Category: English

My older brother fell in love with a delinquent girl and planned to elope with her in the dead of night. Afraid he was ruining his life, I told our parents. He was successfully stopped, and the delinquent girl went to Los Angeles all alone. Five years later, that girl became a massive Hollywood A-lister. She invited my brother to her movie premiere and, in front of all our old classmates, publicly “thanked” him for not keeping her company back then. Humiliated and deeply regretful, my brother blamed me for everything. My parents beat me too, thinking it was my fault the family lost out on a superstar daughter-in-law who could have made them rich. Unable to defend myself, I was beaten to death by my own family in a fit of rage. When I opened my eyes again, my brother was whispering to me, “I have to leave with Chloe tonight. Do not tell Mom and Dad.” This time, I smiled and gave him my blessing: “Have a safe trip. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” 1 My brother was going to elope. Tonight. In the dim hallway of our house, he was crouching under the stairs like a thief, whispering into his phone. “2:00 AM. I’ll be there.” “I promise. If I don’t show up, I’m a dog.” In my previous life, I had come out of my room to get some water, overheard him, and asked where he was going. Afraid I would tell our parents, he confessed the truth. His high school girlfriend had been “discovered” by a talent scout at the mall over the weekend. The scout gave her a business card and invited her to Los Angeles to sign with a management agency. Worried about her going alone, my brother planned to sneak out in the middle of the night to accompany her to the audition. I was shocked. I knew his girlfriend. Her name was Chloe Miller, and she was a notorious rebel. Word was her parents were going through a messy divorce, and she acted out by trashing her own life—smoking, drinking, skipping class, and sneaking out to go clubbing. During his junior year, the school hadn’t given up on her yet. They assigned my brother—a straight-A student—to tutor her. Who knew that a semester later, not only did Chloe not reform, but she dragged my brother into a secret relationship. When she broke her leg jumping a fence, my brother carried her to the hospital. When she smoked in the alley, my brother would frown and snatch the cigarette away. It wasn’t until they were caught skipping class that the school finally discovered their romance. They called both sets of parents and forced them to break up. At the time, I was an eighth-grader studying for my high school entrance exams. My brother was a junior, ranked first in his entire grade. My dad came home cursing, pulled off his belt, and beat my brother mercilessly, demanding he cut ties with her or be beaten to death. My mom and I desperately shielded him, taking a few hits ourselves, until my brother finally gave in and promised never to see her again. He cried his eyes out that night. The seventeen-year-old boy looked utterly devastated. I secretly asked him, “Lucas, do you really like her that much?” He bit his lip and nodded pitifully. I tried to comfort him. “Then you guys can date after you graduate! It’s just one more year until college. One year goes by so fast.” Hearing that, the light returned to his eyes, and he nodded. After that, Lucas never mentioned Chloe again. When I started my freshman year of high school, I never saw Chloe around him either. I truly thought they had broken up. I never expected that a year later, during winter break of his senior year, he would try to elope under the moonlight to help her become a star. To me, the news was like a blow to the head. In my past life, I was frantic. I couldn’t let it happen. He was too young, only eighteen. I was terrified of him going to LA alone. In this day and age, what real talent scout just hands out cards at a mall? If she wanted to be an artist, she should apply to a performing arts college. What’s more, my dad had just spent over two thousand dollars enrolling him in an intensive SAT winter boot camp. He was supposed to leave for the closed-campus camp the very next morning. If he ran away now, Dad would literally kill him. Lucas looked at me pleadingly, pressing his hands together in a begging motion. “Just this once, Emma. I promise I’ll be back in five days. I’ll bring you back souvenirs from California. Just please, do not tell Mom and Dad.” I shook my head profusely, absolutely refusing. In that life, I didn’t listen. I yelled and screamed, waking up our parents. That night, Lucas tried desperately to escape but was overpowered by my dad. Forced to stay, he texted Chloe that he couldn’t make it and told her not to go either. Chloe went anyway, replying with a single word—”Liar”—and vanished for five years. No one could have predicted that five years later, Chloe would actually become a massive superstar. Not only was she insanely famous, but she was also in a highly publicized PR romance with the heir of a wealthy media empire. At a class reunion, Chloe—now an A-list celebrity—thanked the school administration, thanked her classmates, and then personally raised a glass to Lucas. She mocked him for not standing by her, saying that if he had gone, the Chloe of today wouldn’t exist. Lucas was humiliated beyond belief. Even though he had graduated from a top-tier university and had a promising, high-paying career. He couldn’t let go of his first love’s mockery. He went home and complained bitterly to our parents, exaggerating everything. When I came home, completely oblivious, a brutal beating from my entire family was waiting for me. I was beaten to the brink of death. I tried frantically to explain, but Lucas smashed a glass bottle over my head, ending my life right there. When I woke up, I was back to five years ago, on the day of the elopement. Holding a trash bag, standing in the hallway. My mom yelled from inside the house, telling me to hurry up. I snapped out of my daze, suppressed the bitter ache in my chest, and walked toward the stairs. When I came back, Lucas was guarding the door. He stared at me warily. “Did you hear me on the phone just now?” 2 I looked at his face, my heart aching terribly. This was my own flesh-and-blood brother. How could he bear to beat me to death? I only ever wanted the best for him. What did I do wrong?! Seeing me stay silent, Lucas frowned and pressed: “Did you hear something? I’m warning you, do not say a word to Mom and Dad.” Suddenly, it clicked. I realized he had been reborn too. Five years ago, he would never have spoken to me in that tone. Only the Lucas who deeply regretted his choices after Chloe became famous would treat me like this. I tested him with a cold smirk. “Where you go is none of my business. What, are you going to beat your sister to death like a murderer if I talk?” Lucas gasped. The look on his face instantly shifted to pure panic. His reaction confirmed my suspicion. The bitterness in my heart solidified, and any remaining hope I had for him vanished. I refused to believe a murderer could just get away with it in a lawful society. He must have been arrested eventually. And if he was arrested and still showed no remorse in this new life, why should I waste my breath? “Move.” I turned sideways, my face cold, trying to push past him. “Wait!” He grabbed my wrist, his face dark. “I accidentally killed you because I was out of my mind. But since we’re both back, you better keep your nose out of my business. Tonight, I am leaving with Chloe.” His tone was incredibly stubborn, as if terrified I would stop him again. My blood ran cold. “If you want to go, go. Let go of me!” He didn’t let go. Hearing my words, his grip only tightened. “I’m not joking around with you! In our past life, because of you, Chloe and I missed our chance. God took pity on me and gave me a second chance. I have to go with her tonight. Do not tell Mom and Dad, or I’ll make you pay!” I couldn’t take it anymore. Unable to suppress my rage, I gripped my house keys and slammed them as hard as I could into his chest. He cried out in pain and instinctively let go. I immediately screamed at the top of my lungs: “Mom! Mom! Lucas hit me!” Lucas jumped, terrified, and rushed over to cover my mouth. At this point in time, my mom still loved me. She hadn’t yet developed the resentment she would harbor five years later. I screamed so pitifully that both my parents rushed out in a panic. Seeing Lucas frantically covering my mouth, they immediately started smacking and scolding him. I went into my room crying, locking the door without explaining anything. Lucas spent the whole evening in a state of paranoia. It wasn’t until I took a shower and went back to my room that he finally let out a sigh of relief and sent me a text. “Let’s wipe the slate clean. Once I make it big, I’ll make it up to you.” I sneered. That was a human life. If we hadn’t been reborn, how would you possibly make it up to me? “Have a safe trip. Don’t let the door hit you.” I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, gritted my teeth, sent the message, and blocked his number. Let it be. If he wanted to be brave and chase love, that was his business. From now on, I am Emma Davis. If I ever meddle in his affairs again, I’m a dog! 3 The next few days were quiet. My brother ran away in the middle of the night. He went straight to Los Angeles. He was smart and completely prepared. In his past life, he had found a shady clinic to write a fake emergency room note for our mom. He had a classmate going to the same winter camp submit it for him, making the teachers think he missed camp to care for his hospitalized mother. At home, however, he left a letter for our parents saying he left in the middle of the night to catch a discounted bus to save them money. He told them not to worry, that he was already at the camp, and would text them once he was settled. With this manipulation, he managed to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. My parents were so moved, thinking their son was incredibly mature. The teachers didn’t call, never imagining a top student would lie like that. I just sneered in the background. Seeing my mom wipe away tears of affection was almost comical. She had no idea the teachers thought she was fighting for her life in an ER. I didn’t expect my brother to be so thorough. He really racked his brain for love. In my past life, I stopped him, and he hated me for five years. The first three years weren’t too bad. Even though Chloe had blocked him, she was a nobody, and my brother didn’t know her situation. He was just cold and sarcastic towards me. But in the fourth year, Chloe suddenly blew up. After that, my brother’s mental state completely collapsed. He always believed I was the one who tore them apart. If I hadn’t been so nosy, he would be the boyfriend of a massive superstar. How could the girl who used to sit on his lap be so out of reach now? So he hated me. He found every way possible to torture and retaliate against me at home. He would spit in my toothbrush cup. He would deliberately pee on my face towel. At first, my parents intervened, thinking a grassroots celebrity was nothing special. But as Chloe got more famous, making millions a movie, my parents started feeling the sting too. They realized they had lost a cash-cow daughter-in-law. I had tried to find Chloe, hoping to reconcile her and my brother. But Chloe refused to see me and ignored my DMs. I had to endure my brother’s resentment, tolerating it as long as he didn’t cross the line. Now, everything was back on track. He got what he wanted, following Chloe to Los Angeles. Whatever the consequences, it had nothing to do with me anymore. I really wanted to see if he could make it to the end with Chloe. You have to remember, in our past life, Chloe didn’t become famous until three years later. As a high school senior, could he really survive in LA to support her for three years? Time flew by. In a blink, it was six days later. For six straight days, aside from the initial “I’m safe” text, my brother hadn’t sent a single message. My mom complained to me, wondering why he was so busy. Even at a closed-campus camp, they should give the students some free time. It had been so long, and he hadn’t even called. I comforted her with a few words, rolling my eyes internally. He finally reunited with his white swan after five years. They were probably exploring the birds and the bees in some motel room. At their age, fueled by passion, who remembers to call their mom? But then I thought about it and realized that couldn’t be it. My brother had said before he left that he would return to the camp in five days max. If he stayed away too long and his cover was blown, my dad wouldn’t let him off easily. But now it was day seven, and he still hadn’t returned. I felt a bit uneasy. On one hand, I hoped he was fine. On the other hand, he was my biological brother; if something really happened, covering for him wouldn’t do me any favors. During my hesitation, on the eighth day, news finally came. It was the LAPD calling. “Hello, is this the family of Lucas Davis?” “This is the Los Angeles Police Department.” “We busted a human trafficking and scam ring. Your son, Lucas, was held captive inside…” My mom had the phone on speaker while watching TV. Hearing that call, we were both stunned. Wait, my brother went to LA with Chloe to chase a dream, and ended up in a human trafficking ring??? 4 Facts proved that chasing dreams while young is risky. The police said my brother was lured into the trafficking ring on his second day in LA. He was abused for six days before they successfully escaped, thanks to Chloe calling the cops. When we saw my brother in the hospital, I could hardly believe my eyes. He was in a hospital gown, covered in bruises. He sat on the bed like a wilted vegetable, staring blankly out the window, his face a mask of complete numbness. The doctors told us he had endured horrific torture. He had been sexually assaulted and contracted syphilis. My mom couldn’t believe it and broke down crying on the spot. Hearing her familiar voice, my brother turned his head slowly. He stared at my mom for a few seconds before letting out a loud, agonizing wail. He struggled to crawl over, collapsing into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. My dad had come in full of rage, wanting to demand why he was here. But seeing my brother like that, all his anger vanished. The three of them hugged and cried like survivors of a disaster movie. I stood to the side, feeling incredibly awkward. I couldn’t force a tear out if I tried, feeling completely out of place. From the police, we learned the details of my brother’s ordeal. It turned out the “talent scout” who gave Chloe the card was a con artist. The syndicate they ran was pure evil. Anyone lured in would be subjected to severe abuse. After breaking them down, the captives were either forced to join the scammers to trick others, or, if they were disobedient, their organs would be harvested and sold on the black market. My brother was in disbelief. In his past life, he firmly believed Chloe flourished under that scout’s guidance three years later. He never imagined the guy was a fraud. Chloe was cautious at first and didn’t want to trust him easily. But my brother, terrified the scout would leave, kept urging her to listen. The two of them had dinner with the scout, and the next day they were drugged and taken to a compound on the outskirts of the city. If Chloe hadn’t been incredibly resilient—jumping from a second-story window and miraculously surviving to call the police—they might still be in there suffering today. “Mom, you have no idea what monsters they are.” “They didn’t just beat me, they… they violated me.” “I don’t want to live anymore. I want to die. What am I going to do with my life?!” My brother was hysterical, clinging to my mom, tears streaming down his face. I lowered my eyes, pretending to be sad, honestly not knowing how to react. In our past life, I stopped him, and he blamed me for tearing him and Chloe apart. This time he went, only to drag Chloe into a trafficking ring with him. Is this what they call instant karma? The universe’s justice is swift and merciless. Chloe was supposed to be a mega-star in five years. If I were her, having been dragged into this nightmare, I’d crawl out of bed in the middle of the night to strangle him! At the same time, I was incredibly confused. Since that talent scout was a fraud, how did Chloe become a superstar three years later? Did the scammers suddenly grow a conscience, let her go, and invest millions to make her famous? Or did she go to LA alone in her past life, remain highly vigilant, and avoid getting kidnapped altogether? This question didn’t trouble me for long. Two days later, a teenage boy in a wheelchair rolled into my brother’s hospital room. 5 I recognized this boy. His name was Sebastian Vance. He had another identity: the grandson of the Chairman of Vance Media Group, and the heavily rumored boyfriend of Chloe when she became famous in my past life. I never expected to meet him here, but I recognized him instantly. I was even more surprised when my brother, who had been crying for two days, forced a smile and greeted him upon seeing him. “Sebastian, you’re here. How are you holding up? I heard your family came to get you?” His tone was so familiar, I almost thought they were close friends. Sebastian smiled faintly and replied, “I’m alright. My injuries aren’t too bad. But what about you? Are you holding up?” My brother, ever fragile, teared up immediately. Choking back sobs, he said, “I’m surviving.” My dad was out of the room. He had heard his precious son came to LA to accompany Chloe to an audition. He had spent the last two days looking for her, going room to room asking where Chloe’s room was, vowing to settle the score with her. My mom poured Sebastian a cup of water and asked who he was. Sebastian smiled as he took it. “I’m a friend of Lucas’s. Actually, we met while we were locked up. If Chloe hadn’t jumped out the window to call the cops, we wouldn’t even know how long we’d be trapped there.” Hearing this, it all clicked into place for me. No wonder Chloe still became a star in the past life despite being scammed. She ended up trapped in a trafficking ring with the young heir of a media empire! Talk about a blessing in disguise! Chloe’s debut in my past life was highly secretive. No one knew she had been in a trafficking ring. She disappeared for three years, and her very first role was the lead in the hottest fantasy drama of the year. The following two years were smooth sailing. Many people shipped her with various actors, but the most aggressive PR shipping was with Sebastian. Sebastian visited her sets constantly, and the agency she signed with upon her debut was owned by Vance Media. The entertainment industry is full of smoke and mirrors, with many rumors based on hearsay. Now, seeing Sebastian, I could basically confirm it. Thinking about the past, Chloe must have ended up in that trafficking ring, but she dared to jump from the window. Or rather, after she escaped with someone’s help, she became friends with Sebastian because of that shared trauma. One was a naive girl lured to LA by a fake scout while chasing a dream. The other was the grandson of a media mogul, who just happened to have the resources to help the naive girl achieve that dream. This fairy-tale plot playing out in reality was truly unbeatable. It meant that in the past life, Chloe’s opportunity to become a star was entirely thanks to Sebastian. This guy was her secret benefactor. Meeting him in such bizarre circumstances was incredibly ironic. But… My gaze fell on Sebastian’s legs. In my past life, he was photographed by paparazzi wearing a tailored white suit, tall and fit. His legs were perfectly fine back then. Why was he in a wheelchair now? Did he get injured in the trafficking ring in this life? That was heartbreaking. I sincerely wished my brother was the only one who got hurt.

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My Ex-Boyfriend on Death Row. The following winter, I bumped into him at a local grocery store. “You’re not dead?” He raised an eyebrow. “Wishing me into the grave already?” 1 When I first saw Liam by the shelves, I thought my mind was playing a cruel trick on me. “What, don’t even recognize your own man anymore?” I ignored him. I bit my lip hard. Before I could even process what was happening, Liam naturally grabbed my right hand. He pulled me a couple of steps forward, his other hand hovering over the shelf as he turned to ask me, “Smooth or ribbed? Strawberry or mint?” His tone was so casual, it was as if we had never been apart. I pinched my thigh. Hard. It hurt. This wasn’t a dream! Finally snapping out of my shock, I violently shook off his hand. “Why are you here?!” “Where else would I be? Who was the one whining about being too sore to walk last night, demanding a piggyback ride out of the apartment?” He tapped his lower back. “You completely wrecked my back, and you’ll be the one crying about it later.” I froze again. Liam was talking about five years ago. Back then, we had just started dating and were completely in the honeymoon phase. If he kept me up all night, I’d stubbornly make him carry me on his back the next day. But those sweet days were years behind us. Why was Liam suddenly standing here, saying these bizarre, time-warped things? I still don’t know how I ended up letting him follow me home. Maybe it was because his transition back into my life felt so seamless. Everything he did felt so natural that it temporarily scrambled my own memories. It wasn’t until we walked through my front door and the faint scent of baby formula hit my nose that reality crashed over me. By then, Liam had already wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. His hands wandered, and he squeezed slightly, sounding confused. “Did these get bigger? Did those massages actually work?” Smack! I slapped his hands away, my face burning crimson. Liam wasn’t mad. He just chuckled, swept me off my feet, and threw me over his shoulder, heading straight for the bedroom. I was completely panicked. My only thought was: He absolutely cannot go in that bedroom. “Liam!” I screamed, thrashing wildly. “Put me down!” Sensing my genuine panic, he set me down. He looked at me standing defensively in front of the closed bedroom door. “What, you hiding a dog in there?” I was sweating from the nerves. Liam’s face darkened. “Move.” I let out a shaky breath. “Liam, we broke up.” “Say that again. I dare you.” I’d known him for eight years. I knew his temper inside and out. When his voice dropped to that dangerous, quiet timber, he was on the brink of exploding. I bit my lip and repeated it. “We broke up. Years ago. And based on the timeline… you should be dead right now.” Liam finally realized something was horribly wrong. He looked around. This wasn’t my cramped college apartment; the modern decor was entirely different. And looking at me, the youthful, naive glow of my early twenties was gone. His voice went hoarse. “What year is it?” “2022.” He grabbed me, pulling me flush against his chest. “Are you messing with me?” I just stared back at him. Slowly, his expression twisted into something haunted. Finally, he whispered, “Impossible. No matter what year it is, I would never, ever break up with you.” I lowered my eyes. “But I’m married.” The room fell into a suffocating silence. Through his bloodshot eyes, I could see the storm of emotions raging inside him. He used every ounce of his willpower to hold himself back, gritting his teeth as he asked, “Chloe… did you just calculate that I wouldn’t have the heart to hurt you?” “You’re dead, Liam.” “Fuck!” He kicked the wall, turned around, and stormed out. I waited until he was completely gone before I slowly slid down the bedroom door, curling into a tight ball on the floor. My mind was a chaotic mess. I never thought I’d see him again. And definitely not like this. The bedroom door opened from the inside. My nanny peeked out. “Chloe, was that…” I shook my head. She got the hint and didn’t pry. “Well, at least little Maya didn’t wake up.” I looked at my daughter, sleeping peacefully in her crib, and my heart rate slowly returned to normal. Whether Liam faked his death, time-traveled, or came back as a ghost—I didn’t care. I couldn’t risk letting him near Maya. And I never wanted her to know that her father was a convicted felon. 2 Maybe my words really got to him, because for days, he didn’t show up again. But he haunted my dreams. I dreamed of the high school bad boy in a leather jacket, slouching as he followed me home; I dreamed of the desperate Liam, eyes red after I rejected his first confession, yelling, “You don’t have a damn heart!”; And I dreamed of the idiot Liam who sprinted to my dorm at 3 A.M. on graduation night just to make sure my “yes” to being his girlfriend wasn’t a prank. All those beautiful memories, shattered by the echo of a firing squad. I’d wake up gasping, my pillow soaked in tears. On Monday, I was commuting to work in a daze when I encountered a creep on the subway. The train was packed, and I felt a hand grope my thigh. I whipped around to see a middle-aged guy giving me a greasy, unapologetic smirk, clearly betting I’d be too scared to make a scene. Just as I opened my mouth to scream at him, a heavy work boot shot out from nowhere and planted itself squarely into the guy’s ribs. “Where the fuck do you think your hands are going? You think you can touch what’s mine?” Then, I saw him. Liam’s mouth was curled into an arrogant smirk, but his eyes were absolute ice. The vein at his temple was throbbing—the exact look he always had right before he destroyed someone. The kick was brutal. The creep crumpled to the floor. It took the guy a solid minute to scramble up. He looked like he wanted to argue, but one look at Liam’s murderous aura had him muttering under his breath and bolting for the next car. Liam never had a good temper, especially when it came to me. Seeing him step forward to chase the guy, and noticing a passenger pulling out a phone to record, I panicked and grabbed his arm. “Don’t. Let him go.” He raised an eyebrow. “Scared? I’m right here.” I was scared because he was here! If the cops got involved, how the hell was I supposed to explain this? “Sorry, Officer, he didn’t do anything wrong, he’s just a dead inmate who resurrected to fight subway gropers.” We’d be on the national news. The current Liam still didn’t know how he supposedly died. And I had no intention of telling him. I just wanted a quiet life. And I wanted him to stay out of trouble. “You taught him a lesson, that’s enough. Besides, you don’t need to fight my battles anymore.” “I don’t? Fine. Let your ‘husband’ do it then.” Liam leaned against the subway doors, crossing his arms. “Since you’re so happily married, when do I get to meet the lucky guy?” Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed almost amused. “He’s out of town on business,” I deflected. “He doesn’t have time.” “Perfect. I’ll just keep playing the role until he gets back.” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Because on my timeline, sweetheart, we are very much still together.” I thought he was just talking trash. But the next evening, I walked into my apartment complex and saw a man in a security uniform leaning against the front gate. It was Liam. He strolled over with that signature swagger. “Temperature check, ma’am.” I didn’t offer my wrist. “What are you doing?” “Working, obviously.” Working, my ass! When I just glared at him, he smirked. “Miss, please cooperate with building security.” I ground my teeth and reluctantly held out my hand. He actually pulled out a thermometer gun and beeped my wrist. “98.6. perfectly normal. Have a good evening.” He was just going to let me go? I walked a few steps away, feeling completely unsettled. I couldn’t help but look back. Liam’s gaze was burning into my back. When our eyes met, his smirk widened into a full-blown grin. I practically sprinted to my building, feeling like I’d touched a hot stove. My heart was pounding. I had a sinking feeling that my secrets weren’t going to stay hidden for long. 3 The staff directory at the front gate had been updated. There was a new photo under the security guard section. Walking past it a few days later, I glanced at it. It was Liam—jaw clenched, looking annoyed at having his picture taken. But when I looked at the name underneath, I froze. “Ethan Miller.” I thought I misread it. I stepped closer. No, it clearly said Ethan Miller. “Excuse me, is this name tag wrong?” I asked a property manager walking by, pointing at Liam’s photo. She smiled. “Nope! That’s Ethan, our new hire. Good-looking kid, right?” Something clicked in my brain, and a chill ran down my spine. If Liam really had “time-traveled” from five years ago, with no knowledge of the future, why would he be using a fake name? I couldn’t shake the unease, but I tried to push it out of my mind. That night, just as I stepped out of the shower, the power went out. Maya, who had been playing in her crib, started screaming in the pitch black. The nanny had already gone home. Panicking, I called the front desk. “We’ll send security up to check your breaker right away, ma’am.” Liam worked the day shift. Surely it wouldn’t be him. When the knock came, I bounced Maya on my hip and opened the door. “Hi, the power just—” I stopped dead. I was staring right at Liam. Well, technically, we were staring at each other. All three of us. Liam didn’t say a word. His eyes were locked onto the baby in my arms. His voice was terrifyingly raspy when he finally pointed at her. “What is that?” “A b-baby,” I stammered. Liam let out a hollow, bitter laugh. “Chloe, I’ve only been ‘dead’ for a year.” The apartment was suffocatingly dark. Strangely enough, Maya stopped crying the second she saw him. With tears still clinging to her eyelashes, she stared at him with big, curious eyes. She even reached a chubby little hand out toward him, wanting to be held. The dark aura surrounding Liam softened just a fraction. “Whose is she?” he croaked. “I told you. I’m married.” “Married my f—” He caught himself before swearing in front of the baby. He let out a harsh exhale. “I’ll deal with you later.” He pushed past me with his toolbox. “Where’s the breaker box?” He was actually here to fix the electricity. Liam was incredibly handy; I knew that from college. Once, my roommate spilled water on my laptop. A repair shop quoted me $400 I didn’t have. Liam had just clamped a cigarette between his teeth, taken the whole thing apart, and fixed it for free. I’d been so nervous watching him. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” He had just side-eyed me. “If I break it, I’ll buy you a new one.” He fixed it perfectly. And my roommate stopped complaining about me dating a “dropout.” My mind had drifted so far I didn’t hear him calling my name. “What?” I blinked. “I said, step back. I’m covered in dust.” Only then did I realize that Maya had leaned over and was actively smacking Liam’s face, giggling uncontrollably. “Oh, sorry!” I quickly pulled her back. Liam clamped a flashlight between his teeth and went back to the wires, ignoring us. Maya, however, was furious at being pulled away. Her lower lip wobbled, and she started wailing. It was past her bedtime, and she was getting cranky. She rubbed her eyes and tugged at my shirt. I had no choice. I glanced at Liam—he was fully focused on the electrical panel. So, I sat on the edge of the couch in the dark, pulled down my top, and started nursing her. Maya happily kicked her little legs, finally settling down. A few minutes later, the lights blazed back to life. “It was a short circuit, tripped the main breaker. I just—” Liam turned around and stopped dead in his tracks. He stared at me, completely losing his train of thought. I hadn’t expected him to fix it that fast. My face flushed hot as lava. “I… she…” I stammered, afraid to make any sudden movements to cover myself. His voice dropped a full octave. “I’m gonna go wash my hands.” He bolted for the bathroom. I looked down at a blissfully fed Maya and sighed. Both of them were going to be the death of me. 4 Once Maya was asleep, it was just the two of us in the living room. Liam instinctively reached for his pockets for a cigarette, remembered where he was, and stopped. “I’m moving in tomorrow.” The sheer audacity of his tone threw me off. “No, you aren’t. And she’s not your kid.” “Do you think I don’t know how a paternity test works?” My heart skipped a beat. I wanted to deny it, but I was terrified he’d actually force a test. My hesitation was all the confirmation he needed. A triumphant smile spread across his face. “Chloe, I’m already missing five years of memories. Don’t play me.” I didn’t know who was playing who anymore. But letting him move in was impossible. I hadn’t even figured out how to face him, let alone live with him. With Maya in the picture, I couldn’t take risks. Desperate, I made a phone call. The next morning, Liam was waiting downstairs again. He was in regular clothes, looking as irritatingly handsome as ever. A couple of female residents were lingering nearby, clearly trying to flirt with him. Seeing me, he strode over. “I’ll give you a ride.” “No need,” I said, avoiding his gaze. “My husband is back.” Right on cue, a sleek black Mercedes pulled up to the curb. The door opened, and Oliver stepped out. He was dressed in an immaculate tailored suit. He walked right past Liam as if he were invisible and smiled at me. “Waiting long?” “No, I just got down.” Before getting in the car, I took a deep breath and turned to Liam. “I told you. I’m married. Please… just leave me alone.” I got in before he could react. Watching the rearview mirror, Liam’s figure grew smaller and smaller until he disappeared. “Regrets?” Oliver handed me a tissue. I realized my cheeks were wet. “No. Thank you for doing this, Oliver.” I told myself I was making the right choice. As we pulled up to my office building, Oliver stopped me before I got out. “Chloe, let’s get married for real.” I thought I misheard him. “Excuse me?” “Let’s make it official. Even with Maya.” Oliver wasn’t just my boss; he was my savior. When Liam vanished and I found out I was pregnant, my conservative family disowned me for refusing an abortion. Oliver had hired me, mentored me, and protected me from the vicious office gossip. We had a mutually beneficial arrangement: I acted as his fake girlfriend to keep his wealthy family from forcing him into blind dates, and he gave me a safe harbor. But I never expected this. “That guy this morning is the father, right?” Oliver asked calmly. “Since you clearly don’t want to get back together, and he won’t let it go, marrying me is the smartest move. I can provide for both of you.” I wasn’t a naive twenty-year-old anymore. I didn’t delude myself into thinking a billionaire CEO was swooning over a single mom. “Can I ask why?” “I’ve grown fond of you,” Oliver said smoothly. “And I adore Maya. Plus… due to a medical condition, I can’t have children of my own.” That, I hadn’t expected. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. He smiled. “Not your fault. Don’t give me an answer now. Just think about it.” I actually did think about it. Oliver was stable, wealthy, and kind. If he truly couldn’t have kids, he would treat Maya like his own. It was the logical, safe choice. When I got home that evening, Liam was at the gate again. He looked grim—probably having bought the “husband” lie. But that night, just after Maya fell asleep, my phone vibrated. An unknown number. I picked it up. No one spoke, just heavy breathing on the other end. I sat up in bed. I knew exactly who it was. Neither of us said a word. The silence stretched until he finally spoke. “Chloe… do you really not want me anymore?” “Are you drunk?” He ignored the question. “What do I do? I don’t think I have a home anymore.” That single sentence shattered all my defenses. Liam’s parents had messy divorces and abandoned him. He lived alone since high school. Nobody craved a family more than he did. Then, I heard a sharp intake of breath over the receiver. My chest tightened. Was he crying? Liam never cried. My throat went dry. “Where are you?” “Downstairs.” I looked out the window and saw him sitting on the curb under a streetlight. I knew I was weak. Because when he whispered, “I want to see you,” I heard myself say: “Come up.” 5 The moment I unlocked the door, it was like letting a starving wolf into the house. He pinned me against the wall and kissed me like a dying man gasping for air. Every instinct screamed at me to push him away, but Liam always knew exactly how to dismantle my logic. My mind went blank, leaving only muscle memory and desire. The living room was a mess. Lying in the moonlight, I could see the smug curve of his lips. “The husband thing was a lie, wasn’t it?” Looking at his triumphant face, I saw absolutely zero evidence that he had been crying. I realized I’d been played. Embarrassed and furious, I shoved his shoulder. “Do we have to talk about this right now?!” He laughed softly. “Nope.” Just before I drifted off to sleep, I felt him kiss my forehead. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered. When I woke up, I was alone in bed. Panic seized me when I saw Maya’s crib was empty. I bolted into the living room, only to stop dead in my tracks. Liam was sitting on the playmat, zooming a toy car through the air. Maya was reaching for it, shrieking with pure joy. The scene was so domestic, so overwhelmingly perfect, it knocked the breath out of me. Liam looked up and smiled. “Look, Maya, Mommy’s awake.” Maya babbled and crawled toward me as fast as her little limbs could carry her, demanding to be picked up. Once she was in my arms, Liam stood up and headed for the kitchen. “Her name is Maya?” “Yeah.” He paused for a fraction of a second, then seamlessly opened the fridge. “I’ll make us some breakfast.” It proved that once you gave Liam an inch, he would conquer the entire continent. Like a cockroach surviving a nuclear blast, he had successfully infiltrated my life. First, I found men’s underwear mixed in with my laundry. Then I found his socks in my drawers. Today, I found two of his jackets hanging in my closet. I threw the jackets at his chest. “I don’t recall asking you to move in.” He caught them with a grin. “Just leaving a few things for emergencies.” “We don’t have emergencies. Take them back.” He had been teaching Maya how to walk, bent over with his arms out like a protective hen. He stood up straight. “Look, Chloe. I told you, we never broke up. If someone hurt you during those five years I was ‘gone,’ give me a name and I’ll end them. But stop taking it out on a law-abiding citizen like me.” Law-abiding citizen? Please. While we were bickering, Maya tripped over her own feet and landed hard on her diaper-padded butt. Because Liam had been spoiling her rotten, she immediately felt slighted. Her lower lip jutted out, and she let out a theatrical wail. Liam scooped her up, cooing sympathetically. “Is Mommy being mean? Trying to kick Daddy out?” He shot me a dirty look. “Stop trying to destroy this family in front of the kid. Look how traumatized she is.” Me? Destroying the family?! That night, to punish me for trying to kick him out, he refused to let me sleep. “Chloe, we’ve only been together twice since I got back. For a man in his prime, this is basically starvation.” I wanted to cover my face. “Do you have no shame?” “Only with you.” He picked me up and carried me to the sofa. He didn’t turn on the lights, but in the pale moonlight, as he leaned over me, I saw it. Right over his left chest. A perfectly round, jagged scar. It looked exactly like a bullet wound. 6 Liam was hiding something massive. I knew that now. He used a fake name. He had a bullet hole near his heart. Things were pointing toward the worst-case scenario. Honestly, I preferred the delusion that he had just time-traveled. At least that was safe. But the next day at work, Oliver called me into his office. “Have you thought about my proposal?” I had almost forgotten. “Oliver, I think…” He cut me off. “You’re hesitating.” I was. Oliver tapped his pen against the desk, his eyes calculating. “Actually, there’s something I’m very curious about. Maybe you can enlighten me. How exactly does a dead man walk back out of a grave?” My blood ran ice cold. My mind went entirely blank. I forced a confused smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Relax, I’m just curious,” Oliver smiled smoothly. “But seriously, you should consider the marriage. Maya is young. If something… unfortunate were to happen, it would be a shame for you to face it alone.” I walked out of his office with my heart hammering against my ribs. That was a threat. If he hadn’t said that, I might not have suspected anything. But now, the pieces were clicking together in a terrifying way. Oliver was incredibly wealthy. He was handsome. Even if he couldn’t have biological children, women would line up to marry him. Why fixate on me? Why stoop to threatening me? His interest in me wasn’t about love. It was about Liam. That afternoon, I went to the bank and withdrew every cent of my savings. Before Liam had vanished years ago, he left me a massive sum of money. I never touched it because I didn’t know where it came from. Combined with my own savings, it was enough for Maya and me to disappear to a quiet town out of state. When Liam got home, I looked at him. “Liam, I’m quitting my job. I’m taking Maya and moving to the Midwest. Will you come with us?” The moment I said it, I knew I was damning myself. But I didn’t care. In the past, I had no choices. Today, I was willing to burn down my entire moral compass to keep him alive. Liam stared at me intently. He knew I knew. But he didn’t ask questions. He just cupped my face. “Chloe, you don’t have to give up anything for me.” “I want to,” I cried, the tears finally spilling over. “Let’s just live a normal life.” He pulled me in tight. So he remembered. He wasn’t missing five years of memories. He remembered everything. But he would never know how much that single promise—to live a normal life—meant to me. That night, the nightmares returned. I dreamed of the day two years ago when he said he had to leave for a while. Then, the news report that he had been executed for international drug smuggling. I jolted awake. The bed was empty. I crept into the dark living room. The balcony door was slightly ajar. Liam was on his phone, his voice a low whisper. “The shipment is with Hayes. Don’t worry. But Oliver knows something. Keep a tight tail on him.” A pause. Then Liam chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry about me. I’m harder to kill than that.” I stepped back in horror, my foot slamming into the coffee table. Liam hung up instantly and rushed in. “What happened?” “Don’t touch me!” I held my hands up. He froze. My voice was trembling with sobs. “Are you ever going to tell me the truth?” He clamped his jaw shut. “Tell me this, at least,” I begged. “Are you… are you going to die again?” His eyes softened. “No.” He closed the distance and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m staying right here. I promise.”

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The daughter I raised for sixteen years wasn’t my biological child. The nanny’s daughter had been spoiled like a little princess in our home, while my own flesh and blood suffered out in the country. After bringing my real daughter back, I insisted on sending the adopted daughter away. But my husband and son absolutely refused. My husband claimed the adopted daughter was poised and well-mannered, perfect for keeping up appearances in our social circle. My son complained that his biological sister was a tacky, uncultured hillbilly who would embarrass him in public. Watching the light fade from my real daughter’s eyes, I took her hand. “Then let’s get a divorce. I’ll raise my daughter on my own.” 01 “Is this the only reason you want to divorce me?” William stared at me in disbelief. “Victoria, have you lost your mind?” I shook my head. “I am perfectly serious. We are getting a divorce.” Our twelve-year-old son, Oliver, was completely stunned. When he finally found his voice, he looked at me with a mixture of shock and betrayal. “Mom, you’re leaving Dad, leaving my sister, and leaving me… all because of that country bumpkin?!” “Oliver Hawthorne!” I glanced anxiously toward the staircase, my brow furrowing in a stern reprimand. “Watch your mouth! That is your biological sister!” “I will never accept her as my sister!” Oliver’s face flushed bright red, his voice rising in anger. “She’s just an unpresentable hillbilly!” “She’s tacky, she’s uncultured, she has a rotten heart, and now she’s manipulating you into divorcing Dad!” “I hate her! I only have one sister, and that’s Isabella!” He bolted out the door in tears. William immediately called for the staff to chase after him, then turned to me with an accusing glare. “Are you happy now that you’ve caused this kind of scene?” “Can’t the two girls just coexist? Why do you insist on sending Isabella back? It’s not like our family can’t afford to raise her. She is your daughter too!” “I can no longer look at her as my daughter.” A wave of fury washed over me, followed quickly by an overwhelming, uncontrollable sorrow. “Did you not read Audrey’s medical reports? Do you have any idea how agonizing her life has been in that house?” “For the past sixteen years, we gave Isabella a life of absolute privilege, happiness, and joy. Meanwhile, our biological daughter was abused by her adoptive family for sixteen long years.” “After seeing the scars on Audrey’s body, I can never look at Isabella the same way again.” William’s face darkened, his frustration palpable. “Then we’ll just compensate Audrey moving forward! Isn’t that enough?” “The mistake was made by her biological parents! It has nothing to do with Isabella. She is innocent in all of this!” “Was all your love and affection for Isabella over the years fake?” My voice caught in my throat. “My love for Isabella over the past sixteen years was entirely predicated on the belief that she was my biological daughter.” “If Audrey had been treated kindly by that family, I wouldn’t feel this intense revulsion toward Isabella. But the reality is, even if Isabella didn’t know the truth, she still stole the life that rightfully belonged to Audrey.” I enunciated every word clearly: “She is not innocent.” William’s eyes flickered; he seemed momentarily swayed. But then, a tearful, trembling voice came from behind me: “Mom…” The half-open front door was pushed wide. Isabella walked in, wearing her school uniform and carrying her backpack. Her steps were heavy, her eyes red as she fought back tears. “Do you really not want me anymore?” The moment she spoke, William’s heart broke. He rushed over to her, his voice softening instantly. “Don’t listen to your mother’s nonsense. She’s just so worried about your sister that she’s not thinking straight. Right, Victoria?” He shot me a desperate look, silently begging me to play along. Isabella looked at me with those same pleading eyes, tears brimming, threatening to spill over at any second. If it were the old me, seeing her look so pitiful would have shattered my heart. But looking at her now, all I felt was profound, seething hatred. In my past life, it was only after my death that I learned the truth: the world I lived in was the setting of a “switched at birth” novel, where the fake daughter was the beloved protagonist. My biological daughter, Audrey, was the true heiress, but in the narrative, she was cast as the malicious secondary villain. Her identity had been maliciously swapped. She was raised in the countryside, suffering sixteen years of horrific abuse at the hands of her adoptive parents. One would think that returning to her rightful family would finally bring her happiness. But to everyone’s shock, whether it was her biological parents, the household staff, or even the teachers and students at her new school—everyone favored the fake daughter, Isabella. Everyone pitied Isabella for losing her status as the “true heiress,” yet no one ever bothered to ask Audrey how she had survived the past sixteen years. Including me. Her own biological mother. Under the insidious influence of the novel’s “plot,” every time I resolved to compensate my suffering biological daughter, the moment I laid eyes on Isabella, my mind and heart would be entirely consumed by her. Driven to extremes by this universal rejection, Audrey became radicalized, targeting Isabella at every turn. She died on her twenty-fourth birthday. It was the day of Isabella’s wedding to the male lead. Audrey had kidnapped Isabella, intending a murder-suicide, but was ultimately shot by a police sniper on the roof of a thirty-eight-story building. My physical body had held Isabella, weeping tears of joy for her safety, while my soul floated in the air, screaming in agony as I watched Audrey plummet thirty-eight stories to her death. “Victoria!” William’s harsh reprimand snapped me out of my memories. He frowned deeply, looking at me with a mix of anxiety and profound disappointment. “Are you truly willing to abandon the daughter you’ve raised for sixteen years for someone else?!” I instinctively looked up. The girl hiding near the staircase had a face ashen with despair, the light completely gone from her eyes. “Audrey is not ‘someone else’.” My breathing quickened, fueled by a potent mix of resentment and anger. “She is my precious daughter, carried in my womb for ten months! She is the one who should have been by my side for the past sixteen years!” I turned my glare toward Isabella, standing next to William, making absolutely no effort to hide my animosity: “If your biological parents hadn’t stolen my daughter, if you hadn’t usurped her place, Audrey would never have suffered all those years of torment!” Isabella’s face drained of color instantly. She murmured, “Mom…?” “Do not call me Mom!” I stared at her coldly. “I only have one daughter, and her name is Audrey.” Her tears spilled over instantly. She stumbled backward a few steps before turning and running out the door, sobbing. “Isabella!” William was both anxious and furious, his face dark as a thundercloud. “Did you have to speak to the child like that?!” “Victoria, when did you become so utterly unreasonable?” He threw that accusation at me and chased after her. I took a deep breath and looked toward the staircase. The space was empty; Audrey was gone. I walked straight upstairs and knocked on the door of the second-floor master bedroom. The door opened quickly. Audrey turned away in silence, walking back into the room. On the bed lay her backpack, packed and ready for reasons I couldn’t fathom. “You don’t need to do this. I know we are biologically mother and daughter, but in reality, we’re no different than strangers.” She kept her head down, her hands gripping the straps of her backpack tightly. “I’ll move out. It won’t disrupt your family’s life.” “But… could you perhaps lend me a little money? Just enough for a few months’ living expenses. Once school starts, I’ll find a part-time job near campus.” I choked back a sob for a long moment before I could finally say her name. “Audrey, everything Mom said downstairs was the absolute truth.” She froze. I took a deep breath and continued, “You saw everything just now, didn’t you?” “Then why are you afraid to believe what I said?” “I know it’s impossible for you to accept living under the same roof as Isabella and pretending to be loving sisters. Similarly, I find it impossible to continue playing mother and daughter with the thief who stole my biological daughter’s life.” I gently reached out and took her hand. “Can we live together from now on, just the two of us? Just you and me. You won’t have to worry about tuition or living expenses. Mom can provide for you.” I paused, my eyes growing hot. “Mom was always supposed to provide for you.” She didn’t answer, but her shoulders began to tremble. I leaned in closer and realized that, without me noticing, her face was covered in tears. She stopped pretending to be strong. She dropped the hardened shell she used to keep people at a distance. She turned and threw herself into my arms, choking out the two words with a raw, unfamiliar ache. “Mom.” I held her tight, my own tears flowing like a broken dam. 02 In my previous life, after Audrey’s death, Isabella and the male lead achieved their “happily ever after.” As the plot reached its conclusion, I gradually broke free from the narrative’s control and regained my sanity. Every night, I dreamt of Audrey’s final, desperate look before she died, and her body plummeting from the thirty-eighth floor. I developed severe insomnia, replaying the days after Audrey returned home over and over in my mind. We had all favored Isabella, ignoring Audrey, belittling her, looking down on her, and falsely accusing her. In the eight years she spent back in the Hawthorne family, she hadn’t experienced a single good day. In life, her reputation was destroyed; in death, she was despised and scorned by everyone. Her biological father had said, “If we had known she was going to hurt Isabella, we never would have brought her back!” Her biological brother had said, “Just thinking about having the same blood as that psycho makes me sick.” Her biological mother had said, “How could I have given birth to a monster like her?” The daughter I carried for ten months only experienced the treatment she deserved on the very first day she entered the world. Every day after that was filled with suffering. Once free from the plot’s control, I spent my days drowning in regret. By chance, I stumbled upon a conversation between Isabella and her biological parents. Only then did I discover that this seemingly fragile, kind-hearted adopted daughter had known her true identity since she was nine years old. She had incited her biological parents to abuse Audrey, even suggesting they sell her off to a remote mountain village to permanently bury the truth. Every single misfortune Audrey encountered after returning to the Hawthorne family had been orchestrated by Isabella. Her sole objective was to make everyone hate Audrey. I was paralyzed with shock. I burst out of hiding to confront Isabella, demanding to know why she did it. Whether under the plot’s control or through years of genuine interaction, I had always viewed her as my daughter. I hated that I couldn’t break free from the narrative sooner, and my heart bled for my biological daughter, Audrey. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to truly hate Isabella. I had raised her from a tiny infant into a beautiful young woman; she was my daughter too. I had always believed the gentle, kind persona she presented was her true self. Who could have imagined she was the mastermind behind my daughter’s tragic life? I was broken and despairing. But after a brief moment of panic, Isabella’s face contorted with hatred. “You forced me to do it!” “You all claimed you loved me the most! But the moment you found out I wasn’t your biological daughter, didn’t you immediately bring that bitch Audrey back?!” “And you, Mom! Didn’t you tell me I was your only daughter? So why did you look like you lost your soul when Audrey died?!” “And now, you’re here to accuse your favorite daughter over a dead person?! Why, Mom?! Why?!” We argued fiercely. In the ensuing struggle, she and her biological parents teamed up and pushed me off the second-floor balcony into an empty swimming pool. I died on impact. I thought my soul would descend to the underworld, where I might at least have the chance to beg Audrey for forgiveness. But to my shock, when I opened my eyes again, I had been sent back eight years in time. I was overjoyed to find that I was no longer under the plot’s control. My very first action was to bring Audrey back from the countryside. Ignoring William’s objections, I publicly announced Audrey’s true identity to the world. Then, I took Isabella’s biological parents to court. I was determined to give Audrey happiness. I would change her tragic fate, ensure she was happy every single day, and give her a completely new life. I refused to be the vicious supporting character in someone else’s script ever again. “Are you really… divorcing him for me?” As I helped Audrey pack her things to leave the Hawthorne mansion and move into a property under my name, she couldn’t hide her anxiety. “Will you regret it later? Giving all that up for me.” I told her with absolute certainty, “No.” “Your father and your brother chose Isabella, the girl they’ve lived with day in and day out. But I choose my biological daughter.” “I know this is incredibly unfair to you, but I want you to know: they abandoned you first. You don’t need to waste a single thought on them.” I looked deeply into her eyes. “You only need to know this: you are my daughter. We share the same blood. It is the closest bond in the world. You have nothing to worry about. Mom will prove it to you.” Her eyes reddened, and she nodded emphatically. Since I was going to change her tragic ending, this lifetime required cutting all ties with Isabella. I transferred Audrey to the top public high school in the city, explicitly avoiding the elite private academy Isabella attended. I also took her back to the Kensington family—my side of the family—to meet her grandfather, grandmother, uncle, and aunt. In my past life, the Kensington family had vastly preferred Audrey, the granddaughter who had suffered outside for over a decade, over Isabella. This time was no different. Compared to the spoiled, pampered Isabella, they clearly favored the sensible, obedient Audrey. Upon learning of my decision to divorce William, my parents and my brother were fully supportive. My marriage to William was a strategic business alliance. While we were fortunate enough to develop genuine feelings for each other after the wedding, those feelings had long since faded into a bland routine over the years. More importantly, he was keeping women on the side. Plural. In my past life, under the plot’s control, my sole imperative was to provide Isabella with a perfect, unbroken family, so I had tolerated it in silence. Free from those constraints in this life, I directly mailed him the evidence of his years of infidelity that I had gathered. Less than fifteen minutes later, he called. “What is the meaning of this?” I frowned. “Was I not clear enough?” “Honey,” William’s voice softened, adopting a placating tone. “We’ve been married for so many years. At our age, is this really necessary?” “I was just having some fun on the side. You know you’re the only official Mrs. Hawthorne. No one can change that.” “If you really don’t like it, I’ll spend more time at home with you and the kids. Audrey just got back; causing a scene like this right now isn’t a good look, is it?” “William Hawthorne,” I said, my tone hardening. “Let me reiterate this one more time. I am divorcing you. This is not a joke, and I am not playing games. I can no longer tolerate living with you.” “I find you repulsive. I find it repulsive that you are so blind you can’t even recognize your own biological daughter, choosing instead to treat a human trafficker’s child like a treasure. Do you understand me now?”

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I asked Tristan for a divorce. I wanted nothing but money. Tristan put his hands in his pockets and sneered, “You don’t even want the son you love more than your own life?” “No.” Because, for his fifth birthday wish, my son said, “Can Daddy and Mommy get a divorce? I want Auntie Serena to be my mommy.” 1 I handed the divorce agreement to Tristan Cole. He looked at it as if it were any ordinary document on his desk. His gaze was cold and distant. The only time he ever showed me any burning passion was during his insatiable demands late at night. “Hazel, if you’re going to throw a tantrum, at least look at where we are. This is the office.” He was certain I couldn’t bear to divorce him. He thought this was just a pathetic tactic fueled by jealousy. “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I had been relegated to the waiting room like a common visitor, waiting a full three hours for him. I even had to endure the pitying glances of bystanders from time to time. How could this be a tantrum? “When Ms. Serena comes to see the CEO, she doesn’t have to wait a single minute.” “So the rumors about the CEO hating his wife are true, then?” It was true. Their CEO indeed did not like his wife. The person he liked had always been Serena. “Tristan, I want a divorce. The sooner the better.” “Hazel, what are you playing at?” Only then did Tristan lower his eyes to look at the agreement. “Hazel, you’re divorcing me for just this much money?” Yes, when I accidentally got pregnant back then, his original intention was to use this sum of money to compensate me and make me stay away from him. But I didn’t leave. Because I was a transmigrator tasked with a system mission. Giving birth to Finn and marrying Tristan was the mission assigned to me by the system. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t warm Tristan’s heart. There was no future for us. I figured this money would serve as a belated compensation. The fifty million dollars stated in the agreement was a drop in the bucket for him. But to me, it was a massive fortune, enough for me to live happily ever after. Tristan stood up, looking down at me with a scrutinizing gaze. His expensive, custom-tailored suit made him look even taller and more imposing. He put his hands in his pockets and sneered. “Just the money?” “You don’t even want the son you love more than your own life?” I gave a faint smile. “No.” 2 I used to love Finn very much. After all, he shared my blood. Over the past five years, I had poured all my patience and love into every step of his growth. Perhaps because he resented me, Tristan had no affection for Finn. When he was born, Tristan took one look at him and said flatly, “He looks a lot like Hazel.” After saying that, he threw Finn to the nanny at home. Strangely enough, Finn absolutely adored Tristan. He had a remarkable gift for language. When he had just turned three, he could look at me with a cold little face and say, “Daddy doesn’t come home because it’s your fault, Mommy.” I just took it as childish babble. Later, when he was four, he met Serena for the first time after she returned from her divorce. When he got home, he told the nanny: “No wonder Daddy likes Auntie Serena. I like her too.” “Auntie Serena is gentler than Mommy, and she’s better at making me happy.” It was just because I wouldn’t let him eat too much candy. He puffed out his cheeks in anger. I had just come out of the kitchen and heard his accusation. Suppressing my discomfort, I said softly, “Finn, Mommy will make it up to you with some new candy.” “It’s a mix of pear and hawthorn that Mommy made herself. It’s delicious and healthy.” But he snatched the pear and hawthorn candy I made and threw it fiercely into the trash can. He shouted loudly, “I don’t want the garbage you make. I only want the premium candy Auntie Serena brought back from Italy.” “So what if I get cavities?” I stared at him blankly. The son I gave birth to was so much like his father; neither of them could be warmed up. Especially on the day of his fifth birthday party. Both father and son had invited Serena. As we were putting the candles on the cake, the long-absent voice of the system suddenly rang in my mind. “Host, sorry for the wait. I’m back.” Even though no one else could hear its voice, I subconsciously walked out of the hall. “Host, your mission is complete. You have enough points to go back.” In my original world, I was accidentally injured and became a vegetable. Therefore, I made a deal with the system: I would wake up once I completed the mission. “You can also choose to stay, since you have a family here now.” “In your original world, you’re all alone anyway.” Just as I was hesitating… Finn made the decision for me. As soon as I stepped back into the hall, his birthday wish reached my ears. His voice was crisp and loud, and he didn’t even try to hide it from me. “Can Daddy and Mommy get a divorce? I want Auntie Serena to be my mommy.” Everyone froze for a moment. Tristan merely frowned slightly. “Pick another wish.” Serena covered her mouth and laughed, “Oh, you shouldn’t say that! You’re such a cute kid.” However, she couldn’t hide the smug look in her eyes. I smiled. I turned and said to the system, “Help me go home. I don’t want to wait another second.” 3 But the system gave me some bad news. “Since the central system has received too many hosts attempting a second or third transmigration, there’s now a cooling-off period for detaching from the system.” I was stunned. The system coughed lightly. “It’s like the divorce cooling-off period you humans have. You have to wait.” “Wait…” for fuck’s sake. I silently reminded myself to use civilized language and asked with restraint, “How long is the wait?” “Three years.” “Three years?” “System, you sneaky bastard, aren’t you afraid I’ll be dead by then?” The system froze for a moment. “Host, your insults are quite advanced.” After three seconds of silence, it said: “Consider it compensation for me being gone so long. I’ll increase your points by a third, which you can redeem so that your body will be completely healthy and intact when you wake up from your vegetative state.” “Fine, then I’ll get the divorce first.” That’s the reason I was standing in Tristan’s office. “Tristan, let’s get a divorce.” With a snap, Tristan lit a cigarette. He blew out a smoke ring and smiled with a roguish air. “Hazel, have you forgotten?” “Who was it that said five years ago she would die without Finn?” I was the one who said that. That year, Tristan heard the news of Serena getting married abroad. He ruthlessly tormented me all night. The next day, I developed a high fever and burned in my room alone for three days. In my delirium, I forgot to take that morning-after pill. Later, I found out I was pregnant with Finn. When Tristan found out, he coldly told me to get rid of Finn at first. I remembered the system’s words: “If you abort the child now, the mission fails. Host, you know the consequences.” I had to beg Tristan, “If I lose the child, I’ll die.” If I didn’t beg him, given his ruthless methods in the business world, he had plenty of ways to deal with me. Tristan was quite ruthless to everyone, including himself. His only weakness was Serena, who had lived in the orphanage with him and had even saved him. Later, Serena was adopted by a wealthy family. Tristan had a wild streak since he was young. He risked his life all the way from a street punk to the top of the business world, just so he could gain the approval of Serena’s adoptive parents and marry her. Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to give her the massive pink diamond he had in his hand. The news of Serena marrying someone else came. A long time later, I found out. The reason Tristan suddenly proposed to me. Was also because of one sentence from Serena. “Tristan, I’m getting married. I hope to hear good news from you too.” 4 I looked at Tristan’s handsome face. But in my heart, I was thinking: I hope I never see him again. I said flatly, “Since both you and your son like Serena.” “After the divorce, you two can form a family. Everyone will be happy, isn’t that nice?” Tristan narrowed his eyes at me. A well-proportioned hand pinched my chin. He laughed disdainfully. “Playing hard to get?” Then he restrained his smile and said fiercely, “You want to play, right? I’ll play along.” “Add one clause: after the divorce, without my permission, you are never allowed to see Finn privately.” Threatening me? If it were in the past, this would have been a fatal blow to me. Because love gives people weaknesses. But now, I didn’t want to love anyone. So I had no weaknesses. Under his provocative gaze, I replied as calmly as still water, “Fine.” He was stunned for a moment, and his eyes darkened. He grabbed a pen and quickly scribbled a few strokes on the agreement. Then he tossed a copy to me. I picked up the agreement, turned, and walked away. Tristan gritted his back teeth. “Hazel, you pack your bags and get out of the Cole house tonight.” “That works too.” My current emotional state was terrifyingly stable. But then I paused, stopped walking, and turned to ask him with a smile. “The divorce certificate hasn’t even been finalized, and you’re telling me to get out already?” “I won’t get out for free. Please pay the alimony in advance. Thank you.” Tristan’s face bore a trace of anger. However, based on my understanding of him, he was quite generous when it came to money. Barring any accidents, I would receive that fifty million dollars tomorrow. Very good. 5 Watching Hazel walk out of the office without looking back. Tristan felt an inexplicable, slight irritation in his heart. Just then, his assistant, Mr. Brooks, walked in holding some documents. He had followed Tristan for many years and could be considered a confidant. “Boss, is Ms. Hazel really asking for a divorce?” Amidst the smoke he exhaled, Tristan said coldly: “She’s just throwing a tantrum. She wouldn’t dare.” “How could she bear to leave Finn behind?” Mr. Brooks chuckled, “That’s true. Ms. Hazel loves you and the child so much. Maybe she’s just having a little emotional outburst. You just need to coax her a bit, Boss.” “No need to coax her. Based on my understanding of her, within three months, she’ll come back crying and begging for my forgiveness.” Mr. Brooks smiled, put down the documents, and walked out. Tristan looked down from outside the 30th floor, at the thousands of lights slowly lighting up below. For no reason, he thought of the Hazel from many years ago. The first time she was beneath him, she was nervous and scared, like a helpless little rabbit. Her eyes were red, and her voice trembled. She even said some things he didn’t understand. “Tristan, I’m not just here to complete a mission. Actually, I truly like you.” “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing this with you.” “Tristan, can you treat me a little better in the future, please?” Tristan leaned down and sealed her incessant chatter with his lips. He also sealed her subtle crying for the rest of the night. Over the years, Hazel had been very good and obedient. The only thing that angered him was that she actually played tricks, using a child to force him. She even absurdly said, “If the child is gone, the mission will fail, and I won’t exist anymore.” He had to punish her. So for the past five years, he had never given her a good look. Anyway, she was homeless and would stay by his side until death. Her innocent plea echoed in his ears again. “Tristan, I want to have a cute child, a family of three, living in a warm little home, okay?” “No.” A person like him didn’t want a family at all. He never had such a thing since he was a child. Now that everything was in his control, he needed this thing even less. The day Hazel asked for a divorce, he inexplicably skipped a dinner engagement and went home early. “Where’s Hazel?” The nanny whispered, “The Madam moved out this afternoon.” Tristan only felt the irritation in his heart grow stronger, but he didn’t show it on his face. He just snorted coldly, “She’s acting it out pretty well.” After saying that, he walked into the study and paid no more attention to it. 6 After getting the agreement, I returned to the Cole house. I simply packed a few things and prepared to leave. Finn was sitting in the living room, playing on his tablet with a piece of candy in his mouth. Colorful wrappers were thrown all over the floor. He looked up at me and said flatly, “Daddy allowed me to eat it.” “Auntie Serena gave it to me. Don’t interfere.” I smiled. “I don’t care at all. You can eat a hundred pieces for all I care.” I crouched down and pinched his cheek. “You’re the one who will get cavities, not me.” “Finn, I’m leaving.” “Where are you going?” “Making room for you to welcome your new mommy. I won’t be coming back here anymore.” Finn frowned slightly, his expression identical to his father’s. “Mommy’s talking nonsense. Daddy said you’re an orphan too. Except for shamelessly following Daddy, you have nowhere else to go.” “Mommy, can you be a little more mature?” “Auntie Serena wouldn’t be as childish as you, throwing a tantrum and running away from home at your age.” “Mommy, just go. I won’t miss you.” After saying that, he lowered his head and went back to playing his game. If it were in the past, I would have gently taken his electronics away. And then told him, “Mommy will play Legos with you, okay?” “Mommy will go swimming with you?” “Mommy will read picture books with you?” I would sacrifice a lot of time for self-improvement to exchange for high-quality time with him. Now, I didn’t care. Whoever wants to take care of him, go ahead. “Alright, Finn. I hope you can keep talking tough forever.” After saying that, I dragged my small suitcase and stepped out of the Cole family’s front door. The sun shone warmly on me. It stung my eyes slightly. But four words floated into my mind: Living toward the sun. 7 I rented an apartment, an upscale complex with two elevators serving one unit per floor. There was no need to buy one; I couldn’t take it with me after three years anyway. The complex had a pleasant environment with beautiful scenery, and I could see the ocean right out the window. However. I could also see people jumping into the ocean. A tiny little thing was walking alone slowly toward the waves. I instinctively rushed downstairs in my slippers, crossing a street and a greenbelt to reach the beach. I scooped up her small body. “Where are your daddy and mommy?” The little girl was about three years old, with big, round eyes like grapes. Her eyes were wet, as if she had just cried. But she didn’t say a word, just tightly clutched the hem of her little dress. “Luna.” A young, handsome man walked over. It turned out I hadn’t seen clearly earlier; a man had been sitting in a hammock in the trees on the beach, watching the little girl the whole time. “Thank you.” “But don’t worry, she wouldn’t dare walk any further. I was watching her.” The man stepped forward to pick up the girl. “Luna, come home with Daddy.” But the girl clung to my neck and wouldn’t let go. Her pink little mouth let out two words, “Hug.” The man was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, “This is the first time Luna has actively asked a stranger for a hug.” This kid was so soft and smelled like milk; she felt really nice to hold. I couldn’t push her away, so I had to carry her all the way back to the complex. I didn’t expect them to live right next door to me. The man thought for a moment and said, “Ms. Hazel, Luna seems to like you quite a bit. I know you’re single and currently unemployed.” “It’s just the two of us in my family, father and daughter. I keep myself clean, have no bad habits, and I’m a doctor…” I handed the child back to him. And used a voice the child couldn’t hear to say, “Even if you’re a doctor, you can’t use a child to hit on people.” “You even dug up my personal information?” “You look like a male model, but your actions are so creepy.” He looked at me in shock. “Ms. Hazel, I wanted to ask if you could help watch Luna for a while? Until I find a nanny Luna likes.” “Of course, name your price.” Ah, so that’s what he meant. He coughed lightly. “Uh, I know your personal information because… I’m your landlord. Ethan Hayes.” Then I verified the information, and he was indeed the landlord. I was always someone who knew when to admit a mistake and when to yield. “Mr. Hayes, I’m sorry. I was the creepy one.” 8 Perhaps I softened seeing the little girl’s pitiful eyes. I agreed to help watch Luna temporarily. She was very quiet and didn’t talk much. When she wasn’t at preschool, she would often obediently bring her little stool and sit watching me arrange flowers or draw. Every time I finished something, she would clap her little chubby hands and praise me. “So good! Hazel is so good.” I told her to call me by my name; I liked that, making friends with children. Occasionally, I would zone out for a moment. Finn seemed to never have been like this. He always complained, “Mommy, so boring. Play Legos with me.” A cute, soft little human cub like Luna was truly a healing animal. The only strange thing about her was that she often called out for Mommy and Daddy in her sleep. She would wake up with wet eyes. My heart aching, I would hold her in my arms and softly coax her. I gave her a pear and hawthorn lollipop I made. She popped it into her mouth, her eyes squinting into satisfied little crescent moons. She gave me a kiss; it smelled like sweet fruit. When her dad, Ethan, came home from work, she would show off to him: “Daddy, the candy Hazel makes is yummier than what you buy.” Sometimes she couldn’t bear to eat it all at once and would take slow, small bites. I smiled. “Eat it. If you like it, I’ll make more.” It turns out things Finn didn’t even care to look at were treasured by others. Before the divorce, the radius of my life revolved entirely around Finn. Even leaving the house for a short while, I would worry if Finn had bumped into something or gotten hurt. Maybe it was having Luna’s company. In the days since I left the Cole house, I hardly seemed to think of Finn or anything about the Cole family. Instead, the butler had contacted me a few times. “The Young Master isn’t used to sleeping without you telling him a bedtime story.” “He’ll get used to it.” “The Young Master has a toothache. Can you come back and stay with him?” “No, I’m not a doctor.” 9 A few days later, I unexpectedly ran into Finn. Ethan went out of town for a conference and asked me to help pick up and drop off Luna for a few days. But I forgot that Luna’s new preschool was the same one Finn attended. Ethan was really willing to spend money, sending her to such an expensive private preschool. I carried Luna out of the car and had just dropped her off. I bumped right into Finn. Sitting in the car was a stone-faced Tristan. Finn opened his mouth to call “Mommy.” The words reached his lips but he swallowed them back down. Even if we were divorced, he was still my son, an old acquaintance. I greeted him generously, “Hi, Finn.” But he didn’t respond. Like an inflating pufferfish, he puffed out his cheeks and ran into the classroom. The ex-husband in the car, Tristan, was also an old acquaintance. But I didn’t really want to say hello. I didn’t expect him to lower himself, step out of the car, and speak first. “Didn’t I tell you? Without my permission, you are not allowed to see Finn privately.” I was so annoyed I laughed. “I didn’t see him, it was a coincidence. Believe it or not.” I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. Tristan sneered behind me. “Hazel, how long are you going to keep playing hard to get?”

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For five years, my husband and I never had any intimate contact, all because he suffered from severe mysophobia. Outsiders mocked me for failing to provide an heir, and my mother constantly forced bitter herbal concoctions down my throat. I always understood his unique condition and silently endured everything. Until that day, I went to his company to deliver soup, only to walk in on him passionately kissing a twenty-year-old intern, even engaging in more explicit acts. In that moment, various past scenes flooded my mind: once, when I fainted from low blood sugar and accidentally touched him, he frantically scrubbed the spot I had touched until his skin turned red. It turned out his mysophobia was only directed at me. … “Sweetheart, you’re so incredibly sweet.” The sounds of fervent kissing intertwined with Patrice Thorne’s sweet nothings, a sickly-sweet combination that made me want to vomit. Katy Wilmore, the intern, cooed coyly. “Am I sweeter, or is your wife sweeter?” “Didn’t she say she was bringing you sweet soup? It’s hard work for an old woman to maintain her marriage.” “What?” Patrice froze. “When did she say that? I’ll make a call.” My phone rang, and I numbly answered. “Baby, I’m going on a business trip to Seahaven today. I forgot to tell you not to bring the soup.” “When I get back, it’ll be your birthday. I’ll definitely give you a big surprise, baby.” Surprise? I gave a bitter laugh. Probably only a shock, no joy. Suppressing the tightness in my chest, I replied. “Okay.” He didn’t notice anything amiss in my voice, let out a long breath, and hung up. The office door opened, and I quickly ducked into a blind spot in the hallway. The girl wore a school uniform, her fair legs rubbing against Patrice’s tailored trousers. “You’re telling your wife you’re on a business trip, so you’d better treat me well.” Patrice’s voice was thick with barely suppressed desire. “I’ll definitely satisfy you, you little minx.” My stomach churned, and I leaned against the wall, dry-heaving, tears streaming down my face. Patrice and I had been in love for ten years, married for five, and it had all been a joke. My phone suddenly displayed a booking confirmation for a boutique hotel. He was so eager he’d forgotten his membership was linked to my card. After a long moment of daze, I opened the app that had been dormant for five years. When we were first married, Patrice had smiled as he installed the app on my phone, saying with it, I’d always know where he was and what he was doing. All these years, I had trusted him completely and never opened it. But today… “Stop it, don’t kiss me there.” “What are you scared of? Is there any part of you I haven’t kissed?” Patrice and Katy’s intimate sounds filled the air, and I couldn’t help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. His severe mysophobia felt like a loud slap across my face. The pain radiated from my face, all the way to my heart. I sat there numbly for half the night until everything settled into a quiet hum. Katy’s voice was seductive. “Darling, didn’t you say you never loved her? Why do we have to hide our relationship?” Patrice’s voice was hoarse. “She owns half the company shares. Dividing things in a divorce would be too complicated.” “But I’ve never even touched her. You’re the only one in my heart, you little minx.” Katy let out a discontented whine. “I don’t care. Figure something out.” Patrice sighed indulgently. “Alright, for you, Katy, I’ll make sure she leaves with nothing as soon as possible.” All the blood in my veins turned to ice. Years ago, when the Thorne family’s finances were in trouble, I invested all the assets my late father left me, bringing Patrice’s company back from the brink. At that time, he not only gave me half the shares but also promised with tear-filled eyes. “Eleanor, I will always be good to you. I will never let you down.” But now, he was not only entangled with a young intern but also wanted to take everything from me. I closed my eyes, trembling as I dialed my lawyer’s number. “Please contact the person who bought the shares last time. I want to sell.” The lawyer sounded a little surprised. “Ms. Caldwell, didn’t you say you were drafting a gift agreement for your husband?” I gave a bitter laugh. “I’ve changed my mind.” “Also, please send me the divorce papers you have on file.” Those were the papers Patrice had signed when we were newly married. He said that if one day he did something I couldn’t forgive, I could leave without hesitation. Neither of us expected that one day, his words would become a bitter prophecy. Stumbling back home, I collapsed onto the bed. Looking at the photos on the wall opposite, I felt only sorrow. The shyness of our student days, the smiles of our passionate romance, the tranquility of our married life, to the recent… blankness. I realized we hadn’t taken a photo together in a long time. Even the herbal pillow he had specially prepared for my insomnia years ago had lost its medicinal scent, leaving only bitterness. Three days later, Patrice returned, bringing a bouquet of lychee roses. “Baby, I’ve missed you so much. Look at the flowers I specially brought back for you. Do you like them?” I glanced at them; they were my least favorite pink. He didn’t care about my response; he hurried into the bathroom. I used to tolerate his mysophobia; now, it just felt like hypocritical disgust. I picked up the flowers. Their petals were a bit dehydrated, and a card tucked among them read, “To my dearest Katy.” I gave a self-deprecating smile. No wonder. Patrice walked out, drying his hair. “What’s so funny, baby? You look so happy.” I crumpled the card into a ball and gently shook my head. “Nothing.” He approached me but still maintained a distance. “By the way, your birthday is in three days. We should celebrate it properly. Let me know if there’s anything you want.” Looking at that distance, I felt only sorrow. All these years, he and I had always maintained this distance. Outsiders said he was promising and doted on me, and I had convinced myself of that too. But now, with Katy, I understood that the distance between us was like a galaxy, impossible to cross. Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I forced a smile and asked him. “Alright, but what if you can’t afford it?” He smiled gently. “Eleanor, anything I have, I can give to you.” “If it’s still not enough, then next life, the life after that.” His sweet words pierced my heart like a knife, tearing me to shreds. I knew there was no future for us. Tears fell uncontrollably, and he quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe them. His hand happened to bump into mine as I tried to wipe my tears. His face involuntarily twisted, and he muttered, “I’m sorry,” before rushing into the bathroom. The rushing sound of water and the squirt of disinfectant were incredibly grating. The tissue fell to the floor, not having wiped away a single tear. The doorbell suddenly rang. Katy stood at the door, her eyes somewhat hostile. “Ms. Caldwell, I’m here to pick up Captain Thorne for a meeting.” Patrice hurried out, a flicker in his eyes. “Didn’t I tell you to wait downstairs?” Katy pouted. “It’s too cold outside; it’s snowing heavily.” Patrice’s face showed an uncontrollable ache of tenderness, and he quickly grabbed his coat from the hanger, draping it over Katy. Seeing me staring, he let out a feigned sigh. “She’s young, I’m worried she’ll catch a cold and it’ll affect her work.” Listening to his words, I vaguely remembered a similar snowy day when my mother punished me by making me stand outside. Patrice’s nose was bright red from the cold, yet he firmly placed his coat over me. “It’s cold outside. If you get sick, it’ll affect your studies.” Even though my knees still ached in the snow, even though that coat later ended up in the trash. Yet, it was still the only warmth I had known since my father passed away. A last flicker of hope ignited in my heart, and I spoke, trembling. “My leg hurts so much. Can you stay and keep me company?” “Before, on snowy days, you always gave me moxibustion.” Patrice’s body stiffened, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes. “Eleanor, if you don’t feel well, go see a doctor. Don’t be as willful as a child.” I stared blankly as the door slammed shut, my heart slowly sinking. Five minutes later, the doorbell rang again. I thought it was Patrice and rushed to open the door, but it was Katy. She looked at me with triumph. “Eleanor Caldwell, stop with your games. He doesn’t love you at all.” “Want to bet? Even on your birthday, he’ll be with me.” “After all, you’ve been married for five years and you’re still a virgin, while he and I have slept together countless times.” I expected to be hysterical, but I wasn’t. I was surprisingly calm. Returning to my room, I took out the divorce papers and signed my name. In the evening, Patrice finally returned. He wore the coat he had lent Katy, his face still showing a hint of satiation. Seeing me sitting blankly on the sofa, he rubbed his temples apologetically. “Eleanor, this meeting was really important, I…” “I understand, I know.” I calmly interrupted him, not saying another word. He knelt down, his expression helpless. “Don’t be upset. After we land this big project, how about I take you to an auction?” “I told you I’d give you the best birthday gift.” I gave a self-deprecating smile. A gift, or a guilt-ridden compensation? The snowflakes outside pelted my face, cold and painful. Katy, in the passenger seat, blinked. “Ms. Caldwell, hello.” Patrice’s eyes darted away as he opened the back car door for me. “Katy gets carsick, Eleanor, please bear with us.” If it were before, I would have made a scene, but now I merely nodded faintly and calmly got into the car. Patrice seemed momentarily disoriented, then hesitantly closed the car door. Katy laughed and chattered all the way, and Patrice laughed with her again and again, oblivious to the change in me. I closed my eyes to rest, but couldn’t stop the nausea. Yes, I also get carsick, and he had even promised the passenger seat was exclusively mine. But now, he had forgotten all of it. After getting out of the car, I threw up until I was dizzy. Katy pretended to offer me water out of concern, but her tone was light and venomous. “Such an old woman playing frail, it’s truly disgusting.” I lifted my head, my face pale, and indeed saw Patrice’s slightly furrowed brow. Yes, he had severe mysophobia towards me. At the auction. Item after item flashed by, but I didn’t raise my paddle once. Patrice, however, bid on a pink diamond and a ten-thousand-acre lychee rose estate. He even added, in a veiled attempt to explain. “My partner’s young daughter is only nine and loves pink. It’s a gift for her.” I couldn’t help but smile sarcastically. Katy’s face was practically overflowing with joy, yet he was still telling this obviously flawed lie. “The final item, the ‘Eternal Heart’ necklace. Legend has it that giving this to your beloved will bring eternal happiness.” The auctioneer’s words made countless women’s eyes light up. Katy was no exception. Patrice glanced at her and immediately raised his paddle. “All-in.” The scene erupted in a clamor. “True to form, Captain Thorne, loving his wife for over a decade. So enviable.” “This is real love. Mrs. Thorne must have done so many good deeds in her past life.” My eyes held a hint of sorrow. What true love? This necklace wasn’t even for me. Patrice looked at me, his eyes full of tenderness and affection. “Eleanor, happy birthday. Do you like your gift?” Behind him, Katy’s eyes were filled with venom. My expression was calm. “It’s very beautiful.” But it was just a gem. “I also prepared a grand gift for your birthday. I hope you like it too.” The auction house took the necklace, saying they would engrave my name on it. Two hours later, I brought the necklace home. Katy suddenly sent me a photo: the “Eternal Heart” on her neck sparkled brightly. But she quickly retracted it. “Ms. Caldwell, I sent that by mistake. You don’t mind, do you?” I replied faintly. “No, I don’t mind. After all, I don’t like dirty things.” “I have mysophobia too.” Dropping my phone, Patrice walked in. He handed me a gift box. “Your birthday dress, Eleanor. See if you like it?” I calmly opened it. A very beautiful dress, unfortunately pink, and my least favorite mermaid style. I looked up at him. “What does this mean?” He instinctively raised his hand, clearing his throat to cover his discomfort. “I thought you could try a different style.” I glanced at the dress, which was clearly not my size, and gave a sarcastic smile, but didn’t argue further. “Never mind then. I have other dresses.” He quickly put it away. “Hmm… alright. Next time, I’ll definitely get you something you like.” At the birthday banquet. Patrice had specially booked a cruise ship to celebrate my birthday. The guests had all arrived, but Patrice was conspicuously absent. Whispers had already begun to ripple through the crowd. “I heard rumors of a split between the Thornes before, but I didn’t believe it.” “For people of our standing, five years with no children… Captain Thorne has been patient enough.” My mother pinched me hard. “You useless thing, you can’t even hold onto your own husband. What good are you to me?” I shifted, avoiding her, and gave a sarcastic smile. “He’s the one who’s late. What does that have to do with me?” Over the years, she’d gotten a lot of money from Patrice, treating him better than her own son. When my belly remained flat, she’d bring me endless concoctions of tonics. At first, I thought she cared, until she said, “Are you a barren hen? What about your brother’s startup then?” My heart sank completely, and I gave up the last shred of hope for any familial affection. She glared at me. “If you weren’t so useless, unable to bear a child, would your brother still be unemployed?” “I warn you, you better die in the Thorne family, hear me?” Almost an hour later, Patrice finally rushed in, with Katy trailing behind him, wearing that pink mermaid gown, hickeys clearly visible on her neck. My mother greeted him with a smile. “Good son-in-law, too busy with work, I suppose. It’s fine for this little wench, Eleanor, to wait.” “About your brother-in-law’s startup…” Patrice frowned. “Mom, it’s Eleanor’s birthday today. We can discuss business privately.” Patrice walked towards me, his tone slightly subdued. “I’m sorry, Eleanor, something came up.” I smiled faintly, my voice calm and clear. “It’s fine. After all, I really admire you, couldn’t even resist having a quickie with your little intern at your wife’s birthday party.” “Though, you seem a bit late. This might be her second round.” The large screen split into two. One showed Patrice and Katy intertwined, while the other displayed the faces of countless other men. Amid Patrice’s stunned gaze, I slowly walked onto the stage. “Everyone, I have three announcements to make.” “First, Patrice and I are divorced.” “Second, I have sold all 50% of my shares in Thorne Industries. From now on, Thorne Industries has nothing to do with me.” “Third, congratulations to Mr. Patrice Thorne, a man with severe mysophobia, for overcoming his male sexual dysfunction and finding his true love, a woman available to all. I wish them many children!”

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That Midsummer’s Eve, I lost my sister forever. She was savagely stabbed eighteen times by a brutal assailant. When she collapsed in a pool of her own blood, her hand still clutched the emergency call that had never gone through. Meanwhile, her police officer husband, who should have been on duty at the precinct, was instead featured in a social media post by the new female intern. The photo showed him in a ‘manly’ pose, holding the intern with one arm while pinching a cockroach with the other. The caption read, “Mom no longer has to worry about scary little critters at home.” Below, a chorus of colleagues cheered and praised the post. I trembled with fury and immediately sent a screenshot to his captain. Half an hour later, his call came through, his voice thick with anger and accusation. “Just because I didn’t spend Midsummer’s Eve with you, you went running to the captain to complain, saying I was derelict in my duty?” “You jealous shrew! You’re utterly unreasonable! Even with my sister backing you up, this time, I’m divorcing you for good!” He yelled and hung up, not giving me a chance to explain. He would never know that the sister he believed would always have my back had, because of his negligence, already left this world forever. 1 Listening to the dial tone, my knuckles turned white as I clutched my phone. Just then, a doctor approached with some papers. “Ms. Caldwell, this is the deceased’s death certificate. It requires a family member’s signature to be released. Has the deceased’s brother arrived?” My gaze swept past the doctor to the body on the hospital bed, meticulously covered by a white sheet. I shook my head faintly. “Can I sign for it?” The doctor looked a little troubled. “Legally, you have no relation to the deceased. Or, you could provide us with the deceased’s brother’s household register.” No sooner had the doctor left than my phone began buzzing incessantly. This time, it was from Jason’s group chat for his colleagues. Cici Evans had specifically tagged me. [Ma’am, my social media post was just meant to show I’d like a police officer boyfriend too. I’m so sorry if I caused any misunderstanding!] Immediately, Jason’s team members all jumped in to defend her. [Hey there, ma’am, look what you’ve done to the poor girl.] [Seriously, ma’am, we’re all colleagues. Why make such a big deal out of it?] [Captain Thorne is just looking out for his trainee; it’s part of his duty. We know you get jealous, ma’am, but you can’t be so unreasonable!] These were all Jason’s officers, some of whom I had helped out more than once. They used to call me ‘Ms. Caldwell’ with respect. But ever since Cici arrived, they’d slowly become like Jason, blindly adoring her without any principles. Just like now, knowing Jason’s dereliction of duty was a fact, they still tacitly sided with Cici, accusing me of being petty. I was about to reply when the bottom of the chat displayed that I had been removed by the administrator. Undoubtedly, that administrator was Jason. I scoffed, a bitter coldness settling in my heart. Just as I was about to head home to retrieve the household register, my phone rang again. This time, it was Officer Daniels, one of the rookies who had been on duty with Jason and Cici last night. “Ma’am, last night, there was a violent assault in our jurisdiction, and a female victim died. But last night, the person responsible for answering the emergency line was Cici. She… she…” Officer Daniels stammered. I grew a little impatient. “Spit it out, or I’m hanging up.” “Cici left her post for an hour due to personal reasons, which led to her missing the victim’s emergency call. Now, the higher-ups are looking to discipline someone, and Captain Thorne’s idea is for you to take the blame for Cici.” I almost laughed. To openly spend Midsummer’s Eve with Cici, Jason had deliberately arranged for them to be on the night shift together. Now that a life-and-death situation had occurred, he wanted to push me, his wife, out to take the fall. He was willing to abandon his integrity as a police officer. And, he hadn’t even bothered to ask who the victim was last night! Thinking this, I scoffed. “If Jason can’t bear for Cici to be held accountable, then he can take the blame himself!” “Asking his wife to cover for his mistress—what kind of man is that?!” With that, I hung up. Less than ten minutes later, Jason called me himself. The moment I answered, his roar nearly shattered the eardrum. “Karly Caldwell! Cici and I are completely innocent. Stop with your filthy mind and assumptions!” “I’m the backbone of this family; I can’t lose my career. You, a woman, would be perfectly fine as a stay-at-home wife without a job!” I shot back immediately. “Isn’t Cici a woman? Or is she a transgender person! Jason, I never knew you had such unique tastes!” “What nonsense are you talking about! How old is Cici? She has a bright future ahead of her.” “Are you going to ruin Cici’s life because of your jealousy? You’re truly malicious!” 2 Malicious? If I hadn’t given Jason all the credit for dismantling a notorious crime syndicate, how could he have been promoted to squad captain within just two years? I had given him almost everything I could, only to be called ‘malicious’ in the end. Jason, seeing my silence, realized he’d gone too far and softened his tone. “Karly, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just, Cici is my first female trainee, so I naturally look out for her more.” “She just graduated from the academy. If she gets a disciplinary mark now, her career will be over.” “Please, just this once, if you agree to help her, I can transfer her to another squad.” No sooner had he finished speaking than Cici’s tearful voice chimed in. “Captain Thorne, but I don’t want to leave you.” I couldn’t help but sneer. “Captain Thorne, did you hear that? Your precious trainee says she doesn’t want to leave you!” “Then you and your officers will turn around and accuse me of being petty, forcing your innocent little trainee away.” “I think it’s best if I make room for you both sooner rather than later.” Catching the sarcasm in my voice, Jason immediately flew into a rage. “You’re utterly unreasonable!” “I’m dedicated to serving the public, yet you falsely accuse me. No wonder my team privately calls you a shrew!” He had barely finished yelling when Cici’s aggrieved voice immediately came through. “Captain Thorne, did I say something wrong again to upset Ms. Caldwell? Maybe I should just resign…” Jason immediately comforted her gently. “Don’t talk nonsense! Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, no one can bully you.” However, when he spoke to me again, all tenderness vanished. “Karly, you tell the captain immediately that you needed Cici’s help with something, which is why Cici had to leave her post.” “If you don’t help with this, I’m divorcing you, plain and simple!” With that, only the monotonous dial tone remained in the receiver. At that moment, my heart completely died. But Jason seemed to have forgotten that we had never officially registered our marriage, so there was no ‘divorce’ to speak of. After handling Sarah’s funeral, Jason and I would have no further connection. After several trips between home and the hospital, I finally managed to obtain Sarah’s death certificate. When I returned to my cold, empty home, I was utterly exhausted. My phone screen kept lighting up. Messages from Jason’s team members flooded in: [Ma’am, Cici worked hard to get into the academy. Please help her out; consider it a good deed.] [Captain Thorne said you were planning to step back anyway. This is a good chance to rest for a while. Why not?] [As husband and wife, a day’s kindness is a hundred days’ worth. Ma’am, by helping Cici this time, you’re also helping Captain Thorne!] I immediately blocked and deleted these ungrateful ingrates. I was done with Jason; their words meant nothing to me now. I numbly packed my belongings. When I saw the photo of Sarah and me on the nightstand, I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. Like the Thorne siblings, I had lost my parents at a very young age. Sarah was the closest person I had in this world. Every time Jason and I had an argument, Sarah would side with me, criticizing her brother. Knowing I was uneasy about Cici’s presence, she had more than once gone to the precinct to assert my claim. But how could such a wonderful girl end up like this? If I hadn’t been so caught up in my anger with Jason last night, and had gone to pick Sarah up from work, would none of this have happened? I couldn’t help but blame myself, and I couldn’t help but resent Jason. Neither Jason nor I deserved happiness. 3 The next day, as soon as I arrived at the precinct, everyone turned to look at me in unison. Cici walked straight up to me and feigned concern, saying, “Ma’am, the precinct has decided to dismiss you. Don’t be sad. After a while, Captain Thorne will definitely find a way to get you back!” I scoffed. “You’ve got it wrong, haven’t you? I’m not the one who was derelict in duty.” At my words, Cici’s eyes immediately reddened. “Ma’am, you can’t twist the facts just to avoid responsibility!” “The duty roster clearly states in black and white that you were the one responsible for answering the emergency line last night.” I paused, then understood everything. It seemed they were determined to pin the blame on me, even going so far as to secretly alter the duty roster. As I took a step closer to Cici, she suddenly stumbled backward, falling heavily to the ground. “Ma’am, even if you have a problem with me, you shouldn’t intentionally push me!” Jason’s officers immediately swarmed around. They helped Cici up, then shielded her behind them, glaring at me with wary expressions. Jason, who arrived last, didn’t even bother to ask what happened before slapping me across the face. “Karly Caldwell! Take your anger out on me! What kind of person picks on a young woman?!” “Apologize to Cici right now!” Everyone was stunned. I stood there, hand covering my cheek, equally shocked. The stinging pain on my face reminded me of Jason’s ‘domestic violence.’ Yet he seemed completely oblivious to it, his attention solely on Cici. “Karly, when you make a mistake, you should take responsibility. You were on the duty roster; don’t even think about dragging Cici into this.” I looked at the man I had poured my heart and soul into for five years, and felt a bone-chilling coldness. “Captain Thorne, you’re absolutely right. When you make a mistake, you should take responsibility. So, do you dare to swear on the badge above your head that you, Jason Thorne, have spoken not a single lie, or else you meet a terrible end?” “You…” Jason glared at me fiercely, but the oath wouldn’t come out.

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The divorce papers were barely signed before Rowan rushed off, desperate to return to the one woman he could never quite let go of. Sometime later, from the dimly lit stage of a downtown lounge where I was singing, I caught a glimpse of him. His arms were wrapped around a beautiful stranger. By then, I had already found my own rhythm again. But Rowan? He seemed forever lost in the chase for the next thrill, wandering so far off the path that there was no going back. 1 The county clerk’s office was packed the day Rowan and I finalized our divorce. The couple at the next counter were screaming at each other, ultimately leaving without signing a thing. Rowan and I just sat there in absolute silence. We signed our names without a second thought. Walking out the double doors side by side, papers in hand, he tossed me a set of keys. “Keep the car.” The Astor family was swimming in generational wealth. A luxury car was pocket change to them. Besides, he had already transferred the deed of our marital estate into my name. We had arrived in the same car. I highly doubted the young heir of the Astor empire was going to lower himself to calling a cab. “Should I drop you…” I started politely. A sharp honk cut me off. The tinted window of a cherry-red Porsche rolled down, revealing a stunning, glamorous face. Even the way the wind caught her hair looked perfectly calculated. “Rowan. Get in.” Serena. Rowan’s childhood sweetheart, freshly returned from abroad. Everyone in their elite circle knew Serena was his ultimate obsession. The elusive white moonlight he could never quite catch. Seeing the unspoken chemistry between them, everything clicked into place. No wonder Rowan had been so incredibly generous with the divorce settlement. He just wanted me out of the picture as fast as humanly possible. I pasted on a flawless smile. “Looks like your ride is here. I’ll get going.” Rowan stood there, hands buried in his pockets, his dark eyes resting on me for a long, quiet moment. “Drive safe,” he finally murmured. I nodded, meaning it from the bottom of my heart. “Be well, Rowan.” 2 I didn’t see him again until two months later. By then, I had sold the massive mansion he left me and downsized to a sleek, two-bedroom apartment in a prime neighborhood. It was much smaller, but it didn’t feel hollow when I was alone. The best part was the terrace. The natural light was phenomenal, and I spent countless afternoons out there just painting. When the sun went down, I picked up my old gig. I sang at a local speakeasy, watching the night unfold, gathering inspiration for my canvas. I was just covering a shift for a friend tonight. I never expected to see Rowan. I sat on the stage. He sat in a velvet booth. When our eyes met, his gaze was utterly deadpan. Only, the gorgeous woman draped over his shoulder wasn’t Serena. Did his dream girl already lose her shine? That was fast, even for him. After two more songs, I stepped off the stage to use the restroom. I found Rowan leaning against the hallway wall, smoking. Two months of dead silence between us. I couldn’t even formulate a casual greeting that didn’t sound terribly awkward. He looked at me through a haze of gray smoke. His voice was a little rough. “How have you been?” “I’ve been good.” He took a drag. “Running out of money?” I knew exactly what he was implying. He was asking why I was hustling at a bar when he had left me a house, a car, and an alimony check thick enough to let a normal person retire in luxury. I didn’t give him a straight answer. “Can you ever really have too much money?” Rowan stubbed out his cigarette. A cold, cynical smirk touched his lips. “Right. I almost forgot. You always did love the cash.” 3 He wasn’t entirely wrong. I married Rowan Astor for the money. A year ago, he had a massive falling out with his family. Desperate to derail an arranged corporate marriage, Rowan walked up to me on the very first night we met and asked me to marry him. It was a night just like this. Same bar. Same stage. He looked at me and said, “You’ve got a decent voice, and you’re easy on the eyes. Want to marry me and get my family off my back?” In exchange, he offered a staggering payout. I was drowning in bills and desperate for cash. Plus, he was painfully gorgeous. I said yes without skipping a beat. I still remember the way he froze, clearly not expecting me to agree. Then, a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. “You’ve got guts.” I smiled back. “I’m not the one losing out.” I only realized later that the money was hard-earned. I never fit into his world. Those trust-fund brats looked at my working-class background like dirt on their shoes. At one of his private parties, Rowan stepped out to take a call. One of his frat brothers, heavily buzzed, leaned over and sneered at me. He told me that if Serena hadn’t moved to Paris, a nobody like me wouldn’t even be allowed to breathe the same air as Rowan, let alone hold the title of Mrs. Astor. Back then, I was reckless and practically fearless. I raised my champagne glass right at him. “A psychic once told me I was destined for filthy wealth. Hearing you say that makes me think the guy was spot on.” The guy choked on his drink. But after that night, I stopped going to Rowan’s parties. His friends hated me, and the Astor family treated me like a ghost. Rumor had it his mother had handpicked a world-class cellist with a sterling pedigree for him, not some trashy, starving artist who sang in dive bars. The night we left the Astor family estate for the first time, Rowan reached out and laced his fingers through mine. He tilted his head, giving me that trademark lazy grin. “Don’t let my mom get to you.” I glanced down at our intertwined hands and teased him. “Did you forget to mention to them that I’m technically a musician, too?” His eyes crinkled with genuine amusement. He nodded solemnly. “My mistake. Next time I introduce my wife, I’ll be sure to include your prestigious titles. Let’s skip telling my mom, though. Her heart is fragile. She might actually pass out.” Looking back, the marriage had its fair share of humiliations, but it was never unbearable. Rowan always made it worth my while. We were just two people using each other to get exactly what we wanted. 4 Over the next few weeks, I spotted Rowan at the lounge a few more times. Always the same routine. Me under the spotlight, him in the shadows. His VIP booth was always packed with loud, obnoxious socialites, but my eyes always found him. He looked so incredibly detached from the noise around him. He didn’t play their drinking games. He’d just sit there, nursing a bourbon, flashing an occasional crooked smile. And every single night, there was a different girl clinging to his arm. None of them held a candle to Serena. None of them had her radiant, commanding presence. What about Serena? Wasn’t he afraid word would get back to her? I was so lost in thought that I messed up a lyric. The guitarist shot me a look. We seamlessly transitioned into the chorus to cover it up. When I glanced back at the VIP booth, I locked onto a pair of pitch-black eyes. Rowan lowered his gaze, downed the rest of his amber liquid, wrapped an arm around the pretty brunette next to him, and walked out. I pulled my eyes away and leaned into the mic, pouring everything into the heartbreak anthem. “We are two dots moving in opposite directions, drawing a straight line with no end. Oh, this love is a deep, dark water, turning my days into endless nights.” 5 Maybe I was just too used to the soft life of a billionaire’s wife. Going from luxury back to the grind took a heavy toll. After a few months, my body started breaking down. I picked up a prescription at the city hospital’s outpatient clinic. The moment I turned around, I bumped right into a familiar face. One of Rowan’s childhood friends. Only now, he was wearing a white lab coat. Cole raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his lips. “Don’t tell me you’ve known me this long and never realized I was a doctor?” He spoke to me like we were old pals. In reality, I only remembered his name because he had the kind of face that belonged on a billboard. I gave him a polite nod and tried to walk past him. He stepped into my path. “Sick?” “Just a cold.” Cole glanced at the bold letters of the Gastroenterology Department right behind me. He didn’t say another word, just offered a small, knowing smile. When I got home, there was a familiar pair of men’s loafers by the door. I could hear the clatter of pots and pans coming from the kitchen. My dad pushed the kitchen door open, wearing an apron. His eyes darted to the pharmacy bag in my hand, lingering for a split second before he turned to yank the fridge open. He didn’t miss a beat with his usual sarcastic tone. “Look at that. The wealthy really do keep their fridges looking like a barren wasteland.” I leaned against the hallway wall, playing along. “Rich people only eat fresh produce, Dad. They don’t do leftovers.” “I should thank God you’re even eating scraps.” He had always hated my absurd marriage to Rowan. Since the day I tied the knot, he hadn’t spoken a single sentence to me without a heavy dose of sarcasm. He was a man of strict principles. He taught me to work hard and stay grounded, and it broke his heart to think he had raised a gold digger. He was furious that I treated marriage like a business transaction. He was furious that I sold my soul for a check. And he was furious that I endured the elite’s mockery without an ounce of shame. But ever since the divorce, he would take a grueling hour-long bus ride just to cook for me, packing my freezer full of homemade casseroles and stews. Watching his shoulders, which seemed a little less broad these days, I forced back the sting of tears. “Give it a rest, Dad. I’m already getting my karma, aren’t I?” I saw his finger twitch. He was winding up to lecture me again. Instead, the stubborn old man took a deep breath and barked, “Go wash your hands. Dinner is ready.” “Got it, Dad.” 6 My body couldn’t handle the late nights anymore, so I quit the bar gig. Thankfully, my art was finally gaining traction. The money was rolling in. Peter, an older guy from my art academy who acted as my dealer, called me up. “Your piece, The Reset, just sold.” I stared at the blank canvas sitting on my easel. “Mr. Solstice again?” “Yep. The guy is obsessed with your work.” Lately, an anonymous buyer going by the name Mr. Solstice had been purchasing everything I painted. He didn’t seem to care about the style or the subject. He paid instantly, offered exorbitant amounts, and bought every single piece I produced. “Understood. Thanks for handling it, Peter.” Peter hesitated on the line. “Julianne. Do you know this guy?” I blinked, a soft smile touching my lips. “No. Not a clue.”

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I opened my eyes, shocked to find myself back at the start of the nightmare—the campus sweetheart was pulling out her card. This time, I didn’t let her speak. I took out my own card and announced, “It’s on me.” No one knew that every “generous” swipe of hers—praised by all for her beauty and kindness—ended up charged to me. My part‑time earnings vanished under her “charity,” and my physics competition scholarship was wiped out when she “treated the class.” When I finally confronted her, the whole class accused me of slandering her out of jealousy. Only my boyfriend claimed to believe me, promising to help stop it—but my balance kept falling. Before finals, she escalated, using a million dollars I’d gathered for my mother’s surgery to treat everyone. The money drained instantly; my mother died untreated, and I collapsed, my account in the red. In my last moments, I saw a video: my boyfriend kissing the campus sweetheart, saying, “Maeve is too jealous. I only pretended to believe her—I was afraid she’d harm someone innocent like you.” 1 “Crystal, this sweltering summer is full of ‘ice cream assassins,’ and you’re actually willing to treat the whole class to whatever they want. Truly the campus sweetheart, beautiful and kind-hearted.” My boyfriend, Rory,’s booming voice was accompanied by a relentless stream of deduction alerts on my phone. The suffocating feeling of being ‘charged to death’ in my previous life still clung to me. Rory nudged me, snapping me back to reality. “Maeve, I got you the cheapest ice cream. You’re not used to the good stuff, so buying expensive ones would be a waste. Save Crystal some money.” Crystal Quinn smiled, saying not to worry about it, and lightly patted Rory’s shoulder. Rory’s face glowed with delight. He declared Crystal generous, unlike me, who was “stingy and calculating to the bone.” My phone continued to vibrate. I opened it to see deduction alerts ranging from three to thirty dollars. My fifteen hundred dollars in wages from my part-time job had already dwindled to a thousand in just a short while, and the deductions kept coming. The entire class clustered around Crystal, leaving me squeezed into a corner. The memory of my mother’s suffering and death ignited a furious blaze within me. I pulled out my phone and publicly challenged Crystal. “Why is it that you’re treating, but it’s draining my account?” Crystal shook her head in feigned confusion. The students paused for a moment, then burst into snickers. “Maeve, have you lost your mind? Would a rich girl like Crystal really care about your money? Everyone knows you’re the stingiest in class, always just eating plain bread and pickles. You’d actually treat everyone to ice cream?” I was about to pull out my phone to show proof. Rory snatched it from my hand, apologizing to the entire class on my behalf. “Maeve’s family isn’t well-off, so it’s understandable she’s a bit petty and jealous. She just lost control for a moment. Please don’t hold it against her.” After speaking, Rory forcefully dragged me out of the supermarket, as if terrified I’d say another word and embarrass him. His grip was so strong that my wrist turned purple and bruised, the pain rendering me speechless. It had been the same in my previous life. Before the class gathering, Rory had branded me as jealous, separating me from the group. I became an outcast in the eyes of my classmates; no one believed me anymore. This time, I couldn’t repeat that mistake. I bit down on Rory’s wrist. He cried out in pain and loosened his grip. I seized the opportunity to snatch back my phone. He still tried to stop me from going back inside. “Maeve, your family background isn’t great, you don’t have spare cash. Your Valentine’s Day gift to me was just a regular belt and some clothes, I’m not holding that against you.” “Crystal was raised a pampered young lady. I won’t allow you to slander an innocent, kind person out of jealousy.” I tightened my grip on the phone. If I exposed Crystal immediately, everything would simply repeat itself. I smiled. “Aren’t we going to dinner soon? The campus sweetheart is so kind, I can’t always take advantage of others.” “Rory, why are you so eager to drag me out? Don’t you want me to treat my classmates to dinner? I’m telling you, you can’t be so petty! Today, my treat!” The students emerging from the supermarket overheard my last sentence. 2 In my previous life, after Rory dragged me away, Crystal used my account to treat everyone to dinner. My money was gone, and I was stuck with a reputation for being poor and petty. She used my money to become the school’s renowned rich girl. Later, no matter how hard I tried to stop it, the money in my account continued to drain away. My family was of modest means, and my mother’s health was poor. To raise money for her medical expenses, I worked four part-time jobs, not even having time to eat. Yet, my phone kept receiving high-value bills. I went to the police station to report it, but they couldn’t find anything. Everyone called me crazy. Only Rory stayed by my side, and I thought he believed me. But on the day I died, I learned that he was just afraid that I, this ‘madwoman,’ would harm his goddess. This time, I had to find a way to break the curse. As soon as we arrived at the restaurant, I rushed in first, immediately putting down all eight hundred dollars. If she swiped my card, I would be charged. But if I swiped my card, would she be charged instead? Anyway, I couldn’t hold onto this money, so trying wouldn’t hurt. I thought Crystal would fear me stealing her moment to shine and rush over to swipe her card. But she showed no urgency, walking slowly, with utmost grace. “Maeve, your family isn’t well-off, you probably haven’t eaten at a proper restaurant, so you might not know the prices.” “The minimum spend here is three thousand. Your eight hundred is nowhere near enough.” Only then did I notice the front desk attendant’s embarrassed expression. Laughter of mockery erupted among the classmates. Rory’s face darkened, and he was about to drag me away again. Crystal was moments from swiping her card. Anxiously, I blurted out, “Three thousand, I’ll pay. You all go ahead and order.” An impatient flicker crossed Rory’s eyes. “Maeve, no one looks down on you for your humble background. Why are you putting on a show, trying to outshine Crystal, the rich girl? I already saw you only have a thousand left in your account.” The students’ gazes at me became even more scornful. “Crystal treats because her family is rich. Maeve can barely afford her own meals, yet she’s putting on airs, acting like we’re desperate to spend her money.” No matter what, I absolutely couldn’t let Crystal swipe her card today. Because once my balance was insufficient, she would be swiping my life. My mother’s hopes were still on me. My life was precious. As we stood in confrontation, I received notification of my physics competition scholarship. A full thirty thousand dollars. I curved my lips into a smile. “Rory, I’m not treating for the attention. I truly see my classmates as family, and I want to share the joy of receiving my physics scholarship.” I shook my phone, letting the attendant swipe four thousand dollars. I intently watched Crystal’s expression, wanting to confirm if such a large sum I swiped would also demand her life. 3 I learned after I died that Crystal Quinn’s family was of modest means, not rich at all. If she hadn’t been draining my account, she wouldn’t have been able to maintain her rich-girl persona. Crystal’s face indeed looked a little worse, but her body showed no discomfort. It was only as she brushed past me that I heard her say, “Maeve, you’re finished.” Her phone screen was blank; the money I swiped wasn’t going to her account at all. My surprise met her triumph. After the students saw that I really was treating, their attitude towards me improved considerably. “We misunderstood you before; we thought you were just jealous of the campus sweetheart. Never thought you considered us all friends.” “Rory, you’ve got a girlfriend like Maeve, who knows when to spend and when to save. You should really cherish her.” Rory puffed up with the praise. I had initially been drawn to him because he, like me, knew how to save money, thinking I’d found a kindred spirit. Turns out he was just a vain, gold-digging parasite. I deliberately sat further away from him, but he insisted on sticking close. He even wanted to go on a date with me alone after dinner. Crystal saw the students fawning over me and ignoring her, and her face fell. “Rory, your girlfriend is really cunning. She looks so ordinary, yet she can spend money like water. You’re going to have a tough time with her.” Rory, uncharacteristically, only gave Crystal a perfunctory reply before insisting on walking me back to my dorm. I knew it wasn’t because he had changed and suddenly liked me, but because he saw the tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money I had just received. Back in my dorm, my thoughts were still a jumbled mess. Even if I had passed this hurdle and avoided being ostracized by my classmates, I still hadn’t found a way to break Crystal’s curse. She could still drain my account, even my life, at any moment. Luckily, I had just received thirty thousand dollars, so Crystal shouldn’t be able to drain it all that quickly. Thinking this, I grabbed my basin to go wash up. As soon as I stood up, a choking sensation gripped my neck. My legs gave out, and I knelt directly to the floor. I instinctively glanced at my phone. The balance was zero! Before my roommate could help me up, Crystal rushed in. She told my roommates to rest and insisted on taking me to the hospital alone. I wanted to refuse, but the choking in my neck made me unable to utter a word. My roommates all thought Crystal was kind, and even the nurses at the hospital said I was lucky to have such a beautiful and kind friend. Hearing these words, my heart was filled only with resentment. Rory came over and immediately started cursing at me. “The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with you. What kind of act are you putting on? Do you know how much it costs to come to the hospital?” He stared at the bill, his brows furrowed in deep lines. He clearly didn’t want to pay for me, so by insisting I was faking it, he could shamelessly demand money from me. Crystal handed him her card. “We’re all in the same class; I can’t just stand by. Use my card.” I reached out to stop them, but I couldn’t. Rory glared at me. “It’s not your money, why are you getting so worked up? Poor people cause so much trouble.” Once again, it was just Crystal and me in the hospital room. She whispered in my ear, “Who told you to try and steal my thunder? This is your punishment. Maeve, your family is just too poor. I just bought washing machines for all the dorms in the class and paid a thousand for electricity for each dorm. Is that enough to drain your life?” “Don’t worry, as long as your lifespan isn’t completely drained, this discomfort is only temporary.” After she finished speaking, the choking sensation in my neck indeed subsided. I grabbed her collar. “What the hell is going on?” Crystal curled her lips. “I thought you’d beg me to let you go first.” She pushed my hand away, disdainfully getting up. “Maeve, you’re destined to be my stepping stone in this life. Once you die in disgrace, everything you have will be mine.” Crystal left the room, leaving me utterly confused. After I died, I would be useless. What else could she possibly get from me? 4 My balance was zero, and my body grew weaker and weaker. The speed at which I earned money couldn’t keep up with the rate at which Crystal spent it. I wished I could just kill Crystal, but with my current physical condition, I would be counter-killed by her before I could even harm her a bit. As I was frowning in worry, I saw the registration for the closed English competition. During the confinement period, all students would be together, so as long as she couldn’t get out, she couldn’t spend money. And if I could win the prize money, I could make up for the previous losses. I thought everything was foolproof, but I hadn’t expected Crystal to swipe her card to buy an Hermes Birkin bag before entering the enclosed building. My life force plummeted rapidly. The moment I saw her in the classroom, I directly pressed the tip of my pen against her throat. If I was destined to never escape this curse in this life, I would rather die with her. But before I could apply pressure with the pen, someone hit me from behind. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself tied to a chair by Rory. “Maeve, you’re bullying Crystal right in front of everyone. Who knows how you bully other classmates behind their backs? As your boyfriend, I can’t just stand by and watch!” He spoke with righteous indignation. He had clearly sneaked a look at my phone, knew my account was empty, and just wanted to show off in front of the ‘rich girl.’ I looked at the students’ condemning gazes, my heart sinking. I told them the truth about my life being drained, but no one believed me. Rory sneered. “You’re so jealous you’ve lost your mind, aren’t you? Would a rich young lady care about your paltry savings?” “You said Crystal is draining your life, right? Then let’s try it now. If you die, I’ll pay you back with my life.” He pulled out a piece of paper and had Crystal write him an IOU for ten thousand. Rory reassured Crystal, with so many people watching, he would never demand the money from her. Crystal, nestled against Rory’s shoulder like a delicate bird, said tearfully, “If this money can prove my innocence, I don’t mind giving everyone ten thousand each. My family truly doesn’t lack this small amount.” She signed IOUs for the classmates present, one by one, and then transferred the bills. The choking sensation in my neck grew stronger and stronger; I could feel my life rapidly draining away. Later, I even started convulsing. The entire classroom fell silent. I thought they finally believed me. To my surprise, Rory scoffed, “You’re acting so well, why don’t you go perform on stage?” The students all shook their heads. “If what Maeve said was true, I’d never find a girlfriend in my life. Lying so outrageously, she’s shameless.” Everyone was blaming me. I opened my eyes only to see their fingers almost poking my face. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind. So that’s it. I finally knew the whole truth. In this life, Crystal Quinn wouldn’t dare to step on me to climb higher again. After the choking subsided, I endured the discomfort and completed the English competition exam. With the scholarship money, I bought a train ticket home. As I left, I saw a notice in the class group chat. “Crystal is taking everyone to an auction the day after tomorrow to broaden our horizons. She’ll be at the Vermilion Perch, treating the entire class to a sky lantern.” In my previous life, I died in that “sky lantern” event. Even the surgery money I’d raised for my mom by selling our house wasn’t saved. This event was supposed to be before the end of the semester, but this time it was much earlier. Crystal was really eager to send me to my death. Unfortunately, this time, it could only be her digging her own grave. As soon as I got on the car, I received a message from Crystal. “If you kneel before me now and kowtow three times, and then lick my feet in public, I might consider letting you off the hook, Academic Maeve.” I smiled faintly, not replying. I spent two days looking after my mother in the hospital. Just as I was about to get water, I received a call from Rory. He was furious, demanding to know, “Maeve, what strange illness did you infect Crystal with? Why is she convulsing just like you did that day?” I chuckled coldly, “Because…”

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As a private investigator, I recently took a case to investigate a man named Brian Wright for infidelity. To my horror, the woman I caught him with was my own wife, Sarah Kinsey. In that moment, my heart shattered. An overseas mercenary organization had contacted me before, inviting me to join their reconnaissance camp. Now, I decided to accept their offer. For the past seven years, I had anonymously donated blood to Sarah, like her personal blood bank. But from this moment on, I would never do it again. 1 I arrived at the address the client provided in Willow Creek Estates. Brian Wright was locked in a passionate embrace with a woman. I pulled out my phone and started recording. Their emotions were raw, intense. The woman sat up halfway, and it was my wife, Sarah Kinsey. My legs gave out. I stumbled backward, barely catching myself. My colleague, Mike, saw her too. He hesitated. “Boss, maybe you should hand this case off. Let someone else take it.” I shook my head, fighting back a surge of pain. Client satisfaction was the standard in this business. Brian was aggressively taking his pleasure from Sarah, his voice a low growl. “How does he compare to your husband?” Sarah’s voice trembled with pleasure. “He can’t even touch you.” “Brian, Brian, you’re the best.” It felt like forever before they finally quieted. Brian toyed with her hand, his eyes on her wedding ring. “That ring makes my skin crawl,” he said. Sarah giggled, pulling off the ring and tossing it into a nearby wastebasket. I expected them to part ways after that, but they immediately moved on to a second round. Sarah fumbled with a box, but it was empty. No condoms. Brian asked anxiously, “What do we do?” Sarah shrugged, nonchalant. “Just go for it. I’ll take the morning-after pill.” My heart felt like it was being hammered by a sledgehammer. The pain was excruciating. I had loved her more than life itself. I would have suffocated myself before ever risking her safety. Yet, she gave herself so completely, so carelessly, to another man. She suffered from a serious blood disorder, and her periods were incredibly heavy. A miscarriage or childbirth could easily kill her. That’s why I had always been so careful, so meticulous, about birth control. I’d rather endure any discomfort myself than put her at risk. She needed two blood transfusions every month, and her rare Rh-negative blood type made it incredibly difficult to find a match. I happened to share her blood type. Every month, I went to donate twice, 400ml each time, specifically for her. To ease her conscience, I always remained anonymous. The woman I cherished above all else was allowing another man to degrade her this way. Lost in my memories, my phone buzzed. A text message. “Darling, my friend needs a morning-after pill. Could you pick up a box of Plan B and drop it off at Willow Creek Estates?” The pain spread through my entire body. My hands clenched involuntarily. Sweat beaded on my forehead and across my skin. “Sarah,” Brian murmured, “what if your husband finds out?” He looked at her, his eyes shining with anticipation for her answer. “Heh,” she scoffed, “even if I cheated with ten different guys, he’d still never leave me.” Yes, I had once told her, “Sarah, let’s never part. I can’t live without you.” But back then, Sarah had loved me just as fiercely. She was a ruthless CEO in public, but at home, she cooked for me, made my bed. One time, when I had a fever, she stayed awake for three days and nights, nursing me back to health. But that was then. This was now. When I delivered the Plan B to the villa, Brian opened the door. His eyes held a playful glint. “The woman inside is quite the wildcat.” His cologne, thick and cloying, assaulted my nostrils. I lowered my head, hiding my clenched fists, and hurried away. Sarah had promised to love me forever, to never betray me. I had planned to be her blood bank for life. Her betrayal meant my plans had to change. I opened my email. To the mercenary organization’s invitation, I clicked “Accept.” They needed excellent reconnaissance operatives; I needed to leave this heartache behind. Departure in five days. 2 Back home, I drank alone. Seven years of love, three years of marriage, a lifetime of plans—all reduced to this. Sarah came home just as I was about to pass out. Seeing me drink, she asked anxiously, “David, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” As she leaned in, the cloying scent of Brian’s cologne still clung to her. A wave of nausea washed over me. I pushed her away and stumbled to the bathroom. Her eyes flickered with a fleeting panic. I vomited violently into the toilet. She followed close behind, gently patting my back. “Don’t drink so much, it’s bad for your stomach. You’ll break my heart if you keep doing this.” How could she switch from one man to another so effortlessly? “I’ll go make you some hangover soup.” By the time I emerged, the soup was ready. She stirred it impatiently, trying to cool it down. Sitting on the sofa, she spoon-fed me. I stared at her fingers. She was wearing a ring strikingly similar to her wedding band. But when she extended her hand, I saw a small “Brian” engraved on the inside of the palm-side of the band. She’d tossed her wedding ring for another man’s. Good. The pain of love was like being flayed alive. The more thoroughly I peeled off these layers now, the less it would hurt later. Noticing the detached look in my eyes, she asked, concerned, “Have I not been spending enough time with you? Work’s been so busy lately, I’ve neglected you. Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to pick out a suit. Our third anniversary is coming up soon. We’ll celebrate properly.” She picked up a warm towel and wiped my face. As she bent down, her loose neckline revealed a constellation of marks on her chest. I grabbed her, trying to tear open her clothes. She quickly covered herself with her hands. “David, you’ve had too much to drink. It’s not good for you. You need to rest, okay? Be a good boy.” Her initial panic quickly melted into a soft, affectionate tone. She thought I was trying to initiate sex, but I only wanted to expose the bite marks on her skin. Normally, her words would have touched me, making me feel cherished. But today, I knew she was just trying to hide the evidence of her betrayal. While she was in the bathroom, her phone buzzed on the table. A text message. “You little wildcat. You drained me dry today.” I didn’t move. I just stared blankly until the screen went dark again. After cleaning the bathroom, she helped me into bed, gently changed me into my pajamas, and tucked me in. She even took my soiled clothes to wash. Beside me, she continued to play the role of the devoted wife. If there were an Oscar for Best Actress, she would win it hands down. The next day, at the tailor’s, as I was getting measured for my new suit, her phone rang. It was Brian. “Wildcat, I’m craving you. Come find me.” She glanced at me furtively, thinking I couldn’t hear. But I was once an elite reconnaissance operative; my hearing was exceptional. My hands clenched instinctively, my body tensing. She approached me, feigning nonchalance. But the flush on her cheeks betrayed her eagerness. “David, something urgent came up at the office. I have to go. Once you’re done with your fitting, meet me at the top floor of Riverbend Tower. I’ve booked us a table for lunch.” I grabbed her hand. “Can’t you skip it? You promised to spend the day with me.” Even though I had decided to leave, watching her abandon me for another man still twisted my gut. She gently peeled my fingers off hers. “Company matters are critical. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Wait for me.” With that, she hugged my waist and hurried away. I waited in the restaurant from sundown to dusk, through the flickering of city lights, until the entire city plunged into darkness. She never came. I called her five times. Each time, it went straight to voicemail. 3 She came home at one in the morning. Thinking I was asleep, she didn’t call out to me, going straight to the guest room. I lay awake, replaying seven years of memories, sleep refusing to come. She talked on the phone for a long time in the guest room, her voice a soft, seductive murmur. It was Brian, no doubt. When I woke up, breakfast was already on the table. My favorite soft-boiled eggs. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice full of regret. “I was so busy at work yesterday, I didn’t even make it to the restaurant. You’re not mad at me, are you?” She leaned in to kiss my forehead. I reached for an egg, deftly avoiding her kiss. She froze for a moment. A flicker of disappointment in her eyes. The thought of those lips, that had just been on another man, made me sick. My mission for the day was still to follow her. She went to the hospital for her transfusion. The man with his arm around her waist was Brian. “I heard the same person has been donating blood for you all these years? Eight hundred milliliters a month? Who could that be?” Brian mused. “Some idiot, I guess,” Sarah scoffed. “Who else would give that much blood every month?” If I hadn’t loved her to the bone, I wouldn’t have. My doctors had repeatedly warned me about the dangers of donating so frequently. But if I didn’t donate, she wouldn’t have any. There were only two people in the entire city with her blood type. The other person had serious health issues and couldn’t donate. Brian pinched her side, under her shirt. “You should be grateful. What if he stops? What would you do?” Sarah pinched Brian’s butt in return. “Don’t jinx it.” A while later, they emerged from the transfusion room. Sarah’s face was grim, her confusion evident. “Why didn’t he donate?” she asked, almost to herself. “He’s never missed a single month in seven years. Once, during a massive blizzard, he still managed to get here. Something must be wrong this time.” She was theorizing. I should have donated yesterday. I had originally planned to get my suit fitted, then donate one last time. A final, symbolic gesture. But she had abandoned me for another man, so I canceled the appointment. The blood center had called yesterday. I hadn’t answered. Sarah made a few calls. I heard her asking for the donor’s name and number. Whatever they told her on the other end, her face remained worried and disappointed. Brian playfully flicked her nose. “Don’t worry, honey. There’s always a solution.” They walked, embraced, towards their car. They both got into the back seat. Through the tinted window, I saw Sarah pull Brian into her arms. Soon, the car began to shake violently. After a long time, or perhaps a short one, they got out. Sarah’s hair was disheveled, her clothes wrinkled—clear signs of their recent lovemaking. I couldn’t bear to watch. Their affection was a dagger in my heart. I looked down at my hand. I stroked the wedding ring she had placed on my finger. The vows we had exchanged, once so moving, now filled me with disgust. I pulled off the ring and tossed it into a trash can. When I looked up, they were gone.

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1 Five years ago, the government launched the Landmark Project, to be led by my parents, both star architects. On the day the building finished, it collapsed, burying them. The Blackwell family’s reputation was ruined overnight. Relatives and friends who’d once been close turned me away coldly. In my despair, my fiancé Daniel Bloom stood by me. He arranged their funeral and married me as promised. For five years, I dedicated myself to design contests to restore my family’s honor, only to fail on my 99th attempt. With little money left, I bought roses to surprise him, but overheard him talking to a friend. His friend mocked my repeated failures and mentioned Audrey Spano, Daniel’s real love, returning soon. They said Daniel had only married me because he couldn’t be with Audrey then, and now her success made it all worthwhile. I crushed the roses in tears, realizing my supposed salvation was just a stepping stone for his true love. Fine, Daniel. I’ll give you what you want. … “But—” Daniel cut off his friend directly. “Even if I hadn’t married Phoebe, the Bloom family wouldn’t have allowed me to be with Audrey. Since that was the case, I could only help her, lift her from being a lowly employee. As for Phoebe… marrying her was the greatest return I could offer her.” His friend’s indignant voice followed immediately, “You sent her so many proposals, and she rejected them all, but then she specifically asked for Phoebe’s blueprints? She was completely intentional! She’s sabotaging your relationship with Phoebe!” “If this ever comes out, you and Phoebe can never go back. She might even hate you, considering she only has you.” Daniel abruptly stood up, taking a sip of his drink. “I know all that. But Audrey only has me too. I can’t just stand by and watch her suffer alone overseas. Once I get these blueprints, everything will be over. And you, don’t bring it up again.” “Not talking about it doesn’t make it disappear, does it? Phoebe buried herself in the studio for five years, and you expect her to watch the thief of her hard work bask in glory while she’s scorned by everyone? She’s human, you can’t just—” Daniel slammed his glass down, shattering it in frustration. “Enough! It’s only five years, not a lifetime.” “Worst case, after all this, I’ll get her an award, let her be the Blackwell heiress again!” “Oh, why go through all this? Phoebe’s talent doesn’t need your help; she shouldn’t have been dragged into it. The Bloom family has so much… Don’t get mad, I won’t say another word. You do whatever you want.” The voices inside gradually faded into silence. I slid down the wall to the floor. Five years ago, after my parents’ sudden death, the Blackwell company faced collapse. All I knew was drawing, and I was completely lost. It was Daniel who pulled me back from the edge, from the rooftop, and we rushed to get married. As the son-in-law of the Blackwells, he handled everything. Later, when the Bloom family found out, they pressured him to divorce me. He knelt and begged Grandfather Bloom for time, believing I could restore the Blackwell name. He even helped me gather information on various competitions, all to help me win awards. That’s why, despite 99 consecutive failures, I never gave up, all because of Daniel’s faith in me. But all of it, it was just him paving the way for Audrey. Wiping away my tears, I staggered to my feet, handed the crushed roses to a staff member, and walked away. With every step, a piece of my love for Daniel disintegrated. Until my feet were blistered and bleeding, I silently opened his most treasured possession: his diary. All love vanished completely. The moment the book opened, my eyes fell upon a hand-drawn portrait. The lines were blurred, clearly worn from constant touching. Every page of the diary held a photo of Audrey, arranged chronologically. The very first picture was from the day Daniel and I got married. So, for five years, every time he said he was writing in his diary to record our beautiful moments, he was actually just reminiscing about Audrey. Beneath the diary was a locked box. I entered Audrey’s birthday and it clicked open. There were no precious items inside, only the love letters Audrey had written to him. From the first time I failed a competition, every time he got my design, she would write Daniel a love letter. They were filled with the longing and devotion shared between the two of them. Even though I already knew our relationship was just a lie orchestrated by Daniel, my heart felt like it was ripped in two. After each of my failures, Daniel would always invite experts to analyze my problems and offer guidance. I had believed in his affection because of this, willingly falling deeper. But who knew, everything he did was merely to facilitate passing my blueprints to Audrey. Flipping to the very end, there was a letter Daniel hadn’t mailed. My hands trembled as I opened it. After reading it, tears streamed from my eyes uncontrollably. Daniel planned to propose to Audrey after getting my final blueprint. Even if he couldn’t give her a proper title, he would give her a wedding. As for me, because my parents had passed away, Daniel had said it wasn’t appropriate to celebrate, so I received nothing but that marriage certificate. I scoffed, wiping the tears from my face, and used my phone to photograph all these letters. They were not only symbols of Daniel’s betrayal but also proof of Audrey’s theft of my awards. Having done all this, I silently restored everything to its original state. Closing the bedroom door, I made a call. “Miss Blackwell, you agree?” “Yes, I agree to authorize all my designs to you. But you must help me with one thing!” I had just hung up when Daniel’s familiar voice came from behind me. “Phoebe, who were you just on the phone with? What do you need help with?” I quickly put away my phone, calmly replying, “Nothing, just an employee from the studio. She asked for some help with something.” “Do you like the flowers I sent? I’ll arrange them.” Hearing this, Daniel didn’t ask further. He handed me the roses, his fingers brushing against my palm as I arranged them. “Sweetheart, let’s have a baby?” My hand, holding the rose, suddenly froze. He took the stem from my hand and looked directly into my eyes. “Didn’t you go to the orphanage and play with the kids last time?” “I didn’t like children before, but seeing you that day, I suddenly didn’t hate them anymore.” “We’ll have two children, one like you, one like me. What do you say?” I looked at his hopeful expression, unconsciously biting my lip. He was lying to me again. For the past five years, he had kept me hanging with one promise after another. Was he going to use a child as leverage now? But the truth was, the day after we got our marriage license, I’d ensured I would never have children. It was because Daniel had said he was terrified of pregnancy and children; his mother had died in childbirth. He loved me, and I couldn’t bear to hurt him, so I had voluntarily taken the sterilization potion. He had forgotten all these things. “Sweetheart, what do you say?” His question broke my reverie. Afraid he would notice, I could only hug him back, my gaze turning increasingly cold. He, however, thought I was overcome with emotion, and quickly ran off to instruct the staff to prepare a candlelight dinner, not forgetting to glance back at me suggestively. I watched his retreating figure and quietly said, “Daniel Bloom, you saved my life, but you lied to me for five years. That’s enough to pay off the debt.” After that, I sent another message to that number. After my parents’ death, the Blackwell family had long faded from the city’s elite circles. Revealing Audrey now, I had no chance of success. The only opportunity was her awards ceremony three days later. Then, everything would end. 2 The next day, when I woke up, Daniel was already gone. I hastily drafted a divorce agreement and went to Bloom Corp, only to be stopped at the reception. Daniel’s phone went straight to voicemail. In desperation, I called his assistant. “Miss Blackwell, my apologies. The receptionist is new; she doesn’t recognize you. I’ll reprimand her later. Please, go on in.” I didn’t intend to argue with a junior employee, but before I’d gone far, I heard gasps and whispers behind me. “Is that really Mr. Bloom’s wife? But I just saw Mr. Bloom personally come down and pick up someone else, arm in arm. I thought she was his wife.” “Assistant Cole, it’s not my fault! She’s dressed so shabbily, who could tell?” “Of course, she’s shabby. Five years ago, her family was already struggling in this city. Now she’s entirely dependent on Mr. Bloom – a total parasite. I really don’t know what Mr. Bloom saw in her.” “The woman who just went in is different. Have you been to Pearl Harbor in the City of A? She designed it herself. It’s an indispensable tourist attraction now, and the government even awarded her a prize. Only someone like that deserves our Mr. Bloom!” I clenched my fists tighter, ignoring them. I walked straight to Daniel’s office door. Just as I was about to knock, the voices from inside made me freeze. “Audrey, how have you been these past few years?” “Haven’t you read all the letters I’ve written you? Many men have been around me over the years, but I’ve only ever loved one person, always. It’s just a pity he’s married. I wonder if I’ll ever have a chance.” Daniel’s eyes welled up with tears, and he looked up in shock. “You will, you definitely will.” “Daniel, thank you. If you hadn’t been willing to help me back then, how could I have achieved all this on my own?” “Before the celebration party, I still shouldn’t meet Phoebe. She already misunderstood me last time. After all, I used to be an employee of the Blackwell family. Now our positions are reversed; I’m afraid she’ll find it even harder to accept.” A cold smirk played on my lips. How could it be a misunderstanding? When I failed my first competition, I had secretly investigated. I found that her submitted work was strikingly similar to my design. I reported her through official channels, demanding she show her sources, but the police arrested me for defamation. Everyone said I couldn’t accept my failure and was maliciously slandering others. Only Daniel had stepped forward to mediate for me, believing me unconditionally, as always. But the truth was, he had handed over everything of mine to her. Through the crack in the door, Daniel wore a bitter expression. He took a paper from his desk and handed it to Audrey. “This is Phoebe’s latest design. With it, you’ll establish a foothold in this country after the celebration party in three days. Consider it a welcome-back gift.” Audrey accepted it with a smile, her eyes filled with triumph. Seeing this, I suddenly didn’t want to let them off the hook. I crumpled the divorce agreement in my hand and turned to leave. “Miss Blackwell, are you finished with Mr. Bloom already? So soon?” The assistant’s words made Daniel in the office whip his head around. His eyes were tense as he quickly walked towards me. “Phoebe, why are you here? Is something wrong?” “Do you remember Audrey? She came to the Bloom family for help back then, and you took her in. She just returned and was discussing a collaboration with me. She even said she wanted to invite us, as a couple, to dinner to thank us personally.” Daniel subtly signaled to Audrey, who placed the documents behind her back and immediately chimed in with a smile, “Yes, Phoebe, I wonder if I’d have that honor!” Looking at her outstretched hand, it was clearly the demeanor of a successful person, high and mighty. It was as if our roles had been reversed, and I was the lowly employee begging for shelter. I swallowed my unspoken thoughts and calmly replied, “No need.” Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a message. Before I could even check it, Daniel spoke. “Phoebe, if you have something to do, go ahead. I still have some work matters to discuss with Audrey. I’ll see you home tonight.” Seeing how eager he was to rush me away, I understood everything. “You two carry on. I’ll see you tonight.” When I got home, I had just finished packing all my belongings when people from an auction house arrived at the Bloom residence. Daniel had successfully bid on an item a week ago, but he had given a wrong digit in his phone number, so they had tracked me down instead. When signing to receive it, the person opened the box for verification. Inside lay a pair of exquisite matching rings. I froze for a moment, looking at the simple, almost crude wedding ring on my own finger, my heart turning cold. Daniel’s call came as expected. “Phoebe, I won a piece of jewelry at auction. It’s for a client. My phone died earlier; can you take it home for me? I’ll have Assistant Cole pick it up.” “Also, don’t overthink what happened today. Audrey and you are both in the architectural field. I spent a lot of effort convincing her to give you some advice.” “Didn’t you always want my dad to approve of you? Now’s the best chance.” Listening to his words, so seemingly considerate of me, I suddenly felt like laughing. To elevate Audrey, he didn’t hesitate to abandon his upbringing and become a thief. Now that his goals were within reach, why bother using the Bloom family’s approval to manipulate me? “I know you’re doing this for my good. Take care of yourself; I’ll wait for your news.” Hearing my words, his tone relaxed. I hung up and put the box away. Daniel, you’ve lied to me so many times. I’ll only lie to you once.

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