Category: English

In my past life, my elder sister, Naomi, whom I trusted implicitly, plunged me into ruin. When her lover’s financial fraud was exposed, she meticulously laid every piece of blame at my feet. I became a pariah, a public enemy vilified by all, even abandoned by my own father. “We have no son who would betray our company like this!” he had bellowed. That rainy night, with despair as my only companion, I chose to end it all. Now, reborn, I awaken to find myself back on the eve of a major project launch. This time, I will not let anyone dictate my life again! In the office, I stared at the computer screen, deaf to my colleagues’ sneers, and drafted my resignation letter. 1 The business proposal trembled slightly in my hands. This seemingly golden opportunity, in my previous life, had been the very document that plunged me into an abyss from which there was no return. “My capabilities are limited; I fear I’m not up to such a significant task,” I said, my voice calm, as I pushed the proposal back across the desk to my sister, Naomi. The smile on her face instantly froze. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ethan. Do you know how much effort I put into securing it for you?” I looked at my sister, her expression feigning concern, with a cold, assessing gaze. In my past life, it was she who had neatly placed every single piece of blame onto me, transforming me from a Wall Street golden boy into a reviled pariah. “Ethan, when did you become such a coward?” My fiancée, Sophia, immediately reprimanded me. “How can you expect to make any progress in your career if you’re so timid and hesitant?” A cold laugh bubbled in my chest. These two women, outwardly pretending to have my best interests at heart, were in reality only concerned with Marcus. “Marcus is an Ivy League graduate; he’s stronger than me in every aspect. This project would be a much better fit for him,” I stated, looking directly at them. In my previous life, when Marcus and I co-managed the project, he fabricated financial records for performance. Ultimately, it was I who bore all the legal accusations. This time, I swore I wouldn’t repeat that mistake. “You really should take Marcus as your role model,” Sophia suddenly cooed, her eyes shimmering with adoration when she spoke his name. The irony wasn’t lost on me. This woman, who claimed to love me deeply, carried another man in her heart. I suppressed the rising annoyance and continued my refusal. “I’ve already committed to attending the Silicon Valley Venture Summit. I simply can’t free up my schedule this month.” Their relentless push for me to partner with Marcus on this project was driven by a single, stark reality: without the extensive financial network I’d cultivated on Wall Street, Marcus wouldn’t be able to pull off this billion-dollar multinational acquisition. If this M&A deal succeeded, it would be Marcus’s express ticket directly to the board of directors. I opened my laptop and pulled up my email. “Would you like me to forward you the invitation from the organizers?” 2 Sophia stared at the screen, her expression instantly sharpening. “You didn’t breathe a single word of this international summit to Marcus? What, do you think you finally have a chance to show off?” My sister Naomi’s voice also turned cold. “In business, it’s about sharing resources. Your autocratic style is truly eye-opening.” I scoffed. “The investment banking world is a small place. Marcus usually can’t even be bothered to say hello. And now it’s my fault?” Although we both worked at headquarters, Marcus had never shown me anything but disdain since I joined. In the past six months, aside from mandatory meetings, we hadn’t exchanged more than three words privately. Sophia grew even more agitated. “Do you have any idea how busy Marcus is? As his subordinate, shouldn’t you have proactively reported this?” As she spoke, she already had her phone out, dialing the summit organizing committee. My sister Naomi, meanwhile, simply rose and left the conference room, clearly off to find Marcus. Watching them, a wave of bitter sarcasm washed over me. In their eyes, I was nothing more than a pawn to be sacrificed at will. Before long, Sophia hung up, her face grim. The summit’s attendance list was full; the committee had politely declined her request. “This is a direct opportunity to meet top global investors. If Marcus misses it…” She bit her lip anxiously, then her eyes suddenly lit up. “Ethan, how about this? You transfer your spot to Marcus. I promise, the next good opportunity, you’ll be the first person I think of.” Hearing her words, I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. “Just because he’s Marcus, I should sacrifice my own opportunity?” For years, I had considered her the most important person in my life, yet in her heart, I was less than Marcus’s substitute. Sophia suddenly adopted a wheedling tone. “You’re so much younger than Marcus. What’s wrong with letting a senior go first? You have plenty of other opportunities. Don’t be so petty!” Looking at her sickeningly sweet act, a wave of disgust washed over me. This woman, usually a fierce and decisive force in the investment banking world, could demean herself like this for Marcus. Unfortunately, after being reborn, I had long since seen through her true colors. No longer would I be fooled by such pretense. 3 “Ethan, you’re being utterly unreasonable! This opportunity should be given to Marcus!” As I pondered, Naomi had already ushered Marcus into the conference room. My gaze met Marcus’s, and the undisguised contempt in his eyes was palpable. I gave a cold chuckle. “Business is a battlefield. Everyone relies on their own abilities. No one has the right to make decisions for others.” I stood up, not even bothering to glance at them again as I left. Surprisingly, the summit proceeded without incident. It wasn’t until I opened the company’s internal network that I saw Marcus had fully taken over the M&A project. I thought the matter was closed, but no sooner had I returned from the conference than Naomi and Sophia burst into my office. Their faces were ashen, their expressions panicked. “It’s a disaster! The SEC is investigating the acquisition! Marcus is truly finished this time, you have to help!” I scoffed. “What does the SEC investigation have to do with me? I’ve been in the U.S. this whole time. How do you plan to frame me?” Naomi’s next words, however, left me dumbfounded. “I’ve prepared all the materials. You just need to sign a few documents. You’ve only been with the company for a short while, so even if they find problems, it won’t be too serious.” Hearing this, a chill ran through me. A vice president, my own elder sister, was willing to condemn her younger brother to fraud charges just to protect an outsider. If I took this fall, my career would be ruined, and I would even face jail time. The nightmare of my past life flashed before my eyes. Without a second thought, I refused: “Corporate fraud is a serious crime. Since he was the one leading the project, he should bear the consequences himself.” Sophia was frantic, stomping her foot. “Wall Street is all about connections and favors! If you help with this, the entire industry will remember your good deed!” Listening to this blatant emotional blackmail, I could no longer suppress my fury: “You two only see Marcus! Have you ever considered my situation? One is my own sister, the other my fiancée—you two are pushing me into a fiery pit!” My voice was trembling; the tragedy of my past life made it impossible to stay calm. Naomi, however, was unwavering. “This isn’t a discussion, it’s a notification. The materials are ready. You have to take the fall for this.” She slammed a folder heavily onto my desk. I opened it and gasped – they had actually forged an entire chain of evidence implicating me in the fraud. Such a meticulous setup; if I weren’t the insider, anyone would believe these fabricated proofs. It seemed I had still underestimated their obsession with Marcus. But a mocking smile spread across my face. “Forging evidence, manipulating the market – those are serious felonies. Aren’t you afraid I’ll hand the evidence over to the FBI?” 4 “Are you threatening me? Don’t forget, I’m your sister. If you dare to make a fuss, Mom and Dad will be the first ones to disown you.” Naomi stared at me coldly, attempting to use our family ties to suppress me. In her mind, I had always been the meek, compliant younger brother who never dared to defy her. I scoffed dismissively. “Now you remember I’m your brother? For Marcus, you’re willing to destroy your own brother’s life. What right do you have to talk about family affection? From today on, we’re cutting all ties. You two had better not bother me again.” In that moment, I was utterly, completely disappointed in them. Sophia, seeing the turn of events, hastily tried to smooth things over. “Why are you being so difficult? This could be good for you too! JPMorgan Chase has promised that if you help us, they’ll give you a Vice President position immediately. That’s an executive role at a top Wall Street investment bank. You wouldn’t be able to get it on your own for at least a decade.” I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. JPMorgan Chase? Ludicrous. Marcus’s reputation in the industry was already in tatters; even mid-tier investment banks wouldn’t touch him, let alone a top-tier one. This was clearly another one of their fabricated lies. And the consequences of this matter were far more severe than just a job title. I looked at them coldly. “You expect me to take on such a massive crime just for an empty promise? The SEC investigation is no joke.” With that, I lowered my head to my documents, no longer bothering to acknowledge them. Sophia and Naomi’s eyes instantly turned venomous. I glanced at them dismissively. Long before our conversation began, I had already activated a voice recorder. If they dared to make a move, this evidence would be more than enough to completely ruin their reputations. Suddenly, the office door was violently pushed open. Marcus stormed in, grabbing my collar. “Where the hell did you get those internal files?” A cold smirk played on my lips. “Guilty conscience? These files were all obtained through legal channels.” Reborn into this life, how could I not leave myself a way out? Long before any of this began, I had arranged for someone to collect all the evidence of Marcus’s illicit dealings. Naomi, seeing Marcus’s fury, snapped, “Destroy those files immediately, or I’ll fire you right now!” I merely smiled wider. “Perfectly fine by me.” At the summit, I had already received offers from several top hedge funds, with salaries three times my current one. I pulled a document from my drawer and tossed it onto Naomi’s desk. “Here’s my resignation letter. Please approve it quickly.”

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Recently, I’d been waking up with various bite marks on my body. My boyfriend said I was simply too tempting, and he couldn’t resist a little nibble at night. But when I looked closely, those tooth marks were clearly from 32 different people. 1. The research project was nearing its end. I carried the cakes and bubble teas I’d ordered for my junior colleagues to the lounge door. From inside, I heard Cathy’s bright, clear laugh. “Senior, this isn’t right, how Sebastian has been treating Evelyn. She’s just a bit harsh, she yelled at me a few times, but you don’t need to do all this just to get back at her. She’ll be furious if she finds out.” Sebastian scoffed. “Furious? What right does she have to be furious? Acting so superior, constantly giving you a hard time just because she’s a senior. Besides, my specially formulated concoction ensures she won’t remember a thing. How would she ever know?” “Exactly, exactly! Cathy, you’re just too soft-hearted. Evelyn Reed, always acting so high and mighty, deserves to be put in her place.” “Yeah, but even if Evelyn’s got a sour face, her body’s incredible. She’s quite the experience.” “Only you would dare, Sebastian.” Sebastian took a swig of his drink, then leaned in, playfully brushing Cathy’s nose. “She said you made 33 mistakes, didn’t she? Well, we’ll see that she’s utterly debased 33 times. Let’s see her hold her head high after that.” The others clapped. “Impressive, Sebastian! So, where’s the final act going to be?” “The lab,” Sebastian sneered. “For the last time, we’ll be ‘kind’ and do it in her most familiar place.” “Oh, brilliant! I’ve always wanted to have my way with her in the lab.” “But Sebastian, if we post the photos on the forum, Evelyn will definitely recognize herself. Won’t she cause a scene?” “Hmph.” Sebastian tossed his phone onto the table. “Afraid of what? Every photo shows a different man. Anyone who sees them will just say she’s promiscuous and shameless. What grounds would she have to confront me? And besides, the photos are still edited to obscure her face. If she dares to make trouble, I’ll blur your faces and upload the videos. I’ll make sure she can’t stay at Crestwood University.” “Whoa! Sebastian, your videos are incredibly clear! If you put those up, she’d be ruined!” “Sebastian, send me a copy of the video, please. It’s the last time. We can still watch her when we miss her.” Cathy picked up the phone, scrolled for a moment, then tossed it back to the speaker. She purred, “Hmph, Sebastian, you’re truly shameless.” The group erupted in laughter, but I felt as if I had fallen into hell. I frantically fumbled with my phone, scrolling through picture after picture of my naked body. My heart truly died then. The air around me felt sucked away, leaving me gasping for breath. I had always believed Sebastian to be thoughtful and attentive, always handing me a cup of perfectly warmed water after each experiment because he cared for me. I often fell asleep in the lab, but it wasn’t from exhaustion. I had been drugged, systematically violated and humiliated by him and others, and they had taken photos and videos. It was sickeningly ironic that each time I woke up sore and aching, he would thoughtfully massage me, telling me not to overdo it. I had been touched by his kindness countless times, only now realizing it was merely to prevent my suspicion. All of this, simply because I had reprimanded his junior sister. I bit down hard on my palms, forcing myself to return to the university. On the way, every glance from a passerby filled me with terror. I felt like a prisoner stripped bare, flayed by the public’s eyes. Back at my dorm, I saw the stuffed animal Sebastian had given me on my desk. My rage ignited instantly. I frantically smashed everything he had given me to pieces. But it was useless! Utterly useless! Even destroying everything couldn’t erase the fact of my humiliation! My roommate returned, startled by the wreckage. “Did you have a fight with your boyfriend? He’s downstairs waiting for you with a bunch of stuff.” She pushed me downstairs. I saw Sebastian waiting. He handed me a few meal containers and a bubble tea. “Cathy brought you dinner and bubble tea. She said she’s sorry for bothering you these past few days and hopes you won’t be angry with her.” Seeing my silence, he gently ruffled my hair, his voice soft. “It’s just that our Evelyn is too brilliant, they can’t keep up with you, so they get flustered and make mistakes. Forgive her, okay?” Seeing me frozen, he brought the bubble tea straw to my lips. “Drink your junior sister’s tea, and this whole thing will be over. Since you have some time now, come to the lab and guide them.” I trembled violently, clutching his sleeve. “I won’t go! I’ll give you all my notes, but I won’t go!” Sebastian paused, then frowned in disapproval. “Evelyn, don’t be so childish! Cathy has already apologized, are you still going to hold a grudge? Besides, they’re clumsy. If they damage your experimental data or samples, how will you graduate?” He gently stroked my face, his voice still soft, yet I detected a hint of threat. “Be a good girl.” Sebastian half-pulled, half-dragged me to the lab. Cathy and the other team members were already waiting. The blatant, lingering stares of the team members slithered over my body, making me feel utterly nauseous. Sebastian looked at them. “Your senior is here, aren’t you going to greet her?” He then pushed me into the center of the group. Suppressing my trembling, I imported all the data to my computer. “I have other things to do, I don’t have time to guide you.” Sebastian pressed his fingers to his temples. “Evelyn, what’s wrong with you? You’re the senior! What’s wrong with guiding your junior colleagues?” He gestured to the others, who surrounded me. Sebastian picked up a glass of water, softening his tone. “Evelyn, I know you’re tired. Drink some water first, it’ll be over soon.” I desperately shook my head, my face filled with horror. “I won’t drink it! Let me go!” Sebastian looked at me like an unruly child. “Evelyn, you’re being too stubborn.” He had the others hold me down, forcing the water down my throat. “Standard procedure. No visible marks.” Listening to his cold voice, I closed my eyes in despair. 2. When I woke again, I was fully dressed, lying on a bed in the lab. The room was empty. Sebastian had sent me a message. “Evelyn, you fell asleep from exhaustion again. Cathy was tired, so we sent her back first. We’ll come pick you up later.” I suddenly remembered a phrase I’d vaguely heard before I passed out: “Should we include some audio recordings this time?” My hands trembling, I fumbled with my phone and opened the university forum. Sure enough, a new audio recording had been posted. It was my voice. The comments below were buzzing. Oh my god! Who is this? So shameless. More than one guy, right? How promiscuous. Wait, doesn’t that voice sound a little familiar? “Ah—” I shrieked, dropping my phone in horror, clutching my head in despair. Last time it was photos, this time it was an audio recording. What about next time? Would it be a video? What was I going to do? What could I possibly do? I swallowed desperately, as if trying to force down my shattered heart along with my breath. Tears streamed down my face. I wished I could just lose consciousness. When I dragged my broken, defiled body back to the dorm, I was met with my belongings strewn in the hallway and my roommate’s disgusted glare. “It was you, wasn’t it?” “Wh-what?” “The person on the forum.” My roommate scrutinized me, as if I were a piece of trash. “The photos last time, the audio recording this time, that was all you, wasn’t it? How disgusting. You always act so pure, but secretly you’re dirtier than anyone. Get out of this dorm with your stuff. Who knows what filth is on it.” I stood in the hallway, engulfed by the scornful gazes of those around me. Message notifications on my phone rang incessantly. Senior, I didn’t know you played around so much! How about me next? Senior, do you charge a fee? Tsk, tsk, tsk, ‘ice queen,’ more like a worn-out plaything. I bent down, picking up my discarded belongings one by one, only to realize that my shattered dignity was scattered across the floor with them. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t pick it up. Finally, enduring everyone’s contempt, I walked out aimlessly. At the university gates, I saw Cathy linking arms with Sebastian in the distance. Cathy saw me first. She blocked Sebastian’s view, then kissed him brazenly in front of me. I saw her whisper something to Sebastian, and he turned and walked away. She walked up to me, her eyes curving into a triumphant smile. “So, Senior, you saw it all?” “Oh, right, Senior.” She pulled down the collar of her shirt. “Is Sebastian always so passionate in bed? Look at all the marks he left on me.” Seeing the glaring red marks on her neck, I almost vomited. It was sickening. How could it be so sickening? My nails dug deep into my palms. The pain made me bend over, sinking wretchedly to the ground. Cathy looked down at me. “What’s wrong with Senior now? So pathetic. You always acted so high and mighty, but you scolded me so harshly for just a few mistakes.” She grabbed my hair, forcing my head up. Then she clucked in mock admiration. “Tsk tsk, Senior, your face is truly enchanting. No wonder all those guys in our lab were seduced by you. You must be so proud, Senior. Do you know how utterly shameless you looked underneath them?” I forced myself to straighten up. “And how shameless are you? Seducing someone else’s boyfriend.” “You’re lying!” she shrieked, clawing at me. “That’s still better than you, a common whore! You’ve been completely used up! You don’t know this, do you? Sebastian always said how disgusting you were whenever he was with me!” With that, she shoved me into the oncoming traffic. A car screeched past my feet, and I fell to the ground. Cathy slapped herself across the face, then ran to help me up. Her eyes were red, feigning tears. “Senior, what are you doing? I told you there’s nothing between Sebastian and me. You can slap me if you want, but running into the street? If you really got hit by a car, would you blame me for it?!” 3. Not far away, Sebastian rushed over, holding two bunny-shaped ice creams. He always said Cathy was like a cute, timid bunny. Cathy looked at him with surprise, then quickly turned her head, covering her face. “Li… Sebastian. Look at Evelyn, she fell down.” Sebastian didn’t even glance at me. He tenderly pulled Cathy’s hand away. Seeing the angry red handprint on her face, his expression immediately turned cold. “Evelyn Reed, you’re too much! You’ve been bullying Cathy all this time, and she’s never once held it against you! But you? You won’t let her go, and now you’re falsely accusing her like this!” Sebastian took Cathy’s hand, looking at me with cold disdain. “If you had even half of Cathy’s kindness and generosity, everyone wouldn’t despise you so much.” “Oh, really?” My hands clenched tighter. A sharp pain shot through my palms, and the haze in my mind cleared for a moment. “Look at her neck. Am I falsely accusing her?” A flicker of guilt crossed Sebastian’s eyes, quickly hardening into defiance. “You’re sick! You see filth in everything.” With that, he pulled Cathy away, walking off. As I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my ankle. My lower abdomen also throbbed faintly. I limped to the hospital, only to be told I was pregnant. The news hit me like a lightning bolt. I frantically pounded my own belly. I didn’t want it! I didn’t want this child. He was my shame! The cold operating table pressed against my trembling spine. I felt like a fish on a chopping block, helpless as the doctor removed a blurry mass of blood and tissue from my body. When I regained consciousness, I saw it: a fetus, not yet fully formed, covered in blood. At that moment, Cathy sent me a video. She and Sebastian were kissing passionately, his breath ragged as he whispered to her. “Cathy, Cathy, you’re so much better. You have no idea, every time I see Evelyn, I just imagine her in others’ arms. She’s so dirty, it makes me sick!” I couldn’t stop myself from vomiting. The dead child, the explicit video, Sebastian’s contempt… Everything was utterly sickening. Pain crushed my heart, and tears mixed with vomit streamed down my face. Escape! Get out! My constricted chest reminded me: if I didn’t find a way out, Sebastian and Cathy would torture me to death! I had fought with all my might to get into Crestwood University, spending sleepless nights in the lab, not to meet Sebastian and be humiliated and violated by him! I thought of my former professor, currently abroad, and desperately reached out for help. “Professor, you once invited me to participate in your project overseas. Is it too late if I want to join now?”

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On my wedding day, my best friend’s mother spread rumors that I had been a kept woman in college and had multiple abortions. When I found out, my first instinct was to call the police. Everyone urged me to prioritize the wedding, to ignore the gossiping hag. But then, people at the same table as the rumor-monger began live-streaming, and the story exploded. My mother-in-law, believing the lies, forced my husband to divorce me. Someone complained to my workplace, and I was fired. My parents, humiliated by the scandal in our village, disowned me. Under this relentless assault, I fell into a deep depression and jumped to my death. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back on my wedding day. 1 “Hold on.” I paused the makeup artist’s brush, lowered my gaze, and picked up my phone. It took only moments to find the live stream. Clicking in, I saw several middle-aged women chattering away animatedly. “What business is the groom’s family in? Such a grand affair!” “I hear they’re in hotels. Several properties, they say. Honestly, little Chloe here, she’s got talent. Pretty face, knows how to reel in men.” My phone, now on speaker, drew the attention of my bridesmaids. One of them leaned in, eyes widening in surprise as she recognized someone on screen. “Fiona! That’s your mom!” Fiona hurried closer. Her mother, Mrs. Rhodes, was still talking. “You know, my Fiona is actually prettier than Chloe, but she just doesn’t have that vixen-like charm Chloe does. Chloe’s chest is so big, all thanks to men. She’s been seducing boys since primary school, had a sugar daddy in college, would hook up with anyone for money, and had several abortions. Oh, the sin of it all!” At this, Fiona’s face went white. “Chloe, don’t listen to my mom’s nonsense! I’m going out there right now to stop her!” Before Fiona could move, I sprang to my feet with a whoosh and walked directly towards Mrs. Rhodes’s table. Fiona reached out to stop me. “Chloe, don’t go. Today’s your wedding day. I’ll go, I’ll talk to my mom properly. I promise she won’t say another word.” My friends behind me chimed in, urging caution. “It’s your wedding, Chloe. It’s not time yet. The bride shouldn’t be out there. It looks bad.” “Yes, Chloe, just bear with it. You know my mom’s mouth, she just can’t control it. I’ll go scold her right now. After today, I’ll make her apologize to you. Don’t let her ruin your big day.” Fiona’s face was a picture of sincerity, as if she truly had my best interests at heart. In my previous life, I hadn’t learned about this from a live stream. It was a relative, unable to stomach it any longer, who had come to tell me. I had listened to their advice then, swallowing the humiliation. I never imagined that the very next day, before Fiona could even bring her mother to apologize, the rumors would have already spread like wildfire. Because of those lies, I lost my husband, my parents, and my job. In the end, I was literally hounded to death. And Mrs. Rhodes, from start to finish, never uttered a single word of denial. Given a second chance, there was no way I would let this pass. After all, between a wedding and my life, I knew which held more weight. I ignored Fiona and strode purposefully towards the exit. When I reached Mrs. Rhodes’s table, she was still detailing my supposed abortions. “She was still in college then, how could she let her parents know? She borrowed money from my Fiona. My Fiona, being the loyal friend she is, secretly took my money, and that’s how I found out. The boy’s mother, she knows me too. Later, I confirmed it; her son definitely got little Chloe pregnant.” “Auntie, is that really true?” “Mom! What nonsense are you spouting?!” Fiona’s and my voices rang out simultaneously. Mrs. Rhodes flinched, startled. She turned, saw me, and offered an awkward smile, quickly trying to play it off. “Chloe, why are you out here so early?” I stared at her, my face a mask of shock. “Auntie, is that true? I had an abortion in college? You saw it?” 2 It had been a small circle of people who knew, but the moment I appeared and spoke, every eye in the room swiveled towards us. Mrs. Rhodes instantly became flustered. Fiona, mortified, tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “Mom, apologize.” Mrs. Rhodes stood up. “Chloe, I’m so sorry. You know your Auntie’s mouth, it just has no filter.” My eyes widened, a look of utter disbelief on my face. “So, you’re saying this is true then?” Mrs. Rhodes was about to say something when my parents and my fiancé also rushed over. “Chloe, what’s wrong?” My mother took my arm, her voice gentle. “Whatever it is, let’s talk about it calmly.” “Mom, Auntie here says I messed around with men in college, got pregnant, and had an abortion.” I said, my voice filled with feigned horror. “I have absolutely no memory of this! That man must have used some unspeakable means on me!” At this declaration, my mother’s face instantly darkened. She turned to Mrs. Rhodes. “Mrs. Rhodes, what is the meaning of this? My daughter’s wedding, and you’re here spreading rumors?” Mrs. Rhodes offered a placating smile. “I misspoke. I’ve already apologized to Chloe.” My mother turned back to me, trying to coax me. “Chloe, your Auntie Rhodes just loves to gossip. She’s already apologized to you, so just let it go.” My father also chimed in from behind me, “Yes, look at you! What’s with this display? All our relatives and friends are here. No one will believe these baseless rumors.” It wasn’t just my parents; everyone began to smooth things over. Seeing that the matter was about to be brushed aside, I let tears well up in my eyes. “No, no, no! Auntie Rhodes described it so vividly, how could it be false? I have no memory of anything like this happening, so it must have been done against my will! That man is a criminal! Auntie Rhodes, please, tell me who this man is! I’m going to call the police!” Hearing me threaten to call the police, Mrs. Rhodes, who had been laughing and trying to mediate, instantly lost her smile. She quickly said, “There’s no such person! Just say I made it all up, alright? Chloe, today’s your wedding day. I was wrong, I shouldn’t have said those things. Please, have a wonderful wedding. I’ll drink this tea as a toast, as my apology to you. Just pretend I was spreading rumors, okay?” Mrs. Rhodes raised her teacup and drained it. She looked at me, “Alright now?” I stared straight at her, as if deeply displeased by her gesture. Mrs. Rhodes felt my displeasure, yet also felt that as an elder, she had given me, the junior, due respect, and I was still being relentless. So she moved to leave, claiming she had spoiled the mood and shouldn’t stay. I quickly grabbed her arm. “No, Auntie, you can’t just leave like that.” Mrs. Rhodes looked at me, exasperated. “I’ve apologized. What more do you want from me? Do you want me to kneel down and kowtow twice?” I frowned. “Everyone heard what you just said. Since you claim it was a rumor, then clarify it for me. Right now, you get up on that stage and tell everyone that you were talking nonsense, that you love to gossip, and that everything you said earlier was just your imagination.” At this, Mrs. Rhodes’s face fell. She was already mortified enough having to apologize in front of so many people. Now I was forcing her to speak on stage. She instantly became displeased. “Chloe Bellwether, I apologized to you to save your face! Are you truly going to pretend that I wasn’t telling the truth? Let bygones be bygones. I offer that advice to you.” I tightened my grip on her hand. “So you’re saying it’s true then? In that case, tell me who this man is. Otherwise, if you’re just fabricating stories, I’ll sue you for defamation.” Mrs. Rhodes was successfully provoked. “That man’s name is Nathan Miles! You two were intimate when he was still married, you haven’t forgotten that, have you?” I flinched slightly. At the same time, Fiona’s face went from pale to flushed. 3 Mrs. Rhodes didn’t notice her daughter’s unusual reaction. She only saw my expression and immediately became smug. “Remember him now, don’t you?” Before I could speak, Fiona quickly grabbed her mother’s hand and pulled her towards the exit. “Mom, you’re really going too far! Today is Chloe’s wedding. Chloe and I are friends. How are we supposed to face each other after this?” Mrs. Rhodes huffed, “What are you afraid of? I already gave that little girl a chance. It’s her own fault for blowing things up. A friend like that isn’t worth having anyway.” Mrs. Rhodes wouldn’t know. Fiona wasn’t afraid of our friendship breaking apart. She was afraid of the truth being exposed. In my last life, I had always wondered how Mrs. Rhodes could remember such vivid details about a completely unfounded event. Listening to her speak just now, coupled with Fiona’s reaction, I had a bold idea. Once she uttered the man’s name, I was virtually certain. Someone had indeed been a mistress in college and had had an abortion. But that person wasn’t me; it was her own daughter, Fiona. I had seen Fiona getting into Nathan Miles’s car multiple times outside the university. I knew they had been involved for a while, but I didn’t know Nathan was married. There was also a period when Fiona was incredibly weak. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she was having her period. At the time, I didn’t understand how a period could cause such pain. Seeing the two of them about to walk out of the hall, I blocked Mrs. Rhodes again. “You can’t leave. You need to testify for me.” I insisted that I had no memory of this incident and no recollection of ever interacting with Nathan. Since she remembered it so clearly, she should go to the police station and tell them the whole story. If she refused, it meant she was fabricating the story. Mrs. Rhodes, however, thought I was deliberately playing dumb, trying to cover it up. She stopped moving and instead yelled at me, “Even if you don’t believe it, it’s true! I’m telling you, Nathan Miles is getting engaged here today! I’ll call him right now. Things won’t end well then!” I bristled. “Go on, call him over for a confrontation if you dare!” Mrs. Rhodes, spurred on, directly flung Fiona’s hand away, pulled out her phone, and made a call. Nathan Miles was indeed getting engaged right here. Within minutes, Nathan’s mother arrived. The moment she stepped in, Mrs. Rhodes grabbed her hand. “Your son, during his first marriage, did he get a college girl pregnant? Look, is it this girl?” I had expected Nathan’s mother to deny it in such a public setting. After all, it wasn’t exactly a proud moment. But to my surprise, she said quite proudly, “Oh, that was years ago! Who remembers those things? But yes, there was a young girl who kept chasing my Nathan around.” After speaking, she finally realized the setting, covering her mouth and chuckling. “Why did you call me here to talk about this?” Mrs. Rhodes beamed at me. “Chloe Bellwether, you heard that, didn’t you? Let’s just leave it at that. It’s your wedding today, so I’m giving you some face. I won’t spill all the details of your past.” With that, the two of them nonchalantly began discussing Nathan’s second fiancée, saying she was the daughter of Nathan’s boss, and that he was highly regarded. I spoke up, “This auntie only said there was ‘a young girl.’ Is this young girl me?” Everyone in the hall stretched their necks, craning to see us. The emcee urged several times that the auspicious time was about to begin. My parents, feeling utterly humiliated, came over and pulled me. “Chloe, what kind of occasion is this? You’re causing such a scene! Can’t you just sort this out after the wedding?” I shook my head vigorously. “I want to resolve this now! Otherwise, my reputation will be ruined!” My father, seething with anger, swore, “She’s already giving you face! Didn’t you hear her? Don’t press the issue! Do you even want to get married?” I looked up and saw my future husband and mother-in-law’s faces were as black as soot. The disgust in their eyes was overflowing. My mother-in-law said scornfully, “This is the ‘good’ daughter-in-law you picked for me? I said she was a slutty fox from the start, but you wouldn’t believe me.” My fiancé walked over, his tone deeply displeased. “Chloe, are these things true? If they are, then I’m afraid this wedding can’t go forward.” My mother-in-law added from behind him, “How utterly shameful. Doing so many filthy things, and then making such a huge scene about it.” Listening to their words, I felt even more wronged. My parents were only concerned with their own reputation, wanting to get the wedding over with. My fiancé thought my actions were humiliating. Yet, he and I had met in our freshman year of college, spending every day together for years. He knew better than anyone whether I had been pregnant. But in the end, he still believed those people. The three of them, who were supposed to be the closest to me, chose not to defend me when I was slandered. They wanted me to just endure it. Even though I had experienced all this in my previous life, my heart still ached uncontrollably. No one was standing up for me. So I would stand up for myself. I declared, “Even if I don’t get married, I will get to the bottom of this.” “Fine,” Mrs. Rhodes chuckled. “It’s not like we’re the ones being humiliated.” My mother quickly moved over, slipping a red envelope into Mrs. Rhodes’s hand. “Sister Rhodes, please be kind. Don’t quarrel with a child.” Mrs. Rhodes snorted coldly. “Out of consideration for our past friendship, I’ll let you off the hook. Everyone, just assume I was joking earlier, okay?” With that, the three of them began to walk out. I tried desperately to stop them. “You can’t leave!” But my parents held me in a death grip. Just as I couldn’t break free, two police officers entered the door, blocking Mrs. Rhodes and her companions. “Hello, we received a report that someone was assaulted while unconscious. Could the victim please identify themselves?”

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Upon learning of my first love’s death, my wife, on our honeymoon cruise, leaped overboard, ending her life. It was then I truly understood: she had never let go of Brandon Stone. Reborn into our teenage years, she resolutely pulled her hand from mine and walked purposefully toward her first love. I watched them disappear, then turned and walked away. From that moment, our lives became two parallel lines, destined never to intersect. Ten years later, we met again at a gala in Metropolis City. She was now a rising star among the elite, her arm intimately linked with Brandon’s as they made their grand entrance. When she saw me pushing through the crowd, searching for someone, she couldn’t help but offer me advice. “Why are you still so fixated on me? Even if you waited ten years, I would never love you.” I ignored her, pulling my son, covered in cake frosting, from a secluded corner. Her eyes suddenly reddened. She gripped my arm tightly, her voice laced with desperation. “Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Didn’t you say you’d only love me, for this lifetime?” 1 I never imagined that in this lifetime, I would ever cross paths with Sylvia Hart again. At the city’s elite gala, she stood amidst the crowd, arm entwined with Brandon Stone’s, her smile elegant and refined, bearing no trace of the naive girl she once was. Those around them fawned, their voices thick with flattery. “Ms. Hart is truly a force to be reckoned with! So young, and already securing a provincial project. Your future is boundless!” “And this must be your beloved, a truly stunning couple! So enviable!” Brandon gazed at Sylvia with a look of profound affection, his voice soft. “We’re planning to marry by the end of the year. If you’re free, everyone is welcome to attend the wedding reception.” Another wave of congratulations rippled through the room. Then someone, perhaps a bit too bold, asked, “I heard you two have been together for ten years. Why are you only marrying now?” That was a question that piqued my own curiosity. In my previous life, Sylvia loved Brandon so intensely that she chose to die with him. After being reborn, she immediately broke up with me. I had assumed they would marry right after graduation, but it seemed they still hadn’t tied the knot. At the question, an almost imperceptible stiffness flickered across Sylvia’s face. She quickly covered it with a forced smile. “Career first, then family, right? I want to give Brandon the best life possible.” She looked at Brandon, her eyes overflowing with tender adoration. In my previous life, when she was with me, I had proposed several times. It was only when her family pressured her that Sylvia reluctantly agreed to marry me. Love, or the lack thereof, could truly be so glaringly obvious. I was about to turn and leave when my eyes caught sight of a small figure. My body instinctively followed. “Smash!” Champagne splattered across the floor. The server, holding a tray, glared at me, his face a mask of annoyance. “Where did you sneak in from? Are you blind?!” His voice wasn’t quiet, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Seeing my face, Sylvia’s eyes widened in shock. “Ethan Cole, what are you doing here?” I lowered my head, apologizing to the server, and explained, “I’m here looking for someone.” Someone in the crowd, curious, asked Sylvia, “Ms. Hart, do you know him?” Sylvia’s hand, holding her wine glass, tightened imperceptibly. Her gaze hardened. “Yes, he’s an ex-boyfriend.” Someone nearby, too quick with their tongue, blurted out, “You two were together for ten years! I thought you were each other’s first loves!” A subtle chill entered Brandon’s smile. He clasped Sylvia’s hand, his voice dismissive. “We were young back then, just a minor spat, separated for a short while. Who hasn’t taken a wrong turn in their youth?” Sylvia remained silent, her gaze skimming over me and landing on the server. “Charge the damages to my account. Let him go.” She stood there, her expression calm. Aside from that initial shock, she didn’t spare me a single extra glance. It seemed she wanted to draw a clear line between herself and me—that “wrong turn” in front of Brandon. The server immediately began pushing me towards the exit. “Ms. Hart is being kind, cleaning up your mess. But there won’t be a next time.” He glanced at my crumpled pajamas, a look of disdain on his face. “This isn’t your kind of place. Get out, now.” I pulled my arm free from his grip, trying to remain polite. “I’m looking for someone. Once I find them, I’ll leave on my own.” The server scoffed, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of opportunists like you trying to climb the social ladder. Do you even have the right to be in a gala like this? If you don’t leave now, I’ll call security!” “Wait.” Sylvia’s voice carried from behind him. She lifted the hem of her gown, looking at me with a sigh, her expression resigned. “He’s here for me. Let me talk to him.” Brandon stood beside her, his arm draped possessively over her shoulder. “Ethan Cole, Sylvia and I are getting married soon. I think anyone with a shred of decency wouldn’t be bothering an ex at a time like this.” Sylvia’s face paled slightly. She couldn’t help but try to persuade me. “Why are you still so fixated on me? Even if you waited ten years, I would never love you.” She paused, a hint of bitterness in her tone. “My relationship with you back then was just a mistake. I’ve finally been given a chance to correct that mistake, and I hope you can let go of the past sooner rather than later.” Brandon scrutinized me from head to toe, a sneer of mockery in his eyes. “I can understand why you’d still come looking for Sylvia. After all, things are different now. She’s a well-known entrepreneur, and she’s bound to attract people trying to cozy up to her.” Perhaps my crumpled pajamas gave him confidence. Brandon, nose in the air, added, “You’re from a good university, aren’t you? How did you end up like this? If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to show my face!” Sylvia frowned, pulled out her phone, and a hint of impatience entered her voice. “If you feel I wronged you when we broke up, I can compensate you now. Will five hundred thousand be enough?” Her fingers moved across the screen, then suddenly froze. “You… you deleted me from your contacts?” 2 I was a little puzzled, not understanding why she reacted so strongly. Deleting an ex after a breakup—isn’t that perfectly normal? Moreover, I had someone at home who was incredibly possessive. If she found out I still kept an ex’s contact information, she’d probably give me hell for days. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after we broke up?” Sylvia’s face hardened. She seemed to want to say something but held back. I added, my voice flat, “And a severance payment isn’t necessary. I don’t need it.” Frustrated repeatedly, Sylvia’s expression worsened. She said coldly, “Why are you still putting on airs in front of me? If you weren’t so pathetic right now, I wouldn’t even bother speaking to you.” Brandon gently comforted her. “Sylvia, you’re just too kind. If you ask me, why bother with a man like him? Look at his disheveled state, he’s a hopeless case!” His tone was scornful, as if he’d forgotten that ten years ago, he was far more disreputable than I was. In my previous life, the reason Sylvia’s family initially disapproved of her relationship with Brandon was because he was an uneducated delinquent with a criminal record. The first time I met Sylvia in college, she had just bailed Brandon out of the precinct, and her family was pressuring her to break up with him. During Sylvia’s lowest period, I stayed by her side, helping her through it. She loved photography, so I used the money I had originally saved for my startup to buy her thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Through winter and summer, I carried dozens of pounds of gear behind her, just hoping to see her smile genuinely. Who would have thought that Sylvia was the one who confessed her feelings to me first? I knew about her past with Brandon, and I had seen her occasionally staring blankly at their old photos. So, when Sylvia confessed, I asked her very seriously: Had she truly moved on from Brandon Stone? At the time, she held me tightly, her voice firm. “That’s the past. I’ve long since realized who truly cares about me. Ethan, I love you. Let’s be together.” We dated for seven years, even her best friend couldn’t help but express surprise. “She was so infatuated with Brandon. I never thought you two would last.” But no one knew that Sylvia had privately rejected my proposals countless times. “Ethan, I don’t believe in marriage. Couldn’t we just be together like this forever?” It wasn’t until Sylvia’s parents pressured her intensely that she finally agreed to marry. During our honeymoon, news arrived of Brandon’s accidental death in a car crash. She leaped from the cruise ship, leaving behind only a suicide note. The note was entirely filled with her love for Brandon, not a single word for me. At the end, she had written in her own blood: “Brandon, all my life, I only ever wanted to be your bride. Now, I’m coming to find you.” My love for her, in that moment, turned completely to ash. So, when Sylvia wanted to break up with me after being reborn, I didn’t stop her. Because I knew, I couldn’t stop her. Watching them get back together, I deleted all of Sylvia’s contact information, believing we would never meet again in this lifetime. I never expected to encounter her here. I wanted to leave, but Brandon wouldn’t let up, insisting on humiliating me in front of everyone. “You certainly went to great lengths to get with Sylvia. Looking at you, dressed like that, you probably don’t even have a steady job.” “How about this? I’ll get you a job as a server here. If you learn how to cater to people, you could earn a five-figure salary a month.” Someone nearby, wanting to curry favor, chuckled and added, “This is a hotel in a prime location in Metropolis City! Being able to work here is a stroke of luck for you. Hurry up and thank Mr. Stone!” I was surrounded, unable to leave for the moment. Resigned, I said, “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “It’s photography.” The word “photography” hung in the air. Sylvia immediately looked at me, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Her lips parted slightly. She then turned her head away, her voice cool. “How much can photography earn? Hobbies don’t fill your stomach. Since we’re all familiar, I can arrange a job for you.” I was taken aback, immediately realizing she had misunderstood. 3 My love for photography wasn’t because I still harbored feelings for Sylvia. In fact, when I read that suicide note in my previous life, I had completely given up all hope. It was simply that when I was reborn, I found that the money had already been spent on photography equipment. It wouldn’t sell on second-hand platforms, so I had no choice but to pick it up and use it myself. As it turned out, I actually fell in love with photography. This time, I wasn’t doing it to please anyone else, but purely for myself. I politely declined Sylvia’s offer again, my tone courteous yet distant. “My hobby provides enough for my living expenses. Thank you for your concern.” Seeing my apparent ingratitude, a flicker of anger crossed Sylvia’s face. “You don’t want the opportunity I’m giving you? Don’t come crying to me later!” I didn’t say anything. I also didn’t tell her that my photography work was now exclusively published in several national and top international journals. All the copyright fees added up to no less than Sylvia’s income. But if I told her, she would probably think I was bragging. After all, my crumpled pajamas certainly made me look shabby. Speaking of which, it was all Noah’s fault. He insisted on dragging me to play in the sandbox, and the moment I turned my back, he slipped downstairs. I hadn’t even had time to change before I chased after him. I was just about to find an excuse to leave when the server from before seemed to notice something. He pointed at my clothes. “Balenciaga? Where did you pick up that outfit? You’re not, like, a cleaner here, stealing from a guest’s room, are you?” I couldn’t help but frown. “Can’t these just be my own clothes?” Brandon scoffed, a sneer on his face. “Yours? Can you even afford them? What kind of rich person would run around dressed so casually like that?” He feigned covering his nose dramatically. “So dirty, you probably put them on without even washing them.” Sylvia looked at me, her brow furrowed so deeply it could have caught a fly. “Ethan Cole, you’ve really fallen so low, and you’re still trying to be stubborn?” I didn’t want to deal with them, so I addressed the server directly. “If you genuinely think I stole something, you’re welcome to call the police right now.” I knew he was trying to curry favor with Brandon, seeing his displeasure with me. Sure enough, his bravado instantly deflated, and he mumbled, “If it weren’t for the important guests at the hotel today, and fearing you people might disturb them, I would have called the police already.” Brandon’s eyes lit up, and he quickly interjected, “Is it Ms. Reed, the Reed heiress? I heard she’s here in Metropolis City with her family, staying at this very hotel.” Sylvia nodded, her eyes showing a hint of anticipation. “The project our company is working on would be perfect with the Reed family’s support.” The words “Ms. Reed, the Reed heiress” were like water poured into hot oil, immediately sparking a fervent discussion. “Aren’t we here at this gala today precisely to meet Ms. Reed?” “I heard she got married and had a child in her early twenties. I wonder which prominent family she allied with.” As everyone discussed, the hotel manager, drenched in sweat, rushed in, followed by a team of staff. “Ladies and gentlemen, has anyone seen a seven-year-old boy, about this tall?” The manager wiped his brow, his gaze frantically sweeping the hall. Someone quick-witted, seeing the grand commotion, immediately guessed. “Is it the young master of the Reed family? I heard he’s seven this year.” The gala guests grew enthusiastic, immediately fanning out to search. After all, finding him could be their chance to connect with the powerful Reed family. Sylvia and Brandon also joined the search, no longer bothering with me. I looked at the chaotic hall and walked straight to the dessert area. Sure enough, beneath the table, I found my son, Noah, his face smeared with cream. I extended my hand, my expression stern. “Come here.” Noah flinched, hugging the table leg, refusing to let go. “No.” I was about to pull him over when Brandon, emerging from nowhere, blocked my path, his voice righteous. “Ethan Cole, what are you doing?!” “Even if you want to curry favor with the Reed family, you don’t have to resort to laying hands on a child, do you?” Sylvia rushed over, her eyes filled with disappointment as she looked at me. “Ethan Cole, I can’t believe you’d do something like this for fame and fortune.” The server grabbed the manager, complaining. “This man, he suddenly stormed into the gala and even stole clothes from other guests!” The manager’s face immediately darkened. He called security. “Seize this thief and take him straight to the police station! If he frightens the young master, you’ll all be out of a job!” A triumphant smile flickered in Brandon’s eyes. He bent down, putting on a benevolent face for the Reed family’s young master. “Come here, to Uncle. Uncle will protect you.” Noah ignored him completely. To everyone’s astonishment, he carefully reached for my hand. “Daddy, I know I was wrong.”

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In five years of marriage, I had caught my husband with 99 paramours. When I was heavily pregnant, his hundredth little vixen offended our biggest client. To salvage the crucial project, Jack demanded that I, instead of her, walk to the client’s estate and beg for forgiveness on bended knee. In the torrential rain, I sobbed, my voice trembling: “The child is seven months old. A twenty-mile walk in such a downpour… the baby won’t survive this—” He slapped me impatiently, knocking me to the ground. “A few steps and you’re wailing like a banshee! What a performance! Aren’t you from the Northern Peaks?” He shoved me into the pouring rain, forcing me to prostrate myself every three steps. Blood streamed from between my legs, washing into crimson rivulets on the soaked ground. Inside the carriage, his little vixen, Lady Seraphina, looked utterly disgusted. “Didn’t even bother to use a proper cloth during her monthly flow. Disgusting.” I walked to the brink of death, giving birth prematurely to a daughter barely three pounds. When Dowager Countess Thorne rushed to my side, I used my last ounce of strength to beg her. “The Thorne family’s grace, in sponsoring my education, has been fully repaid with this child. Can I finally be free now?” 1 “Clara, my dear, have you made up your mind? Jack, he’s just lost his way for a time; he’s not truly himself. Could you possibly…” Dowager Countess Thorne choked back tears, her face etched with sorrow and a reluctance to accept my decision. The news report on the television happened to be broadcasting the Thorne Holdings Annual Gala, capturing our attention. Jack, with his hundredth paramour, Lady Seraphina, attended the event. On screen, their fingers were intertwined, the ruby engagement ring on Seraphina’s left hand drawing every eye. Their intimate posture garnered all the flashing lights. The Thorne Holdings directors bowed and scraped before Seraphina, their flattery oozing. “Whoever spread rumors that Lord Jack treats his lady wife poorly should see this! He keeps her by his side, even at the company gala. A match made in heaven, envied by all!” The words “lady wife” struck a chord in Seraphina’s heart, deepening her smile, her cheeks flushing with vibrant color. Other employees immediately followed suit, eagerly egging them on. “Angels descended! Come, show us your affection! A kiss! A kiss!” Jack’s lips curved into a smirk. He didn’t rebuke his subordinates. Instead, he embraced Seraphina and passionately kissed her. Dowager Countess Thorne froze, then quickly grabbed the remote and turned off the television. She looked at me, her face filled with shame, her voice softening. “Clara, alas, it’s all my fault for my misguided good intentions. I believed you two were meant for each other, and instead, I’ve harmed you. You owe the Thorne family nothing more, my dear. Go. Go anywhere you wish!” Dowager Countess Thorne’s calloused hand gently caressed my cheek, but I couldn’t shed a single tear. In five years of marriage, my tears had long since dried. “You haven’t seen the child yet…” Dowager Countess Thorne’s hand paused. My heart, like a heavy stone suspended in air, suddenly plummeted. Smashing, leaving a bloody mess. My own flesh and blood, born at seven months, after half my life force was spent. How could I abandon her, just like that? In a daze, the nurse brought the baby into the room. “Baby’s mother, look how adorable your little one is. Though she’s small, she’s…” “No, I don’t want to see her!” I sharply turned my head, staring out the window, desperately trying to prevent myself from looking at the tiny bundle wrapped in pink. Clenching my fists, I told myself not to yield. Clara, your freedom lies beyond that window. Nothing can keep you rooted here. The nurse stood frozen, unsure what to do. Dowager Countess Thorne sighed, shook her head, and signaled her to take the child away. When the room was left to just the two of us again, she wiped away her tears and reluctantly dialed Jack’s number. His voice on the other end was still somewhat gentle; after all, his grandmother was now his only true kin. “Grandmother, I’m busy with work. You know how it is, end of the year, lots of company matters. I’ll be home soon…” “Silence! Are you going to lie to your grandmother’s face now? The news is filled with you and that disreputable woman!” Jack fell silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice dripping with scorn. “Grandmother, your eyesight isn’t what it used to be. How long has it been since you watched television? Clara, that wretched woman, must have fed you this nonsense, didn’t she?” “Is that wretched Clara right there beside you? Let her listen!” I switched on the speakerphone. My tears silently fell onto the receiver. From the other end of the line, amidst the background sound of a woman sobbing, came Jack’s utterly insulting curses. Dowager Countess Thorne’s eyes were red-rimmed, her hand trembling slightly. “Clara, my dear, finish your confinement, and then leave the Thorne estate.” 2 When I was discharged, Jack didn’t come to pick me up. But, unexpectedly, he ordered a bouquet of flowers for me. In five years of marriage, he had sent countless flowers to every paramour, yet I, his lawful wife, was receiving them for the first time. In the past, even if he had casually tossed me a simple card, I would have treasured it, framed it, and collected it. But faced with the huge bouquet of lilies, I simply refused to sign for them. Jack, upon hearing this, exploded in a fit of rage, his voice booming from the delivery man’s phone. “Clara, you ungrateful wretch! I’d sooner throw money at a dog than give it to you!” He had no idea I was allergic to lilies; the pollen would cause severe breathing difficulties. During dinner, Jack suddenly returned to the Thorne estate with Lady Seraphina. I treated them as if they were invisible, continuing to eat without a care. Jack, seeing my indifference but unable to erupt, fumed and stomped out to the balcony to smoke. Seraphina, her stilettos clicking, swayed her hips like a viper and sat beside me. “Still have an appetite? Look at that waist; you’re as plump and greasy as a sow.” “And I hear women who’ve birthed children are loose and dry down there, can’t even hold a quill.” “In your state, do you truly have the nerve to cling to the title of Lady Thorne?” Seraphina’s mocking tone was utterly transparent. Usually, faced with such provocation, I would have erupted in fury and retorted immediately. But today, I acted as if I were deaf, not even sparing her a glance. I sat steadily, continuing to serve myself and eat. She froze for a moment, then suddenly forced a laugh. “Oh, playing the indifferent one, are we? Let’s see how long you can keep that up!” With that, she overturned the entire pot of soup onto herself, then, before I could react, shoved the basin into my hands and shrieked. “Lady Clara, I merely admire Lord Jack! What’s wrong with love? You can hit me, curse me, but why would you ruin my face…?” Seraphina was a minor socialite, attracting followers with her striking beauty—her greatest asset. She had scalded her skin below the neck a vivid red, leaving her drenched and utterly pitiful. I heard a stir from the balcony. Jack was coming inside. Before, facing such blatant setups, I would panic, desperate to defend myself, but all I ever received was Jack’s cold mockery. Today, I held the soup basin steadily, and with Jack witnessing it firsthand, I deliberately smashed the ceramic pot onto Seraphina’s body. Jack roared, striking me with a forceful slap. “Wretch! How could my noble Thorne family have such a petty, ungrateful fool as its lady of the house!” I was knocked to the ground, the scattered ceramic shards slicing into me, leaving dozens of bleeding wounds. My body was instantly drenched in blood. Pain consumed my entire being, and all I could hear was Jack’s furious roars. “Clara, I told you to apologize to Seraphina! Are you deaf?” I lowered my head, a silent, cold laugh on my lips as I gazed at the bleeding wounds. Jack, enraged, kicked me in the lower back, then grabbed my neck, forcing my face close to Seraphina. The woman’s beautiful, yet arrogant, face filled my vision, her triumphant smirk utterly brazen. An apology, is it? The next second, I sprang to my feet, systematically pouring the dishes from the table over my head, then forcefully smashing the empty ceramic vessels against myself. The hot liquid mixed with blood stung the wounds, a searing pain, but it paled in comparison to the ache in my heart. “How’s that? Is this apology heartfelt enough? Or do you still find it lacking…” “Clara, have you gone mad!” Jack saw my bruised and battered body. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes, and he violently seized my hands, stopping me from harming myself further. “Stop it right now!” The arm he gripped was covered in unhealed needle marks. Jack’s eyes widened, his lips trembling slightly. “What’s this? Why so many needle marks?” In five years of marriage, Jack’s affairs far outnumbered his times returning home for dinner. The title of Thorne Holdings’ patriarch naturally attracted not ordinary flings, but cunning, ruthless women, all with the courage and means to scheme and plot to replace me as Lady Thorne. Every time I was directly harmed, or when Jack hurt me on their behalf, the immense physical and mental anguish forced me to seek relief from pain medication. Jack stared blankly at the needle marks, then his face quickly turned to one of disdain. He flung my arm away, looking at me with disgust and contempt. “Well, Clara, you’re certainly getting clever. Resorting to playing the martyr now, are we? Let me tell you, feigning illness won’t work on me!” I was thrown to the ground again. My palm, bracing my fall, was covered in blood from fresh cuts, but I was already numb to the pain. Anyway, my confinement period would be over in half a month. 3 After Jack took Seraphina to the hospital, I sat numbly in the drawing-room. My fingers instinctively traced the wedding ring on my ring finger. This was the only tangible proof of my title as Lady Thorne. The ill-fitting ring was bound with several wraps of crimson thread, barely allowing it to stay on my finger. But five years had passed, and the gold plating had faded, revealing the silver beneath. When we bought the wedding ring back then, the sales assistant’s gaze at me was filled with disdain. “Such a wealthy and generous husband wouldn’t be unwilling to buy something better. He must have been forced into marriage, just casually making a token gesture. This woman is truly pitiful.” But I had happily accepted the ring Jack had personally chosen, never taking it off. I had asked him to wear the male wedding ring, but he refused. When I persisted, he simply claimed he had lost it. And so, for five years, his hand remained bare, as if he had never been bound by this marriage at all. I cut the red thread and took off the ring. From behind me, Jack’s cold sneer broke the silence. “Finally willing to take it off? Wasn’t it ‘cherished until death do us part’?” He walked in, puffing on a pipe, smoke curling around him, and eyed me disdainfully. His expression at that moment instantly transported me back to our wedding day, when he brought his first mistress into our bridal chamber. I had dragged the mistress out by her hair. Jack had watched with the same detached indifference, pipe in mouth. “Go on, hit her. Hit as hard as you like. The Thorne family has plenty of coin for compensation.” “For every one you strike down, I’ll take ten more. There are plenty of women in the world; I can be a groom every night.” I used to hate Jack like this the most—always causing a scandal, yet remaining aloof, leaving me to be the desperate, defeated wretch. But, I was leaving. It no longer mattered. I walked around him, heading straight into the dressing room to pack my luggage. Jack rushed in, agitated, and pushed my suitcase away. “Packing what? Leaving?” Was there panic in his eyes? How laughable. I sidestepped him, my voice calm. “It’s too cold. I’m going to a warm springs retreat with a good friend.” Jack visibly relaxed. While I was bathing, amidst the steam, Jack pushed open the bathroom door and walked in. He said he’d help me wash, as an apology for the day. I immediately wrapped myself in my bathrobe, recoiling from him in disgust. “Save your services for your little vixens; I don’t want them!” Jack’s face turned livid. He sneered. “Clara, what are you playing at, being a saint? A woman with a temper, isn’t it just because her man isn’t putting in enough effort in bed? Your husband will love you fiercely tonight!” He seized my waist, ripped open my bathrobe, and buried his face downwards. “Get out! Don’t touch me!” I struggled wildly, lifting my knee to strike at his groin. Jack dodged my attack, his eyes bloodshot with rage. He violently smashed the bottles and jars in the bathroom to the floor. “Fine! If you’re not willing, there are plenty of others waiting!” Jack stormed out, slamming the door. I clutched my bathrobe tightly, curling into a ball, and fell into an uneasy sleep. In the dead of night, from the other side of the wall by my headboard, came rhythmic, intimate sounds, jarring me awake. Following closely, the man’s playful laughter and the woman’s moans seeped into my ears. The room next door was the nursery, prepared for the newborn. Jack was deliberately trying to sicken me. The door was wide open. I walked directly to them, staring at their entangled forms without blinking. Jack turned, saw my indifferent expression, and his face twisted. He roared at me to get out. My eyes stung with unshed tears. But it didn’t matter. Out of sight, out of mind. It would all be over soon. 4 With my luggage, I left the Thorne estate and found a cheap inn to stay in. The next morning, someone pounded fiercely on my inn room door, waking me. After checking in yesterday, I had only given my address to my closest friend, Lady Eleanor. Opening the door, she stood there, her face anxious, holding up her mobile device for me to see. News of Jack’s infidelity and my forced departure had exploded across the entire network. #LordThorneSeeksThrillsWithParamourAsLadyOfTheManorSuffers #LadyThorneHumiliated,FleesInTheNight Lady Seraphina, a minor socialite with some online notoriety, instantly became a public enemy, savagely attacked by keyboard warriors. Oh, this trick again. He’s deliberately orchestrating this, isn’t he? And boosting his own visibility at the same time, I suppose. After all, infamy is still fame. But Jack, lost in his own schemes, saw me and, without a word, slapped me. “Clara, you venomous viper with a heart of vipers! No wonder you pretended not to care last night! You knew the scribes would be snapping pictures! You want to ruin Seraphina!” “You’ve driven her to the brink of exile from society, and she still says she doesn’t blame you! How can you be so ruthless!” “Come with me to Seraphina’s press conference right now! Apologize to her publicly and tell everyone she’s innocent!” Innocent? I touched my stinging cheek, a laugh bubbling up. “Whether she is innocent or not, isn’t that for you to decide, not me?” Jack refused to listen to a single word. He seized my collar and dragged me towards the press conference. Seraphina’s face was unadorned, her eyes swollen and red like walnuts. She bowed at a ninety-degree angle, offering an apology. Seeing my appearance, reporters immediately swarmed around. “Lady Thorne, did you orchestrate those intimate images?” “Lady Thorne, did Lady Seraphina truly interfere in your marriage with Lord Jack?” Jack, standing beside me, glared at me with eyes as cold as ice. I offered a faint smile, stepped forward, and helped Seraphina to her feet. “Lady Seraphina, you have suffered undue distress. It is all my fault.” Then I lowered my head and bowed. “Lady Seraphina is innocent; she is not a mistress. I am the hateful one, who deliberately forged images and fabricated false news to gain favor.” With that, I slapped myself across the face. “Lady Seraphina and my husband are simply business associates. It was my strong jealousy that led me to frame her. I am a despicable wretch.” Then I slapped myself on the other cheek. Seraphina trembled, watching me in terror. “Such a terrifying woman! She appears to apologize, but in reality, she’s constantly mocking and threatening!” Someone in the audience shouted loudly, speaking up for Seraphina. She conveniently buckled at the knees, collapsing onto the ground, looking as if she were about to faint. Jack lunged forward, sweeping her into his arms, then glared at me. “Clara, kneel! Apologize properly!” Seraphina, still clutched in his arms, distinctly flashed a look of triumph at me. I suddenly recalled that desperate kneeling in the torrential rain half a month ago, which not only caused my premature labor but also made me the laughingstock of the entire city. Now, under hundreds of lenses, if I were to kneel before Seraphina, I would completely lose all dignity. Jack’s lips curved into a cold sneer. He had someone bring Lady Eleanor’s employee badge from Thorne Holdings and threw it at my feet. The meaning was clear. Obey and kneel, or save my friend’s livelihood. A choice between the two. I raised my head, refusing to let tears fall. My knees slowly descended to the ground. The crowd erupted in murmurs. I spoke, my voice hoarse. “I, Clara Miller, was a student from the impoverished Northern Peaks, aided by the Thorne Charitable Bursary. Years ago, I saved Dowager Countess Thorne’s life.” “It was I who wished to rise above my station, leveraging that debt of gratitude to force Jack Thorne to break off his true affection with Lady Seraphina and take me as his wife.” Jack stared at me in disbelief, as if he hadn’t imagined I would so thoroughly sacrifice my own reputation to validate their connection. And then, the tears I had desperately held back finally streamed down my cheeks. All debts to the Thorne family, cancelled. After the press conference, Jack didn’t see me. Throughout the night, his heart pounded erratically, and his eye twitched incessantly. All he saw before him was my face as I knelt in the pouring rain, and as I knelt before Seraphina at the press conference. A face that had moved from despair to a haunting tranquility. Just as he could no longer bear it and was about to rush out to find me, his secretary burst in. “Lord Jack, something terrible has happened! Lady Clara… she has fallen from the cliffs!”

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My fiancé John called me insane. The stunning new nurse Chelsea burst into tears. —In my past life, Movie star Julian Vance was admitted with severe pulmonary hypertension. The whole ER team saved him, then I guarded him for 24 hours. Yet he died minutes before shift change. Chelsea accused me: “Chloe Blackwood has no ethics! You always play on your phone…” Fake sobs shook her voice. “That was a living person!” John even presented my venting recordings as “proof”: “Don’t neglect lives just because you hate your job!” Julian’s fans got me fired. Extremists threw sulfuric acid on me. I died in agony. In death, I saw Chelsea marry John and thrive. Then—I woke up, back to Julian’s ER arrival. 1 “Quick! Get the patient to Trauma Room 3!” “Chloe, what are you standing around for?!” I snapped back to reality. The familiar resuscitation room, the constant flurry of doctors and nurses. Seeing Julian Vance, the film star, lying on the bed not far away, it finally clicked. I had been reborn, and it was the very day Julian was admitted to the hospital. “Chloe, if you don’t want to work, then don’t just stand there in the way.” Chelsea, the new, beautiful nurse, bumped into me, then eagerly rushed to Dr. Mendez’s side, trying to impress him. I watched her, my heart blazing with fury. In my last life, she ruined my reputation, disfigured me, and left me for dead. This time, I absolutely would not let them have their way! Dr. Mendez frowned at Chelsea. “You grabbed the wrong medication! Are you trying to kill someone? Get out of the way!” Chelsea had only been in the ER for three months, and her clinical skills were clearly subpar. I let out a cold laugh, then immediately stepped forward. “Dr. Mendez, I’ll take care of it.” With that, I nudged Chelsea aside and stood beside the Chief. Chelsea glared at me with resentment, but she had no choice but to leave the resuscitation room. Just like in my previous life, Julian Vance’s surgery went smoothly. And today happened to be my shift. The difference this time was, I immediately found Nurse Kelly, the Head Nurse, and requested a shift swap. After taking care of everything, I slowly drove back to Willow Creek Residence. This was the apartment my parents had paid for in full. After I got engaged to John, he shamelessly started staying over frequently. He claimed it was to take care of me, but he treated it like his own place. 2 In my previous life, John and I got together through Dr. Mendez’s matchmaking. His family was fairly ordinary, but he seemed ambitious enough. We’d been dating for almost a year, and I hadn’t let him touch me. John said he respected my wishes. But after I died, I learned that he had secretly been involved with Chelsea for a long time. I had a wonderful, undisturbed sleep at home. The next morning, before I left, I made sure to change the passcode on my smart lock. After that, I headed to the hospital with my phone. As soon as I put on my scrubs, I ran into Chelsea in the ward hallway. “Well, well! Your complexion is still so good after working all night? What skincare do you use? Recommend some to me, won’t you?” Chelsea asked, her tone dripping with passive aggression. I ignored her. Chelsea sneered. “Did you see the trending news this morning? That patient from yesterday is Julian Vance, the actor who just won the Golden Globe, you know?” She leaned in, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “The hospital entrance is swarming with fans right now. If anything happens to Julian, those fans could storm in and tear us apart…” She paused, then continued, her voice heavy with insinuation, “So, you know, when you’re looking after Julian, you have to be extra careful. One mistake, and no one can handle the consequences.” Chelsea’s words were laced with veiled accusations, as if she already knew Julian would suffer a setback. In my previous life, she’d said something similar, but I hadn’t paid attention then. Thinking back now, Julian’s medical emergency definitely had something to do with Chelsea. As I pondered this, the hospital alarm suddenly blared. Julian Vance had suffered a massive hemorrhage and fallen into a coma! Just like in my previous life, everyone from all departments in the hospital sprang into action, rushing towards the ICU. Chelsea also looked incredibly frantic as she followed the resuscitation team into the ICU, but she and Dr. Mendez came out shortly after. At the same time, Julian’s agent, his parents, and even his fan club president, having heard the news that Julian was critical, were all blocking the entrance to the ER ICU. “What’s going on?! He was stable yesterday, wasn’t he?! What’s happening now?!” “Yesterday, your hospital guaranteed there were no issues! Now he’s critical! You have to explain yourselves!” Dr. Mendez stood at the front, his face grim. “He was stabilized yesterday, and his vital signs were trending towards stable, but overnight, he suddenly…” Before he could finish, Julian’s parents interrupted him. “God help us! If anything happens to our son, your hospital will be held fully responsible!” Dr. Mendez’s face grew even darker. As everyone descended into chaos, Chelsea glanced at me and said, almost too casually, “Chloe was on duty guarding Julian last night. Just now, he suffered a massive hemorrhage, accompanied by high fever and inflammation. Fever reducers and anti-inflammatories are supposed to be given every three hours. If they were given on time, none of these complications should have arisen…” She paused, letting her words hang in the air, then continued, “Unless the on-duty nurse didn’t give the medication on time, that’s the only way these complications would appear.” With that, Chelsea took a deep breath, staring directly at me. “Chloe, you have absolutely no medical ethics! I know you always sneak off to the hallway to play on your phone during your shifts…” Her voice rose, carrying to everyone present. “But that was a living, breathing human life! How could you be so negligent?!” Chelsea didn’t directly accuse me. But those two sentences gave away all the necessary information, turning everyone’s outrage towards me. The nurse I’d swapped shifts with had already gone home. And Chelsea and Nurse Kelly were both on rotation today, so no one knew I wasn’t the one who had watched Julian last night. “What?! You were playing on your phone while looking after a patient?!” Julian’s parents’ voices instantly rose. His agent, too, seemed to have found a loophole. “I’m suing this hospital! You’ll pay for this, especially you! If anything happens to Julian, I’ll make sure you suffer!” He glared at me, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I was about to protest. At that crucial moment, my fiancé, John Hayes, the ER Assistant Chief Physician, also emerged from the ICU. He pulled down his mask. “The patient has gone into shock. He’s not going to make it.” At the news that Julian was critical, his parents, agent, and fan club president all turned ashen. 3 Julian’s parents collapsed onto the floor, while his agent was visibly terrified, his face drained of color. The fan club president, utterly distraught, pulled out her phone and frantically started texting someone. The scene devolved into utter chaos. Just then, the hospital Director, Dr. Davies, rushed over, having heard the commotion. At some point, reporters, who had been waiting outside the hospital since yesterday, breached security and swarmed the ICU entrance. The moment Julian’s parents saw the reporters, they burst into tears, wailing, “Negligent hospital! They disregard human life!” Then, in front of the Director and the throng of journalists, Julian’s mother pointed at me. “It’s her! As my son’s on-duty nurse, instead of properly caring for him, she was playing on her phone, not giving him his fever medication and anti-inflammatories on time! If my son dies, this hospital and this hussy will both be held fully accountable!” The words had barely left her mouth when reporters began frantically snapping photos of me. The Director was also surrounded, bombarded with questions. “Is your hospital truly disregarding human life?!” “Why would your hospital assign this kind of nurse to a major star like Julian Vance? Was this intentional?!” Dr. Davies was speechless. Julian’s mother clawed at my collar, crying hysterically. “You hussy! Give me back my son’s life…!” Choked by her grip, I gasped, “I didn’t…” Chelsea heard me try to defend myself and instantly bristled with indignation. “You still deny it? Yesterday, you were clearly on duty caring for the patient, but this morning, when I came in, I saw you playing on your phone!” “It wasn’t me…” Seeing me still trying to protest, my fiancé, John, just like in my previous life, pulled out his phone. “Chloe, you’ve caused too much trouble this time. As a doctor, I can’t cover for you.” He then played a recording. It was from a time when I’d worked three consecutive shifts and came home to complain to him about how exhausted I was. I never imagined John would be so insidious as to record those words. Dr. Davies’s face turned iron gray after hearing the recording. “Chloe, do you have anything else to say?” I sighed, then countered, “Do you all truly believe I did this?” “Look at her! What an attitude! People like this deserve to be put behind bars!” Julian’s fan club president, along with the paparazzi, relentlessly snapped photos of me. John and Chelsea, seeing their moment, directly advised me, “This situation is your own doing. Escaping it is unrealistic.” John’s voice was firm. “Confess, and you’ll be treated leniently; resist, and the punishment will be severe. Chloe, you should just admit it, shouldn’t you?” As everyone’s eyes converged on me, I suddenly smiled. “Are you all so certain it’s my fault?” “Of course! The patient’s current state is entirely due to the negligence of the on-duty nurse. Chloe, don’t even think about denying it,” Chelsea scoffed. John turned to Dr. Davies. “Director, I suggest we immediately fire the nurse who was on duty last night. This is a crime, and our hospital cannot harbor such a person.” I had waited this long. It was finally here. I didn’t get angry; instead, I laughed, stating directly in front of everyone, “Since you all say it’s the on-duty nurse’s fault, then go find Rebecca Davies. Rebecca and I swapped shifts that night.” The words had barely left my mouth when Chelsea let out a gasp. “Impossible! I clearly saw you in the hallway playing on your phone this morning!” I chuckled softly. “That’s because I had just changed into my uniform, getting ready to start my shift.” Then, I looked at Dr. Davies. “Director, Rebecca is your daughter, isn’t she? I swapped shifts with her last night.” At my words, Dr. Davies’s face instantly turned ashen. Chelsea and John were utterly dumbfounded!

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At the end of the year, I treated a business partner to dinner, spending a thousand dollars. When I went to claim the reimbursement, Bethany Hayes, Ethan Carter’s childhood friend, transferred fifty dollars to my Venmo. I messaged her, asking if it was a mistake. Bethany immediately shot back, launching into a furious tirade. “Have you no shame? Fifty dollars is more than enough for two people! You’re clearly just trying to fleece the company.” I tried to explain that this was a fifty-million-dollar project, and we couldn’t skimp on a client dinner. A cheap meal wouldn’t set the right tone for negotiations. But Bethany wouldn’t listen. Frustrated, I called Ethan, asking him to back me up. He glared at me, his face cold. “Negotiating deals is about competence, not about a single meal. You’ve been taking advantage of company funds under the guise of business deals for years, Emily. Don’t push your luck.” The next day, I took a major client from Prescott Holdings to a roadside diner. After the hundred-million-dollar deal fell through, Ethan lost his mind. … “Venmo payment received: Fifty dollars.” I stared at the notification on my phone, then looked at Bethany. “Bethany, did you make a mistake? I spent a thousand dollars on dinner with Mr. Davies yesterday. Here’s the receipt.” Bethany merely flicked her eyes at me, a look of utter impatience on her face. “Weren’t there just two of you for dinner?” I nodded. She scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Then there’s no mistake. Fifty dollars is perfectly enough for two people to eat. How on earth did you spend a thousand? You’re clearly just trying to fleece the company.” I was speechless, struggling to keep my anger in check. “Bethany, the project I was discussing with Mr. Davies yesterday is worth over fifty million dollars. You can’t seriously expect to close a deal like that over a fifty-dollar meal.” She rolled her eyes at me, completely unfazed. “Excuses are just cover-ups. If you want to take advantage of the company, just say so. Don’t use business deals as an excuse. Don’t push your luck. You’re lucky I even gave you fifty dollars.” With that, she threw the receipt at my face and spat, “Get out! Don’t bother me while I’m working.” I was fuming. Trembling, I pulled out my phone and called Ethan Carter. Bethany sneered when she saw me dial his number. “Have some shame, Emily. Do you really think you can exploit the company just because you’re Ethan’s girlfriend?” I was beyond arguing with Bethany. Ethan was the company owner; he should understand. A few minutes later, Ethan stormed into the finance office, a scowl on his face. Seeing me, he snapped, “Emily, can you please stop stirring up trouble? Bethany is incredibly busy, and you’re just making things harder for her. Why are you so high-maintenance?” His words stunned me. I couldn’t believe Ethan would say that. I held out the receipt and the Venmo transfer to him. “How am I stirring up trouble? I spent a thousand dollars treating Mr. Davies to dinner, and she only reimbursed me fifty. That’s not even pocket change.” Ethan glanced at Bethany. Bethany’s eyes immediately welled up, and she began to sob. “Oh, Ethan, I don’t know what I did to offend Emily. She’s accusing me in front of everyone in the company. I was just trying to protect the company’s interests! If even that makes me wrong, then I’ll just resign!” Ethan instantly pulled Bethany into a comforting embrace, his voice gentle and soothing. “Bethany, you’ve done nothing wrong. Don’t be upset.” Then, he hurled his phone straight at my face. My cheek instantly swelled, throbbing. He followed by tearing the receipt into shreds and flinging the pieces at me. “Emily, it’s just a bit of money! Do you really have to be so petty about it? Fifty dollars is enough for two people, but you insisted on spending a thousand. Taking advantage of the company is one thing, but then threatening Bethany? Have you no shame?” “And stop bringing up the client deal! Mr. Davies would partner with our company because of our capabilities, not because of one dinner! Stop trying to take credit for yourself!” I clutched my stinging cheek, my heart pounding with rage. I forced myself to speak through clenched teeth. “Fifty dollars for two people, that’s twenty-five dollars per person. So, from now on, the company’s entertainment budget is twenty-five dollars per person?” Ethan frowned, realizing something was off, and was about to speak. But Bethany cut him off. “What’s wrong with twenty-five dollars per person? You usually only spend about fifteen dollars on your own cafeteria meals, don’t you? Why are you suddenly so keen on fleecing the company now? Besides, if one meal could decide a partnership, why don’t we just open a restaurant instead of a company?” Ethan nodded, deep in thought. “Bethany’s right. I won’t dwell on the past, Emily. But from now on, the entertainment standard is twenty-five dollars per person. Don’t even think about taking another cent from the company.” My heart turned to ice. I managed a cold, bitter laugh and nodded. “Alright. If that’s how it is, then I’ll follow company policy from now on. I promise not to spend a single cent more.” Ethan looked pleased. “Emily, even though you’re my girlfriend, business is business. Bethany works hard, don’t cause trouble for her all the time.” I simply hummed in agreement, signaling I’d understood. Bethany shot me a smug, triumphant look, then settled back with an air of superior satisfaction. I turned and left. That afternoon, Ethan suddenly called me. He said Prescott Holdings was looking to invest a hundred million dollars in our company’s new project. Since I had previously liaised with Prescott Holdings, he wanted me to arrange a dinner, emphasizing that securing the investment was paramount. I agreed, paused for a moment, then asked, “How many people for this dinner?” Ethan thought for a moment. “Mr. Prescott, you, and me. Three people total.” I said, “Got it,” and hung up. Three people. Seventy-five dollars. What to eat? I remembered the barbecue place in the food market next door. They had both food and drinks. Seventy-five dollars wouldn’t get us a full meal, but it would be barely enough. That evening, I led Ethan and Mr. Prescott to a roadside barbecue joint on the main street. I found the owner, asked for two rickety stools, and motioned for them to sit down. “Mr. Prescott, please, have a seat! What would you like to drink? How about some cheap whiskey?” Mr. Prescott stood motionless, his face etched with disgust. Ethan nervously pulled me aside. “Emily, what is going on? I told you to arrange a proper dinner! What kind of arrangement is this?” I feigned innocence. Just then, the owner brought out three complimentary side dishes. I thanked him cheerfully, then slowly replied to Ethan. “Ethan, the meal standard is twenty-five dollars per person. For three of us, that’s seventy-five, right? This is the most cost-effective place. The owner even gave us three free side dishes!” Mr. Prescott scoffed. “A hundred-million-dollar project, and in your eyes, it’s only worth discussing at a roadside stall?” Ethan frantically tried to explain that wasn’t it at all. But I quickly cut in. “Mr. Prescott, our boss doesn’t mean that. He simply believes that securing a project depends on the capabilities of both companies, not on one meal. As long as you can fill your stomach, that’s what matters. Or are you implying you wanted to take advantage of our company through this meal?” Ethan shoved me. “Emily, stop spouting nonsense!” Mr. Prescott’s face was cold as he uttered, “You’re both quite something. Rest assured, I won’t take a single cent from your company. This partnership is off.” With that, Mr. Prescott turned and walked away. Ethan frantically tried to explain, but Mr. Prescott simply got into his car and drove off. Ethan turned to me, so furious he kicked over the table. “Emily, were you doing this on purpose? Do you have any idea how important that deal was to the company?” I widened my eyes, feigning utter innocence. “But Ethan, I was just following company policy! Didn’t you and Bethany say it was twenty-five dollars per person? Spending more would be taking advantage of the company. Last time, I paid nine hundred and fifty dollars out of my own pocket; this time, I learned my lesson.” Ethan pointed at me, speechless with rage, and stormed away. The next day, as I arrived at the company, I ran into Bethany. She glanced at me, her tone superior. “Emily, how can you still show your face at the company after ruining such a huge project?” I remained unfazed. “How did I ruin it? I was simply following company policy, wasn’t I? Besides, didn’t you say the entertainment budget was twenty-five dollars per person?” Ethan emerged from his office, and Bethany immediately ran to hide behind him, her face a picture of wronged innocence. “Oh, Ethan, I just said a few things to Emily, and she’s blaming everything on me!” Ethan, full of concern, hugged Bethany. Then he threw a termination letter at my face. “Emily, you’re fired. Don’t bother coming back to the company anymore. Bethany will be taking over your position as General Manager.” I let out a soft laugh. “Alright. But according to my contract, you owe me three times my salary as compensation.” Ethan readily agreed, looking down at me with an air of smug superiority. “Emily, did you really think I wouldn’t dare fire you?” I was genuinely surprised, as most of the company’s projects were still under my management. Bethany clung to Ethan’s arm, a triumphant smirk on her face. “I happened to meet the CEO of Sterling Corp. They’re offering us a partnership for their billion-dollar Westside project. That one project is worth more than all the hundreds you brought in combined.” So, that was it. They thought I was no longer useful, that’s why they fired me. I thought for a moment. Sterling Corp… If I wasn’t mistaken, that was my grandfather’s company. Just a few days ago, my grandfather had asked me to come work for them, hinting that he wanted me to inherit the company someday. After transferring my severance pay, Ethan impatiently urged me to leave. “Emily, as of today, we’re over. You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore.” “Alright,” I said calmly. Ethan, seeing that I wasn’t crying or pleading, didn’t look entirely pleased. After leaving the company, I called my grandfather. “Grandpa, I got fired. I’d like to come work for your company.” My grandfather sounded ecstatic, barely able to contain his joy. “Wonderful! The company just happens to have an opening for a Junior VP. Come straight in.” The next day, I packed my things and headed directly to Sterling Corp. At the entrance, I ran into Ethan and Bethany.

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1 Immediately, all eyes fell on me. Ever since the previous department manager resigned, I had been in charge of all department affairs. Everyone had assumed my appointment as the new manager was a done deal, practically etched in stone. Then, right in front of everyone, Damien Voss pulled Cici Brooks into the company’s main chat group. They each posted a message, one after the other. Anyone with eyes could see their profile pictures were a matching set, clearly for a couple. The entire morning, the whole office was abuzz with gossip, completely engrossed in the drama unfolding. As for me, I was already planning to resign, so I didn’t much care about losing the position that should have been mine. After sending my resignation letter via email to HR, I took a rare moment of leisure and went to the breakroom to brew myself a cup of honey-ginger tea. I hadn’t even taken two sips when Cici walked in. She brewed a coffee and sat beside me, wearing the smug air of a victor. “Skylar Vance,” she began, her voice dripping with condescension, “I know you’ve been Damien’s little secret for five years, but I’m his real girlfriend. Now that I’m back, it’s time for you, the other woman, to know your place and quietly disappear. As long as you keep your mouth shut, just like before, I won’t cause you any more trouble.” As she spoke, she played a voice message. It was a little boy, Leo, buttering her up from yesterday: “Auntie Cici, wasn’t I awesome? You won’t forget the Transformers you promised me, right?” I knew it. I’d wondered why things had aligned so conveniently. Watching her malicious gaze, my gut screamed at me to leave immediately. But she snatched the tea cup from my hand and poured it over her own face. Then, she violently smashed the cup at my feet, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The already lukewarm ginger tea dripped from her face, soaking her clothes and disheveled hair, making her look utterly pitiful. This woman was truly ruthless in her schemes against me. She blocked my exit, then shrieked, her voice shrill and ear-piercing: “Skylar, what are you doing? Why are you doing this to me?!” Her screams drew a crowd of colleagues, eager for the drama. She didn’t forget to splash coffee on her chest, too, then, with practiced ease, rubbed her neck raw. I couldn’t take it anymore. I slapped her hard. Damien Voss, hearing the commotion, rushed over and saw me, perfectly fine, striking a disheveled Cici. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and slapped me back. “Skylar Vance! If you don’t want this job anymore, then get out!” Still seething, he shoved me violently, then scooped Cici up in a bridal carry and carried her to his office. I stumbled backward, my lower back slamming into the edge of the table. The pain made tears stream down my face. The HR Manager, who had been hesitating whether to approve my resignation, immediately waved a hand and signed it. Damien, still coddling Cici, didn’t even glance at the content, directly approving my departure. The Finance Department, quick to switch allegiances and curry favor with Cici, the future boss’s lady, immediately processed my final paycheck. I still had a substantial amount of client data to hand over, so I bundled all the files, preparing to send them to Damien. To my shock, my company email account had already been deleted. The only person with the authority to delete a departing employee’s account was Damien Voss. I sent him a breakup message on his phone, only to discover he had blocked my calls and messages there too. With a bitter understanding, I left the company. After going home to erase all traces of myself, I headed straight for the airport. 2 The plane taxied slowly down the runway. I forced myself to close my eyes and rest. My mind kept replaying the moment I opened Damien Voss’s safe while clearing out my last belongings. After we became official, I had personally crafted a pair of matching rings for us. Damien had refused to wear his, instead hiding them in his safe, protected by a password I didn’t know. He said they would be our wedding rings when we finally married. I had often ached with the desire to secretly open that safe, but no matter what combinations I tried, I couldn’t guess the password. Until I used the date of the concert—Cici Brooks’s birthday—and the safe clicked open. Inside, there were no matching rings I wanted to reclaim. Only carefully preserved photographs and a diary. The photos were of an eighteen-year-old Damien and Cici, smiling at each other. Even slightly faded with age, their deep affection for one another was palpable. The diary was filled with the mundane details of their passionate, youthful romance. After Cici’s sudden, unexplained departure, the diary entries had turned into endless yearning. No wonder, after being reunited, they had burned with such intense passion for each other. As for the rings I had made, they were likely long gone, tossed away by Damien just like all the other tokens of our relationship. If I had known he’d already discarded them, I wouldn’t have bothered to open the safe and pry into his sweet past with Cici. And I wouldn’t have had to see that, even while he was with me, his heart was still consumed by longing for his first love. They truly were a perfect match, a pair of absolute scoundrels. Cici hadn’t even broken up with him, just vanished. Damien hadn’t even broken up with me, just rekindled things with Cici. I had poured my heart and soul into loving him for five years, only to be nothing more than a passing amusement. Sleep began to claim me, a hazy fog creeping into my thoughts. For a moment, I found it hard to discern if the Damien Voss who once cherished me was real or merely a figment of my imagination. If he didn’t love me, why would he take on all the household chores, terrified I might suffer the slightest inconvenience? If he didn’t love me, why would he break into a sweat of anxiety when my Uncle George called, urging me to return to Northwood City, begging me not to leave him? If he didn’t love me, why would he plan with me to have two children and adopt a cat and a dog after marriage, even picking out their names? …But if he truly loved me, how could he turn around and be with Cici without even a decent breakup? If he truly loved me, he wouldn’t have denied me the most basic trust, letting me be gossiped about by colleagues as a conniving homewrecker trying to climb the corporate ladder. Dwelling on these things was utterly pointless now. From the moment I agreed to my Uncle George’s arranged match, Damien and I stopped belonging to the same world. The plane landed. Uncle George and my Mom had been waiting for what felt like an eternity. “Skylar, my dear, Mom finally has you back! What was so great about that Southern city anyway? All that rain, so much dampness. You’ve always been prone to illness since you were little, yet you insisted on staying there all these years!” “Sister, you shouldn’t have let Skylar go to college down South in the first place. If my old friend hadn’t been looking out for her, who knows how much hardship Skylar would’ve endured.” At the mention of Damien Voss, Uncle George quickly asked me, “You’re back to get married this time, did Damien say anything? He used to praise you to me constantly, saying you were a rare talent…” “He was just being polite, Uncle George, because of your connection. How could you take it seriously?” But my uncle disagreed. “I know him better than you do. He’s not one to easily praise anyone, his eye is incredibly discerning! Who knows who will ever catch his attention again? Back in the day…” It seemed everyone knew Cici Brooks was Damien Voss’s unforgettable, fiery first love. Only I, like a fool, had carried on a secret relationship with him for five years, wounding myself to the point of utter devastation.

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I’m the heroine of this story. But I have a past with the villain. I even bore him a child. When the hero appeared, a “System” wiped my memories and faked my death. It changed my face and tore me away from the villain’s side. But not even two years later, at a gala, I ran into him again. The widowed villain, holding our son. As I met his cold, distant gaze, my own eyes inexplicably welled up, burning with tears I couldn’t understand. That’s when the comments appeared, scrolling across my vision like phantom text— 【Wait… isn’t the villain supposed to be this dark, heartless monster?】 【Since when did he have a kid?】 【And he guards him like he’s the most precious thing in the world. Won’t even let anyone look.】 【Is that kid really his? Who’s the mother? Who would dare have a baby with him?】 【Hold on, why is our heroine staring so intensely at the villain?!】 1 Six months into my marriage with Logan, I still flinched at his touch. On Saturday night, he cornered me at my bedroom door again. “I’ve given you six months, Rachel. Are you still not willing to share a room with me?” Logan was handsome, wealthy, and the man I’d supposedly known my whole life—my childhood sweetheart. Even now, his voice was exceptionally gentle as he pleaded with me. But meeting his earnest gaze, I instinctively took a step back. “I’m sorry—” In half a year of marriage, those were the words I’d said to him most. At my words, Logan’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment. “You know that’s not what I want to hear,” he murmured, his voice low. He looked at me again. “You have to at least give me a reason.” I avoided his gaze, my eyes tracing the marble pattern on the floor. “I think… I just need more time.” 2 Four years ago, I went to study abroad. On the flight home, my plane went down. I was in a coma for a full year. Logan never left my side. The moment I woke up, I was rushed into marrying him. For the past six months, he’s been nothing but perfect. We have a shared history, a lifetime of affection. Everyone tells me he loves me. Everyone assumes, as a matter of course, that I love him deeply, too. They say Logan is the only man I’ve ever known. Our marriage is the envy of countless people. Leaning against the headboard, I stared out at the cold sliver of the moon. I subconsciously pressed a hand to my chest, over my heart. But there was always this heavy, hollow feeling inside me. Ever since I opened my eyes in that hospital bed six months ago, I’ve felt like I’ve lost something essential. But no matter how hard I search my memories, I can’t figure out what it is. 3 I had upset Logan again. He left, bottling up his frustration so he wouldn’t show it in front of me. But I knew that later tonight, he’d drink himself into a stupor. Sure enough, his assistant called, stammering on the other end of the line that Logan was drunk again and wasn’t making any sense. He said they couldn’t move him. “Mr. Sterling has an important meeting tomorrow morning…” he asked tentatively. “Mrs. Sterling, what do you think?” I sighed softly. “Send me the address. I’m on my way.” I parked in the underground garage of a downtown club. After double-checking the address, I pushed my door open and stepped out. The moment I did, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I instinctively followed the gaze and met the stare of a small boy, maybe two or three years old. Across from my parking spot was a discreet black luxury van. The boy, neatly dressed with a beautiful, angelic face, was leaning against the half-open door, just watching me. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze full of a pure, direct, and gentle curiosity. 4 My steps faltered. A small child, all alone in a strange, dark parking garage. My first instinct was to go to him, to scoop him into my arms. But before I could move, a man in a black suit stepped out from the van. He shot me a wary glance before swiftly lifting the boy back inside. The door clicked shut. I just barely heard the child’s soft, slurred words: “…Where’s Daddy?” Then, the bodyguard’s low reply, “Mr. Thorne will be down any second.” I couldn’t hear anything else. 5 As I walked away, a strange sense of reluctance washed over me. I glanced back at the van one last time, only to meet the driver’s warning glare in the rearview mirror. His arms were corded with muscle, and his face was set in a fierce scowl, as if one more look from me would have him storming out of the car to deal with me. They guarded that child with an intense, almost frantic protectiveness. They wouldn’t even allow a stranger’s gaze to linger. It must have been an order from his parents. They must cherish him so much to be this vigilant. Finally, I tore my gaze away and walked slowly out of the quiet underground garage. 6 That weekend, Logan took me to my parents’ house for dinner. He played the part of the perfect husband, always making sure we stayed connected with both our families. At the dinner table, my mother casually brought up our neighbor’s new granddaughter. The implication in her voice was painfully obvious. She added that I was already twenty-six and couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Logan, to his credit, smoothed things over for me. I just stared blankly at the plate in front of me, my mind adrift. A pair of bright, dark eyes—a child’s eyes—materialized in my thoughts. I kept thinking about the little boy from the parking garage. Maybe it was because he was so beautiful, or because of the intense way he had looked at me. Sometimes, I even dreamed of him. A hand rested affectionately on my right shoulder, jolting me back to the present. I looked up into Logan’s smiling eyes. I hadn’t heard a word he’d said, but he was clearly waiting for an answer. He had his head tilted slightly, his focus entirely on me. But lately, I couldn’t bear that look. I couldn’t meet his gaze. So I just turned my head away, pushed my plate back, and stood up. “I’m full.” Logan’s hand fell from my shoulder. In my peripheral vision, I saw his fingers curl slightly, closing around an empty palm. As I walked upstairs, I heard my mother complaining to Logan behind me. She said that ever since my accident, my personality had completely changed. Then came Logan’s placid explanation: “She was probably just frightened by the whole ordeal.” 7 That night, Logan had a business gala to attend. He asked me to go with him. “We’ve been married for months, and I’ve never had the chance to properly show you off,” he said, his tone pleading. My first instinct was to refuse. “…You could take your secretary.” Logan shook his head instantly. “It’s not the same.” He held my gaze. “I won’t ask anyone else. If you don’t go, I’ll go alone.” I had been cold enough to him during the day. I didn’t know if I loved Logan, but I was constantly overwhelmed by a sense of guilt. It felt like I could never give him what he wanted. Meeting his burning gaze, I finally relented. I nodded, murmuring a quiet, “Okay.” Logan’s face broke into a radiant smile. 8 The gala was held at a private, secluded mountain estate on the outskirts of the city. We were already running a bit late when we arrived. As we were about to enter, he subtly offered me his arm, an invitation to take it. Since I had already agreed to accompany him, I didn’t make a fuss. I lightly placed my hand in the crook of his elbow. Just as the attendant was about to lead us into the main hall, a commotion erupted behind us. A black Phantom limousine pulled up brazenly to the main entrance of the estate. The car had barely stopped when the host of the evening was already rushing over to greet it. The man, well past fifty, stood by respectfully, ready to open the car door himself. Whoever this was, he was a very big deal. That’s what I thought at the time. 9 The car door finally swung open under the eager watch of the crowd. A black leather shoe hit the pavement, and a man stooped to emerge. What was surprising wasn’t just his chiseled, coldly handsome face, but the small child nestled in the crook of his arm. The gala was a networking event for high-society elites. No one brought a child. The boy’s presence was jarring. He didn’t seem shy at all, his arm draped over the man’s shoulder as he blinked his big, curious eyes, taking in the scene. My gaze froze. I recognized that child—I had seen him that night in the underground garage. 10 The man, dressed in a sharp black suit, had a completely blank expression. He was coolly dealing with the fawning host. The half of his face I could see was a little pale. He was tall, but with a leanness that you couldn’t ignore. The suit, while making him look distinguished, also seemed to hang on him with a kind of weary grace. He wasn’t well. I was almost certain of it. But he held the child securely, his other hand gently supporting the restless boy’s back. He was an experienced father. It was baffling. Just the sight of his back, half-turned to me, made me stare, unable to look away. Perhaps my gaze was too intense. The little boy, perched on his father’s shoulder, turned his head first and noticed me. It had been days, and he probably didn’t remember me, but just like that night, once his eyes met mine, they didn’t move away. He rested his chin on his father’s shoulder, his arms wrapped around his neck, and watched me with that same soft, serious curiosity. Meeting his gaze, my heart began to hammer in my chest. My vision blurred. Suddenly, white lines of text scrolled across my eyes— 【Wait… isn’t the villain supposed to be this dark, heartless monster?】 【Since when did he have a kid?】 【And such a beautiful, well-behaved one, too.】 【He guards him like he’s the most precious thing in the world. Won’t even let anyone look.】 【Is that kid really his? Who’s the mother? Who would dare have a baby with him?】 【I wouldn’t be surprised about anyone else, but this guy is genuinely cold-blooded. He sent his own father and brother to prison when he was fifteen.】 【His IQ is off the charts and he’s merciless. How could he possibly start a family, let alone raise a child…】 【Wrong, that’s not the point! Hasn’t anyone noticed—】 【Why is our heroine staring so intensely at the villain?!】 11 Villain. Heroine. The dense lines of text flashed past my eyes. I stared at the baffling words, managing to grasp only a few key phrases, slowly connecting them to myself. The villain… was that the cold-faced man holding the child over there? And the heroine… could that be me? I thought about my smooth, fortunate life—the open-minded parents, the wealthy family, and beside me… my childhood-sweetheart husband. Was I really the fortunate heroine? And was that man over there really the inscrutable villain? “Rachel?” Logan squeezed my hand. I snapped back to reality, turning to look at him. His eyes were filled with a faint worry. He followed my gaze toward the lawn, but the crowd was moving, and the father and son from a moment ago had already been respectfully escorted into a private lounge by the host. 12 “What were you looking at?” Logan asked. I suppressed the strange sense of loss in my heart. I noticed that as soon as Logan spoke, the on-screen comments vanished completely. I shook my head, making up a random excuse. “The fountain over there is beautiful.” Logan suddenly reached a hand toward my face. I flinched back instinctively. His thumb brushed my cheekbone in a fleeting motion. He held his hand up for me to see. “Then why are you crying?” I stared at the glint of moisture on his fingertip and finally became aware of the dampness around my own eyes. Why was I crying? I raised a hand to my face, gently touching my eyes. I hadn’t even realized it myself. I was crying. 13 Halfway through the gala, Logan’s gaze remained on me, laced with thought and concern. I didn’t want to be watched so intently, so I excused myself to the restroom. The main hall was a vibrant cacophony, but the hallway leading to the restrooms was exceptionally quiet. As I came out after washing my hands, I saw that a small figure had appeared in the corridor. He was leaning against the opposite wall, his head bowed as he played with a small, diamond-encrusted horse pendant hanging around his neck. I recognized it. It was the final, show-stopping piece from the auction earlier. It had been sold for a staggering price to a mysterious bidder. So, it was bought to be a child’s toy. Perhaps hearing my footsteps, the boy looked up. The light spilled over his face as he blinked at me, a look of innocent confusion in his eyes. The moment our gazes met, my heart melted. I moved toward him without thinking, crouching down to his level. 14 I softened my expression, trying to muster a gentle smile. “What are you doing here all by yourself?” I asked softly. He pressed his lips together, his expression a forced imitation of seriousness. “Daddy said I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.” He enunciated each word clearly. But as soon as he finished, he lowered the diamond pony and reached out, his finger gently brushing my earlobe. He seemed shy. The touch was feather-light before he curled his fingers into a fist and quickly pulled his hand back. He looked at me and said earnestly, “My mommy has one of these, too.” The reflection in the window showed the small red mole on the side of my ear. The little boy’s eyelashes fluttered as he looked at me, his gaze so clean, so soft. In that moment, I desperately wanted to hug him. But before I could move, a sound came from the restroom behind me. Someone was approaching with quick, urgent steps. An arm shot out and swept the child off the ground. I looked up, stunned, and met the man’s cold, vigilant eyes. “Don’t touch him,” he said, his voice low and commanding, looking down at me. He spared me only three words. My outstretched hand froze in mid-air, not even having grazed the hem of the child’s clothes. 15 I slowly stood up, only to realize how tall the man in front of me was. I had to tilt my head back to see his face. The moment I saw him clearly, my breath caught. An unstoppable wave of sorrow surged into my sinuses. He had a high-bridged nose, thin lips, and sharp, piercing eyes. His gaze was lowered, all his attention focused on the child in his arms. He expertly smoothed out a wrinkle on the boy’s collar. I found my voice, trying to explain. “He’s so cute. I was just worried… about him being here all alone.” The man finally deigned to look at me. His gaze was once again a mask of indifference, completely devoid of warmth. He was still a man of few words. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” Then, holding his son, he turned and strode away. I stood rooted to the spot, watching him disappear down the hall. The child sat in his arms, cupping the man’s face with both his little hands. I heard his small, milky voice ask, “Daddy, does your head still hurt?” The man caught the boy’s hands in his. “Not anymore,” he murmured. And then they were gone, vanished around the corner. I leaned back against the wall where the boy had been standing. I thought about the man’s overly pale face when he’d come out of the restroom. I’d thought he was just anxious then. But now, thinking about it, a man who cherished his child that much would never leave him alone in a hallway just to use the restroom. He must have been sick.

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1 Lately, Charlotte had been getting a lot of calls from a restricted number. She claimed it was her cell carrier, pitching new plans. But I knew the truth. She had a different carrier. I didn’t bother calling her out on it, but she just got bolder. The day I got food poisoning, she was at the office, screwing her male assistant. When I called her office line, all I could hear over the phone were the muffled sounds of their passion, punctuated by her sharp, dismissive words to me: “If you’re going to die, then just die. Stop bothering me!” Later, we were out together, and I found a designer men’s watch in the car’s center console. Before I could say anything, Charlotte snatched it away, her voice cold. “Don’t touch that. It’s not for you.” I just nodded and pulled the car up to the bridal shop. The custom wedding suits we’d ordered… it was time to cancel them. I’d just stepped into the bridal shop when Charlotte caught up to me. She tossed a windproof lighter at me. “Oliver, you need to work on not losing things all the time.” Charlotte had a touch of OCD. She couldn’t stand clutter in her car. The lighter hit me in the face, a sharp, stinging pain, but I didn’t react. I just said, calmly, “I don’t smoke. You know who this belongs to, don’t you?” At that, her expression softened. She carefully picked up the lighter from the floor and slipped it into her pocket. I knew it was Leo’s. Every time Leo deliberately left something behind to provoke me, I would lose my temper. But not this time. I didn’t complain. I just turned and gave my phone number to the sales assistant. The assistant smiled brightly. “You’re just in time. Your custom suits are finished and ready for a fitting.” Before I could refuse, Charlotte, the same woman who had just been yelling at me, had already disappeared into the changing room, her face a mask of indifference. Ten minutes later, I stood before her in my suit. She smirked. “A monkey in a suit is still a monkey. Tacky as hell.” I didn’t argue. I just asked the assistant to take a picture of me. Charlotte, though visibly annoyed, started to move into the frame. I shifted away. Just then, her phone rang—Leo’s special ringtone. Leo’s voice was frantic. He’d lost his limited-edition Dupont lighter and was dramatically offering himself to whoever was kind enough to return it. I thought he sounded like a moron, but Charlotte was completely invested. She hung up, and without even bothering to change out of her wedding gown, she hiked up the skirt and dashed out of the shop. As I heard her car speed away, I paid the remaining balance for the suits. Then I picked up a pair of scissors and, without a moment’s hesitation, cut my wedding suit to ribbons. It was one in the morning when I got a text while packing my things. It was from Charlotte: [At a karaoke bar.] After six years together, my girlfriend was finally, for once, volunteering her whereabouts. I glanced at it and didn’t reply. After taking out the trash, I took a long bath and fell straight to sleep. When Charlotte came home the next day, she found me on my way out to take out more trash. She gave me a strange look. “Is your phone broken?” When I shook my head, her brow furrowed in annoyance. I knew why she was reacting this way. In the past, whenever she stayed out too late, I would text and call her relentlessly. 2 I’d even cross the entire city just to bring her home. But last night, not only had I not tried to find her, I hadn’t even replied to her text. As I was about to step outside, Charlotte asked, “Oliver, where’s the photo of us that was on the wall?” I met her gaze, about to lay it all on the line, when her phone rang again, right on cue. She brushed past my shoulder, already deep in conversation as she walked into the house. “Don’t worry, Leo. I’ll bring it over as soon as it’s ready.” Hearing the sound of the shower running, I continued downstairs to take out the trash. On my way back up, a wave of dizziness hit me. Probably low blood sugar from skipping breakfast and a busy morning. I stumbled back into the apartment, drenched in a cold sweat, and grabbed a sandwich from the counter. I had just taken a bite when Charlotte appeared before me, her voice sharp and accusatory. “Oliver, are you some kind of starving animal?” She snatched the sandwich from my mouth, plate and all, and threw it in the trash. I stared at her, stunned. “I’ve taken care of you for six years. Don’t I even deserve a single bite of the breakfast you made?” Charlotte’s eyes were hard as stone. “Why don’t you take a good look at yourself in the mirror and tell me what part of you deserves anything?” Without another glance, she put on her coat and slammed the door behind her. Faced with this new wave of the silent treatment, I instinctively picked up my phone and opened her chat. I saw she’d changed her background photo. It was a side profile of Leo kissing her on the forehead. I ‘liked’ the photo and then unpinned her chat from the top of my list. During my lunch break, I had an appointment with a real estate agent to look at apartments. As I stepped into the elevator, I ran into Charlotte and Leo. Leo looked like he’d just woken up, and Charlotte was gently fixing his bangs. Seeing me, Leo didn’t flinch. He even greeted me cheerfully. “Ollie, perfect timing. I just got this haircut, but Charlotte thinks it’s messy and insists on fixing it. Is she this controlling with you at home too?” Even if I weren’t in the picture, Charlotte was still his boss, yet he called her by her first name. It was clear their relationship was an open secret at the office. I had no intention of responding to his provocation, but then I saw Charlotte poke Leo’s cheek, not trying to hide it at all. “Only you’re allowed to boss me around, huh? I can’t boss you back?” Leo looked up at me. “Why don’t you tell Ollie here how you boss me around?” They both burst out laughing. Charlotte laughed so hard she practically fell into him, completely ignoring my presence. The next second, the elevator shuddered to a halt, plunging us into darkness. I turned on my phone’s flashlight and saw Charlotte holding Leo, murmuring soft words of comfort. It didn’t take long for the elevator to be fixed. When we reached the ground floor, Charlotte offered to give me a ride. Before I could answer, Leo suddenly announced that the ordeal had made him dizzy. Without a second thought, Charlotte pushed me aside, bundled Leo into the passenger seat, and sped off toward the hospital. I silently picked up my phone, which she had knocked to the floor, hailed a cab, and went to see the apartment. That evening, Charlotte personally delivered a dessert to my desk. Half an hour earlier, I had seen a new post from Leo: [A little low blood sugar doesn’t call for this many desserts! There’s no way I can finish all of this!] 3 The picture was a table laden with French pastries. I thanked her but didn’t touch the dessert box. A flicker of confusion crossed Charlotte’s face. “Oliver, why are you being so polite to me?” I didn’t answer her directly. “If you don’t mind, I need to go print something.” By the time I returned with my printed resignation letter, Charlotte was gone. She had left a sticky note. It said to find her upstairs when I was done. I tore off the note and threw it away, along with the dessert. I didn’t go find her. Instead, I walked into my boss’s office and resigned. “Oliver, why are you being so polite to me?” my boss had asked, echoing Charlotte’s words. He tried to convince me to stay, but seeing my mind was made up, he finally accepted my resignation. If the handover went smoothly, I would be free after this week. At ten that night, Charlotte called me while I was at a work dinner. A female colleague accidentally answered. By the time I got the phone, Charlotte’s voice was dangerously cold. “Oliver, where are you this late at night? And who was that woman?” “Out,” I replied. “Send me your location. I’m coming to pick you up.” She hung up before I could say another word. I sent my location and stayed until the restaurant closed. Charlotte never showed up. I opened Leo’s social media and, unsurprisingly, saw a picture of him in a hospital bed with an IV drip. I took a cab home alone, showered, and went to sleep. At three in the morning, a disheveled Charlotte shook me awake. Her voice was ice. “Oliver, I’m hungry. Make me a bowl of shrimp dumplings.” She was allergic to shellfish and didn’t even like dumplings. I knew who they were for. I tried to pull her hand away, but my fingers brushed against the scar on her arm. Years ago, a fire had broken out in the school auditorium. Charlotte had dragged me out of the smoke-filled room after I’d passed out. Her arm was badly burned, leaving a permanent scar. If it weren’t for her, I’d probably be dead. A bowl of shrimp dumplings in exchange for my life. It was a fair trade. Seeing me get dressed without a word, ready to head out, Charlotte grabbed my arm. For the first time in a long while, her voice was hesitant. “Maybe… maybe you should just wait until morning. Anyway…” I cut her off. “Does he want anything else besides the dumplings?” I asked softly. After a moment of silence, Charlotte let go of my arm. “No,” she said. At dawn, Charlotte stood at the door with an insulated food container. “Oliver, I have to go abroad next week. Make some time this Saturday to have dinner with my parents and discuss the wedding…” Before she could finish, I cut her off. “No need.” Charlotte was clearly taken aback. “What do you mean?” I lied without batting an eye. “Let’s talk about it when you get back. Work is more important.” She stared at me, as if she had more to say, but luckily, her phone rang again. She shut the door, eager to take the call. On Friday, my last day of work, Charlotte pulled me into her car the moment I stepped out of the office. At a high-end restaurant, she placed a piece of sashimi on my plate. “Which wine do you want?” I scrolled idly through my phone. “Whatever. You pick.” My indifference made her pretty face darken.

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