Category: English

When the wealthy Sterling couple came to our university to give a guest lecture, my childhood friend, Liam, was pulling me away, sneaking out to the university dining hall for our work-study shift. He called for me to grab an empty bucket from a shelf. The moment I took a step, live comments flooded my vision: [DO NOT TOUCH THAT BUCKET, IT’S FULL OF HOT SOUP LIAM PREPARED TO DISFIGURE YOU!] [THREE YEARS AGO, LIAM HELPED HIS FIRST LOVE REPLACE YOU AS THE LONG-LOST DAUGHTER OF THE STERLING FAMILY. NOW HE WANTS TO RUIN YOUR FACE SO YOU’LL NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO RETURN HOME!] [POOR YOU, SUFFERING SEVERE FULL-BODY BURNS AND COUNTLESS SKIN GRAFT SURGERIES, ONLY TO BE POISONED BY THE FAKE HEIRESS WHO SWAPPED YOUR MEDICATION.] [AND THAT JERK LIAM MARRIED INTO THE STERLING FAMILY, WORKING WITH THE FAKE HEIRESS TO SWINDLE YOUR FAMILY OUT OF THEIR ENTIRE FORTUNE!] [GO BACK RIGHT NOW AND LET MRS. STERLING SEE YOUR FACE! THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO BECOME THE TRUE HEIRESS!] I heard Liam urge me to hurry and grab the bucket. I glanced at the comments, hesitated, and froze in place. 1 “Emmy, what are you waiting for? Grab that bucket! I can barely hold these bags.” Liam, my childhood friend for eighteen years, stood ten feet away, struggling with two bags of rice, calling out to me. The live comments continued to scroll wildly. [MY POOR PROTAGONIST, DO NOT TOUCH THAT BUCKET!] [RUN! YOUR FACE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MRS. STERLING’S! IF YOU’RE DISFIGURED, YOU’LL NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO GO HOME!] My legs trembled, and I slowly backed away. Liam urged me twice more. Seeing I hadn’t moved, he took two steps closer himself. “Emmy, what’s on your mind?” I forced my gaze away from the bucket and asked him, “Liam, I heard that Mr. Sterling, the Chairman giving the lecture today, found his long-lost daughter a few years ago?” Liam’s eyes visibly widened, but then he quickly shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “How would I know anything about rich people’s affairs? All I know is if we don’t finish this job, we won’t get paid today.” He continued to pressure me, but I simply sat down by the doorway. “I’m a little tired. Can I rest for two minutes?” Liam grew anxious. “Rest after you move the bucket.” The more anxious he became, the more suspicious I grew. I didn’t answer. I quickly pulled out my phone and searched. Sure enough, I found news about the Sterling family from three years ago. And the girl Mrs. Sterling was embracing and weeping over was none other than our mutual friend, Chloe Miller! No wonder Chloe changed her name to Chloe Sterling right after freshman year of college, telling me some fortune teller had given her the new name. I bit my lip and held my phone up to Liam, who was still urging me. “Isn’t this Chloe?” Liam’s throat went dry, and he averted his gaze. “Probably. I’m too busy with work-study; I don’t pay attention to such things.” He continued to press me. “Listen, hurry and move the bucket. After we’re done, I’ll take you for some street tacos near the entrance.” He was changing the subject, he was guilty! My heart felt as if it had been clutched, then violently thrown off a cliff, plummeting rapidly. I was only two years old when I was abducted. A year after arriving at my new home, my adoptive parents abandoned me. At the orphanage, I met Liam, who was the same age. We grew up together, and even attended the same university. All these years, he had cared for me meticulously, saving money to buy me snacks, and taking me on trips during holidays. When some classmates mocked me for not having parents, he specifically learned martial arts, pinning down those who bullied me and making them apologize. Five years ago, he confessed his feelings to me, holding a bouquet of white roses, my favorite. He said he would be good to me forever, that we were each other’s only family. I thought we would marry after graduation, and be together always. But it turned out that two years after I said yes to him, he arranged for another girl to take my place and be reunited with my biological family. “Liam, was I your first love?” I asked, trying to suppress the tremor in my voice. Liam lowered his head, meticulously wiping non-existent dust from a rice bag. “Of course, Emmy, you were my first love.” [HE’S LYING AGAIN! THIS TWO-FACED JERK WHO DECEIVED THE PROTAGONIST DESERVES TO DIE!] A sourness welled up in my nose, and I disappointedly lowered my head. Chloe Miller entered the orphanage when we were ten. She was sweet-talked and pretty, always trailing after Liam, calling him “brother.” Liam was annoyed at first, but gradually grew accustomed to it, always inviting her to eat and play with us. Thinking of the girl who always called me “Emmy Sis,” I couldn’t help but clench my fists. The two of them must have conspired behind my back, hiding the truth from me while setting her up to be the Sterling family’s daughter. And today, with the Sterlings here to give a lecture, Liam, fearing they’d recognize me, actually intended to disfigure me! No, I had to go back! I couldn’t let them keep deceiving everyone! “Liam, I have a stomach ache; I need to go to the restroom.” I left that excuse and walked away, heading straight for the auditorium. 2 In the auditorium, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling had just finished their speech, and Chloe Sterling stood on stage. Today, she wore a beautifully tailored, luxurious gown, with full makeup and meticulously styled hair, even her hairpins studded with diamonds. She spoke eloquently: “The Financial Aid Scholarship is a project I’ve poured my heart into. I’m grateful for my parents’ support; without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today, and this project wouldn’t have helped so many students complete their studies. It’s a shame, though, that a friend of mine hasn’t received this scholarship for three years, and often bothers me privately…” She paused, then added, “But I want to say that opportunity is for those who are prepared.” I knew she was talking about me. [WHAT A VICIOUS ANTAGONIST! THE PROTAGONIST DIDN’T FAIL TO GET IT BECAUSE SHE WASN’T SMART ENOUGH!] [EXACTLY! IT WAS ALL HER BEHIND-THE-SCENES MANIPULATION, DELIBERATELY MAKING THE PROTAGONIST FAIL TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS!] [SO SNEAKY! ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE SCHOLARSHIP COULD TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE STERLINGS; THEY WERE AFRAID OF BEING EXPOSED.] My heart skipped a beat. For three years, I had been ranked first in my major, but I always failed to meet the application criteria for various reasons. I had even privately complained to them. What did they say back then? “Emmy, our work-study wages are enough for this month’s living expenses; don’t worry.” “Emmy Sis, don’t be sad. You’ll definitely get it next time!” They superficially comforted me, but in reality, they blocked my scholarship, preventing me from meeting my parents. I looked at my parents, who were gazing at Chloe with satisfied expressions, and opened my mouth to call out. Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth, pulling me back forcefully. “Emmy, this is an important event; don’t cause trouble. Let’s go back to work.” [JERK! HE’S LIVING THE HIGH LIFE WITH CHLOE STERLING, YET HE STILL MAKES THE PROTAGONIST STRUGGLE WITH WORK-STUDY!] I recognized Liam’s voice and stomped on his foot. He cried out in pain, but his grip didn’t loosen. On stage, Chloe noticed us. Her eyes widened for half a second, then she composed herself, turning to whisper something to Mrs. Sterling. Mrs. Sterling immediately frowned with concern and led her off the stage. [HOW INSIDIOUS! PRETENDING TO FEEL UNWELL TO AVOID EXPOSURE.] [SCHEMING WOMAN!] Seeing all three of them leave the stage, I bit down hard on Liam’s finger. The moment he loosened his grip, I ran towards the backstage area. [PROTAGONIST, RUSH! LET YOUR MOM SEE YOUR FACE!] Seeing the comments, I ran even faster. It turned out the world I was in was a novel about a true and a fake heiress. Today, I was supposed to be scalded by Liam with hot soup and sent to the hospital. Later, I would meet Mrs. Sterling in the hospital, realizing we looked exactly alike, but Chloe would turn her against me with a few words, making her disbelieve me. Liam would even deliberately show her someone else’s photos, claiming that was what I actually looked like. This would make Mrs. Sterling despise my “lies,” stop donating to the hospital, and refuse to see me. While I underwent skin graft surgeries in the hospital, Liam and Chloe would publicly begin a relationship outside, and Liam would even join the Sterling family’s company. Finally, one day, my appearance would recover by thirty percent, and I would believe I could finally meet my parents. But then Chloe would poison me with a needle! After my death, Liam would marry into the family, and they would have a high-profile wedding. In the second year of their marriage, they would cause an accident to kill Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, successfully seizing all the Sterling family’s assets. Poor me and my parents, all dead at their hands, without even a proper funeral, just left in the morgue. This shouldn’t be the protagonist’s fate, and my parents should certainly not die! I had to change the ending! Finally reaching backstage, I called out to their retreating backs: “Wait!” Chloe was the first to recognize my voice. She pushed them, hurrying them forward. “Mom, let’s go quickly, I’m feeling so dizzy.” Mrs. Sterling, about to turn back, was also held by Chloe, who pressed her head down. I heard Liam’s footsteps approaching from behind me. In desperation, I shouted, “She’s a fake! I’m your real daughter!” 3 Mrs. Sterling turned immediately. Upon seeing my face, she gasped. “You… you look exactly like me!” She looked at me, then at Chloe, who only bore a slight resemblance to her. Mr. Sterling, startled, stepped forward, wanting to examine my face more closely. I quickly said, “I’m your daughter! She’s an impostor!” [THE PROTAGONIST IS FINALLY STANDING UP FOR HERSELF! GIVE THAT ANTAGONIST A SLAP!] Just as I finished reading the comments, a hand grabbed my shoulder, forcefully pulling me back. Liam’s voice was filled with barely concealed panic as he scolded me. “Emmy, this isn’t our place. Come back with me, be good.” “Hey!” Mrs. Sterling instinctively reached out to pull me, but Chloe tightly hugged her. Two lines of tears streamed down Chloe’s face. “Mom, don’t you believe me?” Mrs. Sterling’s heart immediately ached, and she embraced Chloe, comforting her. “Of course I believe you, Chloe, it’s just…” I understood her meaning. With me looking so much like her, how could she not have doubts? “Mrs. Sterling, I was abducted when I was two years old! When I was taken, I was wearing a green T-shirt, black pants, and white shoes! I also remember there was a mountain behind our house, covered in peach trees! I remember being carried up the mountain to pick peaches, and being scared by a snake until I cried!” After rattling off my memories from before I was two, Mrs. Sterling’s eyes reddened, and she choked, unable to speak. Mr. Sterling nodded repeatedly. “Yes, the next day, I had all the snakes on the mountain driven away, but our daughter was already gone…” Behind them, Chloe’s face turned grim. She quickly exchanged a glance with Liam. “Emmy Sis, how could you do this to me?” Hearing her cry, Mrs. Sterling turned and asked, “Chloe, you two know each other?” “Mom, this is a friend Liam and I made at the orphanage. We grew up together. Everything she just said is what I’ve told you before. Emmy Sis, I treated you like a real sister and shared my memories with you. How could you turn around and try to deceive my parents?” Liam also walked over, facing me, his face darkening. “Emily Holloway, Chloe has repeatedly tolerated your behavior, why can’t you just leave her alone?” Mr. Sterling hesitated. “Has she bullied Chloe?” “Yes, Mr. Sterling. Chloe is kind-hearted and didn’t want to upset you, which is why she didn’t tell you. But I can’t stand Emily Holloway’s malicious intentions! This Emily Holloway has been jealous of Chloe since childhood. At the orphanage, she would snatch Chloe’s toys, and when we went to school, she’d tear up her homework. Later, she grew jealous that Chloe was found by you and became wealthy, so she specifically asked me how you found Chloe. I told her it was because Chloe looked a lot like Mrs. Sterling, so she deliberately went and had plastic surgery to look like Mrs. Sterling!” A thunderbolt exploded in my mind. I looked at Liam in disbelief, my body trembling uncontrollably. The eighteen years of friendship we shared felt utterly foreign to me in that moment. Especially the sinister, vicious look in his eyes—a side of Liam I had never seen before. When I spoke, tears were already falling. “You’re lying! We grew up together; don’t you know what I look like?!” “She’s the one who impersonated me to claim kinship, and you’re slandering me by saying I had plastic surgery!” His expression grew even more sinister, his eyes narrowing as he gritted his teeth. “Precisely because we grew up together, I know exactly what kind of person you are, and I know what you used to look like.” He enlarged a photo and handed it to Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. He pointed to a girl with contorted features, bearing no resemblance to Mrs. Sterling, and said, “This is Emily Holloway’s original appearance.” [THAT JERK IS TOO RUTHLESS, SHOWING OTHER PEOPLE’S PHOTOS TO MRS. STERLING.] [PROTAGONIST, DON’T CRY, QUICKLY FIND YOUR SELFIES!] I quickly pulled out my phone, but froze when I opened my photo album. Three years ago, when Liam and I were boating on the lake, my phone fell into the water and broke. My new phone only had photos from the past few years; there were no records from the orphanage at all! [DAMN IT, THE JERK AND ANTAGONIST WERE PREPARED THREE YEARS AGO, NOT GIVING THE PROTAGONIST A CHANCE TO RECOVER.] Seeing me clutching my phone in silence, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling also saw that I had no evidence, and exchanged helpless glances. Chloe seized the opportunity to quietly sob. “Emmy Sis, I know you’re upset about not getting the scholarship. If you really need money, I can give it to you. I’ll give you anything you want, please, just don’t try to take my parents away from me…” Mrs. Sterling pulled Chloe into her embrace. “There, there, child, don’t cry. Your mom and dad will always be your mom and dad; we won’t abandon you. Let’s go home.” Mr. Sterling also cast a displeased glance at me, gesturing for the bodyguards to escort me away. [OH NO, THE PROTAGONIST HAS NO EVIDENCE!] The moment the bodyguards grabbed me to lead me away, I urgently said, “We can do a DNA test!” 4 The moment I said that, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling looked at me with even greater disappointment. Liam and Chloe, meanwhile, smirked confidently. “Emily Holloway, I understand you’re unwilling to give up after seeing how wealthy the Sterlings are… but Mr. Sterling has been a titan in the business world for years; how could he not have thought of doing a DNA test?” Liam’s voice was laced with derision. “It’s precisely because he did one that Mr. Sterling confirmed Chloe is their daughter!” I looked at the mockery in Liam’s eyes. Just as I was about to retort, I suddenly remembered that lake trip three years ago. After my phone fell, he immediately jumped into the lake to retrieve it. Anxious, I followed him in. Later, we were sent to the hospital for examination. In my daze, a lot of my hair was pulled out, and more than a dozen vials of blood were drawn… [DAMN THOSE JERK AND ANTAGONIST! THEY REALLY LEFT NO LOOPHOLES!] [NOW WHAT WILL THE PROTAGONIST DO? SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE.] A few students passing by backstage overheard and found it amusing. “Emily Holloway is usually so poor she can’t even afford a decent meal. She’s probably dreaming of becoming a rich family’s daughter, huh?” “No wonder I saw you running so frantically earlier. Were you afraid of missing your chance to become a pauper turning into a princess?” The taunts crashed around my ears, suffocating me. After leaving the orphanage, I had been working non-stop to repay my student loans, pinching every penny. I cut off all social interaction; apart from Liam and Chloe, I had no other friends. I just wanted to pay off my student loans, feel completely unburdened, and go find my parents. But to others, all this looked like evidence that I wanted to be a rich man’s daughter. “Mom, I feel terrible. Let’s go home…” Chloe said pitifully. Mrs. Sterling quickly embraced her and started to walk away. Mr. Sterling gave a look, and the bodyguards were already pushing me towards the exit. In desperation, I gritted my teeth and said, “Mrs. Sterling, have you checked the birthmark on her foot?” The three of them stopped. Mrs. Sterling looked at me, then at Chloe, but said nothing. I continued, “Other things can change, but a birthmark cannot.” Chloe panicked. “My birthmark faded as I grew up; that’s normal!” “Is that so?” I challenged. “Then can you tell everyone the shape of the birthmark, right now?” Liam’s face darkened. He said, “Chloe is shy. I’ll tell you. The birthmark was long and narrow.” “Yes, long and narrow!” Chloe echoed. But when she confidently looked at her parents, she saw their expressions had changed. Mrs. Sterling, with a complex expression, gently released Chloe and turned to look at me. Mr. Sterling, too, lowered his head in thought for a few seconds, then gestured for the bodyguards to release me. Liam, still confused, scanned the surroundings, then suddenly realized something. “The mark you mentioned, that was actually caused by my adoptive father whipping me at their home. My adoptive mother, fearing I’d run away, would pour red ink into the wound every day, which made it look like a birthmark.” Chloe was trembling so violently her teeth chattered. I, tears blurring my vision, looked at Mrs. Sterling. “My birthmark is on my inner thigh. It’s so private, I never told anyone, not even friends I grew up with. It’s an irregular shape, but I clearly remember my mother telling me during baths that it was a star. Mama said I was her and Papa’s little star.” Mrs. Sterling was already sobbing uncontrollably, running over to embrace me tightly. “My little star, how much you’ve suffered all these years…” Chloe finally reacted, shouting in rage, “Emily Holloway! You dared to trick me!” I scoffed coldly. “You tricked me first! Liam pretended to love me, extracted my memories of being abducted, then fed them to you. He even deliberately broke my phone and drew my blood, all so you could solidify your position as the Sterling family’s daughter! And today, he tricked me into going to the dining hall, planning to use hot soup to disfigure me, so Mom would never find me!” Mr. Sterling’s face was grim. He ordered the bodyguards to apprehend them. Chloe, desperate, kicked Liam’s leg. “Useless! Didn’t you say you knew her body inside out?!” Liam, also frantic, immediately kicked her back and added a forceful shove. “She was always busy with work-study; she wouldn’t let me touch her!” I tightly clutched my mother’s hand, terrified that this hard-won familial bond would be snatched away again. “Mom, I almost didn’t get to see you.” I looked up. “Let’s do a DNA test right now, on the spot!”

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After my husband’s death, his grieving parents suggested his twin Owen take his place as my husband and the baby’s father. My sister-in-law Celeste was furious, calling me shameless before fainting in rage. That night, I went to talk sense into my in-laws—but overheard my mother-in-law ask, “Liam, why did you claim you died when it was Owen?” His sigh was heavy. “Celeste can’t know the truth—her weak heart wouldn’t survive it. I only married you to help her be with Owen. Now that you’re pregnant, we’re even. I’ll live as Owen and care for Celeste forever.” The horror hit me: my “late husband” wasn’t Liam—it was Owen. At breakfast, I calmly announced, “You wanted me to move on? I will—by ending this pregnancy.” The man feeding Celeste suddenly stood up. 1 The funeral for my husband, Liam, was a blur of grief. Soon after, a new shock: I was pregnant. For this child, I forced myself to suppress the suffocating pain in my heart, terrified that my despair would somehow harm the tiny life growing inside me. But Liam had always had fertility issues, a low sperm count. This pregnancy was excruciatingly difficult. Every day meant injections to protect the fetus, and I vomited so relentlessly I often came close to blacking out. In just over a month, I’d wasted away, losing twenty pounds, a mere shadow of my former self. Eventually, my in-laws couldn’t bear to watch my suffering. They urged me to let go of the baby, to forget Liam, and to embrace a new beginning. But I refused them every time. Liam had been so good to me; how could I possibly give up our child? Truth be told, my initial engagement had not been to Liam, but to his older brother, Owen. However, just before the wedding, I was abducted and subjected to horrific abuse for three days and nights. Owen, deeming me “tainted,” broke off the engagement and married Celeste Chen instead. It was Liam who rescued me from my tormentors, battered and bruised. He’d taken multiple stab wounds himself, yet he clung to me fiercely, his grip unyielding. He knelt before my father, his gaze unwavering, declaring his long-held love for me and his desire to make me his wife. For years, everyone had said he was madly in love with me. And under his tender care and gentle affection, I had slowly, painstakingly, mended the deep scars within my soul. But our happiness was fleeting. Just three years into our marriage, he died in a car accident. My world crumbled. For a time, I’d wanted nothing more than to follow him to the grave. It was this child that reignited my will to live. Our baby was his only bloodline, his last legacy. I swore I would keep this child, even if it cost me my own life. Seeing my resolve, my in-laws ceased their attempts to dissuade me. But the very next day, during lunch, they dropped a bombshell. They proposed that Liam’s twin brother, Owen, should take on the responsibilities for both families – to care for me and the child in my womb. I was about to voice my immediate refusal when Celeste Chen suddenly snapped. She slapped me across the face, screaming accusations of shamelessness. Celeste had always been frail, and before I could even explain myself, the sheer force of her rage overwhelmed her. She fainted. Owen, my supposed brother-in-law, merely frowned, shooting me a look of displeasure, before cradling Celeste in his arms and rushing her out of the room. 2 Celeste’s slap had caused me to bleed, threatening the fragile life within me. I was confined to bed for two days before I felt even marginally better. I bore no ill will towards Celeste. Given my past engagement to Owen, her jealousy was understandable. Besides, setting aside the deep love I had for my husband, Liam, even if our relationship hadn’t been strong, my in-laws’ suggestion was utterly ludicrous. Neither Owen and Celeste, nor I, would ever agree to such an arrangement. Feeling a pang of guilt for having caused Celeste to faint, I made my way to my in-laws’ room as soon as I could stand. I planned to persuade them to abandon this preposterous idea, to never mention it again. And after convincing them, I intended to personally apologize to Owen and Celeste, to reassure them. But as I approached their door, my steps faltered. I heard my mother-in-law’s voice from within, laced with confusion: “Liam, it was clearly your brother who died. Why on earth did you insist it was you?” Liam? Wasn’t that my husband’s name? He wasn’t dead?! The man who died in the car crash… it was his older brother, Owen? I felt as if struck by lightning, my eyes wide, frozen in place. This… how was this possible? I vigorously shook my head, convinced I was hallucinating. But then, the man’s voice confirmed my worst fears. “Mom, Celeste must never know about this. She’s always been so delicate, with a weak heart. If she knew it was my brother who died, she wouldn’t be able to bear it.” Owen—no, I should call him Liam. My husband, Liam. He paused, then sighed again. “Besides, Celeste was always the one I truly loved. My marriage to Elara was merely a means to facilitate Celeste’s union with my brother. Now, I’ve given Elara a child; I don’t owe her anything more. From now on, I will take my brother’s place and care for Celeste for the rest of our lives. Please, don’t ever bring up that idea of me taking on responsibilities for both households again. It would only upset Celeste.” 3 “But Elara has suffered enough already!” my mother-in-law protested, her voice pleading. “To sabotage her engagement to your brother, to ensure Celeste and your brother could be together, you had Elara abducted for three days and nights, subjecting her to unspeakable trauma. Now she’s finally started to heal, and she’s carrying your child. It’s only right that you look after her, at least a little…” But Liam cut her off impatiently. “Enough, Mom! To ‘compensate’ her, I ignored the mockery of being labeled a cuckold and willingly married her. I devoted myself to caring for her for three years, helping her overcome her trauma. Isn’t that enough? Do you want me to spend my entire life paying her back? Mom, I’ve suffered for three years, pretended for three years—I’ve had enough! Living with her, every single day has been torture! Now, fate has given me a chance to return to Celeste’s side, and I refuse to let this opportunity slip away…” They said more after that, but I couldn’t hear it. My body felt chilled to the bone, and my chest felt as if a knife had plunged into it, twisting with unbearable pain. Stumbling back to my room, I saw my reflection: I was trembling uncontrollably, my face streaked with tears. So, the man who died in the car accident wasn’t my husband at all. It was his brother, Owen. And Liam’s devotion, his gentle affection these past three years – it had all been a lie. The woman he loved, from the very beginning, was Celeste, just like his brother. Even worse, the person who had orchestrated my abduction and torment was Liam himself. His motive? Simply to ensure Celeste could marry Owen. If they didn’t want to marry me, they could have broken off the engagement honorably. But instead, they chose to destroy me! And the most pathetic part? I had mistaken this monster for my savior. I was even prepared to risk my life to bear his child… 4 Though I tried desperately to calm myself, the hatred and fury raging within me still brought tears to my eyes. The next morning, I descended the stairs, my eyes swollen and my face deathly pale. I saw Liam carefully tending to Celeste, feeding her. They were nestled close, a picture of sickening intimacy. From a distance, they looked like a perfectly awful pair. I clenched my fists, the sharp pain in my palms bringing a cold clarity to my mind. Soon, Celeste noticed me. A flicker of triumph crossed her eyes when she saw my disheveled appearance. Then, as if to provoke me, she buried her head in Liam’s chest, whining playfully. Liam, his entire focus on Celeste, continued to dote on her, utterly oblivious to my presence. I lowered my gaze, watching his adoring smile directed at Celeste. A bitter, hollow laugh echoed in my mind. This kind of affection – I had never once seen it in three years of marriage. I gently touched my belly, then calmly settled into a dining chair. I began to eat, picking out the most nutritious items, forcing myself to consume every bite. I would terminate this pregnancy, restore my health, and then make those who had hurt me pay, tenfold! Once I’d eaten my fill, I calmly wiped my mouth. Across the table, Liam had finished serving Celeste. He finally lifted his head to look at me. Seeing my swollen eyes and pale face, he paused, a momentary flicker of guilt crossing his features, likely assuming I was still grieving his supposed death. But then his face hardened, and he spoke, his tone displeased: “Elara, I know you’re deeply saddened by Liam’s passing. But I will not agree to take on responsibilities for both households. My heart belongs only to your sister-in-law, Celeste. I can’t spare a single ounce of affection for you.” Celeste’s eyes gleamed with even greater triumph. Yet, she feigned concern, saying, “Elara, you didn’t cry all night because my husband refused to take on those extra responsibilities, did you? I’m so sorry, I was too impulsive yesterday. But… but I truly love my husband, and I can’t give way on this…” As she spoke, her frail body trembled, and her eyes welled up again. She clutched her chest, appearing utterly distraught. Liam was overcome with sympathy. He scowled at me, a warning in his gaze, then gently embraced Celeste, comforting her. “Celeste, don’t worry. I will only ever love you. I’d sooner die than touch another woman.” 5 How utterly ironic. Then what about the child in my belly? Was it conjured out of thin air? Still, he was, in a sense, “dead” to me. I suppressed the bitter ache and burning rage in my heart, turning away from the sickening display of their affection. I forced myself to nod, feigning indifference. “You can rest assured. The idea of taking on responsibilities for both households is absurd, and I would never agree to it.” Liam looked at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. I looked up to see my in-laws descending the stairs; they too had overheard my words. Their expressions were etched with concern as they gazed at my pale face and swollen eyes. My mother-in-law spoke, her voice hesitant, “Elara…” I looked at them, my emotions a tangled mess. Since I’d married into this family, they had indeed treated me well. Their sympathy over the past few days felt genuine. But then I remembered: they knew everything about Liam orchestrating my abduction and torment. They had simply kept it from me. My feelings for them became incredibly complicated. The words “Mom and Dad” stuck in my throat. “You heard me. The idea of taking on responsibilities for both households is absurd. I don’t agree.” My mother-in-law, perhaps recalling Liam’s words from yesterday, finally gave up trying to persuade me. She merely sighed. “I know, Elara, you have deep feelings for Liam and can’t forget him. You certainly wouldn’t agree to this. But, your mother-in-law truly sympathizes with your plight…” She paused, glancing at Liam, then continued earnestly, “Elara, Liam is gone, but you’re still alive. One must always look forward. Your mother-in-law still wants to advise you: don’t dwell on him forever. Move on, start a new life.” Liam and Celeste, having heard my refusal to the “two households” arrangement, visibly relaxed. Their expressions softened. Liam, however, looked at me with a new, complex gaze. Listening to his mother’s words, he too began to feign concern, offering hypocritical advice: “Elara, Mom is right. Liam is gone. No matter how deeply you love him, you are now separated by life and death. There can be nothing between you. In the future, you still have a life to live. It’s best to forget him soon. It’s good for you, and good for him. Fortunately, he left you a child, a glimmer of hope. Even without him, you can still live your life with his child. For the sake of the baby in your belly, you must be strong and move on.” Listening to Liam’s pompous pronouncements, I couldn’t help but inwardly sneer. A child? He still expected me to bear his child? Delusional! My heart was filled with mockery, but on the surface, I maintained a facade of gratitude, playing along with their words. “You’re right. I thought about it all night yesterday and finally understood. Before, I was truly stuck in a rut, causing you all to worry. And since Liam had fertility issues by birth, and this pregnancy is so difficult, it must be fate’s decree that his bloodline should end. So, I want to follow fate’s will, listen to your advice, terminate this pregnancy, completely let go of him, and remarry to start anew.”

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I donated a kidney to save my mother-in-law. The day I left the hospital, my wife Eleanor threw a lavish welcome banquet. Three drinks in, her smirking assistant Chad “joked”: “Peter, with one kidney, can you even perform in bed? Half a eunuch now?” Laughter exploded. My dignity shattered. I demanded an apology. Eleanor scoffed: “Can’t take a joke? Then get out!” She had security drag me out as guests watched. Her mocking voice followed: “Who’d want a cripple like him? He’ll beg me back in three days!” After eight years of apologies, this time I went straight to my lawyer’s office. My friend, Michael, adjusted his glasses, his eyes wide with disbelief after hearing I wanted a divorce. “You’re not joking, are you? You were head over heels for Eleanor Vance, you threw away a multi-billion-dollar family empire, and willingly became a stay-at-home husband for eight years!” “No joke, Michael. Draft the agreement. I’ll walk away with nothing. As for the company I set up for her, I have other ways of getting it back.” He knew about my surgery and looked at me with open sympathy. “It’s good that you’ve finally come to your senses. I’ve always said Eleanor wasn’t worthy of you. Leave the agreement to me; I’ll send it to you once it’s done.” Stepping out of the law office, I called my family. I told them I’d pack my things and be home in a couple of days. I also offered a sincere apology for my impulsive marriage to Eleanor and the resulting estrangement from them all those years ago. My parents sensed something was wrong with my mood. Fearing I was upset, they just offered a few words of caution and hung up. On the way back, I couldn’t find a taxi, so I walked for an hour. By the time I reached our apartment building, my strength was utterly depleted. The moment I opened the door, I swayed, but then an ashtray came flying towards me. It struck my head squarely, and blood instantly poured down my face. Eleanor didn’t even glance at me, her voice cutting and cold. “You’re finally back? Why didn’t you just die out there? Do you know how much you embarrassed me tonight?” “Chad was just making a joke, Peter. Why do you have to get so angry?” Her tone was accusatory. “He’s just a young graduate, what sense of proportion could he have? You’re old enough to be his uncle, why are you arguing with him?” But she conveniently forgot: that “joke” was about the kidney I’d given to save her mother’s life. It was she who had knelt before me all night, begging me to undergo the transplant. Now that the surgery was over, it had become her weapon, her constant source of mockery. Eight years of marriage, and I had never once had dignity in her presence. Before, I could delude myself, but tonight, reality slapped me hard. Looking back, ever since she hired Chad as her assistant, her attitude towards me had grown increasingly cold. Every time I messaged her, asking what she wanted to eat, or what time she’d be off work, she’d brush me off with excuses about meetings or social obligations. Eventually, she didn’t even bother to reply. If it weren’t for Chad’s social media posts, visible only to me, I would still be completely in the dark. I had confronted her, argued with her, poured all my effort into salvaging this pathetic marriage. This transplant surgery was my final, bitter lesson. Things that cannot be forced, I no longer wanted them. Seeing my silence, she assumed I was, as usual, just sulking, her long-suffering punching bag. Her voice dripped with imperious command. “What are you standing there for? Didn’t you see I was drinking tonight? Go make me some hangover soup.” I ignored her, changed my shoes, and walked straight into the bedroom. Blood dripped from my forehead, staining the floor. But as I opened the bedroom door, Chad walked out, wearing my pajamas. “Peter? Oh, I’m so sorry. I forgot to tell you tonight, but I’ve been temporarily staying at your place while you were in the hospital this month. I’ll move out as soon as I find a new apartment. You don’t mind, do you?” I clutched the wound on my forehead, feeling utterly wretched, and looked at Eleanor. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, her voice righteous. “Chad’s family isn’t local. His lease expired, and his landlord wouldn’t renew it, so he couldn’t find a place right away. I offered to let him stay for a couple of days. I didn’t tell you while you were in the hospital because I was afraid it would upset you and hinder your recovery.” She hadn’t even visited me once when I was undergoing compatibility tests and surgery. Yet, she showed such concern for this ‘subordinate’ of hers. My heart was filled with nothing but disappointment for this relationship. I didn’t want to say another word to her. I simply walked past Chad and into the room, not noticing the flash of surprise in Eleanor’s eyes behind me. I had thought, with Chad at home, Eleanor wouldn’t bother me, allowing me to pack my things in peace. But half an hour later, she kicked open my bedroom door. My hands, mid-fold over a shirt, froze. Before I could even lift my head, a stinging slap landed across my face, accompanied by her furious roar. “What have you done? I thought after tonight, you’d learn your lesson, but you’ve only gotten worse!” Her voice vibrated with rage. “What do you mean by posting those things online? Are you trying to ruin me, or ruin the company?” “Don’t you know these past two days are crucial for our new project? Do you have any idea how much effort I’ve poured into this?” With a final, angry flourish, she hurled her phone onto the bed. The screen displayed a blazing online post exposing the inappropriate relationship between the CEO of Vance Group and her male assistant. The accompanying photos, without exception, were all taken at tonight’s dinner party. Just an hour after being published, the post had already soared to the top of trending topics across the entire network. The comment section was a torrent of condemnation, with almost every netizen speaking up for me, the wronged husband, tearing Chad apart with their words. Despite the concealed methods, I recognized immediately that the post’s viral spread was artificially manipulated. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who was behind it. Eight years of shared life, and Eleanor hadn’t even given me a chance to explain before condemning me. Watching her face contort with malice, I couldn’t help but let out a cold, bitter laugh. “The photos were secretly taken, from across the table at tonight’s dinner. By then, you had already thrown me out. What makes you so sure I did this?” Her expression froze for a moment. Chad, who had rushed in at the sound of her voice, immediately interjected, his voice high-pitched and urgent. “Peter, I’m so sorry. I never thought a casual joke would make you so angry. It’s all my fault. Please, don’t argue because of me!” He added, a calculated plea in his tone, “I’ll hand in my resignation first thing tomorrow morning! I’ll never appear before you again!” Eleanor’s momentarily wavering conviction immediately solidified. “Don’t play innocent here, Peter. You funded the company, and you personally hired the veteran employees. Of course, they listen to you.” Her voice rose, dripping with venom. “I thought you agreeing to save my mother meant you truly loved me. But it was all a facade. You’re a hypocrite, one face in front, another behind my back. You sicken me!” Her final words were a sneer of pure contempt. “Peter Hayes, you are no man at all!” Watching her, her eyes filled with nothing but resentment for me, her expression completely unable to reconcile with the blissful look she’d worn on our wedding day. For a moment, I stood rooted to the spot, unable to even feel the pain. She didn’t press me further. Instead, she turned, linked her arm through Chad’s, and left the house. Before she left, she uttered one last chilling sentence. “You think about what you’ve done! I’ll come back when you’ve sorted out this online mess!” The loud slam of the door echoed through the apartment. I collapsed onto the bed, utterly defeated. After a long moment, I pulled out my phone and called my old friends. “The contracts with Vance Group can be terminated.” “Let’s meet tomorrow. I’m going back to the Thorne family.” In the dead of night, my phone vibrated furiously, more than a dozen times. I forced open my bloodshot eyes, only to see explicit photos of my wife. Below them, a line of text: “I bet you’ve never seen Eleanor this sexy, have you? Ever heard her beg on the bed? Oh, right, I forgot, you’re a eunuch now. You won’t hear it again.” My knuckles, clutching the phone, tightened, then began to tremble uncontrollably. Finally, my hand dropped powerlessly. This relationship, it was time to end it. After a night of furious escalation, the online uproar had reached its peak. The moment I opened my eyes that morning, I saw an avalanche of messages from Eleanor, bombarding my phone. “I’m giving you one day. Clarify everything online. Don’t you dare disrupt my press conference tomorrow!” “Say that after your surgery, you lost your fertility, got jealous, and acted unreasonably with me, so you framed Chad.” “Did you see my messages? Speak up!” … Eight years of marriage, and for the first time, I realized just how shameless she could be. I didn’t reply. I deleted all her messages. After getting up and washing, I went to meet my friends. When I arrived at the private room, they had already ordered food. Seeing me, they all looked at me with sympathetic eyes. “We saw the news online. We always thought these kinds of dirty tricks only happened to women. Never thought men could be so disgusting when they stoop so low.” “Peter, just give the word. What’s the plan for today, now that you’ve called us here? Partnering with Vance Group has always been a loss. If it weren’t for your sake, I would have stopped ages ago. This is perfect!” “Oh, right, you probably don’t know what that guy in the photos used to do, do you? Come on, buddy, I’ve got a surprise for you.” One of my friends handed me his phone. The screen showed Chad’s obsequious face, serving drinks at a private karaoke bar. Recalling his manipulative, ‘green tea’ behavior last night, it all made sense now. Eleanor’s taste was truly sickening. I told my friends about my plan to return to the Thorne family and my intention to divorce. To help me get some revenge, they promised to prepare a huge surprise for Eleanor’s press conference tomorrow. It was already noon when we dispersed. Eleanor, not having received my replies, was growing anxious. “Peter Thorne, where are you? Didn’t you see my messages? Clarify things in the company chat right now!” “Everyone in the company is targeting Chad today; even the security guards are walking all over him. I don’t believe you had no hand in this!” “When did you become this kind of person? How long are you going to act so unreasonably?” I was about to reply when another message popped up on my screen. It was from my mother-in-law. She reminded me to take care of myself after discharge and to take my medication on time. Frankly, after eight years of marriage, my mother-in-law had always been kind to me. That’s why I agreed to the kidney transplant. She had always tried to persuade Eleanor to treat me well. Unfortunately, I was destined to disappoint her good intentions now. After a two-second hesitation, I replied “Okay.” Yesterday, fearing Eleanor’s impatience, I hadn’t even had time to pick up my medication after being discharged. Leaving the hotel, I hailed a cab to the hospital. I never expected to see Eleanor at the entrance of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department. She was leaning against Chad’s shoulder, looking utterly delicate, clutching a pregnancy test report in her hand. Chad’s voice was arrogant, yet with a hint of nervousness. “Peter won’t find out, will he? I’m so sorry, I was just too careless. I should have kept it on.” “Why are you afraid of him?” Eleanor scoffed, her voice laced with disdain. “He’s turned into a eunuch himself; I’m practically giving him a son for free. He’ll be too grateful to ask questions.” She then added with a confident smirk, “Don’t worry. Tonight, I’ll just send him a message, and he’ll come running. He won’t suspect a thing. He’ll probably even think it’s his own!” Watching them embrace and walk away, my heart throbbed with a dull, excruciating pain. I could barely breathe. Once they were out of sight, I went to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department and retrieved Eleanor’s report. If she chose to be cruel, then I could be unjust. She wanted me to clarify things at the press conference tomorrow? I would expose their affair for all to see! That night, I returned to the Thorne family estate, and Eleanor did not come home. Chad sent me a message. The photo attached showed a Porsche supercar’s transfer of ownership contract. Eleanor was giving away the five-year anniversary gift I’d bought for her. I knew this was Eleanor’s compensation to him. But by now, I no longer cared. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, he sent another photo. The car was parked in the garden, beneath a sky full of stars. A woman’s stockings were pushed down, draped limply over her ankles. “Have you ever tried this position? She said you were too old to satisfy her, and she practically begged me to do it in the car. If I weren’t young, I might not have been able to keep up.” After I decided to leave, nothing he sent, no matter how outrageous, could stir my emotions. As usual, I took a screenshot, saved it, and then turned off my phone to rest.

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Seven years of marriage, seven times I was dragged into that alley. The seventh time, my body broken, blood pooling beneath me, they dumped me in a dumpster like refuse. It wasn’t until he saw the scene, a chilling replica of that night so long ago, that Ryan Harris, my husband, finally emerged from the alley’s mouth. He ordered his men to seize the thugs who had ruined his sister’s life all those years ago. He glanced at my dying form, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, but it quickly congealed into icy mockery. “Enjoy yourself this time, Maya?” he sneered. “You owe me, Maya Thorne!” His men, witnessing my horrific state, panicked. One immediately fumbled for his phone, dialing 911. Ryan, however, slapped the phone away with a dismissive wave, his voice a low, furious growl. “Don’t just stand there! Take her to identify the assailants!” I silently closed my eyes, allowing them to haul me away, but tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. The endless nightmares of the past seven years finally made sense today. Ryan Harris, what I owed you, I have now repaid in full. … I jolted awake from the dream, my legs aflame with a searing, agonizing pain. When I opened my eyes, a parade of grotesque, leering faces still swirled behind my eyelids, refusing to fade. “What’s wrong? Not satisfied? Still dreaming about it?” Ryan’s voice dripped with scorn from the chair beside my bed. Seraphina Blackwood, his childhood friend, nestled comfortably in his arms, chimed in, her tone equally venomous. “Maya Thorne, you truly are despicable! If Ryan ignores you, you just run off to those thugs for a thrill? Could it be you’re addicted? You actually enjoy that kind of… attention?” She paused, a malicious glint in her eyes. “Otherwise, after six times, why would you pretend to be so innocent, only to doll yourself up and rush to meet Ryan every time he called?” Yes, I was such a fool. How could I have ever believed he was finally opening his heart to me again? Last night, Ryan had called me to that same dreaded alley. Despite a growing unease, I went, clinging to a sliver of hope. And just as before, endless torment awaited me. I screamed his name, desperate for him to hear, to save me. But instead, through blurred eyes, I saw him and Seraphina locked in a passionate embrace at the alley’s entrance. An entire hour passed. Only when the thugs were done and preparing to leave did he finally appear with his men. By then, blood stained my lower body, and my abdomen was wracked with violent cramps. Realizing I hadn’t had my period in two months, I struggled, reaching out a trembling hand to Ryan, pleading for help. “Ryan… the hospital… I think… I’m having a miscarriage…” Ryan’s brows furrowed, but Seraphina quickly wrapped her arm around his, her gaze raking over me with disdain. “Sister, you must have been having too much fun just now! Your face practically screams how much you enjoyed it!” She laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. “And heaven truly is kind to you. Good riddance, honestly. It would just be a bastard child anyway! Isn’t one illegitimate brat enough already?” The pain in my stomach was too overwhelming to fight back. I could only look at Ryan, my eyes pleading. But he turned away, leaving me with a cold, cutting remark: “Maya Thorne, when did you become so utterly depraved?” Yet, he seemed to forget that the last time I’d been dragged into that alley was a year ago. How could this possibly be someone else’s child? The hospital room door creaked open, pulling my thoughts back to the present. The doctor entered to examine me. The sheet was pulled back, and a wave of ice slammed into me. My mind went blank, a void of horror, as tears, hot and fat, streamed down my face. Lying there, on the stark white hospital bed, were only the stumps of what used to be my legs. I lunged for the doctor, my arms flailing, screaming hysterically. “Doctor, my legs? Where are my legs?” The doctor looked at me with a pained expression. “Your legs… they were shattered yesterday.” She hesitated, then continued, her voice soft. “You were unconscious. Your husband, perhaps fearing complications, chose… amputation.” Amputation? Ryan knew, better than anyone, that I was a dancer. Amputation meant the end of my life. I tried to lunge towards Ryan, only to collapse to the floor. He didn’t move, just watched me, his eyes blazing with a horrifying, bloodshot intensity. “You’ve only lost your legs, Maya. But what about my sister? My mother? Trading your useless limbs for two lives… you got off easy!” My heart felt as though it had been stabbed with a bayonet. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my flesh, drawing blood. “Ryan Harris, what I owed you, I have repaid.” The day I was discharged, I went straight back to the Harris mansion to pack my belongings. Six-year-old Leo stood by my side, his clothes tattered, his small body covered in bruises, yet his eyes burned with a defiant fire. I said nothing, only took his hand and started to walk out. Just then, Seraphina walked in, arm in arm with Ryan. Seeing us holding hands, Seraphina’s lips curled into a sneer. “Well, well, look at the loving mother and son act. Such deep maternal bonds, aren’t they? And to think, my dear ‘sister,’ you just had to keep this bastard child.” The word “bastard” ignited a spark in Leo. He transformed into a tiny, furious beast, lunging at Seraphina. But his small frame was no match for Ryan, who slapped him across the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Maya Thorne, this is the bastard you’ve raised!” Ryan snarled. “Like father, like son, indeed!” This son… Ryan had forced me to have him. Shortly after the first time I was dragged into that alley, I discovered I was pregnant. I wanted to terminate the pregnancy, but Ryan wouldn’t allow it. He assigned bodyguards to watch me twenty-four hours a day, forcing me to carry the child to term. I knew, of course, that this was his punishment. A punishment for me to remember my ‘sins’ for the rest of my life. But I never imagined his punishment would be so relentless. Especially after he started his affair with Seraphina, he tormented me ceaselessly, pushing me deeper and deeper into the abyss. “What are you doing with that suitcase?” Ryan finally noticed my luggage by my side, kicking it over with a furious boot. “You think you can just leave before you’ve atoned for your sins?” Clothes spilled across the floor, and a small, ornate box flew out, striking the wall with a sharp CRACK. Inside, what I knew to be Kate’s favorite silver locket, the one she’d given me before… before everything, lay shattered into a dozen pieces. Ryan’s eyes went bloodshot as he instantly recognized the locket. “Maya Thorne, you even stoop to stealing? That was my sister’s most cherished locket!” SLAP! A stinging blow across my face. I stared at him, my gaze unwavering, my voice defiant. “I didn’t steal it. She gave it to me.” Ryan’s rage only intensified. “You’re still lying?” he roared. “You were jealous her dancing was better than yours, so you orchestrated her assault, had her legs broken, and now you steal her locket! Do you want everything she had?” He turned to the servants. “Someone! Remove her prosthetics! Make her kneel before my sister’s memorial and confess her sins!” Several servants rushed forward, seizing my arms. They yanked off my artificial limbs, forcing me to the ground. The unhealed incisions on my stumps rubbed against the floor, instantly oozing blood. The excruciating pain made me writhe and twist, but without my prosthetics, I lost my balance, swaying uncontrollably. Seraphina watched, laughing hysterically. “Brother, look at her! Doesn’t she look like a roly-poly doll?” She mocked, “Sister, you may not be able to dance anymore, but you could always join the circus as a clown!” The servants snickered along with her. Leo stood nearby, his eyes colder than ice. Seraphina, still not satisfied, stepped forward and shoved me. I swayed again, then toppled over, falling flat. My arm struck Kate’s memorial plaque, and in an instant, her urn tumbled down, shattering on the floor. Her ashes scattered into the air like a ghostly mist. Seeing Kate’s remains desecrated, Seraphina looked momentarily flustered, then quickly pointed a finger. “Maya Thorne, you killed my sister, and now you can’t even leave her ashes in peace! You want to obliterate every last trace of her!” Ryan seized my collar, hoisting me into the air, his teeth grinding together. “Maya Thorne! My sister treated you so kindly! Why? Why would you do this to her? What deep-seated hatred did you harbor against her?” He stared at me, the fury in his eyes threatening to consume me whole. I looked back at the man before me, now utterly consumed by his rage, and shook my head repeatedly, tears blurring my vision. After a long, agonizing silence, Ryan abruptly slammed me back down to the ground. “Let her kneel here all night,” he snarled. “Tomorrow, on my sister’s memorial, she’ll atone for her sins personally!” I was held down, the shattered pieces of the urn digging into my raw stumps, instantly staining the pristine white carpet crimson. My consciousness began to blur. After hours of agonizing kneeling, I finally succumbed to the pain and passed out. Seven years ago, Ryan and I were the golden couple, the envy of everyone. His sister, Kate, and I were particularly close, both members of the same dance troupe. That day, Kate and I were heading to a long-awaited dance competition, our golden ticket into the prestigious National Dance Company. Everything was going smoothly until the evening ended. In a hurry, I led her down a shortcut, where we encountered a group of drunk, burly men. We screamed for help, but our mouths were quickly gagged with cloths. Dark, menacing hands began to invade. When we were discovered the next morning, Kate’s back and legs were completely broken. She had been folded in half and thrown into a dumpster, barely clinging to life. I, too, was covered in bruises, unconscious on the ground. The doctors said Kate’s legs were shattered; she would never dance again. Unable to bear the shock, she jumped from a building, taking her own life. Ryan’s mother, heartbroken, suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after. Overnight, Ryan lost two of his closest family members. And the only spot in Veridia City’s National Dance Company, ironically, fell to me. Suddenly, rumors spread like wildfire. Everyone whispered that I had orchestrated the tragedy to secure my place. After all, she was the only one whose legs were broken. From that day on, Ryan became a different man. And I chose to deceive myself, to silently bear the burden. After all, if I hadn’t chosen that shortcut, his sister wouldn’t have died. A jolt of icy water splashed onto my face, snapping me awake from my unconsciousness. “Brother, look at her! You told her to kneel and confess, and she’s just taking a nap! And she’s made such a mess on the floor! What will the guests think when they come for the memorial? They’ll think we always treat Kate like this!” Ryan was about to unleash his fury when a servant rushed in from outside, breathless. “Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris! It’s terrible! A mob of reporters outside, making a huge fuss! They say they’re here to report on Mrs. Harris!” Ryan’s gaze snapped to me, his eyes shooting daggers of ice. Seraphina, quick to interject, said, “Brother, she probably called the reporters herself, hoping to clear her name! She wants to play the victim!” Ryan glanced at me, a cruel smirk curving his lips. “Maya Thorne, my sister was the victim, and yet you want to play martyr? Fine! I’ll let everyone know who really caused my sister’s death!” He paused, a chilling glint in his eye. “And those video clips from the past few years, with you and those petty thugs? I’ve kept every single one!” He pointed a finger, his voice rising to a furious command. “Now! Project them onto the main screen!” Instantly, the massive screen in the memorial hall lit up, displaying video clips of me and those thugs. Whether it was due to editing or camera angles, my expressions in the videos were… unsettling. The entire room erupted into whispers and murmurs. “Look at her, that slutty expression! It’s true what they say, she wanted to be violated!” “What? How could anyone be so sick? She enjoys being forced?” “Haven’t you heard? Mr. Harris barely touches her. She must have been so desperate, it drove her insane!” “Considering all this, maybe she was the one who arranged what happened to Mr. Harris’s sister! Otherwise, why is she perfectly fine while his sister is gone?” I watched the looping footage, seven years of painful memories flooding my mind. I buried my face in my hands, squeezing my eyes shut, desperate to escape. When I finally dared to look up, I met Ryan’s icy gaze. “What’s wrong? Ashamed now?” he taunted. “Where was that shame when you were ‘enjoying’ yourself?” Unexpectedly, Seraphina, in front of everyone, seemed to defend me. “Brother, don’t be too angry. Today is Kate’s memorial, and she wouldn’t be happy seeing such a commotion. Perhaps I should take ‘Sister’ to change her clothes first, then she can properly apologize to Kate. After all, she’s wearing a red dress, which isn’t really appropriate.”

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1 My husband, Ethan Beckett, was a man of strict habits, often distant. He didn’t seem to care for me. Every night, he’d button his shirt all the way to the top before bed, and, just to top it off, he’d slip a self-improvement guide under my pillow. I’d finally reached my breaking point. I was about to hand him the divorce papers when, suddenly, a string of comments appeared before my eyes: [Poor Dragon Lord, about to be heartlessly abandoned during his mating season.] [The clueless female lead is blind as a bat! That’s not a self-improvement guide he’s slipping under your pillow, it’s ‘Beastman’s 108 Positions’!] [Female lead, why don’t you just touch him? The Dragon Lord’s… well, his ‘firepower’ is about to explode! He’s only holding back because he’s afraid of scaring you!] I froze, my hand hovering, the divorce papers momentarily forgotten. Then, I tentatively reached out and brushed my hand over his abs. … Ethan’s expression remained indifferent, his amber eyes gazing at me with a calm, almost serene, detachment. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice still that familiar, cool tone. The comments continued to scroll: [Is the male lead a ninja? So much self-control, and it’s already the third day of his mating season.] [What’s the male lead doing wrong? He’s only holding back and going for a ‘pure’ romance because he’s terrified of scaring the female lead away. He’s absolutely crazy about her!] [It’s no wonder the female lead thinks the male lead doesn’t like her. Tonight, out of spite, she’ll go to a club to find a male escort and get caught! That’s how the male lead and the true female lead finally meet.] What?! A male escort? And getting caught? Don’t jump to conclusions about things that haven’t even happened! My gaze drifted casually away from the comments. “N-nothing at all,” I stammered, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “You just had something on your shirt. I was just wiping it off for you.” Ethan said nothing, simply staring at me for a long time. So long, I was convinced he’d realized I wanted a divorce. I started to nervously crumple the divorce papers in my hand, but then Ethan picked up his bathrobe and walked into the bathroom. My spirits plummeted. I’d only touched him, and he immediately went to wash. Was he truly that disgusted by me? The comments, however, were anything but calm: [Silly girl, he’s not disgusted by you at all, he’s, hehehe…] [Whoa, whoa, whoa! The male lead finally couldn’t hold it in! The female lead just touched him, and now he needs a cold shower!] [Ah! The male lead is whispering the female lead’s name in the bathroom!] My cheeks burned. Was this the comment section or a private chamber? An hour later, Ethan emerged from the bathroom, his voice much clearer, less strained. “The Beckett Foundation is hosting a charity gala tonight. I need you to accompany me.” I frowned. “Oh, I don’t know…” Those galas were always exhausting and dull. Ethan reached out and gently tugged my sleeve, his voice softening, almost pleading. “Just this once.” The comments went wild: [Ugh, it’s a shame the male lead is lowering himself and begging, but the female lead still refuses and goes to find a male escort at a club!] [The Dragon Lord, uncomforted during his mating season, then finds his wife flirting with an escort! Heartbroken, he’s ultimately ‘rescued’ by the true female lead, and their romance begins!] [Female lead, just agree! If you don’t, you two are doomed tonight!] [Not only doomed, but without the male lead’s protection, she’ll be tormented half to death by his obsessed admirer!] A shiver ran down my spine. My refusal caught in my throat, then twisted into a reluctant agreement: “Alright. Just this once, I’ll indulge you.” The comments exploded: [Wait, what? How did the female lead agree?!] Ethan seemed to let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. Normally, I wouldn’t have noticed. But now, with the comments incessantly reminding me that “a dragon’s Adam’s apple is a sensitive spot,” I braved a second, closer look. And that’s when I noticed it. His eyes were subtly reddened at the corners, a stark contrast to his usual cool demeanor, and a suspicious dampness seemed to cling to him. Impulsively, I reached out and gently brushed his Adam’s apple. Ethan flinched violently, his breathing suddenly ragged, his Adam’s apple bobbing with a muffled sound. “You, you…” Frightened, I pulled my hand back. “I’m sorry! You don’t like it, I won’t touch you again!” His reaction was nothing like the “begging for rubs” the comments had described! 2 The comments erupted in a furious barrage: [Female lead, do you even know how to touch him? If you don’t, let me! This isn’t ‘dislike,’ Chloe, this is pure excitement from Ethan Beckett!] [Ethan Beckett’s inner monologue: My wife touched my Adam’s apple! She touched me! Do I have a chance to be a father?!] I looked suspiciously at the comments, then back at Ethan. The next second, he suddenly grabbed my hand and pressed it firmly against his neck, his voice muffled. “I… I like it.” My titanium-reinforced eyesight nearly popped out of my head. At my core, I was a total simp for good looks. The moment I first saw Ethan Beckett three years ago, my heart had completely fluttered. A year ago, I’d heard the Beckett family was arranging a marriage. I had fought my way through a host of wealthy socialites, determined to marry into the Beckett family. Who would have thought? We got married, but I ended up a de facto widow. This man either slept in the study or the guest room. On the rare occasions he returned to our bedroom, he still maintained a distance as vast as the Milky Way. If it were just that, I might have endured it. After all, seeing Ethan Beckett’s handsome face every day was a small consolation. But these past few days! In the middle of the night, he’d started pulling me into his arms, then he’d groan and mumble someone else’s name. He’d just keep repeating “Babe, Babe.” My name, damn it, is Chloe, not ‘Babe’! I’d had enough. This morning, I was absolutely determined to file for divorce. But now… I looked at the man before me, his face flushed crimson from my touch. I rubbed my chin with my free hand, thinking, maybe a few more days wouldn’t hurt. Based on the comments, who knew, maybe we’d finally get to share a bed soon. At such a critical moment, let Ethan Beckett go to some other “true” female lead? Never! Ethan’s body stiffened, a flicker of embarrassment and irritation crossing his usually cool face. “Don’t do that…” He lowered his eyes, which seemed to glisten, like a wet puppy’s. “Touching my chin like that, it’s like petting a dog. It’s… it’s undignified.” Startled, I pulled my hand back, forcing a sheepish laugh. “Oh, sorry, I just zoned out for a second. Would you believe me if I said I meant to touch my own chin?” Ethan’s face darkened, and he scowled. “Zoning out? Were you thinking about another man in front of me again?” His gaze was stubborn. “I saw you touch someone else last time. Why don’t you want to touch me?” He mumbled, almost to himself, “Even though I don’t like it, you can’t not touch…” He pressed his lips together, swallowing the rest of his sentence. I was surprised by how much he was talking today, and a little exasperated. “You say you don’t like it, but then you insist I touch you?” “What on earth do you want?!” Comments: [The female lead is so stubborn, she’s practically pushing the male lead straight into the true female lead’s arms.] Ethan, offended by my crude language, turned and walked away. The comments sighed: [Now that he’s gone, things won’t be the same when they meet again.] 3 [I’m rooting for them so hard. If only the female lead could read minds, they wouldn’t have so many misunderstandings.] [Female lead, you’re so confused! No matter how good a male escort is, can he be as good as Ethan Beckett? As handsome? As… lasting?] Lasting or not, how would I know? I haven’t tried. And who said I was looking for a male escort? I’m going to make Ethan Beckett a loving wife’s lunch right now. Once it’s ready, I’ll take it to his office. I want to see if this guy truly becomes as passionate as the comments claim, just from a touch. While cooking, my dad suddenly called. “Sweetheart, I heard Ethan Beckett is taking you to a gala tonight?” I hummed in agreement, arranging boiled corn kernels into a heart shape. Dad, ever the concerned parent, lectured me earnestly: “Honey, don’t go messing around tonight, okay? And delete those numbers on your phone, don’t keep too many of those guys.” I paused, realizing he was referring to the contacts I’d added from a party with friends a few days ago. “Okay, Dad, got it. Can’t talk now, I’m making Ethan Beckett a lunchbox. Gotta deliver it soon.” Perhaps because my long-held crush finally had a chance to see the light of day, my hands were trembling with excitement by the time I reached the lobby of Beckett Industries. The comments suddenly flooded the screen: [Why is the female lead here at the office now? If I remember correctly, the true female lead is here today to interview for a secretary position, probably in Ethan Beckett’s office right now!] [This is some kind of alternative dumpster fire… I’m almost afraid to watch…] This wouldn’t do! I immediately quickened my pace, heading into the building. As I tried to enter the elevator, the front desk receptionist stopped me. “Hello, do you have an appointment?” An appointment? “No, but I…” The receptionist, Ms. Rogers, cut me off before I could finish. “If you don’t have an appointment, you’ll need to wait in the lobby. I can schedule one for you.” Another receptionist, younger, sniffed dismissively. “Ms. Rogers, don’t be so soft-hearted. Aren’t there enough women throwing themselves at Mr. Beckett? Why help her make an appointment? If you ask me, anyone trying to get ahead with their looks should be kicked out.” Ms. Rogers frowned at her. “Don’t talk nonsense.” I sighed, pulling out my phone and calling Ethan Beckett’s executive assistant, Mr. Davies. “I’m at the front desk. Could you please come get me?” Two minutes later, under the stunned gaze of the receptionists, I followed Mr. Davies into the private elevator reserved for the CEO. When we reached the office door, before even stepping inside, I heard voices. A soft, feminine voice exclaimed: “Mr. Beckett, what’s wrong?” “Oh my goodness, you’re burning up! Do you need help?” 4 Ethan Beckett’s cool voice followed, tinged with exhaustion. “No, I don’t. Don’t touch me. Please leave.” The sound of shattering glass followed, and the woman’s voice rose. “How can I leave you alone like this? Don’t worry, I’ll take you to the hospital.” Ethan Beckett’s voice held a hint of anger. “I said don’t touch me. Stay away from me.” Mr. Davies glanced at me, a somewhat awkward expression on his face, but he still pushed the door open for me. The office was a mess. A woman with flushed cheeks was supporting Ethan Beckett’s arm. Her pretty, doe-like eyes met mine, filled with a hint of timidity, and she spoke blushingly. “Mr. Beckett is ill. As a secretary candidate, it’s my duty to take care of him.” Mr. Davies’ face hardened. He stepped forward himself and took over supporting Ethan Beckett. “You haven’t passed your interview yet. You’re not needed here at the moment. Please leave.” Ethan Beckett looked terrible; the hair at his temples was drenched with sweat. He looked at me, wanting to speak, but only managed a pained groan. Mr. Davies prompted me. “Mrs. Beckett, please come closer.” He added, his voice soft, “Mr. Beckett… he really needs you right now.” I hesitated, a bit afraid to step forward, feeling like something momentous would happen if I did. But then I reconsidered. At worst, we’d end up in bed right then and there. Isn’t that what I married him for? What was there to be afraid of? I braced myself, walked over, took Mr. Davies’ place, and supported Ethan Beckett. He was burning hot. The moment I touched him, he immediately pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on my shoulder, his breathing ragged and chaotic. Mr. Davies closed the door and left. Ethan Beckett, unsettled, rubbed against me, like a lost, disheveled dog. [What’s going on? The male lead kicked the true female lead out?] [Isn’t it the true female lead’s job to help the male lead through this? How’d it switch to the female lead (me)?] [Female lead (me) is fine too! Is this car about to hit the highway? Female lead, don’t let Ethan Beckett, that dragon, get away!] I stiffened, not daring to move. “Um, I came to bring you lunch. Are you hungry? Want some?” [Ugh, no! The Dragon Lord only wants to eat you, you stupid female lead!] [Don’t ask him if he’s hungry! Kiss him right now! Only intense… activity… will satisfy him!] [Are you all crazy? If the female lead satisfies the male lead, what about the true female lead? The official pair is true love!] [Who cares about true love? I just want to see some action, otherwise, my VIP subscription will be wasted! Female lead, go for it!] The comments made my heart pound with a mix of excitement and lust. I was just about to cup Ethan Beckett’s face and force a kiss when he pushed me away, looking as if I’d offended him. “Apologies. I need to compose myself. I won’t hug you like that again.” I saw red. He’d hugged me, he’d rubbed against me, and now he was saying he wouldn’t hug me again? What did he mean? Was I uncomfortable to hold? “So,” I challenged, narrowing my eyes, “should I go call that secretary back in?” I waited for his answer. Suddenly, a cold, scaly pressure coiled around my calf. I looked down, and nearly fainted. 5 A thick, dark dragon tail, its scales gleaming under the sunlight. I trembled, raising a shaking hand. “You, you, you…” Do monsters not hide anymore? In broad daylight, he’s wrapping his tail around me? Ethan Beckett’s body stiffened for a second, and he reached down to pull his tail away. “I’m sorry, I…” I wasn’t listening. It was too terrifying. The tail was horrifying, and Ethan Beckett’s eyes had transformed into inky green vertical slits. For a moment, I felt like I was looking at Godzilla from Ultraman. I turned to run, but he yanked me back. The dragon tail coiled around my ankle again, and Ethan Beckett’s burning hot body pressed against my back. His hoarse voice, like a wet, pleading puppy, whimpered: “Don’t be afraid of me, please.” [Isn’t the male lead supposed to reveal his beast form tonight? How is he already…?] [His soft, sweet wife is right in front of him, he just couldn’t hold it in, could he?] [That’s what you get for being so reserved and secretive! Now it’s exposed directly, and you almost scared your wife to death.] [Doesn’t this mean it’s office play unlocked? Waiting eagerly!] I didn’t dare move, trying to sound calm. “I didn’t see anything. I won’t say anything, just don’t…” Before I could finish, sharp teeth lightly grazed the skin on my neck. It didn’t hurt, but it tickled, and I felt even more terrified. “Don’t scare me. Put your teeth away.” I pleaded, my voice thin. “I’m just a normal person; I can’t survive a bite from you.” Ethan Beckett was truly ruthless. I just wanted to sleep with him, but he seemed to want my life! His ragged breathing hitched, and the pressure on my neck vanished. Ethan Beckett released me, steadied his breathing, and said softly, “You can go. I won’t force you.” I bolted. I’d been terrified of Godzilla from Ultraman ever since I was a kid. I’d thought, based on the comments, that my lust might outweigh my fear. Ethan Beckett was so devilishly handsome, I was willing to accept him even if he was a dragon. But after today, I completely gave up. The moment his tail appeared, I started trembling. How was I supposed to handle this? I couldn’t! [No? Female lead, you just left the male lead like that?] [He couldn’t even hold back his beast form! Leaving him like that, aren’t you basically signing his death warrant?] [It seems that if beastmen don’t… relieve themselves… during mating season, it’s very dangerous. They can get high fevers and convulsions.] My steps faltered. My heart began to churn with conflict again. Ethan Beckett… would he be in danger? Maybe I should go back and check? I turned and walked back towards Ethan Beckett’s office. The comments instantly boiled over: [Here it comes, here it comes, the famous scene is about to happen!] [I just pray the female lead sees this famous scene and doesn’t blame the male lead.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “392922”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When I found out the villain was a merman who cried pearls, I fished the pregnancy test I’d thrown out of the trash. Then I went to the roof. “So, uh, how many do you mermen have at once? And do they eat fish food or formula?” Justin, who had been in the middle of a dramatic suicide attempt, slipped and nearly plummeted from the eighteenth floor. I shook my head and sighed. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll just throw it in the ocean after it’s born.” Later, after the baby was born, Justin didn’t even dare to sleep, terrified I’d take our child and release it into the wild. When the heroine, fighting with the hero, showed up at our door, he was in the middle of roaring at our eldest son over his swim meet results. “You’re a merman! How can you be afraid of water?!” 1 I knew Justin was the main villain of this world, and I was the wife his grandfather had found for him before he died. My mission was supposed to be to save him. But I was slacking off. Not only did I not save him, but I also doubled down on spending his money and taking over his bed. The System, watching his “darkness value” remain stubbornly unchanged, had given up. The last time it appeared, it had left me with a cold parting shot: “When the villain dies, I’ll come get you.” I’d been waiting for over half a year. Today was an auspicious day. The old almanac clearly stated: Favorable for Burials. When Justin, his heart shattered by the heroine, Emily, dragged himself to the rooftop, I was already decked out in all the jewels from his safe, eagerly awaiting the System’s arrival. But when the System finally materialized, its first words were, “Host, why are you wearing the villain’s tears?” “What?” I looked down in shock at the priceless pearl necklace around my neck. “Justin is a merman. Those pearls are his tears,” the System intoned mournfully. A merman? A merman who cries pearls? My entire worldview crumbled. This wasn’t a villain; this was a walking, talking gold mine! This necklace had been hidden in a secret compartment in his study. I’d assumed it was a birthday gift for Emily. But her birthday party had come and gone, and the gift remained undelivered. So, one dark and stormy night, I’d helped myself… I remembered when Justin saw me wearing it, he’d looked at me with a complicated expression and asked, “You like this?” I had rolled my eyes. “Duh. Who’s going to argue with money?” I’d had it appraised. It was worth one hundred and twenty million. Now that I thought about it, his expression had clearly been saying: So, you like my tears? “System! I think he can still be saved!” I ripped off the necklace, dug the pregnancy test out of the trash, and sprinted for the roof. At that moment, Justin had already climbed over the railing, half his body dangling eighteen stories up. “Wait!” I held up the pregnancy test, panting. “So, uh, how many do you mermen have at once? And do they eat fish food or formula?” His foot slipped, and he nearly fell. He clung to the railing, his body hanging in the open air. “What… what did you say?” “Don’t want to take responsibility?” I was a little disappointed. How had telling him made him want to die faster? “Fine then. I’ll just throw it back in the ocean when it’s born…” It was just a one-time accident when he’d been drugged, anyway. He probably didn’t even remember. Before I could finish, a dark figure vaulted back over the railing and pinned me against the wall. “You dare!” A tidal wave of fury churned in his eyes. I secretly smiled, letting out a sigh of relief. Excellent. The gold mine was secure. After Justin came back from the roof, he wasn’t himself. He settled me in the bedroom, then immediately locked himself in the study. I pressed my ear to the door and heard a frantic conversation. “…Calcium supplements during pregnancy… seaweed… wait, doctor, are you saying a human carrying a merman baby needs to soak in seawater every day?” His voice suddenly rose. “But she’s pregnant!” I was trying so hard not to laugh my stomach hurt. Who would have thought that the dark, ruthless villain would be on the phone, frantically consulting an obstetrician, his voice trembling? When the study door suddenly opened, I nearly fell into his arms. Justin quickly caught me by the waist, the heat of his palm searing through my clothes. He looked down at me, his gaze falling to my flat stomach, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You…” “I’m hungry,” I interrupted him, my tone righteous. “I want your homemade seafood congee.” Soon, the clattering of pots and pans came from the kitchen. The butler stood at the doorway, hesitating. 2 “Sir nearly burned down the kitchen the last time he cooked,” he said. “Oh,” I replied. “It’s fine. He’s rich.” If he burns it down, we’ll just move. The butler was speechless. An hour later, Justin emerged with a soot-streaked face, carrying the finished product. It looked… okay. Probably not poisonous. Just as I was about to take a spoonful, he pressed a hand on mine. “Wait.” He carefully picked out all the tiny shell fragments, tested the temperature, and then handed the spoon back. I deliberately frowned. “It’s too bland.” He reached for the salt, but his hand froze mid-air. He turned, opened his tablet, and began earnestly searching for the recommended daily sodium intake for pregnant women. I was… speechless. And so began my life of being pampered like an empress. In the morning, there was fresh-squeezed orange juice made by the villain himself. When I bathed, he treated me like a fragile piece of porcelain. Even when I kicked him awake in the middle of the night with a leg cramp, he would gently massage it for me. One morning, I woke up groggily to find him measuring my waist with a soft tape measure, his expression as serious as if he were disarming a bomb. “It’s only been a month. What can you even tell?” I teased him. The tips of his ears turned red, but he insisted on recording the data in his phone’s memo app, under the title: Merman Cub Observation Diary. The best part was last week, when a business partner came to the office to see him. When security called for permission, Justin was on one knee, tying my shoelaces. “Don’t bother me with things like this in the future,” he said coldly into the phone. “My wife is napping.” After hanging up, he even tucked the blanket around me. Right now, I was lounging on a rocking chair on the terrace, watching Justin build a swing set in the garden. The sunlight tinged the ends of his hair an amber gold. The scene was almost… sweet. Suddenly, a notification from the System popped up:【Warning! Villain’s darkness value has dropped to 90%.】 【Host…】 its voice was laced with confusion.【Are you sure this is the way to save him?】 I smiled, my hand stroking the pearl necklace at my throat. “At least he doesn’t want to die anymore, right?” Justin finished the swing set. I wiggled my toes. “Honey, my leg is cramping.” He wiped his hands clean, knelt on one knee, and began to massage my leg. System:【Nice!】 “Honey, I want a pink pearl.” A while ago, I had seen a pink pearl at an auction. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, the hero, Leo, had bought it to appease Emily. “Cry for me,” I said, casually picking up a bowl of grapes and holding it under his chin. Justin froze. He looked up, his deep-set, ocean-like eyes filled with disbelief. “…The color of the pearl depends on the merman’s emotions.” “I don’t care,” I said, stroking my stomach. “If you don’t cry, I’m releasing all your cubs into the wild.” His expression changed instantly. Three minutes later, I was staring, dumbfounded, as the formidable villain, feared by all, sat there with red-rimmed eyes, dropping pearls one by one. The pale pink pearls clattered into the bowl with a delightful sound. The System chimed:【Villain’s darkness value has dropped to 85%.】 I gleefully collected the pearls. This mission was too easy. At this rate, I was going to turn Justin into a simple-minded, pearl-crying merman. But just as I thought victory was in my grasp, Emily arrived. She was wearing a simple white dress, her eyes red, standing at the gate of our villa like a rain-beaten white rose. “Justin, please, you have to save my father…” her voice was choked with sobs. “He’s been taken. You’re the only one who can find him…” I stood in the doorway, a cold smile on my face. “Go find Leo.” Emily bit her lip, the tears falling faster. “He doesn’t have those kinds of connections…” 3 I paused, then it hit me. Right. The hero was always the sunny, righteous CEO, while the villain was… dark, shadowy, and ruthless. So, when the world needed dirty work done, the first person the heroine thought of was always the one with blood on his hands—Justin. I glanced back at him, standing on the landing of the stairs. He was just standing there, his expression unreadable, still holding the slipper I had just kicked off. A sudden wave of anger washed over me. “You’re not going!” Emily bit her lip, her tears threatening to fall. “If Sophia says no, then… I guess that’s it.” She turned, the hem of her dress creating a pitiful arc. Just as she was about to leave, Justin spoke. “Wait.” I watched as he knelt down, gently put the slipper back on my foot, and even adjusted its position. And then! That bastard actually stood up and followed Emily out the door! “Justin!” I threw my other slipper at the back of his head. “If you go, don’t come back!” The slipper hit its mark with a satisfying thwack. He paused for a second, didn’t turn around, just rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, and kept walking. I was so mad I almost threw the other one. … At three in the morning, I checked my phone for the 28th time. The screen was still black. Suddenly, the System beeped:【Warning! Villain’s darkness value has increased by 12%. Current value: 97%.】 “What?!” I shot up, nearly throwing out my back. “I’ve been sitting on his eggs like a mother hen, working my ass off to get rid of 15% of his darkness, and he goes out with the heroine for one night and gains 12 points back?” The System added quietly, “To be precise, it was 4 hours and 38 minutes.” “What? Did Emily use him as ransom for the kidnappers?” I stroked my stomach, a cold smile on my face. A car engine rumbled outside. I rushed to the window and saw Justin’s Maybach pulling into the courtyard, its headlights cutting two hazy beams through the rain. What made me even angrier was that when he got out, he was carrying something. The box clearly had the logo of The Sea’s Pearl on it—that ridiculously expensive seafood restaurant that Emily loved. “Very good,” I gritted out to the System. “Get me the ‘false miscarriage’ prop. Now!” The System’s code nearly scrambled in panic:【Ho-ho-host, calm down! Merman cubs are very resilient. That prop costs 5,000 points…】 “Do I look like I care about points?” The reason I was slacking off in this world was because the points I’d earned from previous missions were more than enough for me to retire. … When Justin gently pushed open the bedroom door, he found me curled up on the bed, my face pale, clutching my stomach. “Sophia?” The food container in his hand clattered to the floor, salmon sashimi scattering everywhere. I weakly looked up and saw a clear handprint on his left cheek. Justin’s hands trembled as he scooped me up. The car sped through the streets, straight to the hospital. I lay on the hospital bed, deliberately turning my back to him, listening to his ragged breathing as he spoke with the doctor. “Signs of a threatened miscarriage. She needs absolute bed rest,” the doctor said sternly. “And most importantly, she needs to remain calm.” Justin’s voice was hoarse. “She… and the baby…” “They’re stable for now, but any more stress, and it’s hard to say.” “Young Master… a human body is not ideal for carrying merman offspring. The first three months are especially dangerous. If this continues, I’m afraid the child…” The sound of the hospital room door closing. Then a dull thud, like knees hitting the floor hard. 4 “I’m sorry…” His trembling voice was close to my ear. “I shouldn’t have…” I secretly perked up my ears, waiting for the rest. “I shouldn’t have left you at home alone…” His fingers gently touched my shoulder. I whipped around, nearly bumping his nose. “I’m very angry right now! Get out!” The System had just informed me that Emily’s father had a two-million-dollar gambling debt. She didn’t want to borrow money from the hero to bail him out, so she thought she’d get Justin to do it for free. When she got there, she found out the kidnappers were Justin’s old underlings, who had been kicked out of his organization for misconduct. But Emily didn’t believe it. She thought Justin had set the whole thing up. That’s why she slapped him. Justin looked like he’d been hit by a truck. He opened his mouth, speechless, then suddenly pulled me into a tight hug, so tight I could barely breathe. “Let go! You’re squishing the baby!” I pounded his back. He sprang back as if he’d been electrocuted, his hands hovering over my stomach, his eyes full of fear. “Sophia… don’t be angry… I bought you salmon.” I was confused. “…?” Wasn’t that for Emily? “You said you wanted salmon sashimi the other night,” he explained quietly. “I wrote it in my memo.” I was speechless. “…” “So…” Justin suddenly knelt by the bed, gently taking my hand. “Can you forgive me?” I looked at his red-rimmed eyes and had a sudden idea. “Cry me a purple pearl, and I’ll forgive you.” Justin was speechless. “…” Three minutes later, I was sitting up in bed, happily counting the purple pearls in my hand, listening to the System’s notification:【Villain’s darkness value has dropped to 70%.】 I stayed in the hospital for three days and discovered a shocking secret. The doctor who did my ultrasound was a clownfish merman from the sea! I secretly observed him for a long time. When he bent down to record some data, I whispered, “Can you cry pearls?” The doctor’s hand jerked, nearly dropping his pen. He awkwardly pushed up his glasses. “Young Madam, not all mermen can produce pearls…” I sighed in disappointment and turned to look at Justin, who was peeling an apple beside me. “So, you’re a rare breed?” I asked mournfully. The fruit knife in Justin’s hand paused. He wordlessly handed me a slice of apple. “Just eat.” I pouted. So, mermen who could cry pearls really were treasures. During this time, Emily called no less than ten times. The first time the phone rang, Justin was peeling grapes for me. The screen lit up, and he glanced at it, his fingers stiffening slightly. I narrowed my eyes. “Answer it.” Justin silently rejected the call. I said, “Cry.” Justin was speechless. “…” Five minutes later, I happily accepted a pale purple pearl. The second time the phone rang, Justin was massaging my calves. The vibration of the phone made him pause. I lazily lifted an eyelid. “Answer it.” Justin emotionlessly hung up. I said, “Cry.” Justin took a deep breath, his eyes turning red. Plink! Another pearl. 5 By the third and fourth time… Justin had developed a conditioned reflex. The moment his phone rang, his eyes would start to redden. Before I could even speak, tears would be welling up. I laughed so hard I slapped the bed. “Justin, are you a crybaby?” Justin’s face was dark. He switched his phone to silent and gritted out, “Sophia, don’t push it.” I blinked innocently. “What did I do? I didn’t say anything.” He was so angry he went to the balcony for some air. But not two minutes later, he came back, placed a pearl in my palm, and whispered, “…Don’t be angry.” I was confused. “…?” The System was wheezing with laughter in my head:【Host, you’ve domesticated the villain into an automatic pearl-producing machine!】 The day I was discharged, I left with a sack full of pearls, happily planning to make a pearl curtain for my home. Justin carried my luggage with one hand and supported me with the other, terrified I would trip. Just as we reached the hospital entrance, Emily rushed out from the side, her eyes red, and blocked our path. “Justin! I need to talk to you!” Almost reflexively, Justin’s eyes reddened, instantly filling with tears. Emily was speechless. “…???” I was trying so hard not to laugh my stomach hurt. I quickly took Justin’s arm and said sweetly, “Miss Emily, is something wrong?” Emily opened her mouth, seemingly at a loss for words at Justin’s reaction. It took her a long moment to finally stammer out, “I’m sorry… I misunderstood you. About my father…” “No need,” Justin cut her off coldly. He pulled me quickly toward the car, as if afraid he’d start crying again if he stayed any longer. I turned back and waved to Emily, a cheerful smile on my face. “Miss Emily, if you need anything in the future, just go to Leo. My Justin is very busy.” Busy crying pearls, I added silently. In the car, Justin fastened my seatbelt with a dark expression. I poked his cheek. “What’s wrong? Unhappy?” He was silent for a moment, then whispered, “Sophia, do you only like my pearls?” I paused, then burst out laughing. “Of course. What else?” The light in Justin’s eyes instantly dimmed. I leaned in close, whispering in his ear, “But… more than the pearls, I like the way you look when you cry.” Justin was speechless. “…” The next second, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me fiercely. System:【Ding—Villain’s darkness value has dropped to 55%! Host, victory is in sight!】 I was dizzy from his kiss. I suddenly remembered something and pushed against his chest, creating a small space between us. “What about you? Do you only like the baby in my belly?” The tips of Justin’s ears instantly turned red. He couldn’t meet my gaze. “…Mermen are absolutely loyal to their mates.” “Oh?” I narrowed my eyes. “Then on the roof that day…” “I was clearing my head,” he cut in quickly, his long lashes lowered, casting a shadow on his cheeks. “…And wondering if you only agreed to marry me for my money.” … I had never seen Justin’s tail. Ever since I found out he was a merman, I’d been dying to see his legendary, priceless blue tail. But every time I brought it up, his ears would turn red, and he would quickly change the subject. “Justin~” I draped myself over his back, my fingers twirling the ends of his hair. “Let me see your tail.” His body stiffened. He tried to act calm as he turned a page of a document. “…There’s nothing to see.” “How can there be nothing to see?” I whispered in his ear. “I heard a merman’s tail is smooth and shiny, like a jewel…” Snap! The pen in his hand broke in two. I was speechless. “…” The System was rolling with laughter in my head:【Host, you’ve aroused him into a stress response!】 I pouted. If being nice didn’t work, it was time to be firm! So that night, while Justin was in the shower, I snuck into the bathroom. The room was filled with steam, and the surface of the water in the bathtub rippled. I tiptoed closer and then ripped open the shower curtain. A magnificent, iridescent blue tail was gently swishing in the water. I held my breath.

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My daughter accidentally burned my husband’s “one true love.” Ignoring my pleas, he threw our daughter into the pigpen. “You’re the one who taught her to be like this! She needs to be taught a lesson!” To stop me from saving her, he tied me to the post at the entrance to the pen. I watched, helpless, as the pig’s tusks tore through my daughter’s body. I heard her agonized screams, and my heart shattered. By the time I broke free and got her to the hospital, she was barely breathing. I called my husband dozens of times. He didn’t answer. Instead, I received a text from him: a picture of his lover’s positive pregnancy test. Looking at my sister-in-law, who had just arrived, I asked for a divorce for the first time. To repay a debt of gratitude, I had sacrificed myself. Now, for my daughter, I would make them all pay. I was covered in blood, slumped outside the operating room, my eyes fixed on the illuminated sign above the door. Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable. My sister-in-law, Sarah, looked away, unable to watch. “The baby will be okay, Channel. Don’t say such things. When she gets out of surgery, I’ll give him a piece of my mind…” I managed a bitter, mocking smile and handed her my phone. On the screen was the text that my husband, Mike, had just sent. It was a picture of Nina’s pregnancy test. My daughter was covered in bloody wounds from a pig’s tusks. I had held her trembling, blood-soaked body and called Mike over and over. Dozens of calls. He didn’t answer a single one. I had finally managed to break free and get our daughter to the hospital. And while her life hung in the balance, he had deliberately sent me Nina’s pregnancy test to humiliate me. Sarah’s face paled. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. “I’ll call Mike right now. Even if that Nina is carrying his child, our family will never let her through the door. You’re the only daughter-in-law we’ll ever accept.” She was about to dial his number when I struggled to my feet and called him myself. The moment he answered, Mike’s impatient voice filled my ear. “Channel, are you ever going to give it a rest? Penny was in the pigpen for a day. What could possibly have happened?” “Stop using these excuses to trick me. I’m with Nina at her appointment. Call me back when Penny is actually dead.” The dial tone buzzed in my ear. Sarah’s face was now as white as a sheet. I looked down, my voice laced with mockery as fresh tears fell. “To repay your family for raising me, I married Mike. All these years, I’ve done right by you all. So please, I’m begging you, just let me and Penny go…” Sarah was about to speak when the doors to the operating room swung open. I rushed forward, only to be met by the doctor’s look of helpless sorrow. “The child’s injuries are too severe. Her internal organs… there’s not a single one that isn’t damaged.” “We did everything we could. I’m so sorry for your loss…” I stared at the doctor, a sharp, searing pain spreading from my heart to my limbs. My body crumpled to the floor. At some point, Sarah had contacted the funeral home. When I saw the death certificate in her hand, I snapped back to reality. I screamed, snatched it from her, and tore it to shreds. “My Penny isn’t dead! This isn’t for her! It’s not…” Sarah, her heart aching, held me. She motioned for the men from the funeral home to take Penny’s body. Seeing them approach my daughter, I fell to my knees in front of Sarah, my head hitting the floor with a sickening thud, again and again. “Sarah, Mike has another child now! Please, don’t take Penny! Give her back to me!” Sarah’s eyes were red. She quickly pulled me into her arms. “Penny is gone, Channel. Do you want her to have no peace, even in death?” I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, as the hearse carried Penny further and further away. Watching it disappear, I couldn’t hold on any longer. My vision went black, and I fainted. When I opened my eyes again, I saw my mother-in-law sitting by my bed, her face full of compassion. I managed a weak smile. Before I could speak, she handed me a set of divorce papers. “Channel, you’ve suffered so much these past few years. I watched you grow up. If it weren’t for your mother, I wouldn’t be alive today.” “I’ve always thought of you as my own daughter. I promised your mother I would take care of you. But now I see I was wrong. I thought marrying you to Mike was the best choice. Our family has failed you.” Her face was filled with guilt. “I’ve arranged everything. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day. After we lay Penny to rest, you can leave this family and start a new life.” I looked at her weary face and thought of all my years with this family. When I was five, my mother had sacrificed her life to give me a safe harbor. All these years, both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law had been good to me. The family had raised me, but my own sacrifices over the years had more than repaid that debt. Now, we owed each other nothing. I took the papers and signed my name without hesitation. After the funeral, I would be free. My mother-in-law had just left when Mike returned. He stormed in, grabbed me by the hair, and dragged me out of bed. “Channel, you bitch!” he snarled. “Is running to Mom all you know how to do?” “I’m warning you, if anything happens to Nina, I’ll kill you!” Looking at his furious face, a storm of hatred brewed in my heart. A life for a life. Why was Penny dead while he was still alive? I stared at him, wanting nothing more than to stab him. But then I remembered my daughter’s last words. Penny had been so weak, barely breathing. She used her last bit of strength to grab my hand. “Mommy, it was my fault. I’m okay. Don’t be mad at Daddy, okay?” It wasn’t her fault, but even in death, she was so considerate. I dug my nails into my palm and tried to stand. Before I could steady myself, Mike grabbed me and pushed me to the floor, roughly tearing at my clothes. “You had Mom call me back for this, didn’t you?” I struggled, kicking my knee up into his groin. He jumped back, yelping in pain, and stared at me in disbelief. “Are you crazy? You know how we got our daughter in the first place. Who are you trying to fool with this prim and proper act?” “You lied and said our daughter needed surgery just to get me back here. You really are a lowlife bitch!” Hearing his curses, my face was a mask of indifference. “Penny is gone,” I said. Mike paused, then looked me over with a sneer. “I knew you were a bitch with no morals. Penny is your own daughter, and you’re cursing her to death. Channel, you make me sick.” He slowly straightened his clothes. “I’m telling you, if you dare go crying to Mom again, don’t blame me for what I do.” He slammed the door and left. I didn’t say a word. After he was gone, I stood in the shower, scrubbing my skin raw. In a daze, I saw us as we used to be. I had known Mike for over a decade. When Nina dumped him, I was the one who helped him through the darkest days. I believe we were in love then. But later, when Nina came back to crash our wedding, Mike abandoned me at the altar and ran to her. From that day on, he was a different person. One call from Nina, and he would drop everything. Even Penny was an accident, the result of a drunken night. I had argued, I had fought, but he didn’t care. In his eyes, I should have been grateful just to be Mrs. Hayes. So I stopped paying attention to him and focused all my energy on our daughter. I thought this was how my life would be. But now, without Penny, I couldn’t endure it any longer. The day Penny was cremated, the sky was a somber grey. Mike was nowhere to be found, as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. My mother-in-law called him again and again, but he never answered. Sarah was furious and wanted to send their bodyguards to drag him there. I stopped her. “Don’t. I don’t want him to taint Penny’s final journey.” I hadn’t slept in two days. I wanted to look at Penny a little longer, afraid I would forget her face. After a long wait, the staff finally came out. I bit my lip, holding back tears as I took the urn from them. Just two days ago, I had held her in my arms. Now, all that was left was this cold, heavy box. I knelt before my mother-in-law, my forehead hitting the ground hard. “Mom, I know Penny is Mike’s daughter and should be buried with your family. But I carried her for ten months, I nearly died giving birth to her. I want her to be free. Please, I’m begging you.” My voice was a choked sob, a desperate plea. Sarah looked at me, her heart aching, unsure what to say. My mother-in-law, her eyes filled with tears, sighed deeply and helped me to my feet. “Penny was a good child. Our family has failed you both. From now on, you must take care of yourself.” I returned home with the urn. I wanted to pack our things and leave this place cleanly, with my daughter. But as I opened the door, a wave of intimacy hit me. On the living room sofa, two naked bodies were intertwined. Nina’s moans were soft and seductive. “Gently… I’m pregnant, remember?” Mike heard the door open. He glanced at me but continued, unfazed. I stood frozen, holding the urn, my legs as heavy as lead. I don’t know how long I stood there. My feet went numb. Finally, they slowly got up and got dressed. Nina’s face was flushed. She stroked her belly and said with false sincerity, “Channel, when did you get back? It’s all Mike’s fault. He insisted on bringing me here so the baby could get to know its home. I’m so sorry.” She was apologizing, but her eyes were full of defiance. I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood, but I couldn’t say a word. Mike wrapped his arm around Nina and smirked at me. “She’s just the maid. Why are you explaining so much to her? Didn’t you say the baby was hungry? Let’s go eat.” As they passed me, Nina deliberately bumped into me. I stumbled, and the urn fell from my hands, spilling Penny’s ashes all over the floor. Mike frowned in disgust. He glanced down and, without a second thought, stepped on the ashes. “What is this disgusting stuff?” he cursed. “It got my shoes dirty!” He stomped his foot for good measure, then walked out with Nina, swaggering. Looking at the scattered ashes, I finally broke down. “Baby, Mommy couldn’t protect you. Just wait a little longer. Mommy will take you away from here.” I knelt on the floor in despair, my hands trembling as I gathered Penny’s ashes, bit by bit. When I had finally collected them all, I opened my suitcases and packed our things, one by one. Her favorite little dress, the doll she had to hug to sleep. When I picked up the family photo from her bedside table, my hand trembled. In the photo, Penny was timidly holding Mike’s hand, looking up at him with a pleading expression. But his face was cold, his eyes devoid of any warmth. She had earned this photo with a certificate of achievement from her preschool. I opened the frame. On the back, in her childish scrawl, were the words: “Daddy loves Mommy. I love Daddy and Mommy.” Looking at the crooked letters, tears streamed down my face. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. My daughter was only four. She had just started preschool. She should have had a carefree childhood. She was so little, yet she had endured so much. She had longed for a complete, warm family, and now, there was nothing. I packed for five hours, filling five large suitcases. After watching the movers clear out the room, I took Penny’s urn to the airport. As soon as I arrived, I received a text from Nina.

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

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

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

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