balance in my account and my own meager savings, I sat in the hospital corridor for an entire day. Later, I asked my oncologist how long I had left if I chose not to pursue treatment. After he told me, I went to my in-laws’ house under the cover of darkness, turned on the gas stove, and chose to take them with me. The next thing I knew, I was back in the year I first got married. To avoid making the same mistake, I decided to handle my own insurance this time. This one small change led me to an unexpected discovery. The person who had denied me my insurance… wasn’t who I thought it was at all. 1 “Kelly, sweetheart, now that you’re married into our family, we’re all one. I know your job doesn’t offer benefits, so from now on, let us handle your health insurance.” My mother-in-law’s kind voice echoed in my ear. Before I could even process it, my body had already given its reflexive answer. “Okay…” My eyelid twitched. I quickly changed my tune. “Okay… I mean, it’s okay, but really, I can handle it myself, Eleanor. My salary isn’t high, but with Mark’s income, we have more than enough. I wouldn’t want to trouble you.” I kept my face calm, but my palms were slick with sweat. I had no idea if this deviation from my past life would trigger some unforeseen negative consequence. But right now, I had to distance myself from my two-faced in-laws as quickly as possible. In my previous life, it was because I believed they genuinely had my best interests at heart that I entrusted them with something so important. Looking back, I had been an absolute fool. I had treated them like family, and they had treated me like an idiot. “Well, if you say so, Kelly.” To my surprise, my in-laws didn’t insist. They readily agreed to my proposal. “But you two are just starting out, and there are a lot of expenses when you’re newlyweds,” Eleanor said. “Let us transfer four thousand dollars to you every month. You can use it however you see fit. Don’t you dare refuse this, Kelly.” Right then and there, she pulled out her phone and transferred forty-eight thousand dollars to my account. She explained it was a year’s worth of support paid in advance, to save us the psychological pressure of monthly payments. She smiled and told us to spend it freely, to ask if we ever needed more, as they had little use for money themselves. Mark was their only son; everything they had would one day be ours. My father-in-law chimed in, echoing her sentiments. After the transfer, they didn’t linger. They left our new home without any fuss. Watching the elderly couple’s retreating figures, the confusion in my heart deepened. 2 That evening, after Mark got home, I served the dinner I’d prepared. As we ate, I casually brought up his parents’ offer to pay for my insurance. There was no surprise on Mark’s face, as if his parents had already filled him in. Just as I suspected. “Yeah, Mom and Dad told me when they left this morning,” he said, his tone perfectly calm. “It’s normal for you to not want to bother them. They gave you the money anyway, so you can just arrange it yourself.” After dinner, he cleared the table and went to the kitchen to do the dishes, his behavior completely normal. I sat back down, a growing sense of unease creeping over me. If my in-laws had been the ones to deliberately screw me over in my past life, then after I rejected their offer this time, they shouldn’t have been so agreeable. Even if they transferred the money to keep up appearances, they should have complained to their son behind my back, griping about what an ungrateful daughter-in-law I was and trying to get the money back. But they had done none of that. It made my defensive actions seem pointless, like I was the one making a scene over nothing. I even began to doubt my own memories, wondering if my past life had just been a vivid nightmare. I shook my head, forcing myself to stay calm. It was better to be cautious. I would take it one step at a time. As I was about to get up, my phone vibrated. It was a text from my mom. Mom: Kelly honey, you’ve been married almost a month and I haven’t even visited you yet. Are you working tomorrow? I was thinking of stopping by. I thought for a moment and replied that I had the day off, that she could come whenever she liked. In her reply, I noticed something strange. My mom, who was terrible with technology and only used her phone for calls and basic texts, had sent me a popular, trending meme. 3 The next morning, Mark had been gone for less than two minutes when the doorbell rang. Despite the tension I’d been under since my rebirth, the sight of my own mother helped me relax a little. I got her a pair of slippers and went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water. Before I could even sit down, my mom asked a very sudden question. “Kelly, I heard your in-laws gave you some money?” I had no intention of hiding it. “Yes,” I replied. “They offered to pay for my health insurance, but I thought it would be too much trouble, so I declined. They transferred me the money to do it myself instead.” “Hmm, you did the right thing, Kelly,” my mom said, nodding and taking a sip of water. “Something that important shouldn’t be left to outsiders. What if they said they’d pay, but never actually did anything? Then if you got really sick and needed it, you’d be in a real mess, wouldn’t you?” I murmured in agreement and reached for the remote to watch some TV. But my mom stopped me, pressing on. “So, how much did they give you?” I turned to look at her. Her face held a look of casual curiosity, as if she were asking what I’d had for breakfast. But a gut feeling, a sixth sense, made me lie. I told her I’d received two thousand dollars. I didn’t know how she’d heard about the money, but I prayed that whoever told her hadn’t mentioned the exact amount. Perhaps fate was on my side. She clearly didn’t know the real number. A flash of disappointment crossed her face when I said two thousand. “Kelly, honey, I don’t mean to criticize, but your in-laws seem quite well-off. Two thousand is all they could spare? We didn’t even ask them for a dowry, we just wanted you two to be happy. But looking at it now, maybe we asked for too little. Maybe they think we’re easy to push around, and they don’t value you because of it.” I said nothing, just watched my mom talk to herself. “If I had known, I would have demanded a fortune! Then you wouldn’t be living so frugally now!” she continued. Then she asked, “So, is it two thousand a month, or two thousand for the whole year?” “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.” My feelings were a confusing mix. A terrible suspicion began to form in my mind. She had never been this interested in my finances before. Her behavior was deeply abnormal. She didn’t notice my silence, her words tumbling out. “Well, why don’t you give that two thousand to me? I’ll pitch in a little extra and get your insurance sorted for you!” 4 My heart sank. The terrible suspicion now consumed me. I couldn’t stop myself from connecting my mother to my lack of health insurance. Although there was little concrete evidence yet, considering everything that had happened since my rebirth, it wasn’t impossible for my mother to have been the one pulling the strings. To test my theory, I transferred four thousand dollars to her. “Mom, I know I can trust you with this. Please, you handle the insurance for me. You don’t need to add any of your own money, we have enough. Consider the rest a little something from me to you and Dad. Since I’m not at home, I can’t take care of you as much, so use the money to buy yourselves something nice.” “Of course! I’ll get it done for you, don’t you worry!” My mom cheerfully accepted the money and left shortly after. The next few days passed quietly. My in-laws acted as they always did. They’d send good morning texts in the family group chat and share photos of their meals. They never once mentioned the forty-eight thousand dollars, as if it had never happened. No one asked if I’d paid my insurance. They seemed to trust me completely. The money was mine to do with as I pleased. My husband, Mark, was also completely normal. Our life continued just as it had before we were married. If I cooked, he did the dishes, and vice versa. He was upholding all the promises he’d made to me, without a hint of impatience. My suspicion of my mother grew stronger. I decided I had to verify it myself. A week after I gave her the money, I went to a pharmacy to buy some antacids with my insurance card. The pharmacist told me there were no funds in the account. At first, I didn’t believe her. Seeing my shock, she thought her machine might be broken, but after checking several times, the result was the same. It felt as if my bones had been removed. I collapsed onto a nearby chair, all strength gone from my body. The pharmacist helped me to a small sofa. After thanking her, I stubbornly texted my mom, asking why there was no money on my insurance card. Mom: No money? How is that possible? I definitely paid it! Her reply was one of utter surprise, her self-righteous tone making me wonder if I’d brought the wrong card. After a moment’s thought, I called her. The phone rang for a long time before she answered. I immediately noticed an unusual sound in the background, something I’d never heard at my parents’ home before. It sounded like a child, maybe around ten years old. Before I could ask, my mom abruptly hung up. She sent a text moments later, claiming she was busy and couldn’t talk, telling me to just text her if I needed something. The more I thought about it, the more something felt wrong. I let Mark know I was heading out and drove to my parents’ house. On the way, I tried calling my mom repeatedly, but she either hung up or rejected the call. Her texts became more and more irritated. She asked if I had nothing better to do, telling me to just stay home and relax on my day off instead of constantly calling her. I didn’t reply to her last texts. I had already arrived at their apartment complex. I parked the car, hurried into the building, and took the elevator to the tenth floor. The elevator dinged open, and I walked to the door on the left side of the hallway. I entered the passcode. After a moment’s pause, the door didn’t open as expected. Instead, a cold, electronic voice announced: Incorrect Password. I looked around, confirming several times that this was indeed the home I had lived in for years before my marriage. A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. I tried the code again, several times. The result was the same. Left with no other choice, I started pounding on the door. If anyone was inside, they would surely hear me. After several minutes of banging, my parents’ door remained shut. Instead, the door next to theirs opened. The neighbor, seeing it was me, scratched her head in confusion. “Kelly? What are you doing here? Didn’t your parents sell this place?”

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The car crash left my mother and me clinging to life, the medical bills a mountain we could never climb. The man I loved? He saw that mountain and ran, straight into the arms of another woman. Only Philip, my childhood best friend, didn’t hesitate. He sold his company shares, scraping together seven million dollars to save us. But it wasn’t enough. My mother didn’t make it. And the surgery that saved me, stole my sight. Still, Philip stayed. He handled my mother’s funeral arrangements with a quiet strength that held me together. He then gave me a wedding so beautiful, it felt like a dream. In the years that followed, our love was a soft, warm melody. We were the couple everyone in our social circle envied. I never imagined that one night, after a party, I would overhear his friend ask him a question that would shatter my world. “Philip, what if Elara finds out? What if she discovers you gave her corneas to Lauren? That you let her mother die to save Lauren’s? What would you do then?” Philip’s voice was a low, haunted murmur. “I’ve wronged her, I know. That’s why I’m giving her the rest of my life to atone. But I love Lauren. For her… I would drown in sin for all eternity, unforgiven for a thousand lifetimes, and I would do it gladly.” 1 “Elara, are you absolutely sure about this?” “Once you undergo the cryo-suspension, the Elara we know will be gone.” I nodded, listening to the professor’s regretful tone on the phone. I had one last request for him. “Please, do one more thing for me. Find out the truth about my mother’s death.” “I need to know who killed her.” Just then, Philip’s voice drifted in from outside the door, laced with a familiar, bittersweet ache. “Lauren may not love me, but I saved her mother. I gave her back her sight.” “I have no regrets.” “As for Elara and her mother… I’m repaying them with my life. That should be enough.” My fingers tightened around my phone. My sight, my mother’s life… and to him, it was all settled with a casual “that should be enough”? Even now, every word he spoke was for Lauren. There was never a moment for me. It was his best friend, Leo, who couldn’t bear it. “Was it worth it, Philip? Ruining their lives for a woman who doesn’t even love you?” Philip’s reply was instant, without a shred of doubt. “Of course. I’d do anything to make Lauren happy.” “I’d even die for her!” Leo sighed. “But you didn’t die, Philip. Elara’s mother did.” He trailed off, but the accusation hung in the air. Philip was silent for a moment before downing his drink in one go, as if to swallow any explanation. Their footsteps grew closer. I scrambled back to my room, a clumsy, panicked escape. My foot caught on nothing, and I crumpled to the floor, a heap of helplessness. Right. I’m blind. I can’t see the world. And I couldn’t see the hearts of men. I never, ever imagined that the architect of my misery was the man I loved most, the man who slept beside me every night. And my mother, the person I respected and loved more than anyone, had died as a casualty of his twisted devotion to Lauren. I had once seen him as my savior, the hero who had rescued my mother and me. I had paraded the scraps of his pity around, calling it happiness. How absurd. The front door clicked shut. Leo was gone. Philip came upstairs, calling my name a few times. When I didn’t answer, his footsteps quickened. He found me on the floor, his voice thick with concern as he rushed to help me up. “What happened? Elara, you fell! Why didn’t you call for me?” I could tell his worry was genuine. But I also knew, with chilling certainty, that it was born from pity, not love. “It’s nothing. I just slipped,” I mumbled, pushing his hands away and pulling myself to my feet. I couldn’t see, after all. This wasn’t the first time. His concern only deepened into a pained tenderness. “You have to be more careful. Your vision… I’ll hire someone to be with you at all times.” “If anything else happens to you, it would break my heart.” He pulled me into his arms, his embrace as gentle and loving as it had always been. But this time, I felt no warmth. Only a profound, hollowing cold. To think a person could go to such lengths for another. Sacrificing his own happiness, the happiness of others, even their very lives. I closed my eyes, and the tears I could no longer control streamed down my face. That night, long after Philip had fallen asleep, I lay awake. With my cane, I crept into the spare bedroom and found the box. Philip himself had placed it here, where I could easily find it. It was filled with all the gifts he had given me over the years. Since I was leaving, there was no reason to keep them. Better to donate them, give them to people who truly needed them. I fumbled for the box, lifting it carefully. Suddenly, a voice sliced through the silence behind me. “Elara, what are you doing?” I jumped, clutching the box to my chest to keep its precious contents from spilling. Philip rushed over and snatched it from my hands. “Aren’t these the gifts I gave you?” he demanded, his voice edged with an odd tension. “What are you doing with them?” The irony was a bitter pill. I turned away from him and walked out, not offering a single word of explanation. The next morning, I took the gifts to a charitable foundation. I wanted to donate them to help others like me, people who had lost their sight, find their way back to the light. But the staff member who assisted me seemed incredibly hesitant. I offered a small smile. “It’s alright. Mr. Archer won’t be upset with you. Please, just donate everything.” “That’s not it, Mrs. Archer,” she stammered. “It’s just… all of these items, they’re promotional gifts. They… they don’t have any monetary value.” Her words hit me like a blast of arctic air, freezing me from the inside out. Impossible. These were the gifts Philip had bought for me over seven years. Each one was supposed to be priceless. Yesterday… his anxiety over this box. It wasn’t about the sentiment. It was about the secret. He was afraid I’d find out. He planned to keep me in the dark forever. I forced my voice to remain steady. “Then… where did the actual items, the ones these were gifts with, go?” The staffer thought for a moment, her expression growing even more apologetic. “These are all one-of-a-kind, custom pieces. According to our records, Mr. Archer, on behalf of his company, sent them all to a Ms. Lauren Vance.” Hearing her name was like a thunderclap in my mind. So that was it. For seven long years, he had made Lauren the brand ambassador for his company just so he could shower her with gifts. Every priceless jewel from every auction, sent to her in the company’s name, disguised as a token of appreciation for a ‘business partner.’ A man’s secret love, so ostentatious yet so discreet. It was hidden in every detail, each one a new thorn twisting in my heart. I let out a hollow, self-mocking laugh and didn’t ask any more questions. I had only five days left until the cryo-suspension. Five days to say goodbye to seven years. It was more than enough. 2 To prepare for the experiment, I followed the professor’s instructions and began the process of erasing my official identity. He sent over the first pieces of information about my mother’s death. My signature was indeed on her organ donation consent form. A perfect forgery, crafted by Philip. It turned out that while he was telling me he loved me, he was also practicing my handwriting until it was indistinguishable from my own. All to set this trap. My jaw clenched. When I returned home, Philip was there, a rare day off from work. He saw me come in, his expression a mixture of confusion and nervousness. “Elara, where have you been? And the jewelry I gave you… it seems to be missing.” His hypocrisy was so blatant I couldn’t help but laugh. “I gave it away. I tried to donate it, but the foundation said it was all worthless junk.” “So I gave it to the lady who collects scrap metal.” My words made him even more frantic. He stammered, “Those people at the foundation, they don’t understand the value of custom pieces! They were just talking nonsense, don’t be angry.” “I’ll have my people track the jewelry down right now.” His earnest, panicked act only deepened my disgust. “Don’t bother. You can just buy me new jewelry later.” He visibly relaxed at my words, pulling me into a hug. “That’s right. My Elara has the kindest heart, always helping the less fortunate. We’ll just call it a charitable donation.” “I promise, darling. I’ll bring you something even more precious tomorrow.” He made the vow with such conviction. But then I remembered. Tomorrow was Lauren’s birthday. Of course I would be getting a gift. It would be the freebie that came with hers. I said nothing, just quietly moved to the dining table for lunch. The food was from my favorite hotel, the one Philip had arranged to cater my lunches, day in and day out, for seven years. I used to think it was a sign of his devotion. Now I saw it for what it was: a way to keep me occupied and out of his way. A moment ago, when he’d held me, I had smelled the faint scent of freshly cooked food on him. Who, I wondered, had he been cooking for? He really had thought of everything to keep me from disturbing Lauren. I scraped the entire meal into the trash and walked out the door. This seven-year charade was finally coming to an end. Erasing my identity wasn’t enough. I had to divorce him. I wanted no connection, in any capacity, to this man. Leaving the lawyer’s office, I took the divorce papers to Philip’s company. As I stepped into the lobby, I was met with a buzz of excited chatter. “Ms. Vance is so beautiful! She and Mr. Archer make a perfect couple.” “She must be the mysterious Mrs. Archer everyone talks about. No wonder he keeps her hidden away.” “Definitely! Her bag and jewelry alone are worth millions. And it was all from Mr. Archer!” Before I could hear more, Philip’s assistant intercepted me and whisked me away. In the top-floor office, I heard a familiar voice from within. “How is Declan treating you? Are you two… doing okay?” Philip asked, his voice threaded with caution, as if he was afraid to hear she was unhappy, yet equally afraid to hear she was happy. Lauren’s tone was calm, with an undercurrent of sweetness. “We’re great. He just launched a jewelry brand for me a few days ago, as a surprise. Seven years and he’s still a romantic fool.” The “romantic fool” she spoke of, the man who cherished her so dearly, was Declan—my ex-fiancé, the one who had abandoned me after the crash. A wave of desolation washed over me. It seemed every man I had ever loved was truly in love with Lauren. And I was, and always would be, the one unworthy of love. My nails dug into my palms, mirroring the mangled state of my heart. Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when the assistant took a call and rushed to get Philip’s signature, pushing the office door open in front of me. Philip looked up and saw me, a flash of surprise in his eyes. “Elara? What are you doing here?” He started to rise, but his gaze flickered to Lauren on the sofa. Lauren smiled and stood up. “Elara, it’s been so long. You’re as beautiful as ever.” Her words were venom wrapped in silk. My clothes were dated, and my face had lost its light since I’d lost my sight. Lauren, on the other hand, carried a scent of expensive, elegant perfume. Though I couldn’t see her, I could imagine her, radiant and stunning. My fists clenched. In seven years, the campus beauty queen had become a blind, worn-out housewife. I was no longer her competition. This is what you wanted, isn’t it, Philip? Your precious Lauren is safe from me now. I pose no threat at all. 3 Shaking myself from my reverie, I ignored Lauren’s taunt and spoke calmly. “Philip, I have a couple of documents for you to sign as well.” I slipped the folder into the stack of contracts his secretary had brought in. Without a second glance, he signed everything and handed it back. He seemed eager for me to leave, anxious not to have me interrupt his reunion with Lauren. I smiled. “Well, if that’s all, I’ll head out. You two continue your chat.” But for some reason, he hesitated. Leaving Lauren behind, he came out and stopped me. “Elara, Lauren is the company’s brand ambassador. She was just here to discuss work.” The lie was so blatant, so unnecessary, it was almost comical. “I know,” I said. “You focus on work. I’ll be waiting for you at home.” He finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and had his assistant escort me downstairs. In the underground garage, as I was about to get into the car, someone rushed up from behind and shoved me to the ground. “Elara, you really are blind, aren’t you?” “I have to hand it to Philip. I never thought he’d have the guts to do this for me.” Lauren’s voice, no longer warm and gentle, was now a vicious, triumphant cackle, like a demon crawling out of hell. Her words made my eyes fly open in shock. “What are you talking about? What do you mean, ‘for you’?” Before I could finish, Lauren just laughed, then brought her stiletto heel down, grinding it into my palm. “You still don’t know, do you? That car crash seven years ago, the one with you and your mother? Philip arranged the whole thing.” “He couldn’t stand to see me cry, so he found a convenient victim in you.” “You poor, pathetic thing. Sleeping next to your own enemy for seven years.” Her every word was a shard of ice stabbing into me. I froze. I already knew Philip had stolen my mother’s organs. But the car crash… that it was also his doing? The agony in my heart dwarfed the physical pain. A surge of furious strength propelled me upward. I scrambled to my feet and swung my cane, slapping her across the face. But I was blind, my aim was off, my strength was nothing. Yet somehow, Lauren threw herself backward, slamming against a concrete pillar with a sickening thud. “Lauren!” Before I could process what had happened, Philip was there, shoving me aside with brutal force. My cane clattered to the ground. As I was frantically feeling for it on the concrete, the man who was supposed to care for me ran past, his polished shoe crushing my already injured hand. First Lauren’s heel, now Philip’s shoe. A sickening crack echoed in my head. My hand felt… obliterated. I cried out in pain, but the Philip who had once doted on me was blind to my suffering. His only concern was Lauren. “Elara! Are you insane?” he roared at me. “Lauren was just worried about your eyes! How could you attack her?” A cold, bitter laugh escaped my lips. “How could I not?” “Philip, do you really think she had nothing to do with my mother’s death? With my eyes?!” I clutched my broken hand and screamed at him. For a moment, he looked stunned, then he rushed to explain. “Elara, what are you talking about?” “What does Lauren have to do with what happened to you and your mother?” “You’ve lost your mind! You’re just spouting nonsense!” “Apologize to Lauren right now, and I’ll let this go!” Before I could respond, Lauren spoke up, her voice weak and trembling. “It’s not Elara’s fault. It’s mine. Declan broke off his engagement to her to marry me… she has every right to be angry.” “Elara, I know you hate me. But Philip loves you so dearly. You shouldn’t blame him.” Her false sincerity was nauseating. Philip, however, was completely consumed with checking her for injuries. “Lauren, stop. Don’t worry about her. Let’s get you to a hospital.” Loves me so dearly. Who was he really talking about? I smiled, a bitter, broken thing. Seven years of love had just turned to ash. Philip and I were well and truly over. A kind stranger took me to the hospital. Later, I received a text from Philip. “Lauren is our brand ambassador. You hurting her is bad for the company. Making you apologize was just a strategic move, for show. Don’t overthink it. I’ll make it up to you tonight when I get home, okay? Don’t be sad, my love.” Whether it was an act or the truth, it no longer mattered. I had nothing to do with him anymore. I just wanted to leave this place, leave him. I placed the divorce papers he had signed on the coffee table, in the most conspicuous spot in the house. The next morning, the car from the laboratory arrived to pick me up. The man who had promised to come home and make things right never appeared. I smiled. This home I had never truly seen, this man I had never truly understood… they were no longer a part of my life. Upon arriving at the lab, the professor looked at me with deep sorrow. “Elara, the investigation you asked for is complete.” “Your mother’s death…” He couldn’t bring himself to say more. Instead, he played the audio from the private investigator’s video file for me. “Besides the forged signature, the car crash involving Miss Elara and her mother seven years ago was deliberately caused. The car that came speeding out of the right lane, the one that caused the crash… the registered owner was Philip Archer.” Philip… It was really him. The name that had once made my heart flutter was now fused with my own blood and tears. Seven years. Seven years I had loved him, been grateful to him. It was all a joke. From beginning to end. I made one final request of the professor. “Please, send a copy of this investigation to every major news outlet in the city.” “I want everyone to see this man for who he truly is.”

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I’d been in love with Ethan Eriksen for five years. His brother, Liam, had been in love with Zoe Miller for just as long. Then, on New Year’s Eve, I waited at the movie theater, but Ethan never showed up. Liam waited at the amusement park, but Zoe never came. Instead, what we both got was their relationship announcement, posted simultaneously on Instagram. Later, we huddled together. He said, “How about we just… make a go of it? We’re a known quantity, after all.” I was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.” And so began our mad dash—trying on wedding dresses, scouting venues, picking a date, writing invitations—all with the single-minded goal of getting married before they did. It was later, as I was dizzy from looking at venue after venue, that Ethan Eriksen knocked on my door. His jaw was tight, the rims of his eyes red as he asked me, “Are you serious? Are you really going to marry Liam? Have you really thought this through?” 01 On New Year’s Eve, I was standing in a mall on Central Avenue, watching the balloons being released outside, watching countless couples embrace in the falling snow. I clutched a movie ticket in my hand as a gentle flurry danced in the air. I couldn’t quite name the feeling. It was just a hollow realization that after all these years of loving Ethan, it was all coming to nothing. My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen. It was Liam, Ethan’s younger brother. The message was short: She didn’t show either. I had grown up with Ethan and Liam. Later, I fell for Ethan, and Liam fell for my roommate, Zoe. We’d made a pact: he’d help me, and I’d help him. A tragic comedy, really. On New Year’s Eve, he was stood up by Zoe, and I was stood up by Ethan. I let out a slow, shaky breath and was about to leave when Liam called. The background was noisy, but his voice, though clear, was rough and hoarse. “Did you see their Instagram posts?” A cold dread washed over me. My hand hovered over the screen, frozen. It felt like if I tapped that icon, everything would shatter. But I did it anyway. It was New Year’s, so my feed was flooded with couples’ photos. I only had to scroll a little before I saw it. For a moment, confusion eclipsed the heartache. The photo they’d both posted was an old one, from high school. In it, Liam and Zoe stood on the school’s athletic field, smiling and flashing peace signs at the camera. They both looked so genuinely happy. Ethan rarely smiled like that in photos with me. And Zoe had never wanted her picture taken with Liam. Zoe was my high school classmate. We became roommates when she was having trouble at home and decided to board at school. I was going through a rebellious phase myself, so my parents asked Ethan and Liam to bring me things from home. That’s how Zoe got to know them. But when… when had they fallen for each other? And why did Liam and I feel like two utter fools, moths drawn to a flame that was never meant for us? I couldn’t speak. Something was caught in my throat, a painful, suffocating lump. Liam was still on the line, silent. Finally, he spoke. “Are you still at the theater?” “Yeah,” I managed. “Wait for me. I’ll buy new tickets. We’ll go watch it.” “Okay,” I replied. It was a humiliating night, but at least I had someone to share the humiliation with. That made it a little less painful. While waiting for Liam, I didn’t try to piece together the clues I’d missed. My mind was just… empty. I didn’t cry. It all just happened too fast. I don’t know how long I waited, crouched by the entrance until my legs went numb. Finally, I saw him on the escalator. He’d dyed his hair a fiery red a few days ago, saying it was for a prosperous new year, a sign of good things to come. I had wanted to dye mine red too, but since he beat me to it, I’d settled for a milky tea-brown. He spotted me and quickened his pace. I waved a weak hand at him. “Give me a hand. My legs are asleep.” Liam pulled me up and studied my face. “Not bad,” he said with a half-smile. “No tears.” I hammered at my tingling legs, the pins-and-needles sensation a weirdly sharp relief. “You either.” “Eh,” he waved a dismissive hand. “Come on, let’s go. We’ll be late.” We both tacitly agreed not to talk about it anymore. After the movie, he drove me home. It wasn’t until I had washed up and was ready for bed that I saw the message from Zoe. Mia, Ethan and I are together now. Are you mad? I closed my eyes, a wave of irritation washing over me as I lay in bed and typed back a single, flat word: No. Who she was with was her business, even if it was Ethan. But I had considered her a friend. I had giddily shared every moment of my youthful crush on Ethan with her. And she had never said a word. She just let me chase him for years, only for them to get together in the end. Grief and anger swelled in my chest. I wasn’t mad that it was her with Ethan. I was mad that she had never told me she liked him too. What was she thinking all those times I’d shared my feelings with her? Was she laughing at me, at my pathetic, one-sided devotion? Suddenly, she felt like a stranger. A terrifying one. A reply came back instantly, as if she knew exactly what I would say. Oh, Mia, I’m so sorry. I’m so glad you’re not mad. I wanted to tell you, I just… I just didn’t know how to start… Her text was long. I exited the chat and unpinned her from the top of my list. Her last message came through: Mia, do you want to get barbecue at that place on Central tomorrow? I knew what it was. A test. To see if I was really angry. But our friendship was over. Whether I was angry or not, what she thought no longer mattered. No thanks, I’m pretty tired. Going to bed. A few moments later, another message came. Not from her, but from Ethan. I was the one who pursued Zoe. I liked her first. Mia, I hope you don’t blame her or take your anger out on her. How could I explain it? I used to love Ethan so much, the kind of love that filled my entire being, threatening to spill over. But now, in a single night, it had curdled. A wave of nausea washed over me. This couldn’t have been a sudden thing. They couldn’t have just suddenly fallen for each other. They had watched Liam and me like we were clowns in their private circus, enjoying our devotion, only to turn around and say, Thanks for liking me, but I don’t like you back. I could accept any outcome, but I couldn’t accept that the person I had loved for so long was, in reality, a complete piece of shit. I didn’t reply. Instead, I screenshotted both messages and sent them to Liam. You get one of these? A moment later, he sent one back. It was from Zoe. The gist was: Thank you for liking me all these years… Liam: Tell me something, Mia. In five years, how did she never once mention she liked my brother? We’re not that pathetic, are we? We wouldn’t have kept chasing them if we knew they liked each other. A five-year chase. A much longer crush. Me: My bad luck for meeting them. But I don’t want to see them ever again. Which means I’ll probably see them tomorrow. And then I’ll have to say it’s fine, it’s okay, and it’ll all be fake, but they won’t be happy until they hear it, so they can feel better about themselves. As I typed, a surge of frustration hit me. I wanted to delete them, block them, erase them. Liam: Same. My brother just knocked on my door asking if I was asleep. I didn’t answer. It’s just exhausting. I’m not even that sad, I’ve been chasing her for so long I can accept it. It’s the ‘why them’ that stings. How could they do this to us? Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind. A second later, Liam was calling me. We’d been like that since we were kids—partners in crime, our wild ideas often syncing up perfectly. “You know…” I started. “What if we…” he said at the same time. I pursed my lips. “You go first.” “Ahem.” Liam cleared his throat. “How about we just… make a go of it? We’re a known quantity, after all.” I was silent for a beat. I knew he couldn’t see me, but I nodded anyway. “Okay.” “And,” he added, “we’ll get married before they do.” “Don’t worry,” I said. “Leave it to me.” 02 I never knew Liam could be so efficient. Last night, I couldn’t squeeze out a single tear to mourn my wasted years, wondering if my affection for Ethan had already withered away during those hopeless years of pining. This morning, early—and I mean early—my mom was knocking on my door like a SWAT team raid, each knock louder than the last. “Mom, what are you doing so ear—” I opened the door, hair a mess, my complaint dying on my lips as she clamped a hand over my mouth. “Honey, you… you need to get washed up and come downstairs. Now.” I blinked, my eyes heavy with sleep. “What’s wrong?” “Your boyfriend is here to propose,” she whispered excitedly in my ear. My mom was always nagging me to date and get married, even threatening to set me up on blind dates. Seeing Liam here today, asking for my hand, was probably the happiest she’d been in years. “Huh?” The words shocked me fully awake. No way. I crept to the landing and peered downstairs. The living room was filled with familiar faces, and on the coffee table were velvet boxes that glinted under the crystal chandelier. I showered, did my makeup, and changed in record time before heading down. Liam’s mother saw me and beckoned me over with a warm smile. “Mia, sweetheart, come have some breakfast. Your uncle and I picked it up from the dim sum place.” Then she turned to my mom, her expression apologetic. “Susan, I’m so sorry for showing up so suddenly. We must have startled you.” “Oh, don’t be silly! We’ve watched these two grow up. If they want to join our families, I couldn’t be happier!” “Exactly,” my dad chimed in. “Our families know each other inside and out. We don’t need all that formal nonsense.” Liam was wearing a formal suit, his hair slicked back, sitting ramrod straight. “You work fast,” I whispered, sliding into the seat next to him and taking a bite of a shrimp dumpling. He leaned in. “Well, I saw that my brother wasn’t home. I figured if he came with us to propose, it might be… awkward for you.” I just raised an eyebrow and said nothing. Our parents were already enthusiastically planning the wedding. “I think the fifth of next month would be a lovely day. The almanac says it’s perfect for a wedding.” “Oh yes, a perfect date!” “Great, it’s settled then…” Liam and I stared at each other, stunned. “Why are they in a bigger hurry than we are?” I mouthed. He leaned close to my ear. “They’re probably both terrified we’ll back out.” Suddenly, that made perfect sense. My mom was always sighing dramatically, “Why are you young people so against getting married these days?” 03 The following weeks were a whirlwind of trying on dresses, scouting venues, and writing invitations. Ethan and Zoe went on a trip to Seabrook, posting a new picture to their story every day. They looked deliriously happy. While I was waiting for Liam to change into a suit, I found myself staring at a picture of them with a vast ocean in the background, a little dazed. The truth was, Liam and I had planned a trip to Seabrook a long time ago. I had even told Zoe about it. Seabrook was a coastal city, and when I saw a travel blogger’s video of it, I’d immediately sent it to her. I had wanted to go with him for my birthday. But then Zoe sprained her ankle, and I’d stayed to take care of her, so the plan was postponed. I never imagined the two of them would end up going together. “What are you looking at?” Liam emerged in a tailored black suit, a gentle smile on his face. I didn’t hide it, just turned the phone so he could see. He was buttoning his jacket. As he looked up, I said, “Let me help.” Once the buttons were done, he finished looking at the photo, set my phone down, and asked, “Do you want to go?” I shook my head, then nodded. “Yes.” Even though Liam and Ethan were twins, once you got to know them, they were easy to tell apart. Ethan was the type who couldn’t be bothered with people, always aloof, superior, and impatient. Liam, on the other hand, had his mother’s eyes. They crinkled when he smiled, bright and beautiful. He was sunny and emotionally steady. “It’s not because they went,” I said, my gaze firm. “I’ve wanted to go for a long time.” Liam gently guided me toward the mirror. “Okay,” he said softly. “I know.” In the full-length mirror, we looked like a perfect couple, a match made in heaven. A sales associate stepped forward at the perfect moment. “You two make such a handsome couple.” “What do you think of this one? Do you like it?” he asked, leaning down slightly. I thought for a moment, chewing on my lip. “I don’t know… it doesn’t feel quite… breathtaking.” I made a small pinching gesture with my fingers. “It’s missing that little something.” Liam couldn’t help but chuckle, his eyes sparkling like starlight under the crystal chandelier. “Sir, Ma’am, are you happy with any of these gowns and suits?” the store manager asked, noticing our hesitation. She considered for a moment before speaking. “We actually have a new collection of gowns arriving from overseas in a few days. Would you be able to wait?” “I promise you, these are truly exquisite pieces. We have the designer’s sketches, and I can walk you through the concepts.” “Would that be convenient for you?” I looked at Liam questioningly, and he nodded. I smiled at the manager. “Yes, that would be great.”

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Sean and I were almost breaking up. Again. The day I planned to apologize, I drew a dare at a party: steal food from the top student’s plate. Everyone expected Sean to stop me. Sean, always ranked second, just scoffed. “Go ahead. Why not seduce him while you’re at it? Tank his grades. I don’t care.” Comments flashed before my eyes—phantom spectators of my life: 【Classic prideful jerk. One kind word from Ava and he’d crumble.】 【He’s been obsessively scrolling your chats since the fight, yet pushes you away.】 【Just dump him. The top student’s had a crush on you forever.】 I glanced at indifferent Sean, then picked up my fork. “Fine,” I said, voice steady. “I’ll try.” Then, softer: “Besides… I’ve wanted to meet him anyway.” 1 Sean and I were on the verge of breaking up. Again. It started with a game of Truth or Dare. Sean drew a dare: kiss your girlfriend in front of everyone. Sean was my childhood best friend and, as of this summer, my boyfriend. He had a touch of separation anxiety; growing up, we’d never been apart for more than five days. We’d made things official over the summer break, and I thought we were solid. Our friends erupted into a chorus of cheers. “Kiss her! Kiss her!” My heart hammered against my ribs. I clutched the hem of my shirt, hoping this was my chance to make up with him after our latest fight. But his face went cold. “I’m not kissing her. It’s embarrassing.” His gaze drifted over me, light and dismissive. “Her grades on the last test were a disaster. I don’t want people knowing I have a girlfriend who’s that dumb.” Olivia, sitting next to him, let out a little snort of laughter. “Ava can be a bit slow, can’t she? You should really help tutor your own girlfriend, Sean.” She nudged him playfully. “You helped me catch up when I transferred here, remember?” Sean leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at her. “It’s not the same. She is what she is—all beauty, no brains. You’re different. Tutoring her would be a waste of time.” I froze, the words hitting me like a physical slap. A hot wave of shame washed over my face, burning all the way to my ears. The truth was, I consistently aced English and History, topping the school rankings, and my other subjects weren’t that bad. I’d only fallen behind because I was out sick for half a semester. Olivia wrapped her arm around his shoulders, her hair brushing against his neck in a way that was far too familiar. “You know, it’s like one of those steamy stories online. The hot couple studying together, and when she gets a question wrong, you pull her over your knee and… teach her a lesson.” Sean chuckled. “What are you talking about? She’s not a kid anymore.” Olivia tilted her head, her expression a mask of innocence. “Then how come you only tease me like that? You threatened to do the same thing to me when I messed up on that problem set.” I sat there, feeling small and utterly out of place. Come to think of it, Olivia was the reason Sean and I were fighting in the first place. Last week was my birthday. Sean had promised to celebrate with me, but he never showed up. In the middle of my party, I video-called him. Olivia was the one who answered. “What do you want?” she’d asked, a bored look on her face. I was stunned. “Is his phone… with you?” “Yeah, so?” she shot back, annoyed. A knot formed in my stomach. Sean was fiercely territorial about his things. I was the only person he ever let touch his phone. A moment later, Sean took the phone from her, his voice softening. “Ava? What’s up?” Before I could speak, Olivia cut in, her voice loud enough for me to hear clearly. “It’s all your fault, Sean. I told you not to worry about it, but you insisted on celebrating with me. Now you’d better explain yourself to your little girlfriend.” Sean’s attention immediately snapped back to her, his voice full of an unconcealed joy that twisted my gut. “Ava, you won’t believe it! Olivia made huge progress this time. She was only one point behind me in physics! We’re celebrating.” Olivia playfully punched his shoulder, pouting. “Hmph. That was just a fluke. I’ll beat you next time for sure.” Her cute act made Sean laugh out loud. “Alright, we’ll see. But if you do, I’m not tutoring you anymore.” “Jerk! Who asked you to tutor me anyway? I don’t need your help to win!” “Okay, okay. We’ll see about that.” They bantered back and forth, completely lost in their own world, as if I wasn’t even on the call. It was a long moment before Sean seemed to remember I was there. “Oh, right. Ava, what did you call for?” I bit my lip. “Sean, actually, today is my birth—” But again, Olivia interrupted. “Sean, oh my god, I can’t open this soda bottle…” Naturally, Sean’s hand reached out. “You’re so helpless,” he said, his voice laced with affection. Watching them, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me. It all felt so pointless. I didn’t bother asking him to come to my birthday party. I just hung up. Sean didn’t find out it was my birthday until the next day. When he came to find me, I thought he’d at least be a little sorry. Instead, he just gave me a cold look and said, “Why didn’t you tell me yesterday was your birthday? Olivia’s been upset all day. She was crying, saying she thinks you’re targeting her.” He glared at me. “Is it just because her grades are better than yours? Are you really that jealous? You can’t even tell me it’s your birthday? If you keep throwing these tantrums, we’re done.” This was the first time we’d gone more than five days without making up. 2 As a penalty for losing the dare, Sean treated everyone to a weekend night out at a club his family owned. Someone joked with him, “Dude, you’d rather lose the game than kiss Ava. Aren’t you afraid she’ll dump you?” He just laughed, a look of absolute confidence on his face. “Why would I be? She’s obsessed with me. She’s not going to break up with me over a stupid game.” Everyone laughed along. “True. Your girl knows how to handle things. She’s not gonna sweat the small stuff.” I lowered my head, fighting back the urge to cry, my face a carefully constructed mask of indifference. Don’t cry, I told myself. Not here. Not in front of everyone. The game continued. This time, it was my turn to draw a dare. I unfolded the slip of paper. It read: [Go and eat a piece of food from the top-ranked student’s plate.] I stared at the words, stunned. Adrian was the new transfer student. He’d shown up and immediately snatched the number-one rank from Sean, his picture plastered on the school’s honor roll display. Someone had even snapped a photo of it and posted it online. Thanks to his criminally handsome face, it had over a million likes. A few troublemakers immediately started hooting. “Ooh, this is a good one! Go on, Ava!” “That’s Adrian we’re talking about! The cold, untouchable genius who transferred into our class. He’s the reason Sean got knocked down to second place for the first time ever.” “He’s seriously cold, though. A bunch of girls confessed to him already, and they all came back crying.” Olivia covered her mouth, a sly grin on her face. “I hear Adrian’s single. With Ava’s figure, if she wore something a little more revealing tonight and wrapped herself around him, he probably wouldn’t be able to hold his books straight.” A couple of people shot her a warning look. “Hey, don’t talk like that. Ava’s Sean’s girlfriend.” “Yeah, everyone knows she’s head-over-heels for Sean. She’s been following him around like a puppy since they were kids.” Olivia feigned surprise, sticking her tongue out playfully at Sean. “Oops, my bad! I totally forgot she was your girlfriend.” I dug my nails into my palms, the sharp points nearly breaking the skin. I waited for Sean to say something, anything. I couldn’t believe he’d just let her talk about me like that, making crude jokes at my expense. Sean just looked at Olivia, a smirk tugging at his lips. “It’s fine. I don’t have a problem with it.” He shrugged. “Sounds good to me. While you’re at it, why don’t you go up to him with nothing on under your dress? Seduce him, tank his grades. I don’t mind.” His voice dripped with arrogance. “Ava’s crazy about me, right? It’s perfect. Her body might be with the top student, but her heart will still be with me. Works for me.” He let out a short, harsh laugh. “Besides, she’s so wrapped around my finger. I haven’t even had a taste, why would I let someone else get a free sample?” Olivia was the first to burst out laughing. In that moment, my heart seemed to skip a beat, then stop altogether. I couldn’t believe the boy I’d loved my whole life could be so utterly disrespectful. A tremor ran through my body, an uncontrollable shudder of hurt and anger. The phantom comments appeared again. 【There he goes again. Can he just drop the tough-guy act? He’s saying all this horrible stuff just to push our girl into apologizing and making up with him!】 【He spends all his time scrolling through their old chats. He thinks we don’t know? His thumb must be raw by now.】 【But damn, that number one is a total masterpiece. Even more of a heartthrob than Sean. I kinda want Ava to have a little taste of something new.】 【Sean has no idea. The new guy didn’t just steal his top rank; he’s been coveting his girlfriend for a long, long time.】 【Wait, isn’t the top student supposed to be the villain of this story? And isn’t he the sole heir to the Sterling Corporation or something?】 【Seriously, Ava, stop wasting your time on Sean. Give Adrian a chance! His study is filled with your photos. He probably keeps the pens you’ve touched in a freaking safe.】 【If you so much as brush a finger against him, he’d probably tremble with excitement!】 I stared at the floating text, my eyes wide. Adrian… was like that? Seeing my hesitation, Olivia tugged on Sean’s sleeve, pouting. “Look at Ava, she’s gone all quiet. Girlfriends are so much trouble. Can’t even take a little joke. And you,” she said, turning on Sean, “you should at least try to comfort her. Girls like her are so sensitive. What if she starts crying?” Sean’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “What’s there to comfort? It’s just a game. Acting like it’s the end of the world. Such a buzzkill.” Olivia giggled, inching closer to him. “Oh, so you can take a joke? What if the dare was for you to kiss me? Would you do it?” Sean raised an eyebrow. “Of course. It’s just a game.” Olivia laughed and shoved him playfully. “Ugh, shut up. I wouldn’t want to kiss you anyway.” Watching them flirt, completely oblivious to my presence, I felt a wave of bitterness so strong it threatened to drown me. Maybe the comments were right. Maybe all I had to do was soothe his ego, and he’d instantly soften and we’d be fine. That’s how it always was. Sean would push my boundaries, and I would be the one to retreat. But I knew if I backed down one more time… I’d be nothing more than a spineless doormat. Under the weight of everyone’s stares, I suddenly stood up, my bowl and fork in hand. “Fine,” I announced, my voice clear and steady. “I’ll give it a shot. He’s smart. I’ve been wanting to get to know him anyway.” The smile vanished from Sean’s face, replaced by a dark, thunderous expression. The comment-feed went wild. 【LMAO, Sean finally overplayed his hand. She’s actually going to do it!】 【Did you guys see Adrian’s face when he found out Ava was dating Sean? He looked like he wanted to commit murder. And speaking of commitment, his commitment to her is…】 【He hasn’t taken his eyes off her this whole time. And speaking of time, he could probably go for…】 【He’s been dying to have her. Watching Sean and Ava together has been torture for him. He must be starving. And speaking of starving…】 The comments grew more and more outrageous. I walked over to the other table, half-believing, half-skeptical. “Hi, sorry to bother you,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “Can I… try some of your food?” Adrian looked up, and for a split second, his dark eyes seemed to glitter. I was taken aback. I’d never noticed before, but he was breathtakingly handsome. His friend started to run interference. “Adrian, another fan. Try not to be too harsh this time, you might make this one cry too. Hey,” he said to me, “you probably don’t know, but he’s a total germaphobe. He really doesn’t like people touching his…” “It’s fine,” Adrian cut in suddenly, his voice smooth and deep. He shot his friend a look. “I’m not a monster. This young lady is so thin. What’s wrong with her having a little of my food?” Before I could say anything, he pulled out the chair next to him. “Don’t listen to him. Sit. What else do you like? I saw you staring at the sweet and sour pork earlier. We can order some more.” So much for the cold, unapproachable genius. I’d been worried it would be awkward, but he was making it easy. Adrian pushed a plate of peeled shrimp in front of me and effortlessly kept the conversation going. “You’re amazing at English, right? I heard you got the highest score in the city on the mock exam.” I nodded, still a little dazed. He looked up, a warm smile gracing his lips. “That’s great, because my essays always lose points. I was wondering if you could help me with them. In exchange, I can help you with your other subjects. As you know, I get perfect scores in everything but English and History. It wouldn’t be a bad deal for you.” He paused. “Here, let’s trade numbers. It’ll be easier to coordinate.” The comment-feed was losing its mind. 【Look at him! The villain is fanning his tail feathers like a proud peacock!】 【This is perfect. Sean was just trying to force Ava into apologizing, and instead, he sent her straight into the villain’s arms.】 【LMAO, Sean thought she was going to get publicly humiliated. Now he’s so mad he’s about to bite his fork in half.】 【Nooo, I don’t want angst! Ava, just go back and apologize. If you just give in a little, he’ll totally make up with you tonight!】 3 After dinner, I packed my bag and got ready to head back to the classroom for evening study hall. Olivia suddenly appeared behind me and slapped my back with a grin. “Ava, can you do me a favor and tell the teacher Sean and I won’t be at study hall? He’s going to help me with my homework at his place.” She casually tossed her backpack to Sean, who caught it without a second thought. This was at least the tenth time I’d covered for them. In the past, seeing Sean carry Olivia’s bag or give her a ride home on his bike for a “study session” would have torn me up inside. But tonight, my mind was buzzing with Adrian’s offer to tutor me. I just mumbled, “Oh, okay.” “Wait a minute.” Sean’s voice, sharp and commanding, stopped me in my tracks. “You’re coming to my house tonight, too. I’ll help you with physics.” Olivia’s smile instantly vanished. I shook my head. “No, thanks.” He frowned. “Why not? Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? For me to tutor you? What about that last problem on the physics test you said you couldn’t solve?” I met his gaze directly. “Thank you,” I said, enunciating each word. “But it’s too late. I already figured it out on my own. Besides, Adrian said he’d help me tonight. I can’t flake on him.” Sean’s expression darkened. “Ava, stop being difficult. You’ve always wanted me to tutor you. What is this, some new game you’re playing? Stop it. I don’t have time for these push-and-pull theatrics.” He held out his hand to me. “Come here. Whether we get back together or not depends on your performance tonight.” I took a step back. “I’m not playing a game. I really don’t want to go.” His hand hung in the air. He let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Fine,” he said, his voice laced with smug confidence. “Then let’s break up.” He’d said those words so many times before. Each time, they’d sent me into a week-long spiral. I’d be unable to focus in class, and I’d spend my nights crying while writing him long, rambling apologies. Maybe if I just bowed my head, soothed his ego like I always did, he’d let this all go. But suddenly, I just felt… tired. No one can keep retreating forever. I took a deep breath and summoned all my strength. “Okay,” I said. “Let’s break up.” The color drained from Sean’s face. He sneered. “Are you serious?” I clenched my fists, forcing myself to nod. The next second, he kicked a nearby chair with a vicious thud. The loud crash made me flinch. “Fine,” he spat, his voice like ice. “I hope you don’t come crawling back to me like a stray dog, begging me to take you back.” With that, he snatched his bag from the floor, turned on his heel, and stormed away. “Wait,” I called out. A tiny, almost imperceptible smile touched the corner of his lips. He glanced back at me over his shoulder. “What? Regret it already? Too late.” I pulled the matching couple’s ring he’d given me from my finger. “Since we’re broken up, I don’t want this anymore. You can have it back.” It was the gift he’d given me the day he asked me to be his girlfriend. Our names were engraved inside. I used to adore it, never taking it off. But now, it was just a piece of metal. Sean froze, his voice growing even colder. “Fine. If you don’t want it, just throw it away.” I nodded and tossed the ring into a nearby trash can, where it landed among leftover scraps of food. Then, without a second glance, I picked up my bag and walked away. For years, I had always been the one watching his back as he left. Maybe being the one to walk away wasn’t so hard after all. Sean’s face was a mask of fury. His friend tried to smooth things over. “Dude, she’s just trying to get a reaction out of you. You know how girls are, they love playing these little games.” “Yeah, man, don’t let her get to you. If you give in now, you lose.” “I bet you as soon as we leave, she’ll come running back, crying her eyes out and digging through the trash like a clown.” Sean gave a nonchalant laugh. “You’re right. She won’t last a few days.”

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My mother was a Spirit Binder. For decades, she performed the Soul-Binding Ritual—a sacred duty of our bloodline to guide the restless dead to the afterlife. The more souls she bound, the more her power grew. But on my twenty-first birthday, she passed the duty to me. “Lilith,” she said, her voice thin as autumn leaves, “you must complete fifty bindings to fully awaken your gift. It is our family’s legacy, and now, it is your burden to bear.” I never got the chance to begin… until the night a wealthy widow, her face a mask of desperation, burst into our quiet chapel, clutching a heavy sack of gold. “Bind my sons’ souls,” she begged, her voice cracking. “I’ll pay any price.” Her name was Lady Beatrice, and she looked at me with the frantic eyes of a cornered animal. My mother had warned me about clients like her—the ones whose grief was so sharp it could be used as a weapon. “My sons… they were twins,” she sobbed, spilling gold sovereigns onto the cold stone floor. “They died together in a boating accident. Their souls must cross over together, or they will be lost.” Two at once? A dual binding was exceedingly rare and drained an immense amount of a Binder’s energy. Even my mother had only ever attempted it once. For a novice like me, it was not just difficult; it was dangerous. Lady Beatrice saw my hesitation and pressed forward. “If you will perform the Ritual for both my sons at once, I will give you one hundred gold sovereigns!” At that price, any further hesitation would be an insult. This sum was a small fortune. It could pay for the finest physicians for my ailing mother, and what was left would be enough for us to return to our ancestral home in Avalor, not in shame, but in triumph. I nodded decisively. “Very well. But you must return home at once. Keep the bodies warm with heated stones and blankets. They must not grow cold and rigid, or it will hinder the Ritual.” She nodded eagerly and hurried away. I turned and went to find my mother in the back garden. “Mother,” I said, my voice firm. “That childhood betrothal you arranged for me… please, cancel it.” My mother had been a Binder herself, the most renowned in our lineage, having guided forty-nine souls. She only began after my father’s death, but some years ago, a mysterious illness had forced her to pass the chapel to me. She understood immediately. After a long silence, she spoke. “Lilith, the day I gave you this chapel, that betrothal was already void. Your path is not meant to be tied to an ordinary man. Since you have chosen this life, it is time I told you the most important secret of our craft.” My heart hammered against my ribs. My mother was beautiful, and I had inherited her looks. When she performed the Rituals, she would never leave me alone, always taking me with her. I had waited outside the door for all forty-nine of her bindings. It was a somber, sacred affair, yet each time she emerged, her face would be flushed, her skin glistening as if from some great exertion. But what I remembered most was the gold. As a child, I constantly pestered her, “What is the Ritual really like?” She never told me. As I grew older, I began to understand the solemnity of it, but the true secret remained veiled. Now, she leaned in close, her whisper brushing against my ear as she explained everything. I felt my face flush with heat, but as her words sank in, a chill prickled my scalp. “What do you mean, ‘unused Life Essence’?” I asked. She only shook her head. “Remember my warnings. As for the rest… you will understand after you bind these two brothers. I have never attempted a dual binding, Lilith. You must be careful.” Her words haunted me all day. But when night fell, I packed my ritual bag and set out for the manor at the foot of the hills, ready to face my first Soul-Binding. The wind howled through the trees, lending the estate a sinister air, but I, who had grown up surrounded by the quiet hum of death, was not afraid. I took a small wax effigy from my bag and tossed it onto the path. It instantly burst into smokeless, silent flame, and the oppressive wind died with it. By the time the ashes settled, I had changed into my ritual robes: a gown of scarlet silk, a paper-thin coronet of silver leaves in my hair, and the red embroidered slippers my mother had worn for her own bindings. A sheer red veil, folded by my mother’s own hands, obscured my face. It was not a true marriage, but the spirits demanded respect. A few steps later, I saw Lady Beatrice waiting. Grief had hollowed her out; she looked like a wraith herself, her red-rimmed eyes wide in the gloom. She rushed to greet me, her hand trembling as it took mine. “So beautiful, Miss Lilith. My sons… they will be pleased. To have such a lovely Binder guide them in their final moments… it is a blessing.” “I am here to do my duty,” I replied, my smile hidden by the veil. For that much gold, and for my first binding, I would not fail. She had prepared a rooster to stand in for the brothers in the initial rites, a common folk tradition, but I stopped her. “That won’t be necessary. I brought my own.” I asked for the brothers’ full names and birthdates, writing each on a slip of parchment. From my bag, I produced a pair of red silk effigies, no larger than my hand. I affixed the parchments to their heads. Instantly, the dolls seemed to gain a life of their own, moving under my guidance as I led them through the ceremonial vows to the elements and the spirits. Lady Beatrice and her household watched, their mouths agape. Finally, it was time for the final stage—the Energy Exchange. She led me to a heavy oak door. I knew that inside lay the bodies of the two cousins. My mother once told me that the best subjects for the Ritual were those who died suddenly. Their bodies were often pristine, and if they were handsome in life, it made the grim work more bearable. She had seen horrors: crushed skulls, bloated tongues from hangings, bodies disemboweled. I wondered what I would find. I pushed the door open. Inside, two figures lay on a large bed, dressed in funeral silks. Before leaving, Lady Beatrice clutched my arm, tears welling in her eyes. “Lilith, you have sworn the vows. You are a daughter to me now, so I will be honest. The one with the mole by his lip, Silas, he is my true son. The other, Elias, is my nephew, but I raised him as my own. I love them both equally. If you can ensure their souls pass smoothly… I will add another fifty gold sovereigns to your payment.” My eyes widened. I nodded eagerly. “Of course. They are my charges now. I will devote all my energy to them. In fact, for a bonus of that size, I will perform a Ritual so powerful it will shake the very foundations of this house.” The sheer avarice in my voice seemed to startle her. She took a step back, her expression shifting. After a moment, she bit her lip, a flicker of something hard and desperate in her eyes. “Fine. Five hundred sovereigns in total. But you must see it through. I will check in the morning. If you have not completed the exchange… there will be consequences.” “Naturally,” I said with a dazzling smile. “My family has been doing this for generations. I would never cheat the spirits.” “Good. Then leave your bag with me. You Binders carry all sorts of charms. I wouldn’t want anything interfering with my sons.” Without a word, I handed her the satchel. “As you wish, my lady.” She beamed, satisfied, and left, closing the door behind her. Finally alone, I approached the bed. The two bodies lay side by side. I was, I admit, a little disappointed. They looked perfectly normal, no signs of a struggle, no discoloration of the lips to suggest poison. It was an unnervingly peaceful scene. Just then, a sharp rap came at the door. “Miss Lilith!” Lady Beatrice’s voice was sharp, urgent. “The hour is late! Please, begin the consummation of the Ritual! Do not miss the auspicious moment!” “It has already begun!” I called back, my voice laced with a feigned breathlessness. “Rest assured, your sons will have a… perfect crossing.” The silence outside told me she was satisfied. I began to remove my heavy outer robes, my eyes finally taking in the faces of the two men. The one on the left was plain, with the mole she’d mentioned. That was Silas, her son. But the one on the right… he made me pause. He was breathtaking. A strong nose, deep-set eyes, and lips that seemed sculpted for sin. My heart gave a little flutter. This must be the nephew, Elias. His body was surrounded by heated stones. On a whim, I pushed one aside and slid my hand beneath the silk of his tunic. The muscles of his stomach were firm, solid… the texture was shockingly good. My fingers traveled lower… I snatched my hand back as if burned, my face flushing hot. A wicked thought took hold. I would start with Elias. “My handsome charge,” I whispered, leaning close. “We begin with you. I am Lilith. We have sworn the vows, and now… we must complete the exchange.” I was not gentle as I stripped away his funeral silks. The body that was revealed was a work of art. As my gaze drifted down, I drew a sharp breath, my eyes widening. Because I had instructed her to keep the bodies warm, Elias’s body was… reacting. The physical proof was stark and undeniable. I swallowed hard and climbed onto the bed, straddling him. A thrill shot through me. No one knew how long I had waited for this day, to finally understand my mother’s secrets, to feel the power of the “unused Life Essence.” I positioned myself, ready. But nothing happened. I waited. The only sound was my own breathing. I grew anxious. Had I missed a step in the preparations? Just as I began to despair, I felt it. A subtle shift in the texture of his skin beneath me. And then, a sensation… something warm and electric sliding into my very core. A soft gasp escaped my lips. At the same moment, the window creaked open. I thought it was Lady Beatrice, spying, but when I looked up, my heart began to pound in my chest. The true Ritual had begun.

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“Reina, I’ve made up my mind.” I stood before the mirror, staring at the pale, hollowed-out reflection of myself. It turned out that making one of the most important decisions of my life wasn’t so difficult after all. “Jasper… will you accept my proposal?” On the other end of the line, Reina’s voice was a soft, gentle melody. A sudden pang of sorrow touched my heart, but I nodded. “Reina, I will.” “Jasper, I’m so happy.” “You know, back in college, I dreamed of this day.” In the mirror, a faint smile had unknowingly appeared on my lips. “Reina, just give me two weeks. I need to take care of some things here.” “Alright, Jasper. I’ll be waiting.” The moment I hung up, my bedroom door was violently shoved open from the outside. “Jasper,” my father said, clearing his throat with a touch of unease. “Your brother’s health isn’t good. Your room gets the morning sun. Why don’t you two… switch for a few days?” I didn’t answer. My gaze fell on my stepmother and my half-brother, Simon, standing behind him. My stepmother quickly interjected, “Oh, dear, we don’t need to trouble the young master.” Simon looked aggrieved. “Yeah, Dad, it’s fine. Don’t make my brother upset because of me.” “What trouble? You’re my son too,” my father said, then turned a stern gaze on me. “Jasper, you’re the older brother. Be more sensible.” I stared blankly at my father. I thought I would be devastated, furious. That my own flesh and blood would dote on a son who wasn’t his, more than on me. But I felt nothing. Not a single ripple of emotion. I even managed a small smile and a nod. “Fine. I’ll switch with him.” In two weeks, I would be leaving this place forever. Which room I slept in didn’t matter anymore. 2 My father seemed pleased with my compliance. My stepmother smiled, satisfied. After they left, however, Simon lingered. “Brother, let me help you pack.” He stood before me, the picture of obedience, but his eyes, as they scanned the room, held a smile he couldn’t quite conceal. “I didn’t expect Dad to agree to let us switch rooms.” “Brother, are you angry with me?” “After all, I just stole Victoria from you, and now I’ve stolen the bedroom you’ve lived in for ten years.” I didn’t want to engage. I turned to get my suitcase. Suddenly, Simon let out a yelp and fell hard onto the floor. “Brother…” His arm had hit the corner of the desk as he fell, and a dark bruise was already forming. “Jasper, what are you doing?!” Victoria had come upstairs at some point. She saw Simon on the floor. Her face hardened. She rushed over and gently helped him to his feet. “Tori, I’m fine. My brother didn’t mean to.” Simon grimaced in pain but forced a pained smile. “It doesn’t hurt, Tori.” “It’s already bruised, and you say it doesn’t hurt?” Victoria looked at the injury on his arm, her eyes filled with heartache. But when she looked at me, her gaze turned cold as frost. “Jasper, if you have a problem, take it out on me.” “Don’t hurt Simon. He’s been through enough.” “Unlike you, born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you’ve never known a day of hardship in your life.” I thought I was past being hurt by her words. I thought I would never again let Victoria break my heart. But in the end, I was just an ordinary person. I wasn’t made of steel, and my heart wasn’t unbreakable. The girl I grew up with. The woman I had loved for three years. In just a few short days, she had fallen for the younger, more cloying Simon. And had started to see me as a vicious, cruel monster. I didn’t want to be sad. I even wanted to laugh. But when I opened my mouth, my voice was raw. “Victoria, we’ve known each other for so many years. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?” Victoria’s brow furrowed slightly. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, her expression seemed to soften. 3 But then Simon spoke up. “Tori, don’t fight with my brother because of me.” “It’s fine. He has every right to be angry with me…” Simon’s voice trailed off, as if he were the victim of some great injustice. Victoria’s gaze on me hardened once more, turning to ice. “You’re jealous that I like Simon.” “Jealous that I’m good to him.” “Jealous that everyone likes him.” “Jasper, you’re not the person you used to be.” “You’re twisted now, aren’t you?” With that, she took Simon’s arm and turned to leave. I watched them go. And suddenly, I realized that the last, lingering shred of sadness had vanished. This was for the best. I had grieved over Victoria countless times in the past few days. From now on, I truly believed I would never feel a single pang of sorrow for her again. That evening, the group chat with our mutual friends exploded with activity. Victoria had posted a message. “What do you do when you suddenly want to get married?” The chat went wild. “Tori, are you and Jasper finally tying the knot?” “Should we start calling him brother-in-law now?” People started tagging me. “@Jasper Congrats, brother-in-law! Are you going to send out big red envelopes?” “Tori, when are you inviting us to the wedding?” The chat was a chaotic flurry of messages. I was about to type a message to clarify. I wasn’t their brother-in-law. And I wasn’t the one Victoria wanted to marry. But Victoria beat me to it. “What are you all talking about?” “I never said I was marrying Jasper.” With that, she added Simon to the group chat. Then she tagged everyone. “Take a good look. This is your real brother-in-law.” The boisterous chat fell silent. For a long time, no one said a word. Victoria: “Why is everyone so quiet?” “Say hello to your brother-in-law.” A few scattered greetings for Simon began to trickle in. I thought for a moment, then typed a message. “Congratulations. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.” After sending it, I left the group chat. 4 The moment I left the group, my phone rang. It was Victoria. “Jasper, I need you to come over. Right now.” “Where?” “You know where. The usual place.” “Is something wrong?” “Apologize to Simon.” “Why should I apologize?” “Do you have any idea what our friends will think of him after you just left the group like that?” Victoria’s tone was harsh, demanding. “I won’t have people slandering Simon.” “I’m the one who likes him. I want to give him a proper place by my side.” “He’s innocent. He shouldn’t have to bear the stigma of being the other man because of your rashness and immaturity.” Even though I was no longer emotionally swayed by her words, a dull, aching anger throbbed in my chest. My fingers, clutching the phone, trembled. When I spoke, my voice trembled too. “Victoria, you can’t treat people like this.” “What gives you the right to treat me this way?” “You were the unfaithful one. I did nothing. I even congratulated you. Isn’t that enough?” My voice was shaking badly. There was a moment of silence on the other end. “Jasper.” “I’ll let it go this time.” “But I want you to remember, Simon is innocent.” “Don’t take your anger out on him. Don’t hurt him.” She hung up. I sat on the sofa, my whole body shaking. On the nightstand, in a silver frame, was a photograph of my mother. She was looking at me with gentle, loving eyes. A sudden sting filled my nose. I lunged for the frame and hugged it tightly. Through the cold, hard glass, I pressed my cheek against hers. In the photo, it was as if my mother was grieving for her child’s pain. I didn’t want to be sad. I didn’t want my mother to worry, wherever she was. After the anniversary of her death, I would take the few things she left me. I would leave this city forever and never come back. 5 Simon moved into my room. I, however, didn’t move into his. I just found an empty guest room and stayed there. The bedding the maid prepared for me was cold and damp. I ended up sleeping in my clothes. It was only for a few more days. Once I got through this, it would all be over. But the next morning, as I came downstairs, I saw that the small side hall, where my mother’s photograph and the memorial offerings were kept, was in complete disarray. My mother’s photo had been thrown on the floor. The glass of the frame was shattered, and the picture was covered in muddy footprints. My mother’s smiling face now seemed to be weeping in agony. The offerings were scattered everywhere, and Simon’s puppy was chewing on them. Simon stood to the side, clapping his hands and cheering the dog on. I stood there, feeling the blood rush to my head. All reason, all thought of endurance, vanished in an instant. Like a madman, I grabbed a vase and hurled it at the dog. The dog yelped and ran off. Simon shrieked as a shard of the broken vase grazed his arm. “Jasper! What are you doing? How could you raise a hand to your brother?!” By the time my father’s voice rang out, Simon had already hidden behind him, his face pale. “Dad, save me! My brother is trying to kill me…” “Jasper, you’re going too far!” “Can’t you see? He threw away Mom’s offerings, he ruined her picture…” My whole body was shaking. Tears finally streamed down my face. I was heartbroken for my mother. I knew the dead couldn’t fight the living. But even in death, she didn’t deserve this. Was there no place in this house for even her memorial tablet? But my father only glanced at the mess on the floor and frowned. “That’s no excuse to hurt someone!” “Dad…” “Jasper, your mother has been gone for so long. The living are more important than the dead.” Simon spoke up timidly. “Dad, it was my puppy. He accidentally knocked over the offerings. I was going to apologize to my brother, but he just rushed down and attacked me. I didn’t even have a chance to say anything before he threw the vase at me…” He held up his bleeding arm, looking pitifully at my father. “Dad, maybe Mom and I should just move out…” “The animal doesn’t know any better, but don’t you?” My father glared at me, then suddenly raised his hand. When the heavy slap landed, I forgot to move. He seemed to freeze for a moment too. But in the end, he said nothing. He turned and took Simon to treat his wound. I watched them leave, and only after a long moment did I feel the burning sting on my cheek. I raised a hand to my swollen face and couldn’t help but let out a bitter, mocking laugh. I knew it then. This house had no room for any trace of my mother. And there was no place left for me. 6 In the middle of the night, I was woken by crying and screaming. I had just sat up when my door was kicked open. My stepmother rushed in, crying. Before I could react, she slapped me hard across the face, several times. “How could you be so cruel?” “Wasn’t hurting him this morning enough? Now you want to kill him?” She collapsed into my father’s arms, sobbing. “He knows Simon is allergic to perfume, and he deliberately sprayed it all over his bed and pillows.” “He’s trying to kill our Simon!” “Alright, stop crying. Simon took his medicine in time, he’s fine.” My father comforted her softly, then looked at me with disgust. “Jasper, you’ve disappointed me greatly.” “Move out tomorrow.” “If you stay here, you’ll just bring chaos to this family.” My stepmother’s crying stopped instantly. I looked at the man before me. He was once the closest person I had in this world. He had loved me dearly. I was his only child. But then, everything changed. I felt like the protagonist in a novel whose luck had been stolen, gradually losing everything. At first, I couldn’t understand it. I fought, I argued, I resisted. But now, I finally understood. The bond between us, father and son, was completely broken. The day I moved out of the family home, my father said to me, “After the anniversary of your mother’s death, I’ll bring you home.” I didn’t answer. After they left, I took all the photos of me and Victoria, and all the photos of me and my father, from all the years. I cut them into pieces and burned them. Finally, I threw away the pair of rings I had secretly bought. I had bought them after Victoria confessed her feelings for me. I had imagined, countless times, the moment I would place one on her finger. But now, that was all over. 7 All that was left were the various gifts Victoria had given me over the past three years. There were quirky, fun little trinkets. And there were expensive watches and jewelry. I sorted out the valuable items, planning to have a friend hold onto them for me. After I left the city, he would return them to Victoria. That way, we would be truly even. There was a time when I cherished even a small keychain from her. But now, as I prepared to discard everything, my heart felt nothing. Not a single ripple. After I was done, I carefully wrapped my mother’s photograph and placed it in the hidden compartment of my suitcase. Without a backward glance, I left the home I had lived in for ten years. As I walked out the main gate, Victoria’s car happened to pull up. I didn’t even look at it. But the car suddenly stopped beside me. The rear window rolled down, revealing Victoria’s stunning face. My gaze merely brushed past her, and my steps didn’t falter. “Jasper.” Victoria’s brow furrowed. “Where are you going?” I ignored her and kept walking. But Victoria suddenly opened the car door and got out. “Do you want me to have my driver give you a ride?” “No, thank you.” I avoided her hand and continued on my way. But Victoria grabbed my wrist. “Jasper, why are you being so stubborn with me?” “Just be like you used to be. Bow your head a little. Maybe I’ll soften up again.” I forcefully shook her hand off and looked at her calmly. “Victoria, there’s no need.” No need to bow my head. And no need for her to soften up. Time and time again… I was tired. Exhausted. “Fine. Do whatever you want.” Victoria scoffed, but her eyes held a look of disbelief. 8 After all, in the past, no matter how hurt I was, I would always willingly and silently wait for her to come back. She was used to it. Everyone around her said I would never be able to leave her. And she believed it wholeheartedly. I was about to leave with my suitcase when Simon’s voice rang out. “Tori, you’re here.” He walked over and took her hand. “Is your allergy any better?” Victoria brushed the hair from his forehead, examining him closely. “Much better.” Simon smiled obediently. “Tori, don’t be mad at my brother.” “It’s my fault for being so weak. If my health wasn’t so poor, Dad wouldn’t have made us switch rooms.” “And my brother wouldn’t have taken his anger out on me…” “How is that your fault? He’s the one who’s petty.” Victoria glanced at me, then deliberately stroked Simon’s cheek. “Let’s go inside. Your face just healed, don’t let the wind get to it.” “Okay.” I watched the two of them walk away, clinging to each other like Siamese twins. And my heart was as calm as a placid lake, without a single ripple. After the anniversary of my mother’s death, my father didn’t come to get me. And in the blink of an eye, it was Victoria’s birthday. In previous years, I would have prepared a gift long in advance. Then I would have gone to great lengths to book a hotel and meticulously decorate the party venue. But this time, I had no gift. And I wouldn’t be celebrating with her. At five in the afternoon, I was in a car on my way to the airport. New messages kept popping up on my phone. My father was urging me, “Why aren’t you here yet? Your aunt, Simon, and I are all here.” “Jasper, you need to be more magnanimous. Victoria is going to be part of our family.” “If you don’t come, what will people think? They’ll think you and your brother have had a falling out.” I found it utterly ridiculous. I didn’t reply, just blocked him. As I was about to board, I received a message. It was from Victoria. “Why aren’t you here yet? Everyone is waiting for you.” I smiled, didn’t reply, and blocked all of her contact information. Then, I walked through the boarding gate and never looked back.

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During my summer holiday, recovering abroad, I saw the wedding announcement for my daughter, Sophie. Her fiancé was a sixty-year-old man. I rushed home immediately, only to find the three young men I had hand-picked and raised as potential sons-in-law fawning over our housekeeper’s daughter. When they saw me, they spoke one after another, their words a rehearsed chorus of condescension. “Charlotte, Sophie insists she has a taste for older men. We tried to stop her, we really did.” “But don’t you worry. After Sophie is married off, we’ll take good care of all the Shaw family businesses for you.” “And as for Rosalind, we’ll respect whoever she chooses to marry. The most important thing is that she produces a worthy heir for the Shaw family, to continue the legacy.” I looked at my own daughter, Sophie, standing silently beside them, her eyes dull and lifeless, a chilling numbness etched onto her face. A tremor of pure rage shook my body. These little pretenders, these would-be sons-in-law, thought they could steal everything from my daughter? They were living in a fantasy. … Their mouths kept moving, a relentless stream of noise, but I couldn’t hear a single word. I had chosen them myself from an orphanage years ago, bringing them into the Shaw family with the sole intention of grooming an excellent husband for my daughter. I never imagined their ambition would be so monstrous. As they prepared to speak again, I hurled my luggage directly at them. “Get out!” They froze for a second, stunned. But it was the housekeeper’s daughter, Rosalind, who scurried to pick up my bags. “Mrs. Shaw must be exhausted from her flight,” she cooed. “Don’t blame the boys for not picking you up. They’ve been working themselves to the bone at the company, just to make you proud.” For the first time, I took a hard look at her. Though she was the housekeeper’s daughter, her face was flawlessly made up, and she was adorned in jewelry that screamed expense. In stark contrast, my own daughter was dressed in worn, ill-fitting clothes. A stranger would have mistaken Rosalind for the heiress of the Shaw family. As if sensing my thoughts, she cast a shy, flirtatious glance at the three men standing beside her—Lucas, Shane, and Gabriel. “The boys are just so wonderful to me,” she said, her voice dripping with false modesty. “I can’t possibly choose between them right now. But you can rest assured, Mrs. Shaw, I’m not a materialistic person. I only look at the heart. When I become the young mistress of the Shaw family, I promise I’ll take very good care of you.” Her words made my head spin. Who gave her the audacity to say such things to my face? The three men behind her didn’t stop her. Instead, they puffed out their chests with pride. In that moment, I understood. Perhaps I had been too subtle in my intentions, leading them to believe they were being groomed as heirs to the Shaw fortune itself. But even so, that was no excuse for tormenting my daughter. I took a deep breath, took Sophie’s hand, and turned to Rosalind. “I don’t care if you’re looking at their hearts or their wallets. The affairs of a low-class servant are of no interest to me.” Rosalind’s eyes widened in disbelief, then quickly filled with tears. “Did I… did I do something to upset you, Mrs. Shaw?” Lucas was the first to react, stepping in front of Rosalind protectively. “Charlotte, don’t talk to Roz like that. Look at the stray puppies in the yard—she rescued every one of them. A person that kind couldn’t possibly have a malicious bone in her body.” My heart sank. I yanked up my daughter’s sleeve. Just as I feared, her arm was covered in an angry, red rash, swollen and raw in places, with scratches that looked like they’d been reopened countless times, some even oozing pus. I pointed a shaking finger at Lucas, my voice trembling with fury. “This is how you take care of her? Don’t you know Sophie is allergic to dog fur?” Shane immediately pulled Sophie away from me. “Sophie, tell your mother! Since when are you allergic to dogs? How could you lie to her like that?” He then turned to me, his face a mask of false concern. “Charlotte, you have no idea. Sophie is constantly bullying Roz! When you were away, she’d order Roz around, even faking sickness to make Roz take care of her all night… She does it all out of jealousy because she can’t stand us being good to Roz.” “So all these marks on her body? She did them to herself for attention.” I almost laughed. I carried this child for ten months. I knew her better than my own heart. He thought he knew her better than me? I was about to take Sophie to the hospital, but Gabriel blocked our path. “Charlotte, you’ve treated us like your own sons since we were children. Don’t you trust us?” He shook his head in feigned disappointment. “Sophie… she’s truly a lost cause.” As if to prove his point, he pulled out his phone and began swiping through photos of my daughter in compromising positions with various men. He shot Sophie a look of pure disgust. “You have no idea how filthy she is. The moment you left the country, she started bringing all sorts of men back to the house. If it weren’t for Mr. Warren being so generous, no one would want her!” At his words, I felt Sophie’s body tremble violently. I had always known that of the three, Gabriel was her favorite. To hear such vile words from his lips must have been like a knife to her heart. Rosalind looked at the photos, a smug smile playing on her lips before she covered it with a look of feigned distress. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let Sophie be so reckless with herself.” The three men rushed to comfort her. “It’s not your fault she has no self-respect! Don’t blame yourself! This is all her own doing!” Hearing their words, Sophie ducked her head, her hand tightening on my sleeve. She bit her lip and whispered, her voice barely audible, “Mom, I didn’t.” My heart broke. I pulled her into a fierce embrace and glared at the vipers in front of me. “You are my only child. If I don’t believe you, am I supposed to believe these outsiders?” I swept my cold gaze over the three ungrateful wretches, a plan already forming in my mind. Before they could process the menace in my tone, I started leading Sophie towards the door, only to run straight into the leering face of Mr. Warren. His eyes raked over Sophie with a possessive, unsettling hunger before he smiled at me. “Mrs. Shaw. I’m here to take Sophie for her wedding dress fitting.” His oily expression filled me with revulsion. “You’re older than I am, and you want to marry my daughter? Are you insane, or am I?” The air went still for a moment. Lucas quickly stepped forward. “Sophie agreed to it herself! Besides, after all the years she’s spent running wild, her reputation is in tatters. A man of Mr. Warren’s standing is a huge step up for her.” He didn’t finish his sentence before my hand flew out, the crack of my palm against his cheek echoing in the hall. “Did I give you permission to speak? What gives you the right to negotiate my daughter’s marriage in front of me?” Lucas looked stunned, as if he couldn’t believe I would strike him. After all, I had once invested so much in him, believing he had the most promise of the three. He stood frozen, speechless. “I…” Rosalind rushed forward, cradling his face with a look of theatrical pain before turning to me, tears streaming down her face. “Mrs. Shaw, Lucas has been the one looking after Sophie for you all these years! Without him, Sophie would have probably ended up selling her body on the streets! Marrying Mr. Warren is the best she can hope for! How could you hit him?” Mr. Warren, recovering from his shock, puffed up with indignation. “Mrs. Shaw, I’m willing to overlook her… impurity. And you have the nerve to call me old?” He then shot a sneering look at Lucas and the others. “Everyone knows you spent all those years abroad trying to secretly birth a male heir. Too bad you’re hitting menopause and couldn’t pop one out, so you had to adopt some boys from an orphanage to be your successors!” “And as for this worthless daughter of yours,” he spat, “I’m still expecting a dowry of one billion dollars! You don’t actually think I want this soiled cabbage for free, do you?” And there it was. Now I understood how they dared to treat my daughter this way. But Mr. Warren’s information was fatally flawed. My years abroad weren’t just for recovery; I was expanding my business empire overseas. An empire that included a critical project for his company. He thought he was so clever, didn’t he? I couldn’t wait to see how pathetic he looked when he was on his knees, begging a woman like me for mercy. Seeing my silence, he took another step closer, his smile turning predatory. “You know, compared to your daughter who’s been passed around, I think I prefer you. How about this? Forget the billion-dollar dowry. You and your daughter can marry into my family together.” He didn’t finish the thought. Sophie, as if possessed by a different spirit, lunged forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Keep your filthy mouth shut!” Rosalind’s smile vanished. She grabbed Sophie’s arm. “Sophie, do you have any idea what you’re doing? If the Warren family calls off the wedding, who do you think will want you? Or are you still hung up on the boys? Are you refusing to leave so you can stay here and fight me for them?” At her last words, Lucas and the others let out a derisive snort. “Don’t worry, Roz. She’s no competition for you. Whether she likes it or not, she’s marrying into the Warren family today. It’s for the good of the Shaw family’s reputation.” Mr. Warren, recovering from the slap, roared with fury. He grabbed a fistful of Sophie’s hair and started dragging her toward the door. “So-called heiress? You’re just a worthless piece of trash nobody wants! Let’s go!” I slapped his hand away. “Sophie is my only daughter. Do you really think I would let her marry a piece of garbage like you? I’m warning you, touch her again, and I will make the Warren name disappear from this city.” He faltered, letting go but muttering under his breath, “You’re the one who threw her away in the first place. Don’t come back now playing the loving mother. This family will belong to Lucas, Shane, and Gabriel soon enough. You’d be smart to get rid of this hot potato while you still can.” Just then, several luxury cars pulled up outside. I recognized the emblem of a high-end auction house. They had called an auction house to the home. That must have cost a fortune. I quietly pulled Sophie aside and sent a quick text to my assistant. A few minutes later, she replied. [It’s done. I’m on my way now.] I breathed a sigh of relief and told Sophie to stay calm. The men from the auction house walked straight to Rosalind, laying out case after case of exquisite jewelry before her. “Miss Kane, here are the items the gentlemen won for you when they lit the lamp at the auction. We’ve brought them personally. And here are some new arrivals they asked us to bring for your consideration.” Rosalind shot a triumphant look at my daughter, then delicately touched a diamond necklace with a perfectly manicured finger. “Oh, there’s so much,” she sighed with fake nonchalance. “I’m running out of room.” Gabriel glanced at Sophie. “Well, since Sophie’s getting married and moving out, her room will be free for your things.” The auctioneer smiled. “In that case, gentlemen, if you would please settle the final payment today.” Even Mr. Warren’s eyes widened at the dazzling display. “Truly the heirs of the Shaw fortune. So generous.” At his words, Rosalind’s pride swelled. She deliberately picked up a crystal hairpin shaped like a rooster and pinned it in my daughter’s hair. I recognized it instantly. It was the “Phoenix Pin,” the final masterpiece of a legendary designer, and by far the most expensive item there. “I think this suits you,” she said to Sophie, her smile a cruel slash across her face. “A gift.” Then she feigned surprise. “Oh! It’s a chicken. I thought it was a phoenix.” With that, she yanked the pin out and threw it to the ground. The crystal shattered. “How tacky. We don’t want something as low-class as a chicken here.” Sophie started to lunge, but I stopped her with a cold laugh. “Smashed it? Wonderful. You couldn’t afford to replace it even if you sold yourself.” Lucas grabbed my arm. “Charlotte, Roz didn’t mean it. Besides, she’s the future daughter-in-law of the Shaw family. Of course she can afford it.” Shane and Gabriel chimed in. “Yes, didn’t you always teach us to be generous with the people and things we love?” Yes, I did. I thought they would cherish my daughter. Even while I was abroad, I sent them a substantial allowance every month, so she would want for nothing. I never dreamed they would spend it all on the housekeeper’s daughter. Lucas pulled out a black credit card and handed it to the auctioneer. “Move all of it to Rosalind’s room.” A few seconds later, the machine beeped. Insufficient funds. Lucas frowned. “How is that possible? Try this one.” The same result. Shane and Gabriel laughed, handing over their own cards. “No money, and you’re still trying to light the lamp for Roz? Don’t worry, we can afford it.” I pulled Sophie over to a chair, sat down, and calmly sipped my tea as the card machine repeatedly chirped its denial. The auctioneer’s patience was wearing thin. “Gentlemen, are you certain you can afford these items? As you know, lighting the lamp and then failing to pay incurs a penalty of double the value.” Finally, they all turned to me, their faces pale with panic. “Charlotte,” they stammered, “what did you do?” At that exact moment, my assistant burst in, followed by a team of people in sharp suits. “Mrs. Shaw, we’ve pulled all funding from the Warren Group’s domestic projects! All overseas collaborations have been terminated as well!” Mr. Warren stared at her, dumbfounded. “Pulled funding? What are you talking about?” He ran his tongue over his teeth, a mixture of panic and rage on his face. “Without me, who’s going to marry Sophie? If it weren’t for me, the whole city would know what a tramp she is! And what overseas projects? My overseas projects have nothing to do with you! Don’t you dare try to bluff me!” My assistant, her own face flushed with anger, threw a dossier at his face. “Are you really that ignorant, Mr. Warren? Mrs. Shaw is the silent owner of your overseas partner.” His eyes widened in horror. “You mean… The O-Brey Group?” I let out a cold laugh. “My husband’s name is Orion. My daughter’s middle name is Brielle. You didn’t even bother to do that much research before you came here to spout your nonsense?” He started to speak, but his phone rang. He listened for a moment, his face draining of all color, and then stumbled toward me. “Mrs. Shaw… it’s all a misunderstanding…” My assistant blocked his path. “You should probably head back to your office, Mr. Warren. Now that news of our withdrawal is out, I imagine your creditors are already lining up at the door.” Mr. Warren paled, then turned and fled, practically tripping over himself. Lucas, Shane, and Gabriel watched him go, their own faces a mask of shock. “Sophie’s father’s name is Orion? But we thought you married into the Shaw family… how could…” The auctioneer, seeing how things were turning, looked pointedly at the three of them. “Gentlemen, the matter of payment for these items is still unresolved.” They didn’t even dare to look at him. Only Rosalind, still oblivious, tugged at their sleeves. “Boys, what’s wrong? Why are your cards empty? Is something wrong with the company? Mrs. Shaw adores you, she can just pay for it, right?”

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My world dissolved into a game. A nightmare called the Terror Zoo. A voice, cold and metallic, crackled to life through unseen speakers, laying down the rules of this twisted park. 【Welcome to Harmony Zoo!】 【Defy a Keeper, and you die.】 【Die in the game, you die for real.】 The broadcast cut out, and in the sudden silence, they appeared. Monstrosities—humanoid in shape, but with the heads of beasts. They towered over us, seven feet tall, all crammed into the blue uniforms of park staff. They herded us, sorted us into four groups, a grim cataloging of our past sins against the animal kingdom. Then the torment began. They caged us. They made us fight each other. They put us on display for a new breed of visitor: mutated animals who stared at us with cold, intelligent eyes. Our only choice was to beat the game. To escape. 1. One moment, I was at my kitchen table, toast in hand. The next, darkness swallowed my world. When my eyes fluttered open, a synthetic voice echoed in my mind: 【Welcome to the Terror Zoo scenario. Players, please familiarize yourselves with your surroundings.】 I was standing in a sprawling, bewildered crowd, shuffling toward the entrance of a zoo. A ticket was clutched in my hand. “How did I get here? I should be in class!” “What’s a ‘game scenario’? I’ve never heard of anything like this! I want to go home!” The queue was a mix of faces—students, office workers, even elderly people who looked utterly lost, their confusion a mirror of my own. This place was alien, yet I recognized so many people from my city. It seemed we had all been pulled from the same pool. But something was off. The tickets. Everyone’s was a different color. Jessica, the pet influencer from my apartment building, held a green ticket. Old Man Abernathy, who bragged about poisoning the stray cats in the neighborhood, clutched a red one. Mine was yellow. I even saw a few people with blue. A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. It felt like we were being graded, sorted like livestock for some unseen purpose. The line moved with unnerving speed. Soon, we were all inside the park grounds. There were thousands of us, but the zoo was vast, and the space swallowed our numbers easily. Just as people began to drift off, that metallic voice returned, booming from the park’s speakers. 【Welcome to Harmony Zoo! Please remember the following rules.】 【Abuse an animal, and you die.】 【Defy a Keeper, and you die.】 【Do not raise your voice, or you die.】 【Die in the game, and you die for real.】 【If a cobra speaks to you, ignore it. The consequences are your own.】 【The countdown begins in one minute. When it ends, the rules will be in full effect.】 【Initial Player Count: 1,309. Current Players: 1,309.】 The voice ceased. The crowd erupted. “What kind of messed-up game is this? All these rules!” “This is just a game! How can it be linked to real life? That’s insane!” “Don’t do this, don’t do that? Who the hell do they think they are? I’m outta here!” “It’s gotta be a bluff, right? Just to scare us. Like I’m really gonna get in trouble for talking loud!” I said nothing. I was afraid to die, and in a place like this, it was better to be a coward than a corpse. While others shouted, my eyes found the massive digital screen looming over the main plaza. A countdown was already running. 60, 59, 58… The seconds bled away. As the timer hit zero, a chilling silence fell over the plaza. I followed the terrified gazes of the crowd and my blood ran cold. Eight colossal figures were stalking toward us, walking on two legs. Their expressions were pure predator, their bodies like something from a mad scientist’s lab. Their legs were thicker than my waist; a single stomp could crush me into paste. And impossibly, they were all wearing the blue uniforms of the park staff, complete with employee ID badges. They were the Keepers. Mutated animals as zookeepers, managing human guests? The thought was pure insanity. 2. “Is that… silicone? Some kind of hyper-realistic mascot costume?” someone near me whispered in awe. “But how are they so tall? Are they on stilts?” “Look, the crocodile one is drooling! That’s a neat trick.” Amid the murmurs, the Crocodile Keeper’s head snapped toward the crowd. Its cavernous maw, lined with daggers of teeth, opened wide. It lunged, its jaws snapping shut around a man who had been shouting just moments before. A wet, crunching sound followed, sickeningly loud in the quiet plaza. Blood, shockingly red, trickled from between its teeth and spattered onto the pristine pavement. The movement was fluid, primal, utterly devoid of humanity. These weren’t costumes. The teeth, the blood, the raw bestial power—it was all real. For some reason, in this game, they had evolved. They walked like us, wore clothes like us, and it was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. “Aaaah!” A woman screamed. In the next second, a massive serpent’s tail whipped out, coiling around her and hoisting her high into the air. Then, with brutal force, it slammed her into the concrete, shattering the ground on impact. The Black Snake Keeper hissed, its voice a dry rasp. “Such noisy little things. Did you not understand the rule about silence?” It was only then that the rule registered in our panic-addled minds. They were serious. The rules were real. The plaza became a tomb. You could have heard a pin drop. But it was too late. One by one, the Keepers descended upon those who had been yelling, devouring them, tearing them apart with a casual brutality that turned my stomach. We were trapped. We were terrified. Just then, the metallic voice returned. 【Player Alert: A significant number of animals have been infected with a mutational virus, granting them human-level intelligence and immense size. Harmony Zoo has specially appointed a selection of these animals as our new Keepers.】 【All players are advised to proceed with caution. Do not break the rules.】 【All players, present your tickets. You will now be divided into groups based on your ticket color for a tour of the zoo’s special exhibits.】 【Those holding red tickets will follow the Lion and the Tiger. You are Group A.】 【Those holding blue tickets will follow the Crocodile and the Snake. You are Group B.】 【Those holding yellow tickets will follow the Elephant and the Giraffe. You are Group C.】 【Those holding green tickets will follow the Dog and the Cat. You are Group D.】 【Exchanging tickets is forbidden. The penalty is immediate death.】 【You have five minutes to form your lines. Refusal to queue will be considered forfeiture. Forfeited players may be consumed at the Keepers’ discretion.】 【Initial Player Count: 1,309. Current Players: 1,300.】 The broadcast ended. A wave of silent, frantic motion swept the crowd. The game had just begun, and nine people were already dead. There were no laws here. Only rules. The boisterous attitudes had vanished, replaced by the meek obedience of lambs to the slaughter. Everyone pulled out their tickets and scurried to their designated Keepers, forming neat, silent lines. But there was always an exception. A blond teenager, maybe seventeen or eighteen, nervously approached the Crocodile Keeper. “Excuse me,” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. “I… I think I lost my ticket. What do I do?” The Crocodile Keeper’s demeanor was surprisingly professional. It pulled out a smartphone with its massive, clumsy-looking claws. “Your name, please? I can look up your ticket status for you.” The kid, Kyle, quickly gave his name. The Keeper’s claws tapped away on the screen with unnerving dexterity. After a moment, it looked up, its reptilian eyes glinting. “According to the system, you did not ‘lose’ your ticket. You threw it in a trash can upon entering the park, accompanied by the phrase, ‘What a garbage zoo.’” “That’s not important! The timer is almost up, just tell me what to do!” Kyle was frantic now. He had tossed the ticket, thinking it was useless once he was inside. A fatal mistake. Suddenly, the dreaded voice of the broadcast cut in again. 【EMERGENCY BROADCAST. TWO NEW RULES ARE NOW IN EFFECT.】 【Insulting the zoo or its Keepers is forbidden. The penalty is immediate death.】 【Intentionally discarding your ticket is forbidden. The penalty is immediate death.】 The Crocodile Keeper said nothing more. It simply opened its mouth and lunged. A moment later, all that was left of Kyle was a few tufts of blond hair, a dark, spreading stain on the concrete, and a pair of cheap flip-flops. A wave of panic rippled through the lines as a few others who had also carelessly tossed their tickets turned pale, some collapsing in terror. Their fate was the same as Kyle’s. When the electronic voice returned, the lines were perfectly formed. 【Initial Player Count: 1,309. Current Players: 1,273.】 3. My luck held, for now. I was in Group C, led by the Elephant and Giraffe Keepers, who seemed marginally less homicidal than the others. I had no idea where the other groups were being taken, but our procession of a few hundred people was marched toward a large, sterile building: The Specimen Exhibition Hall. Unlike any zoo I’d ever seen, these weren’t animal specimens. They were human. The Elephant Keeper gestured with its trunk toward a wall lined with preserved human bodies, its voice thick with pride. “These are our trophies from the last month of hunting.” It all clicked into place. The string of missing persons cases that had rocked the city. The police thought it was a trafficking ring. The truth was so much worse. A few people in our group broke down, sobbing as they recognized a loved one mounted on the wall like a prize buck. “Don’t waste your tears,” the Keeper rumbled. “They were not innocents. They belonged to the worst of you—the Double-A tier.” “Fortunately for you, we have already… processed… all of the Double-A humans before your arrival.” “That one,” it gestured, “the one with only the head remaining. He was the owner of a famous local cosmetics company. He tested his products on lab rats. Before they died from the experiments, he’d sell their bodies to underground slaughterhouses that supplied restaurants. Thousands of rats died by his hand every year.” A woman near me gagged. “Oh god… I ate at that barbecue place last week. I thought my rabbit skewers tasted like… foundation. I thought I was going crazy.” “My spicy rabbit heads tasted like lipstick!” another man whispered in horror. “The owner swore I was imagining it!” So it wasn’t rabbit at all. It was poisoned lab rats. Several people doubled over, vomiting onto the polished floor. “And that one,” the Elephant continued, pointing to a desiccated figure hanging from the ceiling, “he was a poacher. Used poison darts to kill over a hundred dogs. Not for food, not for money. Just to satisfy some sick, twisted part of himself.” The tour continued, a macabre gallery of human monsters. Each specimen had one thing in common: they had inflicted immense, cruel, and senseless suffering upon animals. By the time we were finally allowed to leave the exhibition hall, most of us looked like shell-shocked survivors. The very thought of eating meat was enough to make my stomach churn. As we stumbled out into the blinding sun, a notification sound chimed. 【Initial Player Count: 1,309. Current Players: 1,024.】 What? We looked at each other in confusion. Then, the giant screen on the exterior of the hall flickered to life, showing live feeds of the other groups.

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