Category: English

I rarely went back to my hometown during vacation, but after dinner, my dad ordered me to wash the dishes. I froze. “Don’t we have a housekeeper?” My mom frowned. “Laura works so hard taking care of us every day. Since you’re back, you should let her rest. You should do everything.” But I couldn’t understand. “I’m paying her to be our housekeeper—isn’t that what she’s here for? Why should I pay money and still do the work myself?” This comment made the housekeeper cry and angered my parents. My mom frowned. “What good are you? I barely see you once a year. Laura’s more thoughtful than you—at least she’s here every single day.” My dad pointed at my nose. “Don’t bother coming back anymore. From now on, Laura is our real daughter! You can go do whatever you want!” I laughed bitterly. I was busy with work, but I sent home plenty of money every month and even hired an expensive housekeeper. Yet in the end, they treated the housekeeper like their daughter. If that’s how it is, I won’t be paying the housekeeper’s salary anymore!

The company gave us time off, so I went home early. I wanted to surprise my parents, but when I got to the house, my key wouldn’t open the door. I tried several times, but the key still wouldn’t turn. That’s when I realized—they’d changed the locks. With no other choice, I pulled out my phone and called my mom. It rang several times before she picked up. I could hear the bustling sounds of shopping in the background, along with my mom’s voice: “Hello, Charlotte? Why are you calling all of a sudden?” “Mom, I’m home, standing outside. Why was the lock changed? I can’t get in.” My mom paused for a few seconds before answering slowly, “Oh, you’re back? Your dad, Laura, and I are out shopping. Just wait by the door for a bit—we’ll be back soon.” Before I could say anything else, she hung up. I stood in the hallway with my suitcase, waiting for a full hour. Finally, I heard footsteps in the corridor. I looked up and saw my parents walking ahead with the housekeeper Laura squeezed between them. Her right hand was linked affectionately with my mom’s arm, and her left hand carried shopping bags for my dad. The three of them were laughing and chatting like a family of three. When they reached the door and saw me standing there, none of them looked surprised. My dad just glanced at me indifferently, and my mom only said casually, “Oh, you’re back.” Laura, on the other hand, immediately let go of my mom’s hand. A warm smile spread across her face as she hurried toward me. “Charlotte, you’re home! Why didn’t you tell us in advance? We could have picked you up.” I forced a smile and nodded slightly, my eyes falling on the door lock. “When was the lock changed? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Laura quickly explained, “It was changed a month ago. The old lock was getting stuck—it wasn’t very safe.” “I was worried about Uncle and Auntie since they’re getting older, so I had someone install a new one. I didn’t have time to tell you. Please don’t mind, Charlotte.” Before I could respond, my dad snorted coldly and pushed open the door, his tone dripping with dissatisfaction. “Someone who couldn’t even come home for Christmas—what difference does changing the lock make to you?” I knew my dad was still upset that I hadn’t come home for Christmas. He was holding a grudge. I didn’t want to start a fight the moment I got back, so I didn’t respond and just followed them inside. After entering, I instinctively went to the shoe cabinet to get my slippers, but I saw my pair of fleece slippers on Laura’s feet. Laura noticed my gaze and awkwardly pulled out a pair of disposable slippers from the bottom of the cabinet, handing them to me. “Charlotte, I’m sorry, I put on the wrong ones. Wear these for now.” I looked at the thin disposable slippers, then at my fleece slippers on Laura’s feet. A strange feeling rose in my chest, but I didn’t say anything. I silently changed into the disposable slippers. After dinner, I’d just sat down to rest and recover from the long journey when my dad pointed at the dining table. “Go wash the dishes.” I stood there, stunned, and instinctively replied, “Don’t we have a housekeeper?” My mom immediately frowned, put down her water glass, and gave me a stern look. “Laura works so hard taking care of us—cooking, cleaning, exhausting herself all day long. Now that you’re back, let her rest. What’s wrong with you washing some dishes?” “I’m exhausted from work too,” I said, looking at them in confusion. “I work overtime every day. I finally got a break and came home to rest, and you want me to do chores?” “Besides, I’m paying her good money to be here—isn’t this what she’s supposed to do? Why should I pay and still do the work myself?” Laura stood to the side, head lowered, looking like she’d been wronged. My dad slammed his hand on the table, his face darkening as he shouted at me, “Money, money, money—all you care about is money! Is there anything in your eyes besides money? I think you’d rather spend time with your money and your job than with your parents!” “You didn’t come home for Christmas, you barely visit, and now when you’re finally here, all you talk about is money. You might as well just live with your money and your job—why even bother coming back!” My mom sighed beside him, disappointment filling her eyes. “Exactly. After you started working, you rarely come home. I barely see you once a year. Laura’s the one who takes care of everything around here.” “When we’re feeling unwell, Laura’s the one who runs around getting medicine, bringing us water, taking care of us.” “And you? As our daughter, do you even care about us?”

As her words fell, Laura gently stepped forward, reached out to hold my mom’s hand, and softly consoled her. “Don’t be angry. Charlotte’s a senior manager now—she’s busy with work. It’s not that she doesn’t want to come home.” Hearing them talk like this made me so angry I wanted to laugh. I don’t care about them? I send them ten thousand dollars a month for living expenses. Worried they’d be too frugal to spend it, I hired a high-priced housekeeper to take care of their meals and daily needs. I work myself to death out there so they can live comfortably. How did I become worse than a paid housekeeper in their eyes? I clenched my fists, suppressing my anger. “Mom, Dad, that’s not fair.” “You say I don’t care about you? That I only focus on work and money?” “Before, whenever I had free time, I came home. You complained I was wasting money, said I looked foolish always coming back like a child who never grew up, told me to stop running home all the time. I listened.” “But I’ve never missed calling or video chatting, have I? I’ve never missed sending your monthly living expenses, have I? I hired Laura at a high salary specifically to take care of you. Doesn’t any of that count in your eyes?” My dad’s face immediately darkened. “But you didn’t even come home for Christmas—is that acceptable? You weren’t here for a family reunion. What good is money? Your mom and I have enough—we don’t need your money.” “Don’t be upset,” Laura quickly stepped forward, gently tugging on my dad’s arm with an obedient smile. “Charlotte has it tough working in New York. Senior managers are so busy—she can’t help it. I’m sure she still thinks about you in her heart.” But my dad only got angrier after hearing that. “Senior manager? So what? Why does a girl need to work so hard? Eventually, she’ll get married and return to family life anyway. What’s the point of climbing so high?” My mom chimed in, “Charlotte, you’re not young anymore. You really should consider getting married.” “A colleague at work has a son about your age. He’s honest and dependable, works locally, and comes from a good family. Since you’re back this time, why don’t you meet him? If it works out, you can get engaged.” I didn’t even think before refusing. “I don’t want to go on blind dates, and I don’t want to get married.” “You don’t want to get married?” My dad’s face turned iron-blue. “Are you planning to spend your whole life with your job?” “Why not?” I met his gaze. “You—” My dad was so angry his chest heaved. “Your mom and I are getting old. We need someone nearby. If you go on blind dates, get married, and stay here, we’ll have someone to rely on, someone to take care of us. Why can’t you think about us?” I frowned. “Haven’t I already hired Laura to take care of you?” My dad slammed the table and issued his ultimatum. “Then if you won’t get married, quit your job and come back to take care of us. Otherwise, stop recognizing us as your parents, and we’ll make Laura our daughter instead!” I laughed in frustration. “When I graduated, I planned to find work back home so I could easily take care of you.” I looked at them calmly. “But you thought it was embarrassing for a graduate of a prestigious university to work in a small town. You said I had no ambition and forced me to go to New York.” “I’ve struggled in New York for so many years, finally getting a foothold and building my current life.” “And now, with one sentence, you want me to give it all up and quit?”

I shook my head firmly. “That’s impossible.” My dad’s brow furrowed, his voice immediately rising. “What do you mean, impossible? We raised you all these years, and when we ask you to come back, you make excuses?” “I’m not making excuses,” I explained patiently. “My job in New York is what I fought for all these years. If I just give it up, all my suffering would be for nothing.” “So you’re just going to abandon us?” My mom joined in, her face full of disapproval. “You’re our only daughter. When we’re old, who else can we rely on but you?” “I didn’t say I’d abandon you.” I took a deep breath and offered a solution. “If you want me to take care of you, fine—move to New York and live with me. That way I can work and look after you at the same time.” My dad immediately waved his hand dismissively. “Move to New York? We’ve lived in our hometown for decades. All our relatives and friends are here. We’re not moving to some unfamiliar place where we don’t know anyone.” My mom nodded along. “Exactly. You’re still renting in New York—how could that be as comfortable as home? We’re not going.” I frowned. “If you won’t go and I can’t quit, then there’s nothing I can do.” My dad’s face darkened. “Nothing you can do? I think you’ve just grown wings and don’t care about us anymore!” “Anyway, I won’t quit.” My tone was firm, without any hint of compromise. My dad opened his mouth, about to continue scolding me, when Laura quickly stepped forward, gently mediating. “Charlotte rarely comes home. Let’s talk nicely as a family instead of fighting and hurting each other.” She turned to me with a gentle smile. “Charlotte, Uncle and Auntie are just getting older and want someone to keep them company. That’s natural. Don’t be upset.” Hearing this, my dad’s expression softened slightly. He looked at Laura with instant warmth. “Laura’s so understanding, so considerate of us. Not like you—all you care about is work and money.” I was too tired to argue with them anymore. Even one more word felt exhausting. I turned and headed to my room. The moment I pushed open the door, I froze completely. My bed had unfamiliar sheets and a comforter. The desk was covered with skincare products and hair ties. The closet was full of women’s clothing—clearly someone had been living here long-term. I whipped around to look at Laura, who had followed me. “Don’t you have your own room? Why are you living in mine without permission?” Laura’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her head, looking flustered. “Charlotte, I’m sorry, I…” Before she could finish, my mom spoke up to explain. “Laura’s air conditioner broke. We tried to fix it several times but couldn’t. It was cold, so I let her stay in your room.” “You never come home anyway—it would just sit empty.” The anger in my chest flared up again. “Even if I don’t stay here, this is still my room! How could you let her move in without asking me?” “How could we?” My dad suddenly roared, his face livid. “Your mom and I bought this house. We can let whoever we want live here. Forget letting Laura stay—we could kick you out if we wanted!” I was trembling with rage. Looking at my parents, who should have been so familiar, they suddenly felt like strangers. This was supposed to be my home, but I felt like an outsider. I stopped arguing, turned, and walked to the entryway, pulling my suitcase behind me. “Fine. If you want me to leave, I’ll leave.” My dad snorted coldly, his face full of disdain. “Go ahead and leave if you’re so capable. Don’t come back to this house!” My mom opened her mouth, but in the end, she only sighed and said nothing more. Laura stood to the side, anxiously speaking up. “Charlotte, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault. I’ll move out right now…” I didn’t want to hear her talk. I pulled my suitcase and walked out the door without looking back. I dragged the heavy case down the stairs, step by step, and finally took a cab to a nearby hotel.

The next day at noon, my cousin Muriel called. “Charlotte, we’re visiting the ancestors’ graves today. You’re back, right? Hurry over—everyone’s almost here.” “Got it, I’m on my way.” After hanging up, I quickly got ready and headed to the cemetery. When I arrived, I could see from a distance that all the relatives had gathered. My parents were there too. But as I got closer, I stopped in my tracks—Laura was there too, standing beside my mom. Muriel saw me first and waved. “Charlotte, over here.” I walked over and asked quietly, “Why is she here?” Muriel sighed. “Your parents brought her.” After the ancestral rites were finished, everyone went to a pre-booked restaurant for a meal. The whole extended family sat around a large table. During the meal, my mom said: “Since all the relatives are here today, Casseres and I have something to announce.” My dad took over, looking at everyone. “We’re planning to officially adopt Laura as our daughter.” As soon as those words came out, the table fell silent. Relatives exchanged glances. My mom continued, “Laura is truly thoughtful. She’s with us every day, serving us tea and water, cooking and cleaning. She’s more attentive than Charlotte.” After my mom spoke, relatives instinctively looked at me. I held my knife and fork but said nothing. My dad glanced at me, his tone growing heavy. “Unlike some people who can’t be seen all year long. When she finally comes home, all she talks about is money. Not thoughtful at all.” “We asked her to quit and come back to take care of us—she refused. We asked her to go on blind dates and settle down—she won’t do that either.” “Her wings have grown hard. She doesn’t care whether we live or die anymore.” Muriel quickly tried to smooth things over. “Charlotte does care about you. She really is busy with work—the pressure is intense. Don’t talk about her like that.” My mom immediately waved her hand, her expression sour. “Busy, busy, busy—all she knows is being busy! What’s the point of all that money if she can’t be here with us?” “Laura’s different. She knows when we’re cold or hot. When we’re not feeling well, she’s the one running around, buying medicine, bringing water, taking such good care of us. She’s so much more reliable.” My dad got more worked up as he spoke, his voice rising. “Since we can’t count on Charlotte, we’ll adopt someone thoughtful!” “If Laura takes care of us in our old age and when we die, we might as well leave this house to her!” The whole table was shocked. Everyone looked at each other, no one daring to speak. Some wanted to offer advice, but seeing how determined my parents were, they swallowed their words. The meal ended in a strange atmosphere. After everyone dispersed, Muriel pulled me aside, her face full of worry. “Charlotte, have your parents been brainwashed by that housekeeper? How can they say they’ll leave the house to her?” “You need to go back and talk to them properly. You can’t let them stay confused like this.” I looked at Laura in the distance, laughing and chatting with my parents, and gently shook my head. “Maybe they always wanted a caring daughter who could be with them every day and obediently listen to them.” “I can’t be that person. If they want someone else to do it, I can’t stop them.” The vacation ended quickly, and I prepared to return to New York. Before leaving, I called my dad—no answer. I called my mom—she hung up immediately. I tried several more times. All rejected. I looked at my phone and didn’t persist. I pulled my suitcase and went to the station, boarding the train back to New York. Over the next few weeks, I kept seeing my parents’ Twitter posts. Today they were eating hot pot with Laura, the three of them leaning together intimately for a photo. Tomorrow they were walking in the park together, Laura holding my mom’s arm, smiling obediently. The captions all radiated the warmth and harmony of a family of three. I scrolled through the posts without liking or commenting, pretending I hadn’t seen them. Then, a few days after another vacation ended, a call suddenly came in. It was my mom. As soon as I answered, I heard her dissatisfied voice come through directly. “Charlotte, why haven’t you sent this month’s living expenses yet? And Laura’s salary—why haven’t you paid her either?”

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The night before the wedding, someone sent me a VIP hotel room key. The room number was the same one where Lucas had proposed to me. I thought it was a romantic surprise he’d planned before our wedding. But when I pushed open the door, I saw him tangled in the sheets with another woman. After they finished, he casually pushed the woman away from his embrace. He lit a cigarette, and through the smoke, smiled carelessly: “Nothing personal. I was just tired of hiding it. Figured I’d let you find out early, so I wouldn’t have to explain after the wedding.” He flicked his cigarette ash and added: “Don’t worry, you’re still my one and only wife.” “You’ve been with me for ten years. You’ve made enemies with plenty of powerful people in business. If you don’t marry me, you won’t find anyone else willing to take you!” “Tomorrow, everything goes as planned. Just one thing—” “The wedding’s yours, but the marriage certificate goes to her.” He thought I’d at least ask why… But I simply took off my engagement ring, set it down quietly, and walked away. The next day, Lucas stood waiting for me in his groom’s tuxedo at the church. I didn’t run. I didn’t hide. I walked straight up to him with my mortal enemy on my arm, flashing a marriage certificate: “The wedding’s yours—but the marriage certificate? I gave it to him.”

“Here she comes, here she comes–the bride’s finally out.” By the time I came downstairs, a crowd of reporters had already gathered at the hotel entrance. Camera flashes popped like firecrackers. “Miss Gwen, how are you feeling on your wedding day?” “Miss Gwen, what do you think about the century wedding Mr. Shaw prepared for you?” I didn’t say anything. Under the bodyguards’ escort, I got into the car. The wedding was set at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the eastern part of the city. Lucas stood on the steps in his white tuxedo, his face wearing an expression of complete confidence. This morning he’d called, saying he’d gone seven rounds last night and his body couldn’t take it–he needed to catch up on sleep. He couldn’t pick up his bride. He was absolutely certain I would still show up. His best buddy, Brian, was the first to whistle. “She still came!” He elbowed Lucas with an ambiguous grin. “That’s our Lucas for you–living it up the night before the wedding, and the bride still shows up in her wedding dress like a good girl. What do you call that? That’s what I call well-trained!” Another friend, Jason, chimed in. “Damn right. With the way he was going at it in that bed yesterday, anyone else would be collapsed by now. But our Lucas can still stand here as the groom. Gotta hand it to him.” The group erupted in laughter. Lucas’s lips curved slightly. His tone was casual. “Gwen’s been with me for ten years. Who else would marry her besides me?” He glanced down at the engagement ring I’d taken off yesterday. “Throwing a tantrum is normal. But in the end–” He paused, his voice confident. “She’ll still walk up to me and put her hand in mine.” Brian gave him a thumbs up. The car door opened. I stepped out in my white gown. Sunlight fell on the wedding dress, refracting into scattered sparkles. A flash of admiration crossed Lucas’s eyes. He gave a sincere compliment. “Gwen, you look absolutely beautiful in that wedding dress!” But before he could touch my hand, his vibrating phone pulled his attention away. Looking at the contact name on the screen, his lips unconsciously curved upward as he stepped aside to answer. “What’s wrong? Didn’t I tell you to call later?” A lazy, coquettish voice came through the phone. “Lucas, I’m flying abroad this afternoon… so I made an appointment to get our marriage certificate in ten minutes. Can you swing by the county clerk’s office I want to get the marriage certificate before I leave.” “Ten minutes?” Lucas chuckled low. “That urgent?” After hanging up, Brian leaned over. “Who was it?” “Vivian.” Lucas pocketed his phone, his eyes brightening a few degrees. “She’s flying abroad this afternoon and insists on getting the certificate before she leaves. She acted all cute and I couldn’t say no.” Brian raised an eyebrow. “What about the wedding here–” “What’s the rush?” Lucas was unconcerned. “The wedding ceremony takes an hour or two. I’ll go to the marriage license bureau first–ten minutes, that’s it. You know Vivian’s personality. If I don’t humor her, she’ll really cry at the airport.” Brian wisely said nothing more. Lucas walked over to me, draped his arm over my shoulder, and had the photographer raise his camera. “Come on, take a picture for me. A keepsake.” Click. Done. He glanced at his watch. “Alright, that’s it for now. I need to go or I’ll miss the appointment.” He turned and strode toward another car. “Lucas!” I stood in place and called out to him. He paused mid-step and looked back at me. His eyes still carried that careless confidence of someone who had everything under control. “If you leave today,” I said, word by word, “I’m replacing the groom.”

He froze for a moment, then laughed–a scornful, confident laugh. “Replace the groom? Where are you going to find one? You really think life is a TV drama?” “Everyone in Bayport knows you’re mine.” “Of course… if you really have the ability to find someone willing to marry you, I suppose I could let you go–” He pulled open the car door and tossed back a light, teasing remark. “Stop making a scene. Be good and wait for me. Those wild cards out there, I know how to handle them, okay?” The groomsmen behind him exchanged glances. Brian chased after him a couple steps. “Lucas, you’re really leaving–” “You guys hold down the fort. It’s not like I’m not coming back.” Lucas closed the car door, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. “That girl is too hard to deal with. I don’t want to create trouble for myself.” The car started and drove away. I stood in place, the hem of my wedding dress lifted by the wind. The photographer beside me stood awkwardly with his camera. No one spoke. I looked down at my left ring finger, now bare, and slowly curved my lips into a smile. Lucas, go ahead. Go get your certificate. As for this multi-million dollar century wedding–I’ll gladly accept it. I lifted my dress and walked into the church. Guests were seated, the officiant was in position, the wedding march was playing. Everything was perfect, except the groom wasn’t there. Brian caught up with me, forcing out a smile. “Lucas had something urgent to handle. He’ll be right back. Just take a seat for a bit.” Jason also came over with a laugh. “Right, right. Lucas always has things under control. Today’s your big day–he’ll definitely be here soon.” “Exactly, Lucas never drops the ball on important matters.” The group chattered on, making “the groom ran off” sound like he’d just stepped out to pick up a package. I glanced at the clock at the front of the church. 10:40 AM. “Okay, I’ll wait for him.” I calmly sent them away. Brian clearly relaxed and quickly had someone bring me tea and water. I waited. But who I was waiting for, you don’t need to worry about. This wedding had been hyped up for three months. Most of the groom’s important relatives were in attendance. I looked around, my gaze falling on every detail. The white rose waterfall by the floor-to-ceiling windows, the crystal bead curtains hanging from the dome… Even the font on the guest place cards had been specially designed by a designer he’d commissioned. Lucas was that kind of person–when he did something, he did it to perfection. He was like this when pursuing me, and like this when planning the wedding. He made this wedding the talk of the entire city, made it into every woman’s dream wedding… But even his cheating was this extreme. No room for redemption, no explanations. In his logic, being good to someone and hurting that same person never conflicted. And I only had one option: accept it. In the lounge, my best friend Harper, who’d specially flown in from Portside to be my bridesmaid, helped me with my dress, her face full of indignation. “Is Lucas sick? Running off to register a marriage with another woman on his wedding day? Did his brain get caught in a door?” She sat down beside me huffily, tugging at her bridesmaid dress. “I thought he was just talking. Even if… did it have to be today?” Her voice carried the fire of righteous anger on my behalf. “When you two were planning this wedding together, he searched every flower shop in the city just to pick your bouquet. When you tried on wedding dresses, his eyes got red faster than yours.” “I was so envious I was practically jealous, and I even beat up my clueless boyfriend!” She paused, her voice dropping. “Who could have known he’d turn around and pull something like this?”

I didn’t respond, just kept scrolling through my phone. On social media, Vivian had just posted an update. The photo showed a man’s shirt and women’s underwear scattered on the floor. “Someone said he’d only come for ten minutes, but ended up not wanting to leave~” She’d deliberately tagged the location–and it wasn’t the county clerk’s office. Mutual friends had already commented. “Vivian, who are you trying to piss off?” Vivian replied. “Whoever’s waiting in a wedding dress and can’t find their man!” I took a screenshot with an expressionless face. “Gwen, stop waiting!” Harper snatched my phone away. “Look at this! What kind of person is this?” “You came back from England after graduation just for him. Do you know how angry your parents were?” “Back then, Lucas was nothing. And you still dared to make a ten-year bet with your parents! Now you’ve lost everything.” “If it weren’t for you working day and night all these years, helping him with proposals, pulling in investments, and quietly using your connections as the shipping magnate’s daughter to get his projects off the ground, could he have achieved what he has today?” “And he turns around and gets cozy with the investor’s daughter!” “I really couldn’t see it–he’s so good at pretending! He waited until the night before the wedding to finally let you discover he was sleeping around with someone else.” “I can’t believe he would stoop so low–deliberately showing you, making you see and hear exactly what he thinks of you with your own eyes and ears!” Harper got more and more upset, her eyes reddening. “Gwen, stop waiting. You should live for yourself for once!” “Harper, thank you for coming today. As for Mom and Dad… after the wedding, I’ll go back and admit I was wrong.” A bet is a bet. Today was the day I accepted the price of losing. After calming down my best friend and myself, I walked toward the terrace at the end of the hallway for some air. Just as I was about to push the door, I heard several men’s voices inside. The groomsmen, hiding out here smoking. “So Lucas really isn’t coming back?” “He said Vivian’s glued to him and he can’t get away. Told us to stall for him.” Brian exhaled smoke. “How long do you think Gwen will put up with this?” “Look at her today–wedding dress on, red carpet walked, groom gone–and she didn’t even frown.” “To have a wife like this, what more could a man ask for?” Jason sighed. “Lucas really doesn’t know how good he has it.” “Lucas has no attention for that right now. Vivian’s got him wrapped around her finger–the man’s lost his soul.” The group laughed. Then someone made a video call. “Lucas, you finally picked up. Gwen’s still waiting. Isn’t it inappropriate for you not to come back?” Ambiguous sounds came through the phone. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” Lucas’s voice carried both impatience and the hoarseness of desire. “I can’t make it back. Just take care of the relatives and friends.” “Okay, okay, Lucas, you do you.” Brian said with a grin. “Gwen’s much easier to handle anyway…” Before he could finish, I pushed open the terrace door. The smiles froze on their faces. Brian hid his phone behind his back. I looked at them. “The wedding starts in three minutes. What are you hiding out here for? There are over three hundred guests sitting out there. Are you going to make them wait? Or let them watch the joke?” As soon as I finished speaking, the group burst out laughing. “Gwen, stop it.” Jason waved his hand while laughing. “Three minutes? Is that enough? Our Lucas doesn’t finish that fast. He can’t make it…” “It’s enough.” I calmly interrupted, then turned and left.

Brian then remembered the video was still on and glanced at the screen. “Lucas, Gwen says the wedding starts in three minutes. You’d better hurry.” Lucas’s low laughter came through the phone, carrying the lazy aftermath of passion. “Three minutes? Does this woman have some kind of misunderstanding about me?” A woman’s soft giggle came through the speaker, saying something sweet. “Lucas…” Brian asked quietly. “So…” There was two seconds of silence on the other end, then Lucas’s impatient voice came through. “Go ahead and help me hold down the fort. I’ll come over when I’m done here.” When he said “done,” another coquettish sound came from the woman in the background. Brian quickly hung up the video call. The group frantically stubbed out their cigarettes, straightened their suits, and filed out of the terrace. As he caught up with me, Jason said quietly. “Gwen, we all know about you and Lucas after all these years. He does have feelings for you, it’s just… you know how men are.” I didn’t look at him or respond. Actually, until yesterday, I still didn’t want to believe he’d developed a taste for the new and grown tired of the old. Vivian was an investor’s only daughter, fresh out of college. Ever since they met once at a celebration banquet, his gaze toward her had been off. Back then I thought I was being paranoid. After all, we’d been together for ten years. If I didn’t understand him, I wouldn’t have persisted this long. So I chose to trust him through many ambiguous moments, many late-night messages left unread. I didn’t believe that after all our struggles, just when we were about to build our life together, we would lose to a girl fresh out of college. But he gradually became eager to tear off his mask, getting more and more outrageous. He stopped hiding it, even deliberately making sure I found out. Then he packaged his betrayal as a gift. “How could someone as outstanding as me have just one woman? But my heart belongs to you. No one but you can be Mrs. Shaw.” Expecting me to be grateful. Harper was right–he was too good at pretending. He pretended right up until the day before the wedding before finally tearing off that last layer of disguise. In the cruelest way possible, making me see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears exactly what he considered me to be. He pretended until I had no way out. “Gwen, walk slowly on the red carpet later. We’ll back you up from behind.” “Right, right. Lucas said when he’s done he’ll come over. You just go through the motions first.” They thought I was just going through the motions at the wedding. Thought I’d walk the red carpet alone in my wedding dress, stand before the priest, and wait for a groom who might never show up. Then smile and say “I do” to an empty groom’s spot. This was the script Lucas left for me. The groomsmen stood on either side of me, their faces still wearing those “everything’s under control” smiles. The church doors slowly opened, and a figure stood in the backlight. Then everyone’s smiles froze. Lucas stubbed out his cigarette and buckled his belt. “You’re really leaving?” Vivian sat on the bed wrapped in sheets, her face full of displeasure. “You promised to stay with me all day. I only agreed to postpone getting the certificate because of that, and now you’re just leaving?” “I have to go.” Lucas picked up his jacket. “She only gave me three minutes. If I don’t get there, with her temper–you know how she is–” “What temper?” Vivian pouted. “Isn’t she supposed to be so understanding?” “Understanding is one thing, but today’s different.” Lucas checked himself in the mirror, adjusting his collar. “The century wedding–I promised her that.” “Then why did you come to me?” “Didn’t you insist?” Lucas smiled, walked over and pinched her cheek. “Be good. I’ll be back tonight.” Vivian swatted his hand away and turned around. “So when are we postponing the certificate to?” “We’ll see.” Lucas answered perfunctorily, picking up his phone from the nightstand. The screen lit up. His messages had exploded. Voice messages one after another, and the last one was a video from Brian. He frowned and casually clicked it open. His eyes widened.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “382827”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After my daughter died, I finally became the version of myself Adrian had always wanted. When he kissed his adopted sister, I pretended not to see. When he slept with her, I was even willing to buy them condoms. Everyone said I was so understanding, so generous. Adrian finally let down his guard around me. But I seized the opportunity to escape and went to Antarctica for research. Five years later, when I returned home wearing an international award medal, Adrian knelt in the falling snow begging for my forgiveness. I simply took the arm of the man beside me. “Mr. Blackwood, long time no see. This is my husband.” Lynn’s POV After my daughter died, I finally became the version of myself Adrian had always wanted. When he came home late from business dinners, I no longer cared what time he returned. When he traveled for work, I no longer asked who accompanied him. When he drunkenly murmured the name “Melissa” unconsciously, I no longer became hysterical. Even when my fever reached near-delirium levels, I forced myself to call for emergency help and got myself to the hospital. The nurse looked at me and couldn’t help saying, “Ms. Hart, do you want to notify your family?” Family? I laughed. Part self-mockery, part utter relief. “No need.” My voice was soft. “I don’t have any family.” The nurse opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but finally just sighed and left with her clipboard. The hospital room returned to deathly silence. I closed my eyes. My daughter’s sweet face calling “Mommy” appeared vividly in my mind once again. Following that came Adrian’s cold, resolute face. “Lynn, Anna needs a bone marrow transplant. Only Melissa is a match. She has one condition.” “She wants you to sign this divorce agreement.” “Trade your departure for Anna’s chance to live. It’s fair, isn’t it?” Fair? How laughable! When had Adrian ever been fair to me? After I married him, I learned that his heart belonged to someone named Melissa Blackwood. The adopted sister he treasured like a jewel, frail and unable to care for herself. I once naively believed that if I tried hard enough, loved him enough, I could eventually melt his heart. But five years of marriage resulted in him forcing me to choose between my daughter’s life and our marriage, all for his so called sister. I signed the papers, gave up my position as Mrs. Blackwood, only asking that he keep his promise and save our daughter. But he ultimately deceived me. At the last moment, Melissa backed out, using her poor health as an excuse to refuse the donation. And Adrian simply said to me dismissively, “Melissa’s body is weak. Donating bone marrow is too risky for her. We’ll find another way.” Another way? Late-stage acute leukemia. Where was there time for another way? Two weeks ago, Anna finally stopped breathing in my arms. At that moment, my heart died with her. “Ms. Hart, your husband is here.” The nurse’s voice came from the doorway, carefully cautious. I opened my eyes and, unsurprised, saw Adrian standing at the hospital room door. The man was still strikingly handsome. His perfectly tailored black coat made his figure appear tall and upright, though his brow was shrouded in lingering gloom and barely perceptible irritation. He walked to the bedside in a few strides, looking down at me, his tone carrying his usual interrogative edge. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick? If the hospital hadn’t notified me, how long were you planning to hide this?” I met his gaze. “Mr. Blackwood is so busy. I didn’t dare trouble you with such a small matter.” I paused, then added, “Besides, we’ve already signed the divorce agreement. We’ll be divorced soon.” I pronounced “Mr. Blackwood” with particular clarity, deliberately distant. I knew. He hated seeing me like this. Because the me in his memory wasn’t like this. I used to blush for half the day over an offhand word of concern from him, would carefully call to ask when he wasn’t coming home for dinner, would even secretly cry under the covers over an ambiguous phone call from Melissa. Back then, he found me annoying, thought I wasn’t magnanimous enough, unworthy of being Mrs. Blackwood. But now that I’d truly become what he wanted. No longer asking about his affairs, not even needing him when I was sick. He was unhappy. “We only submitted the divorce application. We’re not officially divorced yet! And even if we divorce, I’m still Anna’s father!” Adrian practically growled this sentence, trying to use our daughter to maintain the pitiful connection between us. Hearing my daughter’s name, my body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to calm. “Anna doesn’t need a father anymore.” I lowered my lashes, hiding the immense grief that instantly welled up in my eyes. “Adrian, from the moment you chose Melissa and abandoned Anna, you lost the right to be her father.” “You!” Adrian’s face turned iron-blue. He wanted to argue back but couldn’t find the words. Just then, his phone rang with a special ringtone. Melissa’s. He instinctively glanced at me. I’d already turned my face away, looking out the window, because everything around me was now irrelevant. Adrian answered the call irritably, though his tone unconsciously softened. “What’s wrong?” Melissa’s delicate, helpless crying came through the phone. “My heart feels uncomfortable. It’s so hard… Can you come stay with me?” Adrian’s brow furrowed deeply. “I’ll be right there.” After hanging up, he looked at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tried to say something. I spoke first. “If Mr. Blackwood has business, please go ahead. I don’t lack people to care for me.” In the end, he couldn’t say a single word. The moment the hospital room door closed, a tear finally slid from the corner of my eye, quickly disappearing into my hair. Not for him. But for the me who once foolishly loved him, and for the daughter who never got to see this world. Then I reached under my pillow for my phone and dialed a number. “Professor Cooper, I accept this assignment. I’m willing to go to Antarctica for the research project.”

Lynn’s POV On the phone, Professor Cooper’s tone was serious. “This is a national level polar research program that will last at least five years. During that time, complete confidentiality is required. You cannot have any contact with the outside world. This means you must completely sever past social relationships, including your family. Have you thought this through?” I gripped the phone tightly. “I’ve thought it through very clearly.” “But you previously declined three important overseas research opportunities to stay with Adrian. Now you want to leave for five years. Are you really willing?” Willing? What was there to miss? My heart was dead. There was nothing left here worth cherishing. I lowered my eyes dimly. “Professor Cooper, Adrian and I have already signed divorce papers. The documents will be processed soon, so you don’t need to have these concerns.” “Alright, I understand. Departure is on the fifth of next month. I’ll send the relevant materials and confidentiality agreement to your email. Once you sign, there’s no backing out.” After the call ended, Professor Cooper quickly sent the email. Without hesitation, I signed my name on the confidentiality agreement. After signing, my phone screen went dark, reflecting my pale, gaunt face. My beginning with Adrian was at an academic summit. He was a young investor invited to attend. I was a new researcher brought along by my advisor to gain experience. He was handsome and brilliant, with exceptional eloquence, yet showed tremendous patience and interest in the somewhat reserved me, initiating conversation. His way of pursuing me was low-key but thoughtful. He remembered literature I’d mentioned in passing, and when my experiments hit bottlenecks, he offered unexpected perspectives from his businessman’s way of thinking. He said he’d never met a girl like me. Pure, persistent, intelligent, like a rough diamond, already shining from within, making people want to protect her. He asked if I could give him a chance to be my protector. So I uncontrollably fell for him, dove in headfirst. After marriage, we had a sweet period. Until shortly after I discovered I was pregnant, I accidentally overheard an intense argument between Adrian and his mother outside the study in the old mansion. “What’s wrong with Lynn? Clean family background, highly educated professional, good reputation, impressive credentials. In what way is she not good enough for you? In what way is she not good enough for the Blackwood family?” “But I don’t love her! You’ve always known who my heart belongs to!” “Precisely because I know, I can’t let you be foolish! I’m telling you. Either have a proper marriage with Lynn, or tomorrow I’ll send Melissa somewhere you’ll never find her!” That’s when I learned that Adrian’s initiative in approaching me, marrying me, was merely the Blackwood family’s way of covering up the scandal of his romantic relationship with his adopted sister. In that moment I finally understood why every time Adrian and I were together, Melissa always found various excuses to call him away from my side. But even then I deceived myself, fantasizing that if I loved him enough, I could eventually find my way into his heart. Yet now, reality not only slapped me hard in the face but took my daughter’s life. This belated awakening made me understand what heart-piercing pain truly meant. Two days later, I handled the discharge procedures alone and returned to the villa. I found a large cardboard box and sorted out everything I didn’t need, placing it all in the box. Carrying the packed box outside the villa to the garbage bins, I threw it out with a single motion. Just then, urgent braking sounds suddenly rang out. “What are you throwing away?” Adrian got out of his car and quickly approached. He then saw the cardboard box by the garbage bin filled with various items I’d treasured. Like the movie tickets from our first date, like small gifts he occasionally brought me from business trips, like photos from our honeymoon, and so on. There was even my diary. “Lynn, have you lost your mind?” Adrian’s pupils contracted. He looked at me incredulously. “You’ve always treasured these things. What does suddenly throwing them all away mean?”

Lynn’s POV “It means nothing.” I didn’t even look at him. “Things I used to consider treasures, I don’t care about anymore. Since I don’t care, there’s no need to keep them.” With that, I turned and walked back to the villa. Adrian pursued me without a second thought. “Lynn!” He caught up with me at the staircase, gripping my wrist. “How long are you going to keep this up? Anna’s death is hard for me too. I’m her father as well! Do you think only you’re in pain?” “You’re in pain?” I repeated softly, as if I’d heard the world’s most ridiculous joke. “If you really cared about Anna, you wouldn’t have chosen Melissa and given up Anna’s chance to live.” “Melissa’s body is weak and she has a heart condition. I couldn’t watch her risk her life to save Anna!” Yes, of course he couldn’t let the woman he loved risk her life to save our daughter. Laughable. When they presented their conditions, I truly saw them as my last hope. Then came even deeper despair. “Lynn, please stop this, okay?” He gripped my hand, pulling me into his embrace, softening his tone to soothe me. “We’re still young. We can have another child in the future. We-” “Don’t touch me! Adrian, you disgust me!” Before he could finish his sentence, he struck some nerve in me. I suddenly became furious and shoved him hard. Caught off guard, Adrian staggered back a step from my push, hitting the stair railing, looking at me in shock. I laughed bitterly in my anger. “Do I need to remind you again? We’ve already submitted our divorce application. Soon we’ll have nothing to do with each other. In the future, you can have children with whoever you want!” My only child was Anna. Meeting my gaze, Adrian panicked. “I only had you sign the agreement to placate Melissa, to get her to agree to donate to Anna. I didn’t expect she would ultimately…” He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing, then continued, “Don’t worry. I’ll withdraw the application before the divorce takes effect. We won’t get divorced.” Withdraw the application? Too bad. Too late. I sneered inwardly. What Adrian didn’t know was that after he made me sign that divorce agreement, I’d already had someone expedite the divorce processing. I would never love him again, never stay by his side, and never bear another child with him. I would go somewhere he could never find me, disappear from his world forever, and let him be with Melissa. I didn’t want to say another word to him. I coldly withdrew my gaze and silently turned back to the bedroom. “Lynn…” Just as Adrian was about to follow, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang. He took out his phone and answered, impatiently asking Melissa, “What now?” “Stomachache? Go to the hospital! I’m not a doctor. What’s the point of calling me?” I didn’t know what Melissa said to him. But I heard that after the call, Adrian ultimately left the villa once again. I’d grown accustomed to scenes like this. Over these years, Melissa always used excuses like being weak or having heart discomfort to make him abandon our daughter and me when we needed him most. I’d lost count of how many times. I used to be hurt, would try repeatedly to stop him, tell him Melissa was doing it on purpose, ask him not to go. I’d also cry and rage, smashing the entire villa to ruins after he still chose Melissa. But now, my emotions couldn’t stir even a ripple. It turned out that after your heart died, the things that once drove you to hysteria truly no longer seemed important.

Lynn’s POV The next afternoon, Adrian came home early from the company. He said he’d reserved my favorite French restaurant, hired my favorite violinist to perform, and asked me to change and go out with him. I refused without thinking. “I don’t want to go out.” “Lynn, since Anna’s funeral, you’ve been cooped up at home all day. You’ll make yourself sick like this.” Concern showed in his eyes, his tone softer than usual. “Go listen to some music and change your mood, okay?” How much I used to long for him to care about me even a little. Now he was finally starting to worry about my mental and physical health, but only after my heart had died to ash. I didn’t understand why, now that I’d finally stopped fussing and cleared the way for him and Melissa, he was acting like he cared about me. Just as I was about to refuse, Adrian pulled me along, taking me to the car outside the villa without allowing refusal. “Never mind, what you’re wearing is fine. There won’t be outsiders anyway.” I struggled but couldn’t break free from his grip. At the French restaurant, we were led by a waiter to a window seat. When I saw Melissa sitting there in an off-white dress, I stopped. I turned to look at Adrian and smiled. “This is what you call changing my mood?” “She’s felt terrible about Anna all along.” His grip on my wrist tightened as he coaxed softly, “When she learned about what I prepared for you today, she begged me for a long time. She said she wanted to use this opportunity to apologize to you in person, to make amends for what she owes you and Anna.” Melissa stood and approached me. Her eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I know it’s too late to say anything now, but I truly-” “Shut up!” I directly slapped away her outstretched hand, sarcastically curling my lips. “Apologize? Make amends? Melissa, what game are you playing now?” Melissa’s eyes immediately reddened further. “I know you’ve never liked me, and Anna’s death made you hate me even more, but Anna’s gone, and that makes me very sad too…” My hands clenched tightly into fists. “Enough, Melissa! If you really feel guilty, then go kneel at Anna’s grave! What’s the point of this performance in front of me?” Melissa’s expression stiffened, then she looked at Adrian with grievance. “Adrian…” Adrian’s brow furrowed deeply, as if I were being completely unreasonable. “Melissa came to apologize sincerely. Can’t you just let the past be the past? We’re all family.” “Who’s family with her?” I interrupted him, my gaze coldly sweeping over him, then looking at Melissa, enunciating each word, “My only family was my daughter, and she’s dead.” That one sentence froze the air. Finally, Adrian’s expression showed displeasure as he pushed and pulled me into my seat. “Today isn’t for you two to argue. Eat properly and listen to the music.” He then clapped his hands. Waiters began serving food, and the waiting violinist started playing. Graceful, light music flowed through every corner of the restaurant. This violinist’s performance was what I used to love most. Every dish on the table was what I used to love eating most. But now I couldn’t take in the music or swallow the food. Especially not while sharing a space with Melissa, sitting at the same table. Halfway through dinner, I excused myself to use the restroom. When I came out, Melissa blocked my path at the door. The timid, guilty look she’d had earlier was gone, replaced by a triumphant light laugh. “It’s not pleasant, is it? Getting your hopes up, only to fall even deeper.”

Lynn’s POV I didn’t want to engage. I didn’t even spare her a glance, simply moving to step past her. The moment we brushed shoulders, Melissa said with apparent regret, “Anna’s angelic little face, with those two dimples when she smiled. Thinking about such an adorable child just gone like that. It’s truly a pity.” I thought I’d gone numb from the pain, but hearing these words, thinking of my daughter’s face, my heart still couldn’t help but clench. I stopped and looked at Melissa. “You never planned to save her, did you? From beginning to end, you were just toying with me, wanting to watch me get hope then experience even more painful despair, weren’t you?” “So what if I was?” Melissa raised an eyebrow languidly, lifting a cold smile. “Adrian and I are truly in love. You’re just a tool the Blackwood family used to silence outsiders. The child you gave birth to was never supposed to exist. A child who never should have been born.” “Melissa!!” Bastard? Deserved to die? In an instant, all my remaining rationality was destroyed. Furious, I raised my hand and slapped Melissa hard across the face. Melissa staggered backward from the blow. “You…” She covered her face, now bearing a clear handprint, but abnormally showed no anger. Instead, tears instantly welled up as a flash of triumph passed through her eyes. “What are you doing!” A harsh rebuke came from behind. The next moment, a large hand clamped on my shoulder, roughly and angrily pulling me away. The force made me lose balance. Caught off guard, I crashed into the wall. My head hit the hard wall heavily. Stars immediately burst before my eyes, and intense dizziness struck, nearly making me unable to stand. Perhaps realizing belatedly that he’d used too much force, Adrian’s expression froze. “You-” Just then, the massive decorative oil painting hanging on the wall behind me made an unusual sound. Immediately after, the entire painting suddenly loosened and fell directly down. “Watch out!” Adrian’s pupils contracted sharply. His body reacted on instinct before his brain could process. Not knowing what was happening, I saw his expression turn horrified as he pulled Melissa into his arms and quickly turned, his back toward me. The next instant. Standing beneath the huge oil painting, I took the full impact. I didn’t even feel the pain before darkness swallowed my consciousness. I was knocked unconscious on the spot. When I regained consciousness and opened my eyes, I saw the white ceiling of a hospital room. Then my head felt like it was exploding with pain, my body like it had been run over by wheels. “You’re awake?” Adrian’s concerned voice came from beside me, carrying barely perceptible relief. But I just stared at the ceiling without even moving my eyes. “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else? Are you dizzy? The doctor said you have a mild concussion, with multiple contusions on your back and legs. You need to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days…” He reached out, wanting to touch my forehead. I tilted my head slightly, avoiding his touch. Adrian’s hand froze in midair. Displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He withdrew his hand, his tone growing heavier. “Even if you hate Melissa, you shouldn’t have hit her. You left her face all red. How could you strike so hard?” Ha… Remembering how he’d protected Melissa in his arms before I was knocked unconscious, I wasn’t at all surprised to be questioned like this when I woke. I pulled at the corner of my mouth, wanting to laugh but unable to. I turned my gaze to look at him. “Do you know what she said to me?” “What could she say?” Adrian frowned deeply. “She just wanted to apologize to you, said something about Anna that made you sad. I know you’re hurting inside, but Melissa-” “She said,” I interrupted him, “that Anna was a bastard who never should have come into this world, and deserved to die.” Hearing this, Adrian’s form trembled, his expression freezing. “Adrian, was our daughter a bastard? Do you also think she deserved to die?”

Lynn’s POV “Melissa would never say something like that!” Adrian almost reflexively defended her without thinking. “I know you’re suffering. You hate her. But no matter how much you hate her, you can’t use words like that to slander her.” He didn’t believe me. Didn’t believe those words came from Melissa’s mouth. I wasn’t surprised at all. After all, in Adrian’s mind, Melissa was so delicate and unable to care for herself, so purely innocent. “Besides, bone marrow donation is voluntary. Melissa had no obligation to save Anna. You shouldn’t harbor such resentment toward her over this.” He paused, then added with finality, “Anna’s matter ends here. Stop making a fuss.” Ends here? It turned out that when your heart died to the extreme, even anger would be extinguished. The bone-deep exhaustion made me feel like all my strength had been drained. Suddenly I didn’t want to waste any more words on him. “Then you should go.” I closed my eyes again. “I’m tired. I want to rest.” Adrian didn’t move. His jawline tightened slightly. “I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone. I’ll stay and keep you company.” I said nothing, just turned slightly to my side, giving him my back. Over the next few days, Adrian pushed aside considerable work and social obligations, truly staying in the hospital room. He brought me tea and water. He even peeled apples, cut them into small pieces, stuck toothpicks in them, and placed them within my reach. When my hand grew cold during IV drips, he’d raise the air conditioning temperature and clumsily try to warm my hands. Even the nurse who came to change the IV said, “Ms. Hart, your husband is so considerate.” Considerate? In the past, how much I longed for him to care about me even a little. Now he was finally starting to worry about my physical and mental health, but only after my heart had turned to ash. I didn’t understand that I’d finally stopped fussing and cleared the way for him and Melissa. Why was he acting so concerned about me? I refused the fruit he offered. I pushed away his attempts to warm my hands. I wanted no more of his kindness, however small. I completely ignored him, as if he were transparent. Even when Adrian showed displeasure several times at being ignored, I paid no attention. This continued for several days. One evening a few days later, I woke from light sleep. Adrian, who’d been sitting on the sofa, was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t care. I just felt my throat was terribly dry. Supporting myself with my arms, I slowly sat up, wanting to pour myself some water. Just then, the hospital room door was forcefully pushed open as a man’s voice rang out. “Lynn, why did you do this?” Adrian brought with him biting cold and towering fury. He crossed to the bedside in a few strides, his tall figure overwhelmingly oppressive as he demanded answers. I paused, water glass in hand, halfway to pouring. “What did I do?” “Still pretending?” The fire in Adrian’s eyes burned fiercer. “Melissa has been kneeling at Anna’s grave for a full day and night without eating or drinking! She says unless you forgive her, she won’t get up!” Melissa knelt at Anna’s grave? I hadn’t even processed this information when Adrian said with an iron-blue face, “What exactly do you want? Our daughter is dead. Must you torture the living like this?” Not understanding what game Melissa was playing now, I was too lazy to think about it. I said, “She kneels if she wants. What does it have to do with me?” “Nothing to do with you?” Adrian snatched the water glass from my hand and slammed it heavily on the bedside table. “If you hadn’t threatened and coerced her, why would she use this almost self-abusive method to beg your forgiveness? I never thought you’d become like this!” Threatened? Coerced? I raised my eyes and looked at him quietly for two seconds. “What ability do I have to threaten her?” “Still pretending!” Adrian was furious beyond measure. “If you hadn’t told her that unless she knelt at Anna’s grave until you forgave her, you’d tell Mom and Dad to send her abroad, would she be kneeling there without eating or drinking? Don’t you know she has a heart condition? If something happens to her, can you bear the responsibility!” I see. The same thing again. Anytime, anywhere, no matter the truth, whatever Melissa said, he always believed without reservation. Clearly, if he just thought about it, he’d realize. I detested Melissa so much, if telling his parents could send Melissa away, why wouldn’t I have done it earlier? Forget it. Let it be. “Yes.” I simply nodded. “I threatened her and forced her to kneel at Anna’s grave in repentance. So what? Are you here to get justice for her?” Adrian froze, seemingly not expecting this reaction from me. In the past, I would have argued my case to the death, never admitting it. His brow furrowed, his tone softening somewhat. “I’m not trying to get justice for her. I just want you to go to the cemetery and tell her you forgive her so she’ll come back.”

Lynn’s POV Adrian half-forced me out of the hospital and brought me to the cemetery. “I was wrong. I really know I was wrong…” When Melissa saw us, she crawled on her knees to us, grabbing my legs with both hands. “Please, don’t tell Mom and Dad. Don’t let them send me away… I’ll kneel, I’ll keep kneeling. You can make me kneel as long as you want.”She begged tearfully, large tears rolling down her face. “Melissa, get up first.” Adrian immediately stepped forward and bent down, trying to help Melissa up. “The ground is cold. You’re not well. You can’t kneel like this.” Melissa avoided his hand, shaking her head through tears. “If she doesn’t forgive me, I’ll kneel here until I die… This is what I owe Anna.” Adrian’s brow furrowed tightly. He turned to look at me. “Don’t forget what you promised me.” I looked down at Melissa clutching my legs, my mind recalling that day outside the bathroom. Melissa’s contemptuous, vicious words. I had to admire this woman’s acting skills. Truly exquisite. I smiled and slowly bent down. Just as Adrian thought I was going to help Melissa up, the next second, I forcefully shoved Melissa away. “Melissa, you don’t need to put on this performance for me. Want me to forgive you? Dream on!” “Ah!” Melissa was pushed over, her whole body falling backward and landing heavily on the stone pavement. “Melissa!” Adrian’s expression changed drastically as he rushed over. He knelt on one knee to help Melissa up, his distress overflowing. “Are you okay? Does it hurt? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?” Melissa’s face was covered in tears, but she bit her lip and shook her head, putting on a brave face as if enduring pain without wanting him to worry. “I’m fine… It’s not her fault. I shouldn’t have made her angry…” Adrian noticed her trembling hands. He hastily picked up her hands to examine them, seeing her scraped palms oozing bright red blood. The fury in his eyes could no longer be suppressed. His gaze cut toward me like a knife. “Have you lost your mind? What did you promise me before we came here?” I looked at him. “I don’t remember promising you anything.” From beginning to end, I never said I’d forgive Melissa, much less that I’d help him persuade her to go back. “Lynn!!” I said coldly, “Melissa will never deserve my forgiveness in this lifetime. If she wants to kneel here until she dies, I certainly won’t stop her.” He was furious beyond measure. “Since you’re so stubborn and insist on continuing like this, then I’ll help you cool down and think clearly about whether you want to keep acting like you’ve lost your mind!” He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed a number. After the call connected, he commanded coldly into the phone, “Come take my wife away. Send Mrs. Blackwood to Southhill Sanatorium. Without my permission, no one is allowed to visit her, and she’s not allowed to leave.” Security guards soon appeared at the cemetery, gripping me on both sides. “Mrs. Blackwood, please come with us.” I hadn’t expected him to go this far for Melissa. I tried to resist, struggling a few times, but couldn’t break free from their powerful restraint. My lips trembled slightly as I said to Adrian, “You’ll regret this.” Southhill Sanatorium accepted patients with mental problems. The seven days I was locked in there were among the darkest times of my life. I was deemed to have gone mad from losing my daughter, so I was strapped to a special chair for electroshock therapy and force-fed pills of various colors. The orderly holding me down said, “Mr. Blackwood is very concerned about your recovery. He hopes you’ll cooperate with treatment, come to your senses soon, and live happily as a family.” I found it utterly absurd and laughable. I stubbornly struggled and resisted, claiming I wasn’t sick. But in return, I received even more brutal treatment. At night, almost every evening, screams and crying came from other rooms in the corridor, along with dull thudding sounds that terrified me. My body and spirit endured dual torment, pushing me to the brink of collapse several times. My heart was left nothing but an empty, numb wasteland. Until a week later, Adrian finally appeared and had me brought out of the sanatorium gates. He got out of the car, his tall figure standing before me. “Have you thought it through? Are you going to keep making a fuss over our child’s death?” “Adrian.” Without answering his question, I slowly raised my eyes. Then I curved my lips and said, “Every day in there, I kept thinking that the biggest mistake of my life was… ever loving you.”

Lynn’s POV Adrian immediately grabbed my hand. “What do you mean ‘ever loved’? Are you saying you… don’t love me anymore?” I smiled, my lips moving. “No…” Before I could finish, Adrian’s phone suddenly rang from his pocket. It was a call from Adrian’s mother. He frowned, glanced at me, and finally answered the call first. “Mom.” “Where are you two? The whole family is waiting for you to eat.” “Almost there. We’re on our way.” Adrian answered briefly before ending the call. His gaze returned to my face, his lips pressed thin. “There’s a dinner party today. Mom and Dad want me to bring you back. Get in the car.” With that, he took my hand and led me to the car. I didn’t struggle, letting him pull me along. The Blackwood estate. When Adrian’s mother saw me, her eyes widened in surprise. “Lynn, why have you gotten so thin?” She walked forward, grasped my cold hands, and comforted me earnestly. “Mom knows you’re heartbroken. Anna’s death… we’re all very sad. But no matter how sad you are, you must eat properly and take care of yourself. After all, you and Adrian are still young. You can have children in the future.” I kept my eyes lowered, saying nothing. Adrian’s mother assumed I was still immersed in grief. She sighed and patted my hand. “Alright, let’s eat first.” In the dining room, Melissa was already sitting in the seat next to Adrian. Hearing Adrian’s mother’s words, her fingers tightened slightly. Her eyes swept over me with unconcealed jealous hatred before she quickly masked it, resuming her usual docile appearance. Throughout the meal, I ate very little. I sat there quietly, out of sync with the entire atmosphere of the dining room. Adrian’s father asked Adrian a few questions about the company. Adrian’s mother occasionally tried to steer the conversation toward me, but I deflected with silence or brief responses. Midway through, my phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen. It was the lawyer’s number. I stood up, saying softly, “I need to take a call.” Finding a quiet corner, I answered. The lawyer said, “Ms. Hart, your divorce decree from Mr. Blackwood has been processed. When you have time, please come pick it up.” “Alright, I understand. Thank you.” After hanging up, I stood there for a few seconds, slightly dazed. Finally, this day had come. I turned around, about to return, when I heard lowered voices from the balcony direction. My steps halted. The balcony curtains weren’t completely drawn. Through the gap, I saw Melissa standing in front of Adrian, her face upturned, eyes red. “Do you think she’ll tell Mom and Dad? They were already against our relationship. If she tells them I deliberately didn’t want to donate bone marrow to save Anna, will they send me away in anger?” “No, they won’t. Don’t overthink it.” “But I’m really scared… I’m afraid of leaving you, afraid I’ll never see you again…” Melissa’s tears fell, looking utterly pitiful. Adrian sighed helplessly, reaching out to wipe away her tears. “She should have learned her lesson this time and won’t dare make trouble again. After this, I’ll find a time to talk to her. As long as she stops dwelling on the past, I’ll withdraw the divorce application. She’ll still be Mrs. Blackwood, and everything will go back to how it was.” “But I’m still uneasy.” Melissa raised her tearful eyes. “After the party tonight, can you take me back to my apartment? I don’t want to go back alone.” Adrian hesitated for a moment but finally agreed. “Okay.” Hearing this, I silently turned and left. After saying goodbye to Adrian’s parents, I walked out of the Blackwood estate and hailed a cab to leave alone. An hour later, at the law office. I received the divorce decree from the lawyer. I suddenly thought of the day I married Adrian five years ago. Back then, I didn’t know this marriage was full of deception, harm, and cold ruthlessness. I thought I’d found true love and happily took photos with Adrian. Looking back now, that happiness felt like something from a previous century. I closed my eyes and put away the divorce decree. Shortly after returning to the villa, my phone showed a message from an airline, reminding me of my boarding time. Then I pulled a suitcase out of the closet. I’d already prepared my luggage for departure. Some simple clothes, important documents, and a photo of just my daughter and me. I pulled the suitcase downstairs without looking back at this house I’d lived in for five years. On the way to the airport, my phone vibrated again. This time it was a message from Adrian on social media. “I’ve had someone withdraw the divorce application. Wait for me to come home later. I have some things I want to discuss with you in person.” I stared at these words for a few seconds. Then I typed a message in reply. “There’s no need to talk anymore, Adrian. I’m letting you be with Melissa. We’ll never see each other again in this lifetime.” After sending it, I dragged the man’s contact into my block list, then sent an audio message to Adrian’s mother’s number before turning off my phone, removing the SIM card, and throwing it out the car window. Adrian, in this lifetime, we will never meet again, in life or death.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “382828”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I am Lila, the only daughter of the Silver Pack Alpha. To secure a century-long alliance between our two packs, I married Ethan, the new Alpha of the Black Pack. Seven months into my pregnancy, while shopping for baby clothes at a maternity store, I saw Ethan tenderly stroking his sister-in-law Seraphina’s swollen belly. Hearing their conversation, my heart ached until I could barely breathe. “Seraphina, thank you for giving me another child. My life as a wolf is complete now.” “It’s my honor to carry your bloodline, my beloved Alpha.” After returning home, I hired a private investigator and uncovered the whole truth. He and Seraphina had been having an affair even before his brother Julian died. Even before marrying me, he had already designated Seraphina’s unborn child as the next Alpha of the Black Pack. I removed the wedding ring that symbolized our political marriage. This was the Alpha who had betrayed me from the very beginning. I didn’t want him anymore. I sensed Ethan’s presence coming from the entryway and pressed my fingers against the corners of my eyes. Ethan wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin in the hollow of my shoulder. He reeked of Seraphina’s signature sweet orange perfume, the scent so overpowering it made my nose sting. “Guess what I brought you.” I turned around and saw him holding a bouquet of lilies. I reached out to take them and looked up at him. “I thought you’d bring me the Starlight Brooch.” His expression froze for a moment. The Starlight Brooch, a Luna heirloom passed down through three hundred years of Black Pack history. It should have been pinned to my collar on my very first day as part of the Black Pack. “About that…” Ethan looked down, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of his sleeve. “I wanted to give it to you at the baby’s birthday celebration. That would better show everyone how important you are.” The birthday celebration. I almost laughed out loud. Last week, someone in the Pack had leaked news about the Starlight Brooch. Ethan knew perfectly well that I loved wearing brooches, and as his Luna, I should have received that brooch long ago. Yet just hours earlier, I had seen him with my own eyes pin that very brooch to Seraphina’s collar. The image the investigator had captured of them kissing in the Alpha’s study flooded my mind. My stomach churned violently. The wolf pup inside me kicked restlessly. I stumbled to the sink and dry-heaved. Ethan immediately called for the doctor in a panic, but the next second, his phone began vibrating frantically. Through the speakerphone came Seraphina’s delicate, tearful voice. “Ethan, I slipped on the stairs. My belly hurts so much.” After hearing this, Ethan’s face filled with anxiety. He grabbed the doctor and rushed out without a backward glance. I watched his panicked retreating figure, and tears finally poured from my eyes. Before Julian died, he had clasped Ethan’s hand and entrusted him with caring for his wife and child. But Ethan had already been involved with Seraphina even then. When Seraphina was attacked by rogues, he abandoned me on our wedding anniversary to stay by her side all night. When Seraphina went on a hunger strike, he left me, just after I’d miscarried and lost our first pup, to coax her into eating. Before, I had thought he was simply protecting his former Alpha’s widow out of family loyalty. I had even convinced my father to deploy Silver Pack’s elite forces for his sake, helping him suppress the elder rebellion within his Pack and secure his position as Alpha. I never imagined he had calculated everything from the very beginning: Killing his brother to seize power, using our political marriage to stabilize his position, then carrying on his illicit affair with Seraphina behind my back. He used me as a tool to consolidate his power, while becoming another woman’s support and another pup’s father. With all my strength, I wrenched off my wedding ring and hurled it into the fireplace. The floor-to-ceiling window reflected my pale, haggard face. My pregnancy-swollen ring finger, rubbed raw and bloody by the ring, throbbed painfully, and my heart sent sharp stabs of pain through my chest from the emotional turmoil. After my emotions settled, I dialed the number at the top of my contacts, my voice hoarse. “Mom, I want to come home.” Ethan didn’t return all night. I threw the bouquet of wilted lilies from the entryway vase into the trash without a second thought. My phone notification reminded me that today was my newborn care class at the nursing center. I placed my hand over my swollen belly. The pup kicked me gently. Even though Ethan had been using me all along, the child was innocent. It was my flesh and blood, my one and only treasure. I had the butler prepare the car to take me to Silver Pack’s exclusive nursing center. The nursing center’s reception hall was filled with soft morning light. Every waiting couple sat close together, the husband’s hand resting on his wife’s rounded belly. They leaned their heads together, speaking softly, occasionally exchanging smiling glances. I chose the most isolated corner seat and sat down. A familiar scent caught me off guard. The moment I looked up, my heart froze.

Ethan was carefully supporting Seraphina as they walked toward me from the end of the corridor. His hand protected her lower back as though escorting a priceless, fragile treasure. When he looked down at her, his eyes were filled with affection and tenderness he couldn’t hide. I suddenly remembered the week I first learned I was pregnant. On my way back from visiting Silver Pack, I was attacked by three rogues. After Ethan received the news, he led a team overnight and chased them for three hundred kilometers. He dragged those rogues back and personally executed them in the Pack council hall in front of all the elders. I had scolded him through tears for being too impulsive. He had just assumed the Alpha position. His foundation was unstable, and countless eyes were watching him. If someone used this against him, they could impeach him before the elder council for overstepping his authority. He would have to give up the position he had fought so hard for. But he had pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on my head, and said that anyone who dared harm his Luna and pup would pay, even if it cost him his Alpha title. I had trembled and sobbed in his arms then, thinking I had married the right person. I could never understand it. The Ethan who had once defied the entire elder council for my sake had been setting me up from the very beginning. The announcement suddenly crackled over the speakers. “Lila, please proceed to the classroom.” Though only a few rows of seats separated us, Ethan finally noticed me. His eyes darted away for a moment before he quickly crossed the corridor toward me. He lifted his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Why didn’t you call me? I would have come with you.” I looked past his shoulder toward Seraphina, who sat in the waiting area holding a glass of water. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and forced a tight smile. “I was afraid you’d be too busy.” Ethan’s brow furrowed. He sighed, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and exhaustion. “Julian is gone. Seraphina is pregnant and has no one to look after her. I’m just fulfilling my responsibility to my brother. Don’t take it to heart.” Before he finished speaking, Seraphina hurried forward holding her belly, positioning herself in front of Ethan. She grasped my hands, her eyes reddening. “Lila, please don’t misunderstand Ethan. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t keep troubling him. I promise I won’t ask for his help anymore.” I hadn’t even opened my mouth, yet Seraphina’s tears were already streaming down her face. Ethan immediately pulled her protectively into his arms and looked up at me with fury in his eyes. “Lila, can’t you be a little more tolerant? She’s my sister-in-law, part of the Black Pack!” Then what about me? His legitimate Luna, the one who had given everything my entire Pack had for him. What was I? The nurse walked to my side and gently reminded me again that it was time to enter the classroom. I turned away and wiped my tears. From the corner of my eye, I caught Seraphina deliberately tilting her neck to reveal a fresh, crimson bite mark. In the photos the investigator had sent last night, Ethan had been kissing her on the estate balcony while I waited at home all night. When the class ended, Ethan was waiting at the door. He took my hand with feigned concern. “How was the class? Are you tired?” I calmly withdrew my hand. “The nurse said the baby’s heartbeat is weak. She told me to stay calm and avoid stress.” Ethan nodded. Down the corridor, Seraphina coughed softly. He immediately ruffled my hair. “I’ll take Seraphina home first. I’ll come back to pick you up later.” The last ember of hope in my heart was completely extinguished. I forced a smile and nodded. “Okay.” I stood in the cold wind at the nursing center entrance for three hours. Ethan never appeared. I pulled out the guarantee letter he had signed and stamped before our wedding. If he ever betrayed our marriage, he would voluntarily relinquish his position as Alpha. With one click, I sent scanned copies to the elder councils of both Packs, copying my father. I sent the document to the alliance elder councils of both Packs, as well as to my father. After returning home, I began packing to leave. The door was kicked open. Alpha pressure instantly swept through the entire house, making my chest tighten. Ethan stormed in and seized my wrist, demanding furiously, “If you have complaints, take them out on me!” I frowned in confusion. The next second, he slammed me hard against the wall. Pain shot through my spine. He unleashed a flood of accusations at me. “Someone poisoned Seraphina’s breakfast with slow-acting wolfsbane, and then she was attacked by rogues! If the guards hadn’t arrived in time, she and the baby would both be dead! Lila, you’re a murderer!”

The moonstone bracelet on my wrist suddenly snapped. Moonstones scattered across the floor. He had made it for me by hand when we first confirmed our alliance marriage, engraved with both our wolf insignias. I winced in pain and met his bloodshot wolf eyes directly. “What are you talking about?” Footsteps sounded in the hallway. Seraphina appeared at the doorway, her face pale, leaning against the frame. Her wrist was wrapped in thick bandages. She bit her lower lip, trembling all over. “Lila, I know you don’t like me, but there’s a little life in my belly too. What you did today was too much.” Rage surged through me. I shook off Ethan’s grip, my fury boiling. “I didn’t do anything! I would never stoop to such despicable methods to hurt you!” I advanced on Seraphina angrily. She backed away, tears streaming down her face. A sharp slap rang out. My cheek burned with stinging pain. Ethan stood before me, ice-cold, his broad frame completely shielding Seraphina. His wolf claws had emerged, radiating aggression. I stood frozen. His eyes held anger, contempt, resentment, but not a trace of the trust he once had. He had once said that no matter what happened, he would trust me unconditionally and stand by my side. A sudden dropping pain shot through my lower abdomen. I braced myself against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. But Ethan didn’t spare me a single glance. He even moved his foot away in disgust, as if afraid I would contaminate him. I bit down hard, refusing to show any weakness. Seraphina’s sobs echoed through the room, along with Ethan’s low, gentle words of comfort. I suddenly remembered two years ago during a hunt in the mountain forest. Seraphina and I had both encountered a black bear. Seraphina had carried a beast-repelling sachet, while I had been notified to participate at the last minute and hadn’t had time to prepare. Yet Ethan’s first reaction was to protect her. Only after confirming Seraphina was completely unharmed did he remember me, still exposed in the bear’s line of sight. I lost control and overturned the tea table beside me. Shattered cup fragments flew, cutting Ethan’s hand. He grunted but immediately checked whether Seraphina was injured. Upon seeing the tiny scratch on her finger, he immediately scooped her up in his arms and coldly ordered the butler. “Lock the Luna in the dungeon. Without my permission, don’t give her any food or water, and don’t let anyone visit her. I won’t have her going out to harm people again!” The door slammed shut. The sound of the lock stabbed painfully at my eardrums. Delayed pain ripped through my belly. I fearfully clutched my abdomen. Warmth trickled between my legs. My light-colored dress was instantly stained with a large patch of vivid crimson. My mind went blank. Violent contractions tore through my entire body. I crawled frantically to the door and pounded on it, my voice trembling uncontrollably with terror. “Ethan, I’m bleeding. Please open the door. Take me to the doctor. I’m going to lose the pup…” The footsteps outside the door paused, then drew closer. A flicker of hope ignited in my heart. The door handle turned slightly, followed by Ethan’s cold, mocking voice. “Lila, I won’t fall for your childish tricks anymore.” My heart sank. I beat the door frantically. “Ethan, come back! I’m not lying! My belly really hurts. The baby is in danger!” Only dead silence answered me. My phone wasn’t with me. Blood flowed more and more. My belly felt like someone was tearing me apart inside. As consciousness faded, I finally remembered the emergency rescue brooch my mother had given me. It connected directly to Silver Pack’s guard team and emergency doctors. I used every ounce of strength to drag myself to the corner of the dungeon, fumbled for the brooch hidden in my collar, and pressed the emergency button with all my might. Then consciousness abandoned me completely, and I collapsed onto the cold, damp stone floor. When I woke again, the scent of disinfectant and bitter herbs filled my nostrils. I frantically felt for my belly. It was completely flat. I couldn’t sense even a trace of the pup’s presence. Realizing I had lost my most precious treasure, I broke down and sobbed, a dull, hollow ache cutting through me. The doctor stood nearby and sighed with regret. “If you’d been brought in half an hour earlier, the pup might have been saved.” The second time. This was the second time. Ethan, you are the one who killed my children.

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My sister, Charlotte, craved living in the moment and had no interest in marriage. And I was greedy for money, so I took Charlotte’s place and married Xavier, who was supposedly ugly and fierce. Rumors spread that he despised me, only because his heart still belonged to his unattainable first love. Finally, after saving enough money, I decided to fake my death and escape. I sent a message to Charlotte, who ran a high-end club in the southern city: “I’m coming to join you—remember to cover for me!” One day, however, my CEO husband shaved his beard and showed up at my door. His appearance was even more handsome than the city’s acknowledged heartthrob. I panicked and tried to flee, but due to our size difference, he caught me in his arms with reddened eyes. It was over. This time, I truly couldn’t escape… My husband Xavier was famous in this city as an iron-faced CEO. He stood six foot two, just past twenty-five, his chin always covered in thick stubble. When he looked at people, his gaze was sharp and piercing. Anyone who caught his eye felt a survivor’s fear. When people saw me following behind him, they couldn’t help but whisper. “A man like that actually managed to get a wife?” “He looks completely unromantic. Life with him must be boring as hell, like being a living widow! Poor Mrs. Xavier…” I broke out in a cold sweat. My husband truly didn’t understand romance. But in bed, he was fierce and relentless, with no restraint. Every night he’d make me cry and beg for mercy before he’d reluctantly stop. “Xavier, no more…” I’d think of sad things to make myself cry, tears streaming down my face, and Xavier couldn’t stand it. He’d stop with a dark expression on his face. He didn’t know how to comfort people. He’d grasp my trembling, snow-white ankle, gently set it down, lean over to kiss my forehead, his voice hoarse: “Stop crying.” I was somewhat surprised, because he rarely kissed me. Usually he just closed his eyes and went straight to work. But the next moment, his stubble scraped against my eyelids. The pain made tears stream down my face again. Therefore, I often had red-rimmed eyes, looking frail and delicate. The company was full of rumors that Xavier was abusive. So what if he was powerful in business? Only the most incompetent men beat their wives at home. Feeling guilty, I sniffled and got some anti-swelling ointment from the private doctor, then hurriedly fled. This marriage wasn’t originally my destiny. The person engaged to Xavier was my sister, Charlotte. My name is Natalie, and Charlotte is my half-sister, but we have an excellent relationship. Charlotte had always loved living in the moment, especially fond of handsome, refined men. She’d bet on nine young entrepreneurs who came to this city to start businesses, telling each one reluctantly: “I’ll wait for you to return successful and marry me. If it’s not you, I’ll never marry.” Unfortunately, Charlotte lost every bet and even invested quite a bit of money. She was so angry she came to my room, broke my things, and cried her heart out. I also cried tears of heartache, angry but not daring to speak. “Natalie, what should I do? I really don’t want to marry that Xavier!” “His fierce looks are one thing, but he’s dark and fierce, famous for his bad temper.” I knew Charlotte’s ambition was to open a high-end club, gather all the handsome young men in the world, and live it up every night with fine wine and music. When Charlotte had a sudden inspiration and begged me with her bright, dewy eyes to marry him in her place, I hesitated. “How can I do something so dishonest? If Dad finds out, I’m afraid…” She saw through my hesitation and waved her hand grandly, saying she’d give me a hundred thousand dollars after it was done, plus a share of the dividends when she opened her high-end club in the future. “Alright then, I’ll make an exception for you this once.” I finally agreed. It was nothing more than being a careful, heartbroken lapdog—I was familiar with that role. So we hit it off immediately. She staged a crying bride’s suicide by drowning, but actually secretly ran away, taking the money to the southern city to live carefree. The family had no other daughters of marriageable age, so the burden of the marriage alliance successfully fell on me.

When I first married him, Xavier had no interest in me. He was cold and emotionless. On our wedding night, he still wore his suit, sitting upright, frankly telling me he didn’t go near women and wouldn’t touch me. The very next day after the wedding, he went on a business trip to negotiate a major project and didn’t return for half a year. But I was anxious. Without sparks of passion, how could I conveniently be heartless later? So I was gentle and considerate, deliberately seductive. Finally, on the day of his triumphant return at the celebration banquet, I secretly made him drink spiked wine and seduced him into sleeping with me. In his early twenties, after his first taste of such matters, Xavier became addicted. They say bloodlust and possessiveness go hand in hand—I deeply agreed. Though I found pleasure in suffering, I couldn’t help complaining. “Mr. Xavier doesn’t go near women, so why does he spend every night with me?” He asked in surprise, “I don’t go near women, I only go near my own wife. Married life is natural and proper—what’s wrong with that?” I was speechless, secretly praying in my heart for early liberation. Everyone said Xavier was so cold and heartless because he harbored a first love he’d cherished for years. Only after his first love married someone else did he marry me in a fit of spite. To maintain my infatuated persona, I often clung to Xavier coquettishly. “Other women all have them, so I should too. You’ve never given me a token of love.” This day, he surprisingly caught on and brought me back a diamond-studded Cartier bracelet. I was very happy. When he wasn’t looking, I secretly bit it—sure enough, it was solid. So valuable. He stared at me intently. “What are you thinking about?” I coughed lightly, inexplicably feeling guilty. “Thinking about you.” “I’m right in front of you every day. What do you need to think about me for?” I met his scrutinizing gaze without hesitation, pretending to be wronged. “You’ve accomplished great things, and now your career is thriving. More and more women will surround you. What if one day you look down on me, find me dull and boring—what will I do?” Xavier lowered his eyes, reached out with two fingers to gently pinch the soft flesh of my cheek, and suddenly smiled. “Having you is enough for me. More than that would be too much to handle.” I froze, discovering for the first time that his smile was actually quite attractive. Especially those long eyes hidden behind his full beard—like a hawk’s, piercing straight into the heart. Before I could react, my body was already lifted horizontally by him beyond my control, and even before my clothes were fully removed, I was pressed face-down onto the bed. His fingers were long and beautiful, covering my broken whimpers, his burning chest pressed tightly against my back. With fingers intertwined, consciousness gradually sank and rose in the sea of desire. I thought with a flushed face that in the future, without this bittersweet pleasure, I’d inevitably reminisce. Until this day, he returned from a three-month business trip and came to discuss with me seriously. “Nat, I need to bring someone to stay at home temporarily. She has nowhere to go.” Only then did I learn that after Mr. Sutton failed in the northern market and died suddenly of a heart attack, his wife was brought back to this city by Xavier. That person was his first love—Rebecca White, daughter of the Group’s HR Director. Fair-skinned and beautiful, talented and stunning, she once had countless rich young masters at her feet. Later, she married Xavier’s colleague, Mr. Sutton of Weiyuan Company, and became Xavier’s lifelong regret. That Xavier liked her didn’t surprise me at all. After all, he worked under the HR Director in his early years and had occasional contact with Rebecca White. One glance captured his heart—completely reasonable. My lips trembled lightly, unable to suppress my excitement. “You’re bringing her here?” Xavier shook his head. “Just temporarily. The Sutton family home caught fire earlier and hasn’t been repaired yet. Her family won’t take in a widow, so she wants to stay here for a few days.” “I’ll arrange for her to stay in the guest room next to yours. What do you think, Natalie?” How considerate of him to discuss it with me so politely—how could I not accommodate his wishes? I shook my head tactfully. “I’m afraid of noise. Let Miss White stay in the guest room on the other side instead.” Xavier nodded. “That works. Won’t disturb me and my wife’s intimate time.” When Rebecca White came back, everyone in their circle said I was about to fall out of favor, that Xavier would definitely keep a mistress. Even Rebecca White herself thought so. The day she returned, wearing a plain white dress, she looked like a beauty in distress—breathtakingly gorgeous. “I’ll be staying with you from now on. I’m afraid I’ll be intruding.” I waved my hands repeatedly. “No intrusion at all. Feel free to reminisce with my husband whenever you have time. No need to worry about me.” Rebecca White smiled disdainfully. “Of course I’ll reminisce with Xavier. No need for an outsider like you to remind me.” In her eyes, I was just a gentle, dull, flattering, vulgar woman who fawned over Xavier. But she didn’t know that inside, my heart was growing more excited the more I calculated. This day was finally coming.

That evening, I pretended to have my period and wasn’t feeling well, hiding in my room early. Xavier drank heartily with his colleagues until midnight before the party broke up. Seeing my lights out, he went to sleep in the study alone. But while I pretended to sleep, I had someone watch the guest room. Sure enough, Rebecca White was sitting before her mirror doing her makeup, wearing only a sheer nightgown that revealed glimpses of her cleavage. She asked the housekeeper shyly: “Do you think if I make a move myself, Xavier will accept me?” “Who doesn’t know Mr. Xavier has been deeply in love with you for years? As long as you use a little trick, that petty wife will be replaced by you!” I applauded in my heart, silently praying for her. I quickly packed my already-exchanged bank cards and gold bars, secretly planning what posture to use when catching them tomorrow, how to break down crying. But that night, everyone in the house was awakened from their dreams by a thunderous voice. “What the hell—scared me to death!” After that, there was clearly the sound of something rolling off the bed, followed by a woman’s sobbing, hidden in the darkness. My heart shook. This Xavier really didn’t know how to cherish beauty. Even with his beloved, he dared to play such bold games? The next day, carrying my anxiety, I held my breath and opened the study door. But I saw Xavier sitting upright inside, reading through business proposals, his demeanor completely normal. I was extremely puzzled and returned to the back courtyard. Rebecca White’s face was bruised and swollen, hiding in the guest room crying, no longer looking refined at all. During lunch with Xavier, I was preoccupied and probed tentatively: “Last night, did you hear any sounds?” He frowned. “No. I was drunk and only remember dreaming I was throwing punches. I don’t remember anything else.” I was at a loss for words and could only pick up a piece of cake and put it in my mouth. As soon as I bit down, I felt nauseous. Xavier immediately became displeased and put down his fork. “Is the food not to your taste? Are these chefs useless? Take it away from my wife and remake it!” I covered my chest. Thinking about how I’d been uncomfortable these past few days, probably due to the summer heat, I didn’t pay much attention. A few days later, as Mr. Sutton ‘s bereaved, Rebecca White came to the Group headquarters building with a lawyer. Mr. Sutton ‘s failure in the northern market before his death had caused the company severe losses, but after all, he was a veteran who had worked for the company for many years. After his sudden heart attack death, his wife Rebecca White had been dissatisfied with the company’s handling of the situation. She made a scene at the building’s front desk, demanding to see the chairman, saying she wanted an explanation. The receptionist couldn’t stop her, so ultimately the company’s PR department invited her into the conference room. The chairman came out personally. Rebecca White tearfully complained: “Before he died, my husband said that if something happened to him, Mr. Xavier would take care of me. This was his last wish! Your company can’t just ignore me!” She produced a screenshot of emails between Mr. Sutton and Xavier before his death. The email content was actually ordinary work correspondence, but she twisted it into a promise of care. To calm the situation and avoid a public relations crisis, the chairman finally made a compromise arrangement: Let Rebecca White enter Xavier’s department as an administrative specialist, a nominal position, and temporarily let her live in a guest room owned by the company under the Xavier family name. Thus, Rebecca White transformed into Xavier’s nominal subordinate and moved into the main residence. I looked forward to Xavier’s reaction, but he showed no emotion whatsoever, saying nothing, just expressionlessly accepting the company’s arrangement. That night, which should have been Rebecca White’s first night moving in, Xavier came to my room after his business dinner ended. “Nat, you should be feeling better today, right?” Without a word, he started to untie my sash, his rough palm expertly sliding inside. I couldn’t help but whimper, pushing him away with a flushed face. “I—my period isn’t over yet! Mr. Xavier has a new colleague starting today—why don’t you go romance your new subordinate instead?” Xavier’s expression darkened. “I have no reason to have subordinates living in my home. That was the chairman’s arrangement—I couldn’t refuse.” “Is it really the chairman’s arrangement, or has Xavier had someone in his heart all along, plotting this for a long time?” Seeing the atmosphere was set, I suddenly seemed about to cry. “You don’t need to say anything. I know everything. Since you’ve already transferred your affection elsewhere, why toy with my feelings? Rather than leaving me to guard an empty room, suffering torture.” I took a deep breath. “Why not just give me divorce papers and fulfill your devotion…”

Seeing my evasive gaze, his face showed suspicion. “You’re my wife. Could it be you’re having an affair, wanting to climb a higher branch?” I hastily denied it. “Of course not!” “Then why do you want a divorce?” Xavier’s sharp eyes stared at me intently, as if wanting to see through my heart. My palms were sweating. “I—my ambitions aren’t domestic. I don’t want to be confined by you. Women have their own ideals and aspirations too.” “I see you sleeping, eating, drinking, and playing around all day. I thought you liked it, so I only gave you gold, silver, and jewels. If you have any ideals, I can support you completely. I absolutely won’t stand in your way.” Xavier was clearly angry. Without waiting for me to speak, he pressed me against the wall, fiercely kissing my collarbone, using physical action to punish me. “I don’t want to hear the word ‘divorce’ from your mouth a second time!” I was ordered confined by him. Xavier stormed off angrily. Before leaving, he instructed the servants to watch me carefully, not allowing me to step outside. He placed me under house arrest, not knowing it perfectly suited my plans. I was grief-stricken, biting my pen as I wrote a “Ten Crimes of Xavier,” detailing everything, even criticizing him for not shaving his beard. After finishing my farewell letter, I casually sent Charlotte a message: “I’ve fooled Xavier. Departing immediately. Coming to join you—remember to pick me up, and remember my dividends and handsome men.” That night, I set a fire in my room, eliminating all traces. Afterward, I escaped through a small tunnel I had dug under the back wall. In a place I couldn’t see, a dignified seven-foot man, looking at the ruins burned clean by the fire, cried his heart out—Xavier, who had never shed a tear. But I was completely unaware of all this, humming a tune as I boarded a plane to the south. I cheerfully went to find Charlotte. The moment I saw Charlotte in that southern city, I was stunned. Charlotte now wore brilliant colors, her smile radiant—she was already the famous owner of a high-end club throughout the city. Clearly, she was living extremely well. “Well, well, I didn’t expect you to actually escape. In that case, I’ll reluctantly take you in.” Charlotte proudly showed me around her establishment. I was dumbfounded. The club had three floors. The first floor was ordinary dining and dancing. The second floor was more open—you could drink while watching muscular men perform. The top floor had VIP suites where premium male models entertained guests. “Natalie, you’ve come at just the right time. I’ll lend you my prized possession, but you must promise to help me with something.” Charlotte enthusiastically introduced me to the most handsome mixed-race young man. The young man had a small, reddish mole at the corner of his eye, like a frozen teardrop. I couldn’t help but look twice. However, when he leaned in to kiss me, my face paled and I instinctively dodged. “…Let’s forget it. I’m not in the mood today.” Charlotte pouted, urgently grabbing me. “I don’t care. The person’s already here. Whether you use him is up to you, but you must help me with what you promised!” It turned out that a grand Valentine’s Day gala was coming up, with a spectacular exotic dance as the finale—imported from abroad. But the foreign dancer she’d hired at great expense had run off a month ago to be a wealthy merchant’s kept lover. My mother was a professional dancer, best at this dance. She was foreign, so I was born with mixed-race eyes, looking different from the locals. That’s why she wanted me to substitute. Under someone else’s roof, I had to bow my head. I could only agree, on the condition that I wouldn’t entertain guests. She laughed. “You’re here to keep me company and chat anyway. Besides, I only have male models here—how would I make you entertain guests?” I was given this emergency assignment and rehearsed with the dance troupe for half a month before the Valentine’s Day gala arrived. At nightfall, this city was full of song and dance—a spectacular scene I’d never witnessed in the north. I wore a water-blue exposed-waist dress, with two magnolia flowers tucked low by my temples, pearl-beaded face veils barely covering half my face, and went on stage barefoot. I danced to the musician’s music, my tense movements gradually relaxing. The crowd was full of rowdy catcalls and jokes. In the candlelight, my snow-white, slender waist was on full display—Xavier’s favorite part in the past. Lost in thought, my dance steps unconsciously faltered, and from the corner of my eye I suddenly caught sight of a pair of dark eyes below the stage. That person was both strange and familiar, with a refined face free of any stubble, sharp features—even more handsome than the city’s acknowledged heartthrob. After staring blankly for a long time, I suddenly realized who those eyes belonged to. It was Xavier!

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On the day of my prenatal checkup, I discovered that my husband had booked me a post-miscarriage care package instead of a postpartum recovery suite. I was about to laugh it off as a mistake when he said flatly: “I didn’t get it wrong. Actually, there’s something I need to come clean about.” “I’ve been keeping a college student on the side. She’s pregnant, and I’ve already put her through enough. I can’t let her child suffer too.” My voice trembled uncontrollably: “Are you planning to divorce me and marry her?” He smiled and said: “No. You’ll be my only wife for life. Besides, your parents are dead. Where would you even go if we divorced?” “I just want you to adopt Nina’s child. I’m having you abort yours because I’m worried you’d favor your own child later and mistreat mine and Nina’s.” He calmly handed me the surgical consent form: “Be good. I promise, you’ll always be Mrs. Turner.” I looked at him deeply, then turned and staggered toward the operating room. “No need. Ethan Turner, I hope you never regret the decision you’re making today.” He didn’t know that in this world, I was the only one who could bear children for him—a man cursed with azoospermia and sterility.

I woke up three days later. The first words I heard were: “Mr. Turner, you really took a huge risk this time. Not only did you force the abortion of an eight-month fetus, but you also demanded her uterus be removed at the same time. Your wife almost bled out—we nearly lost her.” Ethan’s indifferent voice responded: “I promised Nina that I’d only ever have one child in this lifetime—hers and mine. The safest way to ensure that is to have Sophia’s uterus removed so she can’t conceive again.” His gaze swept over and met mine directly. Ethan showed no sign of panic. He reached over to tuck the blanket around me, saying with a touch of helplessness: “You heard? I had no choice. Nina said that only if the wife is disabled and unable to bear children can we legally adopt. Since you needed the abortion anyway, I figured I’d have your uterus removed at the same time. Save you from going through another surgery.” Seeing tears in my eyes, he gently wiped them away, saying with slight mockery: “I didn’t expect removing the uterus during pregnancy would cause hemorrhaging. Lucky for you, the elite gynecologist I hired for Nina was already at the hospital. You benefited from Nina’s good fortune and survived.” My whole body trembled as I mustered all my strength to slap his face. My heart felt like it was tearing apart: “Ethan, you’re not human.” But my hand only grazed his cheek weakly, leaving not even a red mark. A petite figure suddenly screamed and rushed over, slapping me hard across the face. I fell back onto the bed, the oxygen tube slipping off as I gasped for air. Looking up, I saw a young woman with tears in her eyes, standing in front of Ethan, shouting at me: “How dare you hit him! Do you know he’s been standing guard outside the ICU for three whole days because of you? If I hadn’t brought him nutrition meals every day, he would’ve collapsed.” “The man I care so deeply about—why should he be your tool for venting your emotions?” I didn’t miss the flash of emotion and tenderness in Ethan’s eyes. I had seen that look before. It was the same look he gave me when I got alcohol poisoning from drinking on his behalf and miscarried our first child. It was the same look when debt collectors threatened to chop off his hand, and I knelt crying and begging them, pawning my mother’s only keepsake to buy his freedom. I had done so much for him. But in the end, it couldn’t compare to a single tear from his new love. My heart felt like it was being stabbed with a dull knife, over and over. I propped myself up, looking at their affectionate display, and laughed bitterly: “Should I be grateful to him then? Grateful that for you, he aborted my full-term baby, secretly removed my uterus, nearly killed me, yet still deigned to stay by my bedside until I woke up?” Nina’s tears fell like broken pearls. She stared at me stubbornly: “It’s all my fault, okay?! I’m the one who hurt you! I’ll atone for it, okay?!” Like a madwoman, she shoved Ethan aside, grabbed the fruit knife from my bedside table, and thrust it toward her own belly: “I’ll cut out my baby and my uterus right now to make it up to you, okay?!” Ethan grabbed her tightly, gripping the knife handle as blood dripped down continuously. He looked up at me coldly, frozen in shock: “Sophia, are you satisfied now?” He carefully lifted the unconscious Nina in his arms and left without looking back, leaving only one sentence: “Seems I’ve been too good to you, making you think you can do whatever you want. Since that’s the case, you’d better learn what suffering really means.” I watched his retreating figure, laughing through my tears. The man who once promised to cherish me forever and never let me suffer had finally died in the passage of time. Ethan’s bodyguard coldly dragged me up and threw me out the door. “Starting today, everything Mr. Turner gave you will be taken back. If you want to keep staying in this hospital room…” I smiled bitterly and turned to leave. “No need. I don’t want anything from Ethan anymore.” My phone and wallet were all confiscated. Because they were all things Ethan had given me. Penniless, I stood on the street, desperately trying to flag down a car to take me home. But every time a kind person stopped, Ethan’s bodyguard would dutifully say: “If you’re not afraid of offending Mr. Turner of Empire Group, go ahead and let her in your car.” They would shake their heads helplessly at me and quickly drive away. The bodyguard looked at my barely-standing body and said coldly: “Mr. Turner asked me to tell you, this is what happens when you defy him and refuse to obey. If you’re willing to apologize to Miss White and agree to personally care for her during her pregnancy, he’ll have me take you home.” I turned a deaf ear, simply started walking step by step toward home.

Blood dripped down my thighs onto the asphalt road, drawing sideways glances from passersby. But I was completely numb, walking step by step until darkness fell and I finally reached my front door. The brightly lit room drove away the cold of the deep night. I raised my already frozen fingers and entered the passcode, but was met with an error beep. I gritted my teeth and entered the code again and again, the system repeatedly telling me it was wrong. Finally, the maid, annoyed beyond patience, strode over and opened the door, saying coldly: “Ma’am, stop trying. Until you apologize to sir, you can’t use anything sir bought.” “This house was bought by sir. If you don’t apologize, you can’t come in.” She looked me up and down and sneered: “If you ask me, just apologize already. What kind of status does Mr. Turner have? There are plenty of women out there waiting to take your place. Look at yourself—no family background, no looks. Over thirty and now you can’t even have children…” “He has another woman pregnant outside, and he still hasn’t divorced you. He’s already being good to you. What are you making a fuss about…” I interrupted her softly: “I won’t go in. I just need to get one thing.” The maid choked, then said sarcastically: “Everything you own was bought by Mr. Turner. What could possibly belong to you? You’re not planning to steal Mr. Turner’s jewelry and bags to sell, are you?” I said calmly: “I just want to get my medical test results. Is that not allowed?” The maid rolled her eyes, went upstairs, and threw down a manila envelope at me. I picked up the envelope and looked at the azoospermia report with Ethan’s name on it, smiling silently. This was the pre-marital medical examination report from when Ethan and I got married ten years ago. The moment I received the test results, my feelings were mixed. I didn’t know how to tell Ethan about this. Proud as he was, how could he accept being a defective man? How would his peers use this to suppress him? But fortunately, the doctor told me a secret—my physiology was special. I could activate Ethan’s inactive sperm and conceive. “Miss Cole, Mr. Turner is truly blessed to marry you. You’re the only person with such a special constitution I’ve ever encountered…” I had thought I would bury this secret in my heart forever and never let Ethan know. But I never imagined that one day, I would have to reveal this secret myself. I took out the little change in my pocket, made more than a dozen copies of this document, and handed them to a courier. Each copy had the address of a company hostile to Ethan and the private contact information of those CEOs. I said softly: “Please deliver these as quickly as possible. Just tell them this is a gift from Mrs. Turner. They’ll definitely give you a generous tip.” Ethan, this is my final gift to you before I leave. I hope you like it. Leaving the marital home Ethan and I shared, I returned to the small studio apartment where we lived when we started our business ten years ago. Back then we were dirt poor, living only in the most run-down rental in the urban village. The environment was terrible, but we were happy then. Too poor to afford anything but instant noodles, Ethan would lie and say he’d eaten well at business dinners, dumping both portions into my bowl. And late at night I’d see him standing at the sink, drinking glass after glass of tap water to fill his stomach. Our wedding ceremony was held in that shabby rental too. No banquet, just a plain silver ring that cost less than a thousand dollars. This place meant everything to me. So even after we moved to a luxury villa worth a hundred thousand per square meter, I secretly bought that rental property, fantasizing that when Ethan and I grew old, we’d move back there to live. I never imagined that one day, when my marriage to Ethan ended, I would return to where we first began.

I turned the doorknob and pushed open the door to see two intertwined figures on the sofa. And the matching couple’s pajamas I had treasured in the closet—the ones Ethan and I once wore—were now on Ethan and Nina. My mind went blank. I couldn’t control my questioning: “Ethan! How could you bring her here! You know this is our—” Before I could finish, Nina had already efficiently slapped herself across the face. With a swollen face, she stood in front of Ethan, glaring at me with tears: “Mrs. Turner, I just wanted to understand Ethan’s past life, so I begged him to bring me here.” “If you’re unhappy, I can kneel and apologize to you. Just please stop hurting him.” Ethan was heartbroken. He cupped her face, blowing on it repeatedly. He looked coldly at the bodyguard. The bodyguard behind me immediately grabbed my arms. His hand like a fan slapped my face hard. Over and over, my ears rang. I don’t know how long it lasted before they finally stopped and released me. I fell to the floor. Ethan looked at me with an expressionless face: “Sophia, why do you insist on making yourself miserable? If you’re not feeling well, just go home and rest. Why did you have to follow us here to cause trouble?” I smiled bitterly: “Go home? Do I still have a home? Is it even my home anymore?” I looked at him with red eyes, tears mixing with nosebleed dripping on the floor: “Ethan, why did you bring her here…” “You can fool around with her anywhere you want! Why did you have to defile this place!” “The thirty-year-old Ethan is already rotten to the core. Why do you have to destroy the only memory the twenty-year-old Ethan left me?” Ethan’s eyes flickered for a moment, but then turned to anger: “I’m rotten to the core? How am I rotten? Sophia, don’t forget—if it weren’t for me, you’d be stuck in this cramped rental for life!” “Don’t forget, the money you used to buy this place came from my account! This place belongs to me too! I can do whatever I want with it!” He laughed bitterly in anger: “You say I’m defiling this place by coming here?! Forget defiling it—even if I blow up this dump, it’s none of your business.” He had his men drag me out and placed several pounds of explosives outside the shabby building. With one command, the house that held our only happy memories together was reduced to rubble. In the flames filling the sky, my tears wouldn’t stop falling. Ethan stared at the tears on my face. His anger dissipated somewhat, his tone cold: “Sophia, what do I have to say to make you understand?” “I gave you the status of Mrs. Turner. I let you live in the best villa. I let you carry bags worth hundreds of thousands. Even the clothes you’re wearing now are haute couture that ordinary people could never afford in their lifetime. Haven’t I been good enough to you?!” “You’re already thirty years old. You’re not young anymore. Do you really expect me to still love an aging you?” “I give you the dignity of being my wife, I give you a comfortable life. All you need to do is turn a blind eye and accept Nina and the child. Is that so hard?” I met his gaze and said word by word: “I’m not willing.” “Ethan, you’ve erased everything we had with your own hands.” “Let’s divorce.” Anger and irritation flashed in Ethan’s eyes. He looked at me and said flatly: “Divorce? Impossible. Even if I don’t love you anymore, you’re still my most important person. I won’t divorce you.” He looked at me, saying each word clearly: “Sophia, I’ve never wronged you. If anyone’s been wronged, it’s Nina—I couldn’t give her a proper status, making her stay with me without name or title in her best years.” “I was going to give you some dignity, but I didn’t expect you to be so unreasonable, making things this ugly.” He turned around, knelt on one knee, pulled out a huge pigeon-egg diamond ring from his pocket, and said affectionately to Nina: “Nina, I regret meeting you so late.” “I can’t give you a proper status in this lifetime, but I want to give you the grandest wedding and let everyone know you’re the one I love most.” Nina covered her mouth, her eyes reddening, but she still turned her head away, looking dejected: “I can’t accept! I love you, so I’m willing to put aside my self-respect and degrade myself to be your mistress, but I don’t want everyone to know I’m your mistress!” “Unless…” She turned to look at me: “Unless Mrs. Turner witnesses our wedding and admits in front of everyone that the unloved one is the real mistress, that she’s the third wheel!”

I looked expressionlessly at the malice in the young woman’s eyes. Seeing my silence, Ethan said coldly: “Sophia, don’t forget—your parents’ ashes are buried in the cemetery I bought.” “You wouldn’t want them to end up like this house… would you?” My heart felt like a huge chunk had been carved out with a knife. Even breathing tasted like blood. I slowly nodded. “Fine. I’ll go.” Nina broke into a smile and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. He took Nina to order wedding dresses and book the venue. Before leaving, he paused. Rarely, he explained to me peacefully: “Sophia, it’s just a wedding. It won’t shake your position as Mrs. Turner.” I said calmly: “Okay.” He looked at me deeply, finally showing a smile: “You don’t need to take care of Nina during this time. Rest well in the hospital. After the baby is born, we’ll take the child on a family trip. Consider it my compensation to you.” I still calmly said okay. Only then did Ethan leave satisfied. On the wedding day, Ethan was afraid I’d cause trouble, so he had bodyguards take me to the dressing room early to watch over me. Nina acted coquettishly, saying her wedding dress was too heavy and she couldn’t put on her shoes. “Mrs. Turner, help me out.” Ethan frowned slightly, instinctively looking at me. I lowered my eyes, knelt down, lifted the wedding dress, and helped her put on her shoes. Ethan looked at me with a complicated expression, pursing his lips as if wanting to say something, but Nina pushed him. “Honey, I’m thirsty. Go get me some orange juice.” Hearing this, Ethan smiled and ruffled her hair, then turned and walked out. As soon as he left, Nina kicked me in the chest. She looked at me mockingly and said: “Sophia, you don’t think I’m some gold digger clinging to a rich man, do you?” “You probably don’t know—Ethan and I have been in love for nearly ten years too.” Seeing the shock in my eyes, she smiled viciously: “Ethan said I was too young and shouldn’t suffer with him, so he only dated me while marrying you.” “He was afraid of wronging me. The first money he earned, he told you was taken by debt collectors, but actually he bought me designer bags. Every time I felt wronged, he’d have those people come to your house and stage debt collection scenes, taking the money to buy me bags.” “One million eight hundred thousand in total. Oh, and there was a worthless bracelet that I threw away.” My whole body trembled uncontrollably. One million eight hundred thousand—that was the money I earned over those years to pay off Ethan’s debts. At my most exhausted, I even collapsed on the assembly line and nearly got pulled into the machinery. When Ethan found out, he held me trembling, saying it was his fault. How ridiculous that I comforted him then, smiling and saying I didn’t blame him… It was all fake! He’d been lying to me all along! Nina kept chattering: “Later when you got pregnant, I was so angry I wouldn’t let him touch me. So he staged a scene with business partners, getting you so drunk you miscarried. You don’t even know—when you were unconscious in the operating room, he was calling me, begging me not to be angry at him.” These words hit me like a bludgeon. Everything went dark before my eyes. Nina’s face suddenly turned vicious, full of resentment as she looked at me: “But he loves me so much, yet still won’t divorce you and marry me!” “You’re just relying on Ethan’s soft heart and sentimentality, relying on the fact that you suffered through his startup days with him to suppress me.” She suddenly laughed: “Tell me—if Ethan knew you hurt the child in my belly, would he still care about that bit of history between you two?” All my hair stood on end. I immediately turned to run out. Behind me, Nina grabbed a champagne bottle and smashed it hard against her own belly, screaming. “Ethan! Save me!” The dressing room door was kicked open by Ethan. He grabbed my wrist and threw me to the floor. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Nina collapsed on the ground, blood spreading from under her dress. “It wasn’t me…” My explanation was choked off by Ethan’s hand around my throat. His eyes blood-red, he roared at me: “Sophia! You won’t even spare a child! You disgust me!!” “You caused Nina to lose her child. Don’t blame me for going after your dead parents.” Through my terrified, agonized tears, he directly ordered: “Dig up Sophia’s parents’ graves. Grind their bones to dust and flush them down the sewers.” “No!” I screamed: “Ethan! You maniac! The dressing room has surveillance cameras! Go check them! It wasn’t me!!” Sophia trembled as she stood up, turned and ran toward the window: “Without the child, what’s the point of living? I might as well die!” “Mrs. Turner, frame me however you want!” Ethan’s face changed drastically. He shoved me aside and rushed over to grab Sophia. He looked at me with a cold expression, saying each word clearly: “Sophia, you’ve exhausted the last bit of affection I had for you. For hurting my love and my child, I won’t let you off.” He said coldly: “Send her to prison. Tell the people inside to take good care of her.” “I don’t want her to have a single good day in there.” … Ethan ran red lights all the way to the hospital. He carried Nina and rushed directly into the emergency room: “Save my love and my child! If you can save my child, I’ll donate ten million to your hospital!” The on-duty doctor was startled and stared at Ethan in shock: “Mr. Turner?” He frowned, looking at Ethan, then at Nina lying pale and fragile on the bed. He asked in confusion: “Your child? Mr. Turner, you have azoospermia and are infertile. How could you have a child?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “382831”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was sitting in first class on my flight home when a blanket suddenly hit my leg, thrown from the seat in front of me. A flight attendant hurried over and crouched down, her face full of apology: “I’m so sorry, ma’am. Miss Foster says she prefers quiet and can’t stand having any noise around her.” “She’s willing to add $100 to have you move to economy. Would that work for you?” I set down my water glass and smiled slightly, throwing the blanket back with force: “I’ll add $101 for her to move instead.” The blanket hit the person in front square in the face. The woman shot up, pointing at me furiously: “Who do you think you are, refusing my offer? Do you know who I am? My boyfriend Peyton owns this entire airline!” “Let me make this clear—if you don’t move, I’ll have the whole airline blacklist you. You’ll never set foot on a plane again in your life!” I raised an eyebrow, amused. Peyton? Wasn’t that my childhood friend I’m engaged to? So this was the spoiled little homewrecker that Aunt Caroline kept telling me to come back and deal with? 0

“Are you deaf? I told you to go to economy. Did you hear me?” Seeing I hadn’t moved, Chloe Foster pointed at me angrily. I smiled. “Miss, I was sitting here minding my own business when you threw a blanket at me and tried to insult me with $100. Why should I move?” “Besides, I added a dollar more than you. Why don’t you move?” Hearing my words, the flight attendant beside us drew a sharp breath. “Ma’am, Mr. Reeves specifically instructed us to accommodate Miss Foster’s requests. How about you name a compensation, and we’ll make it happen.” Chloe looked utterly smug: “You hear that? I’m carrying the Reeves family heir right now. The entire Reeves family has to cater to me!” I sat down and pulled the blanket over my legs, putting my earphones back on. “This is my seat. I’m not going anywhere.” Chloe turned angrily to the flight attendant: “Are you all blind? Every other seat in first class is empty! Use your brain—obviously Peyton booked the whole cabin for me!” “Strip her and throw her out! Let her learn what happens when you trespass in first class!” The flight attendant looked troubled. Even though Mr. Reeves had given instructions, this demand was unreasonable. I looked up, staring at Chloe with a hint of challenge: “What makes you think only you can have Peyton book tickets?” Chloe’s eyes paused for a moment. “You… what do you mean?” She turned to the flight attendant: “Check her ticket! If she’s not supposed to be here, call the police and have her arrested!” The flight attendant quickly opened the system panel and typed my name rapidly. Then she replied with some awkwardness: “Miss Foster, Ms. Williams’s seat is valid. It also shows it was booked through the Reeves family internally.” I smiled inwardly. Caroline had booked this ticket for me long ago. Chloe’s eyes filled with panic. “Are you Peyton’s… new mistress?” “Shameless! Trying to seduce Peyton while I’m pregnant! I just got rid of one, and now another shows up!” “This time I’ll make sure you homewreckers learn your lesson!” Her hand rose in the air, about to strike down. I grabbed her wrist: “Peyton’s engagement next month isn’t to you, is it?” “You’d better figure out your own position before you speak!” I twisted her wrist and returned the favor with a sharp slap. The sound echoed throughout the first-class cabin. Chloe covered her face in disbelief. No one had ever dared treat her this way. “So what if Peyton has a fiancée? The unloved one is the real mistress!” “Even if his fiancée were standing right here, I’d say the same thing!” Her face flushed red as she tried to think of a comeback. Just then, the flight attendant stepped forward to support her: “Miss Foster, there’s turbulence—you can’t move around. You’re pregnant. Please sit down safely.” “There’s a rest area in the cockpit. Let me help you there.” The flight attendant knew she couldn’t offend either party, so she simply separated us. Chloe left cursing under her breath. First class was finally mine alone. My ears could finally have some peace. When the plane landed, I was pushing my luggage through the VIP corridor when I was suddenly surrounded by a group of tall, burly men in black. “That’s her! She slapped me on the plane! Lock her in a room!” Chloe appeared with this group of men. At her command, the men in black immediately pressed down hard on my shoulders. I couldn’t break free. Chloe sneered: “These are all personal bodyguards Peyton assigned to me. Every one of them is an expert. Think you can move now?” “Today I’m going to teach you homewreckers a lesson myself. I’ll slap you a hundred times, then tear your mouth apart so you’ll remember!” Her face was full of vindictive satisfaction as she raised her hand high. Just then, a male voice rang out: “Stop!” It was Peyton. 0

“Baby, what’s going on? Why are you doing this yourself?” Peyton walked to Chloe’s side with a concerned expression. “You’re pregnant. Don’t upset yourself.” He glanced at me surrounded by the men in black and suddenly froze. “Vivian, what are you doing back?” Chloe asked in confusion: “Baby, who is she?” She stamped her foot, about to throw a tantrum, but Peyton quickly soothed her. “Baby, she’s just a childhood friend. She’s been abroad for three years. We barely keep in touch anymore. Don’t misunderstand.” He then looked at me. “Vivian, perfect timing. Let me introduce you—this is my girlfriend, Chloe Foster.” I looked at him incredulously. “Your girlfriend Chloe Foster? Then what am I to you?” “Have you forgotten we’re getting engaged next month?” A contemptuous smile flashed across Peyton’s face. “Vivian, we both know this is a business arrangement. Since when do business marriages involve real feelings?” “Chloe is already carrying my child. She’s mine now. From now on, we each do our own thing. On the surface, we’re still one family. Isn’t that fine?” I laughed at his words. Everyone knew the Williams family maintained strict standards and would never tolerate such behavior from their descendants. “Peyton, has your brain been eaten by pigs during the years I’ve been gone?” With Peyton backing her, Chloe’s face grew more arrogant. “No wonder you were so bold. You’re just an arranged match, not someone truly loved.” “Baby, you know what? She hit me on the plane. Look, my face is still red.” Chloe pouted like she’d suffered a great injustice. “How dare she?” Peyton frowned. Chloe glared at me viciously. “Baby, stand up for me. I want to slap her back!” She raised her hand high, but Peyton stopped her again. “She’s still the Williams family’s eldest daughter. We can’t hit her. Besides, what if you hurt yourself and the baby?” Chloe’s eyes shifted. “Fine, for your sake, I won’t hit her.” “Just make her kneel and apologize to me. Then I’ll forgive her. Let her know who the real mistress of the Reeves family is.” Peyton’s expression darkened as he nodded. “Vivian, it seems there’s been some misunderstanding between you and Chloe.” “Just do as Chloe says. Once you clear up the misunderstanding, our engagement next week will proceed as planned.” I laughed coldly. “How about this—I’ll give her one chance. If she kneels and apologizes to me, I’ll consider letting her go.” Before I came back, Caroline told me how she planned to handle Chloe. That method was far harsher than anything I could imagine. Peyton’s voice turned stern: “Vivian Williams, don’t push it. Chloe is pregnant, and you hit her. You’re the one at fault.” “Chloe has already been reasonable and made concessions. You should be grateful, not ungrateful.” I shook my head. “Seems you really have lost your mind. Forget about me apologizing.” Peyton’s face grew serious. “Vivian Williams, if you insist, then I’ll have to cancel the engagement.” His tone carried an unquestionable authority. Hearing this, Chloe’s eyes flashed with secret delight. I sneered inwardly. Business marriages weren’t so easily canceled. I said coldly: “Peyton, have you forgotten? If you don’t marry me, you can’t inherit the family business.” 0

“Baby, is this true?” Chloe’s face flashed with unease as she quickly looked up at Peyton. Peyton scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain: “Vivian Williams, don’t think you can threaten me with that.” “Recently, my own company has already turned millions in profit. At this rate, within ten years, my assets will match the entire Reeves family.” “I negotiated every business deal myself, without using any family resources or connections.” “I can make my own decisions now. I don’t need to depend on anyone anymore.” He lifted his head, his face full of arrogance. I remembered one night last year when Caroline suddenly contacted me. She said Peyton was insisting on starting a business. Worried he’d lose confidence if his first venture failed, she specifically reached out to me, his fiancée. She repeatedly instructed me not to reveal any connection to the Reeves family. I contacted my classmates abroad, and my father also asked some distant business partners to work with Peyton. That’s how we helped Peyton earn his company’s first bucket of gold. Thinking about it now was laughable. “Peyton, does Caroline know about all this?” Anger flashed in Peyton’s eyes. “Vivian Williams, trying to use my mother to pressure me again!” “That’s been your only move since childhood. Besides this, what else can you do?” “I’ve been controlled by my mother and lectured by you since I was young. I’ve had enough!” “From now on, Reeves family matters are none of your business. I decide who becomes the mistress of the Reeves family!” Chloe’s eyes lit up like stars. “Baby, you’re a real man!” She looked at me provocatively. “My baby is the Reeves family’s only heir. Who else would control the Reeves family if not him?” I lowered my eyes. Uncle Reeves died young, and Caroline had struggled alone to support the business all these years. I’d seen it all. The Williams and Reeves families had intermarried for generations. Several generations of my family’s relationships and interests were deeply intertwined with the Reeves family. If this marriage fell apart because of me, my conscience couldn’t bear it. “Peyton, I’m giving you one last chance.” “Not only must Chloe Foster kneel and apologize to me, you must kneel and apologize too. Not just to me, but to my entire family.” “As long as you apologize, I’ll pretend today never happened. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not warning you about the consequences.” Peyton looked contemptuous. “I’ve seen through you since childhood. Besides threatening with family, what else can you do?” I looked calmly at them both and took out my phone, asking one last time: “Will you kneel or not?” Chloe laughed out loud. “You’re just humiliating yourself.” She turned to Peyton. “Baby, she’s like a mad dog. Let’s go.” I didn’t hesitate and made the call. I said calmly to the person on the other end: “Chloe Foster is indeed a fool, just as you said.” Chloe stopped in her tracks. “She’s rude and brainless, completely unfit for any elite family.” Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at me. “As you suggested, we should cut her tendons, exile her to River City, make her undocumented, so she can never come back.” Chloe flew into a rage and rushed forward to snatch my phone. She screamed at the person on the line: “Who the hell do you think you are?!” “Do you dare tell me your name? I’ll have someone deal with you tonight, kick you out of River City forever! You won’t even have a place for your ashes when you die!” Peyton rushed forward to hold her. “Baby, don’t get upset. She’s just scaring you. As long as I’m here, no one can touch you.” I took my phone back and put it on speaker. The voice on the other end exploded like firecrackers: “Peyton! This is the little homewrecker you found!” Peyton’s pupils dilated, and after a long moment, his throat produced a sound: “…Mom?!” 0

Hearing Peyton’s words, Chloe’s face went pale, her panic visible to the naked eye. “What? That was… your mother?” “I… I just cursed at her. What do I do now?” She frantically reached for the phone, stammering incoherently: “No, Caroline, that’s not what I meant… Please let me explain…” But I’d already hung up the call, leaving her no chance to explain. Peyton quickly supported the trembling Chloe, speaking gently: “Chloe, don’t blame yourself. I know you didn’t mean it.” His tone shifted as he looked at me with fury: “Vivian Williams, you’re so scheming! You deliberately provoked her into saying those things.” “Your words were so vicious—cutting tendons and all that. Anyone would have reacted. This isn’t Chloe’s fault at all.” He turned back to comfort Chloe: “Baby, don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to my mother. She’ll understand.” I sneered coldly: “She said those words herself. No one forced her.” “Besides, what makes you so sure your mother will forgive her?” Peyton looked like his pride had been wounded, furious: “Vivian Williams, you think making Chloe look bad will make me look at you? Dream on!” Just then, a rumbling sound came from the sky, and a gust of wind made everyone squint. A helicopter slowly descended. Caroline, wearing sunglasses and high heels, stepped off the aircraft with commanding presence. She walked straight to Peyton and without a word delivered a resounding slap. “Apologize to Vivian!” Peyton was knocked to the ground. Next, Caroline’s expression turned cold as she approached Chloe. Chloe trembled all over, nearly curling into a ball. Caroline raised her hand high. “Mom!” Peyton rushed forward to intervene. “Chloe is carrying my child. You can’t hit her!” “Pregnant?” Caroline seemed to laugh in anger, her eyes contemptuous: “Little homewrecker, you think you can enter the Reeves family with such tactics?” “I’ve seen plenty of calculating climbers like you when I was young.” Peyton gripped Caroline’s hand tightly, explaining urgently: “Mom, it’s not what you think.” “Chloe is gentle by nature. She only misspoke because Vivian Williams set her up. When she visited you before, wasn’t she always polite?” Caroline glanced at Chloe, who was pretending to be pitiful, and gestured dismissively to her assistant. The assistant immediately stepped forward with a tablet, playing surveillance footage from the first-class cabin. The screen showed Chloe ordering the flight attendant around arrogantly, acting completely unreasonable and saying outrageous things to me. Caroline said coldly: “The Reeves family has always been low-key and courteous, never mistreating others. We have a good reputation in our circles.” “But here she is, a mistress with no status, already using the Reeves name to throw her weight around. She didn’t even know Vivian’s identity and dared to be so presumptuous, trampling all over the rightful heir. If she actually gained any connection to the Reeves family, who knows what trouble she’d cause!” She crossed her arms, her tone brooking no argument: “Peyton, I don’t care about your past entanglements.” “Choose now—either marry Vivian and inherit the family business, or take her and get out of the Reeves family.”

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My best friend Sophia was schemed against by her scumbag ex-husband and forced to leave the marriage with nothing. I took her into my own home. I took her traveling everywhere, got drunk with her, and even gave her a credit card to spend freely. My boyfriend Ethan kept frowning about it: “Charlotte, are you Sophia’s lapdog? You love serving her that much? She’s so dramatic—no wonder men dump her.” I rarely got angry: “She’s my best friend. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So please show her some respect.” Later, I went to England for business. I video-called Sophia every day, watching her gradually emerge from her depression and start a new job and life. Until three months later, when I came home with my luggage, I saw Sophia lying on the couch while Ethan skillfully fed her strawberries. The room fell into a moment of deathly silence. Only the laughter from a variety show on TV filled the air. Sophia was the first to react. She scrambled up from the couch and walked toward me, her face pale. “Charlotte… when did you get back? Why didn’t you tell us ahead of time? I… I could have picked you up.” Ethan stood quietly behind her, saying nothing. Sophia’s smile looked forced. “You must be tired. Let me get you some water.” She turned around frantically, grabbed a glass from the coffee table, and in her flustered state, knocked over the water pitcher, spilling water all over the floor. Ethan frowned and pulled out tissues to clean up. “Stop making things worse. You don’t know how to do this kind of thing anyway.” Though his tone was scolding, the intimacy in his words was unmistakable. The last trace of hope in my heart vanished completely. My hand gripped the handle of my bag unconsciously, leaving a deep mark on my palm. “When did this start?” Sophia froze and instinctively turned to look at Ethan. He remained calm, sweeping his arm to shield her behind him. “It has nothing to do with her. It’s my fault.” His tone was flat, as if he were talking about the weather. Ethan had an aloof personality—decisive and cold in business, composed and self-controlled. People always said he was unapproachable, that only with Charlotte Smith would he ever show emotion. I used to think I was his only exception. Until this moment, when he stood on the opposite side from me, using the calmest, coldest words to completely shut me out. Sophia looked panicked. “No… Charlotte, let me explain. We’re not…” I stood there quietly as she stammered but couldn’t come up with any explanation. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Can’t even come up with a decent excuse?” Sophia’s face went even paler. Ethan held her trembling hands and said in a low voice, “It’s okay. I’ll handle this, all right?” He stepped forward and took my luggage. “Charlotte, let’s go outside and talk.” I looked at his face. In just three months, it had become so unfamiliar. Fighting back the sting in my eyes, my voice trembled slightly. “Ethan, this is my home. You’re telling me to leave?” He fell silent for a moment, his voice carrying a hint of pleading. “Charlotte, I’m asking you as a favor. She caught a cold yesterday and isn’t feeling well. Let her rest early, okay?” I pressed my hand hard against my chest. There was no visible wound, yet the pain felt fatal. Ethan picked up his coat from the back of the chair and spoke gently to Sophia. “Be good and go to sleep. Leave the rest to me. I’ll bring you pizza when I come back.” I rushed out the door before they could see the tears streaming down my face. In the hotel suite, Ethan sat politely and distantly on the far couch. He quietly smoked two cigarettes before speaking in a low voice. “This is my fault. Whatever compensation you want, I’ll give it to you.” “I was the one who fell first. Don’t blame her.” I dug my fingers into my palm and took a deep breath. “Why?” Ethan lit another cigarette and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Charlotte, you’re smart, calm, and capable. But Sophia is different. Without me, she can’t survive.” Through the dim red glow of his cigarette, I saw his face and found it utterly ridiculous. Before, as my best friend, Sophia was someone Ethan looked down on completely. He said she was dramatic and out of touch with society, a parasite living off others at home, a clinging vine that could only survive by latching onto someone else. Three months ago, when I had to go to England for business, I begged him repeatedly before he reluctantly agreed to help her occasionally when she needed it. Back then, he had been unusually childish, biting my face fiercely. “Charlotte, I’m not even married to you yet, and I already have to deal with your family affairs. You’re leaving me with this mess—you’d better compensate me well.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his lips, promising him that once I finished the project in England, we would get married. Now, in just three months, everything had changed.

Ethan stood up, pressed his lips together, and his expression grew complex. “I’ve wronged you. For the projects we’ve collaborated on before, I’ll give you 20% of the profits. If you need my help in the future, just ask.” “I only have one request—you’re very important to Sophia. She doesn’t want to lose you as a friend.” I looked up at him as if I’d heard the biggest joke in the world. Even my tears came out from laughing. Three months ago, I had used this very reason to ask him to take care of my best friend. Three months later, I had become the one being asked. I heard my voice trembling slightly. “Ethan, don’t you two think you’ve gone too far?” “What makes you think I, Charlotte, deserve to be trampled on by you? I’ll expose everything you’ve done to the public. If you dare do it, you should dare own it.” Ethan took a step back and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Charlotte, don’t throw a tantrum. You built everything from nothing and got to where you are today through hard work. Don’t destroy yourself over a momentary impulse.” His voice carried a hint of warning, making me shiver. Ethan looked down at me from above, completely adopting the posture of someone in power. People often said Ethan was cold and ruthless. I never agreed. But now I suddenly realized the rumors were true. He had simply given his tenderness to me before, and now he’d given it to someone else. “I’m going back. Without me, she won’t sleep well at night.” “I’ll take her away tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience tonight.” The door closed, and I finally collapsed onto the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably. Outside the window was the bustling city landscape. I had rushed home after a long journey, only to be placed in this cold hotel. A few hundred meters away, the two most important people in my life were being intimate in my home, in my bed. How ironic. The next day, I covered my swollen eyes with sunglasses and parked my car outside a dessert shop. Sophia wore her work uniform. When she saw me, her eyes lit up at first, then she lowered her head dejectedly. She brought me coffee and sat down across from me. Her smile was forced as she spoke carefully. “Charlotte, I know you’re angry with me. I’m sorry. I know you’ve been good to me. All these years, thanks to you…” “Look, I’m working now. Everything I owe you, I’ll definitely pay back…” I couldn’t help but sneer as I looked at her. She was just a baker, yet she wore jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Pay me back? With your current job?” Sophia froze. She had gotten married right after graduation and became a housewife. Her former husband had treated her decently, indulging her every whim. Combined with my unconditional support, Sophia’s life had been smooth sailing. Until six months ago, when her husband cheated with his secretary. Within two months, he had divided their assets and kicked her out. If I hadn’t arrived in time, she might have starved on the streets. She wanted to start a new life, but years of being disconnected from society made it hard for her to handle ordinary jobs. Fortunately, as a housewife she had enjoyed studying baking, so she applied to be a baker at this dessert shop. I said nothing, just gestured with my hand. The shop manager walked over respectfully and stood before me. “Ms. Smith, you’re here.” Sophia’s face went white, her eyes widening. I removed my sunglasses and spoke coolly. “After your divorce, you had a breakdown until you said you wanted to work and start a new life.” “Sophia, you’re not stupid. Why didn’t you wonder why you kept getting rejected everywhere, but then this dessert shop just happened to hire you—a baker with zero work experience?” “I gave you everything I had. Is this how you repay me?” Sophia’s eyelashes trembled as tears fell. Her voice shook badly. “I didn’t know… I didn’t know…” She suddenly grabbed my hand. “But he’s good to me. He loves me. Charlotte, you’re so capable—you’ll be fine without anyone. But I can’t.” “You said before that you’d share everything you have with me. I don’t want anything else anymore. I just want him, okay?” I looked at her quietly. We’d known each other since we were three—twenty-five years of friendship. In this moment, it became unrecognizable. “Since childhood, I’ve given you whatever you wanted.” “But Sophia, taking without asking—that’s stealing.”

When Ethan arrived, he saw Sophia nearly kneeling at my feet, crying hysterically. His expression changed. He strode over quickly and without a word pulled her up and shielded her behind him. His face was iron as he looked at me, almost grinding his teeth. “Charlotte, I told you if you have a problem, come at me. Don’t make things difficult for her.” “How much has she spent of your money all these years? Name your price. I’ll settle it all at once.” I looked at him and laughed coldly. “Mr. Hayes, you really are wealthy and generous. Unfortunately, what you two owe me can never be repaid in this lifetime.” Ethan’s face changed. He opened his mouth to retort, but then Sophia suddenly shouted, “Enough!” Her body trembled slightly, yet she lifted her head to look at me. “Charlotte, you owe me this. I don’t care if you resent me or hate me—I won’t give up. From now on, between you and me, we’re even.” She took off her work apron and took Ethan’s hand. The two of them left without looking back. I sat by the window. Outside, two girls in school uniforms passed by sharing an ice cream cone, laughing and chatting happily. Something felt cool on my face. I reached up and realized I was crying without knowing when it had started. Sophia and I met when we were three and had been inseparable from elementary school through college. Ever since I could remember, my parents had been in constant fights. They never divorced because they couldn’t agree on terms. Neither wanted to be burdened with me. Every time they smashed the house to pieces, Sophia would quietly push open the door to help me clean up the mess, then pull me away without a word and make me sit at her family’s dinner table. The year I graduated, Sophia sold her gold bracelet to scrape together my tuition. She licked her ice cream carelessly. “Hey, my grades aren’t great, but yours are so good—it’d be such a waste if you didn’t go to school.” “Don’t cry, Charlotte. I could tell long ago that you’re exceptional. When you get rich someday, just remember to buy me ten gold bracelets.” In my teenage years, Sophia was my first hero, the most important person in my life. When I got home, all traces of them were gone. I stared at the empty house in a daze. When I bought this place, I had set aside a room for Sophia. Back then, Ethan had been a bit unhappy about it. I just smiled and said it was my promise. At her wedding, I was the only bridesmaid. After catching the bouquet, I made her a promise: As long as I was here, she would always have a home to return to. But now, the one without a home was me. Ethan’s things were still in the house, things he hadn’t taken with him. Our competition certificates from college. Photos from our trips together. Matching toothbrushes in the bathroom. The blanket left on the couch and the unfinished book on the coffee table. When I closed my eyes, I could almost see how the two of them had rolled around on this couch together. I covered my mouth and rushed to the bathroom to dry heave, as if trying to empty my insides. Looking up at myself in the mirror, I looked haggard and unfamiliar. Ethan was my college classmate and teammate in entrepreneurship competitions. The day he confessed, his usually cold face was unusually flushed. “Charlotte, you’re the smartest and strongest girl I’ve ever met. Give me a chance to take care of you.” After graduation, I gained experience at a listed company, then quickly seized opportunities to start my own business. Ethan had helped me tremendously. He was my comrade-in-arms, my intimate lover. Because of him, I tried hard to move past my childhood trauma and attempted to accept and build a family. I had truly planned to spend my life with him. I looked at the face in the mirror and slowly clenched my fist. They had once been my reason for living, the goal I fought for with everything I had. Yet they had dealt me the most fatal blow. Why? So I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t contacted in a long time.

Three days after making that call, Ethan stormed into my office in a rage. He slammed the door with earth-shattering force. “Charlotte, did you go to Sophia’s parents?” “Her mother called last night and scolded her for a full hour, saying she’s ungrateful, saying she’s wronged you. Sophia cried on the phone until she nearly fainted. Are you satisfied now?” I laughed lightly. “You two dare to do it but are afraid of others knowing?” Yet my heart ached sharply. I had always remembered how good the Morrison family had been to me. Over the years, I’d earned money and paid them back ten, even a hundred times over. Mrs. Morrison had apologized to me on the phone, her voice trembling with anxiety. But the person who should apologize most had said nothing. Ethan took a deep breath and suddenly calmed down. “Charlotte, I’m giving you one last chance. Apologize to Sophia right now, and I can pretend this never happened.” I felt like I’d heard the world’s biggest joke. “Apologize? I’m not the one who should be apologizing.” His face went cold. “Starting today, I’m terminating all cooperation with you. The East District project you’re pushing forward—the partner happens to be my contact. You know that without me, that project won’t go through.” “I’m giving you three days to think about it. Charlotte, you’ve been smart your whole life. Don’t be stupid now.” I watched his retreating figure, and the last trace of warmth in my heart vanished without a trace. When Ethan was good to someone, he’d offer them all the treasures in the world. But once he turned his back, he was truly ruthless. He did exactly what he said. Overnight, all partners withdrew their funding. The project stalled. The entire company was in turmoil. But I didn’t beg him. Ten years ago, I had no parents and clawed my way to success on my own. Ten years later, I could still carve out a bloody path forward. A month later, I received a message from Sophia. [Charlotte, Ethan and I are getting married next month. You’re the most important person in my life. I hope to have your blessing. I know I’ve wronged you, but I’m begging you, one last time, okay?] I glanced at it and continued with my meeting without replying. On the wedding day, I still showed up on time. Sophia stood beside Ethan like a delicate bird, her eyes full of sweet happiness. When they saw me, both their faces changed color. The hall full of guests suddenly fell silent. My relationship with Ethan over the years had never been a secret. In just six months, the bride had changed. Ethan instinctively moved in front of her, his eyes guarded. Sophia looked at me, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Charlotte… I…” I looked at the two of them and smiled softly. “Don’t be nervous. I promised I wouldn’t miss each other’s most important moments.” “So today, I came to give you a wedding gift.” Behind me, the large screen playing sweet wedding vlogs suddenly went black.

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I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The day I received my biopsy results, I gave Sebastian his freedom and completely vanished from his world. But I undeniably had a talent for being a creep. My house was completely wired with my “eyes.” 4K hidden cameras displayed Sebastian’s every move to me with absolute, crystal-clear precision. I originally thought he would feel a massive weight lifted off his shoulders. Who would have known that the man who seemingly wished me dead would be kneeling in a church, praying to God, over and over again. Begging for me to live. 1 Sebastian Reed was dead broke. The first time I saw him, he was mixed in with a bunch of VIP bottle boys, wearing a washed-out, faded denim jacket. His hair had probably been messed with by the club’s madam—sticking up like a hedgehog’s quills, perfectly matching that stubborn face of his. He looked like he refused to bow to anyone. I liked him instantly. Lust is human nature, and Sebastian was blessed with a face that could make the angels jealous. But when God opened a window for him, He slammed the door shut. Back then, Sebastian was so poor he ate stale bread and watered-down soup for three meals a day. He was so thin a gust of wind could knock him over. His shoulder blades jutted out in a sharp, lonely arc. From behind, he looked entirely desolate. I told the club owner that I wanted him. She flattered me while her eyes kept darting toward Sebastian, who was shuttling between the private booths as a busboy. “That kid is as stubborn as a mule, you know.” “Then don’t let him work here anymore starting recently,” I said. Sebastian was a waiter at The Obsidian Room. Because of his striking looks, there were always people buying liquor from him, hoping to get something more intimate. Sebastian always accepted the sales but coldly rejected the ulterior motives of those older women. The Obsidian Room was the biggest private club in Manhattan. Every time I came here to discuss business, I saw him. He always had the same expression: lips pressed in a tight, grim line, eyes heavily drooping with exhaustion. He’d carry fruit platters or drinks, so busy his heels barely touched the ground. He never initiated a conversation with me. Once, after drinking way too much during a negotiation, I threw up violently outside the restrooms. I grabbed onto him blindly. “Give me a tissue,” I demanded. Sebastian used his own handkerchief to wipe my mouth. His eyes flickered with a hint of emotion. “Drink less, miss.” I narrowed my eyes. I felt truly wicked. After that day, I investigated Sebastian’s entire background. An orphan. A younger sister with a congenital heart defect. He was saving up for that astronomically expensive surgery, and I was the one who cut off his income stream. The club owner, following my instructions, no longer allowed him to sell alcohol, and simultaneously let the other bottle boys bully him mercilessly. I waited in silence for almost a week. When I stepped into The Obsidian Room again, Sebastian was being beaten by a group of guys. He lay on the floor, curled up like a shrimp, protecting his head while letting them kick and hurl insults at him. I pushed through the crowd, walked right up to Sebastian, and extended my hand to him. He swayed as he used the wall to stand up. He pushed my hand away and limped off. The owner smiled apologetically, “See? He’s got too much pride.” Later, I tracked Sebastian down again. I opened a briefcase full of cash and spread it out in front of him. “Your sister’s surgery can’t be delayed any longer. I can hire the best cardiovascular surgeons in the country.” Sebastian stared at me, guarded. “Your terms.” I felt a rush of absolute pleasure opening up every pore in my body. My long-dormant chest finally felt a heartbeat again in that moment. “I want you. As my kept man.” Time flew, and eight years passed. Sebastian was now the man sharing my pillow, even if he was reluctant. He still kept a cold face most of the time. He turned a blind eye to my displays of affection. He used work as an excuse to stay at the office until dawn, by which time I was already fast asleep. I stirred my oatmeal, a dense wave of nausea rising in my chest. I was clearly starving, my lips trembling from hunger, yet the sight of food made me gag. My nose tickled. A warm liquid slid down, completely ruining the warm, sweet oatmeal. I wiped my nose. There was no panic. Sebastian used to say, “Victoria, sometimes I think you aren’t even human.” Neither of us had warm, passionate dispositions. Most of the time we spent together, we were handling our respective businesses. Only in the dead of night, when loneliness surged, would we embrace and collapse onto that massive bed, tangling together desperately, as if this was the only way to prove we weren’t alone in the world. But I knew clearly that when we rolled in the sheets, when I was completely swept up in the heat of passion, Sebastian wasn’t that focused. It made sense. He was in his prime; how could he resign himself to being a sugar baby? He was a capable man. He had started his own trading company, which had been booming over the past two years. He would probably leave me soon. Before we got together, I sent Chloe Reed abroad. This younger sister—who shared no blood relation with him—was his only weakness. She was also the existence that made me wake up drenched in sweat in the middle of the night. It’s so cold. Even though it’s the middle of summer. I wrapped myself in a blanket and texted Sebastian. “Come home for dinner tonight. I made your favorite cherry cobbler.” There was no reply for a long time. It wasn’t until noon that he stingily sent a few words. “Busy. No time.” I looked out the window. The sun was glaring, wilting the roses in the garden. “You have to come back even if you’re busy. Or I’ll freeze your shipment.” Sebastian finally compromised, stepping into the mansion exactly at six o’clock. I wanted to be softer, but after drowning in the corporate world for so long, my blood ran cold. I had long forgotten how to sweet-talk anyone. “CEO Reed is truly a busy man. Getting a dinner with you requires a waitlist.” I curled my lips. My lipstick was too heavy. Sebastian frowned, pulled out a tissue, and wiped some of it off. “Aren’t I here?” I chuckled dryly, poking him in the chest. “Don’t think I don’t know it’s because Chloe is back. Eight years apart, you two siblings must have a lot of catching up to do.” Sebastian looked like he was getting angry, but his moods never dictated my actions. His anger toward me was like punching cotton; it vanished without even bouncing back. He walked into the kitchen and brought the dishes out one by one. “Let’s eat.” I chewed my salmon slowly, afraid to blink, terrified the tears would fall. I said, “Sebastian, let’s break up.” 2 Sebastian’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. He cast a confused glance at me. He knew it. I loved him to the bone. How could I let go so easily? How many nights had I stroked his broad back, calling his name over and over again? Yet all he left me was a stubborn, cold silhouette. I would dig my fingers into his dark hair, pulling his head back almost sadistically, reminding him how to please his benefactor. I wasn’t always so good-tempered, but I would watch with a smiling face as he rejected me time and time again. Sebastian kept his back to me. My boiling blood went ice-cold again. Then, I let go and weakly wrapped the blanket around myself. In our eight years together, I had mentioned breaking up many times. But without exception, within a week, a black Maybach would park squarely in front of Sebastian’s company at exactly 8:00 AM. Rolling down the window, I would stare at his expressionless face and curl my lips. He only knew that I crushed his dignity, but he didn’t know how many times I had thrown my own into the dirt, stripping myself of all pride. “What crazy fit are you having now?” I let out a low laugh, staring blankly at the plump grains of white rice in front of me. I probably wouldn’t be able to eat this much longer. “I’m serious this time.” I looked at Sebastian. He still wore a stern expression, as if looking at a clown using despicable tricks to garner a sliver of attention, stingily offering a drop of pity. “My luggage is already packed. I’ll be moving out tonight.” Sebastian finally reacted. His brows twitched slightly, and even those usually calm eyes widened a bit. “Congratulations, Sebastian. You’re free.” I walked up to him, bent down, and whispered softly, “When you and Chloe get married, I’ll send a fat check.” Sebastian stayed frozen in place. “Take care.” I heard the suppressed voice squeezed from his throat. Chloe moved in. I had seen her once a long time ago. Back then, Chloe had a sallow complexion, so emaciated she looked like a skeleton draped in skin. Her eyes, which should have been bright for a teenager, were dead and dull. Only when she saw Sebastian would they spark with life. She would hug him, affectionately calling him her brother. She was only eighteen, yet even on the brink of death, she was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a delicate, pure kind of beauty that made people instinctively want to protect her. I would never have that aura in my life. While Chloe was half-dead on an IV drip, I was ruthlessly slaughtering my competition in the business world. For the sake of a resort project, I forcibly demolished a whole neighborhood. The compensation was ruthlessly low, and many cursed me to die a horrible death behind my back. But Sebastian never called me cold-blooded; he was exactly the same as me. We were the same kind of people. How could he fall for a little white flower like Chloe? Now, I truly was dying a horrible death. The footage from the pinhole camera was exceptionally clear. Chloe was curled up on my favorite velvet sofa. Sebastian had washed a bowl of strawberries for her, carefully removing the stems, picking the reddest ones, and feeding them to her one by one. I was a little upset. Chloe didn’t even take her shoes off. The soles of her pointed boots stepped on the blue sofa, leaving deep indentations. That was one of the few places where Sebastian and I shared a beautiful memory. I had a terrible flu back then, my head spinning. Sebastian held me, patiently coaxing me to take my medicine, even humming some nameless lullaby while watching me fall asleep. I suppose men like Sebastian were naturally drawn to gentle, delicate women. They were strong enough and needed someone to lean on their shoulders, not a woman who dominated him at every turn, a woman who wore lipstick the color of fresh blood. Chloe said she didn’t like this sofa. Sebastian probably thought I might swoop back in a week, so he hesitated for a moment. “I’ll take you furniture shopping in a few days.” Chloe smiled sweetly. “You’re the best, Sebastian.” Arthur Sterling pushed the door open to find me still staring intently at the computer screen. On the screen, Sebastian had just stepped out of the shower, water dripping from his hair, his perfect physique enough to make anyone scream. He instinctively reached for the water glass on the nightstand, but it was empty. I wasn’t there anymore, which meant no one was placing a fresh glass of water by his bed for him to drink at any given moment. Not knowing what he was thinking, Sebastian angrily smashed the glass against the wall. Arthur called me a creep. “Are you sick? Spying on someone’s life twenty-four hours a day?” I smiled. “It’s more than that. I also have private investigators. I know his every move outside the house with absolute clarity.” Arthur shivered. “Victoria, you really are a total psycho.” I stopped talking. I had woven a web of love; he couldn’t escape it. Sebastian would eventually realize that I had seeped into every detail of his life, while the Chloe in his heart had only left behind a seemingly beautiful shell. A steaming hot towel was pressed against my arm. After days of IVs, my arms were completely bruised. If they had to draw blood tomorrow, they might not even find a place to stick the needle in my battered veins. “Sis, why do this to yourself?” I looked closely at my younger brother. We shared the same father but different mothers. After his mother died of illness, our father had no choice but to bring him back to the Sterling estate. I had been very afraid for a time, fearing that half of the massive Sterling empire would be handed over to Arthur. I reached out and lifted his chin. He had clean, clear eyes, just like his mother. In his youth, I subtly tested the waters. When I found out he cared more about art than business, I resolutely sent him to Italy to study. Arthur was very grateful to me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was just that now I had summoned him back, because my illness was terminal. That drop of blood relation, once the thing I feared the most, had now become my most reliable shield. “Will you cry for me when I die?” Arthur froze, throwing the towel on the floor. “Can’t you say something positive?” Seeing him so agitated actually made me somewhat happy. “But having only you isn’t enough. If I really die, my widow must be the one crying the most agonizingly.” Arthur was speechless. He could only comfort me. “You’ll get better.” In the middle of the night, Sebastian finally got up to get a glass of water from the kitchen. There was no soup simmering in the slow cooker. Without the faint aroma to grace it, the kitchen lacked the warmth of human life. It was so cold and desolate it was frightening. Sebastian pursed his lips and started washing rice to make porridge. He hadn’t done this kind of thing in a long time, naturally out of practice. He added too much water, and when he woke up the next day, it had boiled over onto the floor. He woke up earlier than Chloe, so he scooped a bowl and placed it on the table. But by the time he got off work that evening, the bowl of porridge was still sitting there, completely untouched. The house was pitch black. No one would ever lazily glance at the kitchen and tell him to wash his hands and eat again. Sebastian took a deep breath and dialed Chloe’s number. The sound of deafening club music filled his ear, Chloe’s words slurred and indistinct. He tried hard to maintain a gentle tone. “Where are you, Chloe? I’ll come pick you up.” I closed my laptop and called Sebastian’s business partners. “There’s no need to provide cargo ships for Apex Trading anymore. I need to handle the spare parts on my end urgently.” With Sebastian’s capabilities, these things wouldn’t crush him, but they would definitely keep him extremely busy. Only then would he discover how many obstacles I had secretly smoothed over for him, how many roads I had paved. A round-faced young nurse gently reminded me not to wear makeup. I touched my face. There was barely any flesh left on it. This was my armor. My battle standard that maintained my dignity. How could I take it off so easily? Victoria Sterling. How could I ever allow myself to show vulnerability? I had always been strong. “Have you found a matching donor in the bone marrow registry?” “Not yet, but don’t lose heart. You will definitely get better.” I wanted to get better. I wanted to hear Sebastian say he loved me. And if I died, I wanted him to remember me for the rest of his life. 3 Sebastian had been very busy lately, not just with his company, but with Chloe. He had no idea when this formerly pure, innocent younger sister had become so extravagant and corrupted. She would stand arrogantly in luxury boutiques, pointing at a row of new arrivals with half-closed eyes, demanding them all. Then she’d hop into a cab and head to the loud, chaotic bars. The neon lights flashed relentlessly, casting bizarre shadows in the steel fortress of the city. She swayed to the music, shaking an expensive cocktail in her hand, her eyes narrowed like a lazy cat’s. Sebastian would watch her coldly, dragging her out of the hyperactive crowd. He shoved Chloe into the bathtub, the cold water making her cough violently. “Sebastian!” She let out a short, piercing scream. Sebastian finally snapped out of his daze and said in an unquestionable tone, “I’m cutting off your cards starting tomorrow.” Chloe licked her lips, seemingly unbothered. “Whatever. The money you transfer me every month isn’t that much anyway. It’s all the money that old woman gave me.” She draped her arms over the edge of the tub, as if remembering something amusing, her eyes curving into crescents. “People say she’s an iron lady, but she’s really just a pathetic wretch. You definitely don’t know how she talked to me—as if she was my sister-in-law. Nagging me to take care of myself, wiring money to my account right on time every month. She even begged me to put in a good word for her with you. It’s so hilarious.” She waved her hand in disgust and cursed, “Disgusting.” Slap. Sebastian struck her across the face. This man was always very quiet when he was angry. He was never a man of many words anyway, always surrounded by a low-pressure aura. Even more so when he was furious—his eyes would just dead-lock onto a specific spot. After slapping her, Sebastian’s hand trembled. He sobered up instantly when he saw Chloe’s swollen cheek. He patiently tried to comfort her, his broad palm patting Chloe’s thin back gently. But anyone could see his mind was elsewhere. Except for me. Sebastian’s gaze landed on a corner of the bathroom, where a lonely little rubber duck sat. I went through a childish phase for a while, buying lots of rubber ducks to put in the tub while bathing. Inside the rubber ducks were bath bombs. Orange scented. It was a scent Sebastian rarely admitted he liked. He always said my perfume smelled like a morgue. We had a huge fight about it later. I threw all the rubber ducks away, leaving only one over the drain, which made that bare spot look a little more pleasing to the eye. Sebastian returned to a lonely, empty room. The bed was ice-cold. There was no human-shaped heater. Lost in thought, he opened his laptop and aimlessly browsed the web until he finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. I guessed he had forgotten the URL. On my birthday one year, I enthusiastically coded a webpage myself. I wrote a lot of cheesy things and added his favorite songs as background music, giving it to him as a gift. Back then, Sebastian merely cast a cold glance at it and ignored it. Relying on fragments of memory, of course he couldn’t remember it. I pursed my lips. The liquid medicine was bitter. Sebastian definitely didn’t know that I had deleted that webpage long ago, but I left a screenshot of it on his computer. I wanted him to slowly discover it. I wanted him to be engulfed by my love like a tidal wave. The cross-border corporate deal couldn’t be delayed, but the original shipping partner suddenly pulled their cargo vessels. Sebastian was stunned. The manager explained that they had originally been partners with the Sterling Group. Now that Sterling was pressing them tight, they had to prioritize their old patron. Sebastian was caught off guard. When Apex Trading was just starting, this logistics company had shown up at his door. Reliable service, fair prices. He wasn’t entirely unaware that I might have pulled the strings behind the scenes, but the other party’s attitude didn’t seem like it. “We like helping young people with dreams.” After all this time, it was my favor after all. This definitely frustrated Sebastian, because I had dominated him once again. Sebastian was displeased, knowing he couldn’t truly stand shoulder to shoulder with me yet. But he kept smiling. People in the business world always flashed that standard, eight-tooth smile. “Please give my regards to CEO Sterling.” The manager clicked his tongue. “The young CEO Sterling? He’s too arrogant. Nowhere near as good as the old CEO.” “The young CEO?” In Sebastian’s impression, I was an absolute dictator. I would never allow others to covet the top seat at Sterling. Why was there suddenly a “young CEO”? The manager shook his head. “Not sure. Sounds like some kind of incident occurred, and she stepped back behind the scenes.” Sebastian finally remembered that I hadn’t contacted him in half a month. The man hesitated for a long time before dialing my number, but all he got was the robotic, formatted voice of the automated operator. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off.” He didn’t go to my company to find me. He just stood there for a very, very long time. 4 Sebastian found a job for his sister. Despite her reluctance, Chloe went to work, pouting all the way. With the company’s crisis handled, his schedule suddenly opened up. Sebastian frequently sat on the couch, staring blankly. This lasted for about a week before he started rummaging through the house. When I left, I took a lot of things with me: matching mugs, photo albums. What remained were mostly old, small trinkets stuffed in unnoticeable corners. Sebastian turned the place upside down, wiping every corner with a rag. Then he piled all the things he dug up in the living room and looked at them closely, piece by piece. Many of them were things I bought for him. A ring he had only worn a few times. Sunglasses I bought him on vacation. A scarf I knitted for him in the winter—because it was my first time, it was uneven, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The stitches were crooked, looking a bit ridiculous. Sebastian had never worn it once. Now, holding that scarf, he wrapped it around his own neck, looked at his absurd reflection in the mirror, and laughed out loud. He found many memories of us. He, who was always awkward, who never wanted to honestly accept my love. Now, tearing himself open piece by piece, he finally realized that after eight long years together, he had long grown accustomed to my existence. Someone once said that when an old friend leaves, the first emotion you feel isn’t sadness. You might not feel anything at all. But on a certain day, at a certain moment, when you see everything they left behind, you suddenly realize that you can never get them back. I didn’t know what Sebastian was thinking. He put all those things into a cardboard box and dragged it into his bedroom. I guessed his heart must be very soft, despite his cold, hard exterior. He always wrapped himself in armor, a suit of steel that seemed indestructible. But what was hidden inside was more fragile than anything else. No one loved him like I did. Sebastian always threw himself onto the front lines to fight everything fate handed him. A poor family, parents dying early, a sickly sister, and the humiliating, twisted romance with me. He was like a turtle shrinking into its shell, simultaneously arrogant and inferior. Accepting fate while rejecting its gifts. Some people just refused to honestly face their own hearts. I traced my computer screen and laughed, unaware even when drops of nosebleed stained my snow-white sheets. Sebastian drove his car to my company. He waited quietly, waiting for me to get off work. Just like the countless times I waited for him to walk out of those glass doors and resign himself to getting in my car. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t catch me. Arthur Sterling walked out, surrounded by a crowd, dressed in a sharp suit. The shot-caller at Sterling had changed. It was no longer the woman with cold eyes and a dismissive smirk. Sebastian was frozen. He stood perfectly still, watching Arthur get into my Maybach and drive away. That night, Sebastian blew up my phone. From 9:00 PM to midnight, without stopping. But all that came from the screen was a calm automated voice. He scrolled through our texts. Every message he sent sank like a stone in the ocean. Finally, Sebastian put the phone to his ear, clicked on the voice memos I had sent him, and listened to them all night. Chloe said he was crazy to like an old woman like me. She dragged that box of items to the door, intending to throw it in the trash. Sebastian wrestled with her. The box tore open, and the messy pile of trinkets scattered all over the floor. I watched on the screen as Sebastian gathered them into his arms, his shoulders shaking. He was crying. Chloe was crying too. She asked Sebastian: “Sebastian, didn’t you love me the most?” The man lifted his head and touched Chloe’s face. “We are siblings.” Even without blood, you are still my sister. That is all. I breathed a sigh of relief. Sebastian actually didn’t love Chloe. He had just been emotionally blackmailed for too long. The responsibility of having to take care of his sister made him lose himself, unable to distinguish between love and familial concern. That’s why I sent Chloe away. Eight years was enough time to change a person, and enough time to forget someone. I said to Arthur: “Actually, I really like Chloe. Because people like her are extremely easy to deal with. She’s weak, selfish, and has seen nothing of the world. She hates me on one hand, but is forced to rely on me on the other. She feels I defiled her brother, yet she cashes every check I send without hesitation, believing it’s what I owe them.” I smiled and swallowed a pill. “Don’t be fooled by her harsh words; she’s actually terrified of me. She knows that over these eight years, Sebastian’s heart has only had room for me. There’s no space left beside him for anyone else, even his once-closest sister.” I looked at Arthur. His brows were tightly knit, looking somewhat severe. Finding a comfortable position, I laid back, feeling the pain in my chest ease slightly as I breathed. “Our dad had quite a few affairs out there. I’m not surprised I have a few younger siblings. But I didn’t expect them to pop up the second I stepped down. What position does Donovan want?” “Chief Financial Officer.” Arthur bit his lip, cursing him as a useless sack of wine and flesh with sheer disgust. I found it a bit funny. He was young after all; he couldn’t keep his composure. “Give him whatever position he wants. If he wants to play, take him out to play. Money, power, alcohol, and women are knives that kill without spilling blood. You don’t even need to strike; the things he can’t control will turn around and kill him.” I touched Arthur’s face. He looked the most like our father, born with those captivating eyes. Unlike Arthur, however, our dad never showed such a lost expression; he was always confident. “After I die, Sterling Group will be handed over to you. Don’t rush things. Indulgence and strictness are both management tactics. Pressing too hard will only make you lose your own assets.” Arthur opened his mouth but said nothing. “You need to know, out of all these brothers and sisters, you’re the only one I treat as my own.” “But what if… what if the Sterling Group gets destroyed in my hands?” I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted, but still spoke sweet words. “You are my brother. I believe in you.” The other party grabbed my hand and said okay. I knew he was grateful to me. In his most difficult years, I was the one who brought this boy to my side, telling everyone he was my younger brother, the young master of the Sterling family. He stepped from the mud into the clouds, from being spat upon to being in the spotlight. He loved art, so I sent him to the best art institute. He wanted love, so I brought him home-cooked meals through wind and rain. It was only because Arthur casually mentioned in a chat that other classmates had loving bento boxes. This was where I was smarter than his mother. She would only pinch the soft flesh under Arthur’s clothes in dark corners with her sharp nails. I knew, but I never interfered. That was her resentment, Arthur’s original sin, and he was meant to endure it. Arthur never spoke to me about these things. I was his older sister, his only sanctuary in the Sterling family. Under the club, wolves only rebel. Under the sun and rain, the brilliantly blooming flowers are much easier to control. This was my selfishness: grinding away Arthur’s hatred, removing a rival for the inheritance. But now, everything had changed. This illness caught me off guard. The company I poured my heart and soul into for over a decade. The deals I secured by drinking until my stomach bled. Was I really willing to just hand it over to someone who had never managed a business? The illegitimate children popping up wasn’t an accident. Arthur would also slowly realize that he couldn’t control the entire Sterling empire alone. Only a strong alliance would work, and I was his best choice. “When Sebastian comes looking for you, remember to tell him I’m dead.” “Huh?” Arthur was confused. “Didn’t you have people tell him you just stepped behind the scenes?” “If there are no contradictions, how would he sense something is wrong and come looking for me?” I pulled the blanket up. “I’m so tired. I’m going to sleep. You should go back.” Arthur didn’t know how much patience I had, or how capable I was of setting traps. Nothing I wanted could escape—including this life.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “414046”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was in the middle of a meeting when the high school principal called me five times in a row. When I pushed open the door to his office, not even the thickest layer of foundation could hide the furious scowl on my face. My little brother stood in the corner, chin tilted up, looking as arrogant and rebellious as humanly possible. Under the principal’s shocked gaze, I marched over and smacked Mason hard on the back of the head. “Stand up straight!” Mason instantly snapped to attention. I turned around, fully prepared to see which poor girl this little punk had been harassing. But the moment I turned, I was met with a face that looked like it had been carved by the gods. Fair skin, a perfectly straight nose, deep-set eyes, and a gaze that burned like fire. He wore a sharply tailored suit. Cold, aloof, and ridiculously cool. I looked at the gorgeous guy, then back at my idiot brother, my mind going completely blank. 1 Mason looked like he had just swallowed a lemon. The principal cleared his throat. “Um, are you Mason’s…” I was still so mesmerized by the absolute masterpiece of a man standing in front of me that it took the principal calling me three times to snap out of it. “Oh, hello. I’m Mason’s older sister. My name is Harper Hayes.” The principal shot a sideways glance at Mason in the corner. Mason held his head high, acting tough. “Mom, sister, same difference.” I glared at him fiercely. Mason instantly deflated, dropping his head like a wilted plant. I put on an apologetic smile. “Mr. Davis, about the girl Mason is dating…” I mean, surely this incredibly hot guy wasn’t the one my brother was involved with, right? The principal wiped sweat from his forehead. “He’s not the one.” In the middle of the sweltering summer, I felt a sudden, icy chill from head to toe. I stiffly turned to look at the hot guy. He stood there, cool as a statue. Mason… how on earth did he deserve this?! Maybe my gaze was a bit too resentful, because the handsome guy gave me a questioning raise of his eyebrow, followed by a mysterious, amused smirk playing at the corner of his lips. He was exactly my type. Even his eyebrow raise was devastatingly attractive! Is it illegal to steal your brother’s boyfriend? Just as my imagination was running wild, the principal quickly corrected himself. “Look at me, I’m getting all mixed up. I mean, this is the young lady’s older brother.” Oh, that makes sense. I let out a long breath of relief. I knew it. One look at this guy and you could tell he had exquisite taste. There was no way he’d be into a loser like my brother. Following the principal’s gaze, I saw Mason slacking off again, casually poking at the potted aloe vera in the corner and pulling out a few cactus needles. Probably used to Mason’s terrible behavior by now, the principal just sighed and looked at me. “Lily went to hand in some homework to the physics teacher. She’ll be right here.” Lily. I repeated the name in my head. If the brother was this gorgeous, the sister had to be beautiful too. As I was thinking, a cool, pale hand appeared in front of me. “Miss Hayes, hello. I’m Lily’s brother.” The aloof hottie finally spoke his first words. His voice had a natural, lazy drawl that practically made my bones tingle. I quickly shook his hand, shaking it excitedly. “Hello, hello!” In the middle of summer, his hand was pleasantly cool. Not going to lie, it felt really nice to hold. I was waiting for him to introduce himself, but he suddenly went silent and didn’t say another word. It wasn’t until the principal coughed twice that I suddenly realized what I was doing and let go of his hand. I gave a polite, reserved smile, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear to ease the awkwardness. I wondered if this could salvage my image in his eyes. “Excuse me.” A crisp, girlish voice. The girl wore her hair in a ponytail and looked a bit timid. Her school uniform seemed a size too big, hanging loosely on her frame. This must be Lily. Delicate features, light pink lips. Though she wasn’t as breathtakingly striking as her brother, she already had the makings of a gentle, elegant beauty. Lily walked in, nodded at the principal, shot a quick glance at Mason in the corner, and then immediately fixed her eyes on the handsome guy. “Declan.” Declan smiled gently at his sister, a smile so sweet it almost melted my heart. I officially declare that I was robbed of an older brother in this life! “Lily, it’s okay, don’t be nervous. Your teacher and your brother are both here.” The principal pulled Lily over, smiling more lovingly than a proud mother. But Lily looked extremely unnatural. Since walking in, she hadn’t looked at me once. It was almost like she was hiding from something. The principal pulled out a purple illustration card. It was a watercolor painting of a boy and a girl holding hands, with a heart drawn in the middle. The guy in the drawing was clearly a beautified version of Mason. This was an elaborately detailed, jaw-dropping love letter. There were barely any words, but the teenage angst and affection practically spilled off the page. Mason bounced his leg, glancing at the painting disdainfully. “I admit it. I drew it. I have a crush on Lily.” Everyone’s eyes snapped to Mason. The principal looked so angry he could barely breathe. The bell rang. The principal suppressed his anger and looked kindly at Lily. “Lily, it’s fine. Go back to class for now. We’ll handle the rest. I won’t let you be wronged.” Lily’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Mason suddenly snapped impatiently, “He told you to go to class, so go. Why are you just standing there?” Lily clearly jumped in surprise, quickly pushed the door open, and ran out. The statue-like Declan wiped the smile off his face. He spoke his second sentence since entering the room, his voice freezing cold. “My sister is timid. Watch your tone.” Mason puffed his chest out, looking like he wanted to square up with Declan. I quickly glared at him. This little idiot! One sentence and he pissed off my hot guy. How was I supposed to hit on him now?! Under my death stare, Mason instantly wilted, staring at his toes. The principal pushed up his glasses. “You’re Mason’s older sister.” “I am.” The principal’s voice grew very strict. “Since both you and Lily’s brother are here, let me explain the situation.” “Lily has always been the top student in our grade. She’s the student council VP, the physics rep, has excellent grades, and a wonderful personality.” The principal paused. “I don’t want such a bright kid to be distracted by… other things.” “Of course, of course. I’ll take Mason home and lecture him thoroughly.” To my surprise, going home actually meant going home. The principal told me to take Mason home for a suspension to “reflect.” I couldn’t lose my temper in front of Declan, so I waited until we were out in an empty hallway before viciously kicking Mason in the leg. I had a menacing expression on my face, preparing for a second kick, when I caught Declan standing coolly not far away out of the corner of my eye. I smoothly lowered my leg mid-air, pretending nothing happened. Declan walked over, a smirk playing on his lips. “Am I interrupting, Miss Hayes?” I immediately switched to a demure, gentle smile. “No, not at all. Mason had some dirt on his pants, I was just dusting it off for him.” His eyes were so gorgeous I wanted to swear. “Miss Hayes, my sister has always had a soft personality. She doesn’t know how to say no. If she accidentally did something that caused your brother to misunderstand, I apologize on her behalf.” Declan had a very distinct way of speaking. His voice was clear, his pauses perfectly timed, his pronunciation flawless. But it carried a lazy, magnetic drawl that, upon closer listening, held a sharp edge. “However, I also hope you understand that I will not allow anyone to take advantage of Lily’s personality to hurt her.” After saying that, Declan shot Mason a cold glance and walked right past us. 2 Mason tilted his head up defiantly. “Harper, he glared at me!” “You deserve it! I want to strangle you! How did you just talk to his sister back there?! Did a dog eat all the gentlemanly manners I taught you?!” While I was arguing with Mason, the principal suddenly walked over from the other side of the hall. Feeling guilty, I dragged Mason into the nearby staff breakroom to hide. I, Harper Hayes, had always been an outstanding overachiever. Today, my idiot brother had completely ruined my reputation. The principal’s voice drifted through the door. “Mrs. Smith, you wouldn’t believe it. Mason’s sister came in today, and she was even worse than Mason! She grabbed Lily’s brother’s hand and wouldn’t let go, just stared at him the whole time. Have you ever seen such a shameless woman?!” … Excuse me, Mr. Davis?! When we got home, the moment Mason’s butt hit the sofa, I coughed. He instantly sprang up. I sat on the couch, staring him down. “It’s just the two of us now. Tell me the truth.” Mason put on a cheeky smile. “What truth? Harper, are you hungry? Let me make you some ramen. You can eat and take a nap.” “Mason, you can fool other people, but I raised you. Don’t play games with me. You’ve had zero artistic talent since you were born. Since when did you become Picasso?” Mason lowered his head, looking pitiful. “Harper, there were so many people there. I couldn’t just expose Lily, right? She’s a girl, she cares about her pride. You understand.” I frowned in confusion. “You mean… Lily is the one who likes you?” Mason looked at the ceiling and mumbled an awkward nod. Lily? She seemed like such a normal, smart girl. How was her taste in guys so atrocious? I looked Mason up and down. His belt was on backwards. His socks didn’t match. His sleeves were covered in pen marks. Besides having a naturally handsome, boy-band face, the rest of him was a giant walking red flag. What kind of potion did he give Lily? Or maybe, being used to her brother’s flawless, aristocratic face every day, she decided she wanted to try some street trash for a change? “Harper, don’t worry. I have zero interest in all this romantic nonsense. It’s too cringey. I’d rather play Call of Duty. I just wanted to help her out of a jam.” I nodded sarcastically. “Oh right, you’re so noble. You’re amazing. You love helping others. Leaving me to sacrifice my dignity as a 27-year-old woman to get yelled at for you.” Although I was being sarcastic, I was actually quite relieved. Mason handled it like a real man. Mason muttered quietly, “Look who’s talking. Who was the one practically drooling over a guy in the office today? I was embarrassed for you.” “Say that again!” Mason’s confidence instantly dropped to zero. “What’s so great about Lily’s brother anyway? He looks like a mixed-breed model. Pretty boy.” “If you disrespect your future brother-in-law again, you’re sleeping in the dumpster tonight!” I opened my laptop to catch up on the work I missed during the day. Mason mumbled under his breath, “You don’t even know his name yet.” My fingers froze on the keyboard. That hurt… The living room fell into a dead silence. About ten minutes later, Mason set a steaming bowl of ramen in front of me. “Harper, don’t work too hard. It was my fault today.” My eyes stayed glued to the screen. “You didn’t do anything wrong, but your attitude toward Lily was problematic. I know you were afraid she’d accidentally tell the truth, but you can’t be mean to girls, and you can’t disrespect your teachers. Got it?” I tossed my phone to him. “Reply to a message for me.” “Who?” “My ex-boyfriend. We broke up amicably half a year ago, but he keeps bothering me. I don’t have time to deal with him right now. Figure out what to say. If you can’t, just block him.” Mason typed for a moment, then draped a blanket over my shoulders. “Done. Eat your noodles before they get cold. I’ll watch you eat.” I devoured the ramen and wiped my mouth. “Not bad. Your cooking improved. Go to bed, you have school tomorrow.” At 2 AM, I stretched and was about to go to sleep when I saw a friend request on Instagram. The bio simply said: “Lily Kensington.” I tapped “Accept” immediately. Messages immediately started popping up: [Germaphobe.] [Likes black, white, and red.] [Hates perfume.] [Likes quiet places.] [Prefers mint-scented body wash.] [Doesn’t like manicures.] [Likes black hair.] I stared blankly at the messages popping up one by one, and subconsciously replied with a few of my own. [Loves video games. Likes ramen. Good at swimming. Hates cheesy romance. A bit goofy but a good cook.] A moment later, she replied: [Thank you, Harper.] I thought for a moment and replied: [Go to sleep early.] Lily. She was pretty cool. I looked at my freshly manicured nails and sighed. What a pity. I didn’t even know her brother’s name. What was the use of knowing his little quirks? Who knows if we’ll ever even meet again. 3 After pulling an all-nighter, my head pounded the next day. I voluntarily worked overtime to finish the last bit of my project. Just as I was about to clock out, my phone rang. An unknown number. “Hello?” I was feeling incredibly irritable. “Miss Hayes.” The moment I heard the voice, I got so excited I almost fell out of my office chair. I quickly composed myself, switching to a normal tone. “Oh, it’s you.” I heard a soft chuckle on the other end. “I’m honored Miss Hayes actually remembers me.” Looking like that, it’d be harder to forget you. “Miss Hayes, Lily told me the whole story. I’d like to apologize for my attitude the other day. Would you give me a chance to make it up to you?” I asked tentatively, “You want to…” “Buy you dinner.” Exactly what I wanted to hear! I shut down my computer, set my phone aside, and started touching up my makeup. While dabbing on foundation, I let out a reserved little laugh, acting bashful. “Oh, I don’t know. It was just a small misunderstanding between the kids. No need to go to all that trouble.” “Miss Hayes, I’ve already made the reservation. If you don’t come, it’ll go to waste.” “Well,” I replied ‘reluctantly’, “I guess I can’t say no to that.” I was just about to ask him to send me the location when he beat me to it. “Miss Hayes, where are you right now? I’ll come pick you up.” Making him come pick me up seemed a bit too bold. But honestly, I had been working all day and really didn’t want to navigate traffic across the city. I texted him my office address. There was a noticeable silence on the other end. I got nervous. Was it too far? Was he put off by the distance? Gas prices are pretty high right now, after all. “Um, actually, it’s fine, I can just…” “Miss Hayes. Give me five minutes.” The line went dead. I stared blankly at the beauty blender in my hand. Five minutes? Does he sell hot dogs in the lobby downstairs? The exact second I finished applying my lipstick, a figure appeared outside my glass office door. I opened the door, and that infuriatingly handsome face filled my vision. Holy crap, did he actually sell hot dogs downstairs? My assistant, Sarah, rushed over, out of breath. “Harper! This is the lead executive for the new project we’re trying to land. He just asked if we had someone named Harper Hayes here. I figured that was you, so I brought him right over!” Without giving me a second to process, the handsome guy cut straight to the chase. “Miss Hayes, it’s about time. Shall we go?” Sarah smiled so wide it looked like her face would split. “Oh my god, you two know each other?! I won’t bother you then, have a great night!” Once Sarah left, the guy’s deep eyes filled with amusement. “Miss Hayes. What a coincidence.” Heh… Look how happy he is laughing at me. On the way to the restaurant, soft piano music played in his luxury car. I tried my hardest to sit up straight and maintain an elegant posture. It was exhausting. A stray strand of hair blew across my face, and I suddenly remembered he liked black hair. My hair was currently dyed a standard ash-brown. Plus, I had my nails done and was wearing perfume. A complete tactical failure on day one… “Miss Hayes, making Director at such a young age. You’re very accomplished.” “Not as accomplished as…” Realizing I still didn’t know his name, I switched titles. “…as Mr. Kensington. Running your own company at your age.” We had been chatting in corporate-speak the whole time. How was I supposed to steer the conversation into something deeper? Noticing my hesitation, he helpfully chimed in. “Declan. My name is Declan.” “That’s a beautiful name,” I said, deliberately letting the syllables roll slowly off my tongue. Flirting, but not making it too obvious. Let’s see how Declan keeps up his corporate facade now. Declan did indeed fall silent. His dark, bright eyes stared straight ahead at the road. Cold, yet carrying a gentlemanly gentleness. He was dangerously attractive. If I looked closely, it seemed like he was trying not to smile. Was I imagining things? “Miss Hayes, please have a seat,” Declan pulled the chair out for me at the restaurant. “You can just call me Harper.” Declan: “You don’t need to call me Mr. Kensington either. The company belongs to my mother. I just run errands for her.” … Throughout the dinner, I tried countless times to subtly guide him, but I just couldn’t get the word “Harper” to come out of his mouth. Declan was still earnestly apologizing for his attitude the other day. “I will have a serious talk with Lily when I get home. I’ll make sure she doesn’t cause your brother any more trouble.” I dragged my exhausted body halfway across the city just to hear this? And calling him “your brother”… so formal. I waved my hand gracefully. “You don’t need to put too much pressure on Lily. Let’s just see how things play out. Mason is a single-celled organism. He doesn’t get stressed by things like this. The only thing that stresses him out is if the cafeteria runs out of pizza.” I don’t know if bringing up Mason made my true self leak out, but when I waved my hand, I accidentally knocked over Declan’s wine glass. There wasn’t much red wine left, but it splashed right onto his suit jacket. I frantically grabbed some napkins to wipe off the stain. Declan was a germaphobe! Because of my manicure, I had been hiding my hands all night. Now I couldn’t afford to care. But as I was scrubbing vigorously, a rhinestone on my nail caught on a loose thread of his suit. Declan’s cool, gentle voice sounded right by my ear. “Miss Hayes, it’s fine.” “No, no, no, I have to get it clean.” The more I panicked, the harder it was to untangle. I had no choice but to lean in incredibly close to his chest, eyes wide open, carefully trying to unhook the thread like I was defusing a bomb. From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like I was burying my face into his chest. His scent drifted into my nose. I felt nervous and inexplicably excited. “Miss Hayes, don’t worry about it. I was planning on throwing this jacket away anyway. Thanks to you, I now have a perfectly valid excuse.” I didn’t really care, and it wasn’t like I couldn’t afford to pay for it. But my hand was literally stuck. “Harper!” A man stood in front of our table, his face a picture of shock. I sat up instantly, but my hand was still caught on the jacket, making it look like I was gripping his clothes. I definitely forgot to check my horoscope today. Of all the awkward situations to run into my ex-boyfriend. Ethan Caldwell stared at Declan, his eyes turning red. “Harper, I thought you were joking when you said it. You actually got a new boyfriend.” When did I ever tell him I got a new boyfriend? Wait, it couldn’t be… Mason, that absolute moron! I asked him to reply to Ethan’s message, and this is what he sent?! He’s useless at everything except sabotaging his sister. Ethan let out a weird, bitter laugh. “Harper, where did you find this pretty boy? Is he a model or something?” I replied coldly, “Ethan, watch your mouth. This is my friend. If you have something to say, we can talk later. Don’t throw a fit here.” Ethan wouldn’t let it go. “When my mom told you to quit your job, you’d rather break up with me than give up your precious career. Turns out you just wanted to make money to become a sugar mama to a pretty boy!” I had already broken several of Declan’s rules today. I couldn’t let a public scene happen in front of him. I suppressed my anger and softened my tone. “Ethan, leave first. We’ll talk later.” Ethan stared at my hand, which was still tangled in Declan’s jacket, and deliberately leaned in closer. “Hey, how much is Harper paying you?” Me: “Ethan! Are you crazy?!” Declan: “Two hundred.” ??? Declan stood up. I had no choice but to stand up with him. Declan gently held my tangled hand, then leaned in and softly pressed a kiss to my forehead. The cool, soft touch sent shivers down my spine. Was Declan playing along? As expected from someone who navigates the business world. He knew how to read a room. Ethan hissed through his teeth, “Two hundred? Is that for the whole night?” Damn it! How dare this jerk insult Declan like that! Screw my elegant image, I’m going to slap him across the face. Declan: “For a lifetime.” ??? Ethan smelled like alcohol. He must be drunk. “Fine! Harper, you’re ruthless! How am I worse than this pretty boy?! You chose him over me!” Declan: “Maybe you didn’t know enough positions, and you didn’t last long enough.” Ethan’s eyes went completely red. He lunged forward to grab me. “Who the hell do you think you are, pretty boy?! Harper, come with me!” The sudden aggression from Ethan actually scared me for a second. I panicked. Instinctively, I hid behind Declan. Declan wrapped an arm around my waist, and with his other hand, gave Ethan a seemingly light push that sent him stumbling back several feet. I had never felt so safe in my life. It felt like Declan’s shoulders could shield me from any storm. I, Harper Hayes, had grown up never relying on anyone. Declan was the first person who made me feel like I could depend on him, even if it was just for a split second. 4 I leaned my entire body weight against Declan, making my voice sweet and flirty. “Baby, let’s go.” Ethan chased after us. “Harper, please. I love you. Have a heart, please?” I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “Get lost! When you stood there and let your mother insult me, where was all this love?” Seeing how resolute I was, Ethan turned his attacks to Declan. “Hey! Trust-fund baby! You think Harper actually loves you? You’re so naive! She’s ruthless. She falls in love with a new guy every week. She’s never given anyone her real heart!” Declan replied slowly, “Oh, really? I don’t care. Being chosen by my owner is my absolute honor.” Owner… Damn, Declan must be into some freaky stuff. With his cold, aristocratic face, he didn’t look like the type to say things like that. The contrast was amazing. I liked him even more! Declan’s eyes lingered on my lips for a second, then he put his arm around me and walked me out of the restaurant. My nail had finally untangled from the jacket. But Declan didn’t let go of me, so I happily let him keep his arm around me as we strolled down the street like a real couple. I was done pretending to be a demure lady. It was exhausting. I leaned against him like I had no bones, grumbling, “I really wanted to slap Ethan. He just wouldn’t shut up!” As I spoke, I threw a couple of phantom punches in the air, then looked up at Declan with sparkling eyes. “I’m so sorry about today. Thanks for your incredible acting and for sacrificing your pride to help me out. How can I ever repay you?” Like, maybe I can offer myself to you? Declan: “Since you asked, you can pay the bill. Two hundred.” Without missing a beat, I whipped out my phone. “Two hundred is too cheap. I’ll Venmo you two thousand. Plus the dry-cleaning fee, let’s make it five thousand.” What can I say? I got a raise recently. I’m rich. Wait! That two hundred was supposed to be his rate for the night! Five thousand means I can book him for a lot of nights! Was he flirting with me? What did he mean by that? Does he actually like me? A million little minions were throwing a dance party in my brain. “Hold on.” Declan’s hand moved from my waist and gently pinched my chin, tilting my face up. We were in an empty alleyway with only a few dim streetlights. The perfect setting to do something. Declan leaned in closer. I closed my eyes and tilted my chin up slightly higher. I felt his thumb gently wipe the corner of my lips. Declan: “You had some frosting on your mouth.” I opened my eyes to see Declan had already taken a step back, maintaining a safe distance, looking as cool and untouchable as ever. That’s it? “I’ll take you home.” Declan started walking toward his car. I followed behind him, utterly confused. He sparked this itch in my heart, and now he’s just going to leave it?! “Declan, don’t you have anything else to say?” Declan turned his head. “I’ll be stationed at your company for the next few months.” And?! Did I just spend $5,000 for absolutely nothing? Declan dropped me off at my apartment building. I was still unwilling to let it go. Mustering my courage, I tugged on his jacket. “Do you… want to come up for a bit?” Declan blinked and answered a question with a question. “Why did you break up with your previous boyfriends?” Previous boyfriends… The plural form was very telling. I answered honestly, “They were all mutual. When the love faded, we went our separate ways.” Declan leaned against his car. The streetlight illuminated his face, highlighting his perfect bone structure. “What exactly did Ethan’s mother do?” I didn’t really want to dig up those memories, but since Declan asked, I bit the bullet and told him. “His mom is a wealthy housewife. She thought I was marrying up and wasn’t good enough for their family. She hated that I made more money than Ethan and had a better degree. She wanted me to quit my job, stay home, do his laundry, cook his meals, and pop out two kids in three years. She constantly insulted me to my face, and Ethan never once stood up to her. It was suffocating.” I shifted to a lighter tone. “But I don’t care anymore. I’m used to making it on my own. I like my freedom. I don’t need to depend on anyone.” Men are just for fun. I didn’t say that last part out loud, though. “Harper! What are you two doing?!” Mason walked over, carrying a dripping wet pool floatie. Declan gave Mason a polite smile and got into his car. Upstairs, Mason and I stared at each other. Me: “Why are you home? It’s not even the weekend.” Mason: “What’s going on with you and Lily’s brother?” I rubbed my temples. “Exactly what it looks like.” “Harper, you have no standards! You’re not in a rush to get married. Worst comes to worst, I’ll provide for you.” I opened the fridge, grabbed two yogurts, and tossed one to him. “Stay out of women’s business. And provide for me? Take care of yourself first. Anyway, where were you?” Mason’s eyes darted around shiftily. “Swim team practice today. Lily came too. She doesn’t know how to swim and doesn’t talk much, so I just hung out and practiced with her for a bit.” Mason ripped the foil lid off his yogurt and slapped his thigh. “Oh right! Harper, Lily bought yogurt today too, but I noticed she didn’t lick the foil lid!” My eye twitched. “And?” Mason: “So I just stared at her until she licked the lid. Drinking yogurt without licking the lid is a crime against humanity.” … Mason: “Anyway, never mind that. Harper, did you know Lily and her brother don’t actually live together? Their parents are divorced. Lily lives with her dad, and her brother lives with their mom.” I was shocked. “Is this intel legit?” Mason nodded. “Lily told me herself. Her parents divorced before she can even remember. She also said she likes the way I smile. She said she could never smile like me.” Tsk. Lily was clearly a hyper-sensitive, intelligent girl. For her to say something like that meant she really trusted Mason. Me: “What did you say to her?” Mason grinned, his eyes crinkling. “I told her I also think I look really handsome when I smile.” I held it in for a few seconds before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. I almost choked. Oh, my stupid baby brother. He traded ten lifetimes of emotional intelligence for that pretty face. A pretty boy with a golden retriever’s brain. Mason: “…Harper, you’re making fun of me.” No I’m not. Don’t be ridiculous. Late that night, when everything was quiet, I rested my chin in my hand and scribbled “Declan Kensington” all over a piece of paper. Finally, I went and took a cold shower.

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